Patent Application
20110201446
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a golf putter and more particularly to a golf putter including upper and lower shaft members which may be disconnected from one another for travel purposes. More particularly, the golf putter of this invention relates to a putter having a length sufficient so that a golfer may position the upper end of the upper shaft member between the inside upper portion of the golfer's leading arm and the side of the golfer's chest to position the upper end of the upper shaft member in position with respect to the golfer during the golfer's putting stroke.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many different types of putters have been previously provided. There is the conventional length putters, belly putters and sternum putters. It has been found that it is desirable to putt with the golfer's larger muscles other than with the golfer's smaller muscles. Many golfers who have experienced the “yips” go to the belly putters or the sternum putters so that they putt more with their arms and shoulders rather than with their hands and fingers. It has been found that an ideal putting stroke may be achieved if the upper end of an elongated putter is positioned between the inside upper portion of the golfer's leading arm and the golfer's chest and maintained therein during the putting stroke.
The rules of the United States Golf Association permit long putters which may be disconnected into two parts for travel purposes. The same must not be readily disconnected to deter the golfer from separating the putter into two pieces during play.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A golf putter is disclosed which includes a putter head which has a lower shaft member secured thereto and which extends upwardly therefrom. The putter also includes an upper shaft member wherein the lower end thereof may be threadably secured to the upper end of the lower shaft member so that the putter will have a combined length such that when the upper shaft member is secured to the lower shaft member, a golfer may position the upper end of the upper shaft member between the inside upper portion of the golfer's leading arm and the side of the golfer's chest to position the upper end of the upper shaft member in position with respect to the golfer during the golfer's putting stroke.
In the preferred embodiment, an enlarged grip is mounted on the lower shaft member at the upper end thereof and an enlarged grip is mounted on the upper shaft member at the upper end thereof. The upper and lower shafts may be tapered or have a constant diameter.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved golf putter.
A further object of the invention is to provide a two-piece golf putter having a length such that the upper end of the putter may be positioned between the inside upper portion of the golfer's leading arm and the side of the golfer's chest to maintain the upper end of the upper shaft member in position with respect to the golfer during the golfer's putting stroke.
A further object of the invention is to provide a golf putter of the type described which forces the golfer into a better putting stroke.
A further object of the invention is to provide a two-piece putter including means for restricting the disconnection of the upper and lower shafts during play.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a two-piece putter wherein the lower section of the putter, when the two-pieces are disconnected, may be used as a putter.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
In
The lower end of upper shaft member 16 has a plug 22 inserted into the lower end thereof and which is secured thereto as seen in
The upper end of lower shaft section 14 has a plug 28 received therein and which has an internally threaded bore 30 adapted to threadably receive the stud 24. An elongated internally threaded bore 32 is formed in plug 28 which is adapted to threadably receive an allen screw 34. Grip 18 is provided with an opening 36 which communicates with opening 38 formed in shaft member 14 as seen in
The shaft sections 16 and 14 may be secured together by threadably inserting the stud 24 into the internally threaded bore 30 of plug 28. When the stud 24 has been sufficiently tightened within the internally threaded bore 30, the allen screw 34 is threadably inserted into bore 32 and is moved inwardly until the inner end of the allen screw is received by the bore 26 to prevent the ready disconnection of the shaft section 16 from the shaft section 14.
In use, assuming that the golfer is right handed, as seen in
The putter of
The putter illustrated in
It should be noted that when the shaft section 16 is disconnected from shaft section 14, shaft section 14, with the putter head 12 affixed thereto, may be used as a putter having a more conventional length.
Thus it can be seen that a novel golf putter, which when assembled, has a length sufficient so that the golfer may place the upper end of the putter between the inside portion of the golfer's leading arm and the side of the golfer's chest to firmly position the putter in position. It can also be seen that a novel means has been provided which prevents the “ready” disconnection of the shaft members during play as required by USGA rules.
It can therefore be seen that the putter accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
