FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates generally to golf clubs. The invention more specifically relates to golf putters having features designed to improve accuracy when putting.
BACKGROUND
Golf is game in which a player uses an elongated club to strike a ball, in an attempt to drive the ball into a hole in the ground. Such a club is formed as an elongated shaft having a handle at an upper end thereof and an enlarged head at a lower end thereof. The ball is set upon the ground and the player grasps the club by the grip, and strikes the ball with the enlarged head, aiming the ball towards the hole in the ground.
The game includes various types of strokes, including a drive, or a stroke from a great distance in which the ball is hit with a high degree of force, and a putt, or a stroke taken from greater proximity to the hole, in which the ball is struck with less force and a greater degree of precision, usually maintaining contact with the ground and rolling towards the hole.
Sinking a golf ball into a hole requires a great degree of skill, and is not attainable for many new players, and still challenging for many experienced players. This can be frustrating for many new players, who may quickly become frustrated with their inability to sink a ball into a hole. While many such players may be able to bring the ball within a certain proximity to the hole utilizing the drive stroke, they may not be able to subsequently bring the ball into contact with the hole by putting, due to the high degree of precision required during putting.
A need exists for a golf club that enables players to more easily sink a golf ball into a hole when playing, so that these players may fully enjoy the experience of playing golf.
SUMMARY
The invention relates to a golf putter. The golf putter includes shaft having a first end and a second end, and putter head attached to the shaft at the second end. The putter head has a front side positioned to come in contact with a ball during putting, a rear side, positioned opposite the front side, a top face extending between the front side and the rear side, and a bottom face. The shaft is attached to the top face, and the bottom face faces away from the shaft. The bottom face includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and second surface are angled in downward directions towards each other, substantially forming a v shape in the bottom face.
The invention further relates to golf putter including a shaft having a first end and a second end. A putter head is attached to the shaft at the second end. The putter head has a front side positioned to come in contact with a ball during putting, a rear side, positioned opposite the front side, a top face extending between the front side and the rear side, and a bottom face. The shaft is attached to the top face, and the bottom face faces away from the shaft. The front side includes a front surface disposed at a front angle with respect to the top face. The front angle is an acute angle.
The invention further relates to a golf putter including a shaft having a first end and a second end. A putter head is attached to the shaft at the second end. The putter head has a front side positioned to come in contact with a ball during putting, a rear side, positioned opposite the front side, a top face extending between the front side and the rear side, a bottom face facing away from the shaft, a heel edge located between the front side and rear side and proximate to the second end of the shaft, and a toe edge located between the front side and the rear side and distal from the second edge of the shaft. The shaft is attached to the top face. A center plane passes between the front side and the rear side, and is equidistant from the heel edge and the toe edge. The putter head further includes a counterweight positioned within the putter head and bisected by the center plane.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a putter according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 1, showing the putter head in detail.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the connection between the putter head and shaft.
FIG. 4 is exploded perspective view of the putter of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 9, showing the shaft in multiple positions.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a putter head according to the invention.
FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the putter head of FIG. 11.
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 11.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a putter head according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Certain terminology is used in the foregoing description for convenience and is not intended to be limiting. Words such as “front,” “back,” “top,” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. This terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Additionally, the words “a” and “one” are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted. The phrase “at least one of” followed by a list of two or more items, such as “A, B or C,” means any individual one of A, B or C, as well as any combination thereof.
Referring to FIG. 1, a golf putter 10 according to the invention is shown. As shown. The golf putter 10 includes a head 20 affixed to an elongate shaft 60. The shaft 60 has a first end 64 and a second end 66. A grip 72 is positioned at the first end and is configured to be gripped by a player during putting. The head 20 is positioned at the second end 66 and is configured to strike a golf ball during putting.
A putter head 20 according to the invention is shown in detail in FIG. 2. As shown, the head 20 includes a front side 22 positioned to come in contact with a ball during putting, and a rear side 24, positioned opposite the front side 22. A top face 26 extends along the top surface of the putter head 20, between the front side 22 and the rear side 24. As shown, the shaft 60 is attached to the top face 26. The head 20 further includes a bottom face 28, opposite the top face 26 and facing downward and away from the shaft 60. A heel edge 30 is located between the front side 22 and rear side 24 and proximate to the second end 66 of the shaft 60, and a toe edge 32 is located between the front side 22 and the rear side 24 and distal from the second end 66 of the shaft 60. A center plane 34, which is equidistant from the heel edge 30 and the toe edge 32, passes between the front side 22 and the rear side 32 of the club head 20.
Referring to FIGS. 2-4, 9 and 10, the shaft 60 is pivotally affixed to the head 20. As shown, the shaft 60 pivots in direction P within a shaft pivot plane that is parallel to the front side 22 of the head 20. The shaft 60 pivots with respect to the top face 23 of the putter head 20 between a first shaft angle Θ1 and a second shaft angle Θ2. In one embodiment, the first shaft angle Θ1 is 90 degrees and the second shaft angle Θ2 is 115 degrees. In another embodiment, the first shaft angle Θ1 is 95 degrees and the second shaft angle Θ2 is 115 degrees. It should be understood however, that the first shaft angle Θ1 and second shaft angle Θ2 are not limited to these values, and could be any values in which the second shaft angle Θ2 is greater than the first shaft angle Θ1, and in particular, any values necessary to comply with regulations imposed on manufacturers of golf putters. A person of ordinary skill in the art would be capable of modifying the putter 10 to achieve varying first shaft angles Θ1 and second shaft angles Θ2.
Referring still to FIGS. 2-4, 9 and 10, the shaft 60 may be pivotally affixed to the head 20 by a clamp 90. As shown, the clamp 90 includes a clamp body 92 having a through hole 96. The clamp body 92 is affixed to the top face 26 of the putter head 20, with the through hole 96 oriented parallel to top face 26 as well as the heel edge 30, and perpendicular to the front side 22. The clamp body 92 may be affixed to the top face 26 by any means known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the top face 26 includes a cavity 36 that receives a post 98 extending downward from a bottom surface 100 of the clamp body 92. A set screw 102 extends inward, through threaded channel 103 (FIG. 8), to the cavity 36, from the heel edge 30 of the putter head 20, to lock the post 98 within the cavity 36.
A clamp rod 94 extends perpendicularly outward from the second end 66 of the shaft 60 and passes through the through hole 96. The clamp rod 94 may be affixed to the shaft 60 by an adapter 104. The adapter 104 has an adapter post 106, received by an opening 108 formed in the clamp rod 94, perpendicular to the central axis thereof. A slit 114 may extend between the through hole 96 and a toe side surface 116 of the clamp body 92. A slit screw 118 extends downward and through the slit 114, from a top surface 120 of the clamp body 92. Tightening the slit screw 118 narrows the slit 114, thereby tightening the through hole 96, whereas loosening the slit screw 18 widens the slit 114, thereby loosening the through hole 96.
The adapter 104 further includes an adapter body 110, which is substantially cylindrical and aligned with the adapter post 108. The adapter body 110 is received by an opening 67 formed at the second end 66 of the shaft 60 and may include a plurality of grooves 112 configured to house an adhesive and engage the inner surface of the shaft 60 to adhere the adapter body 110 therein.
The diameter of the clamp rod 94 is close to or approximately equal to that of the through hole 96. This allows pivoting of the shaft 60. In order to pivot the shaft 60, the slit screw 118 is loosened, expanding the through hole 96, to allow rotation of the clamp rod 94 within the through hole 96. The shaft 60 is then pivoted to the desired position at or between the first and second shaft angles Θ1, Θ2. The slit screw 118 is then tightened, contracting the through hole 96, to prevent rotation of the clamp rod 94 within the through hole 96 and lock the shaft 60 at the desired angular position between the first shaft angle Θ1 and second shaft angle Θ2.
The shaft 60 may be of an adjustable length. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the shaft 60 comprises an upper grip portion 68 and a lower rod 70. The upper grip portion 68 includes a grip 72 and a grip insert 74. The grip 72 extends downward from, and includes the first end 64 of the shaft 60. The grip 72 is formed as a tubular body having a closed top 65 at the first end 64 of the shaft and an opening 69 formed at the bottom, opposite the closed top 65. The grip insert 74 is formed as a tubular body that extends into the grip 72 through the opening 69. The grip insert 74 may be affixed within the grip 72 by any means known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the grip insert 74 has an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the grip 72 and is retained therein in an interference fit. The grip 72 may have a tapered body, with the outer diameter thereof tapering inward in a direction extending from the first end 64 of the shaft 60 to the second end 66, allowing, during manufacturing of the shaft 60, the grip insert 74 to be drawn through the tubular body of the grip 72 in a direction extending from the first end 64 to the second end 66, until a lower portion 76 of the grip insert 74 protrudes outward from the opening 69 of the grip 72 and an upper portion 78 is disposed within the tubular body of the grip 72 in an interference fit. In another embodiment, the upper grip portion 68 of the shaft may be formed as a single unitary structure.
The lower rod 70 includes a lower shaft member 80 and a lower shaft insert 82. As shown, the lower shaft member 80 is located at the bottom of the shaft 60 and includes the second end 66 and the bottom opening 67. The lower shaft member 80 has a tubular body. The lower shaft insert 82 also has a tubular body and is located upwards of and partially fitted within the tubular body of the lower shaft member 80, as shown in FIG. 6. The lower shaft member 80 has a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the lower shaft insert 82, allowing the lower shaft insert 80 to be slidably disposed therein.
The upper grip portion 68 and the lower rod 70 meet at an upper portion of the lower shaft insert 82 and a lower portion of the grip insert 74. As shown in FIG. 6, the lower shaft insert 82 is slidably disposed within the grip insert 74. The lower shaft insert 82 slides within the grip insert 74 to adjust the shaft length. In particular, the lower shaft insert 82 may be slid downward with respect to the grip 72, in direction D1, to extend the length of the shaft 60, and may be slid upward, towards the grip 72, in direction D2, to retract the length of the shaft. The lower shaft insert 82 may be slid in this manner to any position between a fully extended configuration having a first length, and a fully retracted configuration having a second length, which is less than the first length.
The shaft 60 may include at least one locking mechanism to lock the shaft 60 at a desired configuration when adjusting the length. In the illustrated embodiment, putter 20 includes a first locking pin 77 that locks the upper grip portion 68 and the lower rod 70 with respect to each other, and in particular, locks the lower shaft insert 82 and the grip insert 74 with respect to each other. As shown, the shaft insert 74 includes a pair of aligned holes 75 in opposite sides thereof. Likewise, the lower shaft insert 82 includes multiple pairs of aligned holes 83 on opposite sides thereof, the pairs being distributed along the length of the lower shaft insert 82. When the lower shaft insert 82 is slid within the grip insert 74 and the length adjusted, as described above, the holes 75 of the grip insert 74 are brought within alignment with a selected pair of holes 83 of the lower shaft insert 82, and the locking pin 77 inserted through both pairs of holes 75, 83 to prevent further sliding of the lower shaft insert 82 and the grip insert 74 with respect to each other, locking the shaft 60 at a selected length. Alternatively, the grip insert 74 could be provided with multiple pairs of holes and the lower shaft insert 82 provided with a single pair of holes that must be brought into alignment with a selected pair of holes of the grip insert before insertion of the locking pin 77.
The shaft 60 may optionally be further adjustable in length using a similar locking configuration for locking the lower shaft insert 82 with respect to the lower shaft member 80. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the lower shaft member 80 includes yet another pair of aligned holes 81. The lower shaft insert 82 slides within the lower shaft member in downward direction D1 to increase the length of the shaft 60, and in upward direction D2, towards the grip 72 to reduce the length of the shaft 60. The aligned holes 81 are brought into alignment with a selected pair of the aligned holes 83 and a second locking pin 84 inserted through both pairs of holes 81, 83 to prevent further sliding of the lower shaft member 80 and the lower shaft insert 82 with respect to each other, locking the shaft 60 at a selected length.
An embodiment of a putter head 20 according to the invention is shown in detail in FIG. 2. As shown, the head 20 of this embodiment comprises a counterweight 38 to improve balance and stability during putting. The counterweight 38 comprises a cylindrical body 40 configured for attachment to the putter head 20. The counterweight 38 can be made of a suitable material known in the art, and of a weight to be determined based on the size of the club and preference of the player. In the illustrated embodiment, the counterweight 38 is affixed to the putter head 20 on the top face 26 thereof, with the central axis x of the counterweight body 40 being perpendicular to the top face 26. As shown, the top face 26 defines a bore hole 42 dimensioned to receive a portion of the counterweight 38. As shown, the bore hole 42 of the illustrated embodiment has a circular shape matching the cross section of the cylindrical body 40 of the counterweight 38, in order to fittingly receive a portion of the counterweight 38 in a locking engagement.
The counterweight 38 and putter head 20 may further include engaging mechanical fasteners. In the illustrated embodiment, the counterweight 38 includes a threaded rod 44 that engages a threaded recess 46 formed in the putter head 20. The threaded rod 44 is aligned with the central axis of the counterweight body 40, and the threaded recess 46 is aligned with the central axis of the bore hole 42, permitting the threaded rod 44 to be screwed into the threaded recess 46 to affix the counterweight within the bore hole 42.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-10, the counterweight 38 is affixed to the top face 26 of the putter head 20 in the manner described above at a location along the central plane 34 of the putter head 20. The central plane 34 has a central point 35 that is located equidistant from the front side 22 and the rear side 24 of the putter head. The counterweight 38 is affixed to the top face 26 of the putter head 20 at a location between the center point 35 and the front side 22 in the embodiment of FIG. 1-10. Such positioning of the counterweight 38 optimizes balancing of the putter 10.
In other embodiments of the invention, the counterweight could be affixed at a different position. For example, FIG. 15 shows an embodiment in which the counterweight 38 extends axially from the toe edge 32 of the putter head 20. The counterweight 38 of this embodiment is constructed substantially the same as that described above and shown in FIGS. 1-10, including a cylindrical body 40 and threaded rod 44, which engages a threaded recess extending inward from the toe edge 32 of the putter head 20 and is constructed similarly to the threaded recess 46 described above. As shown, this embodiment of the putter head 20 includes an insert 48, which is embedded within the putter head 20 and positioned within an opening 50 formed between the top face 26, bottom face 28 and front side 22. The insert 48 can be formed of any type of material known in the art for producing golf putter inserts, such as an elastomeric material, for example, silicone rubber. Positioning of the counterweight 38 on the toe edge 32 of the putter head 20, permits a greater deal of flexibility in positioning and sizing of the insert 48. In yet another embodiment, the putter head 20 could be provided with an insert 48, and the counterweight 38 affixed to the top face 26 of the putter head 20 along the central plane 34 thereof, at a position between the insert 48 and the rear side 24 of the putter head 20.
Another embodiment of a putter head 20 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 11-14. As shown, the bottom face 28 of this embodiment includes a first surface 29 and a second surface 31. The first surface 29 and second surface 31 are angled in downward directions towards each other, substantially forming a V-shape in the bottom face 28, and in particular, where the bottom face 28 meets the front surface 23. As shown, the first surface 29 extends between the heel edge 30 and the center plane 34 at a first surface angle φ1, formed with respect to the top face 26, and the second surface 31 extends between the toe edge 32 and the center plane 34 at a second surface angle φ2, formed with respect to the top face 26, so that the first and second surfaces 29, 31 meet at the center plane 34 and at the front surface 23 in the illustrated embodiment, at which they form a vertex 33.
The first and second surfaces 29, 31 have substantially triangular shapes in the embodiment shown, with the front edges 37, 39 thereof extending along the bottom edge of the front surface 23, outward from vertex 33, and the rear edges 43, 45 thereof extending outward and rearward from the vertex 33. A rear surface 47 is located between and rearward of the first and second surfaces 29, 31, extending all the way to the rear side 24 of the putter head 20. In another embodiment, the first and second surfaces 29, 31 could occupy the entire bottom face 28 of the putter head, with the vertex 33 thereof forming a line extending along the length of the center plane 34, and forming an elongate ridge in the bottom face 28 of the putter head 20.
The first and second surface angles φ1, φ2 may be, for example, between 2 degrees and 5 degrees. In another embodiment, the first and second surface angles φ1, φ2 are between 3 degrees and 4 degrees. In yet another embodiment, the first and second surface angles φ1, φ2 are between 3.4 degrees and 3.65 degrees. In some embodiments, the first and second surface angles φ1, φ2 are equal to each other. In yet other embodiments, the first and second surface angles φ1, φ2 are different from each other.
During putting, the V-shaped bottom face 28 cuts through the grassy surface below the putter head 20, driving grass or other debris out of the way of the putter head 20 to maximize the force behind the putter head and precision of movement.
In other embodiments of the invention, a putter head 20 such as that shown in FIGS. 11-14 could be provided with a counterweight 38 positioned according to any other embodiments shown and described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the putter head 20 of FIGS. 11-14 could be provided with an insert 48 such as that shown in FIG. 15. A person of ordinary skill in the art would be capable of modifying the putter head of FIGS. 11 and 12 to include any of these features.
As shown, for example in FIGS. 5 and 7, the front side 22 of the putter head 20 has a front surface 23 disposed at a front surface angle ψ with respect to the top face 26. As shown, the front surface angle ψ is an acute angle. The front surface angle ψ may be, for example, between 75 and 85 degrees. In some embodiments, the front surface angle ψ is between 80 and 83 degrees. In some embodiments, the front surface angle ψ is 82.5 degrees. During putting, the front surface 23 having a front surface angle ψ as described herein, helps guide the ball by providing contact at an angle having both horizontal and vertical components, to help guide the ball and provide a greater degree of control.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-10, the bottom face 28 of the putter head 20 includes a forward section 25, located towards the front side 22 of the putter head, and a rearward section 27, located towards the rear side 24 of the putter head 20. The surface of the rearward section 27 may extend at a downward angle as it approaches the forward section 25, which may, be, for example, parallel to the top surface. As shown, for example, in FIG. 5, the bottom face 28 of rearward section 27 extends at angle Ω with respect to the top face 26. In some embodiments, the surface extends at an angle between 5 degrees and 15 degrees with respect to the top face 26 of the putter head 20. In some embodiments, the surface extend at an angle Ω between 7 degrees and 10 degrees with respect to the top face 26 putter head 20. In some embodiments, the surface extends at an angle Ω of 7.5 degrees with respect to the top face 26 of the putter head 20.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 11-14, the forward section 25 could comprise the first and second surfaces 31, 33, while the rear rearward section 27 could comprise the rear surface, 47, which could extend at an angle Ω such as that described above.
The features of any embodiment of a golf putter 10 described herein can be combined with the features of any other embodiment, as well as with the features of conventional golf putters known in the art.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described, which should be considered as merely exemplary.
Patent Application
20150238825
