Patent Application
20250222325
The embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to golf putters, and more particularly to interchangeable golf putters having variable elements.
Golf is a popular pastime in which players use various clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes on a golf course in as few strokes as possible. One important aspect of the game of golf is putting, which is often considered to be the most important component of the game. As the game has evolved, many putting techniques and putters have been developed. A high degree of accuracy is required when putting the ball. The accuracy of a golfer's putt is primarily dependent upon three factors.
First, the golfer must determine the correct line of travel of the ball to an intended target. This requires that the golfer set up an imaginary line from the ball to the hole, referred to as the correct line of the putt. Second, the golfer must ensure that the putter face is perpendicular to the correct line of the putt. If the putter face is not positioned in this manner, the ball will travel at an angle away from the hole. Consequently, even a slight twisting of a golf putter away from the proper position can result in a missed putt. This is particularly frustrating to the golfer who has a natural tendency to turn his wrists during the swing, or the golfer who has difficulty discerning a slight rotation away from perpendicularity. Finally, the golfer must strike the ball with the correct force to propel it to the hole.
Errors in any of these factors can result in a missed putt, and thus an increase in the golfer's score. Because the putter is the most-used club throughout the round, the decrease in errors while putting is crucial to reducing the overall score of the round.
This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is further disclosed in the detailed description of the embodiments. This summary is not intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The embodiments provided herein relate to an interchangeable convex golf putter with variable loft and weighting system, including a removeable hosel to permit the on-demand interchangeability of the head balance. An interchangeable head to permit the on-demand interchangeability between a convex head face, or to a flat face. An interchangeable weight allows the on-demand interchangeability of the weight of the putter.
The embodiments allows golfers to personalize their putter, tailoring it to their unique putting stroke and requirements. With this putter, users can easily adjust the club's balance, choosing between a face-balanced configuration or various toe hang options. Furthermore, the apparatus offers the flexibility to switch between a blade and a mallet-style putter and adjust the head's weight to suit individual preferences. Moreover, the embodiments provides the feature of transitioning from a consistent loft angle on the face to a variable loft, dynamically adapting based on the rotation of the club head upon striking the ball. Additionally, the putter provides the option to transition from a curved face to a more traditional flat face, enhancing versatility and functionality for the end user.
A golfer carries many different golf clubs in the golf bag for driving, fairway, and short game golfing situations. However, the golfer typically carries only one golf putter in the golf bag for use throughout the entirety of green play of 18 holes. If the golfer desires to use another putter configuration during the round being played, it cannot be accommodated per the USGA Rules of Golf. The interchangeable golf putter system provides the golfer with the capability and flexibility to change the putter into essentially any putter configuration desired, and into another putter type on-the-spot before the round is played, without having to carry multiple putters to the golf course or carry in the golf bag. The complete interchangeable golf putter system refers to the entire putter configuration being adjustable and controllable by and in direct control of the golfer, affording the golfer the capability to change the putter into any putter configuration, essentially providing the golfer an advantage of having multiple golf putters in the golfers golf bag simply by allowing the golfer to change putter components to adapt to evolving needs, which are normally afforded the golfer for driving, fairway, and short game play situations and needs throughout the golf round being played as it unfolds.
The multi-component interchangeable putter system composed of unique and versatile components can be combined into any putter configuration that can be easily re-transformed by the golfer on the fly, before the round to adapt to current green conditions and putter configuration preferences.
In one aspect, the interchangeable head is provided in either a blade configuration, wing configuration, or a mallet configuration.
In one aspect, the removeable hosel permits a face balanced configuration or various toe-weighted configuration.
In one aspect, the weight is comprised of a vertical metal plate insert which may be constructed of stainless steel, copper, zinc, titanium, milled steel, forged steel, tungsten, aluminum, other alloys, carbon fiber, thermoplastics or thermosets.
In one aspect, the interchangeable head is comprised of at least one of the following materials: stainless steel, copper, zinc, titanium, milled steel, forged steel, aluminum, or other alloys.
In one aspect, the removeable hosel allows for a shaft of the putter to be positioned in an onset placement, an offset placement, or a center set placement.
In one aspect, the head face has a variable loft to provide a constant loft during the putting stroke.
A complete understanding of the present embodiments and the advantages and features thereof will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are set forth in this application. Any specific details of the embodiments described herein are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation(s) or inference(s) are to be understood or imputed therefrom.
Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components related to particular devices and systems. Accordingly, the device components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In general, the embodiments provided herein relate to an interchangeable putter system (which may be referred to herein as “apparatus” or “the apparatus”) which allows golfers the ability to easily change the putter to adapt to their changing needs before the round, or between rounds of golf. The apparatus enhances versatility and functionality of the putter. The interchangeable putter apparatus differs from a traditional putter design as it is comprised of separate components to allow golfers the ability to convert the putter into a blade, wing, or mallet-style putter. The face of the putter (i.e., the surface which contacts the ball while putting) may be changed between a curved face or a flat face. Further, the loft of the putter may also be changed.
The putter head weight may also be changed via a vertical metal plate insert. The interchangeable hosel design easily adjusts the club's balance point. The embodiments also provides a variable-loft putter face design that dynamically adapts its loft angle based on the club head's rotation upon striking the ball.
In some embodiments, the apparatus also includes a golf ball retrieval apparatus designed into a wing component.
The putter offers complete customization, empowering users to fine-tune it to their precise requirements. This allows the user to change between a face-balanced putter or one with a slight or pronounced toe hang. If the user prefers a mallet or blade design, the apparatus can accommodate these preferences. Once the putter is configured for an individual, it can be quickly set up or adjusted within minutes for maximum convenience.
In some embodiments, the apparatus provides the golfer the capability and flexibility to convert the back of the putter into either a blade, wing, or a mallet style putter based on the putter type the golfer prefers.
In some embodiments, the apparatus provides the golfer the capability and flexibility to change the putter hosel angle to move the club's balance point from face-balanced to various different toe-weighted alignments.
Some putters combine elements of a mallet and blade. These putters have a larger head size, often resembling a half-mallet, with a higher moment of inertia (MOI) for added stability and forgiveness. This design can benefit golfers with various stroke types. This type of putter is known as a “Half Mallet.” In this apparatus it is referred to as a “Wing”.
Counterbalanced putters feature additional weight in the grip end of the club, which helps shift the balance point higher up the shaft. This design is intended to create a more stable stroke and reduce unwanted wrist action. Counterbalanced putters are often used by golfers who struggle with consistency or tend to yip or twitch during their stroke.
In some embodiments, the apparatus provides the golfer the capability and flexibility to convert the front of the putter face via an interchangeable head, offering options for different head face lofts, head face radiuses, or a flat-faced head;
In some embodiments, the apparatus provides the golfer the capability and flexibility to change the weight of the putter via a vertical plate insert sandwiched between the head component and the back part of the putter. The interchangeable vertical plate insert allows golfers the ability to customize the putter weight using various materials and thicknesses;
In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a variable-loft design on the putter face that keeps the loft constant when the head is rotating during a putt.
In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an innovative wing design for the back part of the putter that also serves as a golf ball retrieval mechanism.
In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a horizontally curved face along the arc of a circle on the putter head with a radius of 12.01 inches or more.
In some embodiments, the apparatus includes Tritium or other illuminating paints, coatings and epoxy sight markings that serve as alignment aids to help the golfer in low-light-level putting situations that may occur in early mornings, under cloudy weather conditions, and evenings.
In some embodiments, the apparatus includes Galvanic corrosion protective coatings protect the interchangeable dissimilar metal components to prevent galvanic corrosion prevalent in high moisture and salt environments. The protective coating materials can be any of the following to include zinc-rich resin coatings, epoxy coatings, Cadium coatings, Nickel coatings, chromium coatings, aluminum coatings, alkyd coatings.
These features provide golfers with the capability of tailoring the putter to match their preferences, adapt to changing needs and putting styles, while the convex surface of the putter minimizes face angle error and dynamically adjusts the sweet spot for improved performance.
The removeable weight 113 is positioned between the back 111 and head face 105 and may be readily removed and replaced with weights having various total weights. The removeable weight 113 may also be used to adjust the balance and swing weight of the putter.
Variability to the contact point along the putting stroke and path of the head face may change the loft applied to the ball at contact. The variable loft angle can range from 0.01 to 7 degrees as shown in
One skilled in the arts will readily understand that the interchangeable putting system (i.e., the apparatus) may include various components commonly included in a putter design. This may include various grip types, shapes, materials and components. For example, the grip may be a circle grip, oval grip, flat oval grip, pistol grip, flat wide grip, modified pistol grip, or triangular grip. The grip options provide diverse tactile experiences and cater to distinct golfer preferences. Further, the grip may be counterbalanced, split, forward press, non-tapered, customizable, ergonomic, corded, hybrid, wrap style, lightweight, ribbed, or oversized.
In some embodiments, the grip material may be silicone, rubber, leather, gel, cork, isoprene, or synthetic rubbers.
In some embodiments, the putter shaft characteristics may include various putter shaft configurations known in the arts. This may include rivets, thin-shaft configurations, thick shaft configurations, and the like. Further, the shaft length may be modified to suit the golfers needs. Shaft materials can include graphite, titanium, aluminum, steel or combinations of materials.
In some embodiments, shaft placement and orientation may be modified to suit the golfer's needs. Shaft placement may be onset, offset, center set, or other known configurations.
In some embodiments, the head balance of the putter may be face-balanced, toe-weighted, heel weighted.
A face balance characteristic refers to the putter's natural tendency to stay square to the target when the shaft is balanced on a finger or pivot point. In a face-balanced putter, the center of gravity aligns with the axis of the shaft, causing the putter face to remain square to the target line without additional manipulation from the golfer.
Toe-weighted putters have additional weight concentrated toward the toe of the putter head. This design promotes a slight opening and closing of the putter face during the stroke, which can be beneficial for golfers who have an arcing putting stroke or a tendency to push or slice putts.
Heel-weighted putters have extra weight concentrated toward the heel of the putter head. This design encourages a slight closing and opening of the putter face during the stroke, making it suitable for golfers with a slight arc in their putting stroke or those who tend to pull or hook putts.
In some embodiments, the interchangeable putting system (ie apparatus) material of the putter may include various materials known in the arts including Aluminum, titanium, zinc, copper, carbon steel, stainless steel, milled forged steel, among others.
In some embodiments, the apparatus of the putter may include blade, mallet, and wing styles of putters.
A blade golf putter offers improved feel, control, and precision in putting. Golfers appreciate the traditional and responsive feel provided by a blade putter, allowing for a heightened sense of strike quality and better distance control. The simpler design with a thinner top line and less perimeter weighting enhances control and workability, enabling golfers to shape their putts and adapt to different green conditions and swing styles. The clean and minimalistic design aids in alignment, making it easier to accurately align the putter face to the target line. The evenly distributed weight and lower center of gravity promote a smooth stroke and minimize unwanted twisting or rotation. The workability of a blade putter allows golfers to adjust the face angle and trajectory to suit varying green speeds and break patterns. Additionally, the compact design provides immediate feedback on mishits, helping golfers identify and correct inconsistencies in their stroke.
A mallet golf putter offers several benefits due to its design characteristics, including improved stability, forgiveness, alignment assistance, consistent roll, customization options, and enhanced distance control. The larger and more weight-distributed head of a mallet putter provides increased stability during the stroke, reducing the likelihood of twisting or rotating on off-center strikes. This design, combined with perimeter weighting and a deep cavity back, enhances forgiveness, maintaining ball speed and direction even on less-than-perfect strikes. Mallet putters often feature alignment aids on the putter head, such as sightlines or parallel lines, aiding in accurate alignment to the target line. The higher moment of inertia (MOI) of a mallet putter promotes a consistent roll and minimizes the effects of slight mishits. The versatility of mallet putters allows for various design options and customization, enabling golfers to find a putter that matches their preferences and stroke style. Additionally, the stability and forgiveness of a mallet putter contribute to improved distance control, particularly on longer putts.
A “half-mallet” or Wing golf putter offers several benefits due to its design characteristics, including improved stability, forgiveness, alignment assistance, consistent roll, customization options, and enhanced distance control. The larger and more weight-distributed head of a mallet putter provides increased stability during the stroke, reducing the likelihood of twisting or rotating on off-center strikes. This design, combined with perimeter weighting and a deep cavity back, enhances forgiveness, maintaining ball speed and direction even on less-than-perfect strikes. Mallet putters often feature alignment aids on the putter head, such as sightlines or parallel lines, aiding in accurate alignment to the target line. The higher moment of inertia (MOI) of a mallet putter promotes a consistent roll and minimizes the effects of slight mishits. The versatility of mallet putters allows for various design options and customization, enabling golfers to find a putter that matches their preferences and stroke style. Additionally, the stability and forgiveness of a mallet putter contribute to improved distance control, particularly on longer putts. Head characteristic may include a ball retriever. The purpose of having a ball retriever on the back of a golf putter is to provide convenience and functionality for golfers. The ball retriever attachment allows golfers to retrieve their golf ball without having to bend down or use a separate ball retriever tool. By incorporating a ball retriever into the putter design, golfers can simply slide the putter head under the ball and use the retriever to scoop up the ball from the green.
Designing a golf putter to have a nice sound serves the purpose of enhancing the golfer's overall putting experience and providing feedback on the stroke quality. A pleasing sound upon impact instills confidence in the golfer, serving as feedback for a solid strike and well-executed putt. This positive feedback boosts confidence and promotes a more consistent putting stroke. Additionally, the pleasant sound contributes to the sensory perception of the game, adding to the enjoyment and creating a satisfying and memorable moment. The sound of a putter can influence the golfer's perception of performance, with a well-crafted sound giving the impression of a higher-quality putter. It also serves as a distinguishing factor for golf club manufacturers, setting their putters apart and appealing to golfers who appreciate specific auditory characteristics. Furthermore, the sound of a putter can evoke tradition and aesthetics, connecting golfers to the heritage and history of the game.
The horizontally convex shaped face of the putter is specifically designed to align with the natural arc of the golfer's putting stroke, assisting in squaring the face at impact and maintaining a consistent swing path. This alignment aids in starting the ball on the intended target line. The curved face design allows golfers with an arced putting stroke to execute their natural movement more smoothly and efficiently, leading to improved distance control and accuracy. Moreover, the rounded face enhances feel and feedback, allowing golfers to better assess the quality of their strike and make necessary adjustments. By using a putter with a curved face, specifically tailored to their stroke type, golfers with an arc in their stroke can achieve a more comfortable and confident setup, resulting in enhanced performance on the greens.
The loft and lie angles of the putter may also be modified to address the golfer's needs. This design ensures a consistent launch angle off the putter face, allowing golfers to develop a better feel for distance control and adapt to different green conditions.
In one example, a 70-degree lie angle is a desirable angle for designing a golf putter due to several reasons. It promotes proper alignment by positioning the golfer's eyes directly over the ball, facilitating a natural and effective alignment to the target line. The 70-degree lie angle enhances balance and stability during the putting stroke, ensuring that the putter's sole remains flush against the ground for a consistent stroke path. It complements the standard length of putters, allowing golfers to achieve a comfortable and efficient setup. The angle also influences impact dynamics, helping golfers achieve optimal contact by positioning the putter face square to the target line at impact. While the 70-degree lie angle is a common standard, individual customization based on body proportions, posture, and stroke characteristics is important.
Swing weight is a measurement used in the world of sports equipment, particularly in golf, tennis, and baseball, to quantify the balance and feel of a piece of equipment such as a club, racket, or bat. It refers to the distribution of weight along the length of the object and how it affects the way it is swung. Swing weight values are typically represented as a number followed by a letter (e.g., D1, C2, E5), where the number represents the swing weight itself, and the letter indicates whether the weight is distributed towards the head (H), handle (L), or evenly (even balance or EB). A higher number indicates a heavier head relative to the handle, resulting in a more head-heavy feel, potentially offering more power but requiring more effort to control. Conversely, a lower number signifies a lighter head, resulting in a more handle-heavy feel, which can offer greater control but might require more effort to generate power.
Determining the optimal location of the center of mass (COM) on a golf putter involves considering factors such as the putter head design, weight distribution, stroke type, feel and balance, as well as personal testing and feedback. The design of the putter head, whether it's a cavity-back or solid construction, can influence the desired COM location, typically positioned slightly above the putter face for a consistent roll and improved stroke feel. The distribution of weight within the putter head, achieved through strategic weight placement, also affects the COM location. Golfers may experiment with toe-weighted or heel-weighted putter head designs to fine-tune the COM position to match their preferences and stroke characteristics. Additionally, considering the golfer's putting stroke type, such as straight-back-and-through or arced, can help determine the desired COM location of the putter head, with a more balanced COM for the former and a slightly toe-weighted COM for the latter. Ultimately, personal testing, seeking professional fitting advice, and gathering feedback from practice sessions and rounds of golf are crucial in identifying the COM position that feels comfortable, promotes stability, and enhances putting performance.
When designing a golf putter, it is essential to consider a putter head weight ranging from 300 grams to 370 grams (10.58 ounces to 13.05 ounces) that aligns with golfer preference, putting stroke style, and green conditions. Golfers with a straight-back, straight-through stroke may benefit from a slightly heavier putter head, while those with an arcing stroke may prefer a lighter head. Adjusting the putter head weight allows for personalized customization, enhancing the putter's feel and performance. Additionally, custom fitting sessions with professional club fitters can provide valuable insights to determine the optimal weight distribution. By incorporating adjustable weight systems, golfers can further fine-tune their putters to match their preferences, resulting in improved feel, stability, and overall putting performance.
In a professional engineering laboratory environment, the process of designing a golf putter head with optimal moment of inertia (MOI) involves establishing the target MOI for forgiveness and stability, analyzing weight distribution by calculating the center of gravity (CG), optimizing the shape and size with a larger mallet-style head to enhance perimeter weight distribution, selecting high-density materials like stainless steel or tungsten, incorporating weight ports or inserts for customization and weight redistribution, experimenting with perimeter weighting techniques, prototyping and testing different designs considering factors such as feel, aesthetics, and golfer preferences, and seeking feedback from golfers and professionals to refine the design and achieve the desired performance goals while adhering to professional standards and maintaining meticulous attention to detail.
In some embodiments, the vertically weighted system may be adjustable in material and thickness. Further, the distribution of the material may be modified to adjust the weighting of the putter. The vertical weighting plates can also have non uniform cut outs to change the COM and MOI of the putter head configuration.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The systems and methods described herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this disclosure. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this disclosure.
As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
It should be noted that all features, elements, components, functions, and steps described with respect to any embodiment provided herein are intended to be freely combinable and substitutable with those from any other embodiment. If a certain feature, element, component, function, or step is described with respect to only one embodiment, then it should be understood that that feature, element, component, function, or step can be used with every other embodiment described herein unless explicitly stated otherwise. This paragraph therefore serves as antecedent basis and written support for the introduction of claims, at any time, that combine features, elements, components, functions, and steps from different embodiments, or that substitute features, elements, components, functions, and steps from one embodiment with those of another, even if the description does not explicitly state, in a particular instance, that such combinations or substitutions are possible. It is explicitly acknowledged that express recitation of every possible combination and substitution is overly burdensome, especially given that the permissibility of each and every such combination and substitution will be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art.
In many instances entities are described herein as being coupled to other entities. It should be understood that the terms “coupled” and “connected” (or any of their forms) are used interchangeably herein and, in both cases, are generic to the direct coupling of two entities (without any non-negligible (e.g., parasitic intervening entities) and the indirect coupling of two entities (with one or more non-negligible intervening entities). Where entities are shown as being directly coupled together or described as coupled together without description of any intervening entity, it should be understood that those entities can be indirectly coupled together as well unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
While the embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that these embodiments are not to be limited to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, these embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit of the disclosure. Furthermore, any features, functions, steps, or elements of the embodiments may be recited in or added to the claims, as well as negative limitations that define the inventive scope of the claims by features, functions, steps, or elements that are not within that scope.
An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.
