Lie Adaptor

Abstract

This invention is directed toward a lie adaptor that can be used to adjust the angel at which the shaft attaches to the putter. In one embodiment, the lie adaptor is inserted into the hosel of a putter, then secured to both the shaft and putter head. In another embodiment, the lie adaptor has a cavity in its upper portion into which the shaft fits. In either case, the lie adaptor can be made with a variety of angle adjustments possible, such that a golf shop or even an individual golfer can quickly, easily, and economically adjust the putter lie.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not federally sponsored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the general field of putters and more specifically, to a lie adaptor that allows a putter manufacturer or consumer to adjust the lie of his/her putter in a simple, effective and economical manner.

The lie of a putter is extremely important, as an ideal putt will be accomplished with the toe and heel of the putter level to the ground. If the toe is “up” in the air, the ball will be “pulled” off its intended target; when the toe is “down”, the ball will be “pushed”. In either case, even if the golfer perfectly lines up his/her putt, the ball will be unintentionally deflected away from the cup just because the lie was incorrect.

Brief Description of Invention

The lie adaptor that is described in this application offers a way that the lie of a putter can be adjusted such that the toe and heel of the putter will remain at the proper angle during putting. The basic concept is to create a solid piece of metal with two main parts that are slightly offset to one another, with a connecting piece by which the lie adaptor can be attached to the putter. By rotating the device, the putter head can be angled to correct an incorrect lie.

The prior art has several examples of attempts to resolve this problem, but none provide an efficient and economical solution that is made possible by this invention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,931,542 to Kusumoto provides an adjustor element that can be screwed in between the shaft and the head of a wood. This invention, however, requires multiple threaded sections, support surfaces, and multiple adjuster elements. Two other items of the prior art are US Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0165115 to Matsunaga, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,591,352 to Hirano. Both of these applications describe specially made golf club heads that have cavities into which a variety of gravity point adjusters can be inserted to change the center of gravity of the club. Neither of these inventions, however, allows a quick and effective way to change the lie of the club.

Thus, there has existed a long-felt need for an efficient and economical means by which the lie of a putter can be adjusted. The current invention provides a solution to this problem by providing a one-piece, small, lightweight adjuster that can be easily attached to the shaft and head of a putter to provide a variety of lie angles.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a lie adaptor that can be easily attached to the shaft and head of a putter to adjust the lie of the putter.

An additional object of the invention includes providing a lie adaptor that fits into the hollow shaft of a putter, and also is attachable to the putter head by a screw.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lie adaptor that has a cavity in its upper portion, into which a putter shaft, including a solid putter shaft, can be inserted.

Further objects of this invention include providing a single unit that be effectively modify the lie of a putter.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of one embodiment of the lie adaptor, namely, a lie adaptor that can be inserted into a hollow or solid shaft of a putter.

FIG. 2 is a bottom, perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is top, perspective view of the head of a putter, showing how the lie adaptor fits into the hosel outer (15).

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective of the head of the putter illustrated in FIG. 3, showing how a bolt can be used to attach the invention inside the hosel cavity of a putter head.

FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 inserted into the hosel cavity of a putter head.

FIG. 6 is a bottom, perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, where there is a cavity into which the shaft—particularly a solid shaft—can be inserted.

FIG. 7 is a side, perspective view of a shaft with a lie adaptor ready to be inserted into an inner hosel.

FIG. 8 is a back view of the back of a putter head.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a putter head.

FIG. 10 is front cross-sectional view of a putter head.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a putter head.

FIG. 12 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a close up view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a putter with a lie adaptor in use.

FIG. 17 is a close-up, side view of the canted joint, showing how it creates the angle for the lie adaptor.

FIG. 18 is a top view of a hollow shaft fitting inside the lie adaptor.

FIG. 19 is a side view of a hollow shaft fitting inside the lie adaptor.

FIG. 20 is a side view of a clear, acrylic shaft going over an alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the invention are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of one embodiment of the lie adaptor, namely, a lie adaptor that can be inserted into a hollow or solid shaft of a putter. The lie adaptor, generally referenced as 1 in other figures, has an adaptor hosel 2 that receives a putter shaft, a canted joint 3 that creates the adjustment in lie angle, and a male alignment guide 4. The male alignment guide 4 has a radius side. The adaptor hosel 2 fits into the end of a hollow putter shaft and can be secured with epoxy or another similar compound. The canted joint 3 is manufactured to be “offset” from the adaptor hosel 2 by one or more degrees. It is contemplated that a variety of these lie adaptors could be made with a variety of offset angles, such that a shop adjusting the putter for a client could try out several different lie adaptors before selecting the one appropriate for that client and securing it into the putter shaft.

The canted shaft 9 is inserted into a cavity in the upper portion of the putter head (not shown in this figure). The Male Alignment Guide 4 can allow the lie adaptor to be inserted into putter head at two different angles, thereby allowing a user of the invention to select which angle would be appropriate for a particular golfer. The Male Alignment Guide 4 has a threaded hole 5 into which a bolt can be screwed to attach the lie adaptor to a putter head. A Connection face flat portion 8 secures the lie adaptor and prevents it from rotating within the cavity in the putter head. A connection face flat portion shelf 7 sits upon a corresponding shelf within the cavity of the putter head to maintain the amount that the lie adaptor is inserted into the cavity in the putter head. A first shelf 6 in between the insert portion 2 and the canted joint 3 abuts the top of the cavity in the putter head, thereby providing additional control over the depth at what the lie adaptor 1 is inserted into the cavity in the putter head.

FIG. 2 is a bottom, perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. This figure provides a more detailed view of the bottom portion of the lie adaptor. The male alignment guide 4 is inserted to a cavity at the top of the putter head. The second shelf 7 sits upon a corresponding shelf in the cavity of the putter head. The connection face flat portion 8 secures the lie adaptor and prevents it from rotating within the cavity in the putter head. The Threaded hole 5 is a threaded hole into which a bolt can be inserted to attach the lie adaptor to the putter head.

FIG. 3 is top, perspective view of the head of a putter, showing how the lie adaptor fits into the putter head. The putter head, generally referenced as 13, has a heel 11 and a Toe 10 of the putter. As mentioned previously, keeping the toe 10 and heel 11 even is important to keeping the ball going as targeted. Should the toe or heel of the putter be raised or lowered, even slightly, above or below each other, the golf ball will be automatically deflected a tiny amount. But, over the course of the putt, a “tiny amount” of deflection can easily result in a properly aimed ball missing the hole. The heel 11 of the putter connects the portion of the putter head that actually strikes the ball to the shaft by way of a neck 12. In most putter heads, the Heel 11 has a hosel inner 14 surrounded by Hosel outer 15, where the hosel inner 14 is offset at an angle different from that of the Heel 11. This is called the “lie” of the putter, and allows the golfer to strike the ball with the putter head in front of him or her, allowing for better control. However, the angle that the putter is offset from the Heel is not idea for all golfers; hence the need for this invention so that the lie of a putter can be adjusted.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective of the head of the putter illustrated in FIG. 3, showing how a bolt can be used to attach the invention inside the hosel cavity of a putter head. The lie adaptor, is inserted into the hosel inner (14 in other figures, not visible in this figure), that is define by Hosel outer 15. The connection plate flat portion prevents the lie adaptor from rotating in the hosel cavity. A bolt goes through the clearance hole for bolt 16, and screws into the threads on the Threaded hole 5, thereby securing the lie adaptor to the putter head.

FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 inserted into the hosel inner of a putter head. In this figure, the bolt has been screwed into the clearance hole for bolt, thereby pulling the lie adaptor into the hosel inner. The lie adaptor is retained within the hosel inner by the hosel outer 15. Because the canted joint 3 is offset from the angle of the hosel inner, the lie of the putter can be easily adjusted.

FIG. 6 is a bottom, perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, where there is a cavity into which the shaft—particularly a solid shaft—can be inserted. In this embodiment, the canted joint 3 and Male Alignment Guide 4 are identical to those in the previous embodiment, but the adaptor hosel 2, has a lie adaptor cavity 18, into which the shaft can be inserted. This second embodiment allows the invention to be used with solid shafts, and even with hollow shafts of different diameters

FIG. 7 is a side, perspective view of a shaft with a lie adaptor in an alternative embodiment, ready to be inserted into an inner hosel. A putter shaft 19 has been inserted into the adaptor hosel 2. The canted joint has offset the angle of connection between the putter shaft 19 and the putter. The canted shaft 9 is ready to be slid into the hosel of the putter. A male alignment guide 4 will position the lie adaptor at the proper direction inside the putter hosel. A set screw 21 will be screwed into a threaded hole 20, and will push against the connection face flat portion 8 of the lie adaptor, thereby preventing the lie adaptor from rotating within the putter hosel.

FIG. 8 is a back view of the back of a putter head. The hosel outer 15 creates a certain angle from the neck 12. This angle will not be perfect for every golfer, hence the need for a lie adaptor.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a putter head. This figure shows how the clearance hole for bolt 16 is lined up such that the lie adaptor can be bolted into place through this hole.

FIG. 10 is front, cross-sectional view of a putter head. A clearance hole for bolt 16 will allow a bolt to be inserted into the bottom of the lie adaptor, pull the lie adaptor down into the putter hosel, and secure it against rotation. A lie adaptor socket 18 will mate with the male alignment guide (4 in other figures) to prevent rotation of the putter around the shaft. A hosel inner 14 will hold the lie adaptor, secured in a set position by the hosel outer 15.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a putter head. This view shows how the shape of the lie adaptor socket 18 can prevent rotation of the shaft.

FIG. 12 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention, generally referenced as 22, showing an alternate shape of the lie adaptor socket 18.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a close up view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a back view of a putter with a lie adaptor in use. The golf club shaft 19 has been inserted into an adaptor hosel 2. The canted shaft (not seen in this figure) has been inserted into the hosel outer 15. The canted joint 3 has altered the angle between the golf club shaft 19 and the putter.

FIG. 17 is a close-up, side view of the canted joint, showing how it creates the angle for the lie adaptor.

FIG. 18 is a top view of a hollow shaft fitting inside the lie adaptor.

FIG. 19 is a side view of a hollow shaft fitting inside the lie adaptor.

FIG. 20 is a side, view of a clear, acrylic shaft going over an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this figure, a hollow putter shaft 19

It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

REFERENCE NUMBERS USED

• • 1. Lie adaptor generally—general
  • 2. Adaptor Hosel—receives golf shaft
  • 3. Canted joint—creates the adjustment in lie angle
  • 4. Male Alignment Guide. Radius side allows for precious in manufacturing as the matting side should be milled—end mills rotate so must have some radius
  • 5. Threaded hole—to receive socket head screw acts as the nut in a bolt and nut configuration
  • 6. First Shelf—limits the depth of lie adaptor
  • 7. Second shelf—Transition to off round portion and also limits the depth of lie adaptor when bolted together
  • 8. Connection face flat portion—serves three purposes 1. Keeps part from twisting when being bolted in and during use 2. Sets the orientation of the lie angle. 3. Set screw receiver
  • 9. Canted shaft—Shaft mates with hosel hole in the putter to create lie angle
  • 10. Toe of the putter—end of putter further from the player. Used in the diagram for part orientation
  • 11. Heal of the putter—end of putter closer to the player. Used in the diagram for part orientation
  • 12. Neck of the putter—in some cases this neck obstructs the socket bolt, therefore, a set screw on the side is better
  • 13. Putter generally
  • 14. Hosel inner—hole that normally receives the shaft, but in this case receives adaptor canted shaft
  • 15. Hosel outer—normally receives the shaft. Important for use with set screw
  • 16. Clearance Hole for Bolt—without threads to help to allow the screw to pass through to lock with thread portion of lie adapter
  • 17. Bolt—Socket head bolt limits depth causing the adaptor to pull tighter in bolt and nut configuration
  • 18. Lie Adaptor Socket—This mates with lie adaptor alignment guide to restrict rotation when bolted to create a joint
  • 19. Putter shaft
  • 20.Threaded hole—used for set screw
  • 21. Set Screw
  • 22. An alternative version of 18 that is cross-shaped rather than elliptical.
  • 23. Alternative adaptor hosel

Claims

1. A lie adaptor, consisting of: an adaptor hosel, a canted joint, and a canted shaft, where the adaptor hosel comprises a upper end, where the canted joint comprises an offset angle and a first shelf, where the canted shaft comprises a second shelf, a male alignment guide, a connection face flat portion, and a threaded hole, with the threaded hole has a plurality of threaded hold threads, where the adaptor hosel is configured to accept a shaft end from a putter shaft of a putter, where the canted shaft has a canted shaft diameter, and where the canted shaft diameter is slightly smaller than a diameter of an inner hosel on a putter head of the putter, and where the second shelf mates with a corresponding shelf of the hosel inner of the putter, and where the male alignment guide mates with a lie adaptor socket in the hosel inner, and where the first shelf has a first shelf diameter, and where the first shelf diameter is slightly larger than a hosel outer diameter of a hosel outer located on a putter head.

2. The lie adaptor of claim 1, additionally consisting of a bolt, where the bolt has a plurality of bolt threads, and where the plurality of bolt threads mate with the plurality of threaded hole threads, and where the putter has a clearance hole for bolt, with a clearance hole for bolt diameter, where the bolt has a bolt head, where the bolt head has a bolt head diameter, where the bolt head diameter is greater than the clearance hole for bolt diameter, such that the bolt can be inserted through the clearance hole for bolt, and the plurality of bolt threads can engage with the plurality of threaded hole threads, and with a rotating motion, the bolt can secure the lie adaptor into an inner hosel of the putter.

3. The lie adaptor of claim 2, where the putter has a hosel inner and a hosel outer, and a set screw threaded hole, where the set screw threaded hole extends from the hosel outer into the hosel inner, and where a set screw is screwed into the set screw threaded hole, and where the set screw contacts a connection face flat portion of the lie adaptor, where the male alignment guide is elliptical, where the canted joint is between 0.5 degrees and 2 degrees.

4. A lie adaptor, comprising: an adaptor hosel, a canted joint, and a canted shaft, where the adaptor hosel comprises a upper end, where the canted joint comprises an offset angle and a first shelf, where the canted shaft comprises a second shelf, a male alignment guide, a connection face flat portion, and a threaded hole, with the threaded hole has a plurality of threaded hold threads, where the adaptor hosel is configured to accept a shaft end from a putter shaft of a putter, where the canted shaft has a canted shaft diameter, and where the canted shaft diameter is slightly smaller than a diameter of an inner hosel on a putter head of the putter, and where the second shelf mates with a corresponding shelf of the hosel inner of the putter, and where the male alignment guide mates with a lie adaptor socket in the hosel inner, and where the first shelf has a first shelf diameter, and where the first shelf diameter is slightly larger than a hosel outer diameter of a hosel outer located on a putter head.

5. The lie adaptor of claim 4, additionally comprising a bolt, where the bolt has a plurality of bolt threads, and where the plurality of bolt threads mate with the plurality of threaded hole threads, and where the putter has a clearance hole for bolt, with a clearance hole for bolt diameter, where the bolt has a bolt head, where the bolt head has a bolt head diameter, where the bolt head diameter is greater than the clearance hole for bolt diameter, such that the bolt can be inserted through the clearance hole for bolt, and the plurality of bolt threads can engage with the plurality of threaded hole threads, and with a rotating motion, the bolt can secure the lie adaptor into an inner hosel of the putter.

6. The lie adaptor of claim 5, where the putter has a hosel inner and a hosel outer, and a set screw threaded hole, where the set screw threaded hole extends from the hosel outer into the hosel inner, and where a set screw is screwed into the set screw threaded hole, and where the set screw contacts a connection face flat portion of the lie adaptor.

7. The lie adaptor of claim 6, where the male alignment guide is roughly elliptical.

8. The lie adaptor of claim 7 where the canted joint is between 0.5 and 10 degrees.

9. The lie adaptor of claim 7, where the canted joint is between 1 degree and 3 degrees.

10. The lie adaptor of claim 9, where the male alignment guide has a shape, and the shape is a rounded off shape.

11. A lie adaptor, comprising: an adaptor hosel, a canted joint, and a canted shaft.

12. The lie adaptor of claim 11, where the adaptor hosel comprises a upper end, where the canted joint comprises an offset angle and a first shelf, where the canted shaft comprises a second shelf, a male alignment guide, a connection face flat portion, and a threaded hole, with the threaded hole has a plurality of threaded hold threads, where the adaptor hosel is configured to accept a shaft end from a putter shaft, where the canted shaft has a canted shaft diameter.

13. The lie adaptor of claim 12, where the canted shaft diameter is slightly smaller than an inner hosel diameter on a putter head, and where the second shelf mates with a hosel inner shelf, and where the male alignment guide mates with a lie adaptor socket in the hosel inner, and where the first shelf has a first shelf diameter, and where the first shelf diameter is slightly larger than a hosel outer diameter of a hosel outer located on a putter head, and additionally comprising means of connection between the male alignment guide and the lie adaptor socket.

14. The lie adaptor of claim 13, where the means of connection is epoxy.

15. The lie adaptor of claim 13, where the means of connection is a bolt, where the bolt has a plurality of bolt threads, and where the plurality of bolt threads mate with the plurality of threaded hole threads, and where the putter has a clearance hole for bolt, with a clearance hole for bolt diameter, where the bolt has a bolt head, where the bolt head has a bolt head diameter, where the bolt head diameter is greater than the clearance hole for bolt diameter, such that the bolt can be inserted through the clearance hole for bolt, and the plurality of bolt threads can engage with the plurality of threaded hole threads, and with a rotating motion, the bolt can secure the lie adaptor into an inner hosel of the putter.

16. The lie adaptor of claim 15, where the putter has a hosel inner and a hosel outer, and a set screw threaded hole, where the set screw threaded hole extends from the hosel outer into the hosel inner, and where a set screw is screwed into the set screw threaded hole, and where the set screw contacts a connection face flat portion of the lie adaptor.

17. The lie adaptor of claim 16, where the male alignment guide is elliptical.

18. The lie adaptor of claim 17 where the canted joint is between 1 and 2 degrees.

19. The lie adaptor of claim 17, where the canted joint is between 0.5 degrees and 10 degrees.

20. The lie adaptor of claim 19, where the male alignment guide has a shape, and the shape is a rounded off shape.