Abstract:
A golf club apparatus ( 14 ) for optimizing the golfing performances by helping golfers to strike the center of a golf ball which promotes top spin and avoids back spin to impart pure rolling motion without skipping or sliding. The apparatus ( 14 ) includes a shaft ( 16 ); a club head ( 12 ); a hosel ( 11 ) which connect shaft ( 16 ) to club head ( 12 ); an elevated foot ( 10 ) connected to club head ( 12 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The benefit of the filing of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/594,728 filed May 2, 2005 is claimed.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not applicable. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention relates generally to golf equipment, and more particularly to an elevated golf club foot for reducing a golfer&#39;s strokes while playing a round of golf.  
         [0005]     Golf is a particularly difficult game to master. Many golfers, amateur and professionals alike, spend countless hours attempting to master the “perfect” golf swing. The golf swing has many different components that require the exertion of multiple muscles in the body. A consistent golf swing can be accomplished when the muscles are conditioned to repetitively make the same motion. One component of the swing in which muscle conditioning is extremely important is during the club head approach to the golf ball. If the club head is too low, the bottom of the club head will strike the ground before impact affecting the resulting shot. Alternatively, if the club head strikes the ball too high on impact, the golfer will “top” the ball resulting in a significant loss of distance. The optimum distance is achieved when a selected striking area of the club head impacts the center of the golf ball. When putting, it is desirable to strike the ball at its center of gravity to impart pure rolling motion without skipping or sliding.  
         [0006]     Through trial and error, a golfer can determine the precise amount of distance the club head should be above the ground to have the selected striking area impact the center of the ball. Once this distance is determined, the golfer must repetitively incorporate this distance into a swing to condition his muscles. This trial and error method can be extremely time consuming and expensive.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need for an elevated golf club foot for determining the correct distance a club head should be held above the ground for optimum contact between a golf ball and club head. Known prior arts golf clubs devices include U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,033,283; 6,863,624; 6,520,865; 6,511,387; 6,099,413; 6,062,987; 5,226,654; 4,165,076; and 3,595,582. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose the new elevated golf club foot apparatus. The inventive device is comprised of a shaft, a club head, a hosel to connect shaft and club head, and an elevated foot connected to club head. In these respects, the elevated golf club foot assembly, according to the present invention, substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of aiding a golfer in correctly determining the optimum distance a club head should be above the ground before impact with a golf ball.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     This need is met by the present invention, which provides an elevated golf club foot to aid a golfer in correctly determining the optimum distance a club head should be above the ground before impact with a golf ball. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a putter head and elevated foot constructed in accordance with the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a putter including the elevated foot of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a putter having an angled shaft;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the elevated foot of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an alternate elevated foot;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the elevated foot of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front view of another alternate elevated foot;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the elevated foot of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a front view of another alternate elevated foot;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the elevated foot of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a putter including a brush-like elevated foot;  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a putter including an elevated foot having a decorative shape;  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the putter in  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of another alternate elevated foot before attachment to a putter head;  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a removable elevated foot;  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  is a side view of the head of the putter in  FIG. 1  just before impact with a golf ball;  
         [0026]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a driver head and elevated foot constructed in accordance with the invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 18  is a bottom view of the driver head and elevated foot of  FIG. 17 ; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the head of the driver in  FIG. 17  just before impact with a golf ball;  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an exemplary elevated foot  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention attached to the head  12  of a putter  14  having a shaft  16  and a grip  18 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the hosel of the shaft  16  is positioned substantially halfway between the heel  13  and toe  15  of the head  12  of the putter  14  for optimum putting performance. In one configuration, the shaft  16  can be substantially perpendicular to the head  12  of the putter  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a slightly different putter  14 ′ having a shaft  16 ′ and a head  18 ′. The hosel  11 ′ is disposed substantially halfway between the heel  13 ′ and the toe  15 ′ of the head  12 . In contrast to the putter  14 , the shaft  16 ′ is disposed at a non-perpendicular angle “A” to the head  12 . In the illustrated example the angle A is about 15°.  
         [0031]     Preferably, the putter  14  or  14 ′ has a total length “TL” from the ground of about 91 cm (36 in).  
         [0032]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the elevated foot  10  has a top surface  20 , a bottom surface  22 , and two opposed side surfaces  24  and  26 . Two planar sides  28  and  30  extend between the top surface  20  and bottom surface  22  connecting the two opposed side surfaces  24  and  26 . The elevated foot  10  can be constructed of any material which can support the head of a putter  12 . Examples of suitable materials include wood, plastic, rubber, iron, steel, and aluminum. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 , and  4 , the two opposed side surfaces  24  and  26  have a convex curve such that the overall shape of the elevated foot  10  is similar to the keel of a boat. The shape of the elevated foot  10  can be varied to suit a particular application. For example,  FIGS. 5 and 6  show an elevated foot  32  having a generally square cross-section with rounded corners  34 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  show an elevated foot  36  having a quasi-triangular or bullet-shaped profile.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show an elevated foot  38  having a parallel-sided upper portion  40  and a radiused lower portion  42 .  
         [0033]     The elevated foot  10  need not be a rigid member, so long as it can provide a reference of a desired height to a player. For example,  FIG. 11  illustrates an elevated foot  116  having a rigid base  44  carrying a plurality of downwardly-extending resilient bristles  46  of a selected length.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate an elevated foot  216  tailored to children who have taken up the game of golf. The elevated foot  216  is in the shape of a pretzel, but otherwise serves the same function as the elevated foot  10  described above. Other decorative or amusing shapes may be used for the elevated foot  216 .  
         [0035]     Most golf clubs are designed with colors and materials which are strictly functional or which are intended to appeal to adult golfers. However, to further encourage children to take up the game of golf, the putter  14 , including the grip  18 , the shaft  16 , and the elevated foot  10 , can be made in or decorated with a multitude of colors to appeal to children. Bright colors such as red, orange, light blue, and pink, to name just a few, may be used instead of the more traditional dark, neutral colors. Furthermore, the parts of the putter  14  can include patterned decorations with artistic designs or themes. For example patterns of flowers, the sun, or stars, to name just a few, can be applied to the putter.  
         [0036]     The dimensions selected for the elevated foot  10  are designed to support the head of the putter  14  at a selected height above the putting surface. The dimensions of elevated foot  10  will vary with the specific putter  14  chosen, but generally it has a length “L” from about 2.5 cm (1.0 in) to about 8.9 cm (3.5 in), a height “H” of about 0.51 cm (0.2 in) to about 3.1 cm (1.2 in), and a width “W’ of about 0.25 cm (0.1 in) to about 1.3 cm (0.5 in). As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the elevated foot  10  has a length “L” of about 8.9 cm (3.5 in), a height “H” of about 0.95 cm (0.38 in), and a width “W’ of about 0.32 cm (0.13 in).  
         [0037]     In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the elevated foot  10  is an integral portion of the bottom of the club head  12 . However, the elevated foot  10  can also be a separate unit which is affixed to a club head  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , a separate elevated foot  316  may be secured to the club head  12  by means such as adhesives, mechanical fasteners, hook-and-loop fasteners such as VELCRO, adhesive tap, or soldering. Known suitable adhesives include construction adhesives sold under the trademark LIQUID NAILS, and cyanoacrylate adhesives such as KRAZY GLUE.  
         [0038]     Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , a removable elevated foot  416  includes a clip  48  which clamps onto the club head  12 . The exemplary clip  48  has a base  49  with two upwardly extending flexible arms  50  for clamping the club head  12 . This allows the elevated foot  416  to be easily slide on or off an existing club head  12 . This allows a golfer to use the removable elevated foot  416  with a favorite putter without permanent modification. The clip  48  could be replaced with other means for removably securing the removable elevated foot  416 . For example, the clip  48  could be mounted to the club head  12  instead of the removable elevated foot. Alternatively a groove and a matching rail (not shown) could be formed in the club head  12  and the removable elevated foot  416 .  
         [0039]     The use of the elevated foot  52  is shown in  FIG. 16 . As the putter head  12  is placed on the putting surface  54  in a position addressing a golf ball  56 , the putter  14  is elevated about 0.79 cm (0.31 in). The type and shape of the elevated foot  52  are chosen in consideration of the dimensions of the putter head  12  to elevate a selected striking area  58  of the putter head  12  adjacent the center of mass “C” of a standard golf ball  56 . The exact amount of elevation will depend on the size of the golf ball used (i.e. American or British). With the elevated foot  52  attached to the putter head  12 , a golfer is forced to hit the golf ball  56  substantially at the center of mass “C”. The subsequent result is a golf ball  56  that has a straight, uniform rotation. This avoids any tendency of the golf ball  56  to roll of off the intended line. Through repeated use of the elevated foot  52 , the golfer&#39;s muscles may become conditioned to consistently and routinely produce a correct stroke.  
         [0040]     Another embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . The illustrated example shows an elevated foot  60  on the sole plate  62  of a driver head  64 . The elevated foot  60  may be used with other woods, with irons, or with hybrid design clubs as well. The elevated foot  60  has a top surface  66  connected to the sole plate  62 , a bottom surface  68 , and two opposed side surfaces  70  and  72 . Two spaced-apart sides  74  and  76  extend between the top surface  66  and bottom surface  68  connecting the two opposed side surfaces  70  and  72 .  
         [0041]     The elevated foot  60  is positioned in a longitudinal direction in the center of the driver head  64 . The elevated foot  60  elevates the driver head  64  above the playing surface  78  when the driver is in the striking position as seen in  FIG. 19 . This elevated position allows a selected striking area  80  of the driver head  64  to impact the center “C” of a golf ball  56  resulting in solid contact and improved yardage. Through repeated use of the elevated foot  60 , the golfer&#39;s muscles may become conditioned to consistently and routinely produce a correct stroke.  
         [0042]     The foregoing has described an elevated golf club foot. It should be noted that the elevated foot may be used with a regular club for normal play as well as a training or practice aid. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.