Abstract:
Abstract A golf putter comprising a putter head that has a flat ball-striking surface that is perpendicular to an enlarged planar sole plate forming the bottom surface, an elongated shaft that is inclined from lower to upper end towards a golfer, which will therefore require the golfer to stand in a more upright position and farther away from the ball, keeping his/her eyes on the fairway or green instead of the ball when aligning a shot. Also, the ball-striking surface is larger than the diameter of the golf ball.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates in general to golf putters and, more particularly, to a golf putter having in combination a flat ball striking surface that is larger in diameter than the diameter of a golf ball, an enlarged planar sole plate, an elongated shaft is inclined at an angle from lower end to upper end towards a player.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     It is an accepted fact that in the game of golf, putting the ball on the green requires a short, more controllable stroke or swing than other golf shots. A shorter more controlled swing helps to ensure more accuracy and controlled contact with the ball, which in turn increases the accuracy of the shot and decreases the likelihood of a missed hit. It is also true that putting is one of the single most important aspects of the game, and that missed puts can add significantly to a player&#39;s score. Furthermore, a perfect put is substantially a bounce-free shot. Approximately 60% of all shots made during a game of golf occur on the green. Accordingly, improvements in a player&#39;s putting game can be a significant part of lowering a player&#39;s overall score.  
         [0003]     Much is written on the subject and many different types of putters have been designed with the aim of assisting golfers to better achieve that confident feel for the golf swing and especially the putting stroke. In order to reduce the number of strokes taken on the green, golfers are taught that the putting stroke should be smooth, rhythmic and fluid. The face of the putter should be square to the intended line of the target when the putter strikes the ball. The golf ball is to be struck solidly, but smoothly, making contact with the ball-striking surface of the putter head.  
         [0004]     There are many types of golf putters on the market, including, for example, blade styled, mallet head and flanged head putters. Blade style putters provide a golfer with a feel for the ball contacting the putter head, as in an inelastic reaction where two bodies having approximately the same mass collide with each other. On the other hand, mallet styled putters provide the golfer with a pendulum swing. These putters, among others, have all been designed to provide an improved feel and assist golfers avoid common problems with putting. Examples of such problems are: aligning the golf club at a correct angle with the ball and the hole, turning and/or rotating the putter head and the body of the golfer during a swing, and yips. Yips refer to involuntary motions of the hand or wrist that can make effective putting all but impossible.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,528 issued on Feb. 2, 1998 to Tsao for “Golf Putters” is directed to a weighted flat surface attachable sole plate. This weighted flat sole plate could, however, provide a false perception where part of the sole plate was resting on the putting surface while another part was not. This false perception would cause the golfer to misperceive level contact of the putter head with the putting surface, when it was not so.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,997 issued on Aug. 3, 2004 to Ruiz for “Golf Putter Head” is directed to a putter head that is designed such that there is a minimum of the bottom of the putter head that comes into contact with the surface of the green. The disadvantage of this putter head is that only a portion of the bottom of the putter head comes into contact with the ground, therefore, when the golf ball is struck, the putter head can easily rotate and the golf ball, upon impact, becomes air-bome and as such the shot is not straight.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,827 issued in Aug. 14, 2001 to Hockerson et al. for “Golf Putter Head” is directed to a putter head having a front plate that carries a ball-striking pad. The ball-striking pad is made of a fibrous material that has a predetermined resiliency which is sufficient to absorb impact forces when striking a golf ball. The disadvantage of this golf putter is that the putter head and the ball-striking pad are both smaller in height than the diameter of a golf ball and as such do not hug the ball at impact without elevation and as such the shot will not result in the golf ball having a perfect roll.  
         [0008]     US patent application 2004/0038746 published on Feb. 26, 2004 to Wahl et al. for “Golf Putter Head” is directed to an elongated golf putter head having both a front insert and a rear insert. Similarly to U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,827, the ball-striking surface is less than the diameter of a golf ball and, as such, may not hug the ball at impact without elevation and, as such, the shot will not result in the golf ball having a perfect roll.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,002 issued on Apr. 20, 2004 to Barlow for “Golf putter with Offset Shaft” is directed to a golf putter with an offset shaft. The shaft enters the top surface of the body of the putter head and is bent towards the top surface at a distance above the top surface. The disadvantage of this golf putter is that since the shaft extends from the top surface of the putter, the golf player must have his eye over the ball as opposed to standing taller and seeing more of the green and the hole. In addition, the ball-striking surface is smaller than the diameter of a golf ball and as such does not hug the ball at impact without elevation and as such the shot will not result in the golf ball having a perfect roll. Furthermore, this golf putter may be aesthetically displeasing to some golfers.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,246 issued on Aug. 18, 1998, to Hale for “Golf Putter” is directed to a golf putter with a flat generally elliptical shaped striking surface with a shaft that is connected at the back of the putting surface. The disadvantage of this golf putter, like U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,997 to Ruiz is that since the bottom surface of the putter does not rest completely on the ground, the golf ball upon impact with the striking surface becomes air-bome. In addition, the putter bottom does not slide on the green and therefore the golf ball will bounce.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,784 issued on Nov. 11, 1997 to Butler for “Golf Club Putter Head” is directed to a golf putter head having an enlarged, substantially planar convex sole plate and a narrow bridge-lip top member which lowers the center of gravity of the putter head. The shaft is connected to the hosel, which is located along the putter head&#39;s centerline. As with the other golf putter heads and golf putters, this golf putter head has a short shaft which results in the golf player standing over the sole plate with their eye on the golf ball as opposed to standing tall and farther away from the ball and seeing the more of the green and hole.  
         [0012]     Accordingly, many of the prior art golf putter heads, in attempting to solve alignment, slide and other putting problems are convoluted in design and construction, ineffective and aesthetically displeasing. In addition, the ball striking surfaces in prior art of golf putters are smaller than the diameter of a golf ball.  
         [0013]     Therefore, there is a need for a golf putter that promotes the sliding effect of the putter on the surface of the ground and a putter that hugs a golf ball with zero or minimum elevation at impact therefore promoting a substantially bounce-free roll of the golf ball towards the hole.  
         [0014]     The putter of the present invention also allows for a third eye view. With prior art putters, the golf putter, the golfer, putter club, golf ball and hole are all substantially in the same vertical plane, which also defines the approximate line between the ball and the hole. As well, the golfer&#39;s back and shoulder are generally stooped with the head and eyes generally over the ball. A person who is with the golfer generally cannot tell the golfer if the golf ball and hole are properly lined up for the shot or not, but observing from some steps back from the line between the ball and the hole as such a person will generally be better able to observe if the stance of the golfer has properly lined up the shot with the hole. Since the shaft of the present golf putter is elongated and angled towards the golfer, the golfer is required to take a stance, with back straightened and shoulders, head and eyes higher as compared to the usual stance with a prior art putter and generally not in a position over the ball. The golfer stands farther away from the ball, and not over it. Therefore, by using the golf putter of the present invention, the golfer and hole are substantially in first vertical plane and the putter club, golf ball and hole are substantially in a second vertical plane. The first plane and the second plane intersect at the hole. The stance of the golfer with the putter of the present invention allows the accompanying person to observe and provide guidance to a golfer and assist him/her in properly lining up his/her shot with the hole.  
         [0015]     The golf putter of the present invention also comprises of an enlarged planar sole plate with the tendency to better glide on the surface of the ground, to help golf players overcome nervousness that most golfers face, which is commonly referred to as yips. Furthermore, the ball-striking surface of the putter is generally perpendicular to the enlarged planar sole plate of the putter and the ball-striking surface is larger than the diameter of the golf ball, to allow for a more controlled, stable shot  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a golf putter having a putter head that has a flat ball-striking surface that is generally perpendicular to an enlarged, generally planar sole plate forming the bottom surface of the putter head. The putter head is connected to a first, generally lower end of an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft has an upper gripping end located at a second, generally upper end. The elongated shaft is inclined from the lower to upper end towards the player, and will therefore require the player to take a stance and stand father away from the ball and will result in more weight on the planar bottom surface of the putter head. The combination of the shape of the putter head, elongated shaft and enlarged generally planar sole plate forming the bottom surface of the putter head allows the putter head to glide on the surface of the ground instead of the traditional airborne putting stroke. The gliding of the putter head on the surface permits a straighter put and helps stabilize the putter head. In addition, by having an elongated shaft, the golfer is required to stand farther away from the ball in a more upright position and thus alleviating back problems, which often result from being bent over the ball. Furthermore, the elongated and inclined shaft permits the golfer to stand farther away from the ball and see more of the fairway or green and accordingly the person playing with the golfer can observe and guide the golfer in properly aligning his/her shot with the hole.  
         [0017]     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf putter with a putter head that has a flat ball-striking surface that is perpendicular to an enlarged planar sole plate with an elongated shaft which is inclined from the lower to the upper end at an angle towards the golfer, which will require the golfer to stand in a more upright position and farther away from the ball which will result in more weight being placed on the bottom enlarged planar sole plate of the putter head.  
         [0018]     In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf putter with a putter head that has a flat ball-striking surface that is perpendicular to an enlarged planar sole plate with an elongated shaft which is inclined from the lower to the upper end at an angle towards the golfer, which will require the golfer to stand in a more natural upright position, thus alleviating common back problems resulting from being bent over the ball when using the conventional golf putter found in the prior art.  
         [0019]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf putter with a putter head that has a flat ball-striking surface that is perpendicular to an enlarged planar sole plate with an elongated shaft which is inclined from the lower to the upper end at an angle towards the golfer, said flat ball-striking surface being larger than the diameter of the golf ball that it comes into contact with such that when the putter head strikes the golf ball, it hugs and glides on the ground with substantially 0 degree elevation at impact.  
         [0020]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention is there provided a golf putter that provides a golfer with a third eye view of the green or fairway when setting up a shot.  
         [0021]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf putter that helps a golfer address the problem of yips. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, is best understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which  
         [0023]      FIG. 1 , is a left side view of a golfer using the golf putter in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2 , is a right side view of a golfer using the golf putter in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a first perspective front view of the golf putter in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a second perspective front view of the golf putter in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a close up perspective back view of the golf putter in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the golf putter in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the golf putter in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the golf putter in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is shown a golf putter ( 10 ) comprising a putter head ( 12 ), an elongated shaft ( 14 ) and a grip ( 16 ). The putter head ( 12 ) comprises a body ( 18 ) and a flat ball-striking surface ( 20 ). The putter head is connected to a first, generally lower end ( 11 ) of an elongated shaft ( 14 ) having an upper grip end ( 17 ) located at a second, generally upper end ( 13 ). The body ( 18 ) comprises a heel portion ( 22 ), a toe portion ( 24 ), an enlarged planar sole plate forming a bottom surface ( 26 ), a back face ( 23 ) (shown in  FIG. 5 ), a top portion ( 28 ), along with a pair of side faces ( 21 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , the back face ( 23 ) of the putter body ( 18 ) is rounded. However, the back face ( 23 ) may have a variety of profiles and remain within the scope of the present invention. The same is true for the side faces ( 21 ) that can have a variety of different configurations and still be consistent with the present invention.  
         [0032]     The flat ball-striking surface ( 20 ) of the putter is generally perpendicular to the enlarged generally planar sole plate forming the bottom surface ( 26 ) of the putter ( 10 ). Preferably, the body ( 18 ) is made of lightweight material such as aluminum or titanium, and various composites and combinations thereof. This will ensure that the body ( 18 ) can have increased dimensions. In a preferred embodiment, the top portion ( 28 ) of the body ( 18 ) is approximately five (5) inches deep from the toe portion ( 24 ) to the lower end ( 11 ) of the elongated shaft ( 14 ) and the enlarged planar sole plate ( 26 ) is approximately four (4) inches deep from the flat-ball striking surface ( 20 ) to the back face ( 23 ) of the putter head ( 12 ).  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the elongated shaft ( 14 ) is connected to the putter head ( 12 ) at the first, generally lower end ( 11 ) of the body ( 18 ) at an angle by a hosel ( 15 ). The angle of the elongated shaft ( 14 ) will be inclined from lower ( 11 ) to upper ( 13 ) end towards the golf player ( 50 ) as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Preferably, the angle of the shaft ( 14 ) will be between about 30 degrees at least, to about 55 degrees, towards the golf player ( 50 ) but preferably at about 45 degrees towards the golf player ( 50 ). The length of the elongated shaft ( 14 ) is longer than conventional shafts and can be customized depending on the height of the golf player ( 50 ), it being understood that the shaft must be sufficiently long so that the golfer does not stand over the golf ball. The length and inclination of the shaft ( 14 ) towards the golfer ( 50 ) is such that the golf player ( 50 ) is required to stand in a more upright position and farther away from the golf ball which results in more weight being placed on the enlarged sole plate forming the bottom of surface ( 26 ) of the golf putter ( 10 ). This also ensures that the golfer ( 50 ) is looking in the direction of the fairway or green and towards the hole and not at the golf ball. Preferably, the elongated shaft ( 14 ) is made of graphite to keep the weight of the elongated shaft ( 14 ) down.  
         [0034]     The flat ball-striking surface ( 20 ) is perpendicular to the enlarged planar sole forming the bottom portion ( 26 ) of the putter head ( 12 ) and generally larger than the diameter of the golf ball. As shown on  FIG. 6 , the height HI of the flat ball striking surface ( 20 ) is at least two and a quarter inches (2 ¼″), but preferably at least one inch (1″) larger than the diameter of the golf ball. The ball-striking surface may be of any shape such as rectangular, oblong, elliptical, oval and the like so long as the surface and height is larger that the diameter of the ball.  
         [0035]     The enlarged planar bottom portion ( 26 ) of the body ( 18 ) with slightly rounded sides of the putter head ( 12 ) is generally parallel to the ground. Therefore, the golf putter ( 10 ) can slide and glide on the ground. The enlarged planar bottom portion ( 26 ) of the body ( 10 ) of the putter head ( 12 ) assists golf players in hitting the golf ball with a more stable, substantially bounce-free roll towards the hole. In addition, the lift of the golf ball will be substantially reduced and closer to or at 0 degrees, to promote a substantially bounce-free roll.  
         [0036]     In setting up for a shot, the golfer ( 50 ) will look out onto the fairway or green in the direction of the hole, grip the gripping end ( 16 ) of the shaft ( 14 ) and strike the golf ball with the flat-ball striking surface ( 20 ), the enlarged planar bottom ( 26 ) of the putter body ( 18 ) gliding and sliding on the ground, which along with the enlarged ball-striking surface results in a more stable, more controlled, generally bounce-free roll of the golf ball toward the hole.  
         [0037]     In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.