Abstract:
A method of aligning a putter, including the steps of providing a putter having a head, a heel, a toe, and a planar striking face including a removable reflecting surface for receiving and reflecting incident light; providing a light source separate from the putter head; directing light from the light source towards the reflecting surface such that the reflective surface is illuminated with and reflects a portion of the light; and detecting the reflected light with a reference device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/136,950, filed May 2, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,496. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to golf clubs and, more particularly, to a putter that has an alignment system for aiding and improving a player&#39;s putting stroke. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   One of the most difficult strokes for a golfer to master and one that is equally difficult to teach, is a good, squarely-aligned, repetitive putting stroke. Recreational players can lose valuable strokes, that would otherwise significantly improve their scores, by taking 3 and 4 putts per green. Even professional players are greatly affected by their ability (or lack thereof) to putt. Good or even proficient putting may be the difference between a professional attaining or retaining their tour privileges, making or missing a cut in a tournament, or even winning or losing a tournament. 
   One way in which golfers&#39; can improve their putting stroke is to use an alignment system. A variety of patents have issued that describe putter alignment methods, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,165,691; 5,169,150; 5,193,812; 5,207,429; 5,213,331; 5,330,188; and 5,388,832. Most of these alignment methods involve reference lines, lighted guides, marked training mats, or some combination thereof. 
   While these various methods have their advantages and disadvantages, their still remains a need for a putter and an alignment method that, when coupled together, provide a golfer with a removable (to keep the putter within all United States Golf Association rules and regulations), yet substantially error-free way of monitoring and improving their putting stroke. The present invention provides such a putter and alignment method, combining the benefits of a collimated light source, such as a laser, and physical markings on the putter head, to refine and improve a golfer&#39;s putting stroke. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a putter, comprising a head comprising an offset hosel; a heel; a toe; and a planar striking face; wherein the head comprises a first reference line is spaced from and parallel to said planar striking face; and a ladder comprised of a plurality of second reference lines, wherein the ladder is located substantially between the hosel and the heel and the second reference lines are perpendicular to the striking face. 
   Preferably, the head further comprises a top surface and a back surface. The first reference line and the ladder are typically positioned on the top surface and the ladder comprises less than about 10 second reference lines, preferably less than about 5 second reference lines, and most preferably, between about 2 and about 5 second reference lines. 
   The first reference line is substantially located between the heel and the hosel. The planar striking face may also include an insert, which can include a vibration dampener, the insert and vibration dampener being of different materials. Preferably, the insert is of a material that is different that the rest of the club head. Ideally, the insert includes a copper alloy. 
   The present invention is also directed to a method of aligning a putter, comprising the steps of providing a putter as described in claim  1  to a golfer; placing the putter in the golfer&#39;s neutral putting position; identifying the location of the hosel relative to the plurality of second reference lines; recording to memory the location of the hosel; and making a putting stroke, wherein the location of the hosel relative to the second reference lines remains constant throughout the entire swing. 
   The present invention is also directed to a putter, comprising a hollow grip comprising a first end having a first aperture, a second end comprising a second aperture and a collimated light source; a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and a head comprising an offset hosel having a third aperture; a heel; a toe; and a planar striking face; wherein the first end of the grip is attached to the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft is connected to the hosel, such that light emanating from the collimated light source is directed thought the second aperture. 
   The collimated light source can be a laser. Preferably, the second aperture has a diameter sufficient to receive the collimated light source, the light source having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the second aperture. Ideally, the collimated light source is removably attached to the grip. 
   The present invention is also directed to a method of aligning a putter, comprising the steps of providing a putter comprising a head comprising an offset hosel; a heel; a toe; and a planar striking face comprising a reflecting surface; providing a focused, collimated light source; orienting the light source perpendicular to the reflecting surface and directing the light source such that the reflective surface is illuminated with light; monitoring the reflected light on a reference device. The collimated light source may be a laser. The reflecting surface may be a mirrored surface. 
   The present invention is further directed to a method of aligning a putter, comprising the steps of providing a putter comprising a head comprising an offset hosel having a first aperture; a heel; a toe; and a planar striking face, the striking face further comprising a semi-transmitting member; a hollow grip comprising a first end and a second end comprising a collimated light source; and a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the first end of the grip is attached to the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft is connected to the hosel, such that light emanating from the collimated light source is directed thought the first aperture and strikes the semi-transmitting, polarized member creating a first light beam co-linear to the shaft and second light beam directed substantially perpendicular to the striking face towards a reference device; monitoring the first light beam; and monitoring the second light beam on the reference device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the putter and alignment system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the putter and alignment system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the putter and alignment system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a side view of the grip end of the putter of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is side view of the putter and the reflecting surface; and 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the putter and the beam splitter reflecting/pass-through. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention and referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a putter head  10 , typically attached to a shaft  12  (only partially shown), comprises an offset hosel  14  for receiving the shaft, a heel portion  16  at the hosel end of the putter head, a toe portion  18  opposite the heel portion  16 , and a striking face  20 . Extending between the heel portion  16  and the toe portion  18  is the strike face  20 , which is the surface that contacts the golf ball (not shown) upon impact between the putter head  10  and the ball. The strike face  20  generally includes a “sweet spot,” or the center of gravity in the toe to heel direction. The strike face  20  can be comprised of the same material as the putter head or may include an insert  20   a , such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,458 (“the &#39;458 patent”), which is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by express reference thereto. If an insert  20   a  is present, it preferably comprises a soft material, such as an elastomeric material or a tellurium copper alloy. A vibration dampening means, such as an elastomeric material that is deformable may also be used with the optional insert, as set forth in the &#39;458 patent. In the preferred embodiment, the elastomeric material is a silicone material, Stock No. GE281, available from General Electric Company in Waterford, N.Y. 
   The strike face  20  has a loft angle, which may be any angle, but is preferably less than about 10 degrees, more preferably, between about 2 degrees and about 7 degrees, and most preferably, between about 3 degrees and about 5 degrees. Preferably, the loft of the strike face  20  is set so that the putter has 4 degrees of loft at impact for the individual golfer using the putter. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the putter head further contains an alignment system for a golfer that comprises at least one first reference line  22  and a plurality of second reference lines  24 . The at least one first reference  22  line is spaced apart from and parallel to the striking face  20 , which is substantially planar, and runs along the top surface  26  of the putter head  10 , extending from the heel  16  to a location generally where the hosel  14  attaches to the putter head  10 . More preferably, the first reference line  22  extends from the heel  16  to the point where the hosel  14  abuts the back surface  28  of the front striking face  20 . The plurality of second reference lines  24  (the “ladder”) are also located on the top surface  26  of the putter head  10 , substantially between the hosel  14  and the heel  16 . The plurality of second reference lines  24  are oriented perpendicular to the striking face and the first reference line  22 , and each individual line of the ladder  24  is spaced from each other such that the spacing provides a golfer with a visual reference points when observed from above. Preferably, the lines are less than about 0.75 inches apart, more preferably, less than about 0.5 inches apart, and most preferably, less than about 0.25 inches apart. 
   The hosel  14  can form an angle relative to the top surface  26  of the putter head  10  to provide all or part of the lie angle. Generally, putter hosels extend from the putter perpendicularly and the shaft receiving boss is angled to form the lie angle. However, in the present invention, the hosel itself can be angled. Preferably, the hosel  14  forms and angle of about 10° to about 30° with the top surface  26  of the putter head  10  and, more preferably, forms and angle of about 15° to about 25° with the top surface  26  of the putter head  10 . 
   In a method of aligning the putter head, a golfer first holds the putter in the manner they typically would while addressing a golf ball prior to making a putting stroke. The hosel  14  of the putter head  10  will obscure some, all, or none of the plurality of lines comprising the ladder  24  depending on the lie angle that is natural to the golfer. By identifying what portion of the ladder  24  is obscured, and where the obscured portion is located relative to the heel portion  16 , the golfer can determine whether the putter head  10  lie angle is oriented in a flat, upright, or neutral position. Additionally, the golf can determine the effective loft of their putting stroke by observing the position of the back edge  28  of the hosel  14  relative to the first reference line  22 . If the back edge  28  of the hosel  14  is leading the first reference line  22 , the putter is oriented in a closed face orientation. If the back edge  28  of the hosel  14  is abutting the first reference line  22 , the putter loft angle is in a neutral position. If the back edge  28  of the hosel  14  is obscuring or trailing the first reference line  22 , the putter loft is oriented in an open position. 
   In a further embodiment of the method of alignment, the golfer can use the positions of the hosel  16  relative to both the first reference line  22  and the ladder  24  to keep the putter head  10  oriented in the same location throughout the entire putting stroke (i.e., the identical number of lines in the ladder  24  are obstructed from view during the entire putting stroke). Not only can the golfer ensure consistent head orientation but they can use the alignment method as a training aid to correct and adjust poor or incorrect putter orientation. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, referring to  FIGS. 3 and 3   a , a putter  100  comprises a grip  110  attached to distal end  112   a  of a hollow shaft  112  and an offset hosel  114  for receiving the proximal end  112   b  of the shaft. The hosel  114  generally contains a shaft boss  114   b  for receiving the shaft. The hosel  114  further comprises a hosel aperture  114   a  into which the hollow shaft  112  is received. The putter  100  further comprises a putter head  116  comprising a heel portion  118 , a toe portion  120  opposite the heel portion  118 , and a striking face  122 . The striking face  122  comprises a front face  124  and a back face  126 . The front surface of the strike face  124  is the surface that contacts the golf ball (not shown) upon impact between the putter head  116  and the ball. 
   The grip  110  has a first and second aperture ( 126   a  and  126   b ), the first aperture  126   a  for receiving the distal end  112   a  of the shaft  112 , and the second aperture  126   b  for receiving a collimated light source  128 , such as that emitted from a laser pointer, typically a solid state laser of minimal power (typically less than about 3 mW). The second aperture  126   b  should have a diameter sufficiently sized to receive the collimated source  128  while firmly retaining it in the aperture. The apertures can be any diameter, however, preferred diameters are less than about 0.75 inches, more preferably less than about 0.5 inches, and most preferably less than about 0.3 inches. 
   Further, the diameter of both the second aperture  126   b  and the collimated light source should be smaller than the internal diameter of the hollow shaft  112  such that the light source  128  will fit inside and co-axial with the hollow shaft  112 . The collimated source  128  is positioned substantially co-linear with the axis of the hollow shaft  112  such that the light may emerge from the proximal end of the shaft  112   a  and through the hosel aperture  114   a . The collimated light beam will be visible on the ground in front of the striking face  122 , allowing a golfer to follow the track of the putting stroke while actually making the stroke. There is, therefore, a method of training a golfer to follow a proper putting stroke swing plane afforded by the above-described light-source-containing putter. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the present invention includes a method for aligning a putter face prior to making a putter stroke as a training aid to ensure squareness of the putter with respect to the putting line. A collimated light source, such as that emitted from a laser (i.e., a solid state laser, laser pointer), is oriented perpendicular to the striking face of a putter and is directed at the putter head. The putter head comprises a reflective surface  200  attached to the striking face  202  for reflecting the laser beam  204  back towards an indexed reference device, such as an opaque surface, such as a ruler or paper, a grid, such as graph paper, or a photo-detector, such as a charge-coupled device (“CCD”). The reflective surface can be any reflective surface, but is preferably a mirror or highly-polished fused silica or glass. A spacer or shim may also be used to orient the reflecting surface in the proper angle for return of the collimated light source to the reference device. 
   As a golfer address a golf ball prior to making a putting stroke, the laser beam is directed back at the reference device. The location of the reflected beam of light on the reference device aids the golfer in determining the orientation of the putter face prior to making the putting stroke. For example, if the putter face is held in an “open” orientation, the laser beam spot will be reflected to the right of center on the reference device. Conversely, of the putter face is held in a closed orientation, the laser beam spot will be reflected to the left of center on the reference device. Of course, if the putter face is square, the laser beam spot will be reflected directly to the center of the reference device. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a beam splitter (or other partial light reflecting, refracting, or transmitting device)  300  is attached to the striking face  302  of the putter. The beam emanating from the collimated light source  304  located in the grip of the putter, such as that emitted from a laser pointer, is allowed to strike the beam splitter  300 . The beam splitter  300  allows part of the laser beam to pass directly through it such that it still strikes the ground (as described above), allowing a golfer to align and train their putting stroke plane. The remaining light energy of the laser beam, typically about 50%, is directed in a direction perpendicular to the striking face  302  for use in directional alignment of the strike face  302  itself. The redirected part of the laser beam hits the reference device, allowing a golfer to determine the orientation of the striking face of the putter prior to initiating a putting stroke. 
   Suitable beam splitters include beam splitter cubes and right angle prisms, such as Model Nos. 46216, 46219, 46222, 46225, and 46240 (beam splitter cubes) and Model Nos. 46060, 46070, 46165, and 46166 (right angle prisms), commercially available from Oriel Instruments of Stratford, Conn. Beam splitter cubes split a laser beam into two orthogonal beams. These beam splitters do not displace the beam and are typically optimized for a specific wavelength of laser light. Beam splitter cubes are generally made from two borosilicate glass right angled prisms cemented together at the hypotenuse. The hypotenuse of one prism is coated with a beam splitter coating prior to cementing. Additionally, a high efficiency anti-reflection coating is applied to the entrance and exit faces. Right angle prisms turn a laser beam 90° through total internal reflection off the hypotenuse. Reflectance is very high, typically 99%, especially when an anti-reflection coating is used. 
   The reference device can be anything that gives the golfer “feedback” regarding their putting stroke and can include, without limitation, any flat surface, a grid, graph paper, or any photosensitive-array detector, such as a photomultiplier tube, an avalanche photodiode, or a CCD. If the reference device is a photosensitive-array, the signal generated by such may be transferred to an output device, such as a PC, monitor, or an oscilloscope so that the golfer can visually “see” their alignment and/or store the data from such for future use, perhaps for downloading to a personal data assistant (i.e., a Palm Pilot®). 
   Another embodiment of the present invention combines the reference device above with a similar reference device in the floor (or a holding device, such as a mat) below the golfer. In combination with the collimated light source and a beam splitter, a golfer may not only gain valuable information about his alignment and putting swing path, he may obtain both simultaneously. The visual and recorded data from such a training session may be stored and/or correlated for analysis by the golfer or a golf coach, as well as being retained for comparison purposes at a later training session. 
   As used herein, the term “about,” used in connection with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range. 
   The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments herein disclosed, since these embodiments are intended as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.