Golf Putter Head with a Multidirectional Roller Ball

An improved golf putter head with a training insert is described. The golf putter head can comprise a base and a training mechanism. The base can comprise a crown, a sole, a face for hitting a golf ball, and an insert housing. The sole can comprise a bottom orifice. The training mechanism can comprise an insert and a roller ball. The insert can be mateable with the insert housing. The insert can at least partially form a roller ball housing. The roller ball can substantially be enclosed within the roller ball housing and extends out from the base through the roller ball housing.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to an improved golf putter head with a training insert. This disclosure also relates to an improved golf putter head with a multidirectional roller ball. Golf is enjoyed by many as a sport or for recreational activity. And one of the most important skills to develop when playing golf is putting. Needless to say, having a well fit putter can be essential when playing the sport of golf. A proper fitting putter can provide better stability and can minimize an on-off center stroke, which, over the course of a round, can greatly affect the scores and the performance of a player. To get better on putting involves a lot of practice. In one embodiment, a golfer can practice putting by using a traditional golf putter to improve their grip and other mechanics. However, such system is incapable correcting a golfer's set-up position wherein the head of the putter should be resting flat or parallel to the ground. Furthermore, one issue new golfers have on the green is the inability to move the putter smoothly across a green. Many strike the ball, rather than stroke it. Others, because of poor mechanics, will hit the ground first, causing for the putter face to angle and send the golf ball to be misdirected. For these reasons, it would be useful to have an improved golf putter that reduces the effects of golfer mechanical mistakes.

A golf aid may involve moving parts. However, per golf rules, a club may not have moving parts. While golf aids that involve moving parts can be incredibly useful in training, such aids cannot be kept in a rules-compliant bag on the course. Furthermore, the aid effectively requires the user to buy two putters—the golf aid putter, and a legal putter. For these reasons, it would be additionally useful to have a golf putter head that can be converted from a putter head with moving parts to a putter head without moving parts.

SUMMARY

An improved golf putter head with a training insert. The golf putter head can comprise a base and a training mechanism. The base can comprise a crown, a sole, a face for hitting a golf ball, and an insert housing. The sole can comprise a bottom orifice. The training mechanism can comprise an insert and a roller ball. The insert can be mateable with the insert housing. The insert can at least partially form a roller ball housing. The roller ball can substantially be enclosed within the roller ball housing and extends out from the base through the roller ball housing.

An improved golf putter head with a multidirectional roller ball is also disclosed. The golf putter head can comprise a base, a first ball housing within the base, and a first roller ball. The base can comprise a crown, a sole, a face for hitting a golf ball, and an insert housing. The sole can comprise a first bottom orifice. The first roller ball can be mounted within the first ball housing and can extend through the first bottom orifice. The ball can be capable of rolling freely in any direction within the first ball housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of a golf putter head100. Golf putter head100is the portion of a golf putter used to strike a golf ball and is opposite a handle of the golf club. In one embodiment, golf putter head100can be used as a golf putter training aid. In such embodiment, golf putter head100can comprise a base101, a roller ball102, and an insert103. As an exemplary embodiment, golf putter head100can be a mallet-style putter. In other embodiments, golf putter head100can be any type of golf head such as a blade-shaped putter head. In one embodiment, base101can comprise a face104, a sole105, a crown106, and a back107. Face104is the portion of golf putter head100that is intended to hit a golf ball. Face104can connect sole105and crown106. In one embodiment, face104can have a substantially planar surface. For purposes of this disclosure, sole105is the bottom portion of golf putter head100that typically comes in contact with the ground when a golfer sets up at a golf ball for a putt. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, crown106is the top portion of golf putter head100most easily seen by golfer when in a putting position. Back107can be a surface at an opposite side of face104. Back107can be curved or flat. Base101can comprise an insert housing108. In one embodiment, roller ball housing can be open to sole105. In another embodiment, insert housing108can be further open to crown106. Further, insert103can be mateable with insert housing108. As such, insert103can at least partially form the roller ball housing. In this embodiment, insert103can be a cover109. In such embodiment, insert housing108can house a cover109and roller ball102. Cover109is a removable or otherwise moveable portion of base101that allows roller ball102to enter and exit insert housing108. Moreover, cover109can be used to secure roller ball102within base101. In such structure, roller ball102can rotate freely within insert housing108of base101. In one embodiment, a portion of roller ball102can extend through cover109. Further in another embodiment, golf putter head100can be used for golf putting. In such embodiment, roller ball102can be removed from base101. In such scenario, cover109can first be removed from base101to take out roller ball102. Once roller ball102is removed, cover109can be mounted and into insert housing108, which can be further discussed below. Further in another embodiment, insert103can be a plug. In such embodiment, roller ball102can mount permanently within insert103.

FIG. 2illustrates a bottom view embodiment of golf putter head100comprising roller ball102. In one embodiment, sole105and crown106can have a substantially flat surface. In such structure, roller ball102can protrude from the surface of sole105. As such, when golf putter head100is placed on the ground, the exposed portions of roller ball102can come in contact with the ground and can roll at any direction within base101. Such structure can allow a user to move golf putter head100smoothly in any direction.

FIG. 3illustrates roller ball102and cover109removed from insert housing108of golf putter head100. In one embodiment, cover109can comprise a lip301, an orifice302, and a skirt303. In another embodiment, cover109may not have orifice302. Lip301can be flat circular disc around orifice302. In one embodiment, lip301can comprise one or more slots304. Each slot304can be a small hole at the surface of lip301. Slots304can receive a tool to help the user fasten and/or remove cover109from insert housing108. In one embodiment, slots304can receive a golf divot tool. Divot tool can comprise of one or more prongs that are inserted into the grass, which can be used to repair the grass on the golf course. In this embodiment, the prongs of divot tool can be insertable within slots304. As such, the user can use the divot tool as a grip that can help when fastening or unfastening cover109from insert housing108. Further, orifice302can be centered on cover109. Skirt303can be a portion of cover109that hangs vertically around the outer edge of lip301. In such structure, the diameter of orifice302can be smaller than the diameter of skirt303. Furthermore, the diameter of skirt303can be slightly larger than the diameter of roller ball102. Orifice302can prevent roller ball102from slipping out of insert housing108while still allowing roller ball102to rotate within skirt303. Further in one embodiment, the outer surface of skirt303can comprise threads305. In such embodiment, insert housing108can also comprise a threaded wall306that can be mateable with helical threads305of skirt303. In another embodiment, the outer surface of skirt303can use twist and lock mechanism.

FIG. 4illustrates a section view embodiment of golf putter head100. In one embodiment, insert housing108can comprise a top portion401, a middle portion402, and a bottom portion403. In this embodiment, middle portion402and bottom portion403can be substantially shaped like a portion of a half-hemisphere of roller ball102, with middle portion402as wide or just slightly wider than roller ball102. In such embodiment, top portion401can be sized to let roller ball pass through crown106into insert housing108when cover109is not present. In one embodiment, the walls within top portion401can comprise threaded wall306while the walls of middle portion402and bottom portion403can be unthreaded. In a preferred embodiment, top portion401can mate with cover109. Furthermore, bottom portion403can comprise a bottom orifice405within sole105that allows roller ball to extend outward from sole105, yet prevent roller ball102from slipping out of base101. In one embodiment, the inner surface of skirt204can comprise curved arc404. In such embodiment, when cover109is threaded within insert housing108, curved arc404together with middle portion402and bottom portion403, can form a roller ball housing406. Roller ball housing406, can be in the shape of a sphere minus a first spherical cap beginning at sole105, and, in one embodiment, minus a second spherical cap beginning at crown106. Thus, roller ball102can be substantially enclosed within roller ball housing and can extend out from base101.

FIG. 5illustrates another embodiment of cover109. In this embodiment, skirt303can be mateable with insert housing108using a twist lock mechanism500. In such embodiment, top portion401can comprise one or more pins501while inner surface of skirt303can comprise one or more L-shaped slots502. Pins501can protrude from the surface of top portion401. Each pin501can be compatible with each L-shaped slot502. Pins501can be insertable within L-shaped slots502and twisting cover109can lock cover109in place.

FIG. 6illustrates an embodiment of golf putter head100with roller ball102removed. In a scenario wherein golf putter is needed for a golf match, golf putter head100can be converted into a regular putter wherein the movable part such as roller ball102should be removed. To do so, cover109first be removed from insert housing108through the divot tool. Once cover109is removed, roller ball102can be removed from insert housing108. Then with the help of the divot tool, cover109can be mounted and threaded back within top portion401.

FIG. 7illustrates another embodiment of golf putter head100comprising a training mechanism700. For purposes of this disclosure, training mechanism700can comprise of insert103and roller ball102. In one embodiment, insert103can be a training plug701. Training plug701can be insertable within insert housing108. In one embodiment, training plug701can comprise roller ball102. In one embodiment, roller ball102can be permanently mounted within training plug701. In this embodiment, the curved side portion of training plug701can comprise helical threads305, which can be mateable with threaded wall306of insert housing108. Further in one embodiment, roller ball102can rotate freely within training plug701. In another embodiment, roller ball102can rotate on a single axis within training plug701.

FIG. 8illustrates a training plug701placed within insert housing108. In this embodiment, the top surface of training plug701can be flush with crown106. As shown inFIG. 8, training plug701can also comprise an opening mechanism to help aid a user remove training plug701, such as a slit801. Slit801can help the user fasten and/or unfasten training plug701from insert housing108. Moreover, slit801can aid in aligning cover109within insert housing108. In this embodiment, roller ball102can be mounted within training plug701and free to roll around within training plug701.

FIG. 9illustrates a section view embodiment of how roller ball102housed within training plug701. In this embodiment, roller ball102can be freely moveable within training plug701. In such embodiment, training plug701can comprise roller ball housing406and bottom orifice405. In such embodiment, roller ball102can rotate in any direction.

FIG. 10illustrates a section view of another embodiment of how roller ball102can be mounted within training plug701. In this embodiment, training plug701can further comprise an axle1001. In one embodiment, axle1001can be attached within training plug701parallel to face104. In such embodiment, roller ball102can only move in a single direction. In one embodiment, roller ball102can only move in a forward-backward direction.

FIG. 11Aillustrates a match plug1100insertable within insert housing108. In one embodiment, training mechanism700can be removable and replaceable with match plug1100. In such embodiment, training plug701can be removed from insert housing108and be replaced with match plug1100. In this embodiment, the surface and the bottom surface of match plug1100can be flat and be flushed with crown106and sole105. In one embodiment, the curved surface of match plug1100can also comprise threads305and slit801. In such embodiment, match plug1100can be mateable with insert housing108. In an example embodiment, match plug1100can be used to close insert housing108when roller ball102and cover109is removed. In another example embodiment wherein golf putter head100will be used for a golf match, the user can take out training plug701and then close insert housing108with match plug1100. In one embodiment, match plug1100can be the same weight as training plug701.

FIG. 11Billustrates another embodiment of match plug1100comprising a spherical cap1101. Spherical cap1101can attach permanently to bottom portion403. As such, spherical cap1101can extend below sole105. In this embodiment, spherical cap1101can mimic roller ball102except that spherical cap1101is stationary.

FIG. 12illustrates training plug701comprising one or more additional roller ball housings1201. In this embodiment, each additional roller ball housing1201can comprise an additional roller ball1202. In one embodiment, additional roller ball housing1201can comprise a first roller ball housing1201aand a second roller ball housing1201b. Each additional roller ball housing1201can form within base101. In such embodiment, a first roller ball1202acan mount within first roller ball housing1201aand extends through a first bottom orifice1203a. Furthermore, a second roller ball1202bcan mount second roller ball housing1201band extends through a second bottom orifice1203b. In one embodiment, first roller ball1202aand second roller ball1202bcan be positioned along a line parallel to face104. In another embodiment, first roller ball1202aand second roller ball1202bcan be positioned along a line perpendicular to face104. In another embodiment, training plug701can further comprise a third roller ball housing1201c. In such embodiment, a third roller ball1202ccan mount said third roller ball housing1201c. In this embodiment, third roller ball1202ccan extend through a third bottom orifice1203c. In such embodiments, each additional roller ball1202can extend below sole105allowing each additional roller ball1202to roll or rotate freely in any direction within their respective roller ball housings1201.

FIG. 13illustrates a golf club1300comprising a golf putter head100and an insert103.