Golf club

A golf club arrangement provided with means for "reading" the green. The shaft of the golf club is provided with at least a transparent portion extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. The transparent portion has an indicia such as an opaque line extending along the longitudinal direction and may be either on the surface or internal the transparent portion of the shaft. When the club is held vertically and the green observed through the transparent portion the natural lie of the grass can be more easily seen by reference to the angle made by the grass with the indicia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to the golf club art and more particularly to an 
improved golf club arrangement for aiding in reading the "break" in a 
green. 
2. Background of the Invention 
In the game of golf, one important aspect, of course, is that portion of 
the game comprised of putting. During the putting portion of the golf game 
the golf ball rests upon the green which also contains the cup or hole. In 
most golf courses the green is a well gardened and tended area and, it has 
been found, the grass of the green has a natural lie or break. That is, 
the grass does not grow completely vertical but tends to lean, in general, 
in one particular direction. Thus, a golf ball putted on the green will 
tend to be deflected from its course in the direction of the lean of the 
grass. This is generally termed the lie or break of the green. The ability 
to be able to read the lie or break in the green becomes important in the 
ability of the golfer to be able to judge accurately the path that the 
golf ball will take after being struck toward the cup as well as aiding in 
determining the force with which the golfer must strike the ball. 
Reading of the green has, in the past, not heretofore been generally 
successfully done. Many golfers hold a golf club, such as a putter, 
vertical in an attempt to sight the green along the edge of the golf club 
in an attempt to determine the break of the green. Other golfers examine 
the green at quite close proximity for example sighting along the green 
from the ball toward the cup in an attempt to read the green. Such 
activities have not heretofore provided as accurate a reading of the green 
as desired in order to be able to give the golfers information upon which 
to base both the direction and force with which the golf ball must be 
putted. 
Accordingly, there has long been a need in golfing for a golf club which 
incorporates means for enabling the golfer to judge more accurately the 
particular lie of the green between the position of the golf ball and the 
cup. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved golf club. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club 
incorporating means for aiding in reading the green. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf club, 
generally a golf club putter, which incorporates means for allowing the 
golfer to visually determine the break of the green between the golf ball 
and the club. 
The above, and other objects, are achieved, according to a preferred 
embodiment of the present invention, by providing a golf club, such as a 
golf club putter, which incorporates a club head having a face for 
striking the golf ball. The golf club has an elongated longitudinally 
extending shaft connected to the head and the remote end of the shaft is 
provided with a grip means. Both the grip means and the club head may be 
of any desired configuration. 
The shaft means comprises a transparent portion located intermediate the 
club head and the grip means. The transparent portion may extend all or 
substantially all of the longitudinal distance between the grip means and 
the club head or only a portion thereof. The transparent portion is 
provided with indicia means which extend a predetermined longitudinal 
distance along the transparent portion. The indicia means may appear to 
the golfer to be a line or a plurality of lines which are less transparent 
than the remainder of the transparent portion. The indicia means may be on 
the external surface of the transparent portion or positioned interior. 
Thus, the indicia means may comprise a straight line extending along the 
peripheral surface of the transparent portion in the longitudinal 
direction. Alternatively, the indicia means may comprise a thin wire 
interior the transparent portion, for example, lying along the 
longitudinal axis of the shaft. Thus, where a single indicia means is 
provided it is preferably positioned in a plane containing the 
longitudinal axis of the shaft. 
The indicia means may also be provided by a plurality of lines on the 
peripheral surface of the shaft which lines are parallel to the 
longitudinal axis. 
In another embodiment of the present invention the indicia means may be 
provided by a tube or rod positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis 
of the shaft and the tube or rod may have any desired diameter to provide 
the indicia. Because of defraction occurring at the interface between the 
tube or rod and the remainder of the transparent portion, the edges of the 
tube or rod will appear to be opaque giving the visual appearance of a 
pair of lines. 
In yet another embodiment of the present invention the indicia means is 
provided by a plurality of parallel appearing lines, parallel to the 
longitudinal axis of the shaft and which lines may be on the peripheral 
surface or internal the transparent portion. 
In yet another embodiment of the present invention a slot may be cut into 
the shaft of a predetermined width and predetermined longitudinal length 
and preferably comparatively narrow in width. The slot may then be filled, 
if desired, with a transparent material and the edges of the slot 
providing the interface between the shaft and the transparent material 
provides the indicia means. Alternatively, the slot may be left open. 
In utilizing the golf club of the present invention, the golfer holds the 
golf club so that the longitudinal axis of the shaft is vertical and looks 
at the green through the transparent portion. The indicia means provided 
on the transparent portion are thus vertical and the angle that, in 
general, the grass of the green makes with the indicia means indicates the 
break of the green. The greater the angle, it has been found, the greater 
will be the break and thus the golfer may determine both the direction and 
estimate the force with which to strike the ball in order to drive it to 
the cup taking into account both the break and the amount of break 
inherent in the green.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated, in FIG. 1, an 
embodiment, generally designated 10 of the golf club generally designated 
12 according to the principles of the present invention. In the embodiment 
10 the golf club is depicted as a putter. However, it will be appreciated, 
the present invention is not limited to incorporation in a putter but may 
be incorporated in any desired golf club. 
The golf club 12 is provided with a club head 14, an elongated 
longitudinally extending shaft means 16 having a first end 18 coupled to 
the club head 14 and a second end 20 coupled to the grip means 22. The 
club head 14 and the grip means 22 may be of any desired configuration and 
do not per se, form the present invention. 
The elongated longitudinally extending shaft means 16 has a longitudinal 
axis 24. In the embodiment 10 shown in FIG. 1 the shaft means 16 is 
fabricated from a transparent material such as plastic or the like and is 
provided with indicia means 26 extending between the grip means 22 and the 
club head 24. The indicia means 26 is less transparent than the remainder 
of the shaft means 16 and, for example, may be opaque. Preferably, the 
indicia means 26 appears as a thin line lying in a plane containing the 
longitudinal axis 24 of the shaft means 16. The indicia means 26, may, as 
illustrated in FIG. 2, comprise a thin line on the external peripheral 
surface 28 of the shaft means 16. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 3, 
the indicia means 26' as shown thereon may comprise a thin wire embedded 
internal the transparent shaft means 16' and along the longitudinal axis 
24' thereof. 
Utilization of the golf club 12 according to the principles of the present 
invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4 the golf club 12 is 
held so that the shaft means 16 is vertical and the golfer views the green 
generally designated 30 therethrough. The grass 32 of the green has, as 
illustrated in FIG. 4 a natural growth whereby it leans toward the left as 
shown on FIG. 4. By viewing the grass 32 through the transparent shaft 
means 16 the angle that the grass 32 makes with the indicia means 26 may 
be observed. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4 the green 30 has a natural break or 
lie to the left. Thus, a golf ball putted toward the cup 34 on the green 
30 will have a natural tendency to break toward the left since the 
resistence of the grass 32 is less in the direction of the break or lie of 
the grass 32. The greater the angle that the grass 32 makes with the 
indicia means 26 the greater will be the tendency of the golf ball putted 
toward the cup 34 to break or move from a straight line toward the left 
and therefore there is a greater resistance to the ball traveling toward 
the right. Therefore, the golfer may estimate from the visual appearance 
of the grass 32 of the green 30 through the transparent portion of the 
shaft means 16 both the direction of the break as well as the amount of 
the break and therefore may estimate both the direction and force needed 
to propel the golf ball from a given location toward the cup 34. 
FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment generally designated 40 according to 
the principles of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5 the golf club 
42 which may be generally similar to the golf club 12 depicted in FIG. 1, 
is provided with a club head 44 and a grip means 46. An elongated 
longitudinally extending shaft means 48 is provided having a first end 50 
coupled to the club head 44 in a second end 52 at the grip 46. The shaft 
means 48 has a longitudinal axis 54 and, in the embodiment 40, the shaft 
means 48 is transparent between the first end 50 and second end 52. In the 
embodiment 40 the indicia means 56 appears as a pair of parallel lines. 
This appearance of the pair of parallel lines may be provided, for 
example, as illustrated in FIG. 6 by providing a rod 58 coaxially aligned 
with the longitudinal axis 54 internal the transparent shaft means 48. The 
rod 58 may be opaque, or transparent, as desired, and has a predetermined 
diameter which, for example, may be greater than the thin wire 26' shown 
in FIG. 3. The defraction of light at the interface between the rod 58 and 
the transparent shaft means 48 gives the appearance of the two parallel 
lines comprising the indicia means 56 illustrated in FIG. 5 when the rod 
58 is transparent. 
Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the rod 58 may be replaced by a 
tube 58' coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis 54 of the shaft 
means 48 and, once again, the defraction of light at the interface between 
the external peripheral surface of the tube 58' and the transparent shaft 
means 48 provides the appearance of the two parallel lines defining the 
indicia means 56. The tube 58' may have any desired wall thickness and may 
be opaque or transparent, as desired. When the tube 58' is opaque, of 
course, the space between the two parallel appearing lines defining 
indicia means 56 is also opaque. 
The provision of two parallel lines as the indicia means 56 may also be 
provided as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 8 the shaft 
means 48' is provided with two thin wires 60 and 60' internal thereof 
lying in a plane containing the longitudinal axis 54' of the shaft means 
48'. The two thin wires 60 and 60' may be similar to the wire 26' shown in 
FIG. 3. 
FIG. 9 illustrates another arrangement for providing the two parallel 
appearing indicia means 56 shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 9, the shaft 
means 48" may be provided with a pair of lines 62 and 62' spaced a 
preselected distance apart on the external surface 64 of the shaft means 
48". Each of the lines 62 and 62' may be similar to the line 26 
illustrated in FIG. 2 and each lies in a plane containing the longitudinal 
axis 54" of the shaft means 48". 
FIG. 10 is an illustration, generally similar to FIG. 4 illustrating 
utilization of the embodiments shown in FIG. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. As can be 
seen from FIG. 10, the green 30 may be viewed through the transparent 
shaft, for example, shaft 48 with the longitudinal axis 54 thereof in a 
vertical orientation. The angle that the grass 32 makes with the indicia 
means 56 comprising the two parallel appearing lines provides additional 
accuracy in measuring both the angle and direction of the natural lie of 
the grass 32, as described above. 
Referring now to FIG. 11 there is illustrated another embodiment generally 
designated 70 according to the principles of the present invention. The 
embodiment 70 comprises a golf club 72 having a club head 74, which may be 
similar to the club heads 14 and 44 described, and a grip means 76 which 
may be similar to the grip means 22 and 46 described above. In the 
embodiment 70 there is provided a shaft means 78 having a first end 80 
coupled to the club head 74 and a second end 82 coupled to the grip means 
76. In the embodiment 70, however, the shaft means 78 is provided with a 
transparent portion 84 intermediate the club head 74 and grip means 76 and 
the transparent portion 84 does not extend from the first end 80 to the 
second end 82. Preferably, the transparent portion 84 extends in the 
longitudinal direction defined by the longitudinal axis 86 of the shaft 
means 78 approximately one to two feet, though greater or lesser lengths 
of the transparent portion 84 may be provided as desired. The transparent 
portion 84 has an indicia means 88 thereon and it may be similar to any of 
the indicia means illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10 above. The transparent 
portion 84 may, if desired, be fabricated from a clear plastic and coupled 
to opaque solid portions 90 and 92 of the shaft means 78. FIG. 12 is a 
sectional view of the shaft means 78 illustrating a preferred arrangement 
for coupling the transparent portion 84 to the solid opaque portions 90 
and 92 of the shaft means 78. As illustrated on FIG. 12 the transparent 
portion 84 is provided with protruding members 94 and 96 at opposite 
longitudinal ends thereof which are received in corresponding sockets of 
the portions 90 and 92 respectively. They may be bonded in place or 
otherwise securely attached thereto as desired. 
FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment generally designated 110 of a golf 
club according to the principles of the present invention. FIG. 13 
illustrates a section of the transparent portion 112 of such a golf club, 
which, for example, may be incorporated in structure as illustrated in 
FIG. 1 or FIG. 11 as desired. The transparent portion 112 forms part of 
the shaft of the golf club and has a longitudinal axis 114. The indicia 
means 116, in the embodiment 110 is comprised of a plurality of parallel 
lines extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 114 and lying in a plane 
containing the longitudinal axis 114. FIG. 14 is a sectional view through 
the embodiment 110 and illustrates the indicia means 116 comprised of a 
plurality of thin wires such as the thin wire 26' illustrated in FIG. 3 
embedded in the transparent portion 112 and all lying in a plane 
containing the longitudinal axis 114. Alternatively, the indicia means 116 
may be provided by a plurality of lines 116' lying on the external surface 
118 of a transparent portion 112' in a manner similar to that shown for 
the indicia means 26 in FIG. 2 and 62 and 62' shown in FIG. 9. Each of the 
indicia means 116' lies in a plane containing the longitudinal axis 114' 
of the transparent portion 112' shown in FIG. 15. 
FIG. 16 illustrates yet another embodiment generally designated 120 of the 
present invention in which a transparent portion 122 may be incorporated 
in the shaft of a golf club such as that illustrated in FIG. 11 wherein 
the transparent portion 122 only extends a portion of the distance between 
two solid portions 124 and 126 of the shaft means 128. In the embodiment 
illustrated in FIG. 16 the transparent portion 122 is provided with walls 
defining a slot 130 into which an indicia member 132 is inserted. The 
indicia member 132 has the indicia means 134 thereon which, for example, 
may be one or more parallel lines extending in the direction of the 
longitudinal axis 136 of shaft means 128. The transparent portion 122 is 
coupled to the portions 124 and 126 by bonding or any other desired means. 
FIG. 17 is a sectional view along the line 17--17 of FIG. 16 and 
illustrates how the indicia member 132 fits into the slot 130 of the 
transparent portion 122. FIG. 18 illustrates the indicia member 132 having 
the indicia 134 thereon. The indicia member 132 may be cast in place if 
the transparent portion 122 is cast or otherwise inserted into a slot 
provided in the transparent portion 122. 
FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention 
generally designated 140 in which a golf club shaft 142 is provided with 
walls 144 defining a slot extending therethrough for a predetermined 
longitudinal length along the longitudinal axis 146. The slot defined by 
the walls 144 may be filled with a transparent member 148. Alternatively, 
the slot may be left open. The walls 144 of the slot provide the indicia 
means when utilized in accordance with the principles of the present 
invention as described above. Alternatively, one or more indicia means may 
be provided either internal the transparent portion 148 along the 
longitudinal axis 146 or in a plane containing the longitudinal axis 146 
or on the external surface of the transparent portion 148 in a manner as 
described above. 
From the above it can be seen that there has been provided an improved golf 
club arrangement which enables the golfer to read the green and determine 
the natural break thereof. Such reading of the green thus allows the 
golfer to estimate more accurately both the direction that the ball will 
travel when being putted toward the cup as well as the amount of force 
necessary to propel the ball toward the cup. Those skilled in the art may 
find many variations and adaptations of the present invention and all such 
variations and adaptations falling within the true scope and spirit are 
intended to be covered by the appended claims.