Abstract:
A free standing putter is formed by appropriately weighting the putter head relative to the shaft and grip and forming a foot surface on the putter had which permits the putter to stand alone on the green without external support. The free standing putter permits the golfer to view the geometric relationship of ball, cup, putter and topography of the green from various distances and perspectives.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to golf putters. More particularly, it relates to putters which may be placed in striking position on a golf green and remain standing in striking position without external support so that the user may view alignment of the putter face with respect to the cup, the ball and topography of the green from positions removed from the location of the putter. 
     Since golf courses are usually designed with par values for each hole which allow for two putts per hole, it is evident that putting contributes significantly to a golfer&#39;s total score. Accordingly, successful and effective putting is highly desireable. 
     A wide variety of putters is available, all theoretically designed to aid the golfer in learning proper putting technique and/or improving the golfer&#39;s putting skill and effectiveness. Golfers generally agree that the primary problems encountered in proper putting relate to controlling direction of the ball and to controlling the energy imparted to the ball to drive it to the hole. Direction is the path the ball must follow (and thus the direction in which it must be moved by the putter) and is determined by the contour of the green, i.e., the topography of the green between the ball and the cup. The energy to be applied is determined by the distance the ball must travel and the resistance provided by the green (green speed). 
     Ordinarily, golfers are trained to swing the putter in a pendulum motion when striking the ball to best control the force applied to the ball. The pendulum motion aids the golfer in controlling the force (energy) applied as well as maintaining the angle of the face of the putter with respect to the ball. To determine the desired direction, it is usually necessary to view the topography of the green and the relationship between the ball, the cup and the striking face of the putter from a distance and from different perspectives to determine the desired path of the ball. In conventional putters, however, the relationship between the putter face, the ball and the cup can only be viewed from directly over the ball with the golfer in the putting position. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention putters are provided which are appropriately weighted, balanced and aligned to provide a balanced pendulum motion when striking the ball and maintain the face of the putter aligned in the desired direction of travel. The putters of the invention are also weighted, balanced and aligned so that when the bottom face of the putter is placed on the green the entire putter will remain free standing in the striking position so that the golfer may move freely about the green to analyze the topography of the green and determine appropriate alignment for directional control of the path to be traversed by the ball. By balancing the putter to permit free standing use thereof, the putter may also be used as a training device to assist in instructing proper use of the putter and may be used as well by amateur and professional golfers. By balancing the putter and controlling the mass of the putter relative to the shaft and grip, the putter of the invention provides an advantageous pendulum motion to the stroke, thus. aiding the golfer in accurately and precisely controlling the energy applied to the ball to control distance. Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the appended claims and attached drawing in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the putter of the invention (illustrated with a portion of the shaft deleted); 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a putter head for the putter of the invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a putter head for the putter of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The drawing is incorporated into and forms part of the specification to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. For clarity of illustration, like reference numerals designate corresponding elements throughout the drawing. It will be recognized that the principles of the invention may be utilized and embodied in many and various forms. In order to demonstrate these principles, the invention is described herein by reference to specific preferred embodiments. The invention, however, is not limited to the specific forms illustrated and described. 
     The embodiment of the putter illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a head  10  supported on one end of a conventional shaft  30  having a grip  31  on the opposite end thereof. So long as the combined mass of the shaft and grip comply with the mass requirements specified herein, these components may be conventional. Accordingly, the putter heads of FIGS. 2 and 3 are illustrated without the upper portion of the shaft. 
     Each putter head  10  comprises a body having a striking face  11 , a bottom face  12  and a top face  13 . The head  10  may be formed of any suitably dense material such as brass, steel or other composition. If desired, striker plates (not illustrated) of other materials such as titanium or the like may be inserted in the striking face  11 . Otherwise, the body of the putter head is of uniformly dense material which weighs at least about fourteen (14) ounces. 
     The striking face  11  may be flat or slightly convex (vertically and/or horizontally), as desired. The striking face  11  may be either positively or negatively inclined to suit the preferences of the golfer. Regardless of these minor variations, the striking face may be described as substantially vertical and is appropriately finished to provide the desired striking surface. The exterior finish on the remainder of the head  10  is determined merely by aesthetics. 
     The putter head illustrated in FIG. 1 is essentially in the form of a perimeter or edge-weighted blade. The putter head illustrated in FIG. 2 is a more conventional blade design and the putter head in FIG. 3 is shaped more like a conventional mallet. All three shapes illustrated, as well as various other shapes, may be employed in the putter of the invention. 
     In order to permit the putter to stand unattended in striking position, the putter head  10  defines a striking face  11  which extends at least about four inches along the horizontal axis (shown as dashed line h in FIG. 1) and the shaft  30  extends from the top surface  13  at an angle of about 10° to about 25° from vertical with respect to horizontal (about 65° to about 80° from horizontal line h as illustrated at θ in FIG.  1 ). 
     To support the putter on the green, the bottom face  12  defines a foot surface which extends in two dimensions in substantially a single plane. In the putter head of FIG. 1, the foot surface is defined by the bottom face  12  adjacent and parallel with striking face  11  and the lower surfaces  12   a  of the lateral portions  15  which extend rearwardly from the lateral ends of the putter face to define a substantially U-shaped foot surface. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the lateral portions  15  extending rearwardly (normal to the striking face  11 ) not only provide perimeter weighting of the putter head but also provide additional mass to the putter and thus stationary stability. Alignment guides  16  may be formed on the top surfaces of the lateral portions  15 , preferably extending the full depth of the putter head. The alignment guides  16  are arranged normal to the striking surface for use as aids in visually aligning the striking face  11  normal to the desired path of the ball at the time the ball is stroked. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the putter head  10  is more in the shape of a conventional blade and the bottom face  12  is slightly convex. Nevertheless, the putter head  10  of FIG. 2 (while somewhat less stable than the design of FIG. 1) will remain free standing so long as the mass of the head is at least about fourteen (14) ounces and the combined mass of the shaft and grip is less than about three (3) ounces. The bottom face  12  is slightly curved along the horizontal axis to permit slight variation in the angle of the plane of the swing without permitting the lateral edges of the putter head to engage the green. Since the bottom surface  12  is only slightly convex, for purposes of this invention the slightly convex surface  12  may be considered to lie substantially in a single plane. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the putter head  10  is more in the shape of a conventional mallet. As illustrated, the bottom face  12  is flat and thus the entire bottom face  11  defines the foot surface. A single alignment guide  16  traverses the center of the putter head  10 . While only a single alignment guide in the form of a groove is shown, it will be readily apparent that more than one alignment guide may be provided and the alignment guide may be formed by other means such as painting, raised surfaces, etc. 
     In the preferred embodiment the bottom face is flat and defines a foot surface which is about four (4) inches long in a plane parallel with the horizontal axis. A depth of only two inches thus defines a foot surface of about eight (8) square inches. It will be recognized, of course, that the bottom face need not be flat. For example, the bottom face may be concave or otherwise formed so that the foot surface is defined by a ridge (continuous or discontinuous) adjacent the periphery of the bottom face. As shown in FIG. 1, the foot surface may even be irregular in shape. However, the foot surface shown circumscribes an area which is at least about four inches wide (parallel with the horizontal axis) and at least about two (2) inches deep (normal to the striking face). 
     While only three distinct shapes of putter heads are illustrated, it will be apparent that various combinations of the features disclosed may be used in a putter heads of various shape to incorporate and utilize the features of the invention. In the preferred embodiment, the mass of the head is approximately fourteen (14) ounces and the combined mass of the shaft and grip is about three (3) ounces or less. The bottom face  12  of the head  10  must define a foot surface which lies substantially in a single plane which may be slightly curved, either convex or concave. To ensure that the putter remains free standing when the shaft extends from the surface at an angle of about 10° to about 25°, the width of the foot surface should be approximately four (4) inches. The depth (front to rear) of the foot surface is less critical. Obviously, a longer dimension for depth provides a more stable free standing putter. 
     By appropriately positioning and balancing the components to provide a free standing putter, the golfer may position the putter adjacent the ball and then view the relationship between ball, cup and putter from various angles and from various distances to determine the desired course of the ball. While the putter of the invention is slightly heavier than conventional putters, the additional mass is concentrated behind the striking face  11  and at the end of the shaft. Accordingly, the additional concentrated mass assists the user in developing a uniform pendulum stroke to control the force applied to the ball. 
     All components of the putter of the invention may be fabricated from readily available materials using conventional techniques and the shapes of various components may be modified to satisfy the particular desires of the individual golfer. Accordingly, the principles of the invention may be used to make putters of various designs, only some of which are illustrated herein. It is to be understood, therefore, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the various embodiments, this disclosure is to be considered illustrative only. Various changes and modifications may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, arrangement and combination of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.