Patent Publication Number: US-2003228926-A1

Title: Golf putter and club

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention pertains to a putter and a golf club designed for more precise and accurate putting strokes and club swings.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art and Objectives of the Invention  
       [0004] Things are invented based on a theme or principal. In the case of the modern putters, they were designed to simulate a pendulum swing. Virtually all golf putters have followed this basic principal. However, a putting stroke in golf differs from a pendulum swing in three aspects. (1.) A pendulum moves in one single fixed plane with a straight-line vertical projection, while a putting swing operates on a constant moving, changing plane with a circular, vertical projection. (2.) A pendulum swings from a fixed axis while a putting swing has multiple axes. (3.) The direction of force for a pendulum is vertical, pulled by gravity, while the direction of the force of a putting stroke is circular, a combination of the gravity and the leverage, effort asserted from both sides of the body.  
       [0005] There are two centers of gravity to a person, upper and lower center of gravity run along the spine. The base of the neck connecting the spine is referred as the upper center of gravity. The base of the lower back along the spine is the lower center of gravity. Usually, the upper and lower centers of gravity are in a straight line and aligned evenly on the same plane. When a golfer addresses a golf ball, his upper center of gravity moves forward or slightly closer to the target. The distance of movement is determined by the golfer&#39;s height, shoulder width, and arm&#39;s length. As a result, the golfer&#39;s shoulder plane turns from square to target, to open to the target from 3 to 10 degrees. Naturally, the ball is best, or bio-mechanically correct, played closer to the golfer&#39;s leading foot, or left foot for a right-handed golfer. However, this creates a problem for golfer&#39;s aiming and stroking. The aiming is distorted by the tilt of the body from gripping the putter.  
       [0006] To improve the putting efficiency and accuracy, the body structure and biomechanics have to be considered. For a right-handed golfer, the left side is higher than the right side by a few degrees; usually from 3 to 10 degrees. For a left-handed golfer, the right side is slightly higher than the left side. The tilt angle is calculated by the triangles formed by the golfer&#39;s arms and shoulders, before and after the golfer grips the club. The right-handed golfer&#39;s body plane would be open to the left also from 3 to 10 degrees, depending on the golfer&#39;s arm length and shoulder width. Likewise, the left-handed golfer&#39;s body plane would be open to the right.  
       [0007] The said golf putter or club is invented and designed to help golfers negotiate the body tilt and opened planes created from gripping. It is an object of this invention to provide an angled hosel putter and golf club wherein the hosel is attached to the putter or club head in an angular relationship to the putter face or club face. The centerline of the hosel is angled at a pre-selected number of degrees of from 3 to 10, in relation to the vertical plane of the said putter face or club face. The angle of the hosel allows the golfer to address the ball by positioning the ball closer to the leading foot while maintaining the center of gravity behind the golf ball.  
       [0008] Another objective of this invention is to provide a golf putter with an aiming indicator composed of either a line or dots/or other means of markings that slant from the perpendicular line to the putter face. The said aiming indicator forms an angle from 80 to 87 degrees with the said striking face. The slanting of the aiming indicator reflects and simulates the golfer&#39;s opened shoulders. The same theory applies to the golf club. The reference marker and the aiming indicator simulate the head and shoulder plane respectively of the golfer and they move in sync with the golfer&#39;s putting or golfing stroke.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] The invention herein provides a golf putter and club wherein the hosel is angled away from the putter face or club sole from 3 to 10 degrees and has a reference marker and an aiming indicator that forms an angle of from 80 to 87 degrees to the putter face or club sole. There is also a reference marker on the putter and club that is placed in reference to the aiming indicator. These embodiments encourage and complement the correct body movements when a stroke is made, providing truer aiming and better accuracy.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a front perspective plan view of the putter of the invention showing the basic parts; the hosel, neck, top edge, face, and sole.  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the putter head with the face squared and the hosel at an angle, showing the relationship between the hosel, neck, putter face, aiming indicator and the reference marker.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a top-front plan view of the putter with the hosel squared and the face angled showing the relationship between the hosel, putter face, aiming indicator and reference marker.  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the putter head with the face squared showing the relationship between the hosel, putter face, aiming indicator and reference marker.  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a golf club of the invention showing the reference marker and aiming indicator.  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a front plan view of a golf club of the invention showing the aiming indicator and reference marker.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0016] As seen in FIG. 1, the putter head is provided having a hosel ( 10 ) attached to the said putter head by a neck ( 12 ) to the top edge of the said putter ( 14 ). The said putter head has a striking face ( 16 ) and a sole ( 18 ).  
     [0017] As seen in FIG. 2 the said putter head shows the hosel at a pre-selected angle. The top edge of the said putter head ( 14 ) is parallel to a squared plane ( 24 ) intersecting a perpendicular line ( 34 ) running through the reference marker ( 28 ) and another perpendicular line ( 32 ) running through the top edge of the aiming indicator ( 26 ). A fourth line ( 22 ) shows a plane that runs through the center of the hosel. The angle ( 20 ) between planes ( 22  and  24 ) indicates the pre-selected degrees the hosel is angled away from the top of the said putter head ( 36 ). The distance between line ( 32 ) and line ( 34 ) indicates the position of the reference marker in relation to that of the aiming indicator.  
     [0018] As seen in FIG. 3, two aiming indicators ( 44  and  42 ) are on the top of the said sole.( 18 ). When the said putter properly addresses the ball, the said aiming indicator ( 26 ) will be seen as a continuous line with the said aiming indicator ( 22 ). Said aiming indicator ( 44 ) that bisects the said aiming indicator ( 42 ) will be parallel with the top of the said putter head. These said aiming indicators will assist the golfer in correctly addressing the ball to ensure it goes directly toward the target.  
     [0019] In FIG. 3 the said putter head is set at an address position with the said aiming indicator ( 26 ) pointing squarely toward the target and the said striking face ( 16 ) is open at a pre-selected degrees to the target. The golfer looks down with eyes on the said reference marker ( 28 ) and the said aiming indicator ( 26 ). The said reference marker ( 28 ) simulates the golfer&#39;s head and the said aiming indicator simulates the golfer&#39;s opened shoulder line. The simulations help the golfer set in the correct posture and position.  
     [0020]FIG. 4 indicates two angles, both labeled ( 20 ). One shows the pre-selected degrees of the said hosel ( 10 ) to the said striking face ( 16 ) of the top of the putter and the second shows the pre-selected degrees that the said aiming indicator ( 26 ) deviates from a line perpendicular to the said top edge ( 14 ) of the said putter head.  
     [0021] In FIG. 4 the said putter head is set at an impact position when the said striking face ( 16 ) is square toward the target and the said aiming indicator ( 26 ) is pointing toward inside the target line at an angle of degrees approximately close to the pre-selected slanting angle of the said aiming indicator ( 26 ). At this moment in time, the golfer&#39;s shoulder line is pivoting counter-clock-wise while the golfer&#39;s center of gravity remains unchanged in relation to the said centerline ( 22 ) of the said hosel ( 10 ).  
     [0022]FIG. 5 indicates the aiming indicator ( 72 ), a reference marker ( 70 ) a hosel ( 74 ), and striking face ( 68 ) of the club head. Line ( 76 ) indicates the distance between the said aiming indicator and the center of the said reference marker. The pre-selected degrees of angle ( 62 ) is created by the perpendicular line ( 66 ) bisecting the club and a line extending the said aiming indicator ( 64 ).  
     [0023]FIG. 6 is a front view of the club head showing the same properties of the invention per FIG. 5. As the golfer addresses the ball with eyes on the reference marker and aiming indicator at the same time, the reference marker will keep the golfer&#39;s head and spine angle in one constant position. The aiming indicator will appear to be the arc of the path of the said club head in the back swing. This will lead the golfer to make a correct swing, resulting a more accurate impact with the ball.