Patent Publication Number: US-6340336-B1

Title: Golf putter

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to golf clubs and, more specifically, to a golf putter having an improved putter head, which will prevent backspin on the golfball by using a club face wherein the club face is divided into an upper vertical facing member and a lower oblique facing member. The upper vertical facing member is situated within a parallel vertical planar surface as the club shaft and is of a distance from the ground that would permit contact only with the golfball on the upper half of the ball, thereby using minimal effort to increase the distance that the ball will travel. The lower oblique facing member recedes from the upper vertical facing member at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball, thereby eliminating reverse spin. In addition the opposite facing member is constructed in the same manner whereby the putter can be used by a left or right handed golfer. 
     In addition an alternate embodiment is provided having oppositely opposed grooves traveling the length of the clubhead whereby a golfer can slid a predetermined weight onto the proximal or distal top surface of the clubhead providing means for adjusting the balance of the putter. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are many designs of golf putters which are available and may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, but they would not be as suitable as the present invention as hereinafter described. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,074 issued to Thomson on Jul. 24, 1979. 
     Another patent was issued to Shanahan on Mar. 17, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,009. Another patent was issued to Perkins on Nov. 21, 1995 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,987. Yet another patent was issued to Macera on May 12, 1987 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,385. Still another patent was issued to Kuykendall on Jan. 3, 1989 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,158. 
     A golf putter having on its face a convex, parabolic protruding portion extending horizontally along the fact at a height such as to strike a golf ball slightly below its center. The convex protuberance provides only a very slight lift to the ball and imparts a substantial amount of overspin. 
     A golf putter comprising a head having an anterior putting face and a shaft secured to the head at the connection point. The connection point where the shaft is secured to the head is located distal to the midline extending through the putting face forwardly in an anterior direction along which the golf ball is propelled after being struck so that the shaft as it extends upwardly is directed from the distal side of the midline towards the proximal side thereof. The shaft in front view crosses a vertical plumb line intersecting the midline. The connection point is provided in a posterior section of the head displaced in the posterior direction from the anterior putting face. The shaft as it extends upwardly is inclined from the connection point towards the anterior direction. The center of gravity of the head is located forwardly in the anterior direction from the connection point and is located towards the proximal side of the head from connection point. 
     A golf putter having a club head with a striking face comprising a striking edge defined by at least two substantially planar surfaces which engages a golf ball at a point below the center of the golf ball and impairs a substantially immediate forward roll to the ball resulting in a truer path of travel of the ball and better control of putting distance. 
     A putter head adapted for attachment to a shaft has at least one planar surface adapted for striking a golf ball at a height greater than the radius of said golf ball to propel said golf ball in a desired direction. Preferably, the ball-striking surface is forwardly inclined at from 20″ to 25″ from the vertical, and most preferably, at 23.58″ from the vertical. 
     A golf putter comprising a putter blade or head having a forwardly-angled striking face to impart immediate overspin to the ball being struck and said putter further including a relatively large square handle or grip for enabling alignment of the palm of the hand with the projected line of ball travel. 
     It is thus desirable to provide a golf putter having identical oppositely opposed facing members comprised of an upper vertical facing member and a lower oblique facing member. The upper vertical facing member being situated within the vertical planar surface of the shaft of the club and a lower oblique facing member which recedes from the upper vertical facing member at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball, thereby eliminating reverse spin. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention is a golf putter having an improved putter head which will prevent backspin on the golfball. The putter head has identical oppositely opposed club faces wherein each is divided into an upper vertical facing member and a lower oblique facing member. The upper vertical facing member is situated within a parallel vertical planar surface as the shaft of the club and is of a distance from the ground that would permit contact only with the golfball on the upper half of said ball, thereby increasing the distance that the ball will travel with minimal effort. The lower oblique facing member recedes from the upper vertical facing member at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball, thereby eliminating reverse spin. Also, the club can be used by right or left handed golfers. 
     In addition an alternate embodiment is provided having oppositely opposed grooves traveling the length of the clubhead whereby a golfer can selectively slid a predetermined weight onto the proximal or distal top surface of the clubhead providing means for adjusting the balance of the putter. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a golf putter which will create only top spin after making contact with the ball. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf putter having identical oppositely opposed facing members comprising an upper vertical facing member and a lower oblique facing member. The upper vertical facing member being situated within the vertical planar surface of the shaft of the club and a lower oblique facing member which recedes from the upper vertical facing member at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball, thereby eliminating reverse spin. 
     Yet Another object of the present invention is to provide an additional embodiment having oppositely opposed grooves traveling the length of the clubhead whereby a golfer can selectively slid a predetermined weight onto the proximal or distal top surface of the clubhead providing means for adjusting the balance of the club. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a leg contoured lap tray whereupon a keyboard console and a pointing device may be positioned thereon. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in use. Shown is the improved putter having identical oppositely opposed facing members comprised of an upper vertical facing member and a lower oblique facing member. The upper vertical facing member being situated within the vertical planar surface of the club shaft and a lower oblique facing member which recedes from the upper vertical facing member at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball, thereby eliminating reverse spin. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation view, taken from FIG. 1 as indicated, of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Shown is a putter having identical oppositely opposed facing members comprised of upper vertical facing members and lower oblique facing members. The lower oblique facing member recedes from the upper vertical facing member at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball, thereby eliminating reverse spin. Also shown is a golf ball with a shaded area which represents the optimum contact area with the golf putter head. 
     FIG. 2A is another enlarged front elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Shown is a club face being equal to a height “A”. The club height “A: being comprised of the upper vertical facing member and lower oblique facing member whose point of juncture is basically equal to the horizontal planar surface of the sphere, being comprised of a lower half of the golfball, shown by the letter “C” and the letter “B” comprising the upper and the letter “E”. The circumferential area marked by the letter “D” denotes the optimal area for club ball contact. 
     FIG. 2 b  is a chart of the various pertinent relationships of the present invention, as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view, taken from FIG. 1 as indicated, showing the golf putter. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, taken from FIG. 3 as indicated, showing the face of the golf putter. 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation view, taken from FIG. 3 as indicated. Showing the correlation of the vertical planar surfaces formed by the club shaft and the vertical facing member. Also shown is the degree of obliqueness used is used to prevent contact with the ball surface. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view, taken from FIG. 3 as indicated, showing the opposite side of the putter; 
     FIG. 7 is an front elevation view, of the alternate embodiment of the present invention. Shown is a putter having identical oppositely opposed facing members comprised of upper vertical facing members and lower oblique facing members. The lower oblique facing member recedes from the upper vertical facing member at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball, thereby eliminating reverse spin. Also shown is a golf ball with a shaded area which represents the optimum contact area with the golf putter head. In addition the vertical facing members have channels machined into the upper edge of the clubface whereby a golfer can selectively position a weight on either proximal or distal ends. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the alternate embodiment of the present invention. Shown is one of the grooves which will be manufactured as an integral device for the putter providing means for attaching a predetermined amount of weight to the clubhead. Therein change the balance of said club. 
     FIG. 9 is the other side view of the alternate embodiment of the present invention. Shown is the other groove which will be manufactured as an integral device for the putter providing means for attaching a predetermined amount of weight to the clubhead. Therein change the balance of said club. 
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings. 
       10  present invention 
       12  user 
       14  hands 
       15  ground 
       16  golf ball 
       17  direction arrow 
       18  club shaft 
       20  club handle 
       22  upper face 
       23  point of intersection 
       24  lower face 
       25  space 
       26  shaded area 
       27  side of putter head 
       28  club face 
       30  lower half of golf ball 
       32  upper half of golf ball 
       34  angle 
       36  channels 
       38  weight 
       40  feet 
       42  intermediate point 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 9 illustrate the present invention being an improved putter head for a golf club. 
     Turning to FIG. 1, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention  10  in use in the hands  14  of a user  12 . Shown is the improved putter  10  having identical oppositely opposed facing members comprised of an upper vertical facing member  22  and a lower oblique facing member  24 . The upper vertical facing member  22  being situated within the vertical planar surface of the club shaft  18  and a lower oblique facing member  24  which recedes from the upper vertical facing member at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball  16 , thereby eliminating reverse spin. The user  12  is shown holding handle  20  on shaft  18  of the golf club. 
     Turning to FIG. 2, shown therein is an enlarged front elevation view, taken from FIG. 1 as indicated, of the preferred embodiment of the present invention  10 . Shown is a putter  10  having identical oppositely opposed frontwardly and rearwardly facing members comprised of upper vertical facing members  22  and lower oblique facing members  24 . The lower oblique facing member  24  recedes from the upper vertical facing member  22  at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball  16 , thereby eliminating reverse spin. Also shown is a golf ball  16  with a shaded area  26  thereon which represents the optimum contact area with the golf putter head  10 . Shaft  18  is also shown along with the ground  15  and direction arrows  17 . 
     Turning to FIG. 2A, shown therein is another enlarged front elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention  10 . Shown is a club face  28  being equal to a height “A”. The club height “A” being comprised of the upper vertical facing member  22  and lower oblique facing member  24  whose point of intersection or juncture  23  is effectively equal to the radius of the golf ball sphere  16 , being effectively comprised of a lower half  24  of the club face, shown by the letter “C” and the letter “B” comprising the upper half  22  which together approximates the distance shown by the letter “E” representing the actual diameter of ball  16  allowing for a small clearance space  25  between the club head  10  and ground  15 . The circumferential area marked by the letter “D” denotes the optimal area for club head to ball  16  contact. 
     Turning to FIG. 2B, shown therein is a chart of the various pertinent relationships of the present invention  10 , as shown in FIG. 2A as previously explained. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, shown therein is a front perspective view, taken from FIG. 1 as indicated, showing the golf putter  10  along with shaft  18 , handle  20  and upper and lower faces  22 ,  24 . 
     Turning to FIG. 4, shown therein is a side elevation view of the present invention  10 , taken from FIG. 3 as indicated, showing the forward face of the golf putter  10  as would be used by a right handed user  12 . Shaft  18  is shown along with upper and lower faces  22 ,  24 . The angle formed by shaft  18  and putter faces  22 ,  24  is also shown. The shaft  18  is attached on the side or edge  27  of the putter head  10 . 
     Turning to FIG. 5, shown therein is a front elevation view of the present invention  10 , taken from FIG. 3 as indicated showing the correlation of the vertical planar surfaces formed by the club shaft  18  and the upper vertical facing member  22 . Also shown is the degree of obliqueness shown by angle  34  used to prevent the lower face  24  from making contact with the ball surface. 
     Turning to FIG. 6, shown therein is a side elevation view of the present invention  10 , taken from FIG. 3 as indicated, showing the opposite side of the putter  10  along with upper and lower surfaces  22 ,  24 . Shaft  18  and side  27  is also shown. Since the front and rear faces  28  of the putter head  10  are mirror images of each other as shown by FIGS. 4 and 6, the putter can be used by a left handed or right handed golfer. 
     Turning to FIG. 7, shown therein is an front elevation view, of the alternate embodiment of the present invention  10 . Shown is a putter  10  having identical oppositely opposed facing members comprised of upper vertical facing members  22  and lower oblique facing members  24 . The lower oblique facing member recedes from the upper vertical facing member at an angle which prevents contact with the golfball  16 , thereby eliminating reverse spin. Also shown is a golf ball  16  with a shaded area  26  which represents the optimum contact area with the golf putter head. In addition, the upper vertical facing members  22  have channels  36  machined longitudinally into the front and rear upper edge of the club face whereby a golfer can selectively slidingly position a weight  38  on either proximal or distal ends (see FIG. 8) of the putter head  10 . The weight  38  has a pair of downwardly and inwardly projecting feet-like members  40  on its lateral edge which slide into grooves  36  to secure the weight  38  onto the putter head  10 . 
     Turning to FIG. 8, shown therein is a side view of the alternate embodiment of the present invention  10 . Shown is one of the channels or grooves  36  which will be manufactured as an integral device for the putter providing means for attaching a predetermined amount of weight (not shown) to the clubhead  10 . Therein the user can change the balance of the club. Also shown is shaft  18  intermediately connected  42  to the club head  10  along with upper and lower faces  22 ,  24 . 
     Turning to FIG. 9, therein is shown the opposite side view from FIG. 8 of the alternate embodiment of the present invention  10 . Shown is the other groove  36  which will be manufactured as an integral device for the putter providing means for attaching a predetermined amount of weight (not shown) to the clubhead  10 . Thereby the user can change the balance of the club. Previously disclosed features are also shown. 
     What is claimed to be new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: