Abstract:
An adjustable and convertible putter is provided for use with any of the conventional putting styles or with an underarm putting style. The putter has a head connected to the shaft with an adjustable connector that permits the lie angle and the loft angle to both be adjusted within a wide range of angular orientations. A shaft connector assembly may be provided on the shaft with a first portion of the connector assembly being assembled to the lower portion of the shaft and a second portion of the connector assembly being attached to an upper portion of the shaft. The upper portion of the shaft may be provided in a length appropriate for an underarm putter, a belly putter, or a long putter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/257,521 filed Mar. 15, 2013 the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to a putter used in the sport of golf. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    One of the most important aspects of the game of golf is putting. A wide variety of putters have been developed over the years in an effort to provide every golfer with the putter that has the desired feel and, hopefully, produces the desired result as more one putts. 
         [0004]    Conventional putters include a putter head attached to the lower end of a shaft and a grip that is provided on the upper end of the shaft. Putter heads may be one of many types of blades or one of many widely varied types of mallets. Putters generally are provided with a shaft that is of a fixed length with a grip provided at the upper end of the shaft or provided at the upper end with an auxiliary or intermediate grip provided below the grip at the upper end. 
         [0005]    There are four accepted putting styles that are currently in use that are normally used with one of three different length putters. A standard length putter used in the standard putting style has a shaft that is approximately 800 mm to 900 mm and may be shorter for women or children or longer for taller men. A belly putter is used in the belly putting style and generally has a shaft of 950 mm to 1100 mm in length and is designed to be anchored against the stomach of a golfer. A long putter is used in the long putting style and has a shaft that is longer than 1100 mm and is designed to be anchored at the chest or chin of a golfer. A golfer using “side-saddle” putting style also may utilize the long putter. 
         [0006]    Putters are generally purchased in standard combinations of the head shaft and grip and are not adjustable or convertible in any way. If a golfer, after purchasing a standard length putter, wishes to try a belly putter or a long putter, he must purchase a completely different putter. 
         [0007]    The loft (vertical face angle) and lie angle (toe up/toe down) of the putter head are normally fixed and cannot be adjusted or calibrated. Golfers may change their putting stance so that the golf ball is struck by the putter head either forward in the stance, in the middle of the stance, or in the back of the stance. The putter face becomes more positively lofted toward the front of the putting stance and more negatively lofted toward the rear of the putting stance. The loft is determined based upon where the golf ball is to be struck by the putter or putter head. Conventional putters do not have a loft angle adjustment mechanism. 
         [0008]    Golfers may wish to stand closer to or further from the golf ball. As the point of contact of the putter head with the golf ball moves further from the golfer&#39;s feet, the lie angle of the shaft relative to the ground increases. 
         [0009]    If it is desired to strike the ball with a putter head at a location closer to the golfer&#39;s feet, the lie angle is reduced and the shaft extends upwardly at a more vertical angle. With a conventional putter, it is not possible to change the loft angle or lie angle of the putter head relative to the shaft. 
         [0010]    The putter head is normally attached to the shaft with the blade of the putter square to the direction that the ball is to be stroked. Some golfers may want to stroke the golf ball with an open-face or a closed-face or compensate for a defect in their putting stroke. However, conventional putters do not permit adjustment of the putter head relative to the shaft and grip to provide an open or closed face. 
         [0011]    This disclosure is directed to solving one or more of the above problems and other problems associated with conventional putter designs as summarized below. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    According to one aspect of this disclosure, an under the arm putter is disclosed that allows a golfer to use a long putter using a putting stance for a traditional or standard sized putter. Lodging a long putter under the armpit allows a golfer to put with a normal stance while obtaining the benefits of a long putter or belly putter preventing them from breaking their wrists while putting. 
         [0013]    According to one aspect of the present invention, an adjustable and convertible putter is provided that may be adapted for use with any of the conventional putting styles or with an underarm putting style. The putter has a head connected to the shaft with an adjustable connector that permits the lie angle and the loft angle to both be adjusted within a wide range of angular orientations. The lie angle of the putter may be adjusted to move the toe up or down. The angular orientation of the face of the putter may be adjusted to change the loft of the putter face which allows the putter to lie on the ground in a functional manner with the appropriate loft whether the putter is positioned in the front of a player&#39;s stance, the middle of the stance, or in the back of a putter&#39;s stance. The adjustable connector also allows the putter face to be adjusted to a square, open or closed orientation. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the invention, a connector assembly may be provided at an intermediate location on the shaft. A first portion of the connector assembly may be assembled to the lower portion of the shaft with a second portion of the connector assembly being attached to an upper portion of the shaft. The upper portion of the shaft may be provided in a length appropriate for an underarm putter, a belly putter, or a long putter. 
         [0015]    According to another aspect of the invention, the shaft may be interchanged and used with different types of putter heads. For example, if a golfer wishes to convert from a two ball putter to a mallet putter, but continues to use the same shaft and putting style (belly, standard, long putter, etc.), the shaft may be easily disconnected from one putter head and reconnected to a different putter head. 
         [0016]    According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the adjustable and convertible putter disclosed may be used as a standard putter, a belly putter, a traditional long putter, an under the arm long putter, or as a side saddle putter. With each different length and address position, the lie and loft angles may be different but with the present invention both angles may be adjusted with a single adjustment mechanism to the exact position desired by the golfer. Depending upon the position of the ball relative to the golfer&#39;s feet at address being centered, forward, or rearward, it may be necessary to adjust the loft angle (vertical face angle) of the putter head relative to the shaft. Depending on the how far the golfer chooses to stand away from the ball at address, it may be necessary to adjust the lie angle (toe up/toe down) of the putter head relative to the shaft. The putter head may also be rotated relative to the shaft to turn the head from a square position to an open or closed position. Further, according to the present invention, the shaft may be used and combined with different heads to allow a golfer to convert from a mallet putter to a two ball putter or from one mallet putter to another, or one type of putter to another as desired. 
         [0017]    According to a further aspect of this disclosure, a putter is disclosed that comprises a shaft with a grip provided on at least an upper end of the shaft. A head is connected to the shaft by a connector that includes a first part attached to the shaft and a second part connected to the head. The first part and the second part define a ball joint connection between the shaft and the head that are configured to connect the head to the shaft in a range of angular orientations to permit a lie angle and a loft angle of the head to be adjusted and fixed in a selected orientation relative to the shaft. 
         [0018]    The first part of the connector may comprise a ball end including a cylindrical stub shaft adapted to be attached to a lower end of the shaft and a spherical lower portion. The second part of the connector may further comprise a receptacle that defines a partially spherical surface and a threaded locking member that may be loosened to change an angular orientation of the head relative to the shaft and tightened to fix the angular orientation of the head relative to the shaft. 
         [0019]    The receptacle may further comprise an adapter having a plurality of fingers on an upper end that have an outer surface that form a frustum of a cone with an increasing diameter in a vertical direction. The head defines an opening that receives the adapter. A lower portion may define a threaded opening that receives the threaded locking member. The threaded locking member may be used to loosen the engagement of the fingers on the ball end by extending the adapter out of the opening. The threaded locking member may be used to tighten the engagement of the fingers by drawing the adapter into the opening. 
         [0020]    Alternatively, the receptacle may further comprise a socket having a partially spherical surface on an upper end that is secured in an opening in the head. The socket may define a threaded hole that opens into the partially spherical surface. A threaded fastener may be received in the threaded hole with the fastener being untightened to loosen the engagement of the fastener on the ball end. The threaded fastener may be tightened to fix the ball end in place in the socket. 
         [0021]    The opening in the head may include a shoulder that is disposed above the spherical lower portion of the ball end when the ball end is disposed in the opening in the head. The shoulder may have a lower surface that is a concave ring that conforms to a part of the spherical lower portion of the ball end. The socket may have a threaded outer surface and the opening in the head may have a threaded inner surface so that the socket is retained in the opening by the threaded outer surface engaging the threaded inner surface. A shoulder may be provided on a lower end of the socket and a countersink bore may be defined in the lower surface of the head. The socket may be screwed into the opening in the head to engage the shoulder in the countersink bore. 
         [0022]    The shaft may further comprise a lower portion approximately 800-900 mm in length and an upper portion approximately 150-200 mm in length. A connector assembly may be provided that is adapted to secure the upper portion of the shaft to the lower portion of the shaft to adapt the shaft to be used as a belly putter. An intermediate grip may be provided on an upper end of the lower portion. 
         [0023]    Alternatively, the shaft may further comprise a lower portion and an extended length upper portion. A connector assembly may be provided that is adapted to secure the extended length upper portion of the shaft to the lower portion of the shaft to function as a long putter 
         [0024]    According to another aspect of this disclosure a putter is provided that includes a putter head and a shaft connected to the putter head. The shaft has a lower portion that includes a first portion of a connector assembly and an upper portion that includes a second portion of the shaft. A first grip may be provided on the lower portion of the shaft below and adjacent to the first portion of the connector assembly. A second grip may be provided on the upper portion of the shaft in a spaced relationship relative to the second portion of the connector assembly and adjacent to an upper end of the upper portion of the shaft. 
         [0025]    The upper portion of the shaft when used as a belly putter may have a length LB that is less than the length of the lower portion of the shaft. The upper portion of the shaft when used as a long putter may have a length LL that is greater than the length LB of the upper portion of the shaft of a belly putter. 
         [0026]    The upper portion of the shaft may be selected from a first portion that has a length LB that is less than the length of the lower portion of the shaft, and a second upper portion of the shaft that may have a length LL, wherein the first portion is interchangeable with the second portion. 
         [0027]    The shaft may be configured to connect the head to the shaft in a range of angular orientations to permit a lie angle and a loft angle of the head to be adjusted and fixed in a selected orientation relative to the shaft. The shaft may be connected to the putter head by a ball joint that further comprises a ball end including a cylindrical stub shaft adapted to be attached to a lower end of the shaft and a spherical lower portion. The ball joint may further comprise a receptacle on the putter head that defines a partially spherical surface and a threaded locking member that may be loosened to change an angular orientation of the head relative to the shaft and tightened to fix the angular orientation of the head relative to the shaft. 
         [0028]    The above aspects of this disclosure will be described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a standard shaft with a threaded connection assembly and an upper portion of the shaft sufficient to extend the shaft for use as an under-the-arm putter; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a three-part connector used to connect a shaft to a putter head; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the three-part connector assembly shown with the shaft connected to the putter head in a fixed angular orientation; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary side elevation view of a shaft and putter head connected together at a selected loft angle with other loft angle orientations of the shaft relative to the putter head being shown in phantom lines; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of a shaft and putter head illustrating two different lie angle adjustments; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of a putter head and shaft illustrating the ability to adjust the angle of the face to an open angular orientation or closed angular orientation and also illustrates a threaded connector assembly for connecting the lower portion of the shaft to an interchangeable upper portion of the shaft; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of a standard putter; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a standard putter shaft with a threaded connector assembly and an upper portion of the shaft sufficient to extend the shaft for use as a belly putter; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of a standard putter shaft with a threaded connector assembly and an upper portion of the shaft sufficient to extend the shaft for use as a long putter; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a putter head and shaft showing an alternative adjustable connector assembly; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the putter head and shaft connected by the adjustable connector assembly shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0040]    A detailed description of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention is provided below. The disclosed embodiments are examples of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed in this application are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the invention. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an underarm putter  10  is shown to include a grip  12  at an upper end  14  of a shaft  16 . A putter head  18  is shown at the other end of the shaft  16  with a golf ball  20  in position to be stroked with the putter head  18 . A golfer  24  is shown in phantom line with the grip  12  of the underarm putter  10  disposed in the armpit  26  of the golfer  24 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a ball end  30  is provided on the shaft. A cylindrical stub shaft  32  extends from the ball end  30  and is received in the lower end of the shaft  16 . An adapter is generally indicated by reference numeral  36  and defines a ball seat  38  that is a concave, partially spherical surface within the adapter  36 . A plurality of fingers  40  are provided on the upper end of the adapter  36 . An outer surface  42  of the fingers, in combination, form a frustum of a cone with an increasing diameter in the vertical direction. A threaded opening  44  is defined by a lower portion  46  of the adapter  36 . 
         [0043]    A receptacle  48  is defined within the putter head  18 . The receptacle  48  is partially defined by a tapered wall  50  that receives the outer surface  42  of the fingers  40  when the adapter  36  is assembled to the putter head  18 . A cylindrical wall  52  partially defines the receptacle  48  and receives the lower portion  46  of the adapter  36  when the adapter  36  is assembled to the putter head  18 . A countersink  56  is defined in the putter head  18  and extends upwardly from the bottom of the putter head  18 . A screw  58 , including a threaded shaft  60  and a head  62 , is inserted through the countersink  56  and into the threaded opening  44  defined by the adapter  36 . The screw  58  is tightened to draw the adapter  36  into the putter head  18  until the screw  58  is tightened against a shoulder  64  created by the countersink  56 . As the screw  58  is tightened, the outer surface  42  of the fingers  40  are drawn downwardly into the receptacle  48  so that the fingers are forced into engagement with the ball end  30  by the tapered wall  50  thereby locking the shaft  16  to the putter head  18 . To adjust the lie angle or loft angle of the putter head  18  relative to the shaft  16 , the screw  58  is simply loosened and the shaft is repositioned at the desired angular orientation, and the screw  58  is then tightened. The putter head  18  may also be rotated relative to the shaft when the screw  58  is loosened and then may be locked into a particular open or closed orientation by tightening the screw  58 . 
         [0044]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 3 , the putter head  18  is shown securely attached to the shaft  16 . The ball end  30  is received within the ball seat  38  and is secured to the shaft  16  by cylindrical stub shaft  32 . The screw  58  is shown fully tightened against the shoulder  64  and the threaded shaft  60  of the screw  58  is fully tightened into the threaded opening  44  defined by the adapter  36 . When the screw  58  is fully tightened, the fingers  42  are forced into engagement with the ball end  30  as the outer surface  42  of the fingers  40  are drawn downwardly against the tapered wall  50 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the loft angle adjustment of the shaft  16  relative to the putter head  18  is illustrated by the arrows adjacent the shaft  16 . The shaft  16  may be adjusted from the upright orientation shown in solid line. If the putter head  18  at address is moved back in the stance, the loft angle of the putter may be adjusted to provide a more positive loft angle to compensate for the upper end  14  of shaft  16  being in front of the putter head  18 . If it is desired to position the ball more forward in the golfer&#39;s stance, the loft angle of the putter may be adjusted to a more negative loft angle to compensate for the upper end  14  of the shaft  16  being behind the putter head  18 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a putter head  18  and shaft  16  are shown with the ball end  30  received in the putter head  18 . The fingers  40  are shown drawn down into the putter head  18 . The shaft  16  is shown in phantom lines in two positions illustrating the ability to adjust the lie angle (toe up/toe down) of the putter head relative to the shaft  16 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the putter head  18  is shown attached to a lower portion  16 LP of the shaft. The lower portion  16 LP is connected by ball end  30  to the putter head  18 . A threaded connector assembly  70  is shown as an exploded portion of the view. The connector assembly includes a first portion generally indicated by reference numeral  72 . The first portion  72  includes a cylindrical stub shaft  74  that is received in lower portion  16 LP of the shaft. A threaded stub shaft  76  is provided on the opposite side of a lower body portion  78  from the cylindrical stub shaft  74 . A second portion  80  of the threaded connector assembly  70  includes a cylindrical stub shaft  82  on one side of an upper body portion  84 . The upper body portion  84  defines a threaded bore  86  in the opposite end of the upper body portion  84  from the cylindrical stub shaft  82 . The cylindrical stub shaft  82  is received in an upper portion of an underarm putter  16 U to provide an underarm putter such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . Of course, the orientation of the threaded connector assembly  70  may be reversed with the threaded stub shaft  76  extending from the bottom  84  with the threaded bore  86  being defined in the lower body portion  7 ; 8 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  also illustrates the rotary adjustability of the putter head  18  with two arcuate arrows near the lower end of the shaft  16 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a standard putter is illustrated to include a putter head  18  in position for contacting a golf ball  20 . The putter head  18  is attached to a standard length shaft  16 S for use with a conventional putting style. The threaded connector assembly  70  is provided at the upper end  14  of the shaft  16 S. A grip  12  is attached to the upper end  14  of the shaft  16 S. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a belly putter is illustrated that includes a putter head  18  addressing a golf ball  20 . The standard length shaft  16 S is connected to putter head  18  on its lower end. The threaded connector assembly  70  connects the standard length shaft  16 S to a belly putter portion  16 B. The belly putter embodiment includes the belly putter portion  16 B and includes the standard putter grip  13  and an upper grip  12 . Two grips are typical with a putter used in the belly putting stance. The belly putter may also be used as a side saddle putter depending upon the golfer&#39;s preference. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a long putter is illustrated that includes a putter head  18  addressing a golf ball  20 . The standard length shaft  16 S is connected to putter head  18  on its lower end. The threaded connector assembly  70  connects the standard length shaft  16 S to a long putter portion  16 L. The long putter embodiment includes the standard putter grip  13  and an upper grip  12 . One or two grips are typical with a putter used in the long putting stance. The long putter may also be used as a side saddle putter depending upon the golfer&#39;s preference. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an under-the-arm putter is illustrated that is somewhat longer than a conventional long putter. The standard length shaft  16 S is connected by the threaded connector assembly  70  to an under-the-arm portion  16 U. The under-the-arm putter embodiment may include two more grips  12 ,  13 . 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , an alternative adjustable putter is disclosed that has an adapter  90  including a socket  92  that has a partially spherical surface  94  on an upper end that is secured in an opening  96  in the head  98 . The socket  92  defines a threaded hole  100  that opens into the partially spherical surface  94 . A threaded fastener  102  is received in the threaded hole  100 . The fastener  102  is untightened to loosen an engagement of the fastener  102  on the ball end  30  and is tightened to fix the ball end  30  in place in the socket  92 . 
         [0054]    The opening  96  in the head  98  includes a shoulder  104  that is disposed above a spherical portion  106  of the ball end  30  when the ball end is disposed in the opening  96  in the head  98 . The shoulder  104  has a lower surface  108  that is configured as a concave ring that conforms to a part of the spherical lower portion  106  of the ball end  30 . The socket  92  has a threaded outer surface  110  and the head  98  has a threaded inner surface  112 . When the socket is retained in the opening  96  by the threaded outer surface  110  engaging the threaded inner surface  112 , a shoulder  114  provided on a lower end  116  of the socket  92  is tightened against a countersink bore  118  defined in a lower surface  120  of the head  98 . The socket  92  is screwed into the opening in the head  98  until the shoulder  114  of the socket  92  engages the countersink bore  118 . 
         [0055]    While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the disclosed apparatus and method. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as claimed. The features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts.