Abstract:
An ergonometric golf putter having a zigzag shaft with an intermediate handle, shaft arms and a handgrip. The configuration better enables the golfer to sight the ball and effect a putt. The same putter is usually adaptable for a right or left handed user.

Description:
The present invention is a continuation of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/074,664 filed Feb. 13, 1998. 
    
    
     The present invention is an ergonometric golf putter. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The golf putter performs a function different from the other clubs in a set. The other clubs are designed for moving the ball across assorted terrains, distances and hazards and are generally designed for the free flowing swing of the club head selected for the particular situation for each hole. There is a tee off, usually with a driver, and the clubs, with selected heads, to move the ball onto the green. The green presents a different golfing pattern, a substantially uniform, usually flat pattern, with short, clipped grass. 
     The putter, with its particular head, does not have to move the golf ball great distances, nor is the putter used for heavy swinging. The putter head is usually without an angle, because the ball does not usually have to be lifted over uneven terrain, such as along the fairway or the rough. There are many different types of putters with special shafts and putting heads and second hand grips for the control of the careful swing necessary to putt. 
     The prior art has included offset shafts, elongagted shafts, shafts with intermediate handles along their length, shafts with end handles and multiple shafts. 
     The present invention is an improved putter which provides an egonometric gripping system. The wrist of the hand on the central handle is substantially unbent for the gripping of the second handle of the present invention. The putter is substantially the same length as prior art putters and facilitates an improved stroke. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,153 discloses a golf putter with an offset articulated shaft with a single grip for two hands. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,185 discloses a golf putter with an extended length shaft to be held against the front of the golfer&#39;s body. There is an upper hand grip and an intermediate, looping, substantially horizontal hand grip, extending on a plane substantially perpendicular from the back end of the putter head. The substantially horizontal hand grip requires the wrist to be twisted to face the body. The palm of the hand gripping the horizontal handle faces the body. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,694 discloses a zigzag putter shaft with a grip for two hands at its end. The shaft is intermediate of the putter face, with the upper portion and the lower portion, aligned with the putter. A portion of the shaft extends outwards from the center of the putter. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,650 discloses a putter with a linear shaft at one end of the putter head and a right angulated horizontal handle at the top of the shaft, with a hand grip for the other hand, along the length of the shaft. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,668 discloses a golf putter with a shaft in the center of an oblong putter head. The golf club is a one hand putter, with an arm rest and an off horizontal arm support. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,944 discloses an exercise golf club with an offset parallel second handle, which might also include use for a putter. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,385 discloses a golf putter with a straight and/or angulated shaft at an obtuse angle from one end of the putter head, with a second hand grip at the top, extending substantially on a parallel plane to the plane of the putter head. The putter includes other assorted handle combinations including other parallel and adjustable upper handles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,019 discloses a golf putter with a putter shaft at an obtuse angle from one end of the putter and an adjustable articulable upper handle extending from the top portion of the shaft. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,586 discloses a golf putter with a V shaped double shaft for putters and/or other golf clubs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,657 discloses a golf putter with an upper end flexible pivot cord and finger grip. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,022 discloses a golf putter with a substantially T shaped double hand grip. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,962,288 discloses a conventional golf putter with an intermediate hand grip along the length of the handle of the shaft, extending on both sides of the hand grip of the shaft. 
     It is respectfully requested that this citation of art consist of record about the within application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an ergonometric putter with a zigzag shaft. The distance from the upper handle to the putter head is substantially the same as a conventional putter. At one end of the shaft is a conventional longitudinal hand grip. A zigzag part of the shaft forms an intermediate handle for a second hand grip. The second handle is on a plane aligned with the position of the putter head. There is a linear relationship between the upper handle of the shaft and the putter head. 
     Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and the manner in which it may be carried out may be further understood by reference to the description following and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures. 
     FIG. 1 is front elevation of a putter of the present invention with the shaft extending from the center of the putter head and with an intermediate handle parallel to the putter head. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the present invention similar to FIG. 1 with an intermediate handle slightly off, being horizontal with regard to the putter head. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the putter of FIG. 1 with a fork on the shaft attached to the putter head. 
     FIG. 4 is a cut away front elevation detail of another embodiment of the golf putter of FIG. 1 with additional shaft articulations. 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation embodiment similar to FIG. 1 showing the portion of a golfer&#39;s hands engaged in use. 
     FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the putter of the present invention showing the putter with the upper and lower arms of the shaft parallel with each other. 
     FIG. 7 is a cut away front elevation detail of another embodiment of the golf putter of FIG. 6 with shaft engaged at one end of the putter head. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The putter  10 , as shown in FIG. 1, has an upper hand grip  11  along a shaft  12 . The shaft  12  is articulated to have a handle  13 . The handle  13  is between an upper arm  14  of the shaft  12  and a lower arm  15  of the shaft  12 . A shaft end  16  engages the putter head  17 . The putter head  17  has a striking face  18 . 
     The upper hand grip  11  and shaft end  16  are along a center line A, passing through the putter head  17 . The upper hand grip  11  may have a conventional gripping surface  19 . 
     The putter  30 , as shown in FIG. 2, has an upper hand grip  31  along a shaft  32 . The shaft  32  is articulated to have a handle  33 . The handle  33  is between an upper arm  34  of the shaft  32  and a lower arm  35  of the shaft  32 . A shaft end  36  engages the putter head  37 . The putter head  37  has a striking face  38 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the putter  10  has a handle  13  substantially parallel to the plane of, and aligned with, the putter head  17 . The angulation of the upper arm  14  and the angulation of the lower arm  15  define the width of the handle  13 . The putter  10  can be used by a either a right handed or left handed golfer. The putter head  17  may also have a second striking face (not shown) in the Figures, on its opposite side. The center line A extends between the upper hand grip  11  and shaft end  16  where the shaft  12  is attached to the putter head  17 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the putter  30  has a handle  33  on a plane with the direction of the putter head  37 , but off right angulation. The angulation of the upper arm  34  and the angulation of the lower arm  35  define the length of the handle  33 . The putter  30  can be used by either a right handed or left handed golfer. The putter head  37  may also have a second striking face (not shown) in FIGS. 1-4, on its opposite side. The center line B extends between the upper hand grip  31  and shaft end  36  where the shaft  32  is attached to the putter head  37 . The handle  33  serves the same function as the handles  13 ,  53  and  73 , as shown in FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 , without changing the center line B of the putter  30 . 
     The upper arm  34  and lower arm  35  of the putter  30  are both shorter than the respective upper and lower arms  14 ,  15  of the putter  10 . Thus, the intermediate handle  33  which is integral to the shaft  32  is aligned but not parallel to the putter head  37 . The putter  30  can be used by either a right handed or left handed golfer. 
     The upper hand grip  31  and shaft end  36  are all along a center line B, passing through the putter head  37 . The upper hand grip  31  may have a conventional gripping surface  39 . 
     The putter  50 , as shown in FIG. 3, has an upper hand grip  51  along a shaft  52 . The shaft  52  is articulated to have a handle  53 . The handle  53  is between an upper arm  54  of the shaft  52  and a lower arm  55  of the shaft  52 . A U shaped shaft end  56  engages the putter head  57 . The putter head  57  has a striking face  58 . 
     The upper hand grip  51  and U shaped shaft end  56  are all along a center line C, passing through the putter head  57 . The upper hand grip  51  may have a conventional gripping surface  59 . 
     The shaft  52  of the putter  50  has a shaft end  56  is U shaped, straddling the putter head  57  to which it is connected at two points. The putter  50  can be used by either a right handed or left handed golfer. 
     The detail of the putter  70 , as shown in FIG. 4, has an upper hand grip  71  along a shaft  72 . The shaft  72  is articulated to have a handle  73 . The handle  73  is between an upper arm  74  of the shaft  72  has a lower arm  75  of the shaft  72 . The shaft  72  connects to a putter head (not shown). 
     The upper hand grip  71  and the shaft  72  are along a center line D, passing through the putter head (not shown). The upper hand grip  71  may have a conventional gripping surface  79 . 
     The upper arm  74  includes an articulation  76  that is parallel to the center line D and which is integral to the shaft  72  between the upper arm  74  and the handle  73 . There is also an articulation  77 , that is parallel to the center line D, which is integral to the shaft  72  between the lower arm  75  and the handle  73 . 
     The upper arm  74  and lower arm  75  of the putter  70  are both short. These arms  74  and  75  include respective integral short articulations  76  and  77  which are parallel to the center line D. Thus, the intermediate handle  73  which is integral to the shaft  72 , is parallel to the putter head (not shown). The putter  70  can be used by either a right handed or left handed golfer. 
     In FIG. 4, the articulations  76 ,  77  extend parallel to the center line D along the length of the shaft  72  one inch from either end of the handle  73  from its ends. 
     The upper hand grips  11 ,  31 ,  51 ,  71  and  91 , as shown in FIGS. 1,  4 ,  5  and  6  are preferably about four and a half inches long. 
     In the putter  80 , as shown in FIG. 5, is substantially the same as the putter  10  of FIG. 1, except that shaft  15   1  angulates directly into the center of the putter head  17 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the putter  90  has a handle  93  substantially parallel to the plane of, and aligned with, the putter head  97 . The putter  90  can be used by a either a right handed or left handed golfer. The putter head  97  has a striking face  98 . The upper hand grip  91  may have a gripping surface  99 . 
     The putter head  107  as shown in FIG. 7 is a modification of the putter  90  of FIG.  6 . The shaft  95  angulates directly into one end of the putter head  107 . 
     In all of the embodiments of the present invention the length of the putters  10 ,  30 ,  50 ,  70 ,  80  and  90  from the top of the upper hand grip  11 ,  31 ,  31 ,  71  and  91  to the bottom of the putter head  17 ,  37 ,  57 , the (not shown) putter head in the embodiment of FIG. 4, and the putter head  97 , preferably vary from a length of approximately thirty inches to approximately fifty six inches. The shafts  12 ,  32 ,  52 ,  72  and  92  may be used with other selected putter heads. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 1-4, each of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention include upper hand grips  19 ,  39 ,  59  and  79 , shafts  12 ,  32 ,  52 , and  72  and handles  13 ,  33 ,  53  and  73 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shaft ends  16  and  36  connect to the center of the respective putter heads,  17  and  37  aligned with the respective center lines A and B. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the U shaped shaft end  56  connects to  1 . two sides of the putter head  57  aligned with the center line C.  1 —The shaft  72  of the putter  70 , as shown in FIG. 4, is also aligned with the center line D in the same manner. The lower arm  75  is adapted to terminate with a single shaft end (not shown), such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or a U shaped shaft (not shown), such as shown in FIG. 3, aligned with the center line C. 
     The putter  70 , as shown in FIG. 4, has a handle  73  that is perpendicular to the center line D, just as the handles  13  and  53  are perpendicular to their respective center lines, A and C. The shaft  72  is distinguished from the other embodiments of the present invention by the articulations  76  and  77  integral in the shaft  72  and parallel to the center line D. Typically, the handle  13 ,  33 ,  53 ,  73  and  93  is about twelve inches from the top of the upper hand grip  11 ,  31 ,  51 ,  71  and  91 , shaft  12 ,  32 ,  52   72  and  92  is about three eighths of an inch in diameter. 
     In use, the golfer engages one hand conventionally on the upper hand grip  11 ,  31 ,  51   71  and  91  and the other hand on the handle  13 ,  33 ,  53   73  and  93 . There is a direct line of sight along the center lines A, B, C, and D, of the respective putters  10 ,  30 ,  50 , and  70 . The golfer&#39;s other hand grasps the respective handles  13 ,  33 ,  53   73  and  93  with the thumb pointing outward with the hand substantially on a plane perpendicular to the body, but not necessarily parallel to the ground. 
     The configuration of the putter  10 ,  30 ,  50 ,  70 ,  80  and  90  minimizes strain or stress on the golfer&#39;s hands and wrists while the hand on the handle  13 ,  33 ,  53  and  73  is effective to control the stroke without obscuring the centerline A, B, C or D of the putter  10 ,  30 ,  50  and  70  or the putter heads  17 , 37 ,  57 ,  97  or  107 . 
     The putters  10 ,  30 ,  50 ,  70 ,  80  and  90 , as shown in FIGS. 1-6, are useable as shown in the FIGS. 1-6, or turned 180°. Where the putter head  17 ,  37 ,  57 ,  97  has a strike face  18 ,  38 ,  58 ,  98  on either side, the putters  10 ,  30 ,  50 ,  70 ,  80  and  90  may be used by right handed golfers or left handed golfers. As a matter of taste, the putters  10 ,  30 ,  50 ,  70 ,  80  and  90  of the present invention may have an off center putter head  107 , as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     The terms and expressions which are employed are also used as terms of description; it is recognized, though, that various modifications are possible. 
     It is also understood the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might fall therebetween.