Abstract:
An adjustable alignment golf putter to compensate for a golfer&#39;s visual misalignment of the putter face due to eye predominance to the intended or target line taking into account the slope and contour of the green comprising an upper golf grip and a lower putter head attached to opposite end portions of a putter shaft, the putter head includes visual alignment means formed on the side opposite the putter face including a visual alignment base to support an adjustable alignment element movably positioned thereon to selectively align the adjustable alignment element on a virtual line between the optimum contact point and the cup angularly off set relative to the intended or target line between the golf ball and cup to compensate for the golfer&#39;s visual misalignment when putting the golf ball along the intended line to the cup.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
   This is a utility application of provisional application Ser. No. 61/001,851 filed Nov. 5, 2007. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   An adjustable alignment golf putter including an adjustable visual alignment indicia to correct or compensate for a golfer&#39;s visual misalignment of the putter face to the desired target line or intended line between the optimum contact point on the putter face and the cup. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Numerous golf putters designs have been developed in an effort to improve a golfer&#39;s putting accuracy. Such designs include curved-shafted putters, putters with shaft offsets and mallet-like putters. 
   Regardless, eye predominance commonly causes golfers to misalign putts. Thus, a putter that allows a golfer to align the putt to the virtual line between the golf ball and cup with the putter face perpendicular to the line the golfer could stroke the golf ball along the actual line between the golf ball and cup. 
   Of course, other sources of visual misalignment such as convergence and triangulation can contribute to a golfer misaligning a putt. 
   To allow for such alignment some putters include indicia placed on the top of the putter head to be viewed by the golfer when in the putting stance. These indicia generally comprise one or more straight or curved lines set at different angles on the club. 
   Some putters of the prior art take the golfer&#39;s sighting error from eye predominance into consideration and provide for a one-time adjustment of the putter for all putts. The one-time sighting adjustment made to these clubs may be helpful for long putts, but such an adjustment does not provide a golfer with maximum alignment efficiency for shorter putts and may actually compound the putting error in distances shorter than, for instance, ten feet. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,873 show a sighting stripe comprising as an anodized aluminum color on its upper surface and etched on the lower surface coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive to form a tight bond on the club head. The forward end of the stripe is rounded and the side edges are parallel. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,883 relates to a device attachable to a golf club comprising a plate with a removable sight rod secured to the top of the putter blade. The device includes a plurality of recesses in the plate spaced in degrees of angle for setting the angle of the rod to any desired position by a spring-urged ball in the pivotal portion of the sight rod. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,366 shows a sight corrected golf club comprising golf head and a module having an alignment indicia thereon. The golf head is configured to receive the module which is preferably secured to the golf head at the time the golf club is sold to an ultimate purchaser. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,970 discloses a mallet-type putter comprising an upper surface with an indicia in the form of a first long line, a second short line, and a series of even shorter lines extending from the end of the short line and sweeping rearward in a curved arc to become parallel with the first long line. In order to compensate for a golfer&#39;s sighting error resulting from eye predominance, the long line is arranged to align putts that are ten feet or longer in distance from the golf ball to the putting cup. The short line and an array of shorter lines are arranged to align putts that are shorter than ten feet in distance from the golf ball to the putting cup. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,268 relates to the head of a mallet-type putter similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,970. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,028 shows a golf putter having visual indicia comprises a D-shape with the back line linear portion parallel to the clubface and the arc portion facing forward toward the clubface with a linear alignment line disposed within the arc and back line such that the alignment line is angled a slight amount away from perpendicular to the back line such that the golfer falsely perceives the alignment line to be perpendicular to the clubface. 
   Additional examples of the prior art can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,688,798; 6,471,600; 6,506,125; 6,679,782 and 6,793,588. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an adjustable alignment golf putter to correct or compensate for the visual error or misalignment of the intended or target line and the visualized or virtual putt line between the golf ball and cup comprising an upper golf grip and a lower putter head attached to opposite end portions of a putter shaft. 
   The lower putter head comprises a putter body including a putter face having a centrally disposed optimum contact point or area on one side or front thereof and a visual alignment means on the opposite side or back thereof. 
   The visual alignment means comprises an alignment support or base extending outwardly from the back of the putter body and a visual alignment indicator movably disposed or mounted thereon together with an indicator retention member to selectively secure the visual alignment indicator in place relative to the alignment support or base and the putter body. The visual alignment indicator comprises an elongated member. 
   The visual alignment means further includes an alignment indicator guide to control the directional movement of the visual alignment indicator relative to the alignment support or base. The alignment indicator guide comprises an arcuate guide recess formed in the upper surface of the alignment support or base and a corresponding arcuate guide member extending downwardly from the elongated member at least partially disposed within the convex guide recess. 
   The indicator retention member comprises a fastener to selectively secure the position of the elongated member of the visual alignment indicator on the alignment support base. 
   A visual index may be formed on the distal end portion of the alignment support or base comprising a plurality of equally spaced index markers or indicia to indicate the angular displacement relative to one another on both sides of a center index mark or indicia aligned with the centrally disposed optimum contact point or area. 
   The adjustable alignment golf putter provides a golfer with a means or method of aligning the adjustable alignment golf putter to the align the putter face along the actual intended or target line between the golf ball and cup and the visualize line between the golf ball and the cup the golfer sees and have the golf ball actually move along the intended line of the putt to the cup. This is accomplished by aligning elongated member of the adjustable alignment golf putter with the putter face to compensate for the perceived alignment due to eye predominance. 
   Once the adjustable alignment golf putter is properly aligned, the golfer simply aligns the offset elongated member held in place by the indicator retention member with the cup and stroke the putt down that line with no compensation made in his stroke for misalignment. 
   The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a view illustrating sighting error or misalignment of a putt due to eye predominance. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective of the adjustable alignment golf putter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the putter head of the adjustable alignment golf putter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the putter head of the adjustable alignment golf putter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the visual alignment indicator of the adjustable alignment golf putter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the putter head of the adjustable alignment golf putter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view an alternate embodiment of the putter head of the adjustable alignment golf putter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the alternate embodiment of the putter head of the adjustable alignment golf putter of the present invention taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective bottom view of the visual alignment indicator of the adjustable alignment golf putter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective bottom view of the visual alignment indicator of the alternate embodiment of the adjustable alignment golf putter of the present invention 
   

   Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the sighting error a golfer experiences due to eye predominance or other source of visual misalignment. Specifically, the intended or target line  14  between the golf ball  10  and the cup  12  is determined by the slope and contour of the green that when the golf ball  10  is stroked or putted properly, the golf ball  10  will follow the putt line  15 . However, the golfer  16  views or sees the intended or target line  14  as a visualized putt line  18  offset thereto by angle A. As described hereinafter, the present invention relates to an adjustable alignment golf putter shown generally as  20  to correct or compensate for the visual error or misalignment of the true or actual putt line  14  and the virtual putt line  18 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the adjustable alignment golf putter  20  comprises an upper golf grip  22  and a lower putter head generally indicated as  24  attached to opposite end portions of a putter shaft  26 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the lower putter head  24  comprises a putter body  28  including a putter face  30  having a centrally disposed optimum contact point or area  32  on one side or front thereof and a visual alignment means generally indicated as  34  on the opposite side or back thereof. 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the visual alignment means  34  comprises an alignment support or base generally indicated as  36  extending outwardly from the back of the putter body  28  and a visual alignment indicator generally indicated as  38  movably disposed or mounted thereon together with an indicator retention member generally indicated as  40  to selectively secure the visual alignment indicator  38  in place relative to the alignment support or base  36  and the putter body  28 . The visual alignment indicator  38  comprises an elongated member  42  having an elongated line or groove  44  on the upper surface  46  thereof including a directional indicia  48  formed on the distal end portion  50  thereof and a pointer indicia  52  formed on the proximal end portion  54  thereof to align the putter face  30  as described hereinafter. An alignment contact indicia  55  such as a dot is formed on the top surface  57  of the putter body  28  in substantially vertical alignment relative to the centrally disposed optimum contact point or area  32 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the visual alignment means  34  further includes an alignment indicator guide to control the directional movement of the visual alignment indicator  38  relative to the alignment support or base  36 . The alignment indicator guide comprises at least one arcuate or convex keyway or guide recess  56  formed in the upper surface  58  of the alignment support or base  36  including a substantially flat inner or bottom support surface  60  and a corresponding arcuate or convex key or guide member  62  extending downwardly from the lower surface  64  of the elongated member  42  of the visual alignment indicator  38  at least partially disposed within the convex keyway or guide recess  56  and supported on the substantially flat inner or bottom support surface  60  thereof. The arcuate or convex key or guide member  62  is symmetrically disposed on the elongated member  42  and the arcuate or convex keyway or guide recess  56  is symmetrically disposed on the upper surface  58  of the alignment support or base  36  such that when the arcuate or convex key or guide member  62  is centered in the arcuate or convex keyway or guide recess  56 , the elongated member  42  and the elongated line or groove  44  are substantially perpendicular to the putter face  30 . The arcuate or convex keyway or guide recess  56  is slightly larger than the arcuate or convex key or guide member  62  to provide smooth movement or swing of the elongated member  42  relative to the alignment support or base  36  when adjusting or aligning the elongated member  42  of the visual alignment indicator  38 . As shown, two alignment indicator guides may be used. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 4A , it should be noted that a series of dots  43  or an interrupted or broken line  45  or other alignment indicator may be substituted for the elongated line or groove  44 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the indicator retention member  40  comprises a fastener  66  such as an externally threaded member or screw dimensioned to extend through a retention slot or channel  68  formed through the alignment support or base  36  and into an internally threaded recess  70  to selectively secure the position of the elongated member  42  of the visual alignment indicator  38  on the alignment support or base  36 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a countersunk recess  71  having a recessed surface  72  is formed about the periphery of the retention slot or channel  68  to receive and engage an enlarged head or stop  73  of the fastener  66  to selectively secure the elongated member  42  of the visual alignment indicator  38  in place when the elongated member  42  of the visual alignment indicator  38  relative to the centrally disposed optimum contact point or area  32  is properly aligned. So configured, the enlarged head or stop  73  is disposed within the countersunk recess  71 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , a visual index generally indicated as  76  is formed on a raised plate or putter foot  78  on the distal end portion  80  of the alignment support or base  36 . The visual index  76  comprises a plurality of equally spaced index markers or indicia each indicated as  82  to indicate the angular displacement relative to one another on both sides of a center index mark or indicia  84  aligned with the centrally disposed optimum contact point or area  32 . 
   The adjustable alignment golf putter  20  provides a golfer  16  with a means or method of aligning the adjustable alignment golf putter  20  to the visualized or incorrect line  18  the golfer  16  sees and have the golf ball  10  actually move along the correct line  15  of the putt to the cup  12 . This is accomplished by the golfer  16  aligning the adjustable alignment golf putter  20  on the visualized line  18  of the putt with the putter face  30  of the adjustable alignment golf putter  20  is actually aligned perpendicular to the intended or target line  14  of the putt between the golf ball  10  and the cup  12 . 
   There are several techniques of adjusting or off-setting the alignment to correct for visual misalignment. For example, to adjust or align the elongated member  42  of the visual alignment indicator  38 , the golfer  16  loosen the fastener  66  and aligns the elongated line or groove  44  of the elongated member  42  with the center index mark or indicia  84  and tightens the fastener  66  to secure the elongated member  42  in place perpendicular to the putter face  30 . The golfer  16  then visually aligns the directional indicia  48  with the center of the cup  12  from 20 to 30 feet away on a substantially straight and level part of the green. From behind the golfer  16 , a second person visually observes where the elongated line or groove  44  is actually pointed. The virtual line or visual extension of the elongated line or groove  44  is mark near the cup  12  with a tee or similar mark. The person then returns to behind the golfer  16  to confirm the tee is on the virtual or visualized line  18 . 
   The golfer  16  then loosens the fastener  66  and aligns the elongated line or groove  44  of the elongated member  42  with the cup  12 . The fastener  66  should be tightened securing or locking the elongated member  42  in place relative to the putter body  28 . 
   Once the adjustable alignment golf putter  20  is properly aligned, the golfer  16  simply aligns the elongated line or groove  44  with the cup  12  and strokes the golf ball  10  with no compensation made in his stroke for misalignment. The golfer  16  should not look at the putter face  30  when aligning the putt. The golfer  16  should focus only on the elongated line or groove  44  of the visual alignment indicator  38  on the adjustable alignment golf putter  20 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  show an alternate embodiment of the lower putter head  24  of the adjustable alignment golf putter  20 . With the exception of the indicator retention member  40 , the various elements and structural components of the alternate embodiment are virtually the same as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 5  and are therefore similarly numbers. 
   As best shown in  FIG. 7 , the indicator retention member  40  comprises a fastener or externally threaded set screw  86  partially disposed within a retention recess  88  and retention channel or passage  90  formed in the raised plate or putter foot  78  of the alignment support or base  36  and extending through the retention channel or passage  90  to engage the rear face or surface  92  of an arcuate or convex retention member  94  extending downwardly from the lower surface  64  of the elongated member  42  of the visual alignment indicator  38  into an arcuate or convex retention slot  96  disposed between the proximal end portion  54  of the elongated member  42  and the arcuate or convex keyway or guide recess  56  formed on the distal end portion  50  of the elongated member  42 . So configured, the fastener or externally threaded set screw  86  snaps into and out of locking or securing engagement with the rear surface  92  of the arcuate or convex retention member  96   
   The arcuate or convex retention member  94  extends downwardly to a horizontal plane below the horizontal plane at the bottom of arcuate or convex key or guide member  62 . Similarly, the depth of arcuate or convex retention slot  96  is greater than the depth of the arcuate or convex keyway or guide recess  56 . 
   The bottom surface  98  of the alignment support or base  36  is inclined upward from the front to back thereof. 
   Alignment of the alternate embodiment is same as that previously described. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , a golf ball lifter cup  100  is formed on each side of the alignment support or base  36 . 
   It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is also to be understood that 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 be said to fall therebetween. 
   Now that the invention has been described,