U.S. patent application number 11/095538 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-05 for alignment system for a putter type golf club.
Invention is credited to Guerin D. Rife.
Application Number | 20060223646 11/095538 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37071300 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060223646 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rife; Guerin D. |
October 5, 2006 |
Alignment system for a putter type golf club
Abstract
A putter type golf club head having an alignment system for
aligning the putter to a predetermined lie angle. An alignment line
is located on an upper surface of a rear flange perpendicular to
the frontal ball striking face. An opening in the top ridge allows
the alignment line to be seen by the golfer when the predetermined
lie angle is achieved.
Inventors: |
Rife; Guerin D.; (Winter
Park, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WELSH & FLAXMAN LLC
2000 DUKE STREET, SUITE 100
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
37071300 |
Appl. No.: |
11/095538 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/251 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/3682 20200801;
A63B 53/0487 20130101; A63B 53/0441 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/251 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36 |
Claims
1. A putter type golf club head including a club head body, heel
toe, top ridge, bottom sole, frontal ball striking face, rear face,
and rear flange attached to said rear face, wherein the improvement
comprises: an alignment line on an upper surface of said rear
flange, said alignment line being perpendicular to said frontal
ball striking face; an opening in said top ridge for alignment with
said alignment line when a predetermined lie angle is achieved.
2. The putter type golf club head of claim 1 wherein said rear face
is undercut inwardly toward said frontal ball striking face; and
said opening is a notch in said top ridge; said notch being located
at a rear edge of said top ridge.
3. The putter type golf club head of claim 2 wherein said opening
is arcuate in shape.
4. The putter type golf club head of claim 1 wherein said rear face
is flush with the rear edge of said top ridge and further includes
an alignment slot on said rear face extending vertically from said
alignment line; said opening is formed by the intersection of said
alignment slot and said top ridge.
5. The putter type golf club head of claim 4 wherein said opening
is arcuate in shape and is located at a rear edge of said top
ridge.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to golf clubs and, in
particular, to golf putters having a unique alignment system.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A wide variety of putter head designs have been developed in
order to aid a golfer in making more repetitive and consistent
strokes. An alignment system is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.
4,754,976 to Pelz that uses a plurality of golf balls behind the
sing face to create a visual image of a series of aligned golf
balls during the execution of a putting stroke. Another putter
having a unique alignment system is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
3,680,860 to Elkins that uses a wide stripe on the upper surface of
the putter head extending in a front to rear direction. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,136,877 to Antonious shows a putter head with upper and lower
alignment marks that are aligned to precisely position the putter
head prior to execution of a putting stroke. Another putter having
an alignment system of interest is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,430
to McCabe that uses upper and lower alignment indicia to position
the putter head at the same lie angle prior to the putting
stroke.
[0005] In addition, it is common practice for a putter head to be
provided with a line on the top ridge and a complementary line on
the upper surface of a flange, which lines are used to aid a golfer
in the placement of the putter head. Although these alignment lines
and others operate fairly well for the intended purpose, a
shortcoming exists. In situations where it is advantageous not to
have a putter positioned flat on the putting surface, for example
when the ball rests on a sloped surface, where due to a need for
balance, a golfer may lean forward or backward. This results in the
alignment lines not matching which can become a distraction to the
golfer.
[0006] The present invention relates to an alignment system for a
putter type golf club head that serves to aid a golfer in aligning
the putter head in the same position on a relatively flat putting
surface. The alignment system also allows a golfer to position the
putter head at an angle in a non-aligned position with a minimum
amount of visual disruption and distraction. The present alignment
system uses a lower alignment line on a bottom rear flange of the
putter head in combination with a relatively small, unique opening,
such as a notch or slot formed on an edge of the top ridge portion
of the putter head. With the putter head flat on a putting surface
and a golfer in a proper set up position relative to the putter
head, the alignment line on the putter head flange aligns with the
notch on the top ridge surface. However, should it become necessary
to alter the normal, preferred lie angle for the execution of a
particular stroke, for example when putting on a severely sloped
surface, the slot opening is not aligned with the alignment line.
Because the slot opening is small and relatively unobtrusive to the
golfer's eyes, it does not distract the golfer during the execution
of a putting stroke as would happen where the upper and lower
indicia are solid, mismatched lines.
[0007] If the notch and alignment line are not in alignment when a
golfer is in his ideal set up position, the putter head is either
too flat or too upright and needs adjustment Once a preferred lie
angle of the putter head is established for an individual golfer,
the hosel of the putter head may be bent by hand or using a
suitable tool. This lie angle of the shaft can be replicated every
time by the golfer by simply aligning the notch opening with the
alignment line on the putter head flange.
[0008] The structure of the rear face determines the structure of
the upper slot opening. For example if the rear face is undercut,
only a notch in the top ridge is necessary to allow a golfer to see
the portion of the alignment line under the top ridge. If the rear
face is located coincident with the rear edge of the top ridge, the
opening is formed as a slot extending from the top ridge to the
bottom of the rear flange in order to see the portion of the
alignment line under the top ridge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide a putter head having a unique alignment design having
alignment sections vertically displaced from each other.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is the provision of
a putter head having an alignment design to properly align the
putter head before the execution of a putting stroke.
[0011] Still another object of the present invention is the
provision of a putter head having an alignment system capable of
performing an alignment function when needed and capable of being
ignored when an alignment function is not needed.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is the provision of
a golf putter that allows a golfer to assume the same position at
address to promote a repeatable and consistent putting stroke
path.
[0013] Other objects, advantages and salient features of the
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, which taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,
discloses a preferred, but non-limiting, embodiment of the subject
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a putter head in
accordance with the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of FIG.
1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a
putter head in accordance with the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of FIG.
3.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a putter head of the present
invention having a shaft angle that is too flat.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a putter head of the present
invention, having a shaft angle that is too upright.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed
herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but merely as the
basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the
art how to make and/or use the invention.
[0022] Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first
embodiment of a putter head 100 of the present invention. The
putter head 100 is formed with a body portion 102 having a ball
striking face (not shown), rear face 106 and top ridge 108. The
putter head 100 further includes a rear cavity formed by a heel
weight 112, toe weight 114 and a lower flange 116. A bore 118 is
located on the top ridge 108 to accommodate a conventional putter
shaft and grip (not shown).
[0023] In this embodiment, the rear face 106 of the putter 100 is
undercut or recessed inwardly beyond the rear edge 109 of the top
ridge 108. The alignment system of the present invention includes
an alignment line 120 on the upper surface 122 of the lower flange
116. Preferably the alignment line 120 is a groove cut or molded in
the upper surface 122 of the lower flange 116 and filled with paint
or similar material in order to present a sharp color contrast with
the lower flange 116. The alignment line 120 extends all the way to
the rear face 106 whereby the innermost portion of the alignment
line 120 is under the rear edge 109 of the top ridge 108. A small
arcuate notch 124 is cut or molded on the rearward edge 109 of the
top ridge 108. The notch 124 has the same width as the alignment
line 120. Adjustment of the lie angle of the putter head 100 aligns
the notch 124 with the alignment line 120 which the golfer sees
thereby knowing the club head 100 is in perfect alignment when the
club head 100 is grounded on a putting surface. When the putter
head 100 is not aligned, the notch does not align with the
alignment line 120. Thus the lie angle of the putter head can be
replicated every time by simply aligning the notch 124 and the
alignment line 120. Should it become necessary to alter the
preferred lie angle, there is little, if any, distraction to the
golfer from the notch opening 124 because the notch 124 is
relatively unobtrusive when it is not aligned relative to the
alignment line 120. Stated in other words, the notch opening 124 is
large enough to enable a golfer to see alignment with the alignment
line 120, however, the notch opening 124 provides little visual
impact when it is not aligned with the alignment line 120.
[0024] FIGS. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of a putter head 200
having a similar alignment system. In this embodiment the rear face
206 is flush with the rear edge 224 of the top ridge 208. The upper
surface 222 of a lower flange 216 of the putter head 200 is
provided with an alignment line 220 formed therein. In this
embodiment, an additional alignment slot 226, coincident with the
alignment line 220, extends vertically on the rear face 206 up to
the top ridge 208. The slot 224 is colored the same as the
alignment line 220 and forms a vertical extension thereof. The slot
226 terminates in an arcuate opening 228 at the intersection with
the top ridge 208. The additional alignment slot 226 makes it
easier for a golfer to locate the innermost portion of the
alignment line 220 when the alignment slot is aligned. As with the
previous embodiment, the arcuate opening 228 is easily ignored when
the alignment slot 226 is not aligned with the alignment line 220
on the lower flange 216.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a putter 500 with the alignment line 520 in
alignment with the arcuate opening 522 on the top ridge 508.
[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates a golf putter head 600 that is too flat
when viewed by a golfer in a normal address position. The alignment
line 620 and the arcuate opening 622 are not aligned.
[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates a golf putter head 700 that is too
uptight when viewed in a normal address position. The alignment
line 720 and the arcuate opening 722 are not aligned. In both
cases, when the alignment lines and arcuate openings are not
aligned, the angle of the putter shaft to the putter head may be
altered mechanically until alignment is achieved.
[0028] While various preferred embodiments have been shown and
described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit
the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover
all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended
claims.
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