U.S. patent application number 11/184183 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-25 for weight interchangeable putter.
Invention is credited to Man Young Jung.
Application Number | 20070021235 11/184183 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37679782 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070021235 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jung; Man Young |
January 25, 2007 |
Weight interchangeable putter
Abstract
A weight interchangeable golf putter is provided having a T
shaped head. The head has a main body constituting the main weight
and a striking face. From the trailing edge of the top surface a
center tail extends rearward to form the T shape of putter plane.
At the sides of the tail there are formed end fins with their free
ends opened rearward to better guide the putter head through the
air during the stroking address. The top of the back weight extends
to near midway of the length of the tail and merges with the bottom
of the tail. The back weight has a bottom surface in flush with the
corresponding bottom of the main body and terminates with an end
wall tapered gradually toward the main body to avoid hitting the
ground when strokes are made. Three cylindrical bores are formed
facing the same backward direction in the common 90-degree angle
from the rear wall to receive different metal screws. When the
screws are in their initial positions the putter with its face
balanced neutralizes the leftward pulling or rightward pushing in
the putting of the right-handed golfer who tends to show more
pulling problems. Balance adjusting at the day's practice rounds or
putting will be rightfully done with ease and no special tool
thanks to the protruding screw design which provides an extra
visual aid as well as a structural indicator of the invisible sweet
spot to improve the actual approach of the ball into the hole
cup.
Inventors: |
Jung; Man Young; (Pasadena,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF CLEMENT CHENG
17220 NEWHOPE STREET #127
FOUNTAIN VALLEY
CA
92708
US
|
Family ID: |
37679782 |
Appl. No.: |
11/184183 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2209/00 20130101;
A63B 53/0441 20200801; A63B 60/02 20151001; A63B 2053/0491
20130101; A63B 53/0487 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/340 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/00 20060101
A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. A golf putter comprising: a. a putter head constituting the main
weight of the putter, the putter head having a striking face, a top
surface extending parallel to the ground and having an opening near
its one end to accommodate a shaft with a double bend leading to a
grip, a center tail extending rearward from the top surface in
perpendicular to the striking face and a couple of threaded side
bores opened at the opposite surface of the striking face at both
sides of the center tail; b. a back weight branching centrally
perpendicular to a main body of the putter head having a top
surface extending to near midway of the length of the tail and
merging therewith and a bottom surface lying in flush with the
corresponding bottom of the main body and terminating with an end
wall tapered gradually toward the main body, the back weight also
having a center bore identical in shape, size and direction to the
side bores; and c. a group of three elongated screw weights made to
have an identical dimension of different metals for giving
distinctive weight values in the putter at the bore locations,
whereby the center tail provide the principal aligning aid for the
correct directional putting by the golfer while the straight
extensions of the side screw weights provide an extra visual aid as
well as a structural indicator of the invisible sweet spot of the
putter.
2. The golf putter set forth in claim 1, wherein the elongated
screw weights are made of materials selected from a group
consisting of tungsten, white bronze, silicon bronze and
aluminum.
3. The golf putter set forth in claim 1, wherein the center tail is
painted with white to give a contrasted line on the green ground
for promoting a visual alignment to correct the travel of the ball
before striking.
4. The golf putter set forth in claim 1, wherein the putter has a T
shape.
5. The golf putter set forth in claim 1, wherein the golf putter
has three weight ports.
6. The golf putter set forth in claim 1, wherein the putter has a T
shape and has three weight ports.
7. A golf putter comprising: a. a putter head having a striking
face, a top surface and a hosel to accommodate a shaft leading to a
grip, and threaded side bores on each side of the putter head
behind the striking face; b. a center tail extending rearward from
the top surface, perpendicular to the striking face; c. two screw
weights of similar dimension and made of different metals for
giving distinctive weight values in the putter at the bores;
wherein the center tail forms a straight directional visual aid
while the screw weights provide tuning capability to adjust the
sweet spot of the putter.
8. The golf putter set forth in claim 7, further comprising a back
weight branching centrally perpendicular to the putter head having
a top surface extending from the midway of the tail and merging
therewith and a bottom surface lying in flush with the
corresponding bottom of the putter head and terminating with an end
wall tapered gradually toward the putter head, wherein the back
weight also has a center bore identical in shape, size and
direction to the side bores.
9. The golf putter set forth in claim 8, wherein the elongated
screw weights are made of materials selected from a group
consisting of tungsten, white bronze, silicon bronze and
aluminum.
10. The golf putter set forth in claim 8, wherein the center tail
is painted white to give a contrasted line on the green ground for
promoting a visual alignment to correct the travel of the ball
before striking.
11. The golf putter set forth in claim 8, wherein the putter has a
T shape.
12. A golf putter comprising: a. a putter head having a striking
face, a top surface and a hosel to accommodate a shaft leading to a
grip, and threaded side bores on each side of the putter head
behind the striking face; b. a center tail extending rearward from
the top surface, perpendicular to the striking face; c. two screw
weights of similar dimension and of different weights for giving
distinctive weight values in the putter at the bores; wherein the
center tail forms a straight directional visual aid while the screw
weights provide tuning capability to adjust the sweet spot of the
putter.
13. The golf putter set forth in claim 12, further comprising a
back weight branching centrally perpendicular to the putter head
having a top surface extending from the midway of the tail and
merging therewith and a bottom surface lying in flush with the
corresponding bottom of the putter head and terminating with an end
wall tapered gradually toward the putter head, wherein the back
weight also has a center bore identical in shape, size and
direction to the side bores.
14. The golf putter set forth in claim 12, further comprising a
back weight branching centrally perpendicular to the putter head
having a top surface extending from the midway of the tail and
merging therewith and a bottom surface lying in flush with the
corresponding bottom of the putter head and terminating with an end
wall tapered gradually toward the putter head, wherein the back
weight also has a center bore identical in shape, size and
direction to the side bores.
15. The golf putter set forth in claim 12, wherein the elongated
screw weights are made of materials selected from a group
consisting of tungsten, white bronze, silicon bronze and
aluminum.
16. The golf putter set forth in claim 12, wherein the center tail
is painted white to give a contrasted line on the green ground for
promoting a visual alignment to correct the travel of the ball
before striking.
17. The golf putter set forth in claim 12, wherein the putter has a
T shape.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] A. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to golf putters, and more
particularly to a weight interchangeable putter structure.
[0003] B. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Golf requires delicate control of a small 45-gram golf ball
over a long distances with only a number of golf clubs. Golf
becomes a precision game won by the player with the least total
strokes. The golf club generally consists of a grip, a shaft and a
head and is categorized into woods, irons and putters. Woods or
irons are the suitable clubs for long distance shots while the
putter is for green putting over most preferably one or two
relatively short green distances.
[0005] Typically, the putter head is designed to have an almost
perpendicular clubface to the playing ground with a loft angle
necessary to roll the ball. The shaft of the putter is distinctive
from the other clubs in that it extends more upright from the head
or has a higher lie angle allowing the player to better see the
line of putting otherwise visible only by bending forward. The
correct use of the putter is a two handed grip with no motion along
the wrists and the arms, which in unity should make a pendulum
motion sideways resulting in the ball rolling over a distance
determined by the gripping force of the hands and the extent of
backstroke. Specifically for short putting, wrist or fingers should
not be involved in the controlling forces.
[0006] With the well known basics of putting in mind, golfers
practice for lengthy periods of time to attain their own personal
way of putting. Because putting is done by imperfect humans with
varying psychological and physical states of the day, golfing
performance can also fluctuate. In addition, individual peculiarity
or habit of ball striking inevitably develops to lead the ball to
all but the desired direction and speed. Golfers unknowingly adopt
putting with overly short or long grips, bent posture or a straight
waist becomes natural habits. To inhibit such habits, many golfers
just repeat to practice countless times following same putting tips
out of standard manual, which in reality can not be applied
literally to various individuals of different characteristics. It
would be rational to develop one's physical condition or the habit
to his or her advantage to get the desirable score.
[0007] A more realistic solution is customizing a putter to
compensate the golfer's varying conditions where controlling the
putting directions imparted to the ball with a consistent precision
is priority. However, the putters currently available are ready
made to standard builds of people failing to adapt to the
individual golfers. Thus, some club heads with adjustable weights
have been suggested by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,901,562; 5,058,895;
6,348,014 B1; and 6,896,625.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The T shaped head of the putter has a main body constituting
the main weight and a striking face. Top surface extends parallel
to the ground and has an opening near its one end to accommodate a
shaft with a double bend leading to a grip for the golfer. From the
trailing edge of the top surface a center tail extends rearward to
complete the T shape of putter plane. At the sides of the tail
there are formed end fins with their free ends opened rearward to
better guide the putter head through the air during the stroking
address. The center tail may be painted white to give a well
contrasted line in the green grass of the course.
[0009] Opposite of the face is a rear wall from which a back weight
branches centrally perpendicular to the main body. The top of the
back weight extends to near midway of the length of the tail and
merges with the bottom of the tail. The back weight has a bottom
surface in flush with the corresponding bottom of the main body and
terminates with an end wall tapered gradually toward the rear wall
to avoid hitting the ground when the golfer makes strokes. A
cylindrical bore is formed on one end of the rear wall, as is a
similar bore formed on the other end. A center bore is also formed
on the tapered end wall of the back weight. The three bores face
the same backward direction in the common 90-degree angle from the
rear wall. The bores are threaded internally to secure the
weighting scheme of the present invention, which is incorporating
three different metal screws A, B and C with an identical shape.
Each screw has threads at one end and crossed grooves at its
opposite end to engage any edges like a coin to turn it in a
tightening or unscrewing direction.
[0010] If, for example, the total weight of the putter head is set
as 340 grams, it includes the weights of the screws A, B and C. The
screw A is the heaviest of the group of three and may be made of
tungsten. Screw B may be white or silicon bronze and the screw C is
the lightest of the three and may be made of aluminum.
[0011] When the screws are fastened to their initial bores, i.e.
the screw A is in one side bore, the screw B in the other side bore
and the center screw C in the center bore, their weights balance
the putter face. In other words, such positioning of the weight
screws make the face balanced putter wherein the virtual extension
line of the shaft toward the head comes into contact with the
center of gravity of the putter head in a natural state when no
dynamics are involved. To achieve the precise balancing in the
putter manufacture the length of the screws A, B and C should be
first calculated with the determination of the actual center of
gravity of the putter product including the shaft and then the
screws are attached in their initial bores to fine-tune their
respective masses by boring in their walls at the threaded ends
which enter the bores of the main body.
[0012] Therefore, when the screws are in their initial positions
the putter with its face balanced neutralizes the leftward pulling
or rightward pushing in the putting of the right-handed golfer who
tends to show more pulling problems. At the same time, the double
bend shaft mitigates the twisting of the putter head upon hitting
the ball with its off center areas resulting in a widened sweet
spot to give the right direction to the ball in more occasions.
[0013] With such construction of the putter, manipulating the
weight distribution in the putter head has become easy by the
present invention
[0014] Accordingly, the general object of the present invention is
to provide a golf putter with speedy adjustment of the weight
distribution in the head.
[0015] Another object is to provide a golf putter having an
alignment aid and weight-adjusting members which provide an extra
visual aid as well as a structural indicator of the invisible sweet
spot to improve the actual approach of the ball into the hole
cup.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the putter of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the putter of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the putter of FIG.
1.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the putter of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side view of the putter of FIG. 1.
[0021] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Referring to the drawings, the putter head of the present
invention is generally denoted by 10 in the shape of a T. The head
10 has a main body 11 constituting the main weight and a striking
face 12. Top surface 13 extends parallel to the ground and has an
opening near its one end to accommodate a shaft 14 with a double
bend leading to a grip for the golfer which is not shown. From the
trailing edge of the top surface 13 a center tail 15 extends
rearward to form the T shape of putter plane. At the sides of the
tail 15 there are formed end fins 16 with their free ends opened
rearward to better guide the putter head through the air during the
stroking address. The center tail may be painted white to give a
well-contrasted line in the green grass of the course.
[0023] Opposite of the face 12 is a rear wall 17 from which a back
weight 18 branches centrally perpendicular to the main body 11. The
top of the back weight 18 extends to near midway of the length of
the tail 15 and merges with the bottom of the tail 15. As shown in
FIG. 3, the back weight 18 has a bottom surface 19 in flush with
the corresponding bottom of the main body 11 and terminates with an
end wall 20 tapered gradually toward the rear wall 17 to avoid
hitting the ground when the golfer makes strokes. A cylindrical
bore 22 is formed on one end of the rear wall 17, as is similar
bore 23 formed on the other end. Bore 24 is also formed on the
tapered end wall 20 of the back weight 18. The bores 22-24 face the
same backward direction in the common 90-degree angle from the rear
wall 17. The bores 22-24 are threaded internally to secure the
weighting scheme of the present invention, which is incorporating
three different metal screws A, B and C with an identical shape.
Each screw has threads 25 at one end and crossed grooves 26 at its
opposite end.
[0024] If for example the total weight of the putter head 11 is set
as 340 grams, it includes the weights of the screws A, B and C. The
screw A is the heaviest of the group of three and may be made of
tungsten. Screw B may be white or silicon bronze and the screw C is
the lightest of the three and may be made of aluminum.
[0025] When the screws are fastened to their initial bores, i.e.
the screw A is in the bore 22, the screw B in the bore 23 and the
center screw C in the bore 24, their weights balance the putter
face 12. In other words, such positioning of the weight screws make
the face balanced putter wherein the virtual extension line of the
shaft 14 toward the head comes into contact with the center of
gravity of the putter head 10 in a natural state when no dynamics
are involved. To achieve the precise balancing in the putter
manufacture the length of the screws A, B and C should be first
calculated with the determination of the actual center of gravity
of the putter product including the shaft 14 and then the screws
are attached in their initial bores to fine-tune their respective
masses by boring in their walls at the threaded ends which enter
the bores 22-24 of the main body 11.
[0026] Therefore, when the screws are in their initial positions
the putter 11 with its face balanced neutralizes the leftward
pulling or rightward pushing in the putting by the right-handed
golfer who tends to show more pulling problems. At the same time,
the double bend shaft 14 mitigates the twisting of the putter head
upon hitting the ball with its off center areas resulting in a
widened sweet spot to give the right direction to the ball in more
occasions.
[0027] With such construction of the putter 10, manipulating the
weight distribution in the putter head has become easy by the
present invention:
[0028] As is discussed above, directing the ball in all the wrong
courses is due to the human error factors leading to the missed
sweet spot and the individual effective lie angle of the shaft
created by the golfer's physique and posture among others. To
compensate the variable parameters around the putter 10, the golfer
can exchange the positions of the weight screws A, B and C using
any flathead edge like a coin.
[0029] Although changing the configuration of a golf club during a
game is prohibited by standard golf rules, balance adjusting at the
day's practice rounds or putting will be rightfully made with the
putter of the present invention with ease and no special tool.
[0030] To add to the already good aligning aid of the tail 15
design, the straight extensions of the side screws A and B provide
an extra visual aid as well as a structural indicator of the
invisible sweet spot to improve the actual approach of the ball
into the hole cup.
[0031] The present invention contemplates that many changes and
modifications may be made. Therefore, while the presently preferred
form of the golf putter has been shown and described, and several
modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will
readily appreciate that various additional changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention, as defined and differentiated by the following
claims.
* * * * *