Golf Club, In Particular Golf Putter

Abstract

A golf club with a club head attached to a shaft. The club head includes a wide front area, a narrower middle area, and a rear area. A straight line runs from the front area through the middle area to the rear area, extends perpendicular to the striking face of the front area viewed from the perspective of the user. A bore hole along the straight line in the middle area has, on a first plane, a first marking and has, on a second plane, a second marking visible to the user through the first opening, the second plane being farther from the eye of the user than the first plane. The second marking is visible to the eye of the user within the first marking when the club head is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user.

Description

[0001] The present application claims priority from PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008/006763 filed on Aug. 18, 2008, which claims priority from German Patent Application No. DE 20 2008 005 631.4 filed on Apr. 23, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention is directed to a golf club, in particular a golf putter, with a club head which is attached to a shaft and has a visual alignment aid.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] A golf club head with a visual alignment aid intended to improve aiming accuracy is known from DE 10 2005 001 153 A1.

[0006] Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,560, in which the club head has three parts which together form a rectangle.

[0007] In US 2007/0191136 A1, the club head comprises a cylindrical metal body. The cylindrical body has openings into which weights can be screwed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is the object of the invention to provide a golf club of the kind mentioned above which allows improved aiming accuracy.

[0009] The above-stated object is met in that the club head comprises a wide front area which forms the striking face and which also has a bore hole for receiving the shaft, as well as a narrower middle area and a rear area, and in that a straight line runs from the front area through the middle area to the rear area, this straight line extending perpendicular to the horizontal line of the striking face of the front area viewed from the perspective of the user.

[0010] This step allows the user to accurately align the striking face of the club head so that the probability of successfully holing the golf ball is increased.

[0011] According to a further development of the invention, a golf club is characterized in that a bore hole along the straight line in the middle area has, on a first plane, a first marking which is visible to the user in the form of a circumferential line such as a circular line and has, on a second plane, a second marking which is visible to the user through the first opening in the form of a dot or circular area, which second plane is farther from the eye of the user than the first plane, the arrangement being carried out in such a way that the second marking is visible in a certain way to the eye of the user within the first marking when the club head is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user.

[0012] This makes it possible to align the vertical line of the striking face of the golf club head more accurately, particularly to adjust the angle of attack of the striking face with respect to the ground plane.

[0013] According to an alternative further development, a golf club is characterized in that a notch or a plurality of notches along the straight line in the middle area has, on a first plane, a first marking which is visible to the user in the form of a line or line segments extending perpendicular to the straight line such as part of a centrally arranged cross or laterally arranged notches and has, on a second plane, a second marking which is visible to the user through the first opening in the form of a centrally arranged cross or lines or line segments parallel to the first line segments, which second plane is farther from the eye of the user than the first plane, the arrangement being carried out in such a way that the second marking is visible in a certain way to the eye of the user lateral to the first marking when the club head is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user.

[0014] The first marking can be, or can include, a circular circumference and the second marking can be, or can include, a circular circumference or circular area with the same or a smaller diameter or radius.

[0015] On the other hand, the first marking can also be a rectangle with the addition of half-circles having a first, larger radius, while the second marking is a circle with a second radius that is equal to or less than the radius of the first marking.

[0016] According to another embodiment form, the first marking is a circular circumference with notches proceeding therefrom, these notches extending perpendicular to and parallel to the straight line and forming a cross, and the second marking is a cross with the same orientation as the first marking.

[0017] According to another further development of the invention, the middle area has a rectangular hollow profile whose outer surface serves as the plane for arranging the first marking and whose inner surface extending parallel to and at a distance from it serves to accommodate the second marking.

[0018] At least one of the two walls of the hollow profile which are perpendicular to the surfaces for the markings can be cut out or can be transparent to light in order to illuminate the second marking.

[0019] According to another embodiment form, the golf club is characterized in that a cut-off bore hole along the straight line in the middle area has, on a first plane, a first marking which is visible to the user in the form of a circumferential line such as a half-circular line and has, on a second plane, a second marking which is visible to the user through the first cut-off opening in the form of a dot or circular area having lines which run through its center and which are parallel to and perpendicular to the straight line, which second plane is farther from the eye of the user than the first plane, the arrangement being carried out in such a way that the second marking is visible in a certain way to the eye of the user within the first marking or as a continuation thereof when the club head is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user.

[0020] The golf club can be designed in such a way that the first marking marks the edge of the cut-off opening and its cut area extending perpendicular to the straight line, and that the second marking comprises lines which extend parallel to the perpendicular line lying on the second plane).

[0021] According to yet another construction, notches are arranged laterally along the straight line in the middle area symmetrically with respect to the straight line and have, on a first plane, a first marking which is visible to the user in the form of a peripheral line and have, on a second plane, a second marking which is visible to the user past the peripheral line in the form of two lines parallel to the straight line and dots or dashes arranged at the latter, which second plane is farther from the eye of the user than the first plane, the arrangement being carried out in such a way that the second marking is visible in a certain way to the eye of the user within or adjoining the first marking when the club head is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user.

[0022] The arrangement according to the invention also makes it possible to carry out a receptacle for a weight insert in the rear area.

[0023] The weight insert can extend into the interior of the middle area.

[0024] The side walls of the middle area can be formed by exchangeable weights.

[0025] Weights of the kind mentioned above can be fastened in such a way that two opposite side walls can be clamped to one another and to the rest of the parts of the head by means of a clamping screw.

[0026] The head can have the shape of an airplane viewed from above.

[0027] For the purpose of adjusting different angles of attack, a plurality of pairs of markings extending perpendicular to the straight line can be provided, and the markings of a pair are offset differently in direction of the straight line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment form of the club head according to the invention;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the right-hand side of the club head referring to FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the left-hand side of the club head shown in FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 4 shows an exploded diagram, in perspective, of the embodiment form according to FIG. 1 which can be outfitted with weights;

[0032] FIG. 5A shows a side view of the user of the club head provided with a shaft in a first visual alignment position;

[0033] FIG. 5B shows a similar view of the user, but from the front;

[0034] FIG. 6A shows an embodiment form with a round alignment bore hole;

[0035] FIG. 6B shows an alternative embodiment form with an elongated alignment hole;

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment form in which weights can be screwed in;

[0037] FIG. 8A shows a sectional view of the arrangement for receiving the weights;

[0038] FIG. 8B shows an enlarged view of this end;

[0039] FIGS. 9A to 9G show different views of an embodiment form with a cross-shaped marking;

[0040] FIGS. 10A to 10F show different views of an embodiment form with a cut-off, shortened first marking surface;

[0041] FIGS. 11A to 11F show different views of an embodiment form in which the straight line is not interrupted by openings;

[0042] FIGS. 12A to 12F show different views of an embodiment form with a marking similar to that shown in FIG. 6B, but wherein a plurality of markings are provided to implement different angles of attack; and

[0043] FIGS. 13A to 13F show different views of an embodiment form with marking similar to FIG. 6A, but wherein a plurality of these markings are provided to implement different angles of attack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0044] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable for implementing the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.

[0045] The present invention will now be described in detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a club head 10 which comprises a wide front area 14 which forms the striking face 12 and which also has a bore hole 16 for receiving the shaft 18 (see FIG. 5A), at whose other end is a grip 20 which is grasped by the golfer 22.

[0047] Further, the club head 10 has a narrower middle area 24 and a rear area 26 which is again wider in this instance. As can further be seen from FIG. 1, a straight line 28 runs from the front area 14 over the middle area 24 to the rear area 26. This line 28 extends perpendicular to the striking face 12 of the front area 14 from the point of view of the user 22, but is at least perpendicular to the horizontal line 13 of the striking face 12. This line of sight is designated by 30, 32 (for the two eyes of the user) in FIG. 5B. The right angle between line 28 and the striking face 12 or its horizontal line 13 is indicated in FIG. 1 at 34. Accordingly, the golfer will adjust the line 28 of the club head 10 until it is aligned with the target of the golf ball (i.e., the cup or hole).

[0048] However, for a successful stroke, the vertical alignment of the striking face 12 with respect to the plane of the ground on which the ball will move is also important. In order to lift the ball slightly, the striking face 12 must not be exactly perpendicular to the substrate (i.e., the grass surface of the golf course), but must form a somewhat larger angle 36.

[0049] Accordingly, the angle 36 should be adjusted as precisely as possible so that the golf ball, after gliding briefly, starts to roll and does not bounce and only start to roll later, which could happen when the angle 36 is too large (e.g., 97.degree.).

[0050] Therefore, the angle 36 formed by the striking face 12 relative to the ground surface 38 should be adjustable in a precise manner. An alignment arrangement is provided for this purpose and will now be described.

[0051] A bore hole 40 (see FIG. 6A) is provided along the straight line 28 in the middle area 24. This bore hole 40 has, on a first plane 44, a first marking in the form of a circumferential line such as a circular line 42 which is visible to the golfer 22 and, on a second plane 48, a second marking 46 in the shape of a dot or a circular area which is visible to the golfer 22 through the first bore hole 40. This arrangement is carried out in such a way that the second marking 46 is visible to the eye of the user in a certain manner within the first marking 42 when the club head is aligned in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user (see FIG. 5B). For example, the dot 46 is located exactly in the center of the circle 42.

[0052] An embodiment form, shown in FIG. 6B, is provided so that the above-mentioned optimal position can be diverged from, which may be advantageous in some cases. In this embodiment form, the first marking 140 is a rectangle in which are inserted half-circles or an oval having a first radius, while the second marking 46 is a circle 146 having a second radius equal to or less than the first radius. In this case, also, the different planes make it possible to adjust the angle 36 so as to diverge from 90.degree., which influences the sliding properties and rolling properties of the golf ball when struck.

[0053] In order for the marking 46, 146 to be seen, sufficient light must fall on the plane 48 to make the circle or marking 46, 146 arranged on it visible. The marking can be a red dot on a silver surface, for example.

[0054] To allow daylight to strike these areas, it can be useful when at least one of the two walls of the hollow profile which extend perpendicular to the surfaces for the markings is cut out or made transparent to light (see FIG. 4, in which the walls are cut out). FIG. 7 also shows a view without side walls. In this case, a receptacle 50 for a weight insert 52 is provided in the rear area 226. This weight insert 52 can extend into the interior of the middle area, but not so far that the marking dot 246 is concealed. A plurality of weight inserts 52 can be provided, each one being fitted to the appropriate weight. The weight reduction can be carried out, for example, in that the length of the weight insert 52 varies. FIG. 7 shows three different lengths.

[0055] The weight insert 52 can have a screw-in thread 54 which can be received in a corresponding bore hole 50 having a thread.

[0056] According to FIG. 4, however, the side walls of the hollow profile can also be formed by exchangeable weights 152 or 252. For reasons of symmetry, it is advisable that two opposite side walls are formed by weights 152 or 252 of this kind. These side walls can be clamped together or clamped to the rest of the parts of the head by means of a clamping screw 54. For this purpose, one side wall or clamping piece can have a threaded borehole 56 fitting the thread of the threaded screw 54.

[0057] In this case, also, inserts 152, 252 of different lengths represent different weights.

[0058] The head can have the shape of an airplane when viewed from above.

[0059] FIGS. 9A to 9G show different views of an embodiment form in which a slit lies over the bore hole 940 forming a cross. The marking 946, which is likewise cross-shaped and which is located on the second plane 948, can be sighted through this cross-shaped aperture. This embodiment form allows a very precise alignment.

[0060] FIGS. 10A to 10F show different views of an embodiment form with a cut-off (i.e., shortened) first marking surface 1044 for a marking 1040 which, when precisely aligned, is continuous with the marking lines 1040 of the second plane 1048. Large deviations can be detected and corrected more quickly in this way.

[0061] FIGS. 11A to 11F show different views of an embodiment form with an uninterrupted straight line 1128. The alignment of the markings 1146 and 1147, respectively, of the lower plane is carried out by aligning in the edge slots 1140 of the first, upper plane 1144 and by sighting the two edge markings 1147 of the lower, somewhat wider plane 1148 along the edges 1141 of the upper, somewhat narrower plane 1144. In this case, also, deviations are detected faster because at least one marking strip 1147 and its deviation are always visible.

[0062] Different golf courses may require different angles of attack 36. In order to take this into account, the relevant marking (e.g., the bore hole or circular line 40, 42 according to FIG. 4 or the slot 1140 according to FIG. 11E) can be provided plurally in different positions (see reference numbers 42-1 and 1140-1).

[0063] But FIGS. 12A to 12F in particular show different views of an embodiment form with a pair of markings 1242, 1246 similar to the marking pair 142, 146 in FIG. 6B, a plurality of which are provided (1242-1, 1246-1 and 1242-2, 1246-2) in order to realize different angles of attack 36 through the selection of a corresponding pair in that the lower marking dots 1246, 1246-1 and 1246-2 are displaced by different distances along the straight line 1228 relative to the associated upper marking dots 1242, 1242-1 and 1242-2.

[0064] FIGS. 13A to 13F show different views of an embodiment form with marking pairs 1342, 1346, and so on, similar to FIG. 6A, a plurality of which--three, in this instance as in the previous instance--are again provided in order to realize different angles of attack.

COMMERCIAL APPLICABILITY

[0065] The invention is commercially applicable in golf club construction.

[0066] While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0067] 10 club head [0068] 12 striking face [0069] 14 front area [0070] 16 bore hole for [0071] 18 shaft [0072] 20 grip [0073] 22 golfer [0074] 24 middle area [0075] 26, 226 rear area [0076] 28, 1128 straight line [0077] 30, 32 lines of sight of the two eyes of the golfer [0078] 34 angle [0079] 36 angle [0080] 38 ground surface [0081] 40, 940, 1040 bore hole [0082] 1141 edge [0083] 42, 142 circular line, oval line [0084] 44, 144, 44, 1044, 1144 first plane [0085] 46, 146, 246, 94, 1046, 1146 dot [0086] 1147 marking strips [0087] 48, 148, 948, 1048 second plane [0088] 50 receptacle [0089] 52, 152, 252, 1152, 1252 weight insert [0090] 54 clamping screw [0091] 56 threaded bore hole

Claims

1. Golf club, in particular golf putter, with a club head (10) which is attached to a shaft (18) and has a visual alignment aid, characterized in that the club head (10) comprises a wide front area (14) which forms the striking face (12) and which also has a bore hole (16) for receiving the shaft (18), as well as a narrower middle area (24) and a rear area (26), and in that a straight line (28) runs from the front area (14) through the middle area (24) to the rear area (26), which line (28) extends perpendicular (34) to the striking face (12) of the front area (14) viewed from the perspective of the user (22).

2. Golf club according to claim 1, characterized in that a bore hole (40) along the straight line (28) in the middle area (24) has, on a first plane (44), a first marking (42) which is visible to the user in the form of a circumferential line such as a circular line and has, on a second plane (48), a second marking (46) which is visible to the user (22) through the first opening (40) in the form of a dot (46) or circular area, which second plane is farther from the eye of the user than the first plane, wherein the arrangement is carried out in such a way that the second marking (46) is visible in a certain way to the eye of the user within the first marking (42) when the club head (10) is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user (22) (200, 30).

3. Golf club according to claim 1, characterized in that a notch or a plurality of notches (1040, 1140) along the straight line (28) in the middle area (24) has, on a first plane (44), a first marking (42) which is visible to the user in the form of a line or line segments extending perpendicular to the straight line (24) such as part of a centrally arranged cross or laterally arranged notches and has, on a second plane (48), a second marking (46) which is visible to the user (22) through the first opening (40) in the form of a centrally arranged cross (46) or lines or line segments parallel to the first line segments, which second plane is farther from the eye of the user than the first plane, wherein the arrangement is carried out in such a way that the second marking (46) is visible in a certain way to the eye of the user lateral to the first marking (42) when the club head (10) is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user (22) (200, 30).

4. Golf club according to claim 2, characterized in that the first marking is a circular circumference (42) and the second marking is a circular circumference or circular area (46) with a smaller radius than the first marking.

5. Golf club according to claim 2, characterized in that the first marking (142) is a rectangle with the addition of half-circles having a first, larger radius, while the second marking (146) is a circle with a second equal or smaller radius.

6. Golf club according to claim 3, characterized in that the first marking (246) is a circular circumference with notches proceeding therefrom, these notches extending perpendicular to and parallel to the straight line (28) and forming a cross, and the second marking is a cross (246) with the same orientation as the first marking.

7. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the middle area (24) has a rectangular hollow profile whose outer surface serves as the plane for arranging the first marking (42, 142) and whose inner surface extending parallel to and at a distance from it serves to accommodate the second marking (46, 146).

8. Golf club according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of the two walls of the hollow profile which are perpendicular to the surfaces for the markings is cut out or transparent to light in order to illuminate the second marking (46, 146).

9. Golf club according to claim 1, characterized in that a cut-off bore hole (1040) along the straight line (28) in the middle area (24) has, on a first plane (44), a first marking (42) which is visible to the user in the form of a circumferential line such as a half-circular line and has, on a second plane (48), a second marking (46) which is visible to the user (22) through the first, cut-off opening (1040) in the form of a dot (46) or circular area having lines which run through its center and which are parallel to and perpendicular to the straight line, which second plane is farther from the eye of the user than the first plane, wherein the arrangement is carried out in such a way that the second marking (46) is visible in a certain way to the eye of the user within the first marking (42) or as a continuation thereof when the club head (10) is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user (22) (200, 30).

10. Golf club according to claim 9, characterized in that the first marking marks the edge of the cut-off opening and its cut area extending perpendicular to the straight line, and in that the second marking comprises lines which extend parallel to the perpendicular line lying on the second plane.

11. Golf club according to claim 1, characterized in that notches are arranged (1140) laterally along the straight line (28) in the middle area (24) symmetrically with respect to the straight line and have, on a first plane (44), a first marking (42) which is visible to the user in the form of a peripheral line and have, on a second plane (48), a second marking (46) which is visible to the user (22) past the peripheral line in the form of two lines parallel to the straight line and dots or dashes arranged at the latter, which second plane is farther from the eye of the user than the first plane, wherein the arrangement is carried out in such a way that the second marking (46) is visible in a certain way to the eye of the user within or adjoining the first marking (42) when the club head (10) is oriented in a certain way with respect to the eye of the user (22) (200, 30).

12. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the rear area (26) has a receptacle for a weight insert (52).

13. Golf club according to claim 12, characterized in that the weight insert (52) extends into the interior of the middle area (24).

14. Golf club according to claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the side walls of the middle area (24) are formed by exchangeable weights (152, 252, 1152, 1252).

15. Golf club according to claim 14, characterized in that two opposite side walls (e.g., 1152, 152) are clamped to one another and to the rest of the parts of the head by means of clamping screw (54, 56).

16. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the head has the shape of an airplane when viewed from above.

17. Golf club according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a plurality of pairs of markings extending perpendicular to the straight line (1128, 1328) are provided (1242, 1246, 1242-1, 1246-1, 1242-2, 1246-2) to adjust different angles of attack.