U.S. patent application number 14/239260 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-17 for golf putter.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kyong Ho Kim. Invention is credited to Kyong Ho Kim.
Application Number | 20140200095 14/239260 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46607903 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140200095 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Kyong Ho |
July 17, 2014 |
GOLF PUTTER
Abstract
Disclosed is a golf putter which includes a putter head which
includes a toe and a heel and is formed with a putting line groove
on an upper surface of a plane portion; and a support which
connects the putter head and a shaft and is formed with an upper
horizontal line parallel with the putting line groove.
Inventors: |
Kim; Kyong Ho; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kim; Kyong Ho |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
46607903 |
Appl. No.: |
14/239260 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
August 31, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2012/006994 |
371 Date: |
February 18, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/254 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/3685 20130101;
A63B 60/52 20151001; A63B 53/0441 20200801; A63B 53/0487
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/254 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04; A63B 69/36 20060101 A63B069/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2011 |
KR |
20-2011-0007920 |
Claims
1. A golf putter comprising: a putter head 20 which comprises a toe
16 and a heel 18 and is formed with a putting line groove 12 on an
upper surface of a plane portion; and a support 22 which connects
the putter head 20 and a shaft and is formed with an upper
horizontal line 23 parallel with the putting line groove 12.
2. The golf putter according to claim 1, further comprising a lower
horizontal line 15 which is provided on a lower surface of the
plane portion between the toe 16 and the heel 18 and parallel with
an upper horizontal line 23 or the putting line groove 12.
3. The golf putter according to claim 1, further comprising first
and second convex portions 17a and 17b so that centers of masses
can be respectively located in the toe 16 and the heel 18.
4. The golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the support 22
protrudes from the head 20 toward the toe 16 as being inclined
upward at an angle of 70.about.90.degree. with regard to a
horizontal direction.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a golf putter, and more
particularly to a golf putter improved in stability and centrality
when the putter rotates, in consideration of a heel-toe balance and
a face balance.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, golf is a game in which a golf ball placed on a
course is hit by a club gripped by both hands and superiority is
distinguished with respect to the number of strokes counted until
the golf ball is in a hole.
[0003] The golf course is built by artificially making a wood, a
valley, a pond, a mound and the like obstacles in a large area such
as a field, a hill, a forest, etc., and involves a teeing ground
and a fairway, a rough, a bunker, a water hazard, a green, a hole,
etc.
[0004] Meanwhile, the most important way to shave off a few strokes
from golf scores is putting that makes up about 40% of a golf
game.
[0005] The putting depends on a direction and a distance. In
particular, the direction is important. Therefore, a putting line
is decided after reading the green, and accurate aim and a perfect
stroke are needed.
[0006] Here, the requisites of the putting include the direction,
angle and speed of the ball, distance prediction, and proper
putting strength.
[0007] That is, the putting succeeds under the condition that the
direction and the angle have to be accurately aimed at a hole cup,
and the putting has to be performed strongly enough to make the
ball go slightly across the hole cup.
[0008] Further, a putting stroke has to be performed while
imagining a correct putting line with respect to the hole. At this
time, in order to perform the correct putting, a golfer's eyes have
to be exactly perpendicular to the ball, and a hitting point of a
putting striking surface have to draw along the putting line and
perpendicularly strike the center of the ball.
[0009] Also, horizontality of a putter head and the slope and
relief of the green have to be accurately grasped so that the
strength and direction of the putting can be decided and
unnecessary actions can be avoided as much as possible.
[0010] However, it is difficult for beginners in golf or average
golfers to accurately grasp the relief of a gentle or steep slope
as well as a flat green and control the horizontality of the putter
head and the putting strength.
[0011] Thus, the correct putting has been difficult because the
putting line is determined based on the golfer's eyes and
senses.
RELATED ART DOCUMENT
[0012] Korean Patent No. 10-0912423
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0013] Therefore, the present invention is directed to a golf
putter, in which an upper horizontal line is formed in a connecting
portion provided in an upper side of a support of the golf putter
and a putting line groove is horizontally formed on an upper
surface of a plane portion of a head, thereby enabling a proper
putting swing.
Technical Solution
[0014] One aspect of the present invention provides a golf putter
including: a putter head which includes a toe and a heel and is
formed with a putting line groove on an upper surface of a plane
portion; and a support which connects the putter head and a shaft
and is formed with an upper horizontal line parallel with the
putting line groove.
[0015] The golf putter may further include a lower horizontal line
which is provided on a lower surface of the plane portion between
the toe and the heel and parallel with an upper horizontal line or
the putting line groove.
[0016] The golf putter may further include first and second convex
portions and so that centers of masses can be respectively located
in the toe and the heel.
[0017] The support may protrude from the head toward the toe as
being inclined upward at an angle of 70.about.90.degree. with
regard to a horizontal direction.
Advantageous Effects
[0018] In a golf putter according to an embodiment of a present
invention, a putter head includes a heel and a toe to maintain a
heel-toe balance, thereby minimizing a rotational motion that may
be generated when hitting a golf ball.
[0019] Also, a putting line groove formed on a upper portion of a
putter head and a upper horizontal line formed on a connecting
portion provided in an upper side of a support are configured to
form a rectangle, thereby improving accuracy in a stroke when
hitting a golf ball.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a golf putter according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf putter according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the golf putter according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the golf putter according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the golf putter according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a left side view of the golf putter according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a right side view of the golf putter according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
TABLE-US-00001 [Reference numerals] 12: putting line 15: lower
horizontal line 16: toe 17a: first convex portion 17b: second
convex portion 18: heel 20: head 23: upper horizontal line 32:
connecting portion
BEST MODE
[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
However, the following embodiments are given to be fully understood
by a person having an ordinary skill in the art, and may be
modified into various alternatives. Further, the scope of the
present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In
the drawings, like numerals refer to like elements throughout.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a golf putter according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a
front view of the golf putter according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the golf
putter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0029] FIGS. 1 to 3 are the perspective view, front view and rear
view of the golf putter according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, in which a shaft (not shown) is omitted. A head
20 coupled to a lower end of the shaft includes a face 14, a toe 16
and a heel 18, and a support 22 to be connected to the shaft is
provided in a portion for connection between the toe 16 and the
heel 18.
[0030] At opposite ends of the head 20, i.e., at the toe 16 and the
heel 18, a first convex portion 17a and a second convex portion 17b
are provided to have convex shapes so that the heel 18 and the toe
16 can become heavy.
[0031] Also, a support upper horizontal line 23 is formed to be
parallel with a putting line groove 12 on an upper surface of a
plane portion of the head 20.
[0032] Further, a lower horizontal line 15 is formed to be parallel
with the putting line groove 12 on a lower surface of the head
20.
[0033] Meanwhile, all objects have the center of gravity, and the
center of gravity (CG) serves as a point of action where
mechanically connected objects operate like a single object with
respect to the center of gravity even though the objects' weight is
spread out to substantially many points.
[0034] FIG. 1 shows the center of gravity by `CG`. Further, an
imaginary line 26 passing through the center of gravity CG in a
direction perpendicular to the face 14 of the putter head 20
intersects a point 28 of the face 14 of the putter head 20 (refer
to FIG. 6 or 7).
[0035] The imaginary line 26 may be aligned with a line along which
the golf putter is swung.
[0036] Also, a surface where the putting line groove 12 of the head
20 of the golf putter and an intersection line between the head 20
and the support 22 are involved may be at an angle .theta. of
70.about.90.degree. to a surface where the upper horizontal line 23
of the support 22 and the intersection line between the head 20 of
the putter and the support 22.
[0037] That is, the support 22 protrudes from the head 20 toward
the toe 16 as being inclined upward at an angle of
70.about.90.degree. with regard to a horizontal direction.
[0038] Further, the upper horizontal line 23 provided in a
connecting portion 32 connected to an upper side of the support 22
of the golf putter may be parallel with the putting line groove 12
formed the upper surface of the plane portion of the head 20 so
that a user of the golf putter can immediately recognize whether
the swing action is aligned with the imaginary line 26.
[0039] FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan and bottom views of the golf putter
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a location relation between the
upper horizontal line 23 and the putting line groove 12 form a
rectangle ABCD having two parallel lines.
[0041] Therefore, an orthographic projection over the support 22 is
involved in the upper surface of the head 20 having the putting
line groove 12.
[0042] If a swing path of the putter is matched with the imaginary
line 26 when the putter, i.e., a golf club is swung, and the golf
ball is hit at a point 28 on the face 14 of the putter head 20, the
maximum energy transfer is achieved and no torsional force is
applied to the putter.
[0043] A relationship of force generated at the stroke is as
follows: momentum of the golf putter is transferred to the golf
ball at the stroke by law of momentum conservation
[0044] At this time, the energy of the golf putter is divided into
translational energy parallel with a rotational direction due to
the swing of the golf putter and rotational energy due to shaking
of the golf putter. If there is little energy loss due to friction
or the like between the golf putter and the golf ball, the maximum
energy transfer is achieved when the energy due to the swing of the
golf putter is converted only into the translational energy of the
golf ball.
[0045] As described above, the maximum energy transfer is achieved
when the golf putter hits the golf ball without the shaking causing
a rotational motion.
[0046] If the relationship of the force is described as the
relationship of the position on the face 14 of the golf putter, the
maximum kinetic energy transfer is achieved when the point 28 on
the face 14 of the golf putter collides with the golf ball.
[0047] However, if the golf ball is hit at a position biased
leftward or rightward from the point 28 on the face 14 of the
putter head 20, force of rotating the head 20 with respect to a
longitudinal axis of the shaft (not shown) is applied to the putter
head 20.
[0048] In particular, if the hitting point is biased toward the toe
16 of the putter head 20, the head 20 tends to rotate in a
clockwise direction.
[0049] The torque of the head 20 is transferred to the golf ball.
When the clockwise torque is transferred to the golf ball, the golf
ball has a rotational motion as well as a rectilinear motion and
thus rotates leftward with respect to a flying direction, thereby
flying as being curved leftward by the rotational motion of the
golf ball with respect to the straightly going direction.
[0050] Likewise, if a stroke is performed at a position biased
toward the heel 18 of the putter head 20, the head 20 of the putter
is moved in a counterclockwise direction.
[0051] The torque of the head 20 is transferred to the golf ball.
When the counterclockwise torque is transferred to the golf ball,
the golf ball does not go straightly and rotates rightward with
respect to the flying direction, thereby flying as being curved
rightward with respect to the straightly going direction of the
golf ball.
[0052] Of course, the foregoing undesired rotation of the putter
head 20 is inhibited by inertia moment. According to an embodiment
of the present invention, the putter is formed to maximize the
inertia moment.
[0053] The inertia moment of an object is defined with respect to a
reference axis to which the torque is applied. The standard inertia
moment of the object is defined when the reference axis is aligned
with the center of gravity. Although the objects have the same
mass, the inertia moment increases in proportion to the square of a
distance at which the mass is distributed farther away from the
center of gravity (CG).
[0054] That is, if the reference axis gets more distant from the
center of gravity, the inertia moment increases by the expression
1.
I=.SIGMA.m.sub.i.times.r.sub.i.sup.2 Expression 1
[0055] In the expression 1, m.sub.i indicates the center of mass in
the i.sup.th element, and r.sub.i indicates the distance of the
i.sup.th element from the center of mass.
[0056] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the toe
16 and the heel 18 of the golf putter are respectively formed with
first and second convex portions 17a and 17b on a middle lower
surface of the plane portion of the putter head. If the first and
second centers of masses M1 and M2 of the toe 16 and the heel 18
are distributed at distances r1 and r2 from the center of gravity
CG of the golf putter, the inertia moment acts by
M1*r1.sup.2+M2*r2.sup.2.
[0057] The inertia moment of the object refers to resistance to the
rotation of the object due to external torque applied to the object
with respect to the reference axis. The larger the inertia moment,
the more the resistance to the rotation due to the external
torque.
[0058] In other words, to give the same angular acceleration (i.e.,
change in angular velocity per time), the torque to be applied to
an object has to increase as large as the inertia moment of the
object.
[0059] The inertia moment of the golf putter is also represented as
the resistance to the rotation due to arm-wrist torque applied to a
wrist position that is the reference axis of the club for an action
from a back swing to a down swing.
[0060] In the golf putter according to an embodiment of the present
invention, the center of mass is not positioned at the center of
the head 20 but positioned at both ends of the head 20 so as to
effectively use the inertia moment.
[0061] For the foregoing structure, the first convex portion 17a
and the second convex portion 17b may be provided to have convex
shapes at the both ends of the head 20, i.e., the toe 16 and the
heel 18
[0062] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the heel 18 and the toe 16 have
the convex shapes to become heavy, in which the center of mass
located at the toe 16 will be called M1 and the center of mass
located at the heel 18 will be called M2.
[0063] With this structure, a heel-toe balance is maintained.
[0064] When the golf ball collides with the hitting point on the
face of the putter, the heel-toe balance prevents the face of the
putter from shaking due to the inertia moment from the hitting
point to the heel 18 of the putter or the toe 16 of the putter.
[0065] Besides the foregoing heel-toe balance, a face balance may
be taken into account so as to improve the stability of the
putter.
[0066] The face balance is achieved when the first and second
centers of masses M1 and M2 are maximized within a limited range
from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
[0067] That is, the support 22 is provided to form the connecting
portion 32 connected to a point adjacent to the heel 18 of the
putter head 20. At this time, the connecting portion 32 has the
upper horizontal line 23 for allowing a stroker, who will use the
golf putter to hit the golf ball, to accurately aim at the golf
ball.
[0068] Thus, when the golf putter is swung, possibility of
deviating from a swing line is decreased.
[0069] That is, in the golf putter according to an embodiment of
the present invention, the center of gravity is not located in an
upper portion where the shaft is placed, but located in a lower
portion where the putter head 20 is placed. Also, the head 20
includes the toe 16 and the heel 18 and thus improve stability
based on the balance between the toe 16 and the heel 18 with regard
to the swing of the golf putter on the contrary to a conventional
golf putter where the center of mass is located at the center of
the head 20.
[0070] Like this, if the support 22 is not placed in a front
portion where the swing is performed but placed in a rear portion
with respect to a cross section where the swing is performed, the
center of mass is naturally shifted by the weight of the support
22, thereby minimizing impulse that may be generated at real
collision with the golf ball while naturally pushing the head 20 of
the putter downward.
[0071] Also, it is important how effectively the force is
transferred to the golf ball even though the impulse is applied.
Therefore, in the golf putter according to an embodiment of the
present invention, the center of gravity is located in three
different directions with respect to the direction in which the
force is applied.
[0072] Such distribution of the force causes the supporter 22 to be
forced in a downward direction while the force is transferred to
the golf ball. Further, the first center of mass M1 and the second
center of mass M2 are located in a left upper side or a right upper
side with respect to the golf ball when the golf putter is swung,
thereby having an effect on preventing the force from
dispersion.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 1, in the golf putter according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the support upper horizontal
line 23 and the putting line groove 12 on the upper surface of the
plane portion of the head 20 are formed in order to improve
straightness when the golf putter is swung.
[0074] A user of the golf putter according to an embodiment of the
present invention can stably swing the golf putter having the
heel-toe balance and the face balance in order to accurately hit
the golf ball while seeing the support upper horizontal line 23 and
the putting line groove 12 on the upper surface of the plane
portion of the head 20.
[0075] Here, the lower horizontal line 15 may be further provided
on the lower surface of the head 20 and being in parallel with the
putting line groove 12.
[0076] At this time, the lower horizontal line 15 may be provided
perpendicularly to the connecting line of connecting the heel 18
with the toe 16 between the heel 18 and the toe 16 of the putter,
thereby improving the swing stability of the golf putter.
[0077] FIGS. 6 and 7 are left and right side views of the golf
putter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 6, an extended line 27 of the shaft does
not meet the head 20 of the golf putter and is located in front of
the face 14 of the golf putter, thereby biasing a force-applying
direction backward.
[0079] Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and
described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *