U.S. patent number 3,770,279 [Application Number 05/201,598] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-06 for golf putter.
Invention is credited to Robert H. Phinny.
United States Patent |
3,770,279 |
Phinny |
November 6, 1973 |
GOLF PUTTER
Abstract
The head of a golf putter is substantially rectangular in shape
and has a weight distributing channel formed in the top thereof
which extends through one end of the putter head. Within the
channel is mounted a shaft-receiving boss adapted to hold the shaft
of the putter at an angle such that the putter can be held close to
the feet of the user with the bottom surface of the putter parallel
to the putting surface. The bottom of the putter head has an
upwardly curved rear surface and the front and side walls are
inwardly tapered from bottom to top. The weight distribution of the
putter head together with the shaft angle allow the putter to be
employed with a one-arm pendulum-type swing for improved putting
accuracy.
Inventors: |
Phinny; Robert H. (Fremont,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
22746486 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/201,598 |
Filed: |
November 19, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/313;
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
53/0487 (20130101); A63B 53/047 (20130101); A63B
60/34 (20151001); A63B 60/52 (20151001); A63B
53/0433 (20200801) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
53/04 (20060101); A63b 053/02 (); A63b
053/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/77R,78,79,8C,163R,164,167-175 ;D34/5GC,5GH |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows.
1. A golf club head comprises a substantially rectangular body
having front and rear ends and a top surface, said body including
an open channel formed downwardly through said top surface into
said body to define a floor of said channel, said channel extending
through said rear end and forming first and second walls of said
club head; said open channel including a beveled surface at an end
of said channel adjacent said front end of said club head, a step
joining said beveled edge and the remainder of said channel, said
step having a surface which lies intermediate said top surface of
said club head and said floor of said channel and lying in a plane
substantially parallel to said top surface; said body including an
exterior bottom surface which is substantially flat at the front
and middle portion and curved upwardly at said rear end of said
body; and a shaft receiving boss integrally molded to one of said
walls of said body and said floor of said channel, said boss
including an aperture adapted to receive and hold a club shaft at
an angle of 75.degree. to 80.degree. inclusive between the
longitudinal axis of the shaft and the plane of the top surface of
the club head to enable the club head to be positioned on the
ground relatively close to the feet of the user.
2. The golf club head as defined in claim 1 and further including a
partition extending from said boss across said channel and joined
to said wall remote from said boss.
3. A golf putter comprising: a club head comprising a substantially
rectangular body with top and bottom surfaces, front and rear ends
and a channel formed in said body and extending through said rear
end to form first and second walls, one of said walls having an
outer surface for striking a golf ball and wherein said bottom
surface of said head is curved upwardly at said rear end; said
channel including a beveled front edge and a step forming a plateau
extending rearwardly from said beveled edge, said plateau lying in
a plane substantially parallel with said top surface of said club
head, said head having a weight greater than 12 ounces; a shaft
receiving boss integrally molded to one of said walls and extending
into said channel for receiving a shaft at an angle between the
longitudinal axis of the shaft and the plane of the top surface of
the club head of 75.degree. to 80.degree. inclusive; and a club
shaft rigidly coupled to said shaft receiving boss.
4. A golf club head comprising:
a molded rectangular body having a substantially flat top surface,
said body including a substantially rectangular channel formed
downwardly through said top surface into said body to define a
floor of said channel and extending from a toe portion of said club
head through a heel end of said head opposite said toe, said
channel defining front and rear walls having interior surfaces
substantially perpendicular to said floor; and
a shaft receiving boss integrally molded to only one of said walls
and extending into said channel therefrom, said boss spaced
inwardly from the heel end of said club head and including a shaft
receiving aperture adapted to receive a club shaft at an angle to
enable the club head to be positioned on the ground relatively
close to the feet of the user.
5. The club head as defined in claim 4 wherein said boss is molded
to the wall whose exterior surface forms the ball striking surface
of said club head.
6. The club head as defined in claim 5 wherein said toe portion of
said club head includes a step formed downwardly in said body from
said top surface and spaced inwardly from the toe end of said club
head, said step in communication with said channel and having a
surface lying intermediate said top surface and said floor and
substantially parallel to said top surface.
7. The club head as defined in claim 6 wherein said aperture in
said boss holds a club shaft at a fixed angle of from 75.degree. to
80.degree. inclusive measured from the longitudinal axis of the
shaft and the plane of said top surface of said body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to golf clubs, and particularly to a
golf putter. A basic goal in golf putting is to obtain a
pendulum-type of swing such that the golf ball will travel in a
straight line toward the cup once struck. For years, various golf
putters have been fabricated to aid the golfer in an attempt to
improve his putting accuracy. Several putter heads have been
designed in sundry shapes, sizes and weights; as well as with
various markings to allow the user to align the club head with the
golf ball. Nearly all of these putters are designed to be gripped
with both hands.
When employing a putter designed for a two-handed grip it is very
difficult to obtain a pendulum-type of swing because of the
difficulty in controlling a putter with the relatively slow swing
used in putting when the putter is gripped with two hands. It has
been discovered, however, that by employing one arm and gripping an
appropriately designed club with only one hand; it is easier to
obtain a pendulum swing since there is less chance of the second
hand interfering with the smooth pendulum stroke of the club.
Conventional putters cannot be successfully employed with the
one-arm swing because they are either too light and therefore are
difficult to swing accurately in a pendulum trajectory or their
shaft angle is such that the golf club must be held away from the
body of the golfer. In such a position the club is relatively
unstable during the swing and it is very difficult to achieve a
pendulum-type trajectory with a one-arm swing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The golf club of the present invention, however, comprises a putter
formed from a generally rectangular putter head which is somewhat
heavier than a conventional putter head. The putter head is also
designed to hold the club shaft at an angle such that as the golfer
holds the club with one hand with his arm relatively straight, the
club head will be positioned parallel to the putting surface and
relatively close to the feet of the golfer. By so designing the
club head, a pendulum-type of swing can be achieved since the club
shaft is nearly vertical and the club can easily be guided in a
pendulum trajectory with a relaxed one-arm swing.
Putters embodying the present invention comprise a club head having
a substantially rectangular body member with a relativel flat
bottom surface curved upwardly at one end. The club head includes
an open channel formed in the top which extends through one end of
the putter. A shaft-receiving boss in the channel holds the putter
shaft at an angle to enable the club head to be positioned on the
ground relatively close to the feet of the user.
It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a
golf putter adapted to be swung with one arm.
It is additionally an object of the present invention to provide a
golf putter having a relatively heavy club head and a relatively
steep shaft angle to allow the putter to be positioned relatively
close to the feet of the golfer during use.
It is still an additional object of the present invention to
provide a golf putter having a club head with a channel
therethrough to distribute the weight of the putter such that it
can be used with a one-arm swing.
These and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent upon an examination of the figures and accompanying
description thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf putter embodying the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the putter shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the putter head with the shaft
removed;
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the putter head of the
present invention;
FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of the present
invention; and
FIG. 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the putter
head of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Referring now to the figures, there is shown a golf putter 10
having a head 20 and a shaft 50 coupled thereto. The club head is
cast from any suitable material such as brass, bronze, or the like,
and is generally rectangular in shape. The club head 20 includes a
generally U-shaped channel 25 formed in the top and extending from
the front or toe portion of the club head through the rear or heel
of the head 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The club head has a
striking surface 21, a rear surface 22, a front surface 23, a
bottom surface 24, and a top surface 27. The bottom surface 24 of
the putter head 20 is generally flat but curves upwardly at the
rear end of the head at the area 26 shown in FIG. 2. The front
surface 23 is tapered inwardly from the bottom to the top of the
putter as shown in FIG. 2. Sides 21 and 22 are tapered slightly
inwardly from bottom to top and from an angle .beta. (FIG. 4)
between a vertical line V and the plane of the sides 21 and 22. In
the preferred embodiment, angle .beta. was between 4.degree. and
6.degree..
The U-shaped channel 25 has a floor or bottom surface 28 (FIG. 3)
and a two-leveled step at the front portion of the putter head 20.
The step comprises a beveled portion 29 and a flat plateau portion
31 with a surface intermediate the top surface 27 of the putter
head and the floor 28.
The channel 25 in the putter head 20 defines a first wall 32 with
an outside surface forming the striking surface 21 and a second
wall 34. The inner surface of front wall 32 has a shaft receiving
boss 35 which is integrally molded to the front wall 32 and to the
floor 28 of the head 20. The shaft receiving boss 35 includes an
aperture 36 therein adapted to receive the end of the shaft 30 such
that the shaft will extend from the head at an angle between the
axis of the shaft 50 and top surface 27 of the head 20 as shown in
FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, angle .alpha. was
approximately 78.degree. and can be varied between a range of
75.degree. to 80.degree. for optimum performance of the club with a
one-armed swing.
The club shown in these figures is adapted for use by a
right-handed golfer. For use as a left-handed club, it is only
necessary to shift the boss 35 from the first wall 32 to the second
wall 34 whose outside surface would then become the striking
surface. By shaping the channel member 25 as shown and providing
the steps comprising the beveled portion 29 and flat plateau 31,
the weight distribution for the putter is such that it can easily
be employed with a one-armed swing. It is noted that surfaces 24,
27, 28 and 31 lie in substantially parallel planes at the front and
middle portions of the club head. In the preferred embodiment the
putter head has a weight of approximately 121/2 ounces. This weight
may vary depending upon the material used for the club head; it has
been found, however, that a club head greater than 12 ounces in
weight provides the most desirable characteristics for one-armed
putting. The weight of the putter head 20 can be varied however to
suit the individual by grinding the surfaces of the putter evenly
and symmetrically during a finishing stage of manufacture. The top
surface 27 of the putter head may be sand blasted or otherwise
treated to provide a non-reflecting matte surface.
The shaft 50 of the club 10 is of conventional design and includes
a grip 52 at the end of the shaft remote from its junction with the
club head 20. The shaft 50 may be somewhat shorter than a
conventional putter shaft such that when the club 10 is held by a
golfer with the club head 20 relatively close to the feet of the
golfer, the grip 52 is positioned at a vertical height convenient
for gripping by one hand with the arm extended. Shaft 50 can of
course be made of different lengths to fit the height of individual
golfers.
The club head can be modified as shown in FIG. 6 by providing a
partition 40 between the boss 35 and the second wall 34 to add
structural support for the boss 35, and increase the support
between walls 32 and 34. The partition 40 includes an aperture 41
drilled therethrough to facilitate drainage of water from the
channel 25 between the front portion of the club and the partition
40. In some designs, aperture 41 may be omitted.
The club 10 is used by the golfer by holding the grip 52 of the
club with one hand, preferably the left, and positioning the club
head 20 relatively close to the body with the striking surface
facing the hole. In this position the bottom surface 24 of the club
head 20 is parallel to the putting surface and the club can be
swung in a pendulum trajectory with a relatively relaxed swinging
motion of the left arm.
Although the invention is described in the environment of a golf
putter, it could likewise be incorporated in other clubs such as
short irons by varying the pitch of the striking surface. Also,
although specifically designed for one-arm use, it is conceivable
that the putter could be manipulated with a two-armed swing
probably however with a loss in accuracy.
Various other modifications to the club will be apparent to those
skilled in the art and will fall within the scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *