Golf Club

Abstract

An instrument to accurately propel a golf ball comprising a shaft and a hollow, generally spherical body having at least one flat striking surface wherein the loci of the radii of said spherical body is at its center of gravity, and weight means positioned interiorly of said hollow body.

Parent Case Text

This invention relates to a golf club and more specifically relates to a golfing instrument of unique balance characteristics. This is a divisional application of my application, Ser. No. 864,930, filed Sept. 11, 1969, entitled Spherical Golf Club Head, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,637,218, dated Jan. 25, 1972, which is a continuation-in-part of my application, Ser. No. 825,093, filed Apr. 14, 1969, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of my application, Ser. No. 761,256, filed Sept. 20, 1969, now abandoned.

Description

Always of paramount consideration in the development of better golf clubs is the weight and balance characteristics thereof. In the golfing instrument described below, there is described a club which will give good directional control to a golf ball and is described in the form of a putting instrument. However, it will be understood that with some modifications, especially as to slant and size of the striking surface, other golfing clubs can be devised under the scope of this invention.

A principal objective of this invention is to provide a spherical club head having at least one flat striking surface with the center of gravity of the club head and the loci of the radii of the spherical surface coinciding at a point interior of the head.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a golfing instrument wherein a central and perpendicular axis of the above-mentioned flattened surface passes through the center of gravity of the head.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a golfing instrument of improved balance and stroke characteristics wherein a normal golfing stroke is utilized and whereby the user thereof will not be required to learn new techniques.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a golfing instrument of the type described wherein additional weight is given to the club instrument without changing its outside dimensions and wherein the center of gravity of additional weight will be located at the above-mentioned center of gravity.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a golfing instrument where the "sole-drag" of the club is reduced well below that of conventional flat-bottomed instruments.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide a golf club, the circular dimensions of which aid in aligning same with the circular dimensions of the golf ball.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a golfing instrument which maintains the above-mentioned beneficial advantages even though the ball to be struck rests on a difficult slope.

Another important objective of this invention is a golf club of the type described which is adapted to be constructed of metallic or molded materials, which is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and attractive in appearance.

A still further objective of this invention is the provision of a club head wherein the appearance of the hitting face may be readily varied whereby a variety of club heads may be provided, all of which will employ the same general body design.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a club head which is smooth with the exception of its striking surface and is not impaired with exterior securing screws and the like.

Another object of this invention is to construct a golfing instrument whereby, when the eyes of the golfer are directly above the ball, the balance, design, and feel of the club will aid the golfer in visualizing his stroke to thus increase accuracy in the path followed by the ball after striking same.

In another embodiment of the golf club of this invention two flattened striking surfaces are provided on a generally spherical, hollow body portion. The flattened surfaces lie in substantially parallel planes on each side of the loci of the radii of the spherical body portion. The flattened surfaces can be located in diverging planes if lofted striking surfaces are desired and the surfaces are of a diameter slightly greater than that of a standard golf ball. This embodiment is of benefit primarily to those golfers who prefer a "blade" type putter as opposed to a rounded back type but which retains all of the features set forth above in reference to the first embodiment.

These and other objectives of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the golf club of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the interior of the club head;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the addition of weight means;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the club facing the striking surface;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sketch showing the geometric patterns of the club head;

FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the golf club of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a view in the direction of one of the flat striking surfaces of the golf club of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view in cross section taken on lines 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 with weights positioned in the hollow body; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views of the club showing the shaft attached to the side of the club head through a connecting member.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are referred to by like numerals, the numeral 10 indicates the golfing instrument of this invention. The golfing instrument is comprised generally of the shaft 12 and the club head 14. The shaft 12 is of an appropriate length for the user of the instrument.

The club head 14 is formed with a spherical surface 16 and a flat striking surface 18 and a connecting member 11. The spherical surface is defined by a plurality of radii 20 having their loci at the point indicated by the letter C. The longitudinal axis 22 of the connecting member 11 passes through point C and the shaft 12 is angulated to one side or the other depending upon whether the club is to be used by a right-handed or left-handed golfer. It is important to note that a line 24 normal to the surface 18 and at its geometrical center will also pass through the point C.

The club head 14 is comprised basically of two elements. The first element is a generally hollow, metallic portion 26, from which the connecting member 11 and shaft 12 extends. The second element is member 30 of a lighter weight than the spherical portion 26 and which encloses the opening 28 of the spherical portion.

Since the spherical body 26 is interrupted in favor of the putting surface 18, the cover 30 is made of a material to insure that the center of gravity of the body falls through the point C when the cover is properly secured to the body 26.

In order that a completely smooth outer exterior surface will be presented, the body 26 is provided with a threaded rod 32, the outer end of which is adapted to be received by a pre-formed hole 34 in member 30. The hole 34 has a depth which will insure that the member 30 is securely affixed to the member 26. The line separating members 26 and 30 is barely visible after being affixed in this manner.

This invention also provides means by which the weight characteristics can be varied in accordance with the particular requirements of the user. In FIG. 3 it can be seen that a plurality of weights 40 are placed on the rod 32. The weights will have a width such that they are snugly secured when member 30 is threaded to proper engagement with member 26.

FIGS. 6 through 9 show another embodiment of the golf club of this invention. In this embodiment the loci of the radii of curvature of the club head and the center of gravity are also coincidental. The club head has a generally spherical body portion 40 and a hollow space 42 therein. The main difference between the club head of FIGS. 6 through 9 and the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 is that instead of the former being provided with one flat striking surface, it is provided with two flat striking surfaces 44 and 46 which are located in planes on either side of the loci or center of gravity C. As shown, the faces are substantially in parallel planes. However, it is to be understood that the club faces can be slanted somewhat as desired. The shaft 12 need be angulated to one side only to accommodate both right- and left-handed golfers.

The cover member for closing the hollow space is indicated by the numeral 48 and is located in the bottom portion of the club head. The cover is substantially round and is in axial alignment with connecting member 11 of the club shaft 12. The cover is secured into the club head in a manner similar to the manner in which the cover 30 is secured to the club head in FIGS. 1 through 4. A rod 50 is attached at one end to the interior wall of the hollow body portion and extends toward said opening in the bottom of the club head. The other end of the rod 50 is threaded to receive the cover 48 and hold it in the closed position such that the outer surface of the cover is substantially flush with the outer surface of the club head. As shown in FIG. 9, weights 40 may be placed on the rod 50 in the manner described for the embodiment of FIG. 4.

A further modification is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The club shaft 54 is attached to one side of the club head 52 through a connecting member 53. The position of the shaft to the right or left of the vertical center of the club head does not substantially affect the center of balance of the club head. The club shaft may be attached to any of a number of points on the club head to suit the personal preference of the user.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed an effective and efficient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiment, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A playing club for striking a golf ball comprising a spherical club head having a flat striking surface and including a generally hollow body portion having an opening therein and a cover enclosing said opening, said surface lying in a plane offset from the loci of the radii of said spherical club head, the center of gravity of said club head being substantially at said loci,

an elongated shaft affixed to said head,

said surface having a diameter greater than a standard golf ball, connector means disposed interiorly of said body for securing said cover to said hollow body portion, said connector means comprising a rod connected at opposite ends to said cover and an interior wall of said hollow body, respectively, weight means secured to said rod, and the longitudinal axis of said rod extending through said loci for securing said cover in the closed position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said connector rod is fixed at one end to said cover and projects inwardly of said body, said rod being threaded at the other end thereof for threaded engagement with said interior wall of said body for securing said cover in the closed position.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said connector rod is fixed at one end to the interior surface of said body and extends in a direction toward said opening, said rod being threaded at the other end thereof for threaded engagement with a threaded portion in said cover for securing said cover in the closed position.

4. The playing club of claim 1 and including a second flat striking surface lying in a plane offset from the loci of the radii of said spherical club head, opposite that of said first striking surface.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the shaft is connected to the club head through a connecting member and said shaft is angulated with respect to said club head.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said hollow body portion is of a material relatively heavy with respect to said cover.

7. The invention of claim 4 wherein said opening is in the bottom of said body portion.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said weight means are secured to said rod such that their center of gravity will be at said loci.