Golf putter system

• US 5,244,210 A
• Filed: 09/21/1992
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Au
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Au
• Inventors: Au, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US07/947,474
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167 R-77 A, 273/186.2, 273/187.4, 273/194 R, 273/194 A, 273/194 B, 273/164.1, 273/81 A, 273/63 E, 273/65 EC, 273/59 B, 273/26 B , 273/162 R
• US Class Current: 473/252
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence

Abstract

A golf club head, particularly a putter, having an improved selectable weight and adjustable balance system. The head has an elongated threaded weight chamber extending from toe to heel. The chamber contains weights, preferably coins, and thrust/ friction washers which are captured and secured by opposing threaded end plugs. The amount of weights used and their collective effective center of gravity is adjustable by the user. The center of gravity or sweet spot is adjusted when the end plugs along with the captive weights and washers are rotated toward the toe or heel. When rotated toward each other, the end plugs produce a strong locking force on the entire weight assembly. The balance and sweet spot characteristics are also controlled by the strategic placement of weights within the chamber. The washers can also be used as spacers to aid weight distribution. When more weight separation is required, an optional compression spring is used between weights. By selecting the amount of weights deployed and by the strategic placement of the weights, many options of putter head weight and balance are available to the golfer.

Claims

1. A golf putter, comprising:

an elongated, generally tubular head having a striking surface, a toe end and a heel end;

a shaft fixed to the head;

the head having an elongated bore connecting the heel end to the toe end, the bore being substantially, continuously threaded from the heel end to the toe end;

a first pair of threaded plugs, each of said plugs being threadably movable along substantially the full length of the threaded bore;

a selected number of similarly-shaped, discshaped weights disposed between the first pair of threaded plugs;

a compressible spacer disposed between the pair of plugs to prevent relative motion between the weights, plugs and the head;

whereby the first pair of plugs, spacer and weights may be moved to a selected position along the length of the bore in the head to adjust the location and balance of the putter'"'"'s sweet spot.

2. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, including:

a second pair of threaded plugs disposed in the threaded bore and a selected number of similarly-shaped, disc-shaped weights disposed between the second pair of threaded plugs;

a compressible spacer disposed between the second pair of plugs to prevent relative motion between the weights and the head, whereby the first pair of plugs and associated weights may be disposed adjacent one end of the head, and the second pair of plugs and associated weights may be disposed adjacent the opposite end of the head to balance the putter head and establish the sweet spot location and the sweet spot spread of the putter head.

3. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, in which the weights comprise a plurality of coins, tokens or circular disks.

4. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, in which the weights comprise a group of pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters or foreign coins.

5. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, in which the body has observation port means disposed along the length of the head, the port means opening into the threaded bore so that the user can observe the location and placement of the plugs, spacers, springs and weights in the weight housing.

6. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, in which the head is formed of a plastic material.

7. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, in which the first pair of plugs may be inserted from either the toe and or the heel end of the bore, or from both the toe and heel ends.

8. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, in which the weights are disposed in a pair of spaced groups between the threaded plugs, and including a compression spring disposed between the spaced groups of weights to bias the group toward the plugs.

9. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, including a plurality of spacers disposed in any configuration and combination between the weights to effect weight distribution and establish sweet spot placement as well as the sweet spot size or spread.

10. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, in which snap rings are used at the toe and the heel ends of the weight housing bore to retain the weights and the spacer in the housing bore.

11. A golf putter as defined in claim 1, in which a nonpermanent decal is used to indicate the location of the sweet spot established by the user.

12. A golf putter, comprising:

an elongated, generally tubular head having a striking surface, a toe end and a heel end;

a shaft fixed to the head;

the head having an elongated bore connecting the heel end to the toe end;

a pair of compression discs in said bore;

a pair of snap rings mounted at opposite ends of the bore;

a selected number of similarly-shaped, disc-shaped weights disposed in spaced weight groups between the snap rings; and

a compression spring being disposed to separate the weight groups and to prevent relative motion between the weights, snap rings, and the head.