Golf putter with cylindrical clubhead

• US 5,433,441 A
• Filed: 11/22/1993
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles Tomasino, Christopher K. Olsen
• Original Assignee: Charles Tomasino, Christopher K. Olsen
• Inventors: Tomasino, Charles, Olsen, Christopher K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/155,997
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167 R, 273/167 C, 273/169, 273/167 F, 273/164.1, 273/80.1, 273/80.2, 273/80 C, 273/167 G, 273/167 J, 273/168, 273/167 A, 273/193 R , 273/194 R, 273/194 A, 273/67 R, 273/56, 273/83
• US Class Current: 473/328
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved golf putter featuring a two piece cylindrical clubhead comprising a rod constructed from a hard material and fastened inside a thin walled tube cast from soft, malleable material such as copper. The club and clubhead are designed so as to improve balance, efficiency, and feel, and to impart initial forward rotational spin to the golf ball. The shaft is connected to the clubhead in such a manner as to align the shaft with the center of the clubhead, thereby maximizing the size of the "sweet spot," and to create a lie angle of between 65 and 76 degrees.

Claims

1. A putter instrument which can be used to strike a golf ball propelling it over a relatively smooth putting surface into a hole, the putter instrument comprising in combination:

(I) a cylindrically shaped clubhead, the clubhead having a center and also having a horizontal center axis with a midpoint and a vertical diameter with a midpoint, and the midpoint of the horizontal center axis and the midpoint of the vertical diameter forming an intersection defining the center of the clubhead, the clubhead comprising;

a) a thin cylindrically shaped tube constructed from a relatively soft and malleable material, and having an outside and an inside with the outside defining the ball striking surface of the clubhead, and

b) a cylindrically shaped rod constructed from a relatively hard material which will provide an acceptable length to weight ratio, the rod being fastened throughout the entire length thereof to the inside of the tube;

(II) a shaft, the shaft being attached to the clubhead and having an alignment center axis for aligning the shaft with the center of the clubhead, such that the alignment center axis of the shaft intersects with the center of the clubhead and forms a lie angle of 65°

to 76°

with the horizontal center axis of the clubhead; and

(III) endcaps attached to the clubhead for adjusting the height between the putting surface and the center of the clubhead.

2. The instrument set forth in claim 1 wherein the material of the rod comprises a plumbing water pipe.

3. The instrument set forth in claim 1 wherein the material of the tube is selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, gold, and combinations thereof.

4. A putter instrument which can be used to strike a golf ball propelling it over a relatively smooth putting surface into a hole, the putter instrument comprising in combination:

(I) a cylindrically shaped clubhead, the clubhead having a center and also having a horizontal center axis with a midpoint and a vertical diameter with a midpoint, and the midpoint of the horizontal center axis and the midpoint of the vertical diameter forming an intersection defining the center of the clubhead, the clubhead comprising;

a) a thin cylindrically shaped tube constructed from a relatively soft and malleable material, and having an outside and an inside with the outside defining the ball striking surface of the clubhead, and

b) a cylindrically shaped rod constructed from a relatively hard material which will provide an acceptable length to weight ratio, the rod being fastened throughout the entire length thereof to the inside of the tube;

(II) a shaft, the shaft being attached to the clubhead and having an alignment center axis for aligning the shaft with the center of the clubhead, such that the alignment center axis of the shaft intersects with the center of the clubhead and forms a lie angle of 65°

to 76°

with the horizontal center axis of the clubhead; and

(III) wherein the shaft is bent so that it enters the clubhead in such a manner as to be attached to the clubhead directly behind the center of the clubhead yet the alignment center axis of the shaft intersects with the center of the clubhead.

5. The instrument set forth in claim 4 wherein the material of the rod comprises a plumbing water pipe.

6. The instrument set forth in claim 4 wherein the material of the tube is selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, gold, and combinations thereof.