T-shaped golf putter

• US 5,470,070 A
• Filed: 11/04/1994
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher J. Bendo
• Original Assignee: Christopher J. Bendo
• Inventors: Bendo, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pierce, William M.
• Application Number:
  US08/334,133
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 273/77 A, 273/167 R, 273/168, 273/169, 273/175, 273/167 C, 273/167 D, 273/167 F, 273/167 G
• US Class Current: 473/252
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

A golf club of the putter type is formed with a horizontally arranged T-shaped head having an elongated stem and laterally extending arms which terminate in integral enlargements that form weights. The stem and arms of the T-shape have a forward, normally vertically arranged surface which provide a ball impacting surface on the head. The head has a center of mass located a short distance rearwardly of the impacting surface and along the longitudinal, horizontally arranged axis of the stem. A shaft is connected to the head between the center of mass and the impacting surface. The shaft has a short lower portion which is bent forwardly and sidewise relative to the head. Also, the shaft has an upper portion, which is integral with the lower portion that is bent at an acute angle relative to the vertical axis of the head. Markings may be formed on the upper surface of the head for providing sight lines for aiming the stem along a desired direction.

Claims

1. A golf club having a head and a shaft connected to the head, comprising:

said head being formed in a generally T-shape including a narrow, normally horizontally arranged stem portion forming an elongated head body portion having a forward end forming a normally vertically arranged impact face, and with the body portion having an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposite side surfaces, said side surfaces being tapered away from the forward end;

said T-shape head including a pair of narrow, elongated, oppositely extending arm portions which extend laterally and horizontally from the opposite side surfaces of the stem and said arm portions include a forward surface co-planar with said impact face and are narrow and include a tapered rear face and angled slightly upward, and said tapered rear faces are continuous with said tapered opposite side surfaces such that an arc is defined by each side surface and continuous rear surface;

the free end of each of said arms terminate in an integral enlargement which provides a weight on the opposite-sides of and spaced from said body portion, said enlargements being located above a transverse plane extending through a central, longitudinal axis of said head body portion;

said shaft extending upwardly from the upper surface of said body portion and being connected to the body portion near, but spaced a short distance rearwardly, of the impact face of said body portion.

2. A golf club as defined in claim 1 above, and including said body portion having a center of mass that is located slightly rearwardly of the connection between the shaft and the body portion and located substantially on the longitudinal axis of said body portion.

3. A golf club as defined in claim 2 above, and including said shaft having a lower section connected to the body portion and extending upwardly from the upper surface of the body portion at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the body portion and, also, relative to the face of the body portion;

said shaft lower portion being integral with a considerably longer upper shaft portion which is arranged at an acute angle relative to the lower portion and also at an acute angle relative to the vertical axis of the head body portion.

4. A golf club as defined in claim 3 above, and including the shaft lower portion being joined to the head at a location forwardly, that is, in the direction towards the body portion face, of the center of mass of the body portion.

5. A golf club as defined in claim 4 above, and including at least one visible sight line formed along the upper surface of the body portion and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion for providing a sight-aiming line for the golfer.

6. A golf club as defined in claim 1 and including said body portion having a center of mass that is located slightly rearwardly of the connection between the shaft and the body portion and located substantially on the longitudinal axis of said body portion, and the shaft lower portion being joined to the head at a location between the body portion face and the center of mass of the body portion.

7. A golf club as defined in claim 6 and including said shaft having an integral lower section connected to the body portion and extending upwardly from the upper surface of the body portion at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body portion and, also at an acute angle relative to the face of the body portion;

said shaft lower section being integral with a considerably longer upper shaft section which is arranged at an acute angle relative to the shaft lower section and also relative to the vertical axis of the head body portion.