Cantilever-weighted golf putter

• US 5,571,053 A
• Filed: 08/14/1995
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen P. Lane
• Original Assignee: Stephen P. Lane
• Inventors: Lane, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/514,797
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167 R, 273/167 F, 273/169, 273/170, 273/171, 273/172, 273/173, 273/174, 273/167 C, 273/167 H, 273/193 R, 273/194 R, 273/79, 273/162 R, 273/162 F, 473/336, 473/340, 473/341
• US Class Current: 473/336
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters

Abstract

A cantilever-weighted golf putter which is characterized by an elongated putter head having a rounded bottom and sides and a flat top, with a longitudinal heel bore and toe bore provided in the heel and toe, respectively, of the putter head. A pair of threaded plugs fitted with a central opening and a recessed area communicating with the central opening are threaded into the heel bore and toe bore, respectively, for receiving bolts, such that the bolt heads are recessed in the recessed areas of the plugs and the threaded bolt shanks extend into the heel bore and toe bore, respectively. Each of the bolts is fitted with internally-threaded weights threadably secured in place on the bolts by means of nuts, such that the multiple weight system on each bolt is mounted in cantilever relationship in the heel bore and toe bore, respectively, of the putter head, without touching the heel and toe bore walls. A shaft mount bore is provided in the flat top of the elongated putter head in conventional fashion to receive a putter shaft. The heel bore and toe bore are drilled or molded in longitudinally aligned relationship and are internally spaced at a rounded "sweet spot" on the putter head for contacting a golf ball while putting.

Claims

1. A cantilever-weighted golf putter comprising a putter head having opposite ends and a center, a "sweet spot" or golf ball contact area located at substantially the center of said putter head, a shaft extending from said putter head adjacent to said contact area to facilitate balancing of said golf putter, at least one longitudinal bore provided in said putter head and weight means cantilever-mounted in said opposite ends of said putter head, said weight means projecting into said longitudinal bore in cantilever relationship from said opposite ends, respectively, of said putter head, defining a clearance between said weight means and said at least one longitudinal bore.

2. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 1 wherein said weight means comprises a bolt mounted in each of said opposite ends of said putter head and projecting into said longitudinal bore and at least one weight provided on said bolt.

3. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 2 comprising a plug threaded in each of said opposite ends of said putter head and wherein said bolt is mounted in said plug.

4. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 1 wherein said at least one longitudinal bore comprises a separate longitudinal bore extending from said opposite ends of said putter head toward said center of said putter head.

5. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said weight means comprises a bolt mounted in said opposite ends of said putter head and projecting into said longitudinal bore and at least one weight provided on said bolt; and

(b) said at least one longitudinal bore comprises a separate longitudinal bore extending from said opposite ends of said putter head toward said center of said putter head.

6. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 5 comprising a plug threaded in each of said opposite ends of said putter head and wherein said bolt is mounted in said plug.

7. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 3 comprising recess means provided in said plug and comprising a plug drive tool for engaging said recess means and selectively threadably inserting and removing said plug, said bolt and said weight from said longitudinal bore at said opposite ends of said putter head.

8. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 7 wherein said at least one longitudinal bore comprises a separate longitudinal bore extending from said opposite ends of said putter head toward said center of said putter head.

9. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 2 wherein said at least one weight comprises a plurality of cylindrical weights removably provided on said bolt.

10. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 9 comprising a plug threaded in each of said opposite ends of said putter head and wherein said bolt is mounted in said plug.

11. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 10 wherein said at least one longitudinal bore comprises a separate longitudinal bore extending from said opposite ends of said putter head toward said center of said putter head.

12. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 11 comprising recess means provided in said plug and comprising a plug drive tool for engaging said recess means and selectively threadably inserting and removing said plug, said bolt and said cylindrical weights from said longitudinal bore at said opposite ends of said putter head.

13. A cantilever-weighted golf putter comprising an elongated, rounded putter head having a toe end, a heel end and a center portion;

a "sweet spot" or golf ball contact area located at substantially the center of said putter head;

a shaft extending from said putter head adjacent to said contact area to facilitate balancing of said golf putter;

a first longitudinal bore provided in the toe end of said putter head and a second longitudinal bore provided in the heel end of said putter head opposite from said toe end;

first cantilever weight means mounted on said toe end of said putter head and extending into said first longitudinal bore without touching said first longitudinal bore beyond said toe end and second cantilever weight means mounted on said heel end of said putter head and extending into said second longitudinal bore without touching said second longitudinal bore beyond said heel end, defining a clearance between said first cantilever weight means and said first longitudinal bore and between said second cantilever weight means and said second longitudinal bore, whereby said putter head is weighted at said toe end by said first cantilever weight means and at said heel end by said second cantilever weight means.

14. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 13 wherein said first cantilever weight means and said second cantilever weight means each comprises a pair of bolts mounted in said toe end and said opposite heel end, respectively, of said putter head and at least one cylindrical weight provided on each of said bolts.

15. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 14 comprising a pair of plugs threaded in said toe end and said heel end of said putter head, respectively, and wherein said bolts are mounted in said plugs, respectively.

16. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 13 comprising a first plug threaded in said toe end of said putter head, a second plug threaded in said heel end of said putter head and wherein said first cantilever weight means comprises a first bolt mounted in said first plug and at least one first cylindrical weight mounted on said first bolt and said second cantilever weight means comprises a second bolt mounted in said second plug and at least one second cylindrical weight mounted on said second bolt.

17. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 16 comprising recess means provided in said first plug and said second plug and comprising a plug drive tool for engaging said recess means and selectively threadably inserting and removing said first plug and said second plug, said first bolt and said second bolt and said first cylindrical weight and said second cylindrical weight from said longitudinal bore at said toe end and said heel end of said putter head, respectively.

18. A cantilever-weighted golf putter comprising an elongated putter head having a rounded bottom, rounded sides and a flat top;

a longitudinal bore provided in each end of said putter head, each of said bore terminating short of the center of said putter head;

a "sweet spot" or golf ball contact area located at substantially the center of said putter head;

a shaft extending from said flat top of said putter head adjacent to said contact area to facilitate balancing of said golf putter;

a plug threaded in each end of said putter head to close said bore, respectively;

a bolt extending through each of said plug into each of said bores; and

weight means provided on each of said bolts, said weight means extending into each of said bore and spaced from the wall of said bore, respectively, whereby a moment of said weight means is generated at said plug, respectively.

19. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 18 wherein said weight means comprises at least one cylindrical weight provided on said bolt, respectively, wherein the diameter of said weight is less than the diameter of the wall of said bore, respectively.

20. The cantilever-weighted golf putter of claim 19 wherein said at least one cylindrical weight comprises a plurality of cylindrical weights of selected size and magnitude for adjusting the magnitude of the moment.