Golf putter

• US 5,746,664 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walker Reynolds Jr
• Original Assignee: Walker Reynolds Jr
• Inventors: Reynolds, Walker Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/585,938
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 473/305, 473/306, 473/307, 473/308, 473/309, 473/310, 473/311, 473/312, 473/313, 473/340, 473/341, 473/342, 473/343, 473/244, 473/245, 473/246, 473/247, 473/248, 473/251, 473/252, 473/253, 473/254, 473/296, 473/297, 473/334-339
• US Class Current: 473/252
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules

Abstract

A golf club, such as a putter, utilizes removable shafts, removable weights in the shaft grip end, a variable length adapter to connect the shaft to the putter head and vary the shaft end weight, and removable weights in the putter head to vary the pressure of the putter relative to the putting surface speed. The putter head also includes weighted inserts or plugs placed in the head during manufacturing to vary the weight of the putter head. The striking face has an additional insert at the striking point adapted to receive various types of plugs to vary the percussion response. Grooves on the top surface of the club head provide improved "sighting" of the golf ball in relation to the hole. The club head shape and grip end appearance remain unaltered and thereby retain user familiarity and confidence.

Claims

1. A golf putter comprising in combination:

a) a shaft having a grip end and a distal end;

b) an adapter rigidly attached to said distal end and extending longitudinally therefrom;

c) a head having a striking face and an upper surface perpendicular to said striking face, said upper surface having a bore formed therein, oblique to the surface thereof and parallel to said striking face, of a dimension adapted to fixedly receive said adapter; and

d) means for engaging said adapter within said bore for releasably securing the same to said head.

2. A golf putter as defined in claim 1 wherein said grip end includes at least one removable weight which selected form a group of cooperatively formed weights which can be selectively exchanged to adjust the overall weight of said grip end.

3. A golf putter as defined in claim 2 wherein said head includes at least one removable weight which selected from a group of cooperatively formed weights which can be selectively exchanged to adjust the overall weight of said head.

4. A golf putter as defined in claim 3 wherein said head includes press-fit plug weights for adjusting the overall weight of said head.

5. A golf putter as defined in claim 4 wherein said head includes a rear surface and said means for engaging comprises:

a) an aperture substantially perpendicular to said striking face providing communication between said rear surface and said bore; and

b) a set screw received in said aperture, said screw having a threaded end intersecting said adapter for securing same within said bore.

6. A golf putter as defined in claim 5 wherein said shaft is replaceable with an alternative shaft of a different length to provide a putter of a different length.

7. A golf putter as defined in claim 6 wherein said upper surface includes a plurality of parallel grooves for sighting a golf ball.

8. A golf putter as defined in claim 2 wherein said adapter is weighted such that said adapter can be selectively exchanged with cooperatively formed adapters to adjust the overall weight of said distal end.

9. A golf putter as defined in claim 1 wherein said adapter is weighted such that said adapter can be selectively exchanged with cooperatively formed adapters to adjust overall weight of said distal end.

10. A golf putter as defined in claim 9 wherein said head includes press-fit plug weights for adjusting the overall weight of said head.

11. A golf putter as defined in claim 10 wherein said head includes a rear surface and said means for engaging comprises:

an aperture substantially perpendicular to said striking face providing communication between said rear surface and said bore; and

a set screw received in said aperture, said screw having a threaded end intersecting said adapter for securing same within said bore.

12. A golf putter comprising a combination

a) a shaft having a grip end and a distal end, said grip end including at least one removable weight selected form a group of cooperatively formed weights which can be selectively exchanged to adjust the overall weight of said grip end;

b) an adapter, selected form a group of cooperatively formed adapters, rigidly attached to said distal end and extending longitudinally therefrom, and wherein said adapter is weighted such that said adapter can be selectively exchanged with any of said group of cooperatively formed adapters to adjust the overall weight of said distal end;

c) a head having a striking face and an upper surface perpendicular to said striking face, said upper surface having a bore formed therein, oblique to the surface thereof and parallel to said striking face, of a dimension adapted to fixedly receive said adapter, and wherein said striking face includes an insert for adjusting the percussion response of said striking face; and

,

d) means for engaging said adapter within said bore for releasably securing the same to said head;

13. A golf putter as defined in claim 12 wherein said insert is removable so that said insert can be selectively exchanged with cooperatively formed inserts for adjusting the percussion response of said striking face.

14. A golf putter comprising in combination:

a) a shaft having a grip end and a distal end;

b) an adapter rigidly attached to said distal end and extending longitudinally therefrom;

c) a head having a striking face and an upper surface perpendicular to said striking face, said upper surface having a bore formed therein, oblique to the surface thereof and parallel to said striking face, of a dimension adapted to fixedly receive said adapter, and wherein said striking face includes an insert for adjusting the percussion response of said striking face; and

,

d) means for engaging said adapter within said bore for releasably securing the same to said head.

15. A golf putter as defined in claim 14 wherein said grip end includes at lease one removable weight selected from a group of cooperatively formed weights which can be selectively exchanged to adjust the overall weight of said grip end.

16. A golf putter as defined in claim 14 wherein said head includes at least one removable weight selected from a group of cooperatively formed weights which can be selectively exchanged to adjust the overall weight of said head.

17. A golf putter as defined in claim 16 wherein said head includes press-fit plug weights for adjusting the overall weight of said head.

18. A golf putter as defined in claim 14 wherein said insert is removable and selected form a group of cooperatively formed inserts so that said insert can be selectively exchanged for adjusting the percussion response of said striking face.

19. A golf putter as defined in claim 18 wherein said head includes a rear surface and said means for engaging comprises:

a) an aperture substantially perpendicular to said striking face providing communication between said rear surface and said bore through said insert; and

b) a set screw received in said aperture, said screw having a threaded end intersecting said adapter for securing same within said bore.

20. A golf putter as defined in claim 14 wherein said adapter is weighted and selected from group of cooperatively formed adapters such that said adapter can be selectively exchanged to adjust the overall weight of said distal end.

21. A golf putter as defined in claim 14 wherein said head includes a rear surface and said means for engaging comprises:

a) an aperture substantially perpendicular to said striking face providing communication between said rear surface and said bore; and

b) a set screw received in said aperture, said screw having a threaded end intersecting said adapter for securing same within said bore.