Golf putter

• US 5,820,481 A
• Filed: 01/19/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Raudman
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Raudman
• Inventors: Raudman, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US08/588,878
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 473/340, 473/341, 473/346, 473/347, 473/313, 473/314, 473/337, 473/305, 473/327, 473/339, 473/331, 473/332
• US Class Current: 473/313
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/021 the shaft axis being forwardly offset relative to the striking face of the head
• 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 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention defines an improved golf putter employing an elastomeric material between the putter face and body to dampen vibrations caused by impact of the moving putter face on a golf ball, the vibrations being directed by the putter body configuration in such a way as to maximize the dampening function. With a double bend in the putter shaft to located the line of impact with the center of rotation of the head, the design further improves feel and stroke through face bottom weighting. Angular design of the face, bottom and heel acts to decrease potential blade turf drag, enhancing the smooth feel of the club system.

Claims

1. An improved golf putter comprising:

a bottom-weighted face having two ends, a bottom edge and an upper edge having a "striking line" thereon;

a body having two arcuate segments extending away from and in a direction normal to said ends, said segments eventually extending toward each other and back toward said face, said segments joined at a location generally equidistant from said ends, said joined segments forming a surface parallel and proximate to the rear of said face, said body also having a central axis and a bottom surface;

fastening means between said ends and said segments;

a shaft having a longitudinal axis affixed to said body; and

an elastomeric material compressed between said surface and said face such that when said putter strikes a golf ball, vibrations are directed along said segments and into said elastomeric material and said face where said vibrations are dampened and absorbed.

2. An improved putter as described in claim 1 wherein:

said shaft affixed to said putter body such that said shaft'"'"'s longitudinal axis intersects said body'"'"'s central axis coincident with said face'"'"'s "striking line".

3. An improved putter as described in claim 1 wherein:

said fastening means comprises a male to female fit.

4. An improved putter as described in claim 1 wherein:

said face'"'"'s bottom edge extending at an angle up and away from the center of said edge; and

said body'"'"'s bottom surface extending along said central axis at an angle up and away from said face'"'"'s bottom edge.

5. An improved golf putter comprising:

A body having a bottom surface and a face with two ends, said face having an upper edge, a bottom edge, and a plurality of vertical grooves emanating from near said upper edge and gradually terminating near said bottom edge;

said body further comprising two arcuate segments extending away from and in a direction normal to said ends, said segments eventually extending toward each other and back toward said face, said segments joined at a location generally equidistant from said ends, said joined segments forming a surface parallel and proximate to the rear of said face;

fastening means between said ends and said segments;

a shaft having a longitudinal axis affixed to said putter; and

an elastomeric material compressed between said surface and said face such that when said putter strikes a golf ball, vibrations are directed along said segments into said elastomeric material and said face where said vibrations are dampened and absorbed.

6. An improved putter as described in claim 5, wherein:

said body having a central axis;

said longitudinal axis intersecting said central axis.

7. An improved putter as described in claim 5 wherein:

said fastening means comprises a male to female fit.

8. An improved putter as described in claim 5 wherein said body having central axis:

said face'"'"'s bottom edge extending along said central axis at an angle up and away from the center of said edge; and

said body'"'"'s bottom surface extending at an angle up and away from said face'"'"'s bottom edge.

9. An improved golf putter comprising:

a body shaped generally in a "w" having a central axis, said body having two outer ends with female fastening means and an anvil between said ends at the inboard middle of said "w" shape, said body having a bottom surface extending along said central axis at an angle upward and away from said outer ends;

a bottom-weighted face having two ends with male fastening means, a bottom edge and an upper edge having a "striking line" thereon, said face also having a center area of predetermined width disposed flat in parallel registry with said anvil, said bottom edge extending at an angle upward and away from the center of said bottom edge;

said body and said face joined by fixing said male fastening means inside said female fastening means;

a shaft having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis aligned parallel to said face, said shaft offset from said face and affixed to said body at said anvil;

an elastomeric material compressed between said anvil and said face such that when said putter strikes a golf ball, vibrations are directed along said segments and into said elastomeric material and said face where said vibrations are dampened and absorbed.

10. An improved golf putter as described in claim 9 wherein:

said anvil forming a bore for affixing said shaft therein.