Adjustable putter

• US 5,863,257 A
• Filed: 04/22/1997
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Romolo Buzz Busnardo
• Original Assignee: Romolo Buzz Busnardo
• Inventors: Busnardo, Romolo Buzz
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/838,019
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 473/244, 473/245, 473/246, 473/247, 473/248, 473/251, 473/305, 473/306, 473/307, 473/313, 473/314, 473/340, 473/325, 473/288
• US Class Current: 473/246
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/025 lie angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about an axis parallel to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

An adjustable golf putter which has an attachment means which allows the shaft to be removed from the putter head, and allows the angle between the golf club shaft and the golf club putter head to be adjusted. An array of angle selection notches and an angle selection tooth are provided on the first end of the shaft. These angle selection notches correspond to a variety of angles between the shaft and the putter head body. Choice of an angle selection notch positions determines the angle between the putter shaft and the putter head body and holds it at that angle in a positive manner. The putter also has interchangeable face plate assemblies, which provide for changing the mass of the putter head and the loft angle of the striking face.

Claims

1. A golf putter which comprises:

a golf club shaft having a first end, for attachment at an angle to a putter head body;

a putter head body with a front surface, for attachment to said golf club shaft;

a shaft attachment means for removably attaching said shaft to said putter head body allowing an adjustable angle of engagement, to adjust the direction of extension of the shaft from the putter head body;

a plurality of angle selection notches on said shaft attachment means which corresponds to a variety of angles between said shaft and said putter head body, for setting the angle between said golf club shaft and said putter head body;

one or more shaft angle selection teeth for engagement with one or more angle selection notches, which select the angle between said shaft and said putter head body, and when said shaft is attached to said putter head body, locks said shaft and said putter head body at a fixed angle; and

said shaft attachment means including a minimum angle selection guide centered among said angle selection notches which prevents said putter shaft from being mounted at an angle less than a selected minimum angle.

2. The golf putter of claim 1 in which said minimum angle selection guide prevents said putter shaft from being mounted at an angle of less than 10 degrees.

3. The golf putter of claim 1 which further comprises a face plate assembly for removable attachment to said front surface of said putter head body and means for removably attaching said face plate assembly to said putter head body.

4. The golf putter of claim 1 in which said putter head body comprises a metal plate encased within, and bonded to, resilient material.

5. The golf putter of claim 1 in which said face plate assembly further comprises a metal plate encased within, and bonded to, an encasement of resilient material, said resilient material further having a striking surface and in spaced apart relationship with said front surface of the putter head body.

6. The golf putter of claim 5 wherein the mass of said metal plate encased within said face plate is of a selectable, predetermined mass.

7. The golf putter of claim 5 wherein the striking surface of the resilient material is of a preselectable loft angle.

8. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the striking surface of the resilient material is of a preselectable positive loft angle.

9. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the striking surface of the resilient material is of a preselectable negative loft angle.

10. A golf putter which comprises:

a golf club shaft having a first end, for attachment at an angle to a putter head body;

a putter head body with a front surface, for attachment to said golf club shaft;

a shaft attachment means for removably attaching said shaft to said putter head body allowing an adjustable angle of engagement, to adjust the direction of extension of the shaft from the putter head body;

a plurality of angle selection notches on said shaft attachment means which correspond to a variety of angles between said shaft and said putter head body, for setting the angle between said golf club shaft and said putter head body;

one or more shaft angle selection teeth for engagement with a chosen angle selection notch, which select the angle between said shaft and said putter head body, and when said shaft is attached to said putter head body, locks said shaft and said putter head body at a fixed angle;

said shaft attachment means including a minimum angle selection guide centered among said angle selection notches which prevents said putter shaft from being mounted at an angle less than a selected minimum angle; and

a face plate assembly for removable attachment to said front surface of said putter head body, said face plate assembly having selectable mass and loft characteristics, and means for removably attaching said face plate assembly to said putter head body;

with said front surface of the putter head body.

11. The golf putter of claim 10 in which said minimum angle selection guide prevents said putter shaft from being mounted at an angle of less than 10 degrees.

12. The golf putter of claim 10 in which said putter head body comprises a metal plate encased within, and bonded to, resilient material.

13. The golf putter of claim 10 in which said face plate assembly further comprises a metal plate encased within, and bonded to, an encasement of resilient material, said resilient material further having a striking surface in spaced apart relationship to said front surface of golf putter body.

14. A adjustable golf putter which is assembled from interchangeable parts each of which a golfer can select for his personal preference, which comprises:

a golf club shaft of a length selected by a golfer and having a first end, for attachment at an angle to a putter head body;

an adjustable angle and weight putter head body with a front surface, for attachment to said golf club shaft at a lie angle selected by said golfer;

a shaft attachment means for removably attaching said shaft to said putter head body allowing an adjustable angle of engagement, to adjust the direction of extension of the shaft from the putter head body;

a plurality of angle selection notches on said shaft attachment means which correspond to a variety of angles between said shaft and said putter head body, for setting the angle between said golf club shaft and said putter head body;

one or more shaft angle selection teeth for engagement with a chosen angle selection notch, which select the angle between said shaft and said putter head body, and when said shaft is attached to said putter head body, locks said shaft and said putter head body at a fixed angle;

said shaft attachment means including a minimum angle selection guide centered among said angle selection notches which prevents said putter shaft from being mounted at an angle less than a minimum 10 degree angle;

a face plate assembly for removable attachment to said front surface of said putter head body, said face plate assembly selected from interchangeable face plates of different masses in both positive and negative loft angles, and different face plate material, including metal and metal coated with resilient material; and

means for removably attaching said face plate assembly to said putter head body.