Golf putter with adjustable sight line

• US 6,558,268 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John C. Tindale
• Original Assignee: John C. Tindale
• Inventors: Tindale, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/951,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20030054900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 473/231, 473/219, 473/223, 473/226, 473/227, 473/238, 473/241, 473/242, 473/244, 473/251, 473/252, 473/253, 473/254, 473/220, D21/742, D21/743, D21/744, D21/745, D21/746
• US Class Current: 473/244
• 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 53/065 for putters

Abstract

A putter head is provided with a plane, flat golf ball engaging surface which extends between opposite ends of the putter head. Mounted in a recess formed in the putter head rearwardly of its face is an adjustable sighting line support having in its upper surface an elongage sighting line which registers at one end with the face of the head, and extends rearwardly therefrom. The support is mounted for limited adjustment about an axis that extends parallel to and is spaced rearwardly of the face of the putter head. In one adjusted position the sighting line extends at right angles rearwardly from the putter face in a manner similar to conventional putter sighting lines. However the support is mounted for limited rotational movement for up to at least 10° either clockwise or counterclockwise about its pivotal axis thereby to cause the sighting line to be secured in any one of a plurality of different angular positions other than 90° relative to the face of the putter head. The support is secured releasably in each of its adjusted positions by a screw which extends through the bottom of the putter head and threads into an internally threaded recess in the sighting line support.

Claims

1. A putter head for a golf club, comprising

a body section having an elongate, external, planar face extending along one side thereof, and having therein a recess positioned rearwardly of said face,

a sighting line support having a lower end adjustably seated in said recess for limited rotational adjustment in opposite directions about an axis spaced from and extending parallel to said planar face, and

an elongate sighting line formed on an upper surface of said support and extending transversely of said planar face,

said support being adjustable to secure said sighting line selectively in a plurality of different angular positions with respect to said planar face, including a medial position in which said line extends at right angles to said planar face.

2. A putter head as defined in claim 1, wherein said axis intersects said sighting line intermediate the ends thereof and at right angles with respect thereto.

3. A putter head as defined in claim 2, wherein said sighting line comprises an elongate, shallow recess formed in said upper surface of said support.

4. A putter bead as defined in claim 1, wherein said support is adjustable for up to at least 10°

either clockwise or counterclockwise about said axis from the position thereof when said sighting line extends at right angles to said planar face.

5. A putter head as defined in claim 1, wherein

said body section has thereon at one side of said recess an internal planar surface facing on said recess and disposed in spaced, parallel relation to said external planar face, and

said support has thereon a planar surface disposed in spaced, parallel relation to said internal planar surface when said sighting line is in said medial position.

6. A putter head as defined in claim 5, wherein

the threaded shank of a screw extends through an opening formed in the bottom of said body section to open on the bottom of said recess, and

said shank is threaded into an internally threaded blind bore formed in the bottom of said support whereby said support is adjustable about the axis of said screw to effect angular adjustment of said sighting line.

7. A putter head as defined in claim 1, wherein said body section includes a rigid club shaft support integral at one end with said body section adjacent one end of said recess, and projecting at the opposite end thereof above said body section and having therein an opening for receiving one end of a club shaft.

8. A putter head as defined in claim 1, wherein

said one side of said body section comprises a rigid side wall having on one side thereof said external, planar face, and on the opposite side thereof an inner surface extending parallel to said external planar face and confronting on said recess, and

said support has thereon a planar face disposed in spaced, confronting relation to said inner surface of said side wall.

9. A putter head as defined in claim 8, wherein a portion of said support and

said sighting line at one end thereof overlie the top of said side wall.

10. A putter head as defined in claim 8, wherein said support has thereon a planar bottom surface disposed in coplanar sliding engagement with a registering planar surface formed on said body section at the bottom of said recess.

11. A putter head as defined in claim 1 wherein the sighting line support does not extend rearwardly beyond the body section.