Golf club

• US 7,862,443 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Cameron, Don T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/503,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473244-255, 473305-315, D21736-746
• US Class Current: 473/244
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

A golf putter with a novel offset and shaft-attachment design is disclosed and claimed. The club includes a head having a strike surface, a sole, and a top line. A tube is coupled to the head, a coupling member is coupled to the distal end of the tube, and a shaft is also coupled to the coupling member. The coupling member connects the tube and the shaft such that they are relatively offset. The longitudinal axes of the tube and the shaft may be substantially parallel, or the coupling member may be adjustable such that the longitudinal axes are not parallel. An alignment indicia is provided on the club head. The tube is coupled to the head at an angle such that it blocks the indicia from a user'"'"'s view at address when the head is aligned properly. If the club head is not properly aligned, the golfer will be able to see the indicia and therefore know to adjust the club head before putting. Thus, putter disclosed and claimed herein provides both offset and a putting alignment aide.

Claims

1. A golf club, comprising:

a head;

a tube having a first end and a second end, said first end coupled to said head; and

a coupling member having a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, said tube second end being coupled to said first attachment portion, said first and second attachment portions being joined by a malleable connection such that relative positions of said first and second attachment portions are variable;

a shaft coupled to the coupling member having a longitudinal axis, wherein said coupling member provides an offset of said shaft from said head such that an extension of the longitudinal axis intersects the strike face of said head;

wherein the tube is formed of a material with a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of the head; and

wherein said coupling member has a mass between 5 to 15 grams.

2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein:

said head has an alignment indicia thereon; and

said tube completely blocks said indicia from a user'"'"'s view at address when said head is aligned properly.

3. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising a shaft coupled to said coupling member second portion.

4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein said shaft has a first longitudinal axis and said tube has a second longitudinal axis substantially, said first and second longitudinal axes being not parallel.

5. The golf club of claim 3, wherein a travel distance from a junction between said shaft and said coupling member to said sole is 5 inches or less.

6. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said tube is coupled to said head at an angle from about 2°

to 45°

as projected onto a vertical plane passing through a heel and a toe of the head.

7. The golf club of claim 6, wherein said angle is from about 10°

to 30°

.

8. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said tube has a length as measured from a junction with said head to a junction with said coupling member between about 1 inch and 4 inches.

9. The golf club of claim 1, wherein:

said head has a top line with a length; and

said tube is coupled to said top line in a middle third of said length.

10. The golf club of claim 1, wherein:

said head has a top line with a length; and

said first shaft portion is coupled to said top line in a heel-end third of said length.

11. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said tube has a mass from 3 to 5 grams.

12. A golf club, comprising:

a head;

a tube coupled to said head, said tube having a first longitudinal axis and being formed of a lightweight material having a specific gravity less than a specific gravity of said head, wherein said tube has a first mass of 3 to 5 grams;

a coupling member coupled to said tube, wherein said coupling member has a second mass of 5 to 15 grams; and

a shaft coupled to said coupling member having a second longitudinal axis substantially not parallel to said first longitudinal axis;

wherein said shaft is offset from said head; and

wherein said coupling member provides said offset.

13. The golf club of claim 12, wherein said coupling member includes projections into which said tube and said shaft are coupled.

14. The golf club of claim 12, wherein said coupling member includes projections over which said tube and said shaft are coupled.

15. The golf club of claim 12, wherein said head includes an alignment indicia thereon.

16. The golf club of claim 15, wherein said indicia is positioned between a strike face of said club head and a vertical plane passing through a heel and a toe of said head and including an intersection of said first longitudinal axis and said head.