Golf club

• US 8,172,695 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• 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:
  US12/890,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20110014993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, 473305-315, 473251-255, 473/409, 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 comprising a strike face;

a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the head, and wherein the tube has a longitudinal axis that is angled with respect to the head by about 2°

to 45°

, wherein the tube comprises a material with a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of the head;

a coupling member comprising a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion joined by an adjustable connection, wherein the first and second attachment portions are variable relative to each other, and wherein the second end of the tube is coupled to the first attachment portion; and

a shaft coupled to the second attachment portion, wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis that is closer to the strike face than the tube longitudinal axis, and wherein the shaft is offset from the tube by about 0.1 inch to 1 inch.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the shaft longitudinal axis is parallel to the tube longitudinal axis.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the tube longitudinal axis is angled with respect to the head by about 10°

to 30°

.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the shaft longitudinal axis is angled relative the head by about 2°

to 45°

.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the shaft longitudinal axis is angled relative the head by about 10°

to 30°

.

6. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the head comprises an alignment indicia, and wherein the tube blocks the alignment indicia from a user'"'"'s view at address when the head is aligned properly.

7. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the shaft longitudinal axis and the tube longitudinal axis are not parallel.

8. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the strike face has a loft angle of 10°

or less.

9. A golf club, comprising:

a head having a strike face;

a tube coupled to the head, wherein the tube has a first longitudinal axis, and is formed of a material with a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of the head;

a coupling member comprising a lower section, an upper section, and an adjustable section disposed between the lower and upper sections, wherein the tube is coupled to the lower section; and

a shaft coupled to the upper section and having a second longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft is offset from the tube, and wherein the second longitudinal axis is closer to the strike face relative the first longitudinal axis.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the shaft is offset from the tube by 0.1 inch to 1 inch.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the first longitudinal axis is angled relative the head by about 2°

to 45°

.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the second longitudinal axis is angled relative the head by about 2°

to 45°

.

13. A method of customizing a golf club, comprising:

providing a golf club comprising;

a head having a strike face;

a tube coupled to the head, wherein the tube has a first longitudinal axis angled by about 2°

to 45 relative the head, and wherein the tube is formed of a material with a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of the head;

a coupling member comprising a lower section, an upper section, and an adjustable section disposed between the lower and upper sections, wherein the tube is coupled to the lower section, and wherein the lower and upper section have a common longitudinal axis when in a first position; and

a shaft coupled to the upper section and having a second longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft is offset from the tube by about 0.1 inch to 1 inch;

bending the adjustable section of the coupling member to a second position so that the lower and upper portions have longitudinal axes angled relative to each other.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing further comprises providing the shaft having a second longitudinal axis that is closer to the strike face relative to the first longitudinal axis.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing further comprises providing the shaft having a second longitudinal axis angled relative the head by about 2°

to 45°

.