Putter-type golf club

• US 8,282,501 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seraph Sports Limited
• Original Assignee: Seraph Sports Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Ashley, Chan, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/683,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20100167831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 473219-256, 473305-315, 473334-341, 473/349, 473/350, D21736-746
• US Class Current: 473/251
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A putter-type golf club comprising an alignment system and a club head assembly. The putter-type club head has a body that is preferably composed of aluminum, with a rear weight disk and small inserts composed of a material denser than the material used for the remainder of the club head (excluding the neck of the club). The body has an alignment channel that is approximately the same width as a standard golf ball, and which runs from the face to the rear of the club head. In a preferred embodiment this alignment channel is black or dark in color with a white or light-colored border. The putter-type club has a neck that is inserted laterally through the side of the club head, such that it runs parallel to the face of the club head and for substantially the length of the face.

Claims

1. A head for a golf putter comprising an alignment means that visually creates an illusory ball scoop catchment area, disposed on a crown of the head visible to a golfer in use for creating the illusion, in use, of scooping a ball to be struck into the back of a channel when the golfer makes a stroke, the alignment means comprising:

an illusory channel;

meeting a striking face of the club head;

being substantially the same width as a golf ball to be struck;

a border;

with a discernible thickness;

wherein substantially the whole thickness of the border is any one or more of a contrasting color, tone, relief, texture or finish to substantially the whole width of the illusory channel;

said border abutting;

on at least part of a heel side of the channel;

on at least part of a toe side of the channel;

on at least part of a rear side of the channel opposite a striking face side of the channel; and

not on the striking face side of the channel.

2. A head for a golf putter according to claim 1, further comprising a means for receiving a club neck laterally through a side of the head.

3. A head for a golf putter according to claim 2, wherein the means for receiving comprises an aperture whose longitudinal axis lies substantially parallel to the striking face of the club head.

4. A head for a golf putter according to claim 3, wherein the aperture extends for substantially the length of the club head where the aperture intersects the club head.

5. A head for a golf putter according to claim 2, further comprising a rear weight disk insertable into the club head;

further comprising one or more through-holes; and

wherein said one or more through-holes is located on the club head between the means for receiving a neck and the rear weight disk.

6. A head for a golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the striking face of the club head comprises a portion of reduced vertical height with respect to a top plane of the club head when said club head is resting on a horizontal surface, extending outwardly on either side of the channel.

7. A head for a golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the striking face of the club head comprises a portion of raised vertical height with respect to a top plane of the club head when said club head is resting on a horizontal surface, extending outwardly on either side of the channel.

8. A head for a golf putter according to claim 1, further comprising one or more counterweights.

9. A head for a golf putter according to claim 7, wherein the one or more counterweights is manufactured of a material of greater density than that of the remainder of the head.

10. A head for a golf putter according to claim 8, wherein the one or more counterweights comprises a rear weight disk insertable into the club head to produce a near 50/50 front/rear weight distribution between the striking face and a rear of the club head opposite the striking face.

11. A head for a golf putter according to claim 8, wherein the one or more counterweights is affixable to the club head near to the striking face thereof.

12. A head for a golf putter according to claim 8, wherein the one or more counterweights is manufactured of a material that is less dense than that of the remainder of the head.

13. A head for a golf putter according to claim 8, further comprising a shaft;

and wherein a main club head part of the club can, subject to changing the weight of the one or more counterweights, be used to assemble a club irrespective of the length of said shaft affixed.

14. A head for a golf putter according to claim 1, further comprising one or more through-holes.

15. A head for a golf putter according to claim 14, wherein the longitudinal axis of the one or more though-holes lies substantially parallel to the striking face of the club head.

16. A head for a golf putter according to claim 14, wherein the through-holes are more than one;

and wherein each through-hole includes a centerline and the centerlines are equidistant one from the other.

17. A head for a golf putter according to claim 14, wherein the through-holes are more than one;

and wherein each through-hole includes a centerline and the centerlines lie on the same plane as each other.

18. A head for a golf putter according to claim 1, further comprising a neck received laterally through a side of the head;

and wherein the club can be assembled for a right-handed golfer or a left-handed golfer without the need for a mirrored neck part or a mirrored main club head part, by inserting said neck in the relevant lateral side of the club head.