Golf putter with adjustable counterbalance weight

• US 9,266,000 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Franklin, David N., Hatfield, John, Kammerer, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US14/493,397
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/24 Weighted handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand

Abstract

A golf club includes a tubular shaft, a golf club head affixed to a first end of the tubular shaft, and a grip disposed about the tubular shaft and abutting a second end of the tubular shaft. An adjustable counterbalance extends within a hollow recess of the shaft and is selectively secured to the second end. The adjustable counterbalance includes an elongate member and an annular weight disposed about the elongate member. The annular weight is movable along the elongate member and configured to be selectively affixed to the elongate member.

Claims

1. An adjustable counter balance for a golf club, the counterbalance comprising:

an elongate member having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;

an externally threaded cap affixed to the first end of the elongate member, the externally threaded cap configured to be secured within a tubular body of a golf club shaft;

a stabilizing grommet disposed on the second end of the elongate member, the stabilizing grommet having an external diameter such that it is able to be inserted within the tubular body of the golf club shaft and contact an inner surface of the tubular body;

an annular weight disposed about the elongate member between the first end and the second end, wherein the annular weight is movable along the elongate member and configured to be selectively affixed to the elongate member;

wherein the annular weight includes a first section and a second section, each section being respectively centered along the longitudinal axis;

wherein the annular weight is configured to be selectively affixed to the elongate member by rotating the first section about the elongate member relative to the second section; and

wherein the annular weight has a mass of from about 30 grams to about 100 grams and is movable along the elongate member by a distance of from about 200 mm to about 500 mm.

2. The counterbalance of claim 1, wherein the annular weight further includes an annular grommet disposed about the elongate member;

and

wherein rotating the first section about the elongate member relative to the second section applies a compressive force to the annular grommet and causes the grommet to radially expand between the elongate member and at least one of the first section and the second section.

3. The counterbalance of claim 1, wherein the annular weight is configured to be selectively affixed to the elongate member by rotating the first section about the elongate member relative to the second section by an angle of from about 45 degrees to about 180 degrees.

4. The counterbalance of claim 1, wherein the adjustable counterbalance has a mass of from about 50 g to about 120 g.

5. The counterbalance of claim 1, wherein the elongate member includes at least three regions along its length, and wherein each region is identified with a different color.

6. The counterbalance of claim 1, wherein the mass of the annular weight is from about 60 g to about 90 g and wherein the distance is from about 250 mm to about 400 mm.