Golf club

• US 9,387,368 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• 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:
  US14/105,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20140100057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 473305-315
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. 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 having a first specific gravity;

a tube comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the head, wherein the tube has a first longitudinal axis, and wherein the tube has a second specific gravity that is less than the first specific gravity;

a coupling member comprising a first member end and a second member end, wherein the first member end is coupled to the tube; and

a shaft coupled to the second member end, wherein the shaft has a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft is offset from the tube, and wherein the coupling member provides the offset.

2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the tube has a mass from about 3 grams to about 5 grams.

3. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the coupling member has a mass of about 5 grams to about 15 grams.

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

5. The golf club of claim 1, wherein:

the head has a top line with a length; and

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

6. The golf club of claim 1, wherein:

the head has a top line with a length; and

the tube is coupled to the top line in a heel-end third of the length.

7. A golf club, comprising:

a head having a first specific gravity;

a tube comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the head, wherein the tube has a first longitudinal axis, and wherein the tube has a second specific gravity that is less than the first specific gravity;

a coupling member comprising a first member end and a second member end, wherein the first member end is coupled to the tube; and

a shaft coupled to the second member end, wherein the shaft has a second longitudinal axis that differs from the first longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft is offset from the tube, and wherein the coupling member provides the offset.

8. The golf club of claim 7, wherein the tube has a mass from about 3 grams to about 5 grams.

9. The golf club of claim 7, wherein the coupling member has a mass of about 5 grams to about 15 grams.

10. The golf club of claim 7, wherein the shaft is offset from the tube by 0.1 inch to 1 inch.

11. The golf club of claim 7, wherein:

the head has a top line with a length; and

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

12. The golf club of claim 7, wherein:

the head has a top line with a length; and

the tube is coupled to the top line in a heel-end third of said length.

13. A golf club, comprising:

a head having a strike face, the head having a first specific gravity;

a tube coupled to the head, wherein the tube has a first longitudinal axis, and wherein the tube has a second specific gravity that is less than the first specific gravity;

a coupling member comprising a lower section and an upper section, 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.

14. The golf club of claim 13, wherein the shaft is offset from the tube by 0.1 inch to 1 inch.

15. The golf club of claim 13, wherein an extension of the second longitudinal axis intersects the strike face of the head.