Golf putter

• US 5,429,356 A
• Filed: 08/18/1993
• Issued: 07/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bill-Ding Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bill-Ding Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Harpell, William, Dingle, Craig B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/108,920
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167 R, 273/167 A, 273/167 B, 273/167 C, 273/167 D, 273/167 E, 273/167 F, 273/167 G, 273/167 H, 273/167 J, 273/167 K, 273/168, 273/169 , 273/170, 273/171, 273/172, 273/173, 273/174, 273/175, 273/77 R, 273/79, 273/193 R, 273/194 R, 273/194 B, 273/80.1-80.9, 403/83, 403/84, 403/93, 403/112, 403/364, 403/381
• US Class Current: 473/251
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/025 lie angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about an axis parallel to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf putter having an adjustable head with at least one post extending therefrom. A plurality of annular washers are interchangeably secured to the post for changing the center of gravity of the putter head. A hub assembly attaches a shaft to the post. A novel hub locking mechanism locks the hub to the posts in which tapered male portion engages a tapered female portion. Also, a pin and groove arrangement prevents the shaft from rotating further than a predetermined angle from the vertical axis.

Claims

1. A golf putter head comprising;

an elongated body portion having a substantially flat ball contacting surface and a rear surface, said rear surface including a central portion and a pair of lateral end portions on either side of said central portion, said rear surface being parallel to said ball contacting surface,

at least one post fixedly attached to said rear surface portion and externally protruding outwardly in substantially normal relation to said rear surface in a direction pointed away from said ball contacting surface,

an annular cylindrical hub for accommodating said post in axial relation thereto and rotatable to any predetermined position about said post;

means for securing said cylindrical hub at said predetermined position;

means for detachably securing a plurality of annular washers in external relation to said post for changing the location of the center of gravity of said putter head, wherein said annular washers are interchangeably interposed onto or detached from said post in accordance with a preselected pattern to change the location of the center of gravity of said putter head;

a shaft having a first and second end; and

means for securing said first end of said shaft to said hub in radial relation to said hub wherein said means for securing said cylindrical hub includes a female tapered portion and a male tapered portion, said female tapered portion engaging said male tapered portion.

2. The golf putter head of claim 1 further comprising angles aL from vertical and means for preventing said shaft from rotating further than said angle aL and angle aR from vertical.

3. A golf putter head comprising;

an elongated body portion having a substantially flat ball contacting surface and a rear surface, said rear surface including a central portion and a pair of lateral end portions on either side of said central portion, said rear surface being parallel to said ball contacting surface,

at least one post fixedly attached to said rear surface portion and externally protruding outwardly in substantially normal relation to said rear surface in a direction pointed away from said ball contacting surface,

an annular cylindrical hub for accommodating said post in axial relation thereto and rotatable to any predetermined position about said post;

means for securing said cylindrical hub at said predetermined position;

means for detachably securing a plurality of annular washers in external relation to said post for changing the location of the center of gravity of said putter head, wherein said annular washers are interchangeably interposed onto or detached from said post in accordance with a preselected pattern to change the location of the center of gravity of said putter head;

a shaft having a first and second end; and

means for securing said first end of said shaft to said hub in radial relation to said hub; and

means for preventing said shaft from rotating further than angles aL and aR from vertical;

wherein said means for preventing said shaft from rotating includes at least one cylindrical groove in the outer surface of said hub and a pin mounted on said rear surface, wherein said groove accommodates said pin so that said shaft is rotated up to said predetermined angles aR and aL.

4. The golf putter head of claim 3 wherein said angles aL and aR are between 0°

and 90°

.

5. The golf putter head of claim 4 wherein said angles aL and aR are less than 10°

.

6. The golf putter head of claim 5 wherein said second end of said shaft includes a hand grip.

7. The golf putter head of claim 6 wherein said means for detachably securing said plurality of annular washers comprises a screw threaded nut.

8. The golf putter head of claim 7 wherein said screw threaded nut includes a rough outer surface.

9. The golf putter head of claim 8 wherein at least one of said annular washers includes an opening for accommodating said pin.

10. The golf putter head of claim 9 wherein said female tapered portion is formed in said rear surface of said putter head and said male tapered portion is formed at one end of said hub.

11. The golf putter head of claim 10 wherein said hub includes a lateral bore for receiving said shaft.

12. The golf putter head of claim 11 wherein said lateral bore includes an upper bore portion and a lower bore portion, said upper bore portion having a larger diameter than the lower bore portion, wherein

said shaft contacts said upper bore portion and said lower bore portion.

13. The golf putter head of claim 12 wherein said lower bore portion forms a reservoir between said bore and said shaft for receiving an adhesive.

14. The golf putter head of claim 13 wherein the outer diameter of said washer is larger than the outer diameter of said recessed portion of said second surface for forming a hollow space between said washer and said recessed portion.

15. The golf putter head according to claim 14 wherein said female tapered portion is formed at an end of said hub and said male tapered portion is formed in said rear surface of said putter head.