Golf putter with a rear mounted shaft

• US 6,767,292 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard John Sr. Skalla
• Original Assignee: Richard John Sr. Skalla
• Inventors: Skalla, Richard John Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/319,249
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/325, 473/313, 473/314, 473/340, 473/341, 473/251, 473/252, 473/293, 473/294, 473/409, 473/255, 473/256, 473/264, 473/265, 273/129.R, 273/129.L, D21/735, D21/736, D21/738, D21/739, D21/740, D21/741, D21/742
• US Class Current: 473/251
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0018 for wheelchair users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0027 visually handicapped
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0009 for handicapped persons

Abstract

A golfing putter comprises a shaft, a putter head and a pair of runner guides. The linearly elongated shaft is inserted at the rear of the putter head and disposed at angle to accommodate golfers seated in a wheel chair. The top of the putter head includes an alignment indicia, thereby providing a means for properly aligning the center of the putter face with the center of the golf ball and on the correct intended putting line. The pair of runner guides are positioned at the bottom of the putter head, intermediate to the putter head and the putting surface, and run parallel to the direction of the shaft and the intended putting line. The rearmost portion of the runner guides includes a rounded surface so as to elevate the putter face, thereby minimizing drag on the putter as it is stroked and encouraging overspin to the struck golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf putter apparatus comprising:

a putter head having;

a top surface;

a bottom surface, said bottom surface opposite to said top surface;

a face, said face intermediate to and depending from said top surface and said bottom surface, and forming an anterior perimeter, said face for striking a golf ball;

a rear surface, said rear surface opposite to said face, said rear surface intermediate to and depending from said top surface and said bottom surface, and forming said posterior perimeter;

a first lateral surface, said first lateral surface intermediate to and depending from said top surface and said bottom surface, and intermediate to and depending from said face and said rear surface, and forming a first lateral perimeter; and

a second lateral surface, said second lateral surface opposite to said first lateral surface, said second lateral surface intermediate to and depending from said top surface and said bottom surface, and intermediate to and depending from said face and said rear surface, and forming a second lateral perimeter;

a linearly elongated shaft inserted into said posterior perimeter of said putter head, said linearly elongated shaft inserted at an angle of between twenty degrees (20°

) and sixty degrees (60°

) so as to accommodate a golfer using a wheel chair.

2. The golf putter apparatus of claim 1, wherein said top surface further comprises an alignment indicia, said alignment indicia positioned along an anterior portion of said top surface and adjacent to an edge where said top surface abuts said face, said alignment indicia for properly aligning said face to a golf hole.

3. The golf putter apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottom surface further comprises an integrally affixed pair of guide assemblies, said pair of guide assemblies comprising a first guide assembly and a second guide assembly.

4. The golf putter apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first guide assembly is integrally affixed to said bottom surface along a margin where said bottom surface abuts with said first lateral surface, said first guide assembly lying parallel to said first lateral surface.

5. The golf putter apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first guide assembly further comprises:

a rounded surface adjacent to said posterior perimeter, said rounded surface providing a pivotal surface for elevating said anterior perimeter for stroking a golf ball; and

a linearly elongated first guide rail, said first guide rail integral with said rounded surface, said first guide rail to provide directional guidance while putting.

6. The golf putter apparatus of claim 5, wherein said rounded surface further provides a slidable surface for striking a golf ball in a draw-back and following-through motion.

7. The golf putter apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second guide assembly is integrally affixed along a margin where said bottom surface abuts with said second lateral surface, said second guide assembly lying parallel to said second lateral surface.

8. The golf putter apparatus of claim 7, wherein said second guide rail further comprises:

a rounded surface adjacent to said posterior perimeter, said rounded surface providing a pivotal surface for elevating said anterior perimeter for stroking a golf ball; and

a linearly elongated second guide rail, said second guide rail integral with said rounded surface, said second guide rail to provide directional guidance while putting.

9. The golf putter apparatus of claim 8, wherein said rounded surface further provides a slidable surface for striking a golf ball in a draw-back and following-through motion.

10. The golf putter apparatus of claim 3, wherein said bottom surface further comprises a depression formed so as to reduce the mass of said golf putter apparatus.

11. The golf putter apparatus of claim 1, wherein said face is a laterally elongated surface for striking a golf ball, said face is disposed at an angle of between zero degrees (0°

) and five degrees (5°

) relative to a vertical axis when said face strikes a golf ball.

12. The golf putter apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rear surface comprises a receiving orifice, said orifice receiving said shaft and an adhesive, said orifice and said adhesive securely impinging said shaft.

13. The golf putter apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first lateral surface comprises a first aperture, said first aperture formed in a rear portion of said first lateral surface, said first aperture integral with a linearly elongated first recess that horizontally spans said first lateral surface.

14. The golf putter apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first aperture and said first recess are formed so as to reduce the mass of said golf putter apparatus.

15. The golf putter apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second lateral surface comprises a second aperture, said second aperture formed in a rear portion of said second lateral surface, said second aperture integral with a linearly elongated second recess that horizontally spans said second lateral surface.

16. The golf putter apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second aperture and said second recess are formed so as to reduce the mass of said golf putter apparatus.