Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Club or club support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2001-08-21
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Club or club support
C473S345000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277032
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly to the relationship between the weight at the toe, center or heel of the golf clubs.
2. Background of the Invention.
Golf clubs exist in a variety of sizes, styles, and materials. The essence of the club is to enable the golfer to propel the golf ball as far and as accurately as possible from the tee (starting shot) to the cup or hole in as few strokes as possible. Among the many variable factors the golfer has to consider are; wind direction, the condition of the terrain, and the distance to the pin or cup. Having no control of said factors, the golfer is left to rely upon personal skill, strength and strategy in order to play golf successfully.
The design of golf clubs has evolved to embrace new materials, manufacturing methods and physical characteristics all toward the end of improving the performance of the golfer. Golf club manufacturers are continuing to spend millions of dollars on developing new materials, shapes and weights of golf clubs to improve the golfer's score. Much of the design of golf clubs involves the design of the face of the club. In particular, the drivers are being developed which are made from stainless steel while the face of the club is made from titanium. The design of irons have been generally limited to the shape of the face of the club or perimeter weighting to provide a better, more even distribution of weight behind the ball. In addition, there are hundreds of different face designs to further control the flight of the golf ball. One such club is advertised to have a patented “invisible” curve (you can feel it, but barely see it) across their hitting surface that tames the stronger “gear” effect and draws off-center shots back to the middle of the fairway. Each of the prior art attempts have concentrated on the shape while the remaining structure remains conventional
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Golf clubs currently available are designed with the club head and shaft joined together at such an angle that through the practice of what is regarded as a “standard” golf swing, the golfer can reasonably expect the head of the club to swing in a wide arc and contact positively with the ball. Variations in the golfer's grip upon the club produce inaccuracies in the flight of the ball because of the way the face of the club strikes the ball. Such factors are exaggerated by the design of existing clubs wherein the shaft and head are joined in an offset fashion. The offset tends to transmit the force of impact with the ball upwards through the shaft in a twisting or rotational direction which, if not overcome by the golfer's tight grip, turns the face of the club away from a line perpendicular to the intended course of travel of the ball. Depending upon the variation so produced, the ball is either “hooked” to the left of its intended path or “sliced” to the right. In either case, the result is often a penalty of distance or direction for the golfer.
One prior art effort to solve the problems discussed above is U.S. Pat. No. 3,064,980 to Steiner which discloses a variable golf club in which the weight of the head is adjustable or variable as desired. The golf club head is provided with a tapering opening in which weights are provided and the weights are retained in the opening by a screw member having a shoulder, or head and the head is positioned in a counter bore of a sole plate that is retained in a recess or cavity or indentation by screws. The head of the screw is provided with a screw driver slot by which the screw may be removed and replaced on the golf course.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,509 to Chavez discloses a putter having a “T” formation located at the rear portion of the club head with a weight that is designed to interlock and provides support to stop projection in form and alignment of both club head and weight. Secured in movement by a machine screw at base of club head, which is centrally positioned between the “T” formation and toe, in order to prevent movement of weight by the applied pressure to the inner wall of the club head.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,243 to Redman discloses a wood-type golf club head with adjustableweight configuration. The weight distributor includes an array of apertures designed to receive spherical weights positioned in aperture to adjust the center of the mass of the club head in accordance with the particular swing characteristics of a golfer using the golf club. The cavity and the weight distributor are located at the lower back of the club head and substantially behind the ball striking face when attached are oriented in a manner as to give the appearance of a one piece club head and maximize the weight distribution affect relative for the ball striking face. The weight distributor is a one piece unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general objective of the present invention is to provide a golf club which overcomes the natural tendency of existing golf clubs to rotate during impact by moving the force from the shaft to a point somewhere between the toe and the heel of the club.
The instant invention is a new club designed to help the golfer to strike the ball more accurately and more efficiently and thereby improve the golfer's game. The invention pertains to a golf club, wood or iron, which moves the “SWEET SPOT”, the area of the face which is most effective in hitting the golf ball. The movable weight will transmit the force from the shaft to a point somewhere between the toe and the heel of the club and may be used to eliminate slice or hook. For example, if the golfer consistantly slices the ball, the weight is moved closer to the toe to place more weight on the outside to prevent the club from turning and thereby slicing the ball. If the golfer consistently hooks the ball, the weight is moved to the heel to place more weight on the inside to prevent the club from turning and thereby hooking the ball. The face of each club is angled at the appropriate angle for each of the required loft angles. The keel shaped sole of the club head lets it glide through the grass. The movable location of the weight “sweet spot” reduces the effects of opening or closing the face of the club and thus reduces the opportunity for slicing or hooking the ball.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1562956 (1925-11-01), Guerne
patent: 2460445 (1949-02-01), Bigler
patent: 3610630 (1971-10-01), Glover
patent: 4052075 (1977-10-01), Daly
patent: 4895371 (1990-01-01), Bushner
patent: 5924938 (1999-07-01), Hines
Blau Stephen L.
Chapman Jeanette
Lukasik Frank A.
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