Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-06
2001-01-23
Passaniti, Sebastiano (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
C473S340000, C473S313000, C473S342000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176791
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf clubs, more specifically to putters.
2. Description of the Related Art
No aspect of golf receives any more attention, analysis and study than putting. In a round of even par golf, two strokes per hole are allocated to putts. Golfers are continually working on ways to improve or enhance their scores by reducing the number of putts used. The relatively simply stated principle of smoothly imparting a rolling motion to the ball for movement along its intended path or line, is actually very difficult to repeatedly and consistently achieve. Part of this problem is that the structure of a number of putters is often not of a type that makes it easy for a golfer to accomplish this seemingly easy task. The number and variety of putters used is great; almost every golfer has a different type of particular preferred club design of choice for use as their putter. Even so, a golfer may experiment with a wide variety of putters and putting strokes should a run or series of rounds occur with excessive putts. One of the key factors is confidence of the golfer in an ability to consistently impart a smooth, controlled uniform stroke to the ball so that it moves along its intended line or path of movement at the desired speed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention provides a new and improved golf putter which improves a golfer's ability to consistently impart a smooth putting stroke on the ball. The putter includes a club head mounted on a lower portion of a club shaft. The club head has a sole plate portion with heel and toe portions extending upwardly from it. A ball contact member formed of an elastomer is mounted with a retainer plate which extends upwardly from the sole plate portion. The retainer plate extends between the heel and toe portions of the club head rearwardly of the elastomer ball contact member.
An inertial mass or ballast of the club head is mounted on the sole plate portion rearwardly of the retainer plate and aligned opposite a central portion of the ball engaging or contact face. A hosel or socket is formed in the inertial mass to receive the lower portion of the club shaft. The ball engaging face extends between the heel and the toe portions, over the full lateral extent of the ball contact member and vertically across the front upright surface of the contact member.
With the present invention, a substantial portion of the weight of the club head is formed by the inertial mass, which is centrally located behind the ball contacting member. The elastomer ball contact member imparts a smooth motion to the ball with reduced chance of the ball jumping or skipping off the club face when stroked. Further, the club shaft is connected to the club head at this same central location. Thus, the mass of the club is concentrated or focused in the center part of the ball contact area of the putter. This is also the point of connection of the club shaft to the club head. An alignment indicator or guide is formed on the club head to indicate this central axis or line.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 247791 (1978-04-01), Monteleone
patent: 3042405 (1962-07-01), Solheim
patent: 3851877 (1974-12-01), Giambazi
patent: 4199144 (1980-04-01), Skelly
patent: 4834387 (1989-05-01), Waites
patent: 4921253 (1990-05-01), Tesori
patent: 4964639 (1990-10-01), Tucker
patent: 5308069 (1994-05-01), Paquette
patent: 5333863 (1994-08-01), Shenoha
patent: 5458332 (1995-10-01), Fisher
patent: 5571052 (1996-11-01), Bolanos
patent: 5690556 (1997-11-01), Condon
patent: 5830077 (1998-11-01), Yavitz
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
Passaniti Sebastiano
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