Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Green slope indicator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2002-03-19
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Green slope indicator
C473S340000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06358162
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a golf putter, and to a method of using a golf putter as an aid for reading the slopes of a putting green.
It is necessary in the game of golf for golfers to attempt to “read” the slopes of a green in order to predict the path of travel of a putted golf ball. When reading a green, golfers attempt to identify various vertical or horizontal reference lines, e.g., the flag stick, trees, parts of nearby structures., and then compare the green with the reference lines. This is a very imprecise method due to a lack of assurance that the reference line is exactly vertical or horizontal. Some golfers attempt to practice the so-called “plumb bobbing” technique wherein they freely suspend a putter and use the hanging shaft as a vertical reference line. However, not all shafts are designed to hang perfectly vertically when suspended and, regardless, it is difficult to accurately utilize a plumb bobbing technique because it requires that the golfer imagine how many degrees the green is inclined from a perpendicular relationship with the shaft, a task not easily accomplished with the naked eye, especially if the green is so inclined by only a few degrees.
It is an object of the invention to enable a putter to be more effectively used as an aid for reading a green.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved by a golf putter which comprises a shaft and a putting head mounted at a lower end of the shaft. A lower portion of the putter includes means defining a reference line which extends horizontally when the putter is freely suspended by the shaft.
Preferably, the shaft defines a longitudinal axis which passes through a center of gravity of the putting head, and the reference line extends perpendicular to that axis.
The horizontal reference line can be formed on the putting head, or on a portion of the shaft which interconnects a main portion of the shaft with the putting head.
Another aspect of the invention involves a golf putter which comprises a shaft and a putting head mounted at a lower end of the shaft. A longitudinal axis of the shaft is aligned with a center of gravity of the putting head at least when the putter is viewed from the front. Preferably, the axis passes directly through the center of gravity of the putting head.
Another aspect of the invention involves a method of reading a slope of a putting green which comprises the steps of:
A. freely suspending a shaft such that a reference line carried by a lower portion of the shaft is oriented horizontally; and
B. comparing the horizontal reference line to a portion of the putting green.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2820638 (1958-01-01), Morrison
patent: 3595577 (1971-07-01), Hodge
patent: 4317568 (1982-03-01), Green
patent: 4527799 (1985-07-01), Solheim
patent: 4605228 (1986-08-01), Guendling, Jr.
patent: 5078398 (1992-01-01), Reed et al.
patent: 5125657 (1992-06-01), Beil
patent: 6224494 (2001-05-01), Patsky
Goodner, Ross, “Can Plumb Bobbing Help You?”, Golf Digest, Sep. 1978, pp. 44-49.
Bitko David M.
Bitko Sheldon S.
Piotrowski John
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Wong Steven
LandOfFree
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