Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Club or club support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-25
2001-06-05
Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Club or club support
C473S252000, C473S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241624
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly to a club that has any head shape known as a mallet style(putters, drivers, fairway woods, chippers) that uses any material for the club head which allows novel design improvements thereby enhancing the precision and accuracy of the golfer's alignment and set-up to a shot. In the case of a putter or chipper, the material may allow for a “softer feel” to the putt or chip, which further enhances the golfer's performance.
When putting, chipping, or hitting a long shot with woods, the golfer must properly align the club so that the point of impact of the club face against the golf ball is directed toward the target. Numerous club designs have lines, grooves, or other markings on top of the club to optimize this alignment. Three additional components of alignment that are also important are the position of the hands over the ball, the position of the club face perpendicular to the line of the target (also known as “squareness” of the club face), and the proper positioning of the eyes (which directly impacts correct head and body position) over the set-up to the shot.
Existing putters do not combine club face and club top markings for alignment without violating the single solid surface integrity of the club face. That is, putters with engraved grooves, painted lines and inlays on the putter face do not have a single solid surface face. These alterations to the face affect the “feel” and responsiveness of the shot. This is also true for chippers and woods; however, the lines engraved on the faces of these clubs serves a purpose to impart spin on the ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a putter. chipper, wood, or a mallet design club which allows the player to align the club face, the hand position, the eye position, and the “sweet spot” to the ball in order to increase the precision and accuracy of the golf shot.
Another object is to provide optimal swing weight for the club. An optimal weight allows the golfer to fully stroke through the ball, obtaining a truer shot and line toward the hole or the green without compromising club head speed.
Yet another object is to provide a club that does not drag along the ground during the back swing and stroke. Dragging the club along the ground can take the club off-line, affect the take-away, and decelerate the stroke through the ball. Minimizing the contact of the sole of the club head with the ground will allow for a complete, clean stroke and improve the chances for a good shot.
A further objective is to provide a putter or chipper head that has a “softer feel” than a metal club head when striking the ball. Reducing the ball rebound off the face will minimize skidding of the ball and allow it to stay true to the line of the shot. A “softer feel” also instills more confidence to the golfer, which decreases the propensity for the player to “quit on the stroke.”
In accordance with these objectives, the present invention provides a club head that includes a visible horizontal line in the center of the front face. For a putter and chipper, the face may consist of a single solid surface. For a wood or other mallet shaped club, the face may consist of two or more solid surfaces of similar composition (e.g., metal, composite material, wood) that create a visible horizontal line in the center of the front face. The horizontal line is visible only when the club head and the golfer's hands are positioned correctly to the ball. This visible horizontal line in the center of the front face forms a single-surface alignment aid. In addition, an optional inlaid line on the top of the club may be inserted to form a 90° angle to the visible horizontal line when the club head and the golfer's hands are in the correct position for the golf shot. The combination of these markings from two different surfaces or planes of the club head produces a club with a two dimensional alignment aid.
Further in accordance with the objectives of this invention is the presence of a visible inlaid line on the circumference of the mallet that connects with the visible horizontal line on the front face. The combination of the horizontal lines on the front face and on the circumference of the mallet creates a 360 degree 3-dimensional alignment aid that is visible only when the club head and the golfer's hands and eyes (head/body position) are positioned correctly to address the ball.
The present invention is designed to optionally allow addition of weight to a cavity in the head, through a cavity that is drilled/carved into any surface that does not strike the golf ball. In the preferred embodiment (putter), the cavity is drilled and located in the middle of the sole on the club head. Adjustment of the swing weight allows the club to have enough mass to generate a good impact to the ball without making the putter too heavy.
In this invention, the sole of the club head may optionally be curved to minimize the point of contact between the sole of the club head and the ground.
In one embodiment, the putter head is made from CORIAN® (methyl methacrylate monomer and aluminum trihydrate) by DuPont. This material has a “softer feel” to the golfer than metal when he or she strikes the ball but is of sufficient hardness to impart roll to the ball.
Briefly, the present invention relates to a golf putter or any mallet shaped golf club which has a single surface striking face which generally is vertically oriented. The single striking surface is comprised of solid materials assembled to form a visible horizontal straight line in the center of the face. The loft imparted to the face of the club provides the golfer with a visual perception of a thin solid line when the hands of the golfer are holding the club and correctly positioning the club over the ball at address. Markings on the top of the club head may optionally be positioned over the “sweet spot” to form a visually perceived 90° angle to the visually perceived horizontal line on the face of the club head when the hands of the golfer are holding the club and correctly positioning it over the ball and toward the target at address. Inlaid markings that continue around the circumference of the mallet club head and join the markings on the front face create a visually perceived, uniform 360 degree outline when the hands are properly placing the club and the eyes are correctly positioned over the ball and toward the target at address. The combination of these markings from three different surfaces or planes of the club head produces a club with a visually perceived three dimensional alignment aid. The club also has a cavity for insertion of weight, such as lead or a similar alloy, of greater density than the material used for the club (putter) head, to allow optimization of the swing weight, if needed. Insertion of the weight behind the “sweet spot” reduces the face deflection of a putter, wood, or chipper upon impact by enlarging the size of the “sweet spot.” The club head may be shaped on the bottom or sole in an arcuate fashion to reduce the chance of the club head dragging along or striking the ground during the take-away. This configuration of the sole provides the golfer with an improved chance of properly striking the ball resulting in a reduced chance of the club head being deflected off-line. The use of material for the preferred embodiment of the putter head that is softer than conventional materials used for putter heads produces a putter with a “softer feel.” A “softer feel” enables the golfer to take a full, complete putting stroke, resulting in an accurate on-line shot with minimal skidding and acceptable ball speed on the putting surface.
The advantage of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows and accompanies the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1666174 (1928-04-01), Holland
patent: 2491383 (1949-12-01), Liolich
patent: 2957696 (1960-10-01), Warpotas
patent: 3143349 (1964-08-01), MacIntyre
patent: 3836153 (1974-09-01), Dance
patent: 3881733 (
Whelchel Nyra W.
Wilkes Francis E. (Buddy)
Zabytko Luanne Byers
LandOfFree
Mallet style golf club does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Mallet style golf club, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mallet style golf club will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2543558