Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Club or club support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2001-09-11
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Club or club support
C473S313000, C473S314000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287215
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf putters. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved golf putter construction which allows both the lie angle and loft angle of a putter to be semi-permanently adjusted or customized by an individual golfer to suit his or her requirements.
2. Description of Background Art
The lie angle of a golf club such as a putter is generally defined as the angle between the ground and the shaft, with the bottom surface or sole of the putter head in flat contact with the ground. This angle is of substantial importance in determining the putting accuracy and success of an individual golfer, for the following reasons.
Preparatory to striking a golf ball resting on a green to propel it towards the cup, a customary and recommended orientation of the golfers body includes facing or addressing the ball along a line perpendicular to a line directed from the ball to the cup, i.e., perpendicular to the direction in which the ball is to be propelled Also, the grip at the upper end of the putter shaft is usually grasped between the hands with the lower end of the shaft angled forward away from the golfer's body, thus positioning the head of the putter behind the ball. Once the putter head is aligned behind the ball with the face of the putter perpendicular to an intended initial roll direction of the ball, the arms are swung rearward to a cocked position, and swung forward to impact and launch the ball. Each individual golfer will, of course, have a preferred stance which feels comfortable to him or her, and will thus tend to address the ball in a more or less stooped orientation of the torso with respect to the legs. Thus, to help insure that the sole of the putter head remains parallel to the ground, putters are customarily provided with shaft lengths which may be selected from a small number of lengths, e.g., 28″, 30″ and 32″, for short, intermediate height and tall golfers, respectively. This shaft length selectability helps to insure that the sole of the putter will be kept parallel to the green surface. However, because of the variation in physical dimensions, as well as stances of golfers, there still remains for many golfers a problem in maintaining the putter sole horizontal. One solution to the problem is to provide a golf putter with a lie angle that is customized by the putter manufacturer to a particular golfer's specifications. However, this approach is less than completely satisfactory for two main reasons. First, the time delay and cost of waiting for a club to be customized is undesirable. Second, many beginning golfers change their stances as they become more experienced, and are therefore not quite sure which lie angle/shaft length combination to choose.
Another mechanical parameter of golf putters which has an important effect on putting performance is the loft angle of the putter. The loft angle is defined as the rearward inclination angle of the club face from the shaft axis. Thus, with a small positive loft angle, e.g., 2-3 degrees, the impact vector, when the ball is struck with the shaft vertically oriented, will have a small, upward component. A small positive loft angle is generally desirable to keep the ball from being inadvertently driven downward into the green surface by the golfer, thus, starting the ball with a bounce, decreasing both its intended roll distance and directional accuracy. However, if the loft angle is too large, the ball will tend to jump off the face of the putter, also decreasing control of distance and path accuracy. Depending upon a given golfer's stance, the true loft angle at the time of ball impact can vary substantially from the static value measured between the club face and shaft. Also, depending upon a particular greens condition, it may be desirable to vary the loft angle. For the reasons set forth above, it would be desirably to provide a golf putter in which the lie angle and/or loft angle may be varied by the golfer to customize the putter for his use and/or to suit differing greens conditions.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,824, Rollingson, a golf putter with lie and offset adapter is disclosed in which the offset, i.e., horizontal spacing between the shaft axis and the bottom end of the front face of the putter, and lie angle are selectively set during factory assembly of the putter, by an adapter. The adapter has an upper elongated portion adapted to fasten to the lower end of a putter shaft and which lies generally in a vertical plane, an intermediate spacer portion which lies generally in a horizontal plane, and a lower elongated portion which is adapted to attach to a putter head or hosel and which lies in a generally vertical plane, the longitudinal axis of which is laterally offset from and angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the upper portion, at a preselected offset distance and lie angle, respectively.
The present inventor is unaware of any existing golf putters in which the lie angle may be readily adjusted and re-adjusted by an individual golfer, without having to send the club to a pro-shop or manufacturer. Moreover, the present inventor is unaware of any existing golf putter in which the loft angle may be readily adjusted and re-adjusted by an individual golfer. In view of the unavailability of the foregoing features in existing golf putters, the present invention was conceived of.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf putter which has a head and shaft coupled together by a bendable coupling element which may be bent to adjust the lie angle of the head sole with respect to the longitudinal axis of its shaft.
Another object of the invention is to provide a golf putter which has a head and shaft coupled together by a bendable coupling element which may be bent to adjust the loft angle of the head face with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
Another object of the invention is to provide a golf putter which has a head and shaft coupled together by a bendable coupling element which may be bent in different directions to adjust the lie and loft angles, respectively, of the putter head relative to the shaft.
Another object of the invention is to provide a golf putter which has a head and shaft coupled together by a bendable coupling element which may be reversibly bert in different directions to adjust and re-adjust the lie and loft angles, respectively, of the putter head relative to the shaft.
Another object of the invention is to provide a golf putter which has a head and shaft coupled together by a bendable coupling element of a length selectable to achieve an overall club length and which may be reversibly bent to achieve desired lie and loft angles.
Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling element for coupling a putter shaft to a putter head which is reversibly bendable to achieve desired lie and loft angles.
Various other objects and advantages of the present invention, and its most novel features, will become apparent to those skilled in the art by perusing the accompanying specification, drawings and claims.
It is to be understood that although the invention disclosed herein is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages described, the characteristics of the invention described herein are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, I do not intend that the scope of my exclusive rights and privileges in the invention be limited to details of the embodiments described. I do intend that equivalents, adaptations and modifications of the invention reasonably inferable from the description contained herein be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the present invention comprehends a golf putter in which the lie angle and loft angle of the putter may be reversibly adjusted by a golfer, to suit his or her particular stance, swing dynamics, playing skill and/or type or condition of the greens of the c
Blau Stephen L.
Chapin William L.
Chapman Jeanette
LandOfFree
Golf putter with adjustable lie and loft angles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Golf putter with adjustable lie and loft angles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Golf putter with adjustable lie and loft angles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2535555