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  Round putterUSPTO Application #: 20060009307Title: Round putter Abstract: A golf putter with a round putter head (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) having a radius which is less than the radius of a regulation size golf ball 70. The round putter head (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) is constructed of a single piece of standard sized bar stock. The putter head (10, 20, 30, 40, 60) has a contact area 74 with the golf ball 70 which is linear, and of narrow width. The contact area 74 on the golf ball 70 is horizontal in orientation. Additionally, the contact area 74 on the golf ball 70 usually spans the dimple 72 diameter. (end of abstract)
Agent: Ian C. Mcleod Mcleod & Moyne, P.C. - Okemos, MI, US Inventor: Lanny L. Johnson USPTO Applicaton #: 20060009307 - Class: 473330000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Club Or Club Support, Head, Curved, Grooved, Or Roughened Striking Face The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060009307. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/586,318 filed Jul. 8, 2004. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] (1) Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates generally to golf equipment, and more particularly to golf putters. Specifically, the present invention relates to a golf putter having a round cylindrical head prepared from standard sized bar stock, preferably metal. More specifically, the invention relates to a golf putter having a round cylindrical head preferably made from standard stainless steel or brass bar stock which has a radius less than the radius of a regulation golf ball, specifically on the striking face. [0005] (2) Description of the Related Art [0006] The traditional putter has a vertical blade with a flat surface and a vertical height usually one inch (25 mm) or greater. Subsequent traditional putters have a similar geometry on the face allowing for flat, convex, but not concave faces. The contact surface is often distinguished by the shape of the mass behind the vertical face. There have been putters with curved contact faces from heel to toe on the putter. This feature is permissible under United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.) rules. There also have been putters that are totally cylindrical in geometry. Existing putters come in many sizes and geometries. There is often heel to toe weighting to resist the turning of the vertical positioned putter blade. [0007] The rules of golf equipment are controlled by the U.S.G.A. for America. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R. & A.) is the governing authority for the rules of golf in more than one hundred affiliated nations. More recently, in a written `statement of principles` published jointly by the R.& A. and the U.S.G.A., it was acknowledged that, "History has proved that it is impossible to foresee the developments in golf equipment which advancing technology will deliver." However, both the R.& A. and the U.S.G.A. remain vigilant when considering the equipment rules. The main objective of U.S.G.A. Rules 4 and 5 and Appendices II and III is to protect golf's best traditions, to prevent an over-reliance on technological advances rather than skill, and to ensure that skill is the dominant element of success throughout the game. Therefore, any club design must consider these rules if the club is to be deemed legal by the governing authorities of golf. Any putter must be compatible with the U.S.G.A. rules of golf in regards to being plain in shape, with runners that do not extend into the face, a width that is greater than the depth, a face without concavity, a face angle of no more than fifteen degrees, and an angle of shaft to the head of ten degrees incline or greater. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,342 to Drake discloses a golf putter having an elongate head connected to a shaft. The shaft has a shank with a handgrip adjacent its upper end, an offset portion connected to the lower end of the shank and extending transversely, and a depending portion projecting from the other end of the offset portion and connected to the head. The depending portion is connected to the head at a point which is adjacent the longitudinal center of the head and can be transversely between the longitudinal centerline and the back of the head. The offset portion can be inclined upwardly from the depending portion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head and toward the front of the head at an angle of 10-30 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the head. Preferably the upper portion of the handgrip is inclined with respect to the shank toward the player and the ball striking face of the head. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,684 to Dippel discloses a golf putter with a substantially cylindrical club head made from a non-metallic plastic material such as acetal polymer and having weights recessed in the heel and toe ends. The diameter of the cylindrical club head is one and one-quarter inches. A visual alignment mark extends circumferentially partially around the cylindrical body at a position equidistant between the heel and toe ends. [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,698 to Kleinfelter discloses a putter having a barrel-shaped club head, which allegedly has a center of percussion enlarged so as to make it easy to consistently impact a ball with the club head's sweet spot regardless of stroke or stance used or conditions of the putt. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,441 to Olsen, et al. discloses a golf putter with a two-piece cylindrical head which is a rod constructed from a hard material and fastened inside a thin walled tube cast from a soft, malleable material such as copper. [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,310 to Jernigan discloses a putter with a head having a rounded striking surface and having a heel and toe which are of greater weight than the central part of the head. [0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,969 to Schooler discloses a putter with a pivotable head, the angle of which is adjustable relative to the shaft, includes a shaft having a lower end secured to a rotatable member rotatably disposed within a bore in the golf club head. The bore includes a longitudinally-elongate upper portion adjacent the upper surface of the head which restricts the range of motion of the shaft. The upper portion prevents movement of the shaft about the axis of the head and restricts the pivotal movement of the shaft to between about 30 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the head. A resilient locking member selectively locks and unlocks the rotatable member within the golf club head, permitting adjustment of the golf club shaft-head angle. A golfer can adjust the angle by applying weight or force. [0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,193 to Devore discloses a golf putter head having a cylindrical body with a flat top. The body of the putter is constructed of an outer shell of an aluminum alloy with an inner core of brass. The head has a groove across the flat face of the top and at its center for alignment. [0015] While the related art teach round putter heads, there still exists a need for an improved round putter head. OBJECTS [0016] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved putter. It is further an object of the present invention to provide a putter with a round cylindrical head having a vertical radius on the striking face which is less than the radius of a regulation size golf ball. It is still further an object of the present invention to provide a putter with a geometry such that the resultant contact surface area between the putter and the ball at impact is linear and essentially horizontal. These and other objects will become increasingly apparent by reference to the following description and the drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0017] The present invention provides a golf putter comprising a shaft having a proximal end and an opposing distal end, a grip for a golfer to hold the golf putter attached upon the proximal end of the shaft, and a head attached to the distal end of the shaft for contacting a golf ball during putting having a heel end and opposing toe end and a face therebetween, wherein the head is constructed of standard sized cylindrical bar stock having a radius which is less than the radius of a regulation size golf ball, so that when used to putt the golf ball, the golf ball is contacted in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground. [0018] In further embodiments of the golf putter the bar stock is stainless steel or brass. In further embodiments the radius of the cylindrical bar stock is less than 0.84 inches (21.3 mm). In still further embodiments of the golf putter the radius of the cylindrical bar stock is between 0.125 inch (3.2 mm) and 0.5 inches (12.7 mm). In further embodiments of the golf putter the shaft attaches to the putter head towards the heel end of the head. In still further embodiments of the golf putter the shaft attaches to the putter head midway between the toe end and the heel end of the head. In further embodiments the shaft head is towards the center of the head just short of midway. In still further embodiments the shaft attaches to the putter head almost midway between the toe end and the heel end of the head and towards the heel end. In still further embodiments a radial wedge cut out runs axially along a length from heel end to toe end of the putter head. In still further embodiments the radial wedge cut out is less than the length from heel end to toe end of the putter head. In still further embodiments the putter head has variable weighting. In still further embodiments the putter head has bottom and posterior weighting. In still further embodiments the putter head is heel-toe weighted. [0019] The present invention provides a putter head for putting a golf ball comprising a heel end and opposing toe end and a face therebetween, wherein the head is constructed of standard sized cylindrical bar stock having a radius which is less than the radius of a regulation size golf ball, so that when used to putt the golf ball, the golf ball is contacted in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground. Continue reading... Full patent description for Round putter Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Round putter patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Round putter or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Golf club heads with inserts under compressive stress Next Patent Application: Compositions for use in golf balls Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Round putter patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 3.09166 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry |
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