WO1989002769A1

WO1989002769A1 - A golf club

Info

Publication number: WO1989002769A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000374
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoffrey Walter Nelson
Original assignee: NILTIA HOLDINGS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: NILTIA HOLDINGS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-09-24
Filing date: 1988-09-23
Publication date: 1989-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-24

Abstract

A golf club (1) having a head (2) and a shaft (3). The lower section (7) of the shaft (3) is encased in the head (2) which has an upper portion (6) made of substantially transparent material such as epoxy resin or perspex. The head (2) has a base (5) and encases a hemispherical body (8) having the same diameter as a golf ball (9). The hemispherical body (8) is located adjacent the optimum striking position on the face (10) of the head (2). The base (5) may be made of metal and the shaft (3) can be anchored to the base (5). A player preparing to putt can align the hemispherical body (8) with the golf ball (9) to be hit.

Description

A GOLF CLUB The present invention relates to golf clubs, and in particular, to a golf club which enables the player to easily line up a golf ball when putting.

BACKGROUND ART In the game of golf one of the most difficult skills to master is that of putting. A major difficulty is aligning the putting surface face of the putter to be perpendicular to the intended path of the ball which is to be hit. There is great skill involved in picking the line in which the surface face of the putter is moved during the putting stroke. If the surface face is aligned correctly prior to the backswing, a lot of the difficulty is negated.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club, and in particular a putter which enables the player to correctly align the face of the putter so that the ball travels in the correct direction.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is disclosed a golf club having a head at least the upper portion of which is constructed of a substantially transparent material and encasing an object substantially having the same shape as a golf ball when viewed in plan, wherein a player using said golf club is able to align the golf ball to be hit with the object encased in said head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a golf club of a preferred embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a detailed side elevational view of the head of the golf club of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the head of Fig. 2 aligned with a golf ball,

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the head of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a golf club head of an alternative embodiment.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The golf club 1 as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a head 2 and a shaft 3 having a grip 4. The head 2 has a metal base 5 to which the shaft 3 is connected.

The body 6 of tt . head 2 is made from a transparent epoxy resin.and covers the base 5 in its entirety. The body 6 of the head 2 envelops the lower section 7 of the shaft 3.

As illustrated in the drawings, encased in the body 6 of the head 2 is a hemi-spherical object 8 which has the same diameter as a golf ball 9 illustrated in Fig. 3. The object 8 is located within the head 2 aligned with the optimum point of contact of the golf ball 9.

Illustrated in Fig. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention whereby the golf club 11 has a head 12 and a shaft 13. The lower section 17 of the shaft 13 extends into the head 12 which is constructed of a body 16 of trans¬ parent epoxy resin or perspex. Encased within the body 16 is an object 18 having a hemi-spherical shape with the same diameter as a golf ball. Once again the object 18 is located adjacent the optimum striking position on the face 20 of the head 12.

When in use, the golf clubs 1, 11 are aligned with the intended direction in which the player wishes the ball to travel so that both the golf ball 9 and the object 8, 18 lie in this direction. This enables the player to strike the golf ball 9 at th_ optimum location on the face 10, 20 of the head 2 or 12 as well as striking the ball in the correct direction. It has been found that aligning the golf club face and the direction in which the ball 9 is to travel is simpler if there is a reference direction in the club. This is carried out by aligning the golf ball and the object 8, 18. This is similar to aligning two billiard ball in billiards.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A golf club having a head at least the upper portion of which is constructed of a substantially transparent material and encasing an object substantially having the same shape as a golf ball when viewed in plan, wherein a player using said golf club is able to align the golf ball to be hit with the object encased in said head.

2. A golf club according to claim 1, said club having a shaft which is enveloped in said transparent material.

3. A golf club according to claim 2 wherein the trans¬ parent material is an epoxy resin or perspex and covers the base of said head in its entirity.

4. A golf club according to claim 3, wherein the base of said head is made of metal and said shaft is anchored thereto.

5. A golf club according to claim 3, wherein said shaft is anchored to a metal base which in turn is encased in said head.