WO2004073807A1

WO2004073807A1 - Curved hosel putter

Info

Publication number: WO2004073807A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2004/000032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Garry Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-21
Filing date: 2004-02-20
Publication date: 2004-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2005-08-21
Also published as: NZ524309A

Abstract

A golf putter, including a shaft, and a putter-head, and a hosel, wherein the hosel is attached at one point in the vicinity of the heel end of the putter-head and at another point to the shaft, characterised in that the hosel is configured so that the centreline of the shaft is aimed at the centre of gravity of the putter.

Description

CURVED HOSEL PUTTER

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a curved hosel putter. Specifically this invention relates to improvements made to golf clubs used as putters.

BACKGROUND ART

Golf has become a popular recreational game. In the game of golf a ball is played from the teeing ground to the putting hole, using a specialized club called a putter.

A conventional short putter is between 84 and 90cm in total length, and has a single grip, located at the top end of the shaft.

The player grasps the single grip with both hands when putting the ball with the putter-head which strikes the ball.

Whilst the use of the putter is an apparently simple action, it is perhaps the part of golf found to be the least reliable from day to day.

To improve their putting some golfers are no longer using s conventional short putter and are now using a long putter (in a simple pendulum type putting action) or a belly putter (which is a mid-length putter, which hinges from the belly button).

As such there are now three distinct types of putter: short, mid., (known as "belly"), and long.

Like all golf clubs a putter has a "lie-angle", defined as the angle between the shaft, and horizontal, when the club is measured in a normal playing position. Common lie-angles preferred by golfers are between 79.5 degrees and 68 degrees from horizontal or the ground line. Having the correct lie-angle is important as it will better allow the putter-head to pass over the putting green reliably, without either the heel or toe end of the underside of the putter snagging, or catching, on the ground causing a poor putt.

The heel end of the putter-head is the end closest to the golfer's feet when using the putter and the toe end of the putter-head is the end farthest from the golfer's feet when using the putter.

Whilst a few putters only have three parts i.e. grip, shaft and putter-head, most putters have four parts, namely: the grip, the shaft, the putter-head and a "hosel".

A hosel is that part of the putter which joins the putter-head to the shaft.

Hosels are usually substantially straight in their middle section with bends at one or both ends.

Some putters do not have hosels and the shaft is merely inserted and glued into a hold in the putter-head.

To use their putter more comfortably and for better results, a golfer may wish to adjust the lie-angle by bending the hosel or shaft of the putter. Most golfers do not have the equipment, knowledge, experience or confidence to attempt line angle adjustments themselves as there is a risk of breaking the putter.

It would be advantageous if a putter could be designed to allow the golfer to adjust the putter's lie-angle and for the resultant putter to meet the Rules of Golf and thus be legal for competition play.

Putters when assembled with their putter-head, shaft and grip may be grouped as one of the three following groups:

1. Centre-balanced (uncommon) 2. Face-balanced (popular) (FIGS 3,4,5)

3. Heel-balanced (popular) (FIGS 1 ,2)

With or without a hosel all putter-heads have a centre of gravity.

The centre of gravity is the single point which the result of the gravitational forces acting on all the individual particles of the putter acts. This point coincides with the putter's centre of mass.

A centre-balanced putter is a putter where the attached shaft points directly to the centre of gravity of the putter-head. The shaft would point exactly to the centre of gravity in the x, y and z planes. Whilst this is available it is far more popular to have a face-balanced putter.

A face-balanced putter is a putter, that when the attached shaft is rested horizontally and balanced towards the shaft tip (perhaps on a horizontally orientated fulcrum such as an out stretched finger), will exhibit the property of the putter face being parallel to the ground.

A "Ram Zebra" brand putter is a well known face-balanced putter.

In a face-balanced putter the shaft would point exactly to the centre of gravity in the x, and y planes, but not the z plane.

In a heel balanced putter the attached shaft points to the heel end of the putter- head. With a heel-balanced putter, when the attached shaft is rested horizontally and balanced toward the shaft tip, will exhibit the property of the putter face not being parallel to the ground.

The putter will rest with the toe of the putter hanging down.

A "Ping Anser" brand putter is a very well known heel-balanced putter. When putting a ball on a flat putting green the target is the golf hole, and on a sloping green the hole will not be the target but in the following discussion the target is the hole.

The ball-target line is the line from the ball to the target.

The COG-target line is the line from the centre of gravity of the putter-head (or putter-head and hosel where there is a hosel) to the target.

There is often a painted, cast or engraved COG-indicia, commonly a dot or a line on the top of the putter to inform the golfer of the location of the COG-target line.

When a line is used this may serve to not only mark the "sweet-spot" location, but also may aid the golfer to aim the putter correctly at the target.

Many golfers like an aiming line such as the COG-indicia.

Commonly golfers would refer to the COG-indicia mark as the "sweet spot".

The sweet-spot is the point where the COG-target line intersects the putter face.

When the ball is struck on the sweet-spot there is a maximum efficiency of energy transfer and no unbalanced forces are present which can cause the putter to twist away from facing the target.

For the golfer putting is more reliable is the putter's sweet-spot strikes the ball and the impact also "feels" better for the golfer.

A putt "feels" better when there is less vibration, or twisting and there is better energy transfer on impact with the ball.

When the putter (with zero face loft for this discussion) is in use the putter is placed behind the ball with the putter face facing the target and the COG-target line is then parallel to the ball-target line.

Most computer aided design (CAD) software is able to calculate the position of the centre of gravity.

One simple way of achieving a face-balanced putter is where the shaft points directly at a point in the putter which is on the COG-target line.

Unfortunately the shaft has a finite diameter (commonly 9 to 12mm) and therefore obscures the golfers view of the COG-indicia aiming line from above.

The aforementioned "Ram Zebra" putter avoids this problem by the shaft pointing to the COG-target line several inches before engaging the putter-head and before the shaft obscures the view for the golfer.

The shaft then bends back towards the heel of the putter-head, the shaft has a single bend and is known as such.

However there is no easy way to adjust the lie-angle of this type of "single bend" putter and the face-balancing is ruined if the single bend is adjusted - this is a significant drawback for the golfer.

Alternatively either the COG-target line is divided by the entry of the shaft directly into the putter-head or it must be very short and less useful to the golfer for the important aiming task.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf putter, including

a shaft, and

a putter-head, and

a hosel, wherein the hosel is attached at one point in the vicinity of the heel end of the putter-head and at another point to the shaft,

characterised in that

the hosel is configured so that the centreline of the shaft is aimed at the centre of gravity of the putter. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf putter, including

a shaft, and

a putter-head, and

a curved hosel, wherein the hosel is attached at one point in the vicinity of the heel end of the putter-head and at another point to the shaft,

characterised in that

the hosel is configured as an arc of a circle.

The term "hosel" used throughout the present specification should be understood to mean the part of the putter which connects the shaft to the putter-head.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention the hosel is curved along at least part of its length.

It should be appreciated that throughout the present invention the term "COG- indicia target line" should be understood to mean the line on the putter-head that indicates the line from the centre of gravity of the putter-head (or putter-head and hosel if fitted) to the target.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention the hosel is permanently attached to the putter-head.

In some other preferred embodiments of the present invention the hosel is removable from the putter-head.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention the position of the hosel with respect to the putter-head is adjustable. In preferred embodiments of the present invention where the hosel position is adjustable, the amount of adjustment is limited so that the putter will not fall outside of the "Rules of Golf".

To meet the Rules of Golf there may need to be a detail, which does not allow the putter to be adjusted into a configuration where it has a lie-angle of LESS than 10 degrees from vertical.

An alternative embodiment of this invention, would be advantageous from the stand point of the rule-making authorities in the game of golf (the United States Golf Associates, and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Scotland), is where the adjustable hosel is secured by a "self locking fixing mechanism".

It should be appreciated that the adjustment can be smooth or may be in steps by using physical construction detailing such as teeth, ribs, notches etc.

It should be also understood that in some embodiments of the present invention where the hosel is not in a permanent fixed position on the putter-head, the hosel is secured to the putter-head by a locking mechanism such as that disclosed in NZ Patent Application No. 526630.

However, this should not be seen as limiting the present invention in any way as any other suitable securing arrangement can be used if desired, examples of which could be items such as screws, grub screws, clip style fasteners etc...

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention the curved hosel is secured into a complementarily curved recess within the putter-head.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention the curved hosel is configured as an arc of a circle which has its centrepoint at the putters' centre of gravity. It should be appreciated that, due to the geometry of the hosel, it is adjusted in position with respect to the putter-head to alter the lie-angle whilst maintaining its centrepoint at the putters' centre of gravity.

It should be noted however, that in some embodiments of the present invention the centrepoint will be at a different position and not at the putter's centre of gravity.

In some other preferred embodiments of the present invention the hosel has a specifically shaped cross-section (such as a dovetail) and is fitted into a complementarily shaped slot within the putter-head.

In some embodiments of the present invention the hosel contains perforations or other voids which will reduce the weight of the putter and assist in improving its balance.

It should be understood that the balancing of a putter is constrained by the limits of the manufacturing technology. The aim of the present invention is to achieve a putter balance that is as close as is possible to being perfectly balanced.

From the aforegoing description it can clearly be seen that the present invention has significant advantages over the prior art, including current putters fitted with conventional hosels.

One main advantage is that the prevent invention allows for the construction of a strong centre-balanced, or face-balanced, putter which provides the golfer with a clear and unimpeded view of the COG-indicia target line.

Another significant advantage in embodiments where the hosel position is adjustable is that the lie-angle can be adjusted for a golfer with no (or minimal) effect on the balance of the putter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 -4 are diagrammatical representations of four types of golf putters that are readily available;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical representation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a view of the present invention showing the geometrical construction lines;

Figures 7-9 show an adjustable embodiment of the present invention with a different lie-angle in each of the figures;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatical representation of an adjustable hosel that is adjusted in a step wise fashion.

Figure 11 is a hosel that contains a number of perforations;

Figure 12 shows a diagrammatical representation of a curved hosel that could be used for a smooth and continuous adjustment of the lie- angle;

Figures 13 & 14 show a diagrammatical representation of isometric views of an adjustable curved hosel putter, without and with the hosel fitted respectively. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures there is illustrated a curved hosel putter, generally as indicated by arrow 1.

Figures 1 to 5 show various styles of putter.

Figure 3 shows a "Ram Zebra" putter where the shaft (2) points at the COG-indicia target line, with the lower portion (5) of the shaft (2) bending back towards the heel of the putter-head (3).

Figure 1 shows a putter with a shaft (2) connected to a hosel (4) and hence to the putter-head (3) in a manner found in the prior art.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention (1) and this is shown in more detail in Figure 6.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention (1) with the putter's centre of gravity (7) shown in relation to the centreline (9) of the shaft (2) and to the horizontal (10) and the playing surface (8).

The hosel (A) is constructed as an arc from circles (11) and (12), whose centrepoint is the putter's (1) centre of gravity point (7).

The angle 'x' is the lie-angle of the putter (1).

Figure 7, 8 and 9 show the putter (1) with different lie-angles between the shaft centreline (9) and the horizontal (10).

These figures 7, 8 and 9 clearly show that the lie-angle adjustment is independent of the putters' centre of gravity (7) as this remains constant for each lie-angle. Figure 10-12 show different variations of adjustable hosel (4), Figure 10 shows a stepwise (21, 22, 23, 24) adjustable hosel (4), whereas Figure 11 and 12 show a continuous (smooth) adjusting surface (26).

The hosel (4) may have perforations (25) to reduce weight and also to improve overall balance of the putter (1 ).

Figure 13 shows a putter-head (3) with a slot (15) into which a hosel (4) is secured. The figure also shows a mark (16) where the "sweet-spot" of the putter (4) is located.

Figure 14 shows the putter-head (3) fitted with a curved hosel (4) and also shows the putter-head (3) marked with the COG-indicia (17).

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A golf putter, including

a shaft, and

a putter-head, and

characterised in that

the hosel is configured so that the centreline of the shaft is aimed at the centre of gravity of the putter.

2. A golf putter, including

a shaft, and

a putter-head, and

characterised in that

the hosel is configured as an arc of a circle.

3. A golf putter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hosel is permanently attached to the putter-head.

4. A golf putter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hosel is removable from the putter-head.

5. A golf putter as claimed in any previous claim wherein the position of the hosel with respect to the putter-head is adjustable.

6. A golf putter as claimed in claim 5 wherein the adjustment of the hosel with respect to the putter-head is limited so as to remain within the limitations of the Rules of Golf.

7. A golf putter as claimed in claim 5 wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to provide a smooth and continuous operation.

8. A golf putter as claimed in claim 5 wherein the adjustment is undertaken in a plurality of finite steps such as a staircase or ladder mechanism.

9. A golf putter as claimed in claim 1 , claim 2, or any of claim 4 to claim 8 wherein the hosel is secured into a complementarily shaped recess within the putter-head.

10. A golf putter as claimed in any previous claim wherein the hosel is configured as an arc of a circle which has its centrepoint at the putter's centre of gravity.

11. A golf putter as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hosel is configured in a manner wherein its position can be adjusted with respect to the putter-head whilst maintaining its centrepoint at the putter's centre of gravity.

12. A golf putter as claimed in any previous claim wherein the hosel is configured with a specifically shaped cross-section that fits securely into a complementarily shaped section within the putter-head.

13. A golf putter as claimed in any previous claim wherein the hosel contains a number of perforations or other voids.

4. A golf putter as herein described with reference to and is illustrated by the accompanying drawings.