GB2213390A

GB2213390A - Putter for use in playing golf

Info

Publication number: GB2213390A
Application number: GB8828813A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Wallace Bryson
Original assignee: CANMORE GOLF MANUFACTURING COM
Current assignee: CANMORE GOLF MANUFACTURING COM
Priority date: 1987-12-11
Filing date: 1988-12-09
Publication date: 1989-08-16
Also published as: GB8729035D0; GB8828813D0

Abstract

The putter of the present invention has a blade comprising a striking portion 41 and a spacer 5, 6, which is positioned so as to raise the striking portion above ground-level when in play and so as to not make contact with the ball when played. There are preferably two spacers 5,6, one to either side of the striking portion, said spacers being interconnected by a rearwardly-projecting ground-engaging stabilizer 7 in the form of a bridge with scooped exposed upper surface which channels the air flow around the ball during the shot. The blade is also provided with alignment markings in the form of channels 9. <IMAGE>

Description

Putter for use in Playing Golf This invention relates to a putter for use in playing golf.

The striking surface of a putter in normal use hits a ball at the ball's mid-height. This type of shot is particularly prone to skidding and golfers therefore try to ensure that the ball is hit near its top such that the ball is given top spin and is less prone to skidding. This is difficult to measure and attempts to impart top spin can in fact result in a poor shot if not correctly aligned.

According to the present invention there is provided a putter for use in playing golf, said putter having a blade which comprises a striking portion and a spacer, the spacer being positioned so as to distance the striking portion from the ground when the putter is in use. The spacer is also so positioned as not to make contact with a ball to be struck.

Preferably, the spacer subtends the striking portion, and is of 10 to 14mm height or greater; most preferably, it is 12mm.

Preferably, the blade is extended rearwardly as a stabilizer, which must be ground-engaging to stabilize, but it also assists in strengthening the blade. There may be a first and a second spacer, aligned one to either side of the striking portion, the stabilizer need then have only one point of ground contact to provide a stable base.

Preferably, if provided with two spacers, the stabiliser is in the form of an interconnecting bridge extending rearwardly of the blade; the bridge is of wedge-shaped side elevation and has a slightly scooped exposed surface and a central thickening.

Preferably, the striking portion has a central rearwardlyand downwardly-projecting thickening which is aligned with the thickening of the bridge and these thickenings, together with the scooped upper surface to the bridge, create when the putter is in play, a channelled air flow conducive to the shot.

The weight of the putter is approximately 10 oz, but will vary according to the metal used.

Preferably, the shaft has a handle at the opposite end to the blade and both shaft and handle are conventional.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a blade of the putter for use in playing golf according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view from below of the blade of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view from above of the blade of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the blade of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear elevation of the blade of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the blade on line A-A of Fig. 3; and, Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the blade on line B-B of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a putter 1 for use in playing golf. The putter 1 comprises a shaft (not shown) with a handle at its top end (not shown) and a blade 3 at its bottom end. The blade 3 comprises a ball-striking portion 4 with flattened ball-striking face 41 and two spacers 5, 6, subtending the striking portion 4, one spacer 5,6 to each side of the blade 3 raising the striking portion 4 above ground-level when the putter 1 is in use. The spacers 5, 6 are positioned so as not to strike the ball during normal use of the putter 1. Their front faces 51, 61 are rearwardly sloped to diminish the risk further.

The blade 3 weighs approximately lOoz and is stabilized by a rearwardly-extending ground-engaging bridge 7 which interconnects the spacers 5, 6. The bridge 7 is of aerodynamic section, and in particular is wedge-shape in side elevation, tapering rearwardly, and almost semicircular plan view with a thickened central portion at A.

The bridge 7 also strengthens the spacers 5, 6.

The striking portion 4 extends rearwardly and slightly downwardly to be centrally thickened at B giving extra strength to the striking portion 4 without increasing the weight of the blade 3 too greatly.

The shaft and handle (not shown) of the putter 1 are conventional and the shaft fits into a receiving recess 8 in a projection 2 of the blade 3, which projection 2 is angled at approximately 730 to the horizontal surface of the striking portion 4. The shaft is only semi-permanently fitted, as it may be removed for reshafting of the putter 1.

The upper surface of the blade 3 is provided with alignment markings in the form of channels 9, two of which 91, 92 run between front and back in parallel and are aligned on the exposed surface of the bridge 7 and the upper surface of the striking portion 4; the third channel 93 runs orthogonally to the other two 91, 92 at their rearward extent.

The spacers 5, 6, are 12mm in height and thus raise the striking portion 4 12mm above ground-level. The striking face 41 hence strikes the ball in play considerably above ground-level and gives the ball top spin; this consequently lessens the skidding of the ball, skidding being the factor that knocks a ball off-line.

The bridge 7 of the putter 1 has an overall slightly scooped upper surface and its central thickening A is aligned with the central thickening B of the striking portion 4. This shape (see Fig. 4 in particular) means that, in use, the air flow across the bridge 7 and between the spacers 5, 6 is channelled to either side of the ball and is generally conducive to the shot. The bridge 7 is also slightly raised, by about 30 from the ground-level, at its rearward extent, which allows the user to modify the angle that the striking surface 41 hits the ball by rocking the blade 3 on the spacers 5, 6 and the ground-engaging portion of the bridge 7.

The putter 1 of the present invention has the striking portion 4 raised to such a height that top spin is assured, whilst having a lightweight and balanced blade 3 for measured shots.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A putter for use in playing golf, said putter having a blade,-which comprises a striking portion and a spacer, the spacer being positioned so as to distance the striking portion from the ground when the putter is in use.

2. A putter according to Claim 1, wherein the spacer subtends the striking portion.

3. A putter according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the spacer is of a height between 10 to 14mm.

4. A putter according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the blade is extended rearwardly in the form of a ground-engaging stabilizer.

5. A putter according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein there is a first and a second spacer, aligned one to either side of the striking portion.

6. A putter according to Claims 4 and 5, wherein the first and second spacers are interconnected by a stabilizer in the form of a bridge extending rearwardly of the blade.

7. A putter according to Claim 6, wherein the bridge is of wedge-shaped side elevation and has a slightly scooped exposed surface and a central thickening.

8. A putter according to Claim 7, wherein the striking portion has a central rearwardly- and downwardly-projecting thickening aligned with the thickening of the bridge.

9. A putter according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the bridge and striking portion have markings for useralignment with a ball to be played.

10. A putter for use in playing golf substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.