US3445112A - Billiard cue shaped golf putter - Google Patents

Description

y 1969 c. L. FRI-r2 3,445,112

BILLIARD CUE SHAPED GOLF PUTTER Filed Oct. 6. 1965 INVENTORI gzdflence t 1 1/ 1! mi United States Patent 3,445,112 BILLIARD CUE SHAPED GOLF PUTTER Clarence L. Fritz, 1527 Elizabeth St., Bay City, Mich. 48706 Filed Oct. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 493,483 Int. Cl. A631) 53/00 US. Cl. 273-77 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf club used as a putter and shaped similar to a standard billiard cue. The striking face of the club has concentric ribs to minimize slippage. The cylindrical club head is inwardly tapered from the striking face and is joined to an outwardly tapered club shaft.

The present invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly to putters, and it involves a new concept of putting and a club structure for carrying out the concept.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a cue-like putter, operable by a golfer in substantially the same manner that a cue is used in playing billiards to achieve the desired object of sinking the golf ball in the cup.

Another object of the invention is to design a putter structure provided with an elongated cylindrical head, which putter is used to strike the ball when the golfer assumes the proper position by bending his or her knees, which position is similar to the position assumed by a baseball catcher when playing a game of ball, and in this position the golfer holds the handle of the putter in the right hand, With the left hand bearing on the grass to provide proper balance, and the stem of the handle slidably mounted in the circular support formed by the golfers forefinger and thumb in the same manner as occurs when a billiard player uses a cue to make a shot on a billiard table, the difference being that the golfer assumes a position much the same as does the catcher when playing baseball.

A further object is to provide a very simple, practical, and easily operable putter for sinking the golf ball in a cup, which putter can be made up in various lengths and weights to suit the requirements of the user.

Still a further object is to design a cue-like putter of simple, practical, and economical design, which can be readily manufactured and assembled, and which lends itself for accurate putting for long and/or short shots.

A further object still is to provide a cue-like putter which can be readily handled and with which any desired number of practice shots may be made prior to actual contact with the golf ball.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim; it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the putter in use by a player.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the putter.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the head end thereof' 3,445,112 Patented May 20, 1969 FIG. 4 is also an end elevational view showing small grooves in the lower end thereof.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention:

The numeral 5 indicates the putter head which is preferably elongated and formed of any desired material, the body of the head being cylindrical in shape and is tapered as shown, the outer end terminating in a fiat strike face 6 which face can be concentrically ribbed as at 7 to provide better contact with the golf ball, minimize slippage, and place English on a shot when desired to spin or retard the rolling action. The inner end of the head is accurately bored as at 8, and the lower end 9 of the shaft 10 is inserted therein as shown.

A hand grip 11 is provided on the upper end of the shaft 10 and weights (not shown) can be mounted therein to provide proper balance. The overall length of the putter is from four to eight inches longer than that of a conventional golf putter club, depending on the height of the golfer, and women golfers will normally require a shorter club.

The shaft 10 can be made of metal, glass or wood as desired, and the head is preferably upwardly tapered to provide a smooth outer connection at the joint between the head and the shaft.

The club is handled and the shot is made in a different manner than with the conventional putter; it is of the end striking type and is a much more accurate club than are the putters presently in general use, and the user can (when making a shot) point the head of the club so that the head, golf ball, and the cup are in a straight line. When making a shot there is no arc-like swinging action of the golfers body and shoulders, merely the sliding action of the putter in the left-hand support, the club stroke being made by the right hand of the golfer. For left-handed golfers the club will slide in the right hand and is actuated by the left hand.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that we have designed and perfected a very simple, practical, and readily usable putter club for use by golfers in general.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf putter club shaped substantially similar to a standard billiard cue comprising: an elongated, cylindrical head forming the lower end section of the club, said head being upwardly tapered with its lower free end terminating in a flat striking surface; a club shaft connected to the upper end of said elongated head section, longitudinally aligned therewith and being downwardly tapered from the end connection of the club shaft to the elongated upper end of the putter club; and the striking face of the head having a series of concentric ribs to minimize slippage when it is swung into contact with a standard golf ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,260,525 7/ 1966 Ortel 27377 1,022,172 4/ 1912 Benhoff 273 1,813,116 7/1931 Clausen 27387.2 X 2,144,846 1/1939 Kruspe. 3,220,730 11/1965 Fine 27377 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

T. ZACK, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 27370

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