US2321773A

US2321773A - Golfer's putter

Info

Publication number: US2321773A
Application number: US418923A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ruemelin Richard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-11-13
Filing date: 1941-11-13
Publication date: 1943-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1960-06-15

Description

J1me 1943- R. RUEMELIN 2,321,773

GOLFER S PUTTER File d NOV. 13, 1941 ATTORNE-Y.

Patented June 15, 1943 UNETED STATUS PA'EENT QFFICE GOLFERS PUTTER Richard Etucrnelin, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application November 13, 1941, Serial No. 418,923

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in golfers putters.

In using the conventional putter the golfer usually has the golf handle extending diagonally across the palm of both hands with all of the .fingers wrapped around the handle and with the thumbs on the top of the shaft. The club is thus gripped quite tightly and wrist action is relied upon in making the putting stroke. This is objectionable because a rolling wrist action tends to cause pulling of the club head in an are so that the ball is cut or steered out of a straightline course. As a result many a putt is missed, including relatively short easy putts, merely because the player did not overcome the quite natural tendency to roll the wrists.

It is a principal object of the present invention to overcome this objectionable feature of the standard putter by providing a novel form of grip which so cooperates with the design of the club as to provide for a true pendulum swing and practically eliminate the possibility of a rolling wrist action interfering with the accuracy of the stroke.

It is recognized that golf clubs have heretofore been proposed wherein a sphere is attached to the extreme upper end of the handle in an effort to provide a fulcrum for a pendulum swing. In this type of club, however, the left hand cooperates with the sphere and the right hand grips a conventional leather-wrapped handle portion in the conventional manner, Thus the right hand which does the pushing and guiding will have the before-mentioned tendency to pull the club through an arc, because of a rolling wrist action, and this tendencywill be just as marked as in a standard type of putter. This is particularly true because in the club just described the shaft extends at an oblique angle from the player toward the club head when the head is grounded.

It is a further object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a putter' having a novel handle wherein there is a flattened area insertable between fingers of both hands, whereby the possibility of improper action on the part of the right hand and wrist is greatly minimized because a simple wrist flex instead of a roll is insured.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a golfers putter having at least one transverse laterally projecting gripping projection for the right hand directly above a flattened area, and preferably a plurality of such gripping members which may, in the preferred embodiment, be circular in cross-section and spaced longitudinally from each other on the handle portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein the handle is flattened below each gripping member so that the flattened portions may be inserted between the first and second fingers of the hands, with the gripping members seated in the curve of said fingers. Thus the upper gripping member forms an oscillating pivot for a pendulum swing with the curved fingers as a bearing therefor, and the lower gripping member together With the flat handle portion therebelow causes the fingers of the right hand to point directly toward the intended line of the putt to normally and in a quite natural manner guide and push the club along said line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a putter as above described wherein there may be more than two transverse gripping members. Thus any pair may be selectively employed for a particular putt, depending upon the length of the putt and the inclination of the player.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein the entire upper shaft portion ma be of flattened form with the gripping members adjustable thereon so that said members may be moved topositions best suitedto the particular player, with a flat portion always below each'gri ping member.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a putterhaving novel transverse gripping means for both hands wherein the shaft is substantially perpendicular to .the head, thus making it easy for the player to standwell over the ball and to execute a true pendulum stroke.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved golfers putter and all its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the'accompanyingdrawing illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention. in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts, in all of the views,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the putter, showing one method of grasping the putter as it would appear to one facing the player; 4 I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the putter alone; i

Fi 3 is an enlarged view of the putter, loolgling in the samedirection as Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectiona view taken on line l4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a modification looking in the same direction as Fig. 2 and showing the upper half of the shaft only.

Referring more particularly. to the drawing, the numeral 8 designates the shaft, and the numeral 9 the head. The shaft is preferably formed of tubular metal with the upper portion I0, which may be generally referred to as the handle portion, flattened as illustrated. The flattened portion preferably extends from the extreme upper end of the club to the point I0. It is also preferred, in order to strengthen the flattened portion, to insert therein a filler II of wood, plastic, or any other suitable material, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In order to best adapt the club for the novel type of grip and swing, it is preferred to have the shaft portion 8 form a right angle with the lower edge II of the head, as shown in Fig. 2. It is also preferred to have the upper edge I2 of the head substantially parallel with the lower edge II. The striking face I3 of the head may be slightly inclined, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. In addition it is preferred to have the rear of the head weighted by means of extra thickness, as at I4, with said extra thickness preferably cut away near the bottom of the head below the lower end of the shaft 8, as at I 5.

Cooperable with th handle is at least one ripping projection. Where only one is used it is positioned relatively low on the handle for cooperation with the lower or right hand. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, three longitudinall spaced transverse gripping members IS, IT, and I8 are employed. The gripping members project laterally from both sides of the handle and are preferably circular in cross-section so as to seat in the curve of the fingers in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1.

Each gripping member may be identical in construction and preferably comprises two complementary half sections I9 and which are grooved on the inner faces, as at 2I and 22. The transverse gripping members may be formed of metal, wood, rubber, plastic, or any suitable material. When the two half sections I9 and 20 are placed on opposite sides of the flattened handle ID, the grooves 2I and 22 cooperate to form a slot of a size and shape to receive the flattened handle. The two half sections may be held in position on the handle by means of a nut 23 and bolt 24 extending through the section I9, through the flattened handle and filler II, and through the section 20.

If the transverse gripping members are to be permanently secured in position, as in the modification of Fig. 6 (reference numerals 35) there must be a flat handle area 36 (Fig. 6) below each gripping member for insertion between the first and second fingers. It is preferred, however, to have the entire handle portion I0 flattened, as heretofore described and illustrated, so that the gripping members may be adjustably secured in position. Accordingly a set of bolt holes is provided for the uppermost gripping member I6, a set of bolt holes 26 i provided for th intermediate gripping member I'I, and a set of bolt holes 21 is provided for the lowermost gripping member I8. With this arrangement the bolt 24 may be removed and re-inserted in a selected hole to vary the position of longitudinal adjustment of any of the gripping means I6, II, or I8 to best suit the requirements of the particular player.

In using the club, most players will prefer for a long putt to have the left hand engage the uppermost gripping member l6 and the right hand engage the intermediate gripping member I1; for a shorter putt the right hand may instead be engaged with the lowermost gripping member I8, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In addition, for short putts many players will prefer tohave the left hand engage the intermediate gripping member I! and the right hand the bottom gripping member I8.

In making the putting stroke the flattened handle portion I0 is inserted between the first and

second fingers

28 and 29 of the left hand, and between the first and second fingers 30 and 3I of the right hand. The gripping member IE or I! which cooperates with the left hand will form an oscillating pivot in the curve of the fingers 2B and 29, and this will constitute the fulcrum for a pendulum swing. However, the gripping member for the upper or left hand may be omitted because the flattened area with its edge in the direction of the line of putt will pivot in a straight direction between the fingers. Due to the fact that the shaft 8 is perpendicular to the head 9, as shown in Fig. 2, the player can stand well over the ball. With the right hand in the position shown, the handle does not extend diagonally across the palm of the hand in the tight grip of the fingers, as is standard practice. This standard practice is objectionable because it encourages a rolling of the wrist and causes the right hand to pull the club in an arc across the ball. With the present invention the fingers 30 and 3I point toward the intended line of the putt, and the club is quite naturally pushed and guided directly along the line of the putt by the right hand, as a result of a simple wrist flex as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1, while the club is swinging like a pendulum with the fulcrum of the pendulum in the left hand.

This gripping arrangement practically eliminates the tendency to roll the wrist and greatly increases the accuracy of the stroke.

The gripping members I6, I1, and I8 may be integral enlargements or shoulders on the handle as in Fig. 6, or may have a specific form different from that illustrated as long as the particular shape rests in the curve of the fingers when the club is gripped in the manner shown in Fig. 1, and the most important single feature of the invention is the use of flat areas extending in the direction of the putt for insertion between fingers of both hands.

Various other changes and modifications may b made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a golfers putter having a shaft with a head connected to the lower end thereof, a handle portion at th upper end of said shaft, a gripping member which is circular in cross-section extending transversely of the handle portion, there being a flattened area below said gripping member and extending transversely of the gripping member and transversely of the club head, said flattened area being insertable between two fingers of one hand of the player with the gripping member seated in the curve of said fingers to rock therein and the flattened area being sufliciently thin to swing between said fingers without wedging while the gripping member is rocking, said handle also having a correspondingly extending flattened area spaced below said first flattened area and insertable between the fingers of the other hand of the player, and a gripping member which is circular in cross-section to fit in the curve of the fingers of said other hand immediately above said second flattened area and spaced below said first flattened area.

2. In a golfers putter having a shaft with a head connected to the lower end thereof, a

a gripping member on said handle comprising two complementary parts positioned on opposite sides of the handle and projecting transversely therefrom, and means extending transversely through said parts and through a selected perforation in the handle for securing the gripping member in a desired position of longitudinal adjustment.

4. In a golfers putter having a shaft with a head connected to the lower end thereof, a flattened handle portion at the upper end of said shaft having a plurality of perforations therein, and a gripping member on said handle comprising two complementary parts positioned on opposite sides of the handle and projecting transversely therefrom, and means extending transversely through said parts and through a selected perforation in the handle for securing the gripping member in a desired position of longitudinal adjustment.

5. In a golfers putter having a shaft with a head connected to the lower end thereof, a flattened handle portion at the upper end of said shaft having a plurality of sets of perforations therein, and a transversely extending gripping member for each set of perforations, each gripping member having means cooperable with a selected perforation of the set for adjustably securing the same in position.

6. In a golfers putter having a shaft with a head connected to the lower end thereof, a flattened handle portion at the upper end of said shaft having a plurality of sets of perforations therein, and a gripping member for each set of perforations having an opening therethrough through which the flattened portion of the handle extends, with the gripping member projecting transversely in opposite directions from the handle, and a bolt extending through each gripping member and cooperable with a selected perforation to secure the gripping member in a selected position.

'7. In a golfers putter having a shaft with a head connected to the lower end thereof, a handle, portion which is flattened for insertion between the index and second fingers of the user at the upper end of said shaft, and a plurality of transversely projecting gripping members connected in longitudinally spaced relation to said flattened handle, at least one of said gripping members being longitudinally adjustable on the flattened handle whereby there is a flat area for insertion between the fingers below said gripping member in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions.

8. In a golfers putter having a shaft with a head connected to the lower end thereof, a handle portion at the upper end of said shaft, saidhandle having flattened areas extending in a direction transversely of the club head, one of said flattened areas being insertable between the index and second finger of one hand of the player, and the other flattened area being insertable between the index and second finger of the other hand of the player, and a projection on said handle directly above each flattened area adapted to engage the curve of the fingers of both hands, the flattened area for the uppermost hand being sufficiently thin to swing between the fingers during use of the club.

9. In a golfers putter having a shaft with a head connected to the lower end thereof, a flattened handle portion at the upper end of said shaft having a plurality of perforations therein and a gripping member on said handle including portions projecting transversely from opposite sides of said handle, and means extending transversely through said gripping member and cooperable with a selected perforation in the handle for securing the gripping member in a desired position of longitudinal adjustment.

10. In a golfers putter having a shaft with a head connected to the lower end thereof, a flattened handle portion at the upper end of said shaft having a plurality of perforations therein extending longitudinally of the handle portion, and a transversely extending gripping member having means cooperable with a selected perforation for adjustably securing the gripping member in position.

RICHARD RUEMELIN.