US3219348A

US3219348A - Golf putter

Info

Publication number: US3219348A
Application number: US97489A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr William Clyde Dishner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-03-22
Filing date: 1961-03-22
Publication date: 1965-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-23

Description

Nov. 23, 1965 w. c. DISHNER, JR 3,219,348

GOLF PUTTER Filed March 22, 1961 United States Patent 3,219,348 GOLF PUTTER William Clyde Dishner, In, 623 Detroit St., Flint, Mich. Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Scr. No. 97,489 5 Claims. (Cl. 27377) The present invention relates to a new and improved golf club and more particularly to a new and improved putter and grip or handle therefor which introduces and makes possible an entirely new approach to the techniques of putting in the game of golf. Still more specifically, the present invention relates to a handle having a triangular cross section rounded at the intersections of the plane surfaces and admitting a new and stabilized means for gripping the club in correction of a substantial amount of human error in putting.

In golf the putter is perhaps one of the most important clubs to the golfer. In general, it is more used than any other club and extreme accuracy is required of it. As a consequence it is not surprising to find that many players have experimented with the design and structure of putters. The choice of a putter involves a classification of the putters individual stance, club movement or motion during putting, and preferences as to weight and weight distribution in the club head. In addition, putting style is more individualized than any other other stroke in golfing. This has made the teaching of putting very difficult and the results of the teaching very spotty. Observers frequently remark that good putters succeed in spite of awkward stances, swings, and clubs. The actual modifications in putting irons or clubs have evolved from wooden headed and weighted clubs using wood shafts to a variety of weighted and shaped club heads either utilizing wooden or metal shafts. The connection of shaft to club has been off-center toward the heel of the club head and toward the side of the golfer. Recently observed putters have placed the shaft connection on the heel side of the club head and intermediate the center point between heel and toe. The result of known putters has been firstly to place the player in an awkward offset from the ball so that the golfer has a ditficult time locating his eyes directly over the ball and on a line intersecting ball and cup or target. In attempting to achieve such a position the grip on the handle portion of the club is unduly strained and if the conventional overlapping grip is used the player easily tends to pull or waver the club face in addressing the ball, thereby spoiling the shot. Compensation by the golfer to achieve comfortableness and naturalness of swing without pulling the shot is expressed in awkward stances and in a wide variety of choked grips The present invention is therefore directed to supplying a club and grip therefor which represents a radical departure from prior art putters and which allows the golfer to align his eyes with the line of putting while stroking the ball for impact at the midpoint of the club face thus eliminating awkward putting stances and preventing waver in the club head.

Thus, the principal object of the present invention is providing a new, improved, and useful putter structure.

Another object is to provide an improved putter grip or handle.

Another object is providing a shaft connection midway of the club face and extending upward therefrom.

Still another object is in providing a moderate shaft angle so as to permit the player to present himself for ice natural alignment of his eyes substantially over the ball. Still another object is in providing a putter system incorporating a structure which readily adapts itself to a natural physiological position assumed by the player. Other objects will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the playing of golf as the description proceeds.

General description In general, the device comprises a handle having a generally triangular cross sectional configuration. A shaft coaxially extends from the handle as is secured in the handle in an opening provided therein. The lower end of the shaft is connected to a sleeve or club head socket. The socket, in turn, merges or blends into the club head at substantially the center thereof. By this it is meant that the connection rises from the top of the club between the club faces and midway between heel and toe of the club. The stem piece or socket is thus centered at its connection to the club head midway between the heel and toe of the club face. The club face normally rises vertically from the sole plate portion thereof and the heel and toe of the club head are gently rounded, preferably on an are having its center located on a vertical line extended upward from the sole plate and through the connection of stem piece to club head. This preferred curve form reduces the drag of the sole plate during putting thereby minimizing twisting movement about the shaft as would occur if toe or heel wavered into contact with the turf. The ball is thus struck midway between heel and toe of the club on the line of connection as between club head and stem. The shaft is straight but is angled slightly from a vertical line extended from the plane of the sole plate upward through the connection of stem to club head. This provides an ideal offset for stance which is very easily adjusted for height of the individual golfer by mere adjustment of shaft length. In one modification the slant of the shaft is established by the connecting angle as between stem and club head. In another form the stem piece rises vertically from the club head and is provided with a terminal bend which portion receives the shaft. The weight of the club head is adjusted as a matter of choice of weight and materials, and suitable ferrules well known in the art secure trim connection as between shaft and handle or club head. The connection of shaft to handle and stem or club head is fixed and rigid in any of several well known manners. In use the putters thus designed have gained enthusiastic reception.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a handle structure in accord with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of a golf club in accord with the present invention gripped in accord with the preferred usage.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view indicating the positioning of palms along the cheeks of the handle, fingers overlapping, forefingers flanking the upper surface and thumbs positioned on the upper plane surface.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan enlarged view of a golf club in accord with the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view of the structure shown in FIGURE 4 and indicating an exaggerated angular deviation between handle and vertical.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section through the handle taken on line VIVI of FIGURE 4 and showing the position of hands on the handle in the preferred grip position and indicating the rounded blending between plane surfaces.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view illustrating the club and grip as viewed by the player indicating the natural symmetry achieved by use of the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is a partial side elevation view of a modified form of club head and stem and indicating the small inclination of the shaft (somewhat exaggerated) from vertical as established by the bend in the stem-piece.

Specific description Referring particularly to the drawing and with reference to FIGURE 1, the handle 11 is generally triangular in cross sectional form, two adjacent legs of the triangular form providing plane-like cheek surfaces 12. The connecting plane surface 13 is a thumb ledge or receiving surface as will be seen. The surfaces at contact between the generally

plane surfaces

12 and 13 are softened by arcuate blending as shown. Some longitudinal taper at the fore and aft ends of the handle 11 is provided. Sharp edges are carefully avoided. The shaft 14 extends from the fore end of the handle 11 and is secured in an axial recess in the handle 11. The joint as between handle and shaft is trimmed as by the ferrule 15. Referring to FIGURE 2 it is seen that the thumb surface 13, in use, faces outwardly from the player 16 and that the handle 11 is positioned with cheeks 12 engaging the palms of the player in a natural (palms together) position with the forefingers 17 flanking the thumb surfaces. The thumbs 18 rest naturally on the thumb surface 13. The legs 19 of the player 16 can be easily positioned in a natural stance as shown and the shaft 14 thus extends midway between the legs 19 of the player 16. The shaft 14 connects to the club head 20 through the stem piece or socket 21 and the ferrule trim 22 neatly closes the fit.

In FIGURE 3 the profile of the FIGURE 2 stance indicates best the interlock of fingers 23 on the hands 24 over the grip 11. As seen in FIGURE 3 the connection of shaft 14 to the club head 20 is midway between toe 25 and heel 26 and the shaft 14 is mildly angled from the contact with the top of the club head 20.

In FIGURE 4 it is appreciated that the sole plate 27 of the club head 20 is provided with flanking plane club faces 28 and 29 rising substantially vertically therefrom. Shifts from vertical are matters of individual preference with golfers. In general, the club faces 28 and 29 approach right angles to the sole plate 27. The stem piece 21, which may be integral with the club head 20, receives the lower end of the shaft 14 in locked relationship. In turn, the handle end of the shaft 14 is longitudinally inserted in the handle 11 and is suitably locked therein against twisting or removal.

Ferrule pieces

15 and 22 close on the gaps at connection of shaft to handle 11 and stem piece 21 respectively. As seen the thumb surface 13 of the handle 11 is outward facing and the putter, as illustrated, is useful in either right or left handed settings. In use the thumb surface 13 is uppermost, as shown, and defines a plane surface at right angles to a plane defined by shaft 14 and club head 20 along its longitudinal center.

With reference to FIGURE 6, a cross section through FIGURE 4, the contouring of the handle 11 is better appreciated in terms of the surfaces 12 and the thumb surface 13. The axial shaft receiving recess 30 defined by the handle 11 is very nicely shown. As seen, the pointer or forefingers parallel the blending contacts between the

surfaces

12 and 13 and serve as stabilizing guides to the club as it is swung. The apex 31, modulated by rounding, is supported in the crook of the interlocking fingers and the palms of the hands engage the cheek surfaces 12.

In reference to FIGURE the shaft 14- is seen to connect with the club head 20 at a slight angle A defined between a vertical line rising through the connection at right angles to the sole plate 27. This angle is between about 2 degrees and 8 degrees and preferably between about 4 degrees and 6 degrees and provides adequate offset for natural stance in positioning of the player and handle. The ball contact area 32 is shown in phantom line substantially midway between heel 26 and toe 25 substantially on an extended line through the contact between stem-piece 21 and club head 20.

In FIGURE 7 the new hand grip as seen from the eyes of the player is shown with the hands 24 establishing very good and symmetrical control over the club head 20.

In FIGURE 8 the modified form of club head 33 is shown for use with a handle 11 as illustrated in FIGURES 1-5 and 7. The stem piece 34 rises vertically from midway between heel 35 and toe 36 and then bends to provide an angled socket portion 37, crowned by ferrule 38 on shaft 39. This results in a goose-neck offset and the angle B as between a vertical extension through the connection and the axis of the shaft is between about 2 degrees and about 8 degrees and preferably between about 4 degrees and about 6 degrees. Greater and lesser angles at A and B tend to spoil the feel of the club.

In FIGURE 8 it will be noticed the sole plate 40 is in fact a curved plane form rather than a flat plane form and blends with the rounded heel 35 and toe 36. The are of the sole plate 40 is preferably struck from a point on the line extending vertically through the connection as between stem 34 and club head 33. This substantially reduces drag of either heel or toe in use and is possible by reason of the fact that ideal ball con- .tact is midway of the club face 41.

Operationally, structures built in accord with the foregoing description have gained rapid acceptance and putting has been vastly improved. Teaching putting with the devices of the present invention has taken very good strides in minimizing the variables previously arising from awkward stance, failure of eye alignment with line of flight and faulty stability of club face flowing from an unbalanced grip. The handles 11 of the present invention have been molded directly to the shafts 14 in rubber, resin, and even in wood and wood laminates. The club heads 20 and 35 have been cast from brass, bronze and steel as well as metal filled potting resins. The putters prepared in accord with the present description are amenable to both wrist and arm swinging and simulate ideal pendulum presentation.

Having thus described my invention those skilled in the art will immediately recongnize improvements and modifications, and such improvements and modifications are intended to be included herein, limited only by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. A golf club comprising:

(a) a handle having a triangular cross section for substantially its entire length, two legs of said triangular cross section comprising converging flat palm receiving cheeks and the third leg of said cross section providing a thumb ledge of sufiicient width to accommodate two thumbs in side by side parallel relation;

(b) a shaft secured to said handle at one end thereof;

(0) a club head; and,

(d) a stem piece extending upward from the geometrical center of said club head, said shaft being socketed in said stem and said shaft being inclined at an angle of between about 2 degrees and 8 degrees from a line extending through the geometric center of said club head and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said club head.

2. A golf club as in claim 1 wherein the angle between said shaft and said perpendicular line extended through the geometric center of said club head is between about 4 degrees and 6 degrees.

3. A golf club comprising:

(a) an elongate handle having a rounded triangular cross section for substantially the entire length thereof, the uppermost leg thereof providing a support for both thumbs of a player in parallel adjacent relation, and the other two legs of said triangular cross section providing converging palm receiving cheeks;

(b) a shaft extending from said handle and secured thereto;

(0) a stem piece into which said shaft is socketed; and,

(d) a club head having a bottom portion in a horizontal plane and said stem piece extending upwardly from the geometric center of the uppermost surface of said club and wherein said stem and said shaft are in a substantially common plane and are inclined at an angle of between about 2 degrees and 8 degrees from a line extending through the geometric center of said club head and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said club head.

4. A golf club as set forth in claim 3 wherein said stern and shaft are inclined at an angle of between about 4 degrees and 6 degrees from said perpendicular line.

5. A golf club as set forth in claim 3 wherein the ground engaging sole plate portion of said club head is substantially arcuate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Davis X273168 Kelly et al. X273-163 Perkins X27380.1

Harness 27381 Sargent et al. 273 Fawick 27381 Park 27381 Sternberg et al. 27377 X Morrison 27380 X Stecher 27380 FOREIGN PATENTS 1908 Great Britain. 1913 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner.

Claims

1. A GOLF CLUB COMPRISING: (A) A HANDLE HAVING A TRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION FOR SUBSTANTIALLY ITS ENTIRE LENGTH, TWO LEGS OF SAID TRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION COMPRISING CONVERGING FLAT PALM RECEIVING CHEEKS AND THE THIRD LEG OF SAID CROSS SECTION PROVIDING A THUMB LEDGE OF SUFFICIENT WIDTH TO ACCOMMODATE TWO THUMBS IN SIDE BY SIDE PARALLEL RELATION; (B) A SHAFT SECURED TO SAID HANDLE AT ONE END THEREOF; (C) A CLUB HEAD; AND, (D) A STEM PIECE EXTENDING UPWARD FROM THE GEOMETRICAL CENTER OF SAID CLUB HEAD, SAID SHAFT BEING SOCKETED IN SAID STEM AND SAID SHAFT BEING INCLINED AT AN ANGLE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 2 DEGREES AND 8 DEGREES FROM A LINE EXTENDING THROUGH THE GEOMETRIC CENTER OF SAID CLUB HEAD AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CLUB HEAD.