WO1997047364A1

WO1997047364A1 - A golf putting club

Info

Publication number: WO1997047364A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/001399
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Charles Blaxill White; Robert James Ford
Original assignee: Robert Charles Blaxill White; Robert James Ford
Priority date: 1996-06-11
Filing date: 1996-06-11
Publication date: 1997-12-18
Also published as: AU6129896A

Abstract

A golf putting club (10) comprises a shaft (11) and a head (19) which are adapted to be angularly adjustable relative to one another to suit different golfers. The head (19) is of triangular configuration, which provides a ball retrieving facility and is adapted to receive any one of a plurality of interchangeable face blades (20, 20a, 20b) which are manufactured of different materials and provide the club (10) with different handling characteristics.

Description

A Golf Putting Club

The invention relates to a golf putting club.

A golf putting club comprises a shaft and a head located at a lower end portion of the shaft and, generally, the shaft is arranged so that a longitudinal axis thereof extends at an angle to the head m a plane perpendicular and transverse to a direction of movement of the head when the club is used for putting a golf ball. The angular configuration of the shaft to the head enables a golfer to take up a more natural stance when addressing a golf ball than would be the situation if it were necessary to stand over the ball.

However a problem with such golf putting clubs is that the angle of the shaft to the head is not convenient for all golfers .

According to the present invention, there is provided a golf putting club comprising a shaft, a head and means for connecting the head to a lower end portion of the shaft so that the shaft is adjustable relative to the head in an arc contained in a plane perpendicular and transverse to a direction of movement of the head when the club is used for putting a golf ball. The angular configuration of the shaft to the head thus is adjustable to suit any golfer's stance and can be adjusted for left or right-handed golfers.

The invention is also characterised in that a face blade of the club is adapted to be interchangeable with other face blades of different weight characteristics and of different face finishes. The interchangeable face blades enable a golfer to adjust the weight of the club to suit conditions of a putting green, i.e. wet, dry, fast or slow. The different face finishes provide the golfer with a choice of handling characteristics when putting a golf ball.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings :-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a head having a face blade adapted to be interchangeable with other face blades and a lower portion of a shaft of one embodiment of a golf putting club in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded side elevation showing assembly of the head, the interchangeable face blade and the lower portion of the shaft, Figure 3 is a plan view of a plate carried by the head,

Figure 4 is a view in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2 of the lower portion of the shaft,

Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are perspective views of three interchangeable face blades in accordance with the present invention,

Figures 5d and 5e are transverse cross sections of the face blade shown in Figure 5a when formed of two different materials,

Figure 5f is a transverse cross section of the face plate shown in Figure 5b, and

Figure 6 is a view of the club when turned through 90 degrees from a normal upright position and when containing a retrieved golf ball.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a golf putting club 10 comprising a shaft 11 a lower end portion of which is formed as a pair of spaced parallel annular plates 12, 13 each having a centrally located aperture 14, 15. One of the plates 13 is provided with three additional apertures 16, 17 and 18, one of which additional apertures 16 is located adjacent a longitudinal axis of the shaft 11 and the other two of which additional apertures 17, 18 are each tapped and are diametrically opposed one to another on a diameter extending at 90° to a diameter on which is located the first additional aperture 16.

The club 10 also comprises a head 19 which, in plan, is of triangular configuration, a base of the triangular configuration being a face blade 20 which contacts a golf ball in use.

The face blade 20 is one of three interchangeable face blades 20, 20a and 20b each of which is attachable to the head 19 by means of screws 20c.

The head 19 incorporates a body stay 21 which extends across the triangular configuration midway between the apex thereof and the face blade 20 and parallel to the face blade 20, the stay 21 being formed as an upstanding annular plate 22 having a centrally located aperture 23 and two arcuate slots 24, 25 spaced at least 20° in an arcuate direction one from another and each being spaced at least 10° in an arcuate direction from an axis extending diametrically through the plane of the plate 22 and perpendicular to a plane containing the triangular configuration. Each of the two slots 24, 25 is of a longitudinal dimension which is approximately 30° of arc.

The shaft 11 and the head 19 are connected one to another by means of a pair of cooperating screw threaded members 26, 27 each comprising a dome-shaped cap having a central polygonal recess 28 for receiving an alien key. A base of one of the members 27 is provided with a tapped boss 29 and an eccentrically mounted pin 30, a longitudinal axis of which extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the boss 29, the head of the member 27 being provided with a pair of diametrically opposed tapped apertures, one of which is shown at 31 , each of which is spaced through 90° from the pin 30. The tapped apertures 31 each receive a corresponding one of a pair of grub screws, one of which is shown at 32. A base of the other of the members 27 is provided with a threaded shaft 33 for engagement with the tapped bore of the boss 29.

Assembly of the shaft 11 and head 19 is effected by locating the plate 22 of the body stay 21 of the head 19 between the spaced parallel plates 14, 15 of the shaft 11. The boss 29 of the member 27 then is inserted through the centrally located apertures 15, 23 and 14 of the plates 13, 22 and 12, the orientation being such that the relative movement results in the pin 30 extending through the aperture 16 of the plate 15 and being located m the slot 24 of the plate 22.

The grub screws 32 then are threaded into the tapped apertures 31 of the member 27 and the tapped apertures 17, 18 of the plate 13 which are aligned with the apertures 31 of the member 27. The shaft 11 and the head 19 thus are connected one to another but are moveable relative one to another about an axis coaxial with a central longitudinal axis of the boss 29, the movement being restricted to 30° of arc determined by restriction of movement of the pin 30 in the slot 24.

When a golfer has adjusted to a satisfactory condition the angular position of the shaft 11 relative to the head 19, the golfer then secures the shaft 11 and the head 19 of the club 10 in the selected position by screwing the shaft 33 of the member 26 into the boss 29 of the member 27 so that the two members 26, 27 firmly secure the shaft 11 and the head 19 of the club one to another.

It will be appreciated that the club 10, when so adjusted, will suit a left handed golfer. A right handed golfer would initially rotate the shaft 11 of the club 10 on its central longitudinal axis through 180° from the position shown in Figure 2 and would arrange for the pin 30 to locate in the arcuate slot 25 of the plate 22 prior to carrying out the adjusting and tightening procedure.

However, it will also be appreciated that the invention provides a facility in a single club for angular adjustment of a shaft relative to a head for both left and right handed golfers. The face blade 20 is shown in more detail in Figure 5c and is provided with a planar front face 34 and a rear face 35. The front face 34 may be angled so that a lower edge is of the order of 1° to 2° further forward than an upper edge to provide a loft angle. The front face 34 may be provided with a surface finish which is polished, milled, chequered or of four-bar gate configuration. The blade 20 may be produced in various weight variants by machining the back face 25.

The face blades 20a and 20b differ from the face blade 20 in that the front faces 36 and 37 are convex, as shown in Figure 5e and 5f. The front face 37 of the face blade 20b is provided with a rubber insert 38 which is bonded to the front face 37.

The face blades 20, 20a and 20b may be formed of metal, such as brass, stainless steel, anodised aluminum or bronze. Alternatively, they may be formed of wood or Tufnol and are provided with recesses on a rear face 39 thereof for receiving inserts 40 for locating the face blade relative to the head 19, as shown in Figure 5d.

It will be appreciated that the triangular configuration of the head 19 provides a golf ball retrieving facility by ensuring that a triangular aperture formed by the head 19 is of sufficient dimension that the ball will become engaged within the aperture when located therein. If the ball is lying on a putting green, it can be retrieved by locating the club 10 so that the ball is below the head 19 and by applying downward force of the club 10 so that the ball wedges in the triangular aperture and remains therein while the club 10 is lifted. A golf ball which has been retrieved in this manner is shown at 41 in Figure 6.

It will also be appreciated that the triangular head 19 allows for equalisation of a golfer's hitting power to be centred in the interchangeable face blade 20, 20a and 20b thereby reducing the risk of facial twist and ensuring a more accurate line to the hole for the ball.

Claims

1. A golf putting club (10) comprising a shaft (11), a head (19) and means for connecting the head (19) to a lower end portion of the shaft (11 ) characterised in that the shaft (11 ) is adjustable relative to the head (19) in an arc contained in a plane perpendicular and transverse to a direction of movement of the head (19) when the club (10) is used for putting a golf ball.

2. A club (10) as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the means comprises a plate 21 carried by the head (19) and a device (24, 25, 30) for securing the lower end portion of the shaft (11) relative to the plate (21).

3. A club (10) as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in that the plate (21) is provided with an arcuate slot (24,25) and the lower end portion of the shaft (11) carries a pin (30) adapted to locate in the slot (24,25).

4. A club (10) as claimed in Claim 3 characterised in that the plate (21) is provided with two said arcuate slots (24, 25).

5. A club (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the head (19) is provided with an aperture for receiving a golf ball.

6. A club (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the head (19) is of substantially triangular configuration in a plane containing the said direction of movement, an apex of the configuration being a rearward extremity of the head when a golf ball is addressed by the club.

7. A club (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that there is provided a plurality of interchangeable face blades (20, 20a, 20b).