WO2005102467A1

WO2005102467A1 - Golf putter

Info

Publication number: WO2005102467A1
Application number: PCT/AT2005/000139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Klaus Lindner
Original assignee: Komperdell Sportartikel Gesellschaft M.B.H.
Priority date: 2004-04-27
Filing date: 2005-04-21
Publication date: 2005-11-03
Also published as: DE202004006647U1; ATE395112T1; DE502005004123D1; EP1740274A1; EP1740274B1

Abstract

A golf putter head (1) has a base (2), a cover surface (3), a hitting surface (4), a receptacle (5) for a shaft and an optical positioning system (6). The optical positioning system (6) comprises at least two marks (9, 7, 12, 15) sighted with one eye by the golf player, who moves his head until the marks (9, 7, 12, 15) sighted by his eye optically overlap and his head is in the correct position. The sum of the distance (A) between the central point (10) of the marks (9, 7, 12, 15) of the positioning system (6) and the radius (R) of a golf ball (11) and of the distance (Y) between the golf ball and the hitting surface (4) in the address position essentially corresponds to the average distance (X) between the eyes of a person.

Description

Golf putter

The invention relates to a golf putter, in particular a golf putter, which has an optical positioning device which enables the golfer to correctly align his head in relation to the ball and the face of the golf putter.

Moving the golf ball over the green into the hole, which is only about 10 cm in diameter, is one of the greatest challenges of golf. For amateur golfers in particular, it is therefore very important to find a way to properly align themselves and, in particular, the head relative to the golf putter, its face and the ball in order to achieve a high hit rate.

Various embodiments of golf putters are known from the prior art, which have target devices for correct alignment and sighting of the ball. For example, a club head for a golf putter is known from US 2003/0144075 AI, which has a target device. The club head comprises several direction finding and visualization elements, for example several parallel edges to be brought to congruence, lines of sight for the direction of the shot and several triangulation elements in order to enable the hole to be targeted precisely and the direction of the shot to be calculated as accurately as possible.

Furthermore, from EP 0400 278 AI a club head for a golf putter is known, which comprises a device for correct centering of the golf putter relative to the ball. A line is provided on the putter head which is used to align the club face of the club head at right angles relative to the golf ball.

A golf putter is also known from US Pat. No. 6,394,910, which is designed in such a way that it enables the golfer to align the head relative to the club head and the ball. The direction finders are provided by clearly distinguishable, differently colored surfaces on the club head, which simulate two lines that coincide for the viewer's eye, though there are no directly visible markings.

A disadvantage of the known golf putters is, in particular, that on the one hand the various alignment procedures are complicated and / or the target devices and markings on the golf putters are inadequate and accordingly the hit rate is not particularly high.

It is the object of the present invention to present a putter head which enables a simple possibility for the correct positioning of the head of the golfer relative to the golf ball and the face of the golf putter, in order to increase the hit rate when the ball is punched.

The object is achieved by a golf putter with the features of claim 1.

Further advantageous design options of the golf putter according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained in the description below. Show it:

1 is a schematic view of the response position,

2 shows a schematic representation of correctly positioned markings and possible deviations,

3 and 4 different views of a first embodiment of a putter head according to the invention,

5 and 6 different views of a second embodiment of a putter head according to the invention, and

7 and 8 different views of a third embodiment of a putter head according to the invention. 1 shows a schematic representation of a response position for a putter head 1 designed according to the invention in relation to the correctly positioned head of a golf player.

In addition to looking at the position of the ball relative to the hole, the bumps in the green and a calculation of the probable line of movement of the golf ball 11, the putting procedure includes, above all, the correct alignment of the golf player relative to the golf ball 11. This is referred to as the response or response position , The putter head 1 should be able to be aligned in such a way that the left eye of the golfer in the case of right-handers or the golfer's right eye in the case of left-handers is positioned perpendicularly above the golf ball 11.

An optical positioning device 6 formed on the putter head 1 is designed such that after taking up the response and fixing a first mark 9 made on the putter head 1 with the right eye for right-handers or with the left eye for left-handers (when the hand is closed) other eye) the

Head of the golfer is aligned so that on the one hand the first mark 9 and a second mark 7, 12, 15, which is also placed on the putter head 1, are made to coincide and, on the other hand, the left eye of the golfer for right-handers or the right eye of the left-hander Golfer player is positioned directly above the center of the golf ball 11.

The calculation of the dimensions of the putter head 1 according to the invention is based on the consideration that the mean eye distance X in humans is approximately 66 ± 5 mm. As a result, as can be seen from FIG. 1, a sum of distances between a center 10 of the marking 9 and a center 16 of the golf ball 11 is also fixed to this value. Since the golf ball 11 has a defined diameter of 42 mm, the center 16 of the golf ball 11 is ideally at a distance R of 21 mm from a striking surface 4 of the putter head 1. However, since the golf ball 11 must not touch the club face 4 in response, a distance Y, which should be as small as possible should be included in the calculation.

At the same time, the center 10 of the marking 9 is at a distance A from the striking surface 4 of the putter head 1. A total distance X between the center 10 of the marking 9 and the center 16 of the golf ball 11 thus results from the sum of the values A, Y and R. This total value X in turn corresponds to the average human eye distance of approx. 66 ± 5mm. At a constant radius R of the golf ball 11 and in the response position of an average distance Y of the golf ball 11 from the striking surface 4 of the putter head 1 of approximately 3 + 2 mm, the distance A between the center 10 of the marking 9 and the striking surface 4 is accordingly approximately 45 ± 5 mm ,

The distance A is measured in the shortest distance (perpendicular to the striking surface 4). Accordingly, an optical positioning device 6 according to the invention for correctly positioning the head of the golfer over the putter head 1 and the golf ball 11 can be fixed independently of the shape of the putter head 1. According to the above, the optical positioning device 6 can be integrated into any putter head 1.

The optical positioning device 6 has at least two markings 9 and 7, 12, 15, which are approximately the same size and identical in shape and are vertically spaced apart in the response position. Due to the vertical spacing of the markings 9 from one of the markings 7, 12 or 15 in the viewing direction, they can be made to coincide with one another by simple sighting, like the one in FIG. 2 for two circular markings 9 and 12 for a second exemplary embodiment shown below Putter head 1 designed according to the invention is shown schematically.

The middle representation in FIG. 2 shows the correct coverage of the two markings 9 and 12, so that only the mark 12 facing the golfer's eye is visible, whereas the four Representations grouped around the middle representation in FIG. 2 show the sight of the optical positioning device 6 in the event of deviations from the correct head position of the golfer. In each case, part of the mark 9 further away from the golfer's eye is visible next to the mark 12 closer to the golfer's eye.

The optical positioning device 6 thus offers the golfer a simple and effective possibility of checking his head position relative to the golf ball 11.

Preferred exemplary embodiments for putter heads 1 according to the invention, which are shown schematically in FIGS. 3 to 5, are explained below.

The putter heads 1 are made of any material and can in particular be designed like conventional putter heads and provided with the measures according to the invention.

The putter heads 1 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 for right-handed people. However, the models shown can also be designed for left-handers by moving the socket. The exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 has no preferred orientation, here the shaft can be attached as desired.

3 and 4 show a schematic, perspective illustration and a schematic top view of a first embodiment of a putter head 1 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the putter head 1 is designed in the form of a so-called male putter. The putter head 1 comprises a sole 2, one

Cover surface 3, a striking surface 4 and a receptacle 5 for a shaft of the golf putter, not shown. In the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle 5 is designed as a recess into which the shaft can be inserted. The striking surface 4 can, as shown in the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, have a material-consistent surface or, for example, a so-called inset include various materials for improving ball contact.

The putter head 1 can be given the lowest possible center of gravity by arranging masses between the sole 2 and the cover surface 3 and can be balanced, for example, with a face-balanced effect.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the putter head 1 has the optical positioning device 6 already described above, which enables the golf player to correctly align his head relative to the putter head 1 and the golf ball 11. In the first exemplary embodiment, the optical positioning device 6 comprises a circular recess 7 in the cover surface 3 of the putter head 1 and, on a surface 8 of the sole 2 facing the cover plate 3, a circular marking 9, the diameter of which is smaller or at most equal to that of the recess 7 in the cover plate 3 is.

The head of the golfer is moved in such a way that the markings 7 and 9 sighted by the golfer's eye are optically covered, as already explained above in the description of FIG. 2. The golfer thus moves his head until he sees the markings 7 and 9 overlapping exactly (see the middle illustration in FIG. 2).

5 and 6 show a second exemplary embodiment of a putter head 1 designed according to the invention. FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration, whereas FIG. 6 shows a top view.

In the second exemplary embodiment, the optical positioning device 6 has a round marking 9, which in this case is arranged on a surface of the putter head 1. A circular surface 12, which forms the base surface of a truncated cone 13 standing on its smaller surface, is to be brought into optical alignment with the marking 9. The truncated cone 13 is arranged centrally on the marking 9, a distance X from a center 10 of the circular surface 12 to a center 16 of the golf ball 11, the through average human eye relief. In the present exemplary embodiment, the weight distribution to the sole 2 of the putter head 1 can take place, for example, by means of a plurality of frustoconical attachments 14 placed on the surface 8 of the putter head 1. This putter head 1 can also be balanced by a suitable weight distribution emphasizing the face.

7 and 8 show a third exemplary embodiment of a putter head 1 equipped according to the invention in the same representation as FIGS. 3 and 4. The putter head 1 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a box-like structure, in which above the marking 9 a disc 15 is arranged by means of webs 17, which is brought into optical alignment by moving the head of the golfer with the marking 9 on the surface 8 of the sole 2 facing the top surface 3. As in the previous exemplary embodiments, the distance X between the center 10 of the disc 15 and the center 16 of the golf ball 11 is identical to the mean eye distance X of the human being. Here, too, weights can be introduced between the sole 2 and the cover plate 3 of the putter head 1 in any desired manner and at any desired location in order to produce a face-balanced putter head 1 which is balanced with the face.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown and can be used for a large number of further putter shapes. In particular, all features of the individual exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another as desired.

In summary, an embodiment of the invention can be represented as follows:

A head 1 for a golf putter has a sole 2, a top surface 3, a striking surface 4, a receptacle 5 for a shaft and an optical positioning device 6. The optical positioning device 6 comprises at least two markings 9, 7, 12, 15 which are marked with a Golfer 's eye, the head of the golfer The golfer is moved until the markings 9, 7, 12, 15 sighted with one another visually cover one another and the correct position of the golfer's head has been assumed. The sum of the distance A from the center 10 of the markings 9, 7, 12, 15 of the positioning device 6 and the radius R of a golf ball 11 and the distance Y of the golf ball from the club face 4 in the response position essentially corresponds to the mean eye distance X of humans ,

Claims

Claims:

1. Putter head (1) for a golf putter, with a sole (2), a top surface (3), a striking surface (4), a receptacle (5) for a shaft and with an optical positioning device (6) which has at least two markings (9; 7, 12, 15), characterized in that the distance (A) of a center (10) of the markings (9; 7, 12, 15) from the face (4) increases by the radius (R) of a Golf ball (11) and the distance (Y) of the golf ball (11) from the club face (4) in a response position corresponds to the mean eye distance (X) of the person.

2. Putter head according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance (A) from the center (10) of the striking surface (4) is in the range from 42mm to 48mm and is preferably 45mm.

3. Putter head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distance (Y) of the golf ball (11) to the striking surface (4) in the response position is in the range from 1 mm to 5 mm and is preferably 3 mm.

4. Putter head according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the average eye relief (X) of the human being is in the range from 61 mm to 71 mm and is preferably 66 mm.

5. Putter head according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least two markings (9; 7, 12, 15) are vertically spaced apart in the response position.

6. Putter head according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least two markings (9; 7, 12, 15) can be brought optically to coincide.

7. utter head according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the markings (9; 7, 12, 15) are shaped identically.

8. Putter head according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the markings (9; 7, 12, 15) are circular.

9. Putter head according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the marking (7) in the form of a recess (7) in the top surface (3) of the putter head (1) is formed.

10. Putter head according to claim 9, characterized in that the marking (9) on one of the top surface (3) facing surface (8) of the sole (2) is arranged.

11. Putter head according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a center (10) of the recess (7) is arranged congruently over the center (10) of the marking (9).

12. Putter head according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the marking (9) on a surface (8) of the putter head (1) is arranged.

13. Putter head according to claim 12, characterized in that the marking (12) is designed in the form of a base (12) of a truncated cone (13) arranged on the surface (8) of the putter head (1).

14. Putter head according to claim 13, characterized in that a center (10) of the base (12) of the truncated cone (13) is arranged congruently over the center (10) of the marking (9).

15. Putter head according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the marking (15) is in the form of a disc (15) which is connected via webs (17) to the top surface (3) of the putter head (1).

16. Putter head according to claim 15, characterized in that the marking (9) on one of the top surface (3) facing surface (8) of the sole (2) is arranged.

7. Putter head according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that a center (10) of the disc (15) is congruent over the center (10) of the marking (9).