Reconfigurable golf putter

Abstract

A golf putter has a head with a shaft and a handle thereon. The putter has a faceplate with a plurality of counterweights removably anchored thereto in a spaced relationship with the faceplate and with one another. The number and shape of the counterweights can be varied by choosing the appropriate counterweight from a selection of counterweights. The faceplate has a putting surface on a side opposite to the counterweights and the counterweights can be mounted on either side of the faceplate to make the putter left-handed or right-handed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a golf putter having a head with a faceplate that is symmetrical about a vertical plane through the faceplate with a plurality of counterweights removably mounted on the faceplate on a side opposite to a putting surface. Both the number of counterweights and the side of the faceplate on which the counterweights are removably mounted are variable. In a method of constructing a golf putter, a user can mount the counterweights on either side of the faceplate to provide a right-handed or left-handed putter.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Golf putters are known and it is known to have counterweights located on the putter. In the Nelson application published as 2003/0073510, there is described a customizable golf putter head which may be selected from a plurality of differently configured face members and back bodies. The hosel is also variable and can be selected from a plurality of hosels. The back body is mounted onto the rear surface of a face member. The face member has a cavity formed in the rear surface and a back body is mounted on the rear surface with a mating section that is partially disposed within the cavity.

Previous putters do not have counterweights that are spaced apart from one another or the number and size of counterweights is not variable by a user or the putter cannot be converted by a user from a right-handed putter to a left-handed putter or vice-versa as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf putter having a faceplate with a putting surface thereon and a plurality of counterweights located adjacent to the faceplate where the counterweights are spaced apart from one another and spaced apart from the faceplate. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a putter having a faceplate that is symmetrical about a vertical centerline so that an identical faceplate can be used for a right-handed or a left-handed putter.

A golf putter comprises of a head and a shaft, the shaft having a faceplate with a putting surface thereon. The faceplate has at least two counterweights located adjacent to the faceplate on a side opposite to the putting surface. Counterweights are spaced apart from the faceplate and from one another, the faceplate having a hosel thereon. There is a shaft connected to the hosel and the shaft has a handle on the free end thereof.

A method of constructing a golf putter for use by a user has a head with a faceplate, which is capable of having a plurality of counterweights thereon. The counterweights are spaced apart from the head and spaced apart from one another and are held on the faceplate by screws. There is a plurality of counterweights available for selection of different sizes and shapes. The head has a hosel that is connected to a shaft with a handle. The method comprises, commencing with the putter unassembled, choosing at least two counterweights and installing the counterweights on the side of the faceplate with two anchors to attach the counterweights to the faceplate in a spaced relationship with one another and with the faceplate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a right-handed putter having three light counterweights thereon;

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a head of the right-handed putter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the head of the right-handed putter having four heavy counterweights thereon;

FIG. 4 is an exploded heel view of the head of the putter of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a heel view of the head of the putter of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of a light counterweight;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a heavy counter weight;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the faceplate;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view from a heel of the faceplate;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of a parallel sided spacer;

FIG. 111 is an end view of the spacer of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a rear view of a tapered spacer;

FIG. 13 is an end view of a head of the tapered spacer of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a lower end of a sleeve;

FIG. 15 is a front view of a left-handed putter;

FIG. 16 is a front view of a right-handed putter;

FIG. 17 is a rear view of a left-hand putter; and

FIG. 18 is a rear view of a right-handed putter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a putter 2 has a shaft 4 and a head 6. The shaft 4 comprises a handle 8 at a free end 10 thereof. The shaft 4 is conventional. The head 6 comprises a faceplate 12 with three light counterweights 14 mounted on a rear thereof and a putting surface 16 (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) located on a front of said faceplate 12. The light counterweights 14 are connected to the faceplate 12 by a pair of screws 18. A hosel 20 extends upwardly from the faceplate 12 and is connected to the shaft 4 by a sleeve 22. A tapered spacer 24 is mounted on the screws 18 between the faceplate 12 and the nearest counterweight 14 and spacers 25 are mounted between each of the counterweights 14 so that the light counterweights 14 are spaced apart from the faceplate and from one another by a distance substantially equal to a thickness of the spacers 24, 25. While one spacer is shown to be located between the faceplate and the light counterweight 14 nearest to the faceplate as well as between each of the counterplates, more than one spacer can be used at each location to increase the spacing between the counterweight nearest to the faceplate and the faceplate and between each of the counterweights or the spacers can be thicker or thinner than the spacers shown in the drawings. The screws 18 screw into threaded openings (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the faceplate 12 and the counterweights 14 are held in place on the screws 18 by an enlarged free end 26. The faceplate 12 has a putting surface (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) on a side opposite to the counterweights. When the putter is right-handed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the putting surface is on the left-hand side of the face plate when viewed from the handle. Notches 27 in the faceplate 12 and in the light counterweights 14 assist in centering the putting surface on the golf ball (not shown).

In FIG. 3, a putter 30 has four heavy counterweights 28 that are connected to the faceplate 12 in place of the light counterweights 14 (not shown in FIG. 3). The same reference numerals are used in FIG. 3 as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2 to describe those components that are identical. The screws 29 in FIG. 3 are longer than the screws 18 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the sleeve 22 has an upper end with a cylindrically shaped interior to receive the shaft 4. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the same reference numerals are used as those described in FIGS. 1 to 3 for those components that are identical. The difference between the putter 30 shown in FIG. 4 and the putter 2 shown in FIG. 5 is that the putter 2 of FIG. 5 has three light counterweights 14 thereon and the putter 30 of FIG. 4 has heavy counterweights 28 installed thereon replacing the three light counterweights 14. Except for the type and number of counterweights, the putters 2, 30 are essentially the same. The faceplate 12 is identical in both FIGS. 4 and 5. The faceplate 12 and the counterweights 14, 28 have notches 27 (not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) that are located to assist a user in properly centering the putter on a golf ball (not shown). It can be seen from the dotted lines in FIGS. 4 and 5 that the faceplate 12 has threaded openings 32 therein to receive the screws 18, 29. The screws 18 of FIG. 5 and the screws 29 of FIG. 4, the enlarged free end 26 of the screws 18, 29 and threaded openings 32 are all drawn schematically and the screw threads are not shown. The counterweights 14, 28 also have openings 34 (shown by dotted lines) therein that are aligned with the openings 32 of the faceplate 12. The openings 34 in the counterweights 14, 28 are not threaded. Similarly, each of the spacers 24, 25 has an opening 36 (shown by dotted lines) therein. The openings 36 are also not threaded so that the counterweights 14, 28 and the spacers 24, 25 can slide freely onto the screws 18. The length of the screws 18, 29 is chosen to correspond to the number of counterweights, 14, 28. The putting surface 16 can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Preferably, the putting surface 16 converges from bottom to top as shown on both sides. Preferably, the taper ranges from 3° to 5°. The spacer 24 has a tapered inner surface that converges from top to bottom to fit against an inner surface of the faceplate 12.

The faceplate 12 has two sides 37, 38. Either side 37, 38 can be the putting surface 16 of the putter depending on whether the counterweights are mounted on the side 37 or on the side 38. When the counterweights are mounted on the side 37, the putter is a right-handed putter and the side 38 is the putting surface 16. When the counterweights are mounted on the side 38, the putter is a left-handed putter and the putting surface 16 is on the side 37.

In FIGS. 6 to 9, the same reference numerals are used to refer to those components that are identical to the components shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. By comparing FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be seen that the light counterweights 14 have a U-shaped cavity 40 therein. Further, the counterweights 14 have a smaller area than the faceplate. By comparing FIGS. 6 and 8, it can be seen that the heavy counterweights 28 have a size and shape that is substantially the same as the faceplate 12. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the shape of the putting surface 16. As best seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the faceplate 12 is symmetrical about a longitudinal centre axis and the putting surface 16 can be on either side of the faceplate 12 (ie. opposite to the side on which the counterweights are installed). The hosel 20 has an upper end 42.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, there is shown a front view and an end view respectively of the spacer 25. In FIGS. 12 and 13 there is shown a front view and end view respectively of the spacer 24 with the tapered inner surface. Alternatively, the spacers can be washers mounted on each screw between the counterweights.

In FIGS. 10 to 14, the same reference numerals are used as those used in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 9 for those components that are identical. A lower end 44 of the sleeve 22 has a square opening 46 to correspond to the upper end 42 of the hosel 20.

In FIGS. 15 and 17, a left-handed putter 2 is shown. The left-handed putter 2 differs from the right-handed putters 2 shown in FIGS. 16 and 18 only in that the counterweights are mounted on the opposite side. The screws 18, 29 are chosen to have a length so that they preferably do not protrude out of the openings 32 on the side that is the putting surface. The putter of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 can be converted from a right-handed putter to a left-handed putter simply by removing the screws and moving the counterweights from one side of the faceplate. The same faceplate is used for both right-handed putters and left-handed putters. Other lengths of screws in addition to the screws 18, 29 shown are preferred for other configurations of the putter with more or fewer counterweights.

In FIGS. 15 to 18, the same reference numerals are used for those components that are identical. The faceplate 12 of the putter 2 has a heel 48 and a toe 50. The faceplate 12 preferably has a tapered putting surface as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but the putting surface could be non-tapered so that the faceplate would have equal thickness throughout. Preferably, the hosel is integral with the remainder of the faceplate 12. The screws 18 are anchors for said counterweights. Other types of anchors can be used. The putter can be made from various materials and the head is preferably made from metal, metal alloys, synthetics or composite materials.

Claims

1. A golf putter comprising a head and a shaft, said shaft having a faceplate with a putting surface thereon, said faceplate having at least two counterweights located adjacent to said faceplate on a side opposite to said putting surface and being spaced apart from said faceplate and from one another, said faceplate having a hosel thereon, with a shaft connected to said hosel, said shaft having a handle at a free end thereof.

2. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said counterweights are substantially parallel to said faceplate.

3. A putter as claimed in claim 2 wherein said counterweights are removably connected to said faceplate.

4. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said counterweights have a smaller area than an area of said faceplate.

5. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least two sets of counterweights, a first set of counterweights having an area that is substantially the same as said faceplate and a second set of counterweights having an area that is substantially smaller than said faceplate.

6. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said faceplate has a heel and a toe, said hosel being located on said faceplate near said toe, each side of said faceplate being capable of being said putting surface, said faceplate and said hosel being symmetrical about a vertical centerline through said faceplate, said faceplate having openings therein to receive anchors for said counterweights, said anchors and said counterweights being mountable on either side of said faceplate so that said putter can be assembled as a right-handed putter or a left-handed putter depending on which side of said faceplate said counterweights are mounted.

7. A putter as claimed in claim 6 wherein said putting surface changes from one side of said faceplate to another depending on whether said putter is assembled to be a right-handed putter or a left-handed putter.

8. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least three counterweights on said putter.

9. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least four counterweights on said putter.

10. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein all of the counterweights mounted on said putter at any given time are identical to one another.

11. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the counterweights has a different shape from the rest of the counterweights.

12. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said counterweights are installed on one side of said faceplate or an opposite side of said faceplate for either a right-handed or left-handed stroke.

13. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said counterweights are spaced apart from said faceplate and spaced apart from one another by spacers mounted on anchors that connect said counterweights to said faceplate.

14. A putter as claimed in claim 13 wherein said anchors are screws and said spacers are slidably mounted on said screws, said screws each having an enlarged free end thereon to secure said counterweights on said faceplate.

15. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said counterweights have a similar shape to said faceplate.

16. A putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said counterweights have a cutaway portion to create a cavity in said counterweights.

17. A golf putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said faceplate has two opposing sides that are tapered to converge from bottom to top.

18. A putter as claimed in claim 17 wherein an inner surface of said spacer that is immediately adjacent to said faceplate is tapered to converge from top to bottom.

19. A golf putter as claimed in claim 1 wherein a center of gravity of said putter can be varied by changing the number or shape of the counterweights.

20. A method of constructing a golf putter for use by a user, said putter having a head with a faceplate, said faceplate being capable of having a plurality of counterweights thereon, said counterweights being spaced apart from one another and being held on said faceplate by screws, there being a plurality of counterweights available for selection of different sizes and shapes, said head having a hosel connected to a shaft on a handle, said method comprising, commencing with said putter unassembled, choosing at least two counterweights of a desired size and shape, and installing the counterweights on a side of the faceplate with two anchors to attach the counterweights to the faceplate in a spaced relationship with one another and with the faceplate.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 including the steps of choosing screws of appropriate length for the number and thickness of counterweights and spacers to be installed so that the counterweights and spacers are held tightly on the faceplate.