Golf Putter
A golf puffer has a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with its front end aligned behind the sweet spot. The rear end of the tube is open. This tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball. In addition, the tube typically has a diameter larger than that of a golf ball. The golfer's view of the cylindrical tube enhances the golfer's ability to correctly line up a putt by using the visual peripheral corridor created when the puffer is swung back and forth over the golf ball along the golfer's intended swing path prior to addressing and putting the golf ball.
Latest DDK, LLC Patents:
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of golf putters. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf putter having a cylindrical tube mounted behind the face of the puffer that produces an enhanced characteristic resonant sound when the sweet spot on the face of the putter strikes a golf ball.
2. Statement of the Problem
Golf is a game requiring a combination of physical, mental and emotional skills. Success in golf can be attained at many levels, from the beginning amateur winning a handicapped tournament to the PGA professional playing for millions of dollars. An accomplished golfer will combine inherent physical talent with a great deal of practice, proper instruction on the fundamentals of the game and course management, a set of golf clubs properly matched to his/her skill level and needs, and a positive mental attitude. Within the requisite list of necessities listed above, the intent of golf equipment manufacturers (e.g., makers of golf balls, golf clubs, training aids, shoes, clothing and other accoutrements) is to enhance a golfer's enjoyment of the game, as well as to provide the most advanced equipment that will help increase a golifer's chances to shoot a lower score.
Increased attention has been given in recent years to the putting portion of the game and to improving a golifer's ability to properly align himself prior to addressing the ball, while setting up to putt the ball, and during the execution of the putting stroke. Numerous alignment aids (in the form of training devices and so-called alignment systems built into actual putters) have been made claiming to produce more accurate putts, with varying degrees of success.
A proper putting stroke involves a fairly complex combination of visual, physical and auditory functions performed: (1) prior to puffing the ball; (2) when setting up to strike the ball during the putting stroke; and (3) finishing with the subsequent follow-through after contact is made. Consequently, a well-designed golf puffer should address these three functions in order to assist the golfer in all aspects of the putting stroke. The prior art has sought to address these three functions of the putting stroke in numerous ways, including the use of various shapes and sizes of the putter head, numerous varieties of sightliness a large number of weighting options (to enhance a more consistent pendulum swinging motion), different color schemes for visual support, myriad construction materials (e.g., steel, aluminum, ceramic, various polymers used for face inserts to change the feel when hitting the putt, titanium, copper, brass, and other materials), and design characteristics implemented to create a unique sound when striking the ball
Recent studies conducted by experts from some of the leading golf magazines have produced evidence that the sound of a golf club striking a golf ball and the ability of the golfer to know how well a ball has been struck are inextricably linked. Thus, by enhancing the sound made at contact during the swing, or puffing stroke, a golfer can better hear/feel how well the ball has been struck and what the result of that strike will be, even before the ball arrives at its resting position. Therefore, an improved USGA-conforming golf putter head design is desired that fully addresses the physical, visual and auditory elements of the putting stroke in a uniquely better way, so as to provide the golfer with the best possible chance for success when trying to make laterally-consistently accurate putts that travel the desired longitudinal distance.
3. Solution to the Problem
The present invention addresses this need in the prior art by providing a golf putter head that encourages the golfer's natural eye/hand/ear coordination to work in concert with the golfer's ability to more precisely judge speed and distance through the use of the golfer's peripheral vision so that, through practice, a consistently accurate stroke, with proper speed and distance control, can be produced. In particular, the golf putter face of the present invention produces a distinct sound when the golf ball is struck that resonates through an open cylindrical tube mounted behind the putter face to create a louder, more discernible sound which, when heard repeatedly, can be used by the golfer to better judge quality of contact, speed and distance control.
In addition, the cylindrical tube atop the golf putter head provides a natural peripheral visual corridor when swinging the putter back and forth along the intended line of the putt This corridor allows the golfer to establish that his intended line of contact is the same as the line of contact indicated by his practice swing plane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention provides a golf putter having a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with its front end aligned behind the sweet spot of the putter face. The rear end of the tube is open. This tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball. In addition, the tube typically has a diameter substantially larger than that of a golf ball. The golfer's view of the top of the tube enhances the golfer's ability to correctly line up a putt by using the visual peripheral corridor created when the putter is swung back and forth over the golf ball along the golfer's intended swing path prior to addressing and putting the golf ball.
These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention will be more readily understood in view of the following detailed description and the drawings.
The present invention can be more readily understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
A detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to
A cylindrical tube 12 with a full 360-degree circular cross-sectional shape is horizontally mounted behind the putter face. For example, the cylindrical tube 12 may be formed using any suitable material (e.g., titanium, carbon, steel, aluminum, zinc alloy, ceramic, plastic, and the like) and mounted on the support base 16 using any suitable adhering technique known to those skilled in the art (e.g., a screw, glue, welding, thermal bonding, etc.).
As best illustrated in
It should be noted that the cylindrical tube 12 remains visible to the golfer while swinging the putter. The cylindrical tube 12 assists in determining proper alignment prior to, and during, the putting stroke by virtue of the visual peripheral corridor created when visualizing the ball going through the tube as practice strokes are taken over the golf ball.
Optionally, the top of the putter face can include a ball-centering strip that is approximately the width of a regulation golf ball (1.68 inches), as depicted in
In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the top of the cylindrical tube 12 is less than 0.25 inches above the top of the putter head face, as required by USGA regulations for conforming putters. This is best illustrated in
The base 16 of the golf putter head in
It is to be understood that the foregoing illustrative embodiments have been provided for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the invention. Words used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. In addition, the beneficial features and embodiments described herein may not be realized by each and every rendition created under the scope of the present invention. Further, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular structure, materials or embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein. Rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the golf putter head 10 of the invention may be configured to include a variety of adjustable or optional weighting methods within the scope and spirit of the invention, and, therefore, such improvements or additional embodiments will also enjoy protection under the aforementioned claims.
Claims
1. A golf putter comprising:
- a putter face having a sweet spot for optimally hitting a golf ball; and
- a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with a front end aligned behind the sweet spot and an open rear end, wherein said tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball.
2. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the tube further comprises a sighting window in the upper portion of the tube and a visual marker on the bottom interior of the tube, wherein proper alignment of the putter is indicated when the visual marker is visible through the sighting window.
3. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the rear end of the tube is tapered from top to bottom and is beveled.
4. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the tube has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of a golf ball.
5. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical tube is visible to a golfer to provide a visual peripheral corridor when the putter is swung back and forth.
6. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the putter face further comprises a wide lower portion and a narrower upper portion.
7. A golf putter comprising:
- a puffer face having a sweet spot for optimally hitting a golf ball; and
- a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with:
- (a) a front end aligned behind the sweet spot;
- (b) an open rear end wherein said tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball; and
- (c) a portion visible to a golfer to provide a visual peripheral corridor when the putter is swung back and forth.
8. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the tube further comprises a sighting window in the upper portion of the tube and a visual marker on the bottom interior of the tube, wherein proper alignment of the putter is indicated when the visual marker is visible through the sighting window.
9. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the rear end of the tube is tapered from top to bottom and is beveled.
10. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the tube has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of a golf ball.
11. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the putter face further comprises a wide lower portion and a narrower upper portion.
12. A golf putter comprising:
- a putter face having a sweet spot for optimally hitting a golf ball; and
- a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with:
- (a) a front end aligned behind the sweet spot;
- (b) an open rear end wherein said tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball;
- (c) a slot extending along the top of the tube; and
- (d) a visual marker on the bottom interior of the tube, wherein proper alignment of the putter is indicated when the visual marker is visible through the slot.
13. The golf putter of claim 12 wherein the rear end of the tube is tapered from top to bottom and is beveled.
14. The golf putter of claim 12 wherein the tube has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of a golf ball.
15. The golf putter of claim 12 wherein the cylindrical tube is visible to a golfer to provide a visual peripheral corridor when the putter is swung back and forth.
16. The golf putter of claim 12 wherein the putter face further comprises a wide lower portion and a narrower upper portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 25, 2006
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Applicant: DDK, LLC (Lakewood, CO)
Inventors: Douglas Eugene Meier (Lakewood, CO), Keith Timothy Decker (Grand Junction, CO), Donald Michael Ligrani (Fruita, CO)
Application Number: 11/552,664
International Classification: A63B 53/00 (20060101);