Face-forward putter type golf club

Abstract

We offer putter-type golf clubs. [Solution] A putter-type golf club includes a club head body having a striking surface at a position in front of the face. The golf club further includes a shaft and a club grip at the upper end of the shaft. The golf club further includes a hosel connecting the shaft to the club head body at the heel area in front of the club head body. The hosel is oriented in a reversed onset position located behind the striking surface. The hosel includes a hosel arm extending upward from the club head body. The hosel also includes an onset extension extending backward from the hosel arm. The hosel further includes a shaft connector at the upper end of the hosel at the rear end of the onset extension. The shaft connector is oriented at an angle such that it is aligned toward the center of mass of the club head body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following description relates to a golf putter, and more specifically to a shafted putter in which the shaft is attached to reduce the twist of the putter head during the execution of a putting stroke.

Background Art

[0002] During the play of a golf game, the importance of putting the ball into the cup is a major goal. Each stroke on the green counts the same as a 300-yard drive or an accurate iron shot from yards away, even a tap-in from 1 inch (25.4 mm) or 2 inches (50.8 mm). Therefore, in the golf club manufacturing industry, there has been a continuous development of technological improvements in putter-type golf clubs, especially to give golfers a great chance to become the winner of the game on the green, where controlling distance and direction is essential for achieving a better score. Among the technological innovations, attempts have been made to construct a putter-type golf club that maintains stability during the putting stroke and minimizes face rotation.

[0003] Most conventional golf putters have the shaft attached such that the putter face takes a certain angle with respect to the line considered to be the target for hitting the golf ball at a neutral or static balanced support position (i.e., a position balanced on a fulcrum). Therefore, the golfer needs to apply force to the putter to align the putter face with the set target and maintain face alignment throughout the path of the putting stroke.

[0004] In other words, when a golfer executes a putting stroke, they swing the putter back and forth to make contact with the golf ball, causing it to roll toward a set target line toward the cup. Typically, this stroke varies depending on the golfer's skill, as well as various characteristics of the putting instrument, such as the shaft angle, the weight of the putter head, and the position of the hosel connecting the shaft to the putter head. A typical conventional putter rotates naturally at various angles due to inertia and gravity, so the golfer needs to manipulate the face angle at which it contacts the golf ball to maintain the face on the target line toward the cup.

[0005] For over 50 years, numerous attempts have been made to create putters that reduce face angle rotation by aligning the shaft with the center of mass of the putter head. In this alignment position, the weight of the putter head is evenly distributed between the heel area and the toe area, as well as in the front-to-back direction. As a result, the tendency for the putter to rotate during the putting stroke is significantly reduced. This type of shaft is commonly referred to as a low-torque shaft or no-torque shafting. As mentioned above, this type of putter requires the shaft to be aligned with the center of mass of the putter head in order to minimize the rotation of the putter head during the putting stroke.

[0006] In many early putter designs, the shaft rose straight up from a narrow blade-type putter head that was only slightly wider than the shaft itself. Examples of these putter designs include the early Acushnet BullsEye putters introduced in the mid-1970s, or the PLOP putters introduced in the late 1990s. More recent versions of this type of shaft have been used with large mallet-style putter heads that have the center of mass behind the face. With these putters, the putter shaft angle needs to be tilted backward to intersect with the center of mass, while the hands need to be in the traditional position in front of the face at address. Since the hands usually rotate around the body during a forward stroke, this forward hand position is a common drawback that results in a pull putt, or a tendency for the ball to go to the left of the target. Examples of these putters include the Edel putter, Odyssey BackStryke, and the Toe-Up putter line.

[0007] One solution to the problem of a forward-leaning shaft is to use a wide grip with angled shaft holes. This allows the hands to be in a more neutral, vertical position. However, putters with these backward-leaning shafts tend to be optically difficult to aim at a set target. Recent examples of this structure include the LAB Directed Force putter and the Evnroll Zero putter, both designed by the applicant of this invention. Another putter brand called Axis One has solved the problem of a forward-leaning shaft by incorporating a weight body that extends forward of the putter face, and correspondingly concentrating mass in the toe area of ​​the putter head, thereby allowing the shaft to align in the conventional vertical direction. While this configuration allows the shaft to be vertical, it has a considerable forward weight body, which is very limiting from a putter head design perspective.

[0008] U.S. patents also describe other putter designs and structures of interest. U.S. Patent No. 5,078,398 to Reed et al. discloses a putter having a slant neck hosel that directs the shaft directly towards the center of gravity. U.S. Patent No. 11,779,815 to Billings discloses a putter having a replaceable hosel. U.S. Patents No. 5,160,141 to Crews, No. 5,382,019 to Sneed, No. 5,630,766 to Granelli, Korean Patent No. 20220001111, and Taiwanese Patent No. 202402360 all describe examples of golf putters in which the hosel is connected behind the face at the rear portion of the putter head. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2024 / 0165466 to Parsons et al. describes a putter having a double-bent hosel that orients the shaft axis toward the toe side of the center of gravity of the putter head. U.S. Patent No. 3,549,300 to Pelz describes a putter with the shaft attached to the toe. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 5,078,398 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 11,779,815 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 5,160,141 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 5,382,019 [Patent Document 5] U.S. Patent No. 5,630,766 [Patent Document 6] Korean Patent No. 20220001111 Specification [Patent Document 7] Taiwan Patent No. 202402360 Specification [Patent Document 8] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2024 / 0165466 [Patent Document 9] U.S. Patent No. 3,549,300 [Overview of the Initiative]

[0010] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a putter-type golf club includes a club head body having a front face, a rear face, a heel area, a toe area, a top surface, and a bottom sole, and a center of gravity located in the front third of the club head body with respect to the distance between the front face and the rear face, and between the toe area and the heel area. The golf club also includes a shaft whose upper end is connected to the club grip, and which extends longitudinally about a longitudinal axis of the shaft oriented to intersect the club head body at a position between the center of gravity and the toe area. The golf club further includes a hosel connecting the shaft to the club head body. The hosel includes an upwardly extending arm connected to the top surface of the club head body in the heel area and between the front face and the rear face. The hosel also includes an onset extension connected to the upper end of the upwardly extending arm and extending backward away from the upwardly extending arm in a direction parallel to the top surface of the club head body. The hosel further includes a shaft connector at the rear end of the onset extension, which connects the shaft to the hosel at a position where the entire shaft is positioned behind the plane defined by the forward hitting surface of the club head body.

[0011] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a putter-type golf club includes a club head body having a striking surface in a face-forward position and a center of mass. The golf club also includes a shaft. The golf club further includes a club grip at the upper end of the shaft. The golf club further includes a hosel connecting the shaft to the club head body in the heel area at a forward position of the club head body. The hosel is oriented in a reversed onset position located behind the striking surface. The hosel includes a hosel arm extending upward from the club head body. The hosel also includes an onset extension extending backward from the hosel arm. The hosel further includes a shaft connector at the upper end of the hosel at the rear end of the onset extension. The shaft connector is oriented at an angle such that it is aligned toward the center of mass.

[0012] The final claims of the specification explicitly identify and claim the subject matter that is considered to be the present invention. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when interpreted in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a putter-type golf club according to the manner of disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a putter-type golf club. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a front view of a putter-type golf club. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a top view of a putter-type golf club. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a bottom view of a putter-type golf club. [Figure 6] Figure 1 shows the toe side of a putter-type golf club. [Figure 7] Figure 1 shows the heel side of a putter-type golf club. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of a putter-type golf club with a different type of club head. [Figure 9]Perspective view of a putter-type golf club having a different type of club head. [Figure 10] Perspective view of a putter-type golf club having a different type of hosel and shaft connection. [Figure 11] Toe-side view of a putter-type golf club showing the relative orientation of the club head, hosel, shaft, and grip.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] The embodiments disclosed in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Although specific embodiments are described and illustrated in detail herein, those skilled in the art of golf clubs will readily recognize additional embodiments that are not specifically described or illustrated but are included within the present invention.

[0015] In FIGS. 1 to 7, a golf putter 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The putter 100 includes a club head body 102 having a center of gravity referred to as CG (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the club head body 102 is what is called a mallet-type club head body. However, it should be understood that many other types of club head body types can benefit from the embodiments disclosed herein. In other words, the specific shape of the illustrated club head body 102 is merely exemplary, and other shapes well-known in the golf putter industry can be substituted. As a non-limiting example, it is also possible to include a further smaller club head body 302 (e.g., a blade-type club head body) as shown in FIG. 8, or to utilize a further larger mallet club head body 402 as shown in FIG. 9. It should be understood that any type of club head body can be provided as an embodiment according to the present invention. Therefore, in this specification, only the embodiment of the club head body 102 in FIGS. 1 to 7 will be described in detail.

[0016] The club head body 102 includes a frontal striking face 104, a heel area 106, a toe area 108, a top surface 110, and a bottom sole 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 102 is formed by a front mass 114 in the front third of the club head body 102, a toe side wing 116, a heel side wing 118, and a rear cavity 120 including an alignment line 122. The rear surface 124 of the putter 100 is formed at each end of the toe side wing 116 and the heel side wing 118. In the structure of this putter 100, the center of gravity CG is located at the center of the club head body 102, which is approximately midway between the heel 106 and the toe 108, and on the side of the forward mass 114 closer to the striking surface 104 with respect to the direction from the striking surface 104 to the rear surface 124. In some embodiments, the center of gravity CG of the club head body 102 is located in the front third of the mass of the club head body 102 with respect to the direction of the striking surface 104 and the rear surface 124.

[0017] The putter 100 offers a "face-forward" configuration by connecting the shaft 126 and grip 127 (Figure 11) such that the conventional shaft 126 is positioned behind the striking surface 104. This specification discloses a face-forward configuration that does not obstruct the view of the striking surface 104, the top surface of the club head body 102, and the cavity 120 when a golfer performs a putting stroke using the putter 100 in the usual manner.

[0018] The putter 100 includes a hosel 130 having a specific shape known in the industry as a plumber's neck. The hosel 130 is positioned close to the heel area 106 of the club head body 102, behind the striking surface 104, and between the striking surface 104 and the rear surface 124, so that the putter 100 takes a face-forward configuration. In some embodiments, the hosel 130 is connected to the club head body 102 at the heel-ward one-fourth of the distance between the heel end 106 and the toe end 108 of the club head body 102. The face-forward configuration means that when the putter 100 is in its normal position before and during the putting stroke, the striking surface 104 is in front of the shaft 126 and the hosel 130. The position of the hosel 130, and the connection of the shaft 126 to the hosel 130, aligns the shaft 126 toward the center of gravity CG of the club head body 102, typically at a position where the golfer can see the entire upper view of the club head body 102, including all alignment features shown on the club head body 102. Furthermore, the position of the hosel 130 allows the entire striking surface 104 to be seen without obstruction from the heel area 106 to the toe area 108.

[0019] The hosel 130 is formed by an upward-extending arm 132, which is permanently connected to the upper surface of the club head body 102, or is a separate piece attached to the heel area 106 of the frontal mass 114 of the club head body 102 using conventional attaching hardware, such that the hosel arm extends upward from the club head body 102. In some embodiments, the upward-extending arm 132 extends substantially parallel to the plane defined by the frontal ball striking face 104 of the club head body 102. To further define the orientation of the upward-extending arm in some embodiments of this disclosure, the upward-extending arm 132 of the hosel 130 extends substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the club head body 102.

[0020] The hosel 130 further includes a rearward-facing onset extension 134 connected to the upper end of an upward-extending arm 132 that is generally parallel to the top surface of the club head body 102.

[0021] The hosel 130 also includes a shaft connector 136 at the rear end of the onset extension 134 for connecting the shaft 126 to the hosel 130 at a position where the entire shaft 126 is positioned behind the plane defined by the forward striking surface 104 of the club head body 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft connector 136 is a shaft socket that positions the shaft 126 further behind the upward-extending arm 132 and the striking surface 104 of the hosel 130. The shaft socket 136 is tilted so that the shaft 126 connected within the shaft socket 136 faces toward the center of gravity CG of the club head body 102, so that the putter 100 maintains stability and direction during the execution of a putting stroke.

[0022] Specifically, the hosel 130 is constructed to align the shaft socket 136 and the shaft 126 connected thereto with the center of gravity CG in the heel-to-toe direction and the center of gravity CG in the anterior-posterior direction. In some embodiments, the shaft 126 is slightly angled toward the toe area 108. For example, the shaft 126 extends longitudinally around its longitudinal axis, which is oriented to intersect the club head body 102 at a position between the center of gravity CG and the toe area. In some embodiments, the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the shaft 126 and the club head body 102 is located at a length generally shorter than the diameter of the shaft 126, or within a distance of 0.5 inches (12.7 mm). The position of the shaft 126 slightly toward the toe 108 of the putter allows the putter 100 to be in a static and balanced face-forward position, particularly when balanced on the pivot point that balances the putter weight on both sides of the pivot point.

[0023] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 9, the shaft 126 is connected to the hosel 130 using a socket 136. As shown in Figure 10, it will be understood that the shaft 126 can be connected by a cylindrical pin structure 150. In such embodiments, the pin 150 fits into the shaft opening and is permanently secured therein. Figure 10 shows a putter-type golf club head 202 that uses a cylindrical internal pin connector 150 on a hosel 230 designed to fit into and connect to a round shaft opening. Since the other structures of this club head body 202 are the same as or identical to those of the club head body 102 described herein, no redundant description will be made in relation to the club head body 202.

[0024] As shown in Figure 11, the golf grip 127 of the putter 100 includes a central cavity 160 that extends longitudinally from the club grip 127, the central cavity 160 extending around a central axis, which is not oriented obliquely to the club grip 127. The longitudinal axis of the shaft 126 is parallel to the central axis of the club grip 127 when positioned within the central cavity 160. By aligning the longitudinal axis of the shaft 126 with the central axis of the central cavity 160, any standard club grip can be interchangeably substituted on the putter 100. This is in contrast to other putters that require an obliquely oriented central cavity within the club grip when attempting to provide a low-torque or no-torque putter. The hosel structure 130 disclosed herein enables the ability to use various club grips with the putter 100.

[0025] Embodiments disclosed herein provide a unique shaft and hosel structure that aligns with and points toward the center of gravity CG of the clubhead to maintain the clubface of the golf club in a stable position toward a set target throughout the entire execution of a conventional putting stroke by a golfer playing a game of golf. Because the face position toward the target is stable, the golfer does not need to apply force to the putter in an attempt to keep the putter face square to the target during the putting stroke, thus eliminating actions that could cause the golf ball to miss the target. This face position is achieved using the disclosed hosel structure, which is oriented in an onset position opposite to the striking surface of the putter.

[0026] As disclosed herein, the shaft is generally aligned in a straight line toward the center of gravity (CG) of the putter head in the front-to-back direction, but slightly offset toward the toe from the center of mass in the heel-to-toe direction. This shaft orientation creates a putter balance where the heel of the putter head is slightly heavier. To elaborate, when the putter shaft is balanced at a pivot point located between the putter head and the grip, a balanced putter orientation results in the shaft and hosel structure creating a heel-down, toe-up orientation, allowing the putter face to rotate counterclockwise until it faces forward, making it easier to aim at the target or target line during a conventional putting stroke.

[0027] When using a putter that is revealed during the putting stroke to strike the golf ball, the putter head face is initially pointed towards the target because the golfer's hands are positioned behind the putter face, while the putter head face is in a balanced position. Because the putter is in a balanced position, the tendency for the putter to rotate is eliminated, making it easier to maintain constant alignment with the set target line throughout the entire putting stroke. As a result of this constant and consistent alignment, the clubhead path of the golfer executing the putting stroke towards the desired target, typically the cup, becomes extremely accurate, and given that the putter maintains a balanced and stable position, the golfer does not need to adjust or manipulate the putter to keep the face square to the target during the putting motion.

[0028] In the disclosed embodiment, the shaft extends upward in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the striking surface of the club head body so as not to tilt forward or backward of the putter head, thereby positioning the golfer's hand behind the striking surface of the putter and directly above the center of gravity CG of the putter.

[0029] In the disclosed embodiments, the hosel is oriented backward, i.e., in an on-set position, rather than in a conventional offset position that positions the shaft in front of and facing the putter striking surface. The on-set position of the hosel is oriented backward in a novel direction compared to conventional designs in which the shaft socket is oriented in front of the putter face, so the reverse orientation of the hosel allows the shaft to align with the center of gravity (CG) of the putter head while keeping the golfer's hands behind the striking surface. This novel reverse offset is precisely oriented to produce a dual effect. First, the hosel body secures the shaft so that it is in a position perpendicular to the putting surface and does not tilt forward as in conventional offset plumber neck hosel structures. Second, the hosel structure allows the shaft to align toward the center of mass of the putter head. The toe-side alignment of the shaft makes the heel side of the putter head heavier and the toe side lighter. As a result, instead of the face pointing straight up like in conventional face-balanced putters, or exhibiting varying degrees of toe hang like in other conventional, unface-balanced putters, the putter hangs straight down when balanced, with the face pointing perpendicular to the target. This unique hosel structure can be understood as aligning the shaft connector and shaft directly toward the center of gravity (CG) while maintaining a balanced putter head orientation during the putting stroke.

[0030] The shaft orientation disclosed herein is such that the leading edge of the striking surface extends forward of the shaft connection point with the putter head body, and the face faces forward when the shaft is balanced at the pivot point. Furthermore, the inverted plummer type hosel body is compatible with and can accommodate a variety of conventional and unconventional putter head shapes.

[0031] The putters disclosed herein advantageously provide a shaft configuration having a hosel structure that aligns the striking surface of the putter forward toward a set target when oriented in a statically balanced state.

[0032] Furthermore, the disclosed shaft configuration facilitates the hosel aligning the shaft with the center of gravity (CG) of the putter head during a conventional putting stroke, thereby maintaining a constant alignment of the putter's hitting surface.

[0033] Furthermore, this disclosure provides a golf putter having a shaft orientation perpendicular to the striking surface of the putter head.

[0034] Furthermore, this disclosure provides putters that accommodate various head shape designs.

[0035] Furthermore, this disclosure provides a putter in which the shaft does not interfere with the alignment line of the putter head.

[0036] Furthermore, this disclosure provides a putter in which the face is positioned in front of the shaft.

[0037] Furthermore, this disclosure provides a putter structure that allows for the attachment of shafts for both right-handed and left-handed shaft putters.

[0038] Furthermore, this disclosure provides a putter structure that enables various conventional shaft and grip configurations.

[0039] Although the present invention has been described in detail in relation to only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the present invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the present invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, modifications, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements that are not described herein but are in accordance with the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, although various embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that aspects of the present invention may include only some of the embodiments described. Accordingly, the present invention should not be considered to be explicitly limited by the foregoing description.

Claims

1. It is a putter-type golf club, A club head body including a front hitting surface, a rear surface, a heel area, a toe area, a top surface, and a bottom sole, wherein the club head body has a center of gravity located at the front one-third of the club head body relative to the distance between the front hitting surface and the rear surface, and between the toe area and the heel area, A shaft connected to the club grip at its upper end, extending longitudinally around its longitudinal axis which is oriented to intersect the club head body at a position between the center of gravity and the toe area, A hosel that connects the shaft to the club head body, The hosel includes, In the heel area, and between the front hitting surface and the rear surface, there is an upward-extending arm connected to the upper surface of the club head body, An onset extension is connected to the upper end of the upward-extending arm and extends backward in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the club head body, away from the upward-extending arm; A shaft connector at the rear end of the onset extension connects the shaft to the hosel at a position where the entire shaft is positioned behind the plane defined by the front hitting surface of the club head body, A putter-type golf club characterized by including [a certain feature].

2. The putter-type golf club according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft is positioned to intersect the club head body at a point one-third of the way forward of the mass of the club head body.

3. The putter-type golf club according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft is positioned to intersect toward the toe area at a distance not more than 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) away from the center of gravity of the club head body.

4. The putter-type golf club according to claim 1, wherein the shaft connector is a shaft socket defined by an opening sized to receive the shaft and connect the shaft to the hosel.

5. The putter-type golf club according to claim 1, wherein the shaft connector is a pin sized to fit onto the shaft, and the shaft covers and fits onto the pin when connected to the hosel.

6. The putter-type golf club according to claim 1, wherein the hosel is further defined as a Plumber's neck oriented on-set and backward.

7. The putter-type golf club according to claim 1, further comprising a central cavity extending in the longitudinal direction of the club grip, wherein the central cavity extends around the central axis of the club grip, the central axis is not oriented obliquely to the club grip, and the longitudinal axis of the shaft is parallel to the central axis of the club grip.

8. The putter-type golf club according to claim 1, wherein the upward-extending arm of the hosel extends parallel to the plane determined by the forward hitting surface of the club head body.

9. The putter-type golf club according to claim 1, wherein the upward-extending arm of the hosel extends perpendicularly to the upper surface of the club head body.

10. The putter-type golf club according to claim 1, wherein the hosel is connected to the club head body at a position one-quarter of the distance between the heel and toe of the club head body, closer to the heel.

11. It is a putter-type golf club, A club head body having a striking surface at the face-forward position and a center of mass, The shaft and The club grip at the upper end of the shaft, The club head body includes a hosel that connects the shaft to the club head body at the heel area in the front position of the club head body, The hosel is oriented in a reversed onset position located behind the striking surface, The hosel includes a hosel arm extending upward from the club head body, an onset extension extending backward from the hosel arm, and a shaft connector located at the rear end of the onset extension, which is at the upper end of the hosel. A putter-type golf club characterized in that the shaft connector is oriented at an angle aligned toward the center of mass.

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