Stand-alone Putter with Auxiliary Support Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional putters are unable to stand alone due to their design, making it difficult for golfers to align the putter correctly and maintain consistent posture, which affects the execution of putting strokes.
Innovation Solution
A stand-alone putter design featuring a heavy putter head and a lightweight shaft and grip combination, along with auxiliary ground-engaging support members at the heel to stabilize the putter and a unique visual alignment system for proper alignment, allowing the putter to stand freely and maintain ideal lie and loft angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional putter design with steel shafts and standard weighting is used, then the putter can be held and controlled by the golfer, but the putter is unable to stand alone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the weight distribution and center of gravity location of the putter head. The putter head is designed with a heavy weight (at least 14 ounces) and the center of gravity is positioned within one inch of the sole face, creating a stable configuration that allows the putter to stand alone while maintaining control during use.
2Stability of the object's composition
If prior art stand-up putters are designed to stand alone, then the putter can be left unattended for alignment, but they are often cumbersome and poorly balanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the complexity issue by precisely controlling the center of gravity position within one inch of the sole face and maintaining specific weight ratios. This parameter optimization allows the putter to stand alone without being cumbersome, as the balanced weight distribution naturally positions the center of gravity to provide both stability and ease of handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The putter design enables self-service by allowing the putter to automatically assume its proper standing position and orientation without requiring external support or adjustment. The inherent center of gravity positioning causes the putter to self-correct and stabilize in the desired configuration when placed on the ground.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the putter head is made heavy to enable standing alone, then the putter can be stabilized, but the overall weight may affect putting stroke execution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by setting the putter head weight to at least 14 ounces while keeping the shaft and grip combination light (not exceeding 3 ounces). This creates an optimized weight distribution where the heavy head provides stability for standing alone, while the light shaft minimizes the overall weight impact on stroke execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the putter into distinct weight components: a heavy putter head (at least 14 ounces) for stability and a light shaft-grip combination (not exceeding 3 ounces) for ease of movement. This segmentation allows each component to serve its specific function - the heavy head stabilizes the putter when standing alone, while the light shaft enables smooth stroke execution.
Data Source
AI summary
A stand-alone putter structured and weight balanced enabling the putter to stand upright in a favorable lie and loft position on a putting surface without any outside support formed of a club head, a shaft connected to the club head, and having a gripping area at the upper end of the shaft. The club head is conventional in design and includes a ball striking face, a rear surface, a heel, a toe, an upper surface and a bottom sole structured to serve as a first ground support surface for the putter in a conventional use position with the bottom sole lying on a putting surface. The club head further includes at least one additional ground engaging support member extending outwardly from the club head forming a second ground support member to maintain the putter in a stand-alone position on the putting surface.