Adjustable weight putter

Abstract

An adjustable weight golf putter is provided with a body portion of a material of low specific gravity, for example aluminum, and a weighted cap, receivable in a longitudinal recess opening at the back extremity of the body portion. The weighted cap is formed of a material of high specific gravity, for example a tungsten-copper alloy, and has a weight which is at least more than 20%, and preferably more than 30% of the weight of the lighter body portion, concentrating the weight of the putter head toward the back and locating its center of gravity more than half way toward the back of the putter head. The weighted cap is secured by a threaded shaft engageable in a recess extension in the body. Optional weighted discs, of a high specific gravity material and each of a different weight, are threadedly engageable with the shaft and are usable in various combinations for optimal weight adjustment. The optional weights are applied in tight engagement with the weighted cap, to maintain weight concentration at the back.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to golf putters and more specifically to an improved form of putter head incorporating novel and advantageous means for concentrating weight near the back end of the putter, spaced well behind the ball-striking face, and also providing for an improved, simplified and effective arrangement for adjustably weighting the putter head to enable the putter to be optimized to the desires and abilities of the golfer. [0002] There are numerous examples in the prior art of putters incorporating features providing for adjustable weighting of the putter head. The Bushner U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,371, for example, discloses a putter head having one or more bores therein for receiving a rod, on which a weight is slideably mounted and secured in position by a set screw. The rod is contained within the putter head by means of a threaded plug. [0003] The D'Eath U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,740 discloses a putter head in which a longitudinal cavity in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The present invention provides an adjustable weight putter head which is easy to use and which, to the greatest practical extent, optimizes the weight balance of the putter by concentrating weight at the back extremity of the putter head, along the center line axis of the putter head. In accordance with the present invention, a putter head is provided in which the body is elongated in the ball-striking direction and is provided with a body cavity, at the back end extremity of the putter head, for the reception of an adjustable weighting assembly. The main body of the putter is formed of a lightweight material, typically aluminum but certain engineering plastics, such as Celcon, are suitable.

[0006] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a weighted cap, positioned at the back end extremity of the putter body, is formed of a high specific gravity material in relation to the material of the putter body itself. The weighted cap forms a substantial part of the weight of the overall putter head assembly so as to provide a maximized concentration of weight at a location as far behind the putter face as practicable. In this respect, the weighted cap advantageously has a weight which is more than 20%, and preferably more than one third the weight of the main putter head. In addition, the weighted cap incorporates a threaded shaft extending forwardly therefrom which can receive one or more of a plurality of disc-like weights, also formed of a high specific gravity material. Preferably, each of the weights has a different weight, such that by mounting some or all (or none) of the weights on the threaded shaft, a wide variety of weight combinations can be incorporated into the putter, so suit the golfer's desires. Significantly, the weights can be applied over the threaded shaft to be in abutting relation to the front face of the weighted cap, such that the assembly of the weighted cap and the disc-like weights concentrates the weight mass as far back in the putter as practicable.

Problems solved by technology

Many of these known concepts are largely unsuccessful as commercial products, either because they are complicated to work with, because they place the weight adjustment elements at locations that do not optimize the weight balance of the putter, and for other reasons.

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