1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to putting devices used in golf, and, more particularly, to a putter a shaft inserted at the rear of a putter head and including a pair of guiding side members.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known in the art, a number of different kinds of golf clubs, and especially putters, are known. Relevant to these golf putters, the prior art can generally be grouped into two categories: putters having use-oriented aids and putting stroke training devices.
Putters having use-oriented aids are disclosed in the art as a means to assist the golfer in using a typical putter, or as an improved putter for use during a game of golf. For instance, an attachment to the shaft of a putter that aids in aligning the golf club at a right angle to a line between the ball and the hole. Others attach to the shaft of a putter and deploy to provide a guide for the putter user. The addition of an indicator surface allows for contrast with the putting surface and helps to avert the problem of the golfer""s eyes attempting to focus simultaneously on the ball, the club face, and the pointer of the putter guide concurrently and thereby losing sight of the pointer device.
Another problem that occurs from the use of a typical putter is the turning of the putter head while in use by the golfer. This putting error is caused by the imperceptible turning of the shaft of the putter as the head of the putter approaches or comes into contact with the ball. For example, and illustrating potential problems using a right-handed putter, the slight turning of the putter shaft may result in the toe of the putter passing ahead of the heel of the putter, thereby shutting the putter face and causing the line of the putt to start to the left of the target line. Conversely, slight turning of the putter shaft may result in the heel passing the toe, resulting in an opened putter face and causing the line of the putt to start to the right of the target line. Numerous attempts have been offered to correct this problem.
Other methods for eliminating putting errors caused by the turning of the putter shaft during use are known. For instance, a putter device that includes an internal spinning gyroscope device inside the putter head to provide sufficient momentum necessary to prevent any xe2x80x9cturningxe2x80x9d of the shaft when the putter head approaches or comes in contact with the ball. However, a putter made in accordance with such references is associated with several drawbacks, the most significant of which is that a putter made in such a manner would appear to not meet all of the requirements and rules of the U.S. Golf Association (USGA), the governing body and policy maker for professional and amateur golf in the United States.
Additionally, many putt-training devices are disclosed in the prior art that attempt to assist a golfer in developing proper, consistent habits that generally result from practice conducted with the proper information feedback.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related.
The following patents disclose the ornamental design for a golf putting head:
U.S. Pat. No. D 422,328 issued in the name of Lannoch;
U.S. Pat. No. D 422,041 issued in the name of Bradford;
U.S. Pat. No. D 421,471 issued in the name of Moldovan;
U.S. Pat. No. D 412,729 issued in the name of Woodward;
U.S. Pat. No. D 410,716 issued in the name of Bendo et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. D 408,878 issued in the name of Patten;
U.S. Pat. No. D 399,274 issued in the name of Bradford;
U.S. Pat. No. D 389,539 issued in the name of Moore;
U.S. Pat. No. D 385,324 issued in the name of Ubaney; and
U.S. Pat. No. D 367,909 issued in the name of Lee.
The following patents disclose the design and function for a golf putting training head:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,920, issued in the name of Hong, discloses a golf club for putting and driving a golf ball, wherein the club has a reflective surface to properly direct the alignment of a golfer""s eyes to an image of the ball, and also including a leveling device in the head of the club so as to indicate when the putter head is properly aligned in a horizontal orientation;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,332, issued in the name of Fisher, discloses a golf putter head with a cushion face, wherein the face of the putter receives a polyurethane insert or pad at a ball impact position;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,262, issued in the name of Bandiero, discloses a putter trainer having a substantially xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d-shaped head with a space provided between two sidewalls so as to receive a golf ball, thereby forcing a golfer to extend the putting follow through approximately five to eight inches in a straight line and providing a simulation of the proper follow through necessary to successfully putt;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,667, issued in the name of Clark et al, discloses a golf ball putter that distributes the mass of the putter head along the line of the putt because the putter shaft is connected to the putter head at a point centrally of the length and width of the head; and
U.S. Pat. No. 2,472,312, issued in the name of Parrish, discloses a putter directed to impart top spin to a struck golf ball, thereby eliminating the possibility of the golf ball drifting from the intended putting line, wherein the putter has a horizontally elongated head with a pair of legs vertically depending from the ends of the head down to the putting surface.
Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method of improving putting skills and assisting a golfer in practicing a number of aspects of putting. In particular, a need has been felt for providing a golf putter that accommodates disabled golfers, including golfers that require the use of wheel chairs. Golfers that use wheel chairs often have difficulty properly aligning themselves over the ball, and then making the traditional back-and-through pendulum-type putting stroke used by a majority of golfers. A putter having a rear mounted shaft disposed at an appropriate angle allows one in a wheel chair to position themselves behind the ball, and properly align the putter face and the ball with the golf hole along a more accurate line. Furthermore, the rear mounted shaft allows one to comfortably pull the club back and follow through, thereby averting the potential twisting and turning on the lower back that a standard pendulum putting stroke requires, which might be especially stressful on a person using a wheel chair.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved golf putting apparatus.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved golf putting apparatus including offering an alternative putting stroke, wherein the golfer stands facing the intended line of the putt and placing a back-and-through stroke on the putter.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an improved golf putting apparatus offering an alternative putting stroke to golfer""s that require the use of a wheel chair, thereby minimizing the twisting and turning of the back.
Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a golfing putter is provided comprising a shaft, a putter head and a pair of runner guides. The shaft is a linearly elongated shaft inserted at the rear of the puffer head and disposed at angle to accommodate golfers seated in a wheel chair. The top of the putter head includes an alignment indicia, thereby providing a means for properly aligning the center of the puffer face with the center of the golf ball and on the correct intended putting line. The pair of runner guides are positioned at the bottom of the putter head, intermediate to the putter head and the putting surface, and run parallel to the direction of the shaft and the intended putting line. The rearmost portion of the runner guides includes a rounded surface so as to elevate the putter face, thereby minimizing drag on the putter as it is stroked and impart overspin to the struck golf ball. To use the golfing putter, a golfer is positioned so that the golfer""s dominant arm (or putting arm) is substantially in line with the intended putting line. The user""s arm will grasp the shaft and align the putter face with the intended putting line. The user will then draw the shaft away from the golf ball and then push the shaft into and through the position of the golf ball and toward the golf hole. The putting motion is similar to the striking motions used in games like shuffleboard, billiards, slow-pitch softball or pitching horseshoes.
An advantage of the present invention includes reduction and/or elimination of wear and tear inflicted on putting surfaces caused by the need to realign the golfer when using a wheel chair.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it is specifically adapted for personal use because of the light weight components and the use of inexpensive materials.
Another advantage of the present invention is the reduction of lower back strain for a golfer using a wheel chair, eliminating the necessary reciprocating twists and turns required to perform a pendulum-type putting motion.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the adaptability of the apparatus for use by persons having a variety of disabilities, including arm or leg amputation, blindness, paraplegia, or musculoskeletal disorders, among others.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is conformity of the present invention to the equipment guidelines established and enforced by the United States Golf Association (USGA), especially within the division that oversees the development and implementation of equipment for disabled golfers.