Mini-face blade putter with variable weighting

Abstract

A golf putter head ( 10, 110 ) having an elongate flat blade ( 16, 116 ) for contacting a golf ball. The elongate flat blade ( 16, 116 ) is of narrow thickness. The putter head ( 10, 110 ) has a contact area between the blade ( 16, 116 ) and a golf ball which is linear, and of narrow width. The contact area on the golf ball is horizontal in orientation and usually spans a dimple diameter. The golf putter head ( 10, 110 ) has small and large weight inserts ( 17 A, 17 B, 117 B) which can be secured in slots ( 24, 25 ) on the bottom of the blade ( 16, 116 ) to allow for various weighting configurations.

1 . A golf putter head comprising an elongate flat blade with a width defined between a front edge used for striking a golf ball in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground and an opposed back edge, a length defined between a toe edge extending from the front edge to the back edge of the blade and an opposed heel edge, and a thickness defined between a top side bordered by the edges and an opposed bottom side, the top side of the blade having an opening into which a shaft can be affixed and the bottom side having two or more slots extending along the width of the blade adapted to receive weight inserts.  
   
   
       2 . The putter head of  claim 1  wherein the blade further comprises projections in the top side of the blade bordered by ledges which protrude along the width of the blade.  
   
   
       3 . The putter head of  claim 2  having a toe projection disposed towards the toe edge and a heel projection disposed towards a heel edge of the putter head.  
   
   
       4 . The putter head of  claim 3  wherein the ledge of the toe projection protrudes from the top side of the blade near an intersection of the toe edge and the front edge and extends to the back edge of the blade, and the heel projection protrudes from the top side of the blade near an intersection of the heel edge and the front edge and extends to the back edge of the blade.  
   
   
       5 . The putter head of  claim 3  wherein the toe projection and the heel projection on the top side of the blade are essentially rectangular and extend along the width of the blade.  
   
   
       6 . The putter head of  claim 1  wherein the toe end and heel end are convexly curved outward from front edge to back edge.  
   
   
       7 . The putter head of  claim 1  wherein the front edge is sharp, pointed, flat, or curved from the top side to the bottom side of the blade.  
   
   
       8 . The putter head of  claim 7  wherein the front edge is curved with a radius of curvature less than a radius of the golf ball.  
   
   
       9 . The putter head of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the front edge of the blade is less than about 0.25 inch (6.4 mm).  
   
   
       10 . A golf putter head comprising: 
 (a) an elongate flat blade with a width defined between a front edge used for striking a golf ball in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground and an opposed back edge, a length defined between a toe edge extending from the front edge to the back edge of the blade and an opposed heel edge, and a thickness defined between a top side bordered by the edges and an opposed bottom side, the top side of the blade having an opening into which a shaft can be affixed and the bottom side having two or more slots extending along the width of the blade; and    (b) two or more weight inserts, each weight insert removably secured in one of the slots so as to engage the slot by one or more fastening means attached in holes in the slots in the bottom side, of the blade, wherein the weight inserts provide the putter head various weighting configurations.    
   
   
       11 . The putter head of  claim 10  wherein the blade further comprises projections in the top side of the blade bordered by ledges which protrude along the width of the blade.  
   
   
       12 . The putter head of  claim 11  having a toe projection disposed towards the toe edge and a heel projection disposed towards a heel edge of the putter head.  
   
   
       13 . The putter head of  claim 12  wherein the ledge of the toe projection protrudes from the top side of the blade near an intersection of the toe edge and the front edge and extends to the back edge of the blade, and the heel projection protrudes from the top side of the blade near an intersection of the heel edge and the front edge and extends to the back edge of the blade.  
   
   
       14 . The putter head of  claim 12  wherein the toe projection and the heel projection on the top side of the blade are essentially rectangular and extend along the width of the blade.  
   
   
       15 . The putter head of  claim 10  wherein the toe end and heel end are convexly curved outward from front edge to back edge.  
   
   
       16 . The putter head of  claim 10  wherein the front edge is sharp, pointed, flat, or curved from the top side to the bottom side of the blade.  
   
   
       17 . The putter head of  claim 16  wherein the front edge is curved with a radius of curvature less than a radius of the golf ball.  
   
   
       18 . The putter head of  claim 10  wherein the thickness of the front edge of the blade is less than about 0.25 inch (6.4 mm).  
   
   
       19 . A golf putter head comprising: 
 (a) an elongate flat blade with a width defined between a front edge used for striking a golf ball in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground and an opposed back edge, a length defined between a toe edge extending from the front edge to the back edge of the blade and an opposed heel edge, and a thickness defined between a top side bordered by the edges and an opposed bottom side, the top side of the blade having an opening into which a shaft can be affixed and the bottom side having two or more slots extending along the width of the blade;    (b) two or more weight inserts, each weight insert removably secured in one of the slots so as to engage the slot by one or more fastening means attached in holes in the slots in the bottom side of the blade, wherein the weight inserts provide the putter head various weighting configurations; and    (c) a runner provided on the bottom side of the blade wherein during putting, the runner acts to space the bottom side of the blade from the ground.    
   
   
       20 . The putter head of  claim 19  wherein the runner extends between the front edge and the back edge of the blade.  
   
   
       21 . The putter head of  claim 19  wherein the runner is a convexly rounded semicircular protrusion extending from the blade.  
   
   
       22 . The putter head of  claim 19  wherein the blade further comprises projections in the top side of the blade bordered by ledges which protrude along the width of the blade.  
   
   
       23 . The putter head of  claim 22  having a toe projection disposed towards the toe edge and a heel projection disposed towards a heel edge of the putter head.  
   
   
       24 . The putter head of  claim 23  wherein the ledge of the toe projection protrudes from the top side of the blade near an intersection of the toe edge and the front edge and extends to the back edge of the blade, and the heel projection protrudes from the top side of the blade near an intersection of the heel edge and the front edge and extends to the back edge of the blade.  
   
   
       25 . The putter head of  claim 23  wherein the toe projection and the heel projection on the top side of the blade are essentially rectangular and extend along the width of the blade.  
   
   
       26 . The putter head of  claim 19  wherein the toe end and heel end are convexly curved outward from front edge to back edge.  
   
   
       27 . The putter head of  claim 19  wherein the front edge is sharp, pointed, flat, or curved from the top side to the bottom side of the blade.  
   
   
       28 . The putter head of  claim 27  wherein the front edge is curved with a radius of curvature less than a radius of the golf ball.  
   
   
       29 . The putter head of  claim 19  wherein the thickness of the front edge of the blade is less than about 0.25 inch (6.4 mm).  
   
   
       30 . A golf putter comprising: 
 (a) a shaft having a proximal end and an opposed distal end;    (b) a grip affixed upon the proximal end of the shaft;    (c) an elongate flat blade with a width defined between a front edge used for striking a golf ball in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground and an opposed back edge, a length defined between a toe edge extending from the front edge to the back edge of the blade and an opposed heel edge, and a thickness defined between a top side bordered by the edges and an opposed bottom side, the top side of the blade having an opening into which the distal end of the shaft is affixed and the bottom side having two or more slots extending along the width of the blade; and    (d) two or more weight inserts, each weight insert removably secured in one of the slots so as to engage the slot by one or more fastening means attached in holes in the slots in the bottom side of the blade, wherein the weight inserts provide the putter various weighting configurations.    
   
   
       31 . The putter of  claim 30  wherein the blade further comprises projections in the top side of the blade bordered by ledges which protrude along the width of the blade.  
   
   
       32 . The putter of  claim 31  having a toe projection disposed towards the toe edge and a heel projection disposed towards a heel edge of the putter head.  
   
   
       33 . The putter of  claim 32  wherein the ledge of the toe projection protrudes from the top side of the blade near an intersection of the toe edge and the front edge and extends to the back edge of the blade, and the heel projection protrudes from the top side of the blade near an intersection of the heel edge and the front edge and extends to the back edge of the blade.  
   
   
       34 . The putter of  claim 32  wherein the toe projection and the heel projection on the top side of the blade are essentially rectangular and extend along the width of the blade.  
   
   
       35 . The putter of  claim 30  wherein the toe end and heel end are convexly curved outward from front edge to back edge.  
   
   
       36 . The putter of  claim 30  wherein the front edge is sharp, pointed, flat, or curved from the top side to the bottom side of the blade.  
   
   
       37 . The putter of  claim 36  wherein the front edge is curved with a radius of curvature less than a radius of the golf ball.  
   
   
       38 . The putter of  claim 30  wherein the thickness of the front edge of the blade is less than about 0.25 inch (6.4 mm).  
   
   
       39 . A method of assembling a golf putter head comprising: 
 (a) providing a putter head having an elongate flat blade with a width defined between a front edge used for striking a golf ball in an essentially linear contact area horizontal to the ground and an opposed back edge, a length defined between a toe edge extending from the front edge to the back edge of the blade and an opposed heel edge, and a thickness defined between a top side bordered by the edges and an opposed bottom side, the top side of the blade having an opening into which a shaft can be affixed and the bottom side having two or more slots extending along the width of the blade, and two or more weight inserts adapted to be secured into one of the slots so as to engage the slot by one or more fastening means attached in holes in the slots in the bottom side of the blade, wherein the weight inserts provide the putter head various weighting configurations;    (b) arranging two or more of the weight inserts in a desired configuration; and    (c) securing the weight inserts in place with the fastening means.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein a small weight insert is secured in the slot towards the back edge of the blade.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39  wherein a large weight insert is secured in the slot towards the back edge of the blade.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39  wherein a large weight insert is secured in the slot towards the back edge of the blade and a small weight insert is secured in the slot towards the front edge of the blade.