Golf Putter Head and Club

Abstract

The invention provides a golf putter 100 having a putter head 1 and a shaft 3 in which the putter head has ball striking and side surfaces, 4 and 7 respectively, that are perpendicular to each other and to the ground when the head is in a ball-striking position. The side face extends rearwardly from the heel end 6 of the ball striking face, so that it faces a player facing the side of the club. The shaft extends upwardly from the head and towards the player passing through a plane that contains the plane of the side face. The head when in the ball striking position and when seen in plan view from above is preferred to be of substantially right angled triangular form. The putter head may be formed of a first plate-like member 13 bearing the ball striking face and a second plate-like member 14 bearing the side face. A gusset 16 may be provided between and secured to the members 13 and 14.

1 . A golf putter having a putter head, a shaft and a grip on the shaft wherein:
 (a) the golf putter head has a planar ball striking face extending between a toe end and a heel end thereof and a planar side face extending rearwardly from the striking face;   (b) the ball striking face and the side face lie respectively in first and second planes that are perpendicular to each other and that when the putter head is in a ball-striking position of the putter head are both substantially vertical;   (c) the second plane extends rearwardly from substantially the heel end of the ball striking face, and   (d) when the putter head is in said ball striking position the shaft extends upwardly and laterally through the second plane at a position above the side face.   
   
   
       2 . A golf putter according to  claim 1  wherein the putter head when in said ball-striking position thereof is substantially of right-angled triangular form as seen in plan view. 
   
   
       3 . A golf putter according to  claim 2  wherein the putter head when in said ball-striking position thereof lies substantially wholly within the space bounded by the first and second planes and a third vertical plane that is vertical, that intersects the first plane at an angle of A and that has a minimum distance from the line of intersection of the first and second planes of XsinA, where:
 X=1.15× the distance between the heel and toe ends of the ball striking face;   Y=1.15× the said length of the side face; and   A=tan −1 (Y/X).   
   
   
       4 . A golf putter according to  claim 2  wherein the side face has a length in a direction perpendicular to the ball striking face that is substantially the maximum allowable length for a putter head according to the applicable rule of the Rules of Golf. 
   
   
       5 . A golf putter according to  claim 2  wherein the side face has a length in a direction perpendicular to the ball striking face that is at least 60% of the width between the heel end and the toe end of the ball striking surface. 
   
   
       6 . A golf putter according to  claim 5  wherein the side face has a length in a direction perpendicular to the ball striking face that is at least 80% of the width between the heel end and the toe end of the ball striking surface. 
   
   
       7 . A golf putter according to  claim 6  wherein the side face has a length in a direction perpendicular to the ball striking face that is approximately the distance between heel and toe ends of the ball striking face. 
   
   
       8 . A golf putter according to  claim 2  wherein the side face has a length in a direction perpendicular to the ball striking face that equals the distance between heel and toe ends of the ball striking face. 
   
   
       9 . A golf putter according to  claim 2  wherein the ball striking face is a forward face of a plate-like first member and the side face is an outer face of a plate-like second member secured to the first member. 
   
   
       10 . A golf putter according to  claim 9  further wherein the putter head includes a gusset having first and second edges secured respectively to a rear face of the first member and to an inner face of the second member. 
   
   
       11 . A golf putter according to  claim 10  wherein the gusset is generally in the form of a right-angled triangle. 
   
   
       12 . A golf putter according to  claim 10  wherein the gusset extends substantially to a rear end of the second member and substantially to the toe end of the first member of the putter head. 
   
   
       13 . A golf putter according to  claim 10  further including a hosel secured to an upper face of the gusset of the putter head a lower end of the shaft being received in the hosel. 
   
   
       14 . A golf putter according to  claim 10  wherein a weight is secured to the upper or lower face of the gusset of the putter head. 
   
   
       15 . A golf putter according to  claim 9  wherein in manufacture the first and second members of the putter head are formed from plate or sheet material and secured to each other. 
   
   
       16 . A golf putter according to  claim 10  wherein in manufacture the first and second members and the gusset are formed from plate or sheet material and secured to each other. 
   
   
       17 . A golf putter according to  claim 2  wherein the putter head is integrally formed for example by forging or casting optionally with subsequent machining or by machining from solid. 
   
   
       18 . A golf putter according to  claim 2  wherein the putter head has an upward facing substantially planar surface that is at right angles to the planes of the ball striking face and the side face. 
   
   
       19 . A golf putter according to  claim 18  further including a hosel secured to the upward facing surface the shaft being received in the hosel. 
   
   
       20 . A golf putter according to  claim 2  having on an upward facing surface of the putter head at least one mark positioned to indicate a sweet spot of the putter head. 
   
   
       21 . A golf putter according to  claim 2  having on an upward facing surface of the putter head at least one mark positioned to indicate a direction perpendicular to the ball striking surface. 
   
   
       22 . A golf putter head having:
 a planar ball striking face extending between a toe end and a heel end thereof; and   a planar side face extending rearwardly from the striking face,   wherein
 (a) a first notional plane that includes the ball striking face and a second notional plane that includes the side face intersect in a right angle and in a ball-striking position of the putter head are both substantially vertical, and 
 (b) the said second plane extends rearwardly from substantially the heel end of the ball striking face, and 
 (c) when in the said ball striking position a shape that when seen in plan view is at least approximately that of a right angled triangle of which the ball striking and side faces form two sides. 
   
   
   
       23 . A golf putter head according to  claim 22  wherein the side face has a length in a direction perpendicular to the ball striking face that is substantially the maximum allowable length for a putter head according to the applicable rule of the Rules of Golf. 
   
   
       24 . A golf putter head according to  claim 22  wherein the side face has a length in a direction perpendicular to the ball striking face that is at least 60% of the width between the heel end and the toe end of the ball striking surface. 
   
   
       25 - 42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . A golf putter according to  claim 10  wherein the gusset extends substantially to a rear end of the second member or substantially to the toe end of the first member of the putter head. 
   
   
       44 . A golf putter according to  claim 20  wherein said mark is selected from the group consisting of a groove, an embossed line, and a ball outline. 
   
   
       45 . A golf putter according to  claim 22  wherein said mark is selected from the group consisting of a groove and an embossed line. 
   
   
       46 . A golf putter according to  claim 9  wherein the first and second members are secured to each other by a method selected from the group consisting of welding, brazing, and by the use of threaded fasteners. 
   
   
       47 . A golf putter according to  claim 9  wherein the first member has a formation thereon to which formation a hosel for a shaft of the putter is secured. 
   
   
       48 . A golf putter head according to  claim 24  wherein the side face has a length in a direction perpendicular to the ball striking face that is at least 80% of the width between the heel end and the toe end of the ball striking surface. 
   
   
       49 . A golf putter head according to  claim 48  wherein the side face has a length in a direction perpendicular to the ball striking face that is at least 100% of the width between the heel end and the toe end of the ball striking surface.