USRE39472EExpiredUtility

Golf putter having improved marking

45
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jul 13, 1998Filed: Dec 22, 2003Granted: Jan 16, 2007
Est. expiryJul 13, 2018(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Stephen C. AhnSuh Y. Lee
A63B 53/0487A63B 53/0441
45
PatentIndex Score
3
Cited by
22
References
52
Claims

Abstract

A putter is precision machined to form a concave horizontal face from the heel to toe of the hitting face. The curvature of the concave horizontal face may range from an arc of a five circle to an arc of a one-feet radius circle with the center point at the center of the hole. Thus the putter has a curvature of the horizontal or striking face ranging from the reciprocal of five feet to the reciprocal of one foot. Also provided in accordance with the present invention is a marking on the club head of the putter, the marking serving to assist with both aiming and centering. The marking is an arc of a concentric circle of the golf ball in front of the putter face and has a radius of curvature which is a function of the radius from the center point of a golf ball abutting the striking face. The marking may be used on putters having regular, non-concave striking faces.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1. A golf putter comprising:
 a putter head, a hosel attached to the putter head, a shaft receiver on the hosel for receiving a shaft, the putter head having a heel portion at one end and a toe portion at the other end, a striking face, and a contoured top surface;  
 a marking formed on said contoured top surface, said marking having a straight line portion and a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature which is equivalent to a radius of curvature of a circle having a radius extending from an approximate center point of a regulation size golf ball to a point where said straight line portion bisects said curved portion of said marking when a golf ball is abutting said striking face.  
 
     
     
       2. The putter of  claim 1  wherein said marking is formed by an arc scored in the top of the club head. 
     
     
       3. The putter of  claim 2  wherein said arc is delineated by paint or other coloring. 
     
     
       4. The putter of  claim 1  wherein said marking formed by a raised portion on said contoured top surface. 
     
     
       5. The putter of  claim 1  wherein said marking is formed by contrasting color sections formed on said top surface. 
     
     
       6. The putter of  claim 1  wherein said marking is formed by a sunken portion. 
     
     
       7. The putter of  claim 1  wherein said marking is formed by a contoured arcuate portion. 
     
     
       8. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face;        wherein said marking includes a straight portion and a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature substantially equivalent to a radius of curvature of a circle having a radius extending from an approximate center point of a regulation size golf ball to a point where said straight portion bisects said curved portion when the golf ball is near or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       9. The putter head of  claim 8 , wherein said marking is formed by a scored portion. 
     
     
       10. The putter head of  claim 8 , wherein said marking is formed by a colored portion. 
     
     
       11. The putter head of  claim 8 , wherein said marking is formed by a raised portion. 
     
     
       12. The putter head of  claim 8 , wherein said marking is formed by a sunken portion. 
     
     
       13. The putter head of  claim 8 , wherein said marking is formed by a contoured arcuate portion. 
     
     
       14. The putter head of  claim 8 , wherein said marking is formed by contrasting color sections. 
     
     
       15. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by a scored portion;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a golf ball and substantially equivalent to a radius of curvature of a circle having a radius extending from an approximate center point of a regulation size golf ball to said curved portion when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       16. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by a colored portion;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a golf ball and substantially equivalent to a radius of curvature of a circle having a radius extending from an approximate center point of a regulation size golf ball to said curved portion when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       17. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by a raised portion;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a golf ball and substantially equivalent to a radius of curvature of a circle having a radius extending from an approximate center point of a regulation size golf ball to said curved portion when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       18. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by a sunken portion;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a golf ball and substantially equivalent to a radius of curvature of a circle having a radius extending from an approximate center point of a regulation size golf ball to said curved portion when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       19. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by contrasting color sections;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a golf ball and substantially equivalent to a radius of curvature of a circle having a radius extending from an approximate center point of a regulation size golf ball to said curved portion when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       20. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by a scored portion;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a regulation size golf ball and forming an arc of a circle that is substantially concentric around the golf ball when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near to or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       21. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by a colored portion;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a regulation size golf ball and forming an arc of a circle that is substantially concentric around the golf ball when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near to or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       22. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by a raised portion;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a regulation size golf ball and forming an arc of a circle that is substantially concentric around the golf ball when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near to or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       23. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by a sunken portion;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a regulation size golf ball and forming an arc of a circle that is substantially concentric around the golf ball when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near to or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       24. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking is formed by contrasting color sections;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a regulation size golf ball and forming an arc of a circle that is substantially concentric around the golf ball when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near to or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       25. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a striking face arranged between said heel and toe portions; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said striking face, wherein said marking includes a straight portion perpendicular to the striking face;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a regulation size golf ball and forming an arc of a circle that is substantially concentric around the golf ball when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near to or abutting said striking face.     
     
     
       26. The putter head of  claim 25 , wherein said marking is formed by a scored portion. 
     
     
       27. The putter head of  claim 25 , wherein said marking is formed by a colored portion. 
     
     
       28. The putter head of  claim 25 , wherein said marking is formed by a raised portion. 
     
     
       29. The putter head of  claim 25 , wherein said marking is formed by a sunken portion. 
     
     
       30. The putter head of  claim 25 , wherein said marking is formed by a contoured arcuate portion. 
     
     
       31. The putter head of  claim 25 , wherein said marking is formed by contrasting color sections. 
     
     
       32. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a flat striking face extending from said heel portion to said toe portion; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said flat striking face;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a golf ball and substantially equivalent to a radius of curvature of a circle having a radius extending from an approximate center point of a regulation size golf ball to said curved portion when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near or abutting said flat striking face.     
     
     
       33. The putter head of  claim 32 , wherein said marking is formed by a scored portion. 
     
     
       34. The putter head of  claim 32 , wherein said marking is formed by a colored portion. 
     
     
       35. The putter head of  claim 32 , wherein said marking is formed by a raised portion. 
     
     
       36. The putter head of  claim 32 , wherein said marking is formed by a sunken portion. 
     
     
       37. The putter head of  claim 32 , wherein said marking is formed by a contoured arcuate portion. 
     
     
       38. The putter head of  claim 32 , wherein said marking is formed by contrasting color sections. 
     
     
       39. A golf putter head comprising:
   a heel portion at one end;        a toe portion at the other end;        a flat striking face extending from said heel portion to said toe portion; and        a marking arranged between said heel and toe portions, said marking disposed in relation to said flat striking face;        wherein said marking includes a curved portion, said curved portion having a radius of curvature larger than a regulation size golf ball and forming an arc of a circle that is substantially concentric around the golf ball when said striking face is properly aligned with the golf ball and the golf ball is near to or abutting said flat striking face.     
     
     
       40. The putter head of  claim 39 , wherein said marking is formed by a scored portion. 
     
     
       41. The putter head of  claim 39 , wherein said marking is formed by a colored portion. 
     
     
       42. The putter head of  claim 39 , wherein said marking is formed by a raised portion. 
     
     
       43. The putter head of  claim 39 , wherein said marking is formed by a sunken portion. 
     
     
       44. The putter head of  claim 39 , wherein said marking is formed by a contoured arcuate portion. 
     
     
       45. The putter head of  claim 39 , wherein said marking is formed by a contrasting color sections. 
     
     
       46. The putter head of  claim 39 , wherein said marking includes a straight portion perpendicular to the striking face. 
     
     
       47. The putter head of  claim 46 , wherein said marking is formed by a scored portion. 
     
     
       48. The putter head of  claim 46 , wherein said marking is formed by a colored portion. 
     
     
       49. The putter head of  claim 46 , wherein said marking is formed by a raised portion. 
     
     
       50. The putter head of  claim 46 , wherein said marking is formed by a sunken portion. 
     
     
       51. The putter head of  claim 46 , wherein said marking is formed by a contoured arcuate portion. 
     
     
       52. The putter head of  claim 46 , wherein said marking is formed by contrasting color sections.

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