APPLICATION FOR A UTIUTY PATENT APPLICATION

FOR

(A) Paw Putt Adjustable Putter Grip

Inventor: Delbert M. Patzner

(B) CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

(C) FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

(D) MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

(E) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to an adjustable putter grip. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an adjustable putter grip that can be rotationally adjusted on the shaft easily and precisely.

(2) Background of Invention.

The game of golf has seen numerous evolutions in both the area of dub design, and the methods of executing the stroke. However, there have been very few instances where the evolutions of both equipment and method have occurred at the same time. The present invention is one of those rare occasions. While the present invention addresses only the equipment aspect of this new putting concept, the method of using this invention is of equal importance.

Over the history of the game of golf, experts and professionals have often differed in their opinions as to what constitutes the best style of putting stroke. However, there does currently appear to be a general consensus among professionals that the best putting stroke is a pendulum type stroke, which uses the golfer's large shoulder musdes rather than the golfer's wrists and hands. It is the intent and design of this invention to develop a putter that enhances the ability of golfer to putt to the left or right of the intendant target without changing the grooved stance. In the game of golf, putting is arguably the most important stroke, since a putter is used many more times than any other club carried by a golfer. The putting stroke does not involve strength or quickness, and good putting is characterized by consistency and steadiness. Putting is also the most psychologically affected stroke in golf, often being characterized as an "art" rather than a "science", with such adjectives as "touch" and "feel" frequently being used to describe a successful putting stroke. Many professional golfers have commented that many variations of putters and putting strokes are acceptable for good putting, as long as the golfer has confidence that his particular stroke and club will get the job done.

When a golfer loses his putting touch, it is not uncommon for him to change clubs, grips, or the method of holding the dub and striking the ball in an effort to regain his confidence and improve putting results. Technically, it is possible to design a club that is adjustable in many ways, so that a golfer could make adjustments in the club even during a round in an effort to overcome putting problems.

The ideal putter grip is one that most effectively assists the golfer in achieving the two basic elements of putting: establishing the initial course or direction of the ball, and establishing the initial speed of the ball. These two factors alone determine the path that the golf ball will travel. Of course, there are a number of variables that a golfer must analyze in order to correctly select the direction and speed for the putt, including the breaks and contours of the putting green, the grain or standing grass direction of the green, and the speed or rolling resistance of the surface.

Even if a golfer has successfully evaluated the appropriate direction and speed for a putt, a golfer still needs a great deal of skill to translate this evaluation into the proper putting stroke. Golfers spend many hours practicing their putting stroke to be able to control the ball's direction and speed consistently. Most golf instructors believe that three elements are crucial when a golfer is working on their putting stroke: the hand grip, the body position, and the putting stroke. Most teaching authorities believe that the golfer should hold the putter in the palms of the hands with a light grip pressure. The general consensus for body position is that the feet are spread apart, but within shoulder width, the knees are slightly bent, and the back is straight but tilted, so as to position the eyes over the ball. The golfer ideally has his shoulders and toes square to the intended putt line, with his arms relaxed and hanging naturally with a slight bend at elbows.

The ball should be at the midpoint between the feet. As for the putting stroke, the golfer's arms and hands should move as one unit with the putter in a pendulum motion to release the putter head along the intended target line.

The goal of achieving a proper grip, stance, and stroke is not unique to putting, as the proper performance of all other golf strokes requires mastery of these same three elements.

Unfortunately, while it is relatively straightforward to teach a golfer the proper grip of a club and the proper body position, it requires a great deal of effort and practice to obtain a proper stroke.

For much of the last century, inventors have worked on improving the golf club to make it easier for golfers to achieve a better golfing stroke. One common approach has been to improve golf clubs by using a rotating grip, as is seen in many prior arts. All of them describe golf clubs that have a grip that moves rotationally with respect to the golf dub shaft during the hitting stroke.

Unfortunately, a simple rotational club handle does not successfully meet the specific needs for an improved grip on a dub used for putting. The need still exists for a grip on a putter that more properly assists a golfer in obtaining a preferred putting stroke.

(F) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved adjustable putter grip. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved putter grip that has all of the advantages of the prior art, and none of the disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the invention, the putter is comprised of an adjustable handle, shaft, and putter head. The putter is divided into three sections (top, middle and bottom), which provide proper adjustment in clubface selection.

In another aspect of the invention, the adjustable putter is further comprised of two piece milled ratchet faces, in which one is on the bottom of the top or middle section anchored to the shaft, while the second one is on the top of the middle rotating section, which provides adjustment of face of club without moving the grooved putting position. In another aspect of the invention, the middle 1/3 section of the top of the putter is movable up or down. Simultaneously, with a twist, the putter switches from left or right to the selected clubface position.

In another aspect of the invention, the putter is comprised of a loaded spring between the anchored bottom 1/3 of the grip to shaft, and the bottom rotating middle grip segment. The middle segment is simultaneously stroked downward and rotated. The handle is positioned substantially perpendicular with respect to the shaft. The head is connected with the shaft and configured to pivot about the handle to move the head in a pendulum motion.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed in which a golfer uses the center of the grips with neutral embossed lines for references to adjust the desired notched position. Also, with the help of the left hand gripping on the top, the segment can turn shaft and face of the club to the desired right or left position. The right hand applies downward stroke on the middle segment to allow the left hand to rotate shaft and face of club. Releasing the power stroke re-engages the ratchets to recreate a solid shaft at desired degree of shaft and face turn.

In another aspect of the invention, the putter has the ability to correct consistent misses of putts to the left or right of the intended target without changing grooved stance.

It Is a further objective of the present invention to provide a new and improved adjustable putter grip that is of durable and reliable construction.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a new and improved adjustable putter grip that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable putter grip that provides some of the advantages of the prior art, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description, and should not be regarded as limiting. These, together with other objectives of the invention and the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objectives attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

(G) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood, and objectives other than those set forth above will become apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure ldepicts a perspective view of the components of the handle and shaft of the adjustable putter grip.

(H) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Flg.1 shows the upper portion of a golf shaft 1, which includes the grip assembly of the present invention. The grip assembly includes a 1/3 bottom grip 2 and top 1/3 of segmented grip 3, which is anchored to the shaft. The middle 1/3 section 4 is movable up or down with a twist left or right to the selected club faces position. The upper part is secured to the shaft to prevent both rotational movement around the shaft, and translational movement along the length of the shaft. In contrast, the lower hand grip 5 is attached to the shaft in such a manner as to allow both rotational movement and axial or translational movement with respect to the shaft. In the adjustable putter grip, according to the invention, ½ of the ratchet is attached to bottom of the top 1/3 of the segmented grip. Also, ½ of the ratchet is attached to the top segment of the middle rotating grip, which is spring 6 loaded with needed pressure. It has enough stroke to separate the two ratchet notched faces, move, and relock, making a solid shaft connection.

The spring is loaded correctly between the anchored bottom 1/3 of the grip to the shaft, and the rotating middle grip segments are simultaneously stroked downward and rotated to each notch of the ratchet. However, simultaneous loading or unloading of spring power is manually administered by regular needed strength of musde application.

The present invention also provides the ability to correct consistent misses of putts to the left or right of the intended target without changing grooved stance. As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the player uses the center of the grips with neutral embossed lines for references to adjust the desired notched position. Also, with the help of the left hand gripping the top segment, one turns the shaft and face of the club to the desired right or left position. The right hand applies downward stroke on the middle segment to allow the left hand to rotate the shaft and face of club. Releasing the power stroke re-engages the ratchets to recreate the solid shaft at the desired degree of shaft and face turn. The present invention also provides a feel and touch feedback through the hands that continuously reinforces the proper putter swing characteristics.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and the manner of operation, assembly, and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art. All equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modification and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.