US4000902A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf putter with in-line aiming and directional control capabilities
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-01-15
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Granted: 1977-01-04
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Expires: 1996-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A golf putter that allows the golfer to effectively aim the putter blade from behind the ball while looking down the intended direction of roll of the ball and to maintain this established direction while the golfer is moving into the normal putting position.
Inventors
- 👤 Sonnie Joseph Perkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:10
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B53/00; A63B53/04; A63B53/0487; A63B53/0433; A63B53/047; A63B60/00; A63B60/52; A63B53/0441; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3676; A63B69/3685
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
In a golf putter, the combination that comprises a. a shaft, a transversely horizontally elongated blade supported at one end of said shaft, said blade having a substantially vertical planar front face, a turf engaging bottom face located immediately rearwardly of the front face, and a rear face which extends arcuately rearwardly and upwardly above the level of said bottom face, said front face, bottom face and rear face each being transversely horizontally elongated, said rear face rotatably engaging the turf in blade supporting relation as the blade is tilted rearwardly, and b. a putting path sighting device carried by the blade and projecting angularly upwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, said blade having a rearwardly tilted position in which the front face is elevated, and said device extends rearwardly and substantially horizontally, c. there being projection means on the blade facing downwardly to engage the turf as the blade is tilted rearwardly, to prevent twisting of the blade during such tilting, said projection means carried by said transverse end portions of the blade, whereby the putter may be tilted rearwardly on said projection means, by tilting the shaft rearwardly and downwardly, and the sighting device brought into alignment relative to a cup on a green, and the putter may then be tilted back upwardly by tilting the shaft upwardly and forwardly to rotate the blade on the green turf and without twisting of the blade to bring the blade front face into aligned putting position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a golf putter, the combination that comprises a. a shaft, a transversely horizontally elongated blade supported at one end of said shaft, said blade having a substantially vertical planar front face, a turf engaging bottom face located immediately rearwardly of the front face, and a rear face which extends arcuately rearwardly and upwardly above the level of said bottom face, said front face, bottom face and rear face each being transversely horizontally elongated, said rear face rotatably engaging the turf in blade supporting relation as the blade is tilted rearwardly, and b. a putting path sighting device carried by the blade and projecting angularly upwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, said blade having a rearwardly tilted position in which the front face is elevated, and said device extends rearwardly and substantially horizontally, c. there being projection means on the blade facing downwardly to engage the turf as the blade is tilted rearwardly, to prevent twisting of the blade during such tilting, said projection means carried by said transverse end portions of the blade, whereby the putter may be tilted rearwardly on said projection means, by tilting the shaft rearwardly and downwardly, and the sighting device brought into alignment relative to a cup on a green, and the putter may then be tilted back upwardly by tilting the shaft upwardly and forwardly to rotate the blade on the green turf and without twisting of the blade to bring the blade front face into aligned putting position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The putter of claim 1 wherein said sighting device is mounted on upper extent of said blade and defines a linearly elongated sighting line which during blade tilting remains in an upright plane which perpendicularly intersects said planar front face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The putter of claim 2 wherein said device is mounted on the blade approximately medially between transverse opposite ends thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The putter of claim 2 wherein said device is mounted on at least one transverse end portion of the blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The putter of claim 2 wherein said blade and sighting device are defined by a one-piece metal casting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The putter of claim 1 wherein said blade is recessed forwardly from said rear face intermediate transverse end portions of the blade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a golf putter, the combination that comprises a. a shaft, a transversely horizontally elongated blade supported at one end of said shaft, said blade having a substantially vertical planar front face, a turf engaging bottom face located immediately rearwardly of the front face, and a rear face which extends arcuately rearwardly and upwardly above the level of said bottom face, said front face, bottom face and rear face each being transversely horizontally elongated, said rear face rotatably engaging the turf in blade supporting relation as the blade is tilted rearwardly, and b. a putting path sighting device carried by the blade and projecting angularly upwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, said blade having a rearwardly tilted position in which the front face is elevated, and said device extends rearwardly and substantially horizontally, c. transverse end portions of the blade carrying turf engaging projections which taper outwardly of said rear face whereby the putter may be tilted rearwardly on said projections, by tilting the shaft rearwardly and downwardly, and the sighting device brought into alignment relative to a cup on a green, and the putter may then be tilted back upwardly by tilting the shaft upwardly and forwardly to rotate the blade on the green turf and without twisting of the blade to bring the blade front face into aligned putting position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a golf putter, the combination that comprises a. a shaft, a transversely horizontally elongated blade supported at one end of said shaft, said blade having a substantially vertical planar front face, a turf engaging bottom face located immediately rearwardly of the front face, and a rear face which extends arcuately rearwardly and upwardly above the level of said bottom face, said front face, bottom face and rear face each being transversely horizontally elongated, said rear face rotatably engaging the turf in blade supporting relation as the blade is tilted rearwardly, and b. a putting path sighting device carried by the blade and projecting angularly upwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, said blade having a rearwardly tilted position in which the front face is elevated, and said device extends rearwardly and substantially horizontally, c. transverse end portions of the blade carrying turf engaging projections which taper outwardly of said rear face whereby the putter may be tilted rearwardly on said projections, by tilting the shaft rearwardly and downwardly, and the sighting device brought into alignment relative to a cup on a green, and the putter may then be tilted back upwardly by tilting the shaft upwardly and forwardly to rotate the blade on the green turf and without twisting of the blade to bring the blade front face into aligned putting position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The putter of claim 1 wherein the center of mass of the blade remains approximately vertically above the zone of engagement of the rear face with the turf during such tilting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The putter of claim 1 including a vertical step between the rearwardmost extent of the bottom face, and the forwardmost extent of the rear face, whereby the rear face is everywhere spaced above the rearwardmost extent of the bottom face.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-04 | 1980-07-05 | 1981-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-04 | 1984-07-05 | 1985-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-04 | 1988-07-05 | 1989-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |