US4601472A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sighting device for a golf putter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-11-02
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Granted: 1986-07-22
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Expires: 2003-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A sighting device for a golf putter comprises a mounting frame housing an eye aligning mirror having a horizontally disposed reflective surface and a ball and target aligning mirror having a reflective surface extending at an angle of approximately 135° to the putting face of the putter blade. The frame includes a front flange which extends downwardly over the putting face of the blade. The device is releasably mounted on the blade by a deformable bonding agent which fills a chamber defined by the rear face of the flange, the striking face of the putter and spaced-apart ribs extending rearwardly of the flange to engage against the striking face. A pair of lugs extend sidewardly of the frame and each is formed with a through hole in which an adjusting screw for adjusting the position of the device on the putter blade are threadingly engaged. The device is used for aligning the putting face of the blade square to a target path between a ball and target while aligning the eye of the player over the target path. The device is adapted for releasably mounting on any putter blade without alteration of the blade so that the putter may be restored to its original condition after the device is removed for use in competitive play under the rules of golf.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael O'Flanagan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:20
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B24/00; A63B24/0003; A63B69/00; A63B69/36; A63B69/3676; A63B69/3685; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
402 words
A sighting device for releasably mounting on the blade of a golf putter having a substantially planar front putting face with a substantially centrally disposed sweet spot, the sighting device comprising: a. a putter blade mounting frame, including means for fixedly but releasably mounting the sighting device on a putter blade without alteration of the putter blade, such that the putter can be restored to its original condition after the sighting device is removed, said means for releasably mounting the sighting device on a putter blade comprising a front flange adapted to extend downwardly over the sweet spot of the putting face of a putter blade, and the front flange comprising a substantially vertically disposed planar front face for striking a ball, and the front flange having a rear face for interengagement with a fixing means for releasably mounting the frame on the putting face of a putter blade; b. a mirror mounting frame fixedly mounted to said putter blade mounting frame, such that the mirror mounting frame is fixedly mounted thereby relative to the putter blade; c. an eye aligning mirror fixedly housed in the mirror mounting frame, with the putter blade mounting frame and mirror mounting frame positioning a reflective surface of the eye aligning mirror to be behind the front flange and at right angles to the putting face of the blade in a substantially horizontal position when the putter is placed in position behind a ball prior to a putting stroke with the putter, such that an eye of the user can be sighted and aligned above the eye aligning mirror with an image of the eye therein; and d. a ball and target aligning mirror fixely housed in the mirror mounting frame behind the front flange and adjaent the eye aligning mirror, with the putter blade mounting frame and mirror mounting frame positioning a reflective surface of the ball and target aligning mirror to be inclined rearwardly and upwardly at an angle of approximately 135° with respect to the putting face, whereby the ball and target aligning mirror in use assists in aligning the putting face of the blade and said front flange square to a target path sight line between a ball and a target with the putter sweet spot being on the target path sight line, while the eye aligning mirror in use assists in aligning the eye of the user over the target path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
402 words
A sighting device for releasably mounting on the blade of a golf putter having a substantially planar front putting face with a substantially centrally disposed sweet spot, the sighting device comprising: a. a putter blade mounting frame, including means for fixedly but releasably mounting the sighting device on a putter blade without alteration of the putter blade, such that the putter can be restored to its original condition after the sighting device is removed, said means for releasably mounting the sighting device on a putter blade comprising a front flange adapted to extend downwardly over the sweet spot of the putting face of a putter blade, and the front flange comprising a substantially vertically disposed planar front face for striking a ball, and the front flange having a rear face for interengagement with a fixing means for releasably mounting the frame on the putting face of a putter blade; b. a mirror mounting frame fixedly mounted to said putter blade mounting frame, such that the mirror mounting frame is fixedly mounted thereby relative to the putter blade; c. an eye aligning mirror fixedly housed in the mirror mounting frame, with the putter blade mounting frame and mirror mounting frame positioning a reflective surface of the eye aligning mirror to be behind the front flange and at right angles to the putting face of the blade in a substantially horizontal position when the putter is placed in position behind a ball prior to a putting stroke with the putter, such that an eye of the user can be sighted and aligned above the eye aligning mirror with an image of the eye therein; and d. a ball and target aligning mirror fixely housed in the mirror mounting frame behind the front flange and adjaent the eye aligning mirror, with the putter blade mounting frame and mirror mounting frame positioning a reflective surface of the ball and target aligning mirror to be inclined rearwardly and upwardly at an angle of approximately 135° with respect to the putting face, whereby the ball and target aligning mirror in use assists in aligning the putting face of the blade and said front flange square to a target path sight line between a ball and a target with the putter sweet spot being on the target path sight line, while the eye aligning mirror in use assists in aligning the eye of the user over the target path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sighting device as recited in claim 1, in which said fixing means comprises a fixing compound for releasably mounting the putter blade mounting frame on the putting face of a putter blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sighting device as recited in claim 2, in which the fixing compound comprises a deformable bonding agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
A sighting device as recited in claim 1 in which the flange includes formations projecting from the rear face of the flange to define, in use, together with the putting face of a putter blade a chamber for accommodating a predetermined quantity of fixing compound so that a ball struck off the front face of the flange will travel in substantially the same direction and substantially the same distance as when struck with the same blow off the sweet spot of the same putter blade without the sighting device attached.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sighting device as recited in claim 4 in which the formations comprise a pair of spaced-apart downwardly extending ribs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sighting device as recited in claim 1 in which the device includes an adjusting means for aligning the mirrors relative to a putter blade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A sighting device as recited in claim 6 in which the adjusting means comprises a pair of spaced-apart adjusting screws, a pair of sideward extension lugs on the mounting frame, and means for threadedly engaging the screws and the lugs, the shank of each screw extending through the corresponding lug to engage against the top face of the putter blade for adjustment of the mirrors relative the blade in a substantially vertical plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A sighting device as recited in claim 1 in which the reflective surface of the eye aligning mirror extends below and forwardly of the reflective surface of the ball and target aligning mirror, the reflective surfaces forming a substantially continuous reflective surface in which the target path is viewed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sighting device as recited in claim 1, in which the eye aligning mirror extends below and sidewardly of the ball and target aligning mirror.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sighting device as recited in claim 1 in which the mounting frame includes a pair of side flanges extending upwardly from the side marginal edges of the reflective surfaces of the mirrors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sighting device as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a golf putter on which the sighting device is mounted by said putter blade mounting frame.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-21 | 1990-01-20 | 1990-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-21 | 1994-01-20 | 1994-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-21 | 1998-01-20 | 1998-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |