Golf putter

Claim 2

A putter for putting a golfball, the putter comprising: a shaft (34) having a handle end and a mounting end; and a putter head (32) rigidly attached to said mounting end of said shaft and including, at least, a laterally elongated vertically thickened forward portion (36), a laterally elongated tail portion (40) generally extending rearward from said forward portion, generally coextensive therewith, and terminating in a rearmost tail tip, and opposite ends (48,50), wherein in an end elevational view, said putter head defines, generally, a teardrop shape in which said forward portion defines the vertically thickened portion of said teardrop shape and said tail portion tapers and extends from said vertically thickened portion of said teardrop shape to define said rearmost tip of said teardrop shape.

Claim 3

The putter of claim 1, wherein said forward portion is attached to said mounting end of said shaft.

Claim 4

The putter of claim 1, wherein said forward portion defines, at least, a striking surface (44) for engaging the golfball, wherein said striking surface (44) extends laterally between said opposite ends and includes, at least, an upper portion and a lower portion, a forward top surface (42) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said upper portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, and a forward bottom surface (54) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said lower portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, and wherein said tail portion defines, at least, a tail top surface (46) extending laterally between said opposite ends and rearward from said forward top surface (42), and a tail bottom surface (56) extending laterally between said opposite ends and rearward from said forward bottom surface (54), wherein said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) join at a position rearward from said forward portion to form said tail tip (58).

Claim 5

The putter of claim 3, wherein said forward top surface (42) and said striking surface (34) define a continuous cylindrical segment, whereby in said end elevational view, said forward top surface (42) and said striking surface (34) define a continuous circular arc.

Claim 6

The putter of claim 4, wherein said tail top surface (46) is concave, and wherein said tail bottom surface (56) is convex.

Claim 7

The putter of claim 5, wherein said forward bottom surface (54) is planar.

Claim 8

A putter for putting a golfball, the putter comprising: a shaft (34) having a handle end and a mounting end; and a putter head (32) including, at least, a laterally elongated vertically thickened forward portion (36) and a laterally elongated tail portion (40) extending rearward from said forward portion, generally coextensive therewith, and terminating in a rearmost tail tip, wherein said forward portion defines, at least, a striking surface (44) for engaging the golfball, a forward bottom surface (54), and a forward cavity (68) within said forward portion, wherein said forward portion includes, at least, a first portion of weighting material disposed within said forward cavity, wherein said tail defines, at least, a tail cavity (70) therein, wherein said tail portion includes, at least, a second portion of weighting material disposed within said tail cavity, and wherein the putter is constructed and arranged so that in a ball-striking position in which said shaft is substantially vertical and said forward bottom surface (54) is substantially horizontal, the center of mass of said second portion of weighting material is centered rearward from and lower than the center of mass of said first portion of weighting material.

Claim 9

A putter for putting a golfball, the putter comprising: a shaft (34) having a handle end and a mounting end; and a putter head (32) including, at least, a laterally elongated vertically thickened forward portion (36) and a laterally elongated tail portion (40) extending rearward from said forward portion, generally coextensive therewith, and terminating in a rearmost tail tip, wherein said forward portion defines, at least, a striking surface (44) for engaging the golfball, a forward bottom surface (54), and a forward cavity (68) within said forward portion, wherein said forward portion includes, at least, a first portion of weighting material disposed within said forward cavity, wherein said tail defines, at least, a tail cavity (70) therein, wherein said tail portion includes, at least, a second portion of weighting material disposed within said tail cavity, and wherein the putter is constructed and arranged so that in a ball-striking position in which said shaft is substantially vertical and said forward bottom surface (54) is substantially horizontal, the center of mass of said second portion of weighting material is centered rearward from and lower than the center of mass of said first portion of weighting material.

Claim 10

The putter of claim 7, wherein said forward portion is attached to said mounting end of said shaft.

Claim 11

The putter of claim 7, wherein said putter head further includes, at least, opposite ends (48,50), wherein said striking surface (44) extends laterally between said opposite ends and includes, at least, an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said forward portion further defines, at least, a forward top surface (42) extending laterally between said opposite end and extending from said upper portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, wherein said forward bottom surface (54) extends laterally between said opposite ends and extends from said lower portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, and wherein said tail portion defines, at least, a tail top surface (46) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending rearward from said forward top surface (42), and a tail bottom surface (56) extending laterally between said opposite ends and rearward from said forward bottom surface (54), wherein said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) join at a position rearward from said forward portion to form said tail tip (58).

Claim 12

The putter of claim 7, wherein said striking surface (44) is rounded.

Claim 13

The putter of claim 10, wherein said striking surface (44) is rounded and defines an arc having a radius of curvature, wherein said putter head is defined by an overall depth measured from the forwardmost point of said rounded striking surface (44) to the rearmost tip of said tail portion, and wherein the center of mass of said second portion of weighting material is located at a distance rearward from said striking surface (44) that is greater than twice said radius of curvature.

Claim 14

A putter for putting a golfball, the putter comprising: a shaft having a handle end and a mounting end; and a putter head rigidly attached to said mounting end of said shaft and including, at least, a laterally elongated vertically thickened forward portion (36), a laterally elongated tail portion (40) extending rearward from said forward portion, generally coextensive therewith, and terminating in a rearmost tail tip, and opposite ends (48,50), wherein said forward portion defines, at least, a striking surface (44) for engaging the golfball, wherein said striking surface (44) extends laterally between said opposite ends and includes, at least, an upper portion and a lower portion, a forward top surface (42) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said upper portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, and a forward bottom surface (54) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said lower poriton of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, wherein said tail portion defines, at least, a tail top surface (46) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending rearward from said forward top surface (42), and a tail bottom surface (56) extending laterally between said opposite ends and rearward from said forward bottom surface (54), wherein said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) join at a position rearward from said forward portion to form said tail tip (58), and wherein in an end elevational view of said putter head, while the putter is in a ball-striking position in which said shaft is substantially vertical and said forward bottom surface (54) is substantially horizontal, said tail portion generally defines a wedge-shape by virtue of said tail top surface (46) extending generally upward from said tail tip and said tail bottom surface (56) extending generally downward from said tail tip in a divergent manner, wherein the elevational distance between the bottommost point of said forward bottom surface (54) and the uppermost point of said forward top surface (42) is approximately twice the elevational distance between the bottommost point of said forward bottom surface (54) and said tail tip.

Claim 15

A putter for putting a golfball, the putter comprising: a shaft having a handle end and a mounting end; and a putter head rigidly attached to said mounting end of said shaft and including, at least, a laterally elongated vertically thickened forward portion (36), a laterally elongated tail portion (40) extending rearward from said forward portion, generally coextensive therewith, and terminating in a rearmost tail tip, and opposite ends (48,50), wherein said forward portion defines, at least, a striking surface (44) for engaging the golfball, wherein said striking surface (44) extends laterally between said opposite ends and includes, at least, an upper portion and a lower portion, a forward top surface (42) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said upper portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, and a forward bottom surface (54) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said lower poriton of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, wherein said tail portion defines, at least, a tail top surface (46) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending rearward from said forward top surface (42), and a tail bottom surface (56) extending laterally between said opposite ends and rearward from said forward bottom surface (54), wherein said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) join at a position rearward from said forward portion to form said tail tip (58), and wherein in an end elevational view of said putter head, while the putter is in a ball-striking position in which said shaft is substantially vertical and said forward bottom surface (54) is substantially horizontal, said tail portion generally defines a wedge-shape by virtue of said tail top surface (46) extending generally upward from said tail tip and said tail bottom surface (56) extending generally downward from said tail tip in a divergent manner, wherein the elevational distance between the bottommost point of said forward bottom surface (54) and the uppermost point of said forward top surface (42) is approximately twice the elevational distance between the bottommost point of said forward bottom surface (54) and said tail tip.

Claim 16

The putter of claim 12, wherein said forward portion is attached to said mounting end of said shaft.

Claim 17

The golfball putter of claim 12, wherein said tail top surface (46) is concave, and wherein said tail bottom surface (56) is convex.

Claim 18

The putter of claim 12, wherein said striking surface (34) is rounded.

Claim 19

A putter for putting a golfball, the putter comprising: a shaft having a handle end and a mounting end; and a putter head rigidly attached to said mounting end of said shaft and including, at least, a laterally elongated vertically thickened forward portion (36), a laterally elongated tail portion (40) extending rearward from said forward portion generally coextensive therewith, and terminating in a rearmost tail tip, and opposite ends (48,50), wherein said forward portion defines, at least, a striking surface (44) for engaging the golfball, wherein said striking surface (44) extends laterally between said opposite ends and includes, at least, an upper portion and a lower portion, a forward top surface (42) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said upper portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, wherein said mounting end of said shaft is attached to said forward top surface (42), and a forward bottom surface (54) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said lower portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, wherein said tail portion defines, at least, a tail top surface (46) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending rearward from said forward top surface (42), and a tail bottom surface (56) extending laterally between said opposite ends and rearward from said forward bottom surface (54), wherein said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) join at a position rearward from said forward portion to form said rearmost tail tip (58), and wherein in an end elevational view of said putter head, while the putter is in a ball-striking position in which said shaft is substantially vertical and said forward bottom surface (54) is substantially horizontal, said tail portion generally defines a wedge-shape by virtue of said tail top surface (46) extending generally upward from said tail tip and said tail bottom surface (56) extending generally downward from said tail tip in a divergent manner such that, where said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) intersect a vertical plane, said vertical plane being at least 0.636 inches forward of said tail tip and extending laterally between said opposite ends, said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) have diverged at least 0.406 inches.

Claim 20

A putter for putting a golfball, the putter comprising: a shaft having a handle end and a mounting end; and a putter head rigidly attached to said mounting end of said shaft and including, at least, a laterally elongated vertically thickened forward portion (36), a laterally elongated tail portion (40) extending rearward from said forward portion generally coextensive therewith, and terminating in a rearmost tail tip, and opposite ends (48,50), wherein said forward portion defines, at least, a striking surface (44) for engaging the golfball, wherein said striking surface (44) extends laterally between said opposite ends and includes, at least, an upper portion and a lower portion, a forward top surface (42) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said upper portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, wherein said mounting end of said shaft is attached to said forward top surface (42), and a forward bottom surface (54) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending from said lower portion of said striking surface (44) rearward to said tail portion, wherein said tail portion defines, at least, a tail top surface (46) extending laterally between said opposite ends and extending rearward from said forward top surface (42), and a tail bottom surface (56) extending laterally between said opposite ends and rearward from said forward bottom surface (54), wherein said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) join at a position rearward from said forward portion to form said rearmost tail tip (58), and wherein in an end elevational view of said putter head, while the putter is in a ball-striking position in which said shaft is substantially vertical and said forward bottom surface (54) is substantially horizontal, said tail portion generally defines a wedge-shape by virtue of said tail top surface (46) extending generally upward from said tail tip and said tail bottom surface (56) extending generally downward from said tail tip in a divergent manner such that, where said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) intersect a vertical plane, said vertical plane being at least 0.636 inches forward of said tail tip and extending laterally between said opposite ends, said tail top surface (46) and said tail bottom surface (56) have diverged at least 0.406 inches.

Claim 21

The putter of claim 16, wherein said forward portion is attached to said mounting end of said shaft.

Claim 22

The golfball putter of claim 16, wherein said tail top surface (46) is concave, and wherein said tail bottom surface (56) is convex.

Claim 23

The putter of claim 16, wherein said striking surface (34) is rounded.