The IP Golf Guy - The Golf Patent Lawyer (Golf Inventions, Patents, Litigation, Trademarks)

A Wild New PING Dynamically Variable MOI Driver

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-02-07T05:00:00Z

The Golf-Patents blog has revealed some pretty radical golf club designs in the past, but rarely do they originate from Karsten Manufacturing (aka PING). Therefore, when an unusual PING patent application is published it deserves a close look. This week PING had two related patent applications publish related to variable MOI driver designs, one of which is US Pub. No. 20100029402 titled “Golf Clubs With Variable Moment of Inertia And Methods Of Manufacture Thereof.” The application explains:

[0002] Some individuals who play golf may have a tendency to hit a golf ball with a hook or draw, or a slide or facie. These unintended trajectories can be the result of hitting the golf ball outside a central region of the golf club face. Hitting the golf ball outside this region can rotate the golf club head, which can cause an unintended spin on the golf ball, and this spin can exacerbate an individual's tendency to hook/draw or slide/fade the golf ball. Therefore, a need exists to minimize the club head rotation when an individual hits a golf ball outside the central region of the golf club face.

[0065] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, golf club head 1000 comprises a body 1100 having a front section 1110, a restrictor mechanism 1200, and a weight 1300. In some embodiments, front section 1110 can be referred to as a face, or can comprise a face of golf club head 1000. In the same or different embodiments, body 1100 can be referred to as a housing. In the same or a different embodiment, body 1100 can comprise at least one of a steel material, a titanium material, an aluminum material, a graphite material, and/or other suitable materials. Golf club head 1000 can form part of a golf club with a golf club shaft (not shown) coupled to a hosel 1600 and/or a bore of golf club head 1000.

[0066] Restrictor mechanism 1200 of golf club head 1000 comprises restrictor 1210, and is coupled to body portion 1120 of body 1100. Body 1100 can also be subdivided into other portions, such as body portions 1130, 1140, 1150, and/or 2160 (FIG. 2). In the same or a different embodiment, front section 1110 can be at or proximate to a front 2111 of golf club head 1000, body portion 1120 can be at or proximate to a toe 2121 of golf club head 1000, body portion 1130 can be at or proximate to a heel 2131 of golf club head 1000, body portion 1140 can be at or proximate to a top 1141 of golf club head 1000, body portion 1150 can be at or proximate to a bottom 1151 of golf club head 1000, and/or body portion 2160 can be at or proximate to a back 2161 of golf club head 1000. Some embodiments may refer to body portions 1120, 1130, 1140, 1150, and/or 1160 as sections.

[0067] Weight 1300 is coupled to body 1100 and comprises weight end 1310 coupled to restrictor mechanism 1200. In the present embodiment, weight 1300 also comprises weight end 1320. Restrictor 1210 comprises a stiffness correlated with a Young's modulus of a material from which restrictor 1210 is made. In one example, restrictor 1210 comprises at least one of a steel material, a titanium material, an aluminum material, and/or any other suitable materials. In the same or a different embodiment, weight 1300 can comprise a mass of approximately 20 to 40 grams. In the same or a different embodiment, weight 1300 can comprise approximately 10 to 20 percent of a mass of golf club head 1000. In some embodiments, weight 1300 can comprise at least one of a tungsten material, a tungsten-epoxy material, a steel material, a copper material, a titanium material, and/or a bronze material.

[0068] As shown in FIGS. 1-2, weight 1300 of golf club head 1000 further comprises post 1380. In the present embodiment, post 1380 is coupled to body portions 1140 and 1150 of body 1100. In some embodiments, post 1380 can also be referred to as a restrictor, and can comprise a stiffness which can be less than a stiffness of restrictor 1210. Weight 1300 is at least as stiff as restrictor 1210 and can be stiffer than post 1380.

[0069] Post 1380 is configured to couple weight 1300 to body 1100, and to align weight end 1310 with restrictor 1210. In turn, restrictor 1210 is positioned behind end 1310 of weight 1300 relative to front section 1110 of body 1100 in the present embodiment. In addition, face 2361 (FIG. 2) of weight 1300 is aligned substantially parallel to front section 1110 of body 1100.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 3-4 for the present embodiment, center of gravity 3600 of weight 1300 can be proximate to front section 1110 of golf club head 1000. In the same or a different example, center of gravity 3600 of weight 1300 can be proximate to a center of gravity of golf club head 1000. In a different example, center of gravity 3600 of weight 1300 can be proximate to a geometric center of golf club head 1000. In the same or a different example, center of gravity 3600 is substantially collinear with a gravitational vector through the center of gravity of golf club head 1000.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 3, the stiffness of restrictor 1210 is configured to resist a deformation of restrictor 1210 by end 1310 of weight 1300 in response to an impact at zone 1111 of body 1100. Restrictor mechanism 1200 can thus interact with weight end 1310 by resisting deformation of restrictor 1210 due to its stiffness. In other embodiments, the stiffness can be configured to permit certain deformation of restrictor 1210 to interact with weight end 1310. In the same or a different embodiment, deformation of restrictor 1210 can be elastic but restrictor 1210 may return to its original shape after deformation. In some embodiments, a deformation of a restrictor such as restrictor 1210 can be referred to as a distortion.

[0072] In the present example of FIG. 3, face 3200 of golf club head 1000 impacts ball 3100 substantially square with respect to an intended direction of travel for golf ball 3100. The impact at zone 1111 is proximate to the heel of golf club head 1000 in this example, thus imparting a counterclockwise rotation upon golf club head 1000, as denoted by arrow 3500. In the current embodiment, and for simplicity of description and illustration, the counterclockwise rotation is about center of gravity 3600. In other embodiments, golf club head 1000 can rotate about a different point.

[0073] Continuing with the example of FIG. 3, the counterclockwise rotation of golf club head 1000 causes restrictor 1210 to also rotate counterclockwise along with body 1100 and, as a result, to interact with end 1310 of weight 1300. As restrictor 1210 is pressed against weight end 1310, restrictor 1210 resists deformation due to its stiffness. As a result, the moment of inertia of weight 1300 is transferred through restrictor 1210 onto body 1100. In some embodiments, restrictor 1210 also impedes a rotational tendency of weight 1300 relative to body 1100 when golf club head 1000 rotates counterclockwise in response to impact with golf ball 3100. Golf club head 1000 therefore exhibits a higher moment of inertia when weight 1300 interacts with restrictor 1210, decreasing the amount of corresponding rotation 3500 imparted onto golf club head 1000 upon impact with golf ball 3100.

[0092] FIGS. 11-14 illustrate embodiments where a face of weight 1300 is aligned substantially perpendicular to front section 1110 of body 1100 of golf club head 7000. Restrictor mechanisms 11200 and 13200 are accordingly positioned proximate to front section 1110 to align with weight end 1310. In a different embodiment, restrictor mechanisms 11200 and 13200 can be positioned proximate to a rear of the golf club heads, opposite front section 1110.

[0093] Despite the different alignments, the embodiments in FIGS. 11-14 can perform in a manner similar to the embodiments in FIGS. 7-10, respectively, upon impact with golf bail 3100. For example, the situations shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 are likely to generate an interaction between weight end 1310 and restrictors 11210 and 13210, respectively, similar to as previously described for the analogous situations shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Similarly, the situations shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 are less likely to generate an interaction between weight end 1310 and restrictors 11210 and 13210, respectively, similar to as previously described for the analogous situations shown in FIGS. 5 and 10.

[0094] Continuing with the figures, FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of part of golf club head 15000 comprising one dual-restrictor mechanism FIG. 16 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of golf club bead 15000. Golf club head 15000 is similar to golf club head 1000, but comprises restrictor mechanism 15200 rather than 1200. Restrictor mechanism 15200 comprises restrictor 1210 similar to as described above for restrictor mechanism 1200 in FIGS. 1-2. However, restrictor mechanisms 15200 and 1200 (FIG. 1-2) differ in that restrictor mechanism 15200 is a dual-restrictor mechanism that further comprises restrictor 15220 located at an opposite side of weight 1300 than restrictor 1210. In addition, weight end 1310 of weight 1300 is configured to be positioned between restrictors 1210 and 15220. In the same or a different embodiment, weight end 1310 is within body 1100.

[0095] In the present embodiment of FIGS. 15-16, restrictor 15220 comprises a stiffness, where the stiffness of restrictor 1210 is greater than the stiffness of restrictor 15220. Here, the stiffness of restrictor 15220 is configured to permit a deformation of restrictor 15220 by weight end 1310 in response to an impact at zone 1112 of body 1100 of golf club head 15000. The impact at zone 1112 could be, for example, with golf ball 3100. In the same or a different embodiment, restrictor 15220 can comprise at least one of a silicon material, a polymer material, and an epoxy material. In a different embodiment, the relative stiffnesses of restrictors 1210 and 15220 could be inverted, such that stiffness 15221 could be greater than stiffness 1211. In the same or a different embodiment, weight end 1310 can be connected to at least one of restrictors 1210 and 15220, such as by welding, bonding, soldering, and/or gluing, among other techniques.

[0096] In the example of FIGS. 15-1.6, when golf club head 15000 rotates counterclockwise upon an impact at zone 1111, restrictor 1210 tends to interact with weight end 1310. Because the stiffness of restrictor 1210 is greater than the stiffness of restrictor 15220, restrictor 1210 tends to resist deformation due to the interaction, and thus may transfer a comparatively greater moment of inertia from weight 1300 to body 1100 of golf club head 15000. Conversely, when golf club head 15000 rotates clockwise upon an impact at zone 1112, restrictor 15220 may interact with weight end 1310. Because the stiffness of restrictor 15220 is less than the stiffness of restrictor 1210 in this example, restrictor 15220 tends to deform and/or compress due to the interaction, and thus may transfer a comparatively lesser moment of inertia from weight 1300 to body 1100 of golf club head 15000.

Wow, I suspect that design concept will surprise a lot of people; but will it ever make it to the market?

Dave Dawsey - Monitoring Golf Technology Inventions

Wrapping Up the Week Dedicated to Golf Course Patents – A Compact Design

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-02-06T05:00:00Z

What better way to get hit by a golf ball than playing on a compact golf course. Every golfer has played on one of those courses that squeezed 18 holes in the space that should house 14 holes. The type that has a net around at least one tee box; probably the result of a line drive to the forehead (and a lawsuit).

Can you appreciate a course that takes it a step further and fits 18 holes in the space of 7 holes? Well, check out the disaster waiting to happen in disclosed in USPN 4,157,831 titled “compact golf course.”

The patent describes the invention as:

Outdoor golf course layouts are described for providing a complete eighteen hole course in a minimum area. The golf course layouts are characterized by a substantially polygonal outside course perimeter utilizing straight lines from tee area to hole. The preferred embodiments are in the figure of a hexagon. Fairways of different holes will intersect other fairways in the embodiments. It is also contemplated that doglegs can be provided in the fairways for each or some of the holes rather than the straight line configuration from tee to hole, still substantially utilizing the hexagonal outer shape of the course. Each of the apices of the hexagon will include, in the general surrounding area, the holes or green and tee areas for a plurality of the holes in the course. In addition, there will be one area located in the interior of the hexagon which will provide in the general area thereof tee and hole or green locations for a plurality of the holes of the layouts.

This wraps up a rather uneventful week of crazy golf course designs! (thankfully)

Dave Dawsey - Monitoring Golf Course Architecture Patents

PS – Check out some of this week’s other golf course designs; a linear golf course layout, a circular layout, a shared fairway layout, a web pattern layout.

Day 4 of the Week Dedicated to Golf Course Patents – Finally a Web Pattern Layout

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-02-04T05:00:00Z

What happens when a statistics professor designs a golf course? The possibilities are endless. Actually, I don’t know if the inventor of the course of today is a statistics professor, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

So, what could possibly follow a linear golf course layout, a circular layout, and a shared fairway layout (with movable trees)? A web pattern layout, of course. Today’s course is found in USPN 6,036,606 titled “Golf Course with Multi-Sequential Arrangement of Golf Links,” which explains:

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a golf course which comprises a plurality of golf link sequential arrangements which are obtainable by orienting putting green areas and fairway areas in a predetermined web pattern and wherein there are more fairway areas than putting green areas with the putting green areas having a single associated one of the fairway areas in each of the sequential arrangements.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a golf course comprising a plurality of putting green areas and a plurality of fairway areas and wherein the green areas and fairway areas are disposed in a predetermined web pattern to permit a plurality of sequential arrangements of golf links with the putting green areas having a single associated one of the fairway areas in each of the sequential arrangements.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a method of constructing a golf course to permit a plurality of sequential arrangements of golf links within the golf course and wherein the putting green areas have a single associated one of the fairway areas.

With the present invention there is provided a golf course wherein the putting green areas are not shared with other golfers but are associated with a specific fairway area depending on the selected one of a plurality of sequential arrangements of the golf links so that many different orders of golf links may be played on the same course.

With the golf course of the present invention and by using, for example, nine putting green areas oriented in the predetermined web pattern, it is possible to obtain eighteen different golf link arrangements. Another web pattern of nine links may be easily adapted to an existing 9 golf hole web design to permit much greater sequential arrangements of the golf links.

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf course which comprises a plurality of putting green areas which are spaced apart from one another and each associated with two or more fairway areas to constitute a plurality of golf links. A tee area is associated with the fairway area of each of the golf links. Designation means is provided to identify individual ones of the golf links. The green areas and fairway areas are disposed in a predetermined web pattern to permit a plurality of sequential arrangements of the golf links with the putting green areas having a single associated one of the fairway areas in each of the sequential arrangements. At least one of the putting green areas is displaced to a different position in the plurality of sequential arrangements.

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a golf course to obtain a plurality of sequential arrangements of golf links within the golf course. The method comprises the steps of disposing a plurality of putting green areas, spaced-apart, and oriented with respect to a web pattern having at least two substantially parallel spaced-apart axes and at least three substantially parallel transverse axes. Fairway areas are delineated between the putting green areas along the axes. Diagonal fairway areas are also delineated along diagonal axes between some of the putting green areas. Tee areas are provided for the fairway areas. Designation means are also provided to identify the golf links formed by individual ones of the fairway areas in association with one of the putting green areas. There are more fairway areas than putting green areas to constitute a plurality of sequential arrangements of the golf links. A specific sequential arrangement of the golf link is identified to direct a golf playing person through the golf course.

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a Table on which the plurality of sequential arrangements of the golf links are identified whereby to select a specific one of the arrangements to direct a golf playing person along the golf course and wherein this arrangement may be changed from time to time so that the golf links of the golf course may be played several times but in a different arrangements.

You may ask, how many combinations are there? Good question. Check out the diagram below and read the subsequent paragraph.

FIG. 7 illustrates a still further web pattern constructed in accordance with the present invention and wherein the web pattern is comprised of a first group of four spaced-apart substantially parallel axes 25 and a second group of five spaced-apart substantially parallel transverse axes 26. The putting green areas are again oriented in relation to the crossings of each of the groups of axes. As herein shown the starting tee area 27 is disposed in alignment with an outside one of the first and second group of axes 25 and 26. A starting tee area can also be provided in the opposed corner of the groups of axes, as indicated by reference numeral 27'This 18 putting green area arrangement can produce 100 golf links with 52 fairways. It generates in excess of 8,000 different sequential arrangements of golf links.

I think I have spotted a trend; the more likely you are to receive a patent on a golf course layout, the less likely it is that most golfers will be interested in playing it!

Dave Dawsey - Monitoring Golf Course Architecture Intellectual Property

Day 3 of the Week Dedicated to Golf Course Patents

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-02-03T05:00:00Z

So far this week we have examined a linear golf course layout and a circular layout, therefore it must now be time to look at a design incorporated shared fairways. Today’s design is found in USPN 6,053,819 titled “Golf Course, Golf Park and Associated Method of Playing a Golf Game,” which describes the invention as:

A golf park including a golf course having a single fairway with multiple greens. At least two greens are provided, at opposite ends of the fairway. One or more additional greens may be provided between the first two greens and along the fairway. Also, multiple tees are provided for the one fairway. At least one tee is provided at each end of the fairway, the tee facing down the fairway towards the green at the opposite end of the fairway. Each green may be the target of two or more tees disposed at different locations on the fairway. The golf course is occupied for a predetermined limited period of time by an individual or a single group of golfers. The individual or single group of golfers plays back and forth along the fairway, for as long as they have reserved the course. They can play at their own pace, undisturbed by other golfers because there are no other golfers on the course. The only limitation is duration: eventually they will have to stop because their reserved interval of play has terminated.

What do you think of playing “back and forth along a fairway” for as long as you have reserved the course? While I love the movable tree, I think this concept might be a tough sell.

Dave Dawsey - Monitoring Golf Course Intellectual Property

Day 2 of the Week Dedicated to Golf Course Patents

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-02-02T05:00:00Z

Yesterday we explored a wonderfully linear golf course layout. Today, let’s take a look at a radically different design. The new design is disclosed in USPN 5,395,115 titled “Golfing Facility,” which describes the invention as:

A golfing facility comprises a rotatable central tee-off area and a plurality of sectors disposed around the tee-off area. Each sector contains a selection of targets to enable a player to simulate playing a hole of golf (with the exception of the final put). Various training aids and scoring apparatus are also described.

Check out this beauty!

I am surprised that we haven’t seen a circular TPC course, aren’t you?

Dave Dawsey - Monitoring Golf Course Patents

A Week Dedicated to Golf Course Patents - Day 1

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-02-01T05:00:00Z

Ever wonder if you can patent a golf course’s architecture? Well, this week I will provide you with some interesting golf course layout patents that you may find hard to believe. Additionally, if you are a golf course architecture aficionado then you should avoid these posts because they will bring tears to your eyes (or make you puke).

The first in the series of golf course patents is a patent titled “Select Pace Golf Course,” which issued this week. The patent is USPN 7651404, which describes the invention as:

A full-sized outdoor golf course is described with any number of holes, usually 18 or 36 holes. Each hole is made up of a tee, a fairway, and a green. The holes are laid out in a pattern that makes it practical for each group of players on the golf course to play the holes in random order. This is accomplished by organizing the holes in a pattern that greatly increases the number of tees that are available to pick from after leaving any green on the course. All tees and greens, and only tees and greens, but no fairways, are located along special cart paths (44, 46, 48, 49, 50), that run roughly perpendicular to the normal cart paths that usually run along each fairway, so that when finishing play on any green, several tees are reachable by golf cart in a relatively short predetermined time, preferably 1-1/2 minutes or less, using the special cart paths (44, 46, 48, 49, 50).

Check out this practical course design!

The patent explains:

Conventional golf courses are laid out with the holes following one another in sequential manner to more or less fit well into the terrain of the land on which they are built. They are designed to be played in sequential manner from hole 1 through hole 18 (on an 18 hole course). When players finish playing one hole, there is normally only one nearby tee to go to next, which is the next sequential hole number.

It is commonly known that the main complaint of golfers is the pace of play, which is usually the pace of the slowest group on the golf course. The pace is often 5 hours or more.

This complaint stems from the fact that the holes on conventional courses are designed for and played in sequential order and cannot practically be played in random order. This is because most tee areas are an entire fairway away from other tees or would necessitate crossing over other fairways, which may be in use, in order to reach them. This makes it too time consuming, confusing, dangerous, frustrating, and disruptive to other players, to allow playing the holes in random order. In other words, it would be chaotic. Someone skilled in the art would know that random order of play would not be allowed on a standard golf course on which most holes are occupied by players. Just the occasional nearness of more than one tee area, that may or may not be open, would not be enough to make it practical. Players that are stuck behind a slow group might have to travel the length of many fairways in order to hopefully find an open tee and fairway. That would defeat the purpose of trying to play a faster round of golf.
Most golf courses attempt to alleviate the pace of play problem by having rangers or marshals drive around the course. The rangers try to encourage slower groups to play faster. This has very limited success. Despite their best efforts, the pace of play is often still over 5 hours because of the inability of some groups to play any faster.

I am all for speeding up the pace of play, but I would prefer to play a slower round on a nice unique design rather than a blazing fast round on an, umm, less unique design.

Dave Dawsey - Monitoring Golf Course Intellectual Property

PS – click HERE to check out interesting putter patents

A Golfer Can Dream of the Day that a Golf Swing Training Kiosk is in Every Mall and Airport

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-30T05:00:00Z

In the past I have posted, in a sarcastic manner, about driving range kiosks putting Hank Haney out of a job, but now I am starting to think we may start to see these things pop up as frequently as golf simulators. This week an interesting kiosk-type system patent issued as USPN 7,651,406 titled “Active Golf Instruction System.” Check it out.

I think that guy might need to work on his wrist action! The patent describes the invention as:

An active golf instruction system comprises a first main unit and a second main unit. The first main unit further comprises three lifting mechanisms and three sliding mechanisms each connected to one lifting mechanism. A top shaft and several positioning shafts are installed in the sliding mechanisms. The second main unit further comprises a rotating wheel and a fastening unit. The first main unit and the second main unit are arranged oppositely. A student stands in between the first main unit and the second main unit. A computer control the top shaft and the positioning shafts to contact the head, shoulders, waist and knees of the student according to the height, weight, etc., of the student. A golf club is placed on the fastening unit of the second main unit. The sliding mechanisms and rotating wheel respectively rotate by appropriate degrees to provide a proper golf swing lesson.

Heck, I would pay to try one of these contraptions.

Dave Dawsey - Tracking Golf Training Inventions

PS – click HERE to check out interesting putter posts

Tired of Putting in the House without the Satisfaction of the Ball Dropping in a Hole?

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-29T05:00:00Z

Check out this neat little device.

The drawings come from a patent application that recently published as US Pub. No. 20100022318 titled “Golf Putting Floor Vent.” The application describes the invention as:

A golf putting practice device adapted to serve as a substitute for a floor vent that fits into a floor duct of a forced air circulation system of a building and includes a ball receiving enclosure and at least one flat support plate member extended outwardly from the ball receiving enclosure. The front wall of the ball receiving enclosure includes a notched portion that provides a golf ball open access to the enclosure when the device is installed into a floor duct. A plurality of apertures are formed in the support plate member to allow for air flow through the plate. A floor air vent cover includes a centrally located closed bottom depression the size of a golf putting cup for receiving and retaining a putted golf ball. The opposite ends of the cover contain air passage openings having tapered sides for directing the air flow away from said depression. The present invention discloses an apparatus for golf putting practice wherein the present invention is an insert having at least one regulation size golf hole disposed therein wherein the insert is complementarily sized and shaped to be inserted into the outlet opening of a conventional heating and ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) system as might occur in the floor of a home or office building replacing a standard vent register. The insert is sized to be removably secured internal of the HVAC outlet so that it can be easily inserted and removed therefrom.

The application also explains:

[0004] Also, trainer putting cups are generally in the way when the golfer is not using it. The putting cup needs to be put away when not in use. This requires the golfer to take time to set up the putting trainer device and then put it away after each use or else risk having somebody tripping over it in their home or office.
.
.
.
[0006] Furthermore, the golfer needs to hit the golf ball hard enough to climb the ramped incline into the cup on carpeted floors, which does not represent the typical green put. On smooth floors, the golfer needs to hit the golf ball less hard but still hard enough to climb the ramp up into the cup. Such unusual strokes by the golfer are not natural putts. Neither of these two unusual strokes improves a golfer's putting stroke and, in fact, might actually hurt the golfers in their putting game when putting on a real golf green. Thus the ramped putting trainers cups are not truly representative of putting on a real golf green.

Who knew that traditional putting mats are dangerous!

Dave Dawsey - Watching Golf Putting Patents

PS – check out additional putter patents HERE

Yes, I Believe I Have Found a Helpful Training Aid

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-26T05:00:00Z

It may be hard to believe but I, like most golfers, occasionally get jaded after seeing training aid after training aid, none of which seem particularly helpful. Every now and then I come across one that actually seems to have some merit. Today was one of those days. USPN 7,651,405 titled “Device for Visualizing and Practicing a Correct Golf Swing” issued today and describes the patented invention as:

A golf training device comprises two shatter-resistant mirrors. A striking mirror is held in a horizontal position in the hitting area and is used as a striking mat for hitting golf balls. A second, adjustable mirror is positioned above the striking mirror. The adjustable mirror can be moved relative to the striking mirror and has means for adjusting the tilt angle of the adjustable mirror. Together, the two mirrors can be used to create the effect of a single virtual mirror lying beneath the ground surface so that the golfer can see his swing plane from along the edge of the plane of his swing as he hits the ball.

Check it out!

The patent goes on to explain:

Golf is a game in which form is emphasized over athletic ability. It is generally thought for a golf club to move a golf ball along a desired or intended line to a target, the head of the golf club first must strike the golf ball while traveling in a curved path at a point tangential to the desired line, and second the plane of the golf club must be normal to the vertical plane of intended flight. Proper alignment throughout the swing is essential to obtain any degree of success in playing golf. The second requirement is generally met by maintaining a proper grip on the golf club throughout the swing. The first requirement is best achieved by maintaining the golf club in a proper plane through the swing.

Failure to maintain the golf club in the proper plane through the swing has generally resulted from either starting the golf club in motion in an improper plane, or from movement, either lateral or vertical, of the center of rotation of the golfer's swing due to the effort of the backswing.

Repetitive practice is very effective in developing a correct golf swing. However, to practice with the wrong form serves only to foster bad habits. Nevertheless, it is extremely difficult for a golfer to correct or improve his own "swing" because he needs another person, preferably a professional instructor, to watch him while he is hitting the ball.

The need to eliminate bad habits has prompted the popular use of video cameras to record player's swings. Practice techniques using video cameras have very limited effectiveness, however, because the golfer cannot observe himself while he or she is being recorded and must wait until later to analyze and adjust his or her stroke. There is a need for a device that provides real time visual feedback on the condition of the golfer's swing from address to follow-through so that immediate corrective action can be taken by the golfer.
.
.
.
This invention enables a new apparatus for training a golfer in proper movement of swinging a golf club by permitting the golfer to observe motion of the golf club, and body movement of the golfer during the golf swing, from the edge of the swing plane. A pair of mirrors reflects the golfer's image to the golfer during the swing while also permitting the golfer to observe club motion during the swing. One of the mirrors is supported by a support means in a position where the golfer may observe movement of the golf club and the golfer's body during the swing. With the apparatus of the present invention, a golfer thus is permitted to observe and control both motion of the golf club and movement of the golfer's body, while making a golf swing.

Sounds pretty good to me.

Dave Dawsey - Tracking Golf Training Inventions

PS – click HERE to check out interesting putter posts

Another Interesting Nike Design

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-23T05:00:00Z

In the past six months I have authored several posts (HERE, HERE) regarding some pretty cool, albeit unconventional, designs by Nike. Well, this week another Nike patent application became publicly available and it gives us a look at another interesting design that they have come up with. The following drawings tell the story.

The design is found in US Pub. No. 20100016098 titled “Weight Element For A Golf Club.” I hope a few of these new designs make it to the market.

Dave Dawsey - Monitoring Golf Patent Applications

Pull This Putting Invention Out on the Practice Green and You May Get a Few Stares

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-21T05:00:00Z

I love inventions directed to conquering this maddening sport. It is a sign that human spirit is alive and well; and that some tinkerers truly believe they have invented a gadget that will make the game less frustrating for the rest of us.

Sure, there are those golfers (typically the ones that throw their clubs and angrily smack their ball of the green after missing a short putt) that bash every new golf product created since the advent of laminated woods; but can you really knock a golf training product until you have tried it out? OK, I suppose there are a few (example 1, example 2, example 3) that I do draw quick conclusions about, but in general I would be willing to try any training product that the inventor really believes will help a golfer enjoy the game (provided it doesn’t look like it could inflict bodily harm). Thus, I come upon the following putting training aid invention with an open mind. Check this out.

The drawings come from a patent application that was published today as US Pub. No. 20100016093 titled “Golf Putter Training Device.” The application explains the invention as:

[0019] Turning now to FIG. 3, the support shaft 114 is positioned directly over the putting head 106. Additionally, support shaft 114 is positioned over the portion of the putting head 106 that a golfer would be desire to have make contact with a ball 110 during a putt. For example, support shaft 114 may be equidistant from the end 302 of the putting head 106 and where the shaft 104 is attached to the putting head 106. It is understood, however, that support shaft 114 may be positioned in any suitable location with respect to putting head 106, whether over putting head (from a top view) or not. Furthermore, in one example, support shaft 114 is perpendicular to the ground when the golfer is lining a golf putter 102 up for a putt. More specifically, when putting head 106 is substantially parallel to the ground 204 as shown in FIG. 2, the support shaft 114 is substantially perpendicular to both the putting head 106 and the ground 204. As one skilled in the art will recognize, however, various orientations and positions of mounting bracket 112 and support shaft 114 may be better suited for particular training exercises for enhancing one's golf putting skills.

[0020] Turning back to FIG. 3, visual guide assembly 150 comprising visual guides 116, 118, 120, and 122, is shown from a top view. Visual guide assembly 150 may also include a first outer visual guide 316 and a second outer visual guide 318, as described below. Visual guides 116 through 122 are connected to support shaft 114. In this example, a mounting ring 136 is adapted to receive support shaft 114. It is understood, however, that visual guides 116, 118, 120, and 122 may be directly mounted to support shaft 114. It is further understood, as described above, that the entire golf putter training device 100 may be made from one material and perhaps even one piece. For example, FIG. 5 shows a one-piece embodiment of visual guide assembly 450, as will later be described.

[0021] Visual guides 116, 118, 120, and 122 are preferably formed from a lightweight material, such as fiberglass or lightweight plastic or other similar material. When mounted to mounting ring 136, visual guides 116, 118, 120, and 122 are preferably substantially parallel to ground 204 when support shaft 114 is perpendicular thereto. Furthermore, angle 304 and angle 306 are preferably about 300. However, it is understood that angles 304 and 306 may be any desired angle that may be used to help improve one's golf putting skills. Furthermore, angles 304 and 306 may not be equal. Additionally, it is understood that visual guides 116, 118, 120, and 122 need not be substantially parallel to ground 204. Visual guide assembly 150 may also include a first outer visual guide 316 and a second outer visual guide 318, as described below.

[0022] Visual guides 116, 118, 120, and 122 provide multiple forms of visual feedback to the golfer to help the golfer develop muscle memory of a good putting technique. For example, one problem that golfers have while putting is an unsteady swing. It is preferred that a golf putting swing be relatively smooth. Because of the extended length of visual aids 116, 118, 120, and 122, visual aids 116, 118, 120, and 122 have a tendency to show movement during an unsteady swing. Although unsteadiness may be seen by a careful observer watching putting head 106, the unsteadiness may be very difficult to see. Visual aids 116, 118, 120, and 122, however, amplify every movement that a putting head 106 makes during a swing. Not only will the golfer be able to have immediate feedback from the visual guides 116 through 122, an observer, such as a golf instructor, will better be able to perceive any undesired rotation or movement of a putting head 106 during a golf putter swing.

[0023] To further enhance the ability to observe and detect any undesired characteristics of a golf putter swing, golf putter training device 100 also includes one or more visual indicators. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, visual indicators 124, 126, 128, 130 are connected to an end 308, 310, 312, and 314 of visual guides 116 through 122, respectively. More specifically, visual indicator 124 is connected to end 308 of visual guide 116; visual indicator 126 is connected to end 310 of visual guide 118; visual indicator 128 is connected to end 312 of visual guide 120; and visual indicator 130 is connected to end 314 of visual guide 122. In one example, visual indicators 124 through 130 are table tennis balls, and each visual indicator 124 through 130 is connected to its respective visual guide 116 through 122 by inserting the ends of visual guides 116 through 122 through each of the table tennis balls. It is understood, however, that any suitable visual indicator 124 through 130 maybe used, such as a visual indicator made of plastic, cloth, metal, or any other suitable material or formed of another shape. For example, the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, as will later be described, has visual indicators 424 through 430 formed in the shape of flat discs.

It reminds me of an anemometer, however apparently the ping-pong balls don’t spin. Oh well, it doesn’t look like it could screw up a putting stroke, so sign me up. I would give it a try.

Dave Dawsey - Watching Golf Putting Patents

PS – check out additional putter patents HERE

Are Your Balls Deformed? Come On, Golf Balls of Course. Well, This Putter Will Let You Know

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-16T05:00:00Z

Ever wonder if your balls were deformed? Well, if so I have found the perfect putter for you. An interesting putter was disclosed in a patent application that published this week as US Pub. No. 20100009781 titled “Putter and Golf Ball Deformity Measuring Apparatus.”

The application explains:

[0004] Monitoring, identifying and removing deformed gall balls from play serves an important role in maintaining the reliable and efficient operation of golf balls during the course of golf play. Significantly, except in limited circumstances (such as a player inspecting their golf ball for damage after announcing their intention to do so, identifying their golf ball in a hazard, and/or lifting and cleaning their golf ball in the fairway when so allowed by local rules and under certain conditions, and/or as allowed by other rules propounded by the United States Golf Association "U.S.G.A." and/or the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland), a golf player is prohibited from touching their golf ball with their hand until the ball has been played onto a designated "green," or putting surface. In particular, once a player tees-off their golf ball (hits their first shot on a particular golf hole), the player may not ordinarily touch the ball with their hand without penalty until the ball successfully comes to rest on the green.

[0005] Once a player has successfully played their ball onto the putting green, the player is allowed under U.S.G.A. rules to mark their ball and then lift the ball. Of course, once a player lifts their ball, they may visually inspect it for adhered dirt, cuts, cracks, or other deformities that might cause the ball roll off-line. In the case of a golf ball that is merely dirty, the player may clean the ball before replacing the ball on the player's mark and resuming play. In the case of a golf ball that is visibly cut, cracked, or out of shape, the ball may be declared "unfit for play" under U.S.G.A. rules, and a player is entitled to substitute another ball for the unfit one, by placing the substitute ball on the player's mark. Nevertheless, if, upon inspection, a player determines that a ball is not "unfit for play," the original ball must be replaced.

[0006] It will be understood that a cut, cracked, or out-of-shape golf ball that remains undetected by a player may cause undesirable effects during the course of play. In some cases, the undesirable effects of a golf play that is unfit for play may not be easily discernible to a player and may not occasion any noticeable consequences to the player. In other instances, a cut, cracked or out-of-shape golf ball may cause the ball to undesirably deviate from the trajectory on which the ball was put by a player. In particular, a golf ball that is unfit for play may deviate not only from its trajectory on full and partial shots played from the tee, the fairway, the rough and from around the green but, significantly, may also stray from its line when putted on the putting surface.

[0007] Accordingly, in those cases where a player is unaware that their ball is unfit for play (especially where the ball is only mildly out-of-shape), the player may be unaware that they should take their ball out of play and therefore may continue to suffer the consequences of playing a ball that is unfit for play, not only on the current hole being played by the player, but on subsequent golf holes, as well. Conventional golf-ball conformity testing devices exist. Nevertheless, such prior art devices may not allow a golfer to, without bending down, simultaneously check their golf ball for conformity while picking up their ball from the putting surface (or from within the golf hole) with their putter, and may lack other advantages as well.

[0008] For many golfers, particularly the aged and infirm, physically bending down to pick up a golf ball from off of the ground or out of a golf hole (or performing other tasks typically required of a golfer during the course of play that may require a golfer to bend over, such as, among other examples, repairing ball marks left by a player's ball) may be difficult or uncomfortable, or even impossible. Conventional devices exist for allowing a golfer to pick up a golf ball without the requirement of bending down. Nevertheless, such conventional devices may either compress a golf ball by impingement in an opening having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of a regulation golf ball or, otherwise, the devices themselves may comprise an element that is designed to deform in order to allow a regulation golf ball to pass therethrough. Other conventional devices for assisting individuals in picking up their golf balls without bending over also exist and may comprise suction-cup type or other elements.

[0009] Accordingly, improved devices, methods, and systems for efficiently monitoring, identifying and removing from play golf balls that are "unfit for play," as well as performing other functions typically required during the course of golf play, without bending over, are needed.

SUMMARY

[0010] In one aspect, a putter and golf ball deformity measuring apparatus comprises a putter head having a front portion, a rear portion, a bottom portion defining an oblong through hole, and a containment area above the oblong through hole sized and shaped to surround at least a portion of a golf ball without gripping the golf ball, the containment area defined between the front portion and the rear portion.

[0011] Particular implementations of putter and golf ball deformity measuring apparatuses may include one or more of the following. The containment area may be crescent shaped in cross section. The containment area may comprise one or more opposing visual alignment slots. The oblong through hole may comprise a spanning truss bar and an opposing beveled contact area. The spanning truss bar may comprise an indentation facing the beveled contact area. A marker seat defined in an edge of the oblong through hole, and a marker through slot defined between the truss bar and the marker seat may be provided. The front portion may comprise a putter face. The putter face may comprise a thermoplastic insert. The putter face may comprise a tactile orifice behind the thermoplastic insert. A shaft extending from the front portion of the putter head, wherein the putter face comprises a negative loft angle and at least a portion of the shaft is ahead of at least a portion of the putter face when the putter head is horizontal may be provided. The rear portion may comprise a leveling aid. The putter head may comprise a rear section, and the rear section may comprise a magnet. The putter head may comprise a rear section, and the rear section may comprise a divot tool docking port.

[0012] In another aspect, a putter and golf ball deformity measuring apparatus comprises a putter head having a front portion, the front portion comprising a putter face, the putter face comprising a negative loft angle, and a shaft extending from the front portion of the putter head, wherein at least a portion of the shaft is ahead of at least a portion of the putter face when the putter head is horizontal.

[0013] Particular implementations of putter and golf ball deformity measuring apparatuses may include one or more of the following. The putter head may further comprise a rear portion, a bottom portion defining an oblong through hole, and a containment area above the oblong through hole sized and shaped to surround at least a portion of a golf ball without gripping the ball, the containment area defined between the front portion and the rear portion. The containment area may be crescent shaped in cross section. The containment area may comprise one or more opposing visual alignment slots. The oblong through hole may comprise a spanning truss bar and an opposing beveled contact area. The spanning truss bar may comprise an indentation facing the beveled contact area. A marker seat defined in an edge of the oblong through hole and a marker through slot defined between the truss bar and the marker seat may be provided. The putter face may comprise a thermoplastic insert. The putter face may comprise a tactile orifice behind the thermoplastic insert. The rear portion may comprise a leveling aid. The rear portion comprises a magnet. The rear portion may comprise a divot tool docking port.

[0014] In still another aspect, a method of measuring golf ball diameter and deformity comprises aligning over a golf ball an oblong through hole defined in a bottom portion of a putter head, pushing the putter head downward so that the golf ball walks upward between a spanning truss bar and an opposing beveled contact area of the oblong through hole, and passing the golf ball through the oblong through hole into a containment area above the oblong through hole and defined between a front portion and a rear portion of the putter head so that at least a portion of the golf ball is surrounded in a containment area without gripping the golf ball.

[0015] Particular implementations of a method of measuring golf ball diameter and deformity may include one or more of the following. The method may comprise lifting the putter head upward so that the golf ball rests freely against the spanning truss bar and the opposing beveled contact area, and rotating the golf ball on one or more axes. The method may comprise inserting a putter head into a golf hole containing a golf ball, aligning a rear portion of the putter head behind the golf ball so that at least a portion of the rear portion is below at least a portion of a front portion of the putter head, and wherein the step of pushing the putter head downward may comprise pushing the putter head downward by slideably rocking the putter head against the golf hole so that the golf ball walks upward between a spanning truss bar and an opposing beveled contact area of the oblong through hole and so that at least a portion of the rear portion of the putter head is above at least a portion of the front portion of the putter head. The method may comprise lifting the putter head upward so that the golf ball rests freely against the spanning truss bar and the opposing beveled contact area, and rotating the golf ball on one or more axes.

Check out this putter design!

I am not sure what to say about this one. Just because I cannot remember the last time that I wondered whether my golf ball was deformed doesn’t mean that there isn’t a huge population of golfers fixated on whether their balls are deformed. Right?

Dave Dawsey - The Golf Attorney

PS – Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE to read posts from the “Week of Wild Putter Designs”

The IP Golf Guy Discusses “IP Goals for the New Year that Every Small Business Can Implement” on the Small Business Advocate® Radio Program

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-12T05:00:00Z

I was honored to be a guest on the nationally syndicated Small Business Advocate® radio show this morning. Jim Blasingame and I discussed IP goals for small businesses.

Feel free to listen to the interview HERE.

David Dawsey – The Small Business Intellectual Property Attorney

Let’s Get to the Bottom of a New PING Putter Design Patent

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-12T05:00:00Z

Check out these drawings from a design patent that issued to Karsten Manufacturing today!

Does the design remind you of anything; perhaps something you see about 18 times a round? The drawings come from design patent USPN D607,950.

Looks like the bottom of the cup to me. Now that is pretty unique!

Dave Dawsey - Watching Golf Putter Patents

PS – check out additional putter patents HERE

A Future Generation of Taylor Made Drivers?

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-11T05:00:00Z

It is hard to believe it has been almost 18 months since I wrote a post about a rather radical Taylor Made patent application. The post was titled “The Future of Taylor Made Drivers? Will This Design Ever Make it to Store Shelves?” Well, they prosecuted the patent application and paid to have it issue last week as USPN 7,641,568 titled “Golf Club Head Having Ribs.” So, maybe a club like this will make it to market someday.

The patent describes the driver as:

A golf club head having at least one fin or rib with an external portion. For example, according to one embodiment, a wood-type golf club head includes a body that has at least one wall defining an interior cavity. The golf club head further includes at least one fin projecting from the at least one wall. The at least one fin can include an internal portion located within the interior cavity and an external portion located without the interior cavity.

Did you know…

The sound generated by a golf club is based on the rate, or frequency, at which the golf club head vibrates upon impact with the golf ball. Generally, for wood-type golf clubs (as distinguished from iron-type golf clubs), particularly those made of steel or titanium alloys, a desired frequency is generally around 3,000 Hz and preferably greater than 3,200 Hz. A frequency less than 3,000 Hz may result in negative auditory feedback and thus a golf club with an undesirable feel.

Pretty cool.

Dave Dawsey - Monitoring Golf Club Inventions

PS – check out another post related to finned driver designs here

Interesting New Golf Club Names That We May See in 2010

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-10T05:00:00Z

Following up on last year’s post “The Best and Worst Golf Club Names Filed with the USPTO so far in 2008”, let’s look at some of the more interesting golf club trademark applications filed in 2009. Here are some of my favorite names that we may see on golf clubs in 2010.

Callaway Golf

RECON

RAZRHAWK

BLACKHAWK

DIVINE

FT-MACH 11

FT-JET

Diamond Tour Golf Wholesalers, Inc.

FELON

Hilco Tag, LLC

TORCH

Karsten Mfg. (aka PING)

K15 – I guess they are skipping the “J” series

Krank Golf

KRANK GOLF RELIGION

SPOP, Inc.

PROTÉGÉ

Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.

PERFICA

Individuals

PRODIGY

Interesting.

David Dawsey - Keeping an Eye on Golf Trademarks

Heavy Putter, Heavy Wedge, What’s Next?

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-09T05:00:00Z

Not long ago I posted about Heavy Putter’s intent to use the trademark Heavy Wedge™ on “golf clubs”; and commented that doesn’t take a genius to speculate that those “golf clubs” might just be a new line of wedges! Well, now I can report that they also have intent to carry forward the product line to irons; as exhibited by their filing of a trademark application for the Heavy Iron™ mark. While the “heavy” concept definitely has merit with putters and may have merit with wedges, does it make sense for irons? I am not sure that I would want to swing a “heavy” iron.

How long will it be before we see a trademark application for Heavy Woods?

David Dawsey – The Golf Trademark Attorney

PS - One of my first posts on the Golf-Patents blog discussed using trademark filings as a source of competitive intelligence.

Take Two Putts Off My Round and I Would Gladly Wear This Contraption

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-08T05:00:00Z

Can you imagine this device helping your putting?

With that stance and grip it is no wonder that he has putting problems. The drawings come from USPN 5,752,887 titled “Golf Aid Device,” which describes the invention as:

The subject golf aid device is generally directed to a practice or training aid to be used by a golfer. More specifically, the subject golf aid device is a device worn on the head of a user which establishes in the user's line of sight to the golf ball to be struck a visual guide for properly striking that ball. The visual guide is maintained in self-adjusting manner such that its orientation relative to the playing surface on which the ball is resting remains substantially unchanged even if the user tilts his or her head along one or more predetermined planes of motion.

Over recent years, the sport of golf has gained an unprecedented level of popularity. With the proliferation of readily accessible golf facilities and the wide public exposure received by various golf personalities, both men and women, young and old; the popularity of golf continues to grow rapidly. Consequently, there is an ever-increasing need for training and practice aids for aiding the user in perfecting his or her golf skills.

Invariably, the adequacy of a user's golfing skills comes down to the user's ability to impart a desired direction of initial travel to the ball he or she is to strike. Doing so requires the precise coordination of numerous concurrent bodily movements, though the degree of such required movements varies depending on the type of shot being made (drive, putt, and the like). While those more experienced and skilled in golf will obviously be more adept at coordinating such movements than those of lesser experience and skill, every golfer must routinely practice the movements to at least retain, if not improve, his or her skill level.

Numerous golf training and practice devices are currently available to aid users in practicing and enhancing their golf skills. Some of these devices are specifically designed to provide a visual guide that outlines for the user a direction of travel along which he or she should attempt to strike the ball. These devices, however, are very difficult to properly use, except for the most skilled of golfers.

The concurrent bodily movements that must be precisely coordinated for any proper golf swinging action include, among others: a twisting rotation of the shoulders, rotation of the chest, and a swinging of the arms. In coordinating all these movements, it is preferable that superfluous bodily movements, such as tilting of the head, be eliminated. Such superfluous bodily movements, though, are extremely difficult to restrain while concurrently generating and coordinating the rather delicate and complex set of necessary bodily movements. Those necessary bodily movements, tend, naturally, to cause a corresponding rotation and tilt of the head; and, without much practice and skill, it is quite difficult to consistently keep the head steadily stationary during the course of a swinging action.

Visual guide-establishing golf aids known in the prior art fail to make adequate provision for this type of head movement that many insufficiently experienced golfers are hampered by. Typically, those prior art devices are affixed, either to a hat or other structure worn on some part of the user's head, in such manner that the training device necessarily moves with the head. Hence, when the user moves his or her head during the course of the swinging action, the visual guide established by the training device also moves, compromising its efficacy. A need exists for a more forgiving golf training or practice aid that substantially preserves the efficacy of the visual guide it establishes, even if the user moves his or her head in a typical manner.

Interesting!

Dave Dawsey - Watching Golf Teaching Patents

PS – check out additional putter patents HERE

Need a Golf Bag to Match Your Man Purse?

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-06T05:00:00Z

Hermes has just the offering for the metrosexual golfer that has just about everything, except a golf bag to match his fancy luggage and man purse. Check out this bag!

The drawings come from the recently issued design patent USPN D606,750. Classy and interesting design, but I would expect golfers that I play with to kick my rear if I every showed up carrying one of these.

Dave Dawsey - Watching Golf Bag Patents

PS – click HERE to check out other golf club IP posts

Golf-Patent’s “Hot List” Golf Irons

David Dawsey PE Esq — 2010-01-04T05:00:00Z

The Golf Digest Hot List 2010 is out and they seemed to have overlooked an important category; namely, the shank-resistant iron category. In the past I have posted (here and here) about golfers obsession with clubs designed to prevent hosel rockets, but somehow I have overlooked this beauty of a club. Check it out:

The design comes from USPN 5338029, which explains:

The invention relates to a golf club of the iron type, and more particularly to such a club which is less likely to produce a shanked shot than conventional irons.

Golf clubs are made in three distinct types or categories. Among these is the putter, designed to roll the ball on the ground without causing the ball to take flight. The remaining types are designed to propel the ball through the air with various trajectories, and include the several woods (commonly now made with metal heads shaped like conventional woods), and the irons (1-9 irons, pitching wedge, and sand wedge).

The head of an iron comprises a heel and a toe, the former being nearest the golfer when the club is in use and the latter being furthest from the golfer, with the striking face between the heel and toe. The shaft of the club is ordinarily mounted at or attached to the heel of the club, and is accordingly mounted eccentrically with respect to the striking face.

When the iron is swung correctly, contact with the ball is made with a particular portion of the striking face (commonly referred to as "the sweet spot") and the desired trajectory is produced. However, if contact between the ball and the iron is with the heel at the attachment of the shaft, the resulting trajectory of the ball is unpredictable. This unfortunate event is referred to as "shanking" the ball.

These and other difficulties with conventional prior art irons are substantially reduced by the present invention, which provides novel irons having several advantages as noted below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a primary aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf club of the iron type, comprising a club head having an upper surface, a sole, a heel and a toe, a rear surface and a forward striking face. Each of the rear surface and the striking face extends from the heel to the toe. The striking face lies in a first plane forming an obtuse angle with a horizontal plane. The club head has a center of mass spaced from the sole. The club further comprises an elongated shaft having an axis extending downwardly and outwardly from an upper end thereof to a lower end thereof. Mounting means are provided for mounting the lower end of the shaft on the rear face at a location between the heel and toe and below the upper edge and above the sole with the axis lying in a vertical plane forming an obtuse angle with the first plane. The mounting means comprises a member spaced from and to the rear of the upper edge, and extends downwardly and forwardly to the noted location.

That’s a beauty. Perhaps someday I will find the time to really create my own “hot list.”

Dave Dawsey - Watching Golf Wedge Patents