Adjustable weight putter

Abstract

An adjustable weight golf putter is provided with a body portion of a material of low specific gravity, for example aluminum, and a weighted cap, receivable in a longitudinal recess opening at the back extremity of the body portion. The weighted cap is formed of a material of high specific gravity, for example a tungsten-copper alloy, and has a weight which is at least more than 20%, and preferably more than 30% of the weight of the lighter body portion, concentrating the weight of the putter head toward the back and locating its center of gravity more than half way toward the back of the putter head. The weighted cap is secured by a threaded shaft engageable in a recess extension in the body. Optional weighted discs, of a high specific gravity material and each of a different weight, are threadedly engageable with the shaft and are usable in various combinations for optimal weight adjustment. The optional weights are applied in tight engagement with the weighted cap, to maintain weight concentration at the back.

1 . An adjustable weight golf putter which comprises 
 (a) a putter head having a ball-striking face of predetermined width and a body portion extending rearwardly from said striking face for a distance equal to a substantial fraction of said predetermined width,    (b) said body portion being formed of a relatively low specific gravity material and having a longitudinal axis disposed in perpendicular relation to said ball-striking face,    (c) said body portion having a cylindrical recess therein, open at a back extremity of said body portion and extending forwardly therein along said longitudinal axis,    (d) a weighted cap, formed of a material of substantially greater specific gravity than said body portion, received in back extremities of said cylindrical recess and closing said recess,    (e) said weighted cap having a threaded shaft fixed to a forward end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom along said axis,    (f) said body portion having a recess extension therein at a forward end of said cylindrical recess for closely receiving and confining a forward end portion of said threaded shaft,    (g) one or more disc-like weights having a diametrical dimension to be closely received within said cylindrical recess and each having a central threaded opening for selective threaded reception on said threaded shaft,    (h) said disc-like weights being formed of a material of substantially greater specific gravity than said body portion and being positioned in substantially abutting relation to said weighted cap.    
   
   
       2 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 (a) said recess extension is threaded to receive the forward end of said threaded shaft, and    (b) said weighted cap is held in its installed position by said threaded shaft.    
   
   
       3 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 (a) said weighted cap has a weight in excess of 20% of the combined weight of said body portion and said ball-striking face.    
   
   
       4 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 (a) said one or more disc-like weights comprising at least two such weights, each of a different weight, whereby combinations of one or more of said weights with said weighted cap provide a variety of weight balances for said putter.    
   
   
       5 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 (a) said body portion is formed primarily of aluminum and said weighted cap is formed primarily of a tungsten copper alloy.    
   
   
       6 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 (a) said tungsten copper alloy has a specific gravity of about 17.    
   
   
       7 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 (a) said weighted cap is formed with an enlargement at a back extremity thereof, and    (b) said cylindrical recess is formed with an enlarged open end portion for reception of said enlargement, for positioning said weighted cap and sealing said cylindrical recess.    
   
   
       8 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 (a) back portions of said body portion are arcuately contoured, and    (b) said weighted cap has a rearwardly facing surface contoured to correspond with the contoured back portions of said body portion and form a generally smooth continuation of the contours of said back portions.    
   
   
       9 . An adjustable weight golf putter which comprises 
 (a) a putter head having a ball-striking face of predetermined width and a stem portion extending rearwardly from said ball-striking face at right angles thereto,    (b) said stem portion having a longitudinal axis intersecting said ball-striking face in a central portion thereof and having a width substantially less than the width of said ball-striking face,    (c) a body end portion joined with a rearward portion of said stem portion and extending rearwardly therefrom,    (d) said body end portion having a width greater then the width of said stem portion and less than the width of said ball-striking face,    (e) said body end portion having a cylindrical recess therein, open at a back extremity of said body end portion and extending forwardly therein along said longitudinal axis,    (f) a weighted cap, formed of a material of substantially greater specific gravity than said stem and body end portions, received in back extremities of said cylindrical recess and closing said recess,    (g) said weighted cap having a threaded shaft fixed to a forward end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom along said axis,    (h) one of said body end portion and said stem portion having a recess extension therein at a forward end of said cylindrical recess,    (i) said recess extension being threaded for engagement with a forward end portion of said threaded shaft for securing said weighted cap in said body end portion,    (j) said weighted cap having a weight of at least about 20% of the combined weight of said ball-striking face, said stem portion and said body end portion.    
   
   
       10 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 (a) one or more disc-like weights are provided, each having a diametrical dimension to be closely received within said cylindrical recess and each having a central threaded opening for threaded reception on said threaded shaft,    (b) said shaft being threaded to a point closely adjacent a front face of said weighted cap, whereby one of said weights may be positioned in abutting relation to said front face.    
   
   
       11 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 (a) at least three such disc-like weights are provided, each having a different weight, whereby combinations of some, all or none of said weights may be selectively mounted on said threaded shaft to provide a variety of weight balances for said putter.    
   
   
       12 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 (a) said weighted cap and said disc-like weights are formed of a tungsten-copper alloy having a specific gravity of about 17.    
   
   
       13 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 (a) said stem and body end portions of said putter head being formed of aluminum.    
   
   
       14 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 (a) said cylindrical recess is formed with an rearwardly divergent tapered entrance recess at the back extremity of said body end portion, and    (b) said weighted cap has a cylindrical forward portion, closely received in said cylindrical recess, and an rearwardly divergent collar at a rearward end thereof,    (c) said rearwardly divergent collar being received in said tapered entrance recess to position said weighted cap and to seal said recess.    
   
   
       15 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 (a) said putter head is formed with integral, rearwardly tapered gussets extending from said ball-striking face to said body end portion along each side of said stem portion,    (b) said gussets having a thickness substantially less than said ball-striking face, said stem portion and said body end portion.    
   
   
       16 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 15 , wherein 
 (a) said body end portion is formed with convexly arcuate back face contours,    (b) said weighted cap is formed with a convexly contoured back face, and    (c) said weighted cap is positioned by said rearwardly divergent recess and collar such that the contoured back face of said cap forms a continuation of the contours of said body end portion.    
   
   
       17 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 15 , wherein 
 (a) said gussets are aligned generally in a horizontal plane including said longitudinal axis.    
   
   
       18 . An adjustable weight golf putter according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 (a) said putter head is of predetermined length, and    (b) the respective weights of said putter head and said weighted cap are such that the center of gravity of the combined putter head and weighted cap is spaced behind said ball-striking face a distance which is more than half of said predetermined length.