Lie Adjustable High Moment of Inertia Putter

Abstract

A high moment of inertia is enabled in a novel golf putter head in which also infinite adjustment of the lie angle and adjustment of total weight over a very wide range are enabled. The putter can be configured for either right-handed or left-handed players. The putter head has a cylindrical recess partially open through the top of the head and fully open to the rear of the head allowing the insertion of a cylindrical shaft receiver disc. The shaft can be of any allowed length and the lie angle can be from 26 degrees to 10 degrees from vertical. The mass properties of the putter head may be changed and adjusted by addition or removal of weights at the extreme toe and heel ends of the putter head.

1 . A golf putter comprising:
 an elongated shaft;   a putter head having a first and second end;   the shaft secured to the putter head between the first and second ends;   a shaft angle adjustment means for, alternatively, allowing the shaft to rotate in the putter head in a vertical plane and rigidly securing the shaft to the putter head;   multiple balance weights, each removably secured at a either the first or second end.   
     
     
         2 . A golf putter, according to  claim 1 , and wherein:
 the head includes a first and second weight support, the first weight support extending rearward from the first end of the head and the second weight support extending rearward from the second end of the head; wherein:   each weight support is configured to receive and removably retain at least one balance weight.   
     
     
         3 . A golf putter, according to  claim 2 , and wherein:
 each weight support comprises a respective threaded fastener.   
     
     
         4 . A golf putter, according to claim,  3 , and wherein:
 each weight support further comprises a support arm integral with, and extending rearward from, either the first end or second end, each threaded fastener extending upward from an respective support arm.   
     
     
         5 . A golf putter, according to  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 two alignment indicia, each having a circular vertical projection, each alignment indicia secured to a respective balance weight.   
     
     
         6 . A golf putter, according to  claim 1  and wherein:
 the putter head has a contact face with a loft angle in the range of zero to two degrees between the plane of the contact face and the vertical plane of rotation of the shaft. 
 
     
     
         7 . A golf putter comprising:
 a head;   an elongated shaft, the shaft rotatably secured to the head while in an adjustment condition and rigidly secured to the head in a fixed condition;   the head having:
 at least one set of balance weights, each set comprising at least two balance weights; and wherein, 
   the head is configured to receive and removably retain each set of balance weights to maintain a location of the head center of mass.   
     
     
         8 . A golf putter, according to  claim 7 , and wherein:
 the head has a cavity and a disk disposed in the cavity and configured to rotate within the cavity in the adjustment condition, the shaft secured to the disk;   and further comprising a plate secured to the head and rigidly retaining the disk to the head in the fixed condition.   
     
     
         9 . A golf putter, according to  claim 8 , and wherein:
 the head has a toe end and a heel end, and includes a first and second weight support, the first weight support extending rearward from the toe end of the head and the second weight support extending rearward from the heel end of the head; wherein:   each weight support is configured to receive and removably retain at least one balance weight.   
     
     
         10 . A golf putter, according to  claim 9 , and wherein:
 each weight support comprises a respective threaded fastener.   
     
     
         11 . A golf putter, according to claim,  10 , and wherein:
 each weight support further comprises a support arm integral with, and extending rearward from, either the toe end or heel end, each threaded fastener extending upward from an respective support arm.   
     
     
         12 . A golf putter, according to  claim 7 , and further comprising:
 two alignment indicia, each having a circular vertical projection, each alignment indicia secured to a respective balance weight.   
     
     
         13 . A golf putter, according to  claim 8  and wherein
 the disk includes a flat control surface; 
 and further comprising:
 a set screw extending from the head and into the cavity and contacting the control surface in the fixed condition to resist rotation of the disk. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . A golf putter comprising:
 a head having a first and opposing second end;   an elongated shaft;   the head having:
 a shaft securing means for securing the shaft to the head while allowing adjustment of the angle of the shaft in one fixed geometric plane relative to the head; 
   a first and second weight attachment, the attachments each located at a respective end of the head;   at least one set of balance weights, each set comprising at least two balance weights, each having a common mass; and wherein;   each attachment configured to accept and retain at least one balance weight.   
     
     
         15 . A golf putter comprising, according to  claim 14  and wherein:
 the shaft securing means comprises:
 a cavity in the head; 
 a disk secured to or integral with the shaft, the disk configured to rotate in a single plane within the cavity in an adjustment condition; and 
 a plate secured to the head and contacting and biased against the disk in a fixed condition to secure the shaft. 
 
 
     
     
         16 . A golf putter comprising, according to  claim 14 , and wherein:
 the attachment extends horizontally rearward from the head.   
     
     
         17 . A golf putter comprising, according to  claim 14 , and wherein:
 the attachment extends vertically upward from the head.   
     
     
         18 . A golf putter comprising:
 a putter head having a first and second end;   the head includes a first and second weight support, the first weight support extending rearward from the first end of the head and the second weight support extending rearward from the second end of the head;   multiple balance weights, each removably secured at a either the first or second end, and wherein:   each weight support is configured to receive and removably retain at least one balance weight; and   a handle shaft secured to the putter.