Golf putter with sighting device

#This invention relates to sighting devices for golf putters and more particularly to an improved and novel golf putter which incorporates a uniquely mounted liquid level which permits use of the putter in regulation play as well as for practice use.

#The putter is the golf club used primarily on the green for striking the ball to roll over the green surface toward the hole. Thus, precise and delicate alignment of the club and ball is required and, therefore, more accurate eye measurements must be made by the golfer. Such measurements include keeping the putter blade lined up in a horizontal plane while the front face is arranged in a plane at right angles to the target line, or intended initial direction of the ball and toward the hole. These measuring criteria should be maintained throughout the full swing of the club by the golfer to secure a successful putt.

#Devices to aid the golfer make such difficult occular measurements and coordinated hand and arm movements have come forth in a variety of forms. One such form is the use of a liquid or bubble-type level incorporated into the putter blade to help make proper adjustments for the slope of the green, as does this invention; however, none so far have disclosed an embodiment which may be used for both regulation and practice play with no depreciable effect to the putter, such as a shift in weight. That is, conventional rules prohibit moving parts, which would include the bubble of a level, in a visible position on a golf club during regulation play, although such devices may be used for practise.

#FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the putter blade with the sighting core in exploded view with the liquid level exposed on the upper surface thereof;

#FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the putter of FIG. 1 showing the core-receiving cavity on the upper surface of the putter blade and the protruding "sweet- spot" on the front surface; and

#FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the putter of FIG. 1 showing the opposite, essentially planar surface end of the sighting core threadedly engaged within the putter blade upper surface.

#Referring now to the drawing, in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown a putter blade denoted generally by reference numeral 10 attached to an elongated shaft, a portion of which is denoted by reference numeral 12. The upper surface 19 of the blade includes a circular, internally threaded cavity 14 of sufficient depth to receive a cylindrical, externally threaded core 16 of substantially the same diameter as the cavity 14, and an additional predetermined number of weight "chips" or slugs 18 to adjust the weight of the putter blade for the user's particualr needs.

#In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the putter blade 10 includes a front "toe" portion 25 with carved out area 20 and back "heel" portion 27 with carved out area 22 while the bottom face or sole (not shown) of the putter blade 10 is in an essentially horizontal plane. The carved out protion 24 in the middle bottom face of the blade extends approximately half the width of the putter blade as is evidenced by the protruding sweet-spot on the opposite or ball hitting side of the blade, denoted by reference numeral 30 in FIG. 2. The length of the sweet-spot 30 from edge to edge is preferably about the same as the diameter of the usual golf ball which is approximately one an five-eights inches, thus assisting in alignment of the ball with the putter sweet spot.

#The cylindrical core 16 of FIG. 1 has essentially planar opposite ends, one such end including a circular liquid level 26 of essentially the same diameter as the core 16. A "target circle" 28 is inscribed at the center of the level 26 such that when the putter blade 10 is properly aligned to secure a successful putt, as aforementioned, the bubble in the level will appear inside the target circle 28. The opposite planar end of the core 16 is shown in FIG. 3 and denoted by numeral 32 including threaded portion 34.