Patent Application
20150045143
The present invention relates to a golf club head excellent in the rebound performance and a method for manufacturing the same excellent in the production efficiency.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-285452 discloses a method for manufacturing a hollow golf club head. This manufacturing method includes a process for manufacturing a cup-shaped face member defining a face portion of the head and provided with a turnback. This manufacturing process includes a step of cutting and thinning the entirety of a portion corresponding to the turnback, of a flat-plate-like part for the face member, and a step of forming the turnback by press working.
In general, a golf club head having a cup-shaped face member has a tendency that the rebound performance is improved with the increase in the dimension of the turnback measured in the front-back direction of the club head.
On the other hand, when a turnback is to be provided for a flat-plate-like part by press working, it becomes difficult to bend it as the dimension of the turnback increases, therefore, there is a problem with the production efficiency.
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head and a method for manufacturing the same, in which the production efficiency can be improved even if the turnback has a larger dimension in the front-back direction.
According to the present invention, a golf club head has a hollow therein and a head volume of not less than 350 cc, and the head comprises a head main body and a substantially cup-shaped face member which are united with each other, wherein
the face member integrally includes a face portion having a club face for hitting a ball, and a turnback extending backwardly of the head from the peripheral edge of the club face,
an inner surface on the hollow side, of the face member is provided with a groove extending along the boundary of the turnback with the face portion, and
the face member is a press-formed part whose turnback is bent by press working.
The golf club head according to the present invention may have the following features (1)-(5):
(1) the groove comprises a toe-side groove extending along a toe-side part of the boundary and a heel-side groove extending along a heel-side part of the boundary;
(2) the ratio ta/tb of the thickness to of the face member at the toe-side groove to the thickness tb of the face member at the heel-side groove is in a range of from 0.3 to 1.0;
(3) the thickness ta of the face member at the toe-side groove is less than the thickness tb of the face member at the heel-side groove;
(4) the thickness ta of the face member at the toe-side groove is 0.5 to 2.0 mm;
(5) the toe-side groove is disposed within a region defined on the toe-side of a toe-side vertical plane, and
the heel-side groove is disposed within a region defined on the heel-side of a heel-side vertical plane,
wherein the two vertical planes are parallel with the front-back direction of the head and trisect a width of the club face measured along a horizontal line extending parallel with the toe-heel direction of the head through the sweet spot of the club face.
According to the present invention, a method for manufacturing a golf club head having a hollow therein and a head volume of not less than 350 cc, comprises:
a process of connecting a substantially cup-shaped face member and a head main body with each other, wherein the face member integrally includes a face portion having a club face for hitting a ball, and a turnback extending backwardly of the head from the peripheral edge of the club face; and
a process of producing the face member which includes the steps of
(a) preparing a flat-plate-like plate material,
(b) cutting out a flat-plate-like part for the face member from the flat-plate-like plate material,
(c) providing the turnback for the flat-plate-like part by press working thereon after the step (b), to form the face member, and
(d) forming a groove on the flat-plate-like part or the flat-plate-like plate material prior to the step (c) so that the groove extends along a line corresponding to the boundary of the turnback with the face portion.
The method for manufacturing a golf club head according to the present invention may have the following features (i)-(iii):
(i) the width of the groove is 2 to 10 mm;
(ii) in the step (c), the flat-plate-like part is bent along the groove to form the turnback;
(iii) the above-mentioned groove includes a toe-side groove extending along a toe-side part of the boundary and a heel-side groove extending along a heel-side part of the boundary, and
the step (d) includes a step of forming the toe-side groove and the heel-side groove.
Therefore, although the face member is a press-formed part in which the turnback is bent during press working, the turnback can be easily bent along the groove due to the relatively small thickness of the grooved part, therefore, the production efficiency of the head especially of the cup-shaped face member can be improved.
Further, such groove facilitates the deflection of the face portion when hit by a golf ball, therefore, the golf club head according to the present invention can be improved in the rebound performance.
In this application including the description and claims, dimensions, positions, directions and the like relating to the club head refer to those under a standard state of the club head unless otherwise noted.
Here, the standard state of the club head is such that the club head is set on a horizontal plane HP so that the axis CL of the club shaft (not shown) is inclined at the specified lie angle alpha while keeping the axis on a vertical plane, and the face forms the specified loft angle (real loft angle) with respect to the horizontal plane HP.
Incidentally, in the case of the club head alone, the center line of the shaft inserting hole can be used instead of the axis of the club shaft.
“Front-back direction” is a direction parallel with a straight line projected on the horizontal plane HP, wherein the straight line is drawn normally to the club face passing through the center of gravity G of the club head.
“Toe-heel direction” is a direction parallel with the horizontal plane HP and perpendicular to the front-back direction.
“Sweet spot SS” is the point of intersection between the club face and a straight line drawn normally to the club face passing the center of gravity G of the club head.
The peripheral edge of the club face 2 can be defined by a ridge line if it is readily identifiable. However, if the peripheral edge of the club face 2 is unclear due to smooth change in the curvature, a virtual ridge line which is defined, based on the curvature change is used instead as follows.
As shown in
c) are schematic cross sectional views of the flat-plate-like part for explaining the process of producing the face member.
A golf club head as an embodiment of present invention will now be described in detail together with a method for manufacturing the same in conjunction with accompanying drawings.
The club head 1 is, as shown in
The club head 1 in this embodiment has a head volume of not less than 350 cc. Typically, a club head having such head volume is for a driver.
The club head 1 having a larger head volume has a larger moment of inertia, and the directionality of the hit ball can be improved. Preferably, the head volume of the club head 1 is set to be not less than 380 cc.
However, if the head volume is excessively increased, there is a possibility that the weight of the club head is unfavorably increased, and the head becomes incompatible with the golf rules or regulations. From such viewpoint, the head volume is preferably set to be not more than 480 cc.
The club number and loft angle of the club head 1 are however not limited in the present invention.
The club head 1 comprises a face portion 3, a crown portion 4, a sole portion 5, a side portion 6 and a hosel portion 7.
The front surface of the face portion 3 defines a club face 2 for hitting a golf ball. The club face 2 has a peripheral edge extending therearound and including an upper edge 2a, a lower edge 2b, a toe-side edge 2c and a heel-side edge 2d. The club face 2 may be provided with score lines and/or punch marks (not shown).
The crown portion 4 extends backwardly of the club head from the upper edge 2a of the club face 2 so as to form the top surface of the club head.
The sole portion 5 extends backwardly of the club head from the lower edge 2b of the club face 2 so as to form the bottom face of the club head.
The side portion 6 extends between the crown portion 4 and the sole portion 5 and extends from the toe-side edge 2c of the club face 2 to the heel-side edge 2d of the club face 2 through the back side of the club head.
The hosel portion 7 is formed in a heel-side of the club head 1. The hosel portion 7 is tubular and provided with a shaft inserting hole 7a into which a club shaft is inserted.
The club head 1 comprises a face member 1 and a head main body 1B as shown in
In this embodiment, each of the face member 1 and head main body 1B is made of a metal material. For example, stainless steel, maraging steel, titanium alloy and the like can be suitably used as such metal materials. However, the head main body 1B may be partly made of a fiber reinforced resin.
The face member 1A integrally includes the face portion 3 and a turnback 9 extending backwardly of the club head from the peripheral edge of the club face 2, therefore, the face member 1A is substantially cup-shaped and has an edge O1 of an opening toward the back side.
In this embodiment, the face member 1A includes the entirety of the club face 2.
As another embodiment, the face member 1A may include only a part of the club face 2. In this case, it is preferable that the face member 1A includes a major part of the club face 2 inclusive of the sweet spot SS.
In this embodiment, the turnback 9 includes a crown-side turnback 9a, a sole-side turnback 9b, a toe-side turnback 9c and a heel-side turnback 9d. Thereby, the turnback 9 is formed substantially continuously around the face portion 3.
The crown-side turnback 9a extends backwardly of the club head from the upper edge 2a of the club face 2 so as to form a fore part of the crown portion 4.
The sole-side turnback 9b extends backwardly of the club head from the lower edge 2b of the club face 2 so as to form a fore part of the sole portion 5.
The toe-side turnback 9c extends backwardly of the club head from the toe-side edge 2c of the club face 2 so as to form a toe-side fore part of the side portion 6.
The heel-side turnback 9d extends backwardly of the club head from the heel-side edge 2d of the club face 2 so as to form a heel-side fore part of the side portion 6.
The head main body 1B forms the remaining part of the club head 1 excluding the face member 1A.
The head main body 1B integrally includes a crown aft part 4a, a sole aft part 5a, a side aft part 6 and the hosel portion 7.
The head main body 1B is also substantially cup-shaped and has an edge O2 of opening toward the front side.
Preferably, the head main body 18 is formed as a single piece by casting.
The crown aft part 4a of the head main body 1B forms the aft part of the crown portion 4.
The edge of the crown aft part 4a is butted with the edge of the crown-side turnback 9a of the face member 1A.
The sole aft part 5a of the head main body 1B forms the aft part of the sole portion 5.
The edge of the sole aft part 5a is butted with the edge of the sole-side turnback 9a of the face member 1A.
The side aft part 6a of the head main body 1B forms the aft part of the side portion 6.
The edge of the side aft part 6a is butted with the edges of the toe-side and heel-side turnbacks 9c and 9d of the face member 1A.
The club head 1 is manufactured by connecting the face member 1 and the head main body 1B with each other. In this embodiment, they are connected by welding. The connecting method is however, not limited to welding. Various methods, e.g. brazing, soldering, adhesive agent, screw fastening and the like can be employed.
According to the present invention, the method for manufacturing the golf club head is characterized in the process of producing the face member 1A which comprises the following steps (a)-(d):
(a) preparing a flat-plate-like plate material,
(b) cut out a flat-plate-like part for the face member from the flat-plate-like plate material,
(c) providing the turnback 9 for the flat-plate-like part by press working thereon after the step (b), to form the face member, and
(d) forming a groove on the flat-plate-like part or the flat-plate-like plate material prior to the step (c) so that the groove extends along a line corresponding to the boundary of the turnback with the face portion.
[Step (a)]
In the step (a), a flat-plate-like plate material for producing the face member 1A is prepared.
As to the plate material, various sorts of metal materials can be used. Preferably, rolled materials are used.
The plate material has a uniform thickness. Preferably, the plate material has a thickness equal to or more than the maximum thickness of the face member 1A.
[Step (b)]
In the step (b), a flat-plate-like part 10 for the face member is cut out from the plate material M.
The step (b) is carried out after the step (a).
Preferably, a plurality of parts 10 are cut out from the plate material M as shown in
The part 10 has an edge 10e defining the contour. The edge 10e encompasses at least a region 12 corresponding to the face portion 3 and finally forming the face portion 3, and a region 13 corresponding to the turnback 9 and finally forming the turnback 9. It is possible to determine the edge 10e to further encompass a cutting stock and the like.
As to the method to cut out the part 10, a cutting method, for example, press cutting, laser cutting or the like can be employed.
[Step (d)]
The step (d) includes a step of forming a groove in the part 10 or alternatively in the plate material M
so that the groove extends along the boundary 14 between
the region 13 corresponding to the turnback and
the region 12 corresponding to the face portion
of the part 10 or the plate material M.
This step (d) is carried out after the step (a) of preparing the plate material M and prior to the undermentioned step (c) of press working.
The step (d) can be carried out after or prior to the step (b). In this embodiment, the step (d) is carried out after the step (b), namely, carried out on the cut-out part 10.
In order to explain the step (d), the cross sectional views of the part 10 are shown in
In this thickness adjusting step, the thickness of the part 10 is adjusted by cutting work.
Thereby, the part 10 is provided with
a first section 10a having a relatively large thickness t1, and
a second section 10b having a relatively small thickness t2. As the cutting work in this embodiment, surface grinding is carried out on the surface of the part 10 by the use of a cutting tool 16, e.g. end mill and the like.
In
The first section 10a is formed in a central part of the region 12 corresponding to the face portion. The first section 10a is formed not to protrude from the region 12 corresponding to the face portion.
The thickness t1 of the first section 10a is constant and equal to that of the plate material M since the cutting work is not carried out for the first section 10a.
The second section 10b is formed outside the first section 10a so as to surround the first section 10a.
In this embodiment, the second section 10b is formed so as to extend from the region 12 corresponding to the face portion into the region 13 corresponding to the turnback, and the second section 10b continues to the edge 10e.
The thickness t2 of the second section 10b is substantially constant.
Between the first section 10a and the second section 10b, there is provided with a transitional section 10c having a variable thickness decreasing gradually from the first section 10a towards the second section 10b.
In this example, on the crown-side and on the sole-side of the first section 10a, the transitional section 10c extends to the boundary 14. Such transitional section 10c mitigates stress concentration occurring in the region 12 due to the thickness difference.
In this invention, the above-mentioned thickness adjusting step is optional, but preferably carried out.
c) shows the main step of the step (d). In the main step, the part 10 is provided with a groove 18.
The groove 18 is formed so as to extend along the boundary 14 between the region 12 corresponding to the face portion and the region 13 corresponding to the turnback. The groove 18 is formed by surface grinding using a cutting tool 19, e.g. end mill and the like. However, the groove 18 may be formed by press working or the like.
As shown, the groove 18 is formed so that the boundary 14 is included within the groove width, and it is preferable that the depth of the groove 18 is smoothly increased to the widthwise center to have a smoothly curved contour like an arc. Accordingly, by the groove 18, the second section 10b is partially provided with a part having a relatively small thickness t3.
In the step (d) in this embodiment, the groove 18 is formed as two separate grooves: a toe-side groove 18a extending along a toe-side part of the boundary 14, and a heel-side groove 18b extending along a heel-side part of the boundary 14.
The toe-side groove 18a has a crown-side end 20 and a sole-side end 21, and the groove is curved like an arc between the ends 20 and 21.
Preferably, the toe-side groove 18a extends from the end 20 to the end 21 through the toe-side extreme end 14t of the boundary 14.
The heel-side groove 18b has a crown-side end 22 and a sole-side end 23, and the groove is curved like an arc between the ends 22 and 23.
Preferably, the heel-side groove 18b extends from the end 22 to the end 23 through the heel-side extreme end 14h of the boundary 14.
The configuration of the groove 18 is not to be limited to the above-mentioned example.
For example, as another example of the groove 18, it may be extended continuously and circularly along the boundary 14.
[Step (c)]
In the step (c), press working is carried out on the part 10 to form the turnback 9 and thereby to form the face member 1A. Thus, the step (c) is to obtain the face member 1B by forming the turnback 9 on the part 10 through press working (drawing) carried out after the step (b),
The groove 18 provided with the part 10 is pressed by the use of press dies (not shown). The press dies include a male die and a female die as usual.
The part 10 is set in the press dies and pressure is applied thereto. Preferably, the press working is carried out a plurality of times, changing the pressure and/or the press dies.
During the press working, the region 13 corresponding to the turnback, of the part 10 outside the groove 18 is bent backwardly of the club head, and the turnback 9 is formed. Thereby, the face member 1A is produced from the part 10. The region 13 corresponding to the turnback can be easily bent backwardly as the bending deformation is facilitated by the relatively thin grooved part or groove 18.
Therefore, the turnback 9 can be easily formed even if it has a larger size toward the back side of the club head.
On the other hands, the groove 18 mitigates compressive strain occurring on the back side of the boundary 14, and the occurrence of surface defects, wrinkling and the like of the shaped part 10 can be effectively prevented.
For the accurate press working, the width w of the groove 18 is preferably not less than 2 mm, more preferably not less than 3 mm, still more preferably not less than 4 mm, but not more than 10 mm, more preferably not more than 8 mm, still more preferably not more than 6 mm.
The boundary 14 has geometrically simple part and nonsimple part.
As shown in
The part of the boundary 14 around the toe-side extreme end 14t or heel-side extreme end 14h where the radius of curvature is relatively small and varies largely, is a nonsimple part.
If the groove 18 is not formed along such nonsimple part, it is difficult to form the turnback 9 therealong by press working without causing surface defects, wrinkling and the like because the turnback 9 is liable to subjected to a large deformation force.
In the present invention, since the groove 18 (toe-side groove 18a and heel-side groove 18b) is formed along nonsimple parts, the deformation force is mitigated, and the occurrence of such defects can be effectively prevented.
In this embodiment, the groove 18 is not formed along a part 30 of the boundary 14 between the toe-side groove 18a and the heel-side groove 18b. Therefore, the face member 1A is provided along the part 30 with sufficient strength which helps to improve the durability of the face member 1A.
From this standpoint, the toe-side groove 18a is preferably disposed within a toe-side region At of the face member. The heel-side groove 18b is preferably disposed within a heel-side region Ah of the face member.
Given two vertical planes (toe-side and heel-side) which are parallel with the front-back direction of the head and which trisecte a width of the club face 2 measured along a horizontal line passing through the sweet spot SS as shown in
the heel-side region Ah is defined on the heel-side of the heel-side vertical plane.
Therefore, the rebound performance and the durability can be improved.
As shown in
In the face member 1A, the boundary 14 can be approximately determined by the positions of normal lines to the club face 2 at the peripheral edge thereof.
Since the groove 18 provides the relatively small thickness for the peripheral edge of the club face 2, the groove 18 allows the face portion 3 to effectively deflect when hit by a golf ball and improves the rebound performance of the club head 1.
In the case of a large-sized club head having a head volume not less than 350 cc, there is a tendency that ball hitting positions of an average golfer spread widely in the toe-heel direction.
In the face member 1A in this embodiment, even if ball hitting positions spread widely in the toe-heel direction, owing to the toe-side groove 18a and the heel-side groove 18b, the head can exert good rebound performance.
The thickness ta of the face member at the toe-side groove 18a is preferably set in a range of not less than 0.5 mm, more preferably not less than 0.8 mm, still more preferably not less than 1.0 mm, but not more than 2.0 mm, more preferably not more than 1.8 mm, still more preferably not more than 1.5 mm. The thickness ta of the face member at the toe-side groove 18a is a minimum thickness occurring within the width of the groove when measured at a right angle to the tangent to the outer surface of the face member.
If the thickness ta is less than 0.5 mm, there is a possibility that the durability of the face portion 3 decreases. If the thickness ta is more than 2.0 mm, there is a possibility that the rebound performance of the club head 1 decreases.
Preferably, the ratio ta/tb of the thickness ta of the face member at the toe-side groove 18a to the thickness tb of the face member at the heel-side groove 18b is set in a range of not less than 0.3, more preferably not less than 0.5, but not more than 1.0.
The thickness tb of the face member at the heel-side groove 18b is a minimum thickness occurring within the width of the groove when measured at a right angle to the tangent to the outer surface of the face member.
If the ratio ta/tb is less than 0.3, the mass distribution increases in a heel-side of the face portion 3, and there is a possibility that the rebound performance is relatively decreased in a toe-side of the face portion 3. If the ratio ta/tb exceeds 1.0, the mass distribution increases in a toe-side of the face portion 3, and there is a possibility that the rebound performance is relatively decreased in a heel-side of the face portion 3.
More preferably, the thickness ta of the face member at the toe-side groove 18a is set to be less than the thickness tb of the face member at the heel-side groove 18b.
In the case of a typical average golfer, there is a tendency that ball hitting positions are distributed on the toe-side of the sweet spot more than on the heel-side.
On the other hand, when the thickness ta is less than the thickness tb, the coefficient of restitution is relatively increased on the toe-side. Therefore, it is preferable that to is less than tb.
In order to confirm the effects of the present invention, wood-type golf club heads (head volume 452 cc, loft angle 9.5 degrees, lie angle 58 degrees) were manufactured, including heads Ex.1-Ex.13 according to the present invention and a comparative example Ref.1.
In each example, as shown in
the groove 18 was formed as two separate toe-side groove and heel-side groove extending along a toe-side part and heel-side part of the boundary of the face portion with the turnback.
The face member was produced through the steps (a), (b) and (c) and the thickness adjusting step as explained above. Therefore, the groove 18 was not formed.
Aside from the groove 18, all of the club heads were identical.
Specifications common to all of the club heads are as follows:
face member material: Ti-5Al-1Fe
head main body material: Ti-8Al-1V-1Mo
thickness of plate material: 3.65 mm
maximum size of crown-side turnback: 5.0 mm
maximum size of sole-side turnback: 8.0 mm
maximum size of toe-side turnback: 8.0 mm
maximum size of heel-side turnback: 5.0 mm
The club heads were tested for the production efficiency and the rebound performance as follows.
For each face member, thirty pieces were produced by the press working and they were visually checked for the finished status of the turnback, and defects, wrinkling and the like at the boundary between the face portion and the turnback.
The results are indicated in Table 1 by an index based on the defect rate of the comparative example (Ref.1) being 100, wherein the smaller value is better.
Each head was attached to an identical FRP shaft to make a wood club, and ten golfers hit golf balls with the club in order to obtain a rebound parameter Vb/Vh, wherein Vb is the initial velocity of the hit ball, and Vh is the head speed at impact.
The arithmetic mean of the values of the rebound parameter obtained from the ten golfers is indicated in Table 1 by an index based on the comparative example (Ref.1) being 100, wherein the larger value is better.
From the test results, it was confirmed that the production efficiency of the face member according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, can be improved, and that the club head manufactured according to the manufacturing method of the present invention has high rebound performance.
While description has been made of preferable embodiments of the present invention, the illustrated embodiments should not be construed as to limit the scope of the present invention; various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-165484 | Aug 2013 | JP | national |
