BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional golf club head;
FIG. 2 is an assembled sectional view of the conventional golf club head of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an assembled sectional view of a conventional golf club head disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. M240256;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment in an assembled state;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment in an assembled state;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the third preferred embodiment in an assembled state;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention; and
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment in an assembled state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention is adapted to be applied to a wood, and is shown to comprise a head body 5 having a front opening 51, a striking plate member 6, and a vibration-absorbing plate member 62.
The striking plate member 6 covers the front opening 51 of the head body 5, is made of a titanium alloy, and has a thickness of about 0.5 mm. The striking plate member 6 further has a front striking face 61 with a striking zone, and a ring 612 projecting rearwardly from a rear side of the striking plate member 6 and defining an indentation 610. The ring 612 is located behind the striking zone of the striking face 61.
The vibration-absorbing plate member 62 is fixed in the indentation 610, is made of a carbon fiber plastic material, and has four angularly spaced-apart through holes 620.
A fastening unit is provided to fix the vibration-absorbing plate member 62 in the indentation 610 of the striking plate member 6. The fastening unit includes four fasteners 63, in the form of screws, and four angularly spaced-apart studs 613 projecting rearwardly from the rear side of the striking plate member 6 within the ring 612 and extending respectively through the through holes 620. Each of the studs 613 has an internal screw hole 614. The fasteners 63 are engaged threadedly and respectively to the internal screw holes 614 in the studs 613 after the studs 613 extend through the through holes 620, respectively, thereby securing the vibration-absorbing plate member 62 in the indentation 610.
When the golf club head of the present invention strikes the golf ball, the vibration produced when the striking face 61 hits the golf ball is directly and effectively absorbed by the vibration-absorbing plate member 62, such that the vibration that is transferred to the player's hands is minimized. As a result, any feelings of discomfort given to the player are reduced, and the player can stably and accurately strike the golf ball in a desired direction.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the second preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, each of the studs 613′ has an external thread 615 extending through a respective one of the through holes 620 in the vibration-absorbing plate member 62. Each of the fasteners 63′ has an internal thread 630 engaged respectively to the external thread 615 of the respective stud 613′ after each stud 613′ extends through the respective through hole 620, thereby securing the vibration-absorbing plate member 62 in the indentation 610 of the ring 612. Each fastener 63′ is in the form of a cap. Alternatively, each fastener 63′ may be in the form of a nut.
Although the studs 613′ are located within the ring 612 in this embodiment, they may project rearwardly from the ring 612 in an alternative embodiment, so that the studs 613′ are located between the ring 612 and the vibration-absorbing plate member 62. By slightly altering the configuration of the vibration-absorbing plate member 62, the vibration-absorbing plate member 62 can be similarly fixed in the indentation 610 of the ring 612.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the third preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the striking plate member (6a) further has a cover plate 64 secured to the ring (612a) and covering the vibration-absorbing plate member (62a). The cover plate 64 is formed with four angularly spaced-apart radial through holes 641. The ring (612a) is also formed with four angularly spaced-apart radial through holes 616. The vibration-absorbing plate member (62a) is formed with four angularly spaced-apart radial screw holes 628. Each of the fasteners 63 extends through one of the radial through holes 641 in the cover plate 64 and the corresponding radial through hole 616 in the ring (612a), and engages the corresponding radial screw hole 628 in the vibration-absorbing plate member (62a), thereby securing the vibration-absorbing plate member (62a) in the indentation (610a) of the ring (612a). The fasteners 63 are configured as screws. In addition, the number of the fasteners 63 used in this embodiment is not limited to that described and shown, and may be varied as deemed necessary as long as the vibration-absorbing plate member (62a) is stably fixed in the indentation (610a) of the ring (612a).
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the fourth preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention is shown to be similar to the third preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the fastening unit includes an external thread 617 formed on an outer peripheral face of the ring (612b), and an internal thread 642 formed on the cover plate (64b) to engage the external thread 617 of the ring (612b). By rotating the cover plate (64b) relative to the ring (612b), the vibration-absorbing plate member (62b) can be secured in the indentation (610b) of the ring (612b).
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Patent Application
20080004132
