Golf club head

Abstract

A golf club head comprises: a face portion having a front face forming a club face and a rear face facing a hollow; a sole portion extending backward from the face portion and having an outer surface forming an undersurface of the head and an inner surface facing the hollow, the sole portion provided with a tubular part whose hole forms a socket; and a weight member secured in the socket. The tubular part protrudes from the inner surface of the sole portion into the hollow. The sole portion is provided on the outer surface with at least one stiffening groove so that said at least one stiffening groove forms at least one stiffening rib on the,inner surface of the sole portion, and the stiffening groove is partially included in a vicinity zone which is defined as extending 10 mm from the socket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a general overall shape of a wood-type hollow golf club head employed in the following embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along a line B-B in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along a line D-D in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along a line C-C in FIG. 4 showing an example of the stiffening groove.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are cross sectional views (similar to FIG. 11) each showing another example of the stiffening groove.

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view (similar to FIG. 11) for explaining a groove not encompassed in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, golf club head 1 according to the present invention is a hollow head for a wood-type golf club such as driver (#1) or fairway wood, and the head 1 comprises: a face portion 3 whose front face defines a club face 2 for striking a ball; a crown portion 4 intersecting the club face 2 at the upper edge 2a thereof; a sole portion 5 intersecting the club face 2 at the lower edge 2b thereof; a side portion 6 between the crown portion 4 and sole portion 5 which extends from a toe-side edge 2c to a heel-side edge 2d of the club face 2 through the back face BF of the club head; and a hosel portion 7 at the heel side end of the crown to be attached to an end of a club shaft (not shown) inserted into the shaft inserting hole 7a. Thus, the club head 1 is provided with a hollow (i) and a shell structure with the thin wall.

In the case of a wood-type club head for a driver (#1), it is preferable that the head volume is set in a range of not less than 350 cc, more preferably not less than 380 cc in order to increase the moment of inertia and the depth of the center of gravity. However, to prevent an excessive increase in the club head weight and deteriorations of swing balance and durability and further in view of golf rules or regulations, the head volume is preferably set in a range of not more than 460 cc.

The mass of the club head 1 is preferably set in a range of not less than 180 grams in view of the swing balance and rebound performance, but not more than 210 grams in view of the directionality and traveling distance of the ball.

The club head 1 is made up of a main body 1A and a weight member 9. Here, the main body 1A includes the above-mentioned face portion 3, crown portion 4, side portion 6 and hosel portion 7 and further a sole main part 5a forming an almost entire part of the sole portion 5 is also included.

The main body 1A is made of one or more kinds of metal materials, e.g. stainless steels, maraging steels, pure titanium, titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, amorphous alloys and the like. The main body 1A is formed by assembling a plurality of metal parts each prepared by a suitable process, e.g. forging, casting, press molding and the like. Also it is possible to use a nonmetallic material such as a fiber reinforced resin to form a part of the main body 1A.

The apparent specific gravity of the main body 1A obtained by the total mass and physical volume of all the materials of the main body 1A in the case of a plurality of materials are used OR the specific gravity of the main body 1A in the case of a single material is used, is preferably not more than 7.0, more preferably not more than 6.0, still more preferably not more than 5.0, but preferably not less than 3.0, more preferably not less than 4.0. If such specific gravity is too large, it becomes necessary to decrease the head volume against the requirement in order to maintain the club head weight. If too small, it becomes difficult to provide minimal strength for the club head.

The weight member 9 is made of a metal material having a specific gravity which is larger than a specific gravity of the above-mentioned sole main part 5a and also larger than the specific gravity of the main body 1A in the above sense. The specific gravity of the weight member 9 is preferably not less than 8.0, more preferably not less than 10.0, still more preferably not less than 15.0, but not more than 25.0. For examples, copper, copper alloys, tungsten, tungsten alloys, brass and the like can be used alone or in combination.

The weight member 9 is secured in a socket 8 which is provided in the sole portion 5 of the main body 1A so that the socket 8 opens at the outer surface 5S of the sole portion 5.

As to the position of the socket 8, in order to deepen the center G of gravity of the head, it is desirable that the ratio (WG/L) of the length WG between the front end FE and the center axis of the socket(namely, between the front end FE and the center WD of gravity of the weight member in the socket 8) to the length L between the front end FE and rear end BE of the club head, both measured in the back-and-forth direction of the head in parallel with the horizontal direction in the standard state of the head as shown in FIG. 4, is not less than 0.5, preferably not less than 0.6.

The weight member 9 inserted in the socket 8 can be fixed to the main body 1A by means of press fitting, caulking, adhesive bonding, welding and the like. But, in this example, a screw fixation is utilized as explained bellow.

The socket 8 is formed by a tubular part protruding from the inner surface of the sole portion 5 into the hollow (i). The socket 8 can be a blind hole, but in this example, the socket 8 is a circular through hole penetrating the sole portion 5. The center axis of the socket 8 is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface 5S.

The inside diameter of the socket 8 is gradually decreased from the outer end at the outer surface 5S to the inner end thereof.

In this example, the socket 8 comprises:

a tapered part 8a extending from the outer surface 5S of the sole portion 5 toward the inside of the head while gradually decreasing its inside diameter;

a constant diameter part 8b extending inwardly from the tapered part 8a while maintaining its inside diameter which is substantially equal to the minimum inside diameter of the tapered part 8a; and

a threaded part 8c extending inwardly from the constant diameter part 8b and provided with a thread groove having a diameter at the thread crest which is less than the inside diameter of the constant diameter part 8b.

Preferably, the difference (r) between the maximum radius and minimum radius of the tapered part 8a is not less than 1.0 mm, but not more than 3.0 mm, more preferably not more than 2.0 mm, still more preferably not more than 1.5 mm. As a result, the rigidity around the socket 8 can be increased to control vibrations of the sole portion 5 and weight member 9 at impact.

Corresponding to the socket 8, the weight member 9 is provided with: a threaded part 9a engaging with the threaded part 8c of the socket 8; and an increased-diameter part 9b at the outer end of the threaded part 9a in order to lower the center of gravity of the weight member 9.

The increased-diameter part 9b has an outer diameter which is more than the diameter at the thread crest of the threaded part 9a, and less than the minimum inside diameter of the tapered part 8a of the socket 8.

The weight member 9 can be inserted from the outside of the sole portion 5 and screwed together. Incidentally, the increased-diameter part 9b is provided at the outer end with a groove or dent (not shown) to engage with a screw wrench or the like.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the weight member 9 is secured in the socket 8, the outer end 9bs of the weight member 9 is positioned within the socket 8 so as to prevent the weight member 9 from contacting with the ground. If the depth S of the outer end 9bs from the outer surface 5S is too small, as the weight member 9 contacts with the ground, there is a possibility that the weight member 9 is loosened during use. If too large, there is a possibility that dirt and turf are packed in the hole, and the center of gravity becomes high, and as a result, the vibrations of the weight member and tubular socket part increase. Therefore, the depth s is preferably not less than 1.0 mm, but not more than 3.0 mm.

According to the present invention, the main body 1A is provided in the outer surface 5S of the sole portion with at least one groove 10 (hereinafter the “stiffening groove 10”) for stiffening the sole portion 5 especially at least the vicinity of the socket 8.

The “stiffening groove 10” opened at the outer surface 5S and extends towards the periphery of the sole portion 5 from a vicinity zone Z to the outside thereof. The vicinity zone Z is defined as extending 10 mm from the socket 8. As the socket 8 in this example is a circular hole, the vicinity zone Z is defined by a circular zone whose radius is 10 mm larger than the radius of the socket at the outer surface 5S of the sole portion 5.

It is necessary that, by forming the stiffening groove 10 on the outer surface 5S, a rib protruding from the inner surface of the sole portion 5 towards the hollow (i) is formed.

Therefore, the thickness tg of the wall which forms the groove 10 is substantially same as or more than the thickness ts of the sole main part 5a. Accordingly, an example shown in FIG. 15 wherein ts>tg is not included in the scope of the present invention.

Preferably, the thickness tg is 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 for a proper strength. In the following embodiments, the thickness tg is equal to the thickness ts.

If the distance between the socket 8 and the groove 10 is more than 10 mm, the vicinity zone Z can not be reinforced by the resultant rib.

Therefore, the stiffening groove 10 can start from a position at a small distance from the socket 8 within the vicinity zone Z as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 9, OR a position at the socket 8 as shown in FIG. 7.

Further, the stiffening groove 10 can pass by the socket 8 as shown in FIG. 10, instead of starting from the vicinity zone z.

In either case, the stiffening groove 10 can extends in a lateral direction as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 7 and FIG. 10, OR in a back-and-forth direction as shown in FIG. 9. In any case, it is necessary that the stiffening groove 10 is partially included in the vicinity zone Z to effectively reinforce the vicinity zone Z.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 3, two grooves 10 are provided, which are a groove 10A disposed on the toe-side of the socket 8 and a groove 10B disposed on the heel-side of the socket 8. The groove 10A extends towards the toe from its first end 10i within the vicinity zone Z to its second end 10o at the periphery edge of the sole portion 5, while curving convexly towards the face. The groove 10B extends towards the heel from its first end 10i within the vicinity zone Z to its second end 10o at the periphery edge of the sole portion 5, while curving convexly towards the face.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, wherein each groove 10A, 10B is connected to the socket 8. In other words, each groove starts from the socket 8 as shown in FIG. 8 which is a cross sectional view taken along a line D-D in FIG. 7.

As a further embodiment, such a modification is also possible that one of the two grooves 10A and 10B is connected to the socket 8 as shown in a left or right half of FIG. 8, but the other is not connected as shown in a left or right half of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention, wherein two grooves 10 (10C and 10D) are arranged in line in substantially parallel with the back-and-forth direction of the head. The groove 10C is disposed on the face-side of the socket 8, and extends in the back-and-forth direction from its first end 10i within the vicinity zone Z to its second end 10o near the front edge of the sole portion 5. The groove 10D is disposed on the back-side of the socket 8, and extends in the back-and-forth direction from its first end within the vicinity zone Z to its second end in the side portion 6.

FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, unlike the former embodiments, the ends of the groove 10 (10E) are not located in the vicinity zone Z, but the groove 10E passes by the socket 8 so that a middle part of the groove 10E is located in the vicinity zone Z. The groove 10E extends in a heel-and-toe direction perpendicular to the back-and-forth direction.

In the bottom view (FIGS. 4, 7, 9, 10), the grooves 10 are arranged almost line-symmetrically about a line passing through the center WG of gravity of the weight member 9 in parallel with the back-and-forth direction of the head.

Aside from the FIG. 10 example, the groove 10 can be protruded from the sole portion 5 into the side portion 6, namely, the second end 10o can be positioned in the side portion 6.

In any case, the minimum distance RL1 between the socket 8 and the groove 10 (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E) is still necessary to be not more than 10 mm, preferably not more than 7.0 mm, more preferably not less than 5.0 mm, most preferably not more than 3.0 mm. In the case that the groove 10 is not connected to the socket 8, in order to maintain a necessary groove wall thickness, the minimum distance RL1 is preferably not less than 1.0 mm, more preferably not less than 1.5 mm, still more preferably not less than 2.0 mm.

For the similar reasons to RL1, the minimum distance RL2 between the weight member 9 and the groove 10 is preferably set in a range of not less than 1.0 mm, more preferably not less than 1.5 mm, still more preferably not less than 2.5 mm, most preferably not less than 3.5 mm, but not more than 10.0 mm, more preferably not more than 7.0 mm, still more preferably not more than 5.0 mm.

The length of the groove 10 measured along its widthwise center line is preferably not less than 15 mm, more preferably not less than 20 mm, still more preferably not less than 25 mm. But, if the groove 10 is too long, the weight is increased although the reinforcing effect reaches the ceiling. Therefore, the length is preferably not more than 70 mm, more preferably not more than 50 mm, still more preferably not more than 40 mm.

The open top width GW of the groove 10 is preferably not less than 1 mm, more preferably not less than 2 mm, but not more than 10 mm, more preferably not more than 7 mm, when measured perpendicularly to the widthwise center line of the groove.

In the above embodiments, excepting the end portions of the groove 10, the open top width GW is substantially constant along the groove length. But, the groove width is increased at the second end 10o in the case of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7. In the case of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the groove width is decreased at the second end 10o.

The depth GD of the groove 10 is preferably not less than 0.5 mm, but not more than 2.0 mm.

The depth GD can be gradually decreased from the first end 10i to the second end 10o as in the embodiments shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7. But, it is also possible that the depth GD is constant along the almost entire length excepting both end portions as in the embodiments shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the cross sectional shape of the groove 10 which is employed in the above embodiments.

In this example, the groove 10 has a substantially flat, wide bottom wall 11, and a first side wall 12 and a second side wall 13 which extend from the face-side edge and back-side edge of the bottom wall 11, respectively.

The side walls 12 and 13 are inclined such that the width between the side walls 12 and 13 increases from the bottom to the top of the groove. The inclination angle θf of the side wall 12 and the inclination angle θb of the side wall 13 are preferably not less than 10 degrees, more preferably not less than 15 degrees, still more preferably not less than 30 degrees, but less than 90 degrees, more preferably not more than 80 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane HP under the standard state of the head. If less than 10 degrees, it becomes difficult to reinforce the vicinity zone Z.

The angle θf can be the same as the angle θb. In this example, however, the side wall 12 is made up of an inner part having an angle θf1 and an outer part having a different angle θf2. The angle θf2 is large than the angle θf1, but substantially same as the angle θb of the side wall 13. Therefore, the stress acting on the side wall 12 at impact can be effectively dispersed, and damage occurring near the front edge of the groove can be prevented.

FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 each shows another example of the cross sectional shape which can be employed in the above embodiments instead of the example shown in FIG. 11.

In FIG. 12, the groove 10 has the substantially flat bottom wall 11, first side wall 12 and second side wall 13. The angle θb of the side wall 13 is smaller than the angle θf of the side wall 12. The difference θf-θb is preferably set in a range of not less than 10 degrees, more preferably not less than 20 degrees, but not more than 60 degrees, more preferably not more than 40 degrees, still more preferably not more than 30 degrees. For example, the angle θf is substantially 90 degrees and the angle θb is about 45 degrees ±15 degrees.

In FIG. 13, the groove 10 has the substantially flat bottom wall 11, first side wall 12 and second side wall 13. The angles θf and θb of the side walls 12 and 13 are substantially 90 degrees. Accordingly, the groove 10 has a substantially rectangular cross section.

In FIG. 14, the flat bottom wall 11 was omitted. Therefore, the groove 10 has the first side wall 12 and second side wall 13 only. The side walls 12 and 13 have inclination angles θf and θb less than 90 degrees which are substantially identical in this illustrated example. Accordingly, the groove 10 has a triangular cross section.

Comparison Tests

Wood-type golf club heads as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 having a volume of 460 cc were prepared and tested for the resistance to loosening of the weight member and the resistance to crack of the vicinity of the socket.

All the heads had the same structure except for the stiffening grooves, and each head excluding the weight member (i.e. the main body) was formed from a titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V by lost-wax precision casting. The thread of the socket was formed after casting. The thickness ts of the sole main part was 1.1 mm.

The weight member was formed from a W—N sintered alloy having a specific gravity of 14.5 and a mass of 8 grams. AS shown in FIG. 5, the weight member had a threaded part 9a (Diameter at the crest: 5.0 mm) and an increased-diameter part 9b (Outer diameter: 12 mm).

The weight member was screwed into the socket after an adhesive agent was applied to the thread groove. The adhesive agent used was Epoxy adhesive “DP460” manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited.

Resistance to loosening test:

The club heads were attached to identical FRP shafts to make 45-inch wood clubs. Each club was mounted on a swing robot and hit golf balls (“XXIO” manufactured by SRI sports Ltd.) up to 10000 times at a head speed of 40 meter/second, and every 100 hits the weight member was checked whether the weight member was still screwed up or loosed. If loosed, the number of hits was recorded. The results are indicated in Table 1, wherein “ok” indicates that the weight member was not loosed even after 10000 hits.

Crack Resistance Test:

Targeting the club heads marked as “ok” in the above Resistance to loosening test, a further test was conducted using newly prepared club heads. The test was conducted similarly to the above, but the head speed was increased to a very high speed of 50 meter/second. And every 100 hits up to 5000 hits, the vicinity of the socket was checked for crack by the naked eye from the outside of the head. If a crack was found, the number of hits was recorded. The results are indicated in Table 1, wherein “ok” indicates that there was no crack even after 5000 hits.

The present invention is suitably applied to a wood-type hollow head of a shell structure having a thin wall. But, it is also possible to apply the present invention to other types of golf club heads such as iron-type and utility-type as far as the head is provided in the thin sole portion with a socket for a separate weight member.

	TABLE 1
	Club head
	Ex. 1	Ex. 2	Ex. 3	Ex. 4	Ex. 5	Ex. 6	Ex. 7	Ex. 8	Ex. 9	Ref.
	Structure
	FIG. 4	FIG. 4	FIG. 4	FIG. 4	FIG. 4	*1	FIG. 7	FIG. 9	FIG. 10	*2
WGL/L	0.67	0.67	0.67	0.67	0.67	0.67	0.67	0.67	0.67	0.67
Depth S (mm)	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5
Difference r (mm)	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5
Min. distance RL1 (mm)	1.0	2.0	5.0	7.0	10.0	2.0	0	2.0	7.0	—
Min. distance RL2 (mm)	2.5	3.5	6.5	8.5	11.5	2.5	1.5	3.5	8.5	—
Groove length *3 (mm)	30	30	30	28	25	32	32	30	60	—
Groove length *4 (mm)	26	26	26	24	20	—	28	15	—	—
Test results
Resistance to loosening	ok	ok	ok	8700	5100	9200	ok	9300	5200	3900
Crack resistance	4300 *5	ok	ok	—	—	—	1900 *6	—	—	—
*1 Similar to the FIG. 4 structure, but one of two grooves on the heel-side was eliminated.
*2 Similar to the FIG. 4 structure, but the two grooves were eliminated.
*3 of the groove on the toe-side/clubface-side
*4 of the groove on the heel-side/back-face-side
*5 Crack was found in the part between the socket and groove.
*6 Crack was found at the junction of the socket and groove.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising: a face portion having a front face forming a club face and a rear face facing a hollow;a sole portion extending backward from the face portion and having an inner surface facing the hollow and an outer surface forming an undersurface of the head, the sole portion provided with a tubular part whose hole forms a socket; anda weight member secured in the socket,

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said at least one stiffening groove is not connected to the socket.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said at least one stiffening groove is a plurality of grooves extending radially from the socket, each starting from a starting point within the vicinity zone.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said at least one stiffening groove passes by the socket.

5. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the minimum distance between the socket and each said at least one stiffening groove is not less than 1.0 mm and less than 10.0 mm.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said at least one stiffening groove extends, starting from the socket.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said at least one stiffening groove is a plurality of grooves extending radially from the socket, each starting from the socket.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein each said stiffening groove has a length of not less than 15 mm and an opening width of from 1 to 10 mm.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the socket comprises: a threaded inner part having a first inside diameter at the top of the thread; and an outer part having a second inside diameter larger than the first inside diameter, andthe weight member comprises: a threaded part engaging with the threaded part of the socket; and an increased-diameter part placed within the outer part of the socket.

10. The golf club head according to claim 3, wherein the minimum distance between the socket and each said at least one stiffening groove is not less than 1.0 mm and less than 10.0 mm.

11. The golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the minimum distance between the socket and each said at least one stiffening groove is not less than 1.0 mm and less than 10.0 mm.