Patent Application
20090139643
The present invention relates to a golf club head in which a resin member made of a fiber reinforced resin is employed at least in a part of a crown portion.
In recent years, for example, as described in Japanese Published patent application 2003-111874, there has been proposed a so-called compound type golf club head formed by firmly fixing a resin member structuring a part of a crown portion and made of a fiber reinforced resin, and a head main body made of a metal material.
The composite type golf club head as mentioned above can reduce its weight by using a fiber reinforced resin having a small specific gravity. Accordingly, for example, it is possible to enlarge a head volume. Further, the reduced weight can be more distributed in a side portion of a head, for example, a toe or a heel, a back face and the like. These can increase a moment of inertia around a gravity point of the head and increase a depth of center of gravity point. Further, if the fiber reinforce resin is used in the crown portion, it is possible to reduce a weight of an upper portion side of the head, so that it serves for achieving a low gravity point. As mentioned above, in the composite head, it is possible to increase a freedom of designing the weight distribution.
However, in the composite type golf club mentioned above, breakage of the resin member tends to be generated due to an impact at the time of hitting a ball. In order to prevent the resin member from being broken, there can be considered to make a thickness of the resin member large, however, in accordance with this method, it is impossible to obtain a substantial weight reducing effect by the resin member. As mentioned above, in the composite type head, there is a room for further improving durability. Accordingly, in the composite type head, it can be said that an improvement is necessary while paying attention to an angle of orientation of the fiber in the resin member and a strength or an elastic modulus included in a matrix resin.
The present invention is made by taking the actual condition mentioned above into consideration, and an object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head which can inhibit a resin member from being broken in accordance with an impact at the time of hitting a ball for a long time so as to improve durability. The golf club head of the present invention is based on a structure of a resin member so as to include a fiber intersection lamination portion in which one-way fiber reinforced resin layers having the fibers distributed in one direction are laminated in a state of differentiating directions of the fibers, limiting an angle of intersection of the fiber in at least two one-way fiber reinforced resin layers which are adjacent in a thickness direction, and limiting a compressive strength of the fiber of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer which is arranged in an innermost side in the fiber intersection lamination portion to a fixed value or more.
In this case, the compressive strength of the fiber is determined on the basis of the following procedure. First, there is prepared a test piece made of a fiber reinforced resin obtained by binding a fiber serving as a subject to be measured by a specific resin composition material described in detail below. Further, a compressive strength of the test piece is measured by using a compressing jig shown by ASTMD695 and under a condition of a strain rate 1.27 mm/min. The compressive strength of the fiber is calculated by setting a fiber volume fraction to 60% on the basis of the compressive strength of the test piece.
Further, the specific resin composition material is obtained by mixing the following raw material resin and agitating them for thirty minutes.
Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether Resin: 27 weight %
“Trade name: Epicoat 1001 (manufactured by YUKA SHELL EPOXY CO., LTD., Registered Trade Mark)”
Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether Resin: 31 weight %
“Trade name: Epicoat 828 (manufactured by YUKA SHELL EPOXY CO., LTD., Registered Trade Mark)”
Phenolic Novolac Polyglycidyl Ether Resin: 31 weight %
“Trade name: Epiclon-N740 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc., Registered Trade Mark)”
Polyvinyl Formal Resin: 3 weight %
“Trade name: Vinylex K (manufactured by Chisso CO., LTD., Trade Mark)”
Dicyandiamide: 41 weight %
“Trade name: DICY 7 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc., Registered Trade Mark)”
3, 4-dichlorophenyl-1, 1-dimethyl urea: 4 weight %
“Trade name: DCMU99 (manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd, curing agent)”
Next, a resin film obtained by coating the resin composition material on a silicone coating paper is wound around a steel drum which is controlled so as to have a circumference of about 2.7 m and a temperature of 60 to 70° C. The fiber serving as the subject to be measured wound off from a creel is arranged thereon along a circumferential direction via a traverse. Further, the resin film is rearranged thereon and the resin is impregnated in the fiber by pressurizing the resin film while rotating by a roll. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture a one-way prepreg having a width of 300 mm and a length of 2.7 m. In this case, a fiber weight amount of the prepreg is regulated to 190 g/m2, and a resin percentage content is regulated to 35 weight %.
Further, the one-way prepreg is laminated while aligning in a fiber direction, and is cured for two hours at a temperature of 130° C. and a pressure of 0.3 MPa, whereby a laminated plate having a thickness of 1 mm is formed. A plate for reinforcing the other portions than a broken portion of the test piece is firmly fixed to the laminated plate by an adhesive agent. A thickness of the adhesive layer is set uniform. The test piece is prepared from this laminated plate by being cut out at a thickness of about 1±0.1 mm, a width of 12.7±0.13 mm, a length of 80±0.013 mm, and a length of a gauge portion of 5±0.13 mm, such that the broken portion forms a center.
In the invention, a tensile strength of the fiber in the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer which is arranged in an outermost side May be equal to or more than 3.5 GPa, in said fiber intersection lamination portion.
In this case, with respect to a tensile strength of the fiber, a resin impregnated strand is formed by impregnating an epoxy resin composition material in the fiber corresponding to the subject to be measured, and heating it for thirty minute at 130° C. so as to cure. Further, the tensile strength is determined in accordance with a resin impregnated strand testing method shown in JIS R7601. The epoxy resin composition material is prepared by using the following raw material resin.
Bakelite (Registered Trade Mark): 1000 g (930 weight %)
“Trade name: ERL-4221, manufactured by Union Carbide Co., Ltd.”
Boron trifluoride mono-ethylamine (BF3·MEA): 30 g (3 weight %)
Acetone: 40 g (4 weight %)
Also, a golf club head in the invention, the fiber intersection lamination portion May be constituted by at least three one-way fiber reinforced resin layers, and compressive strength of the fiber σc1, σc2, σcn is an integer equal to or more than 3) of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layers sequentially from that arranged in the inner side, can satisfy the following expressions (1) and (2).
σ c1≧σc2≧≧σcn (1)
σc1>σcn (2)
And besides, the fiber intersection lamination portion May be constituted by at least three one-way fiber reinforced resin layers, and tensile strength of the fiber σt1, σt2, σtn is an integer equal to or more than 3) of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layers sequentially from that arranged in the inner side, may satisfy the following expressions (3) and (4).
σt1≧σt2≧≧σtn (3)
σt1>σtn (4)
Additionally, the resin member May include a fiber woven portion in which the fibers extending at least in two directions, at an outer side of said fiber intersection lamination portion.
Since the golf club head in accordance with the present invention has the structure mentioned above, at least a part of a crown portion forming an upper surface of the head is formed by the resin member made of the fiber reinforced resin in which the fiber is oriented in the matrix resin. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the weight of the upper portion side of the head so as to serve for achieving a low gravity point. Further, the resin member includes the fiber intersection lamination portion, in which the direction of the fiber of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layers is oriented in different direction. Further, at least two one-way fiber reinforced resin layers which are adjacent in the thickness direction are intersected at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees of the fiber. Accordingly, it is possible to increase a strength against a stress in multi directions generated in the resin member at the time of hitting the ball, and it is possible to improve durability by extension.
Further, a large compression stress is applied to an inner side of the resin member provided in the crown portion of the head at the time of hitting the ball. The compressive strength of the fiber of an innermost one-way fiber reinforce resin layer which is arranged in an innermost side in the fiber intersection lamination portion is set to be equal to or more than 1.3 GPa which is larger than the conventional one. Accordingly, it is possible to increase a strength of an inner side of the resin member, and it is possible to effectively prevent the breakage. In this case, since the tensile strength is generated in an outer side of the resin member inversely to the inner side, it is possible to further improve the durability of the resin member by setting the tensile strength of the fiber in the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer which is arranged in the outermost side to be equal to or more than 3.5 GPa.
A description will be given below of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention on the basis of the accompanying drawings.
The head 1 in accordance with the present embodiment is provided with a face portion 3 having a face surface 2 corresponding to a surface for hitting a ball, a crown portion 4 connected to the face portion 3 and forming an upper surface of the head, a sole portion 5 connected to the face portion 3 and forming a bottom surface of the head, a side portion 6 joining between the crown portion 4 and the sole portion 5 and extending from a toe 3a of the face portion 3 to a heel 3b through a back face, and a neck portion 7 provided in a heel side of the crown portion 4 and attached to one end of a shaft (not shown). Further, the head can be structured as a wood type head such as a driver (#1) or a fairway wood having a hollow structure provided with a hollow portion i in an inner portion, and is exemplified as the driver (#1) in the present embodiment.
Further, in the head 1, at least a part of the crown portion 4 is formed by a resin member FR made of a fiber reinforced resin. The head 1 in accordance with the present embodiment is exemplified by a structure which is formed by using a head main body M which is provided with an opening portion O and is made of a metal material, and the resin member FR which is arranged so as to cover the opening portion O and is made of the fiber reinforced resin. The opening portion O is provided in the crown portion 4 in this embodiment by only one, and the resin member FR is constituted by a crown side resin member FR1 covering the opening portion O.
The head main body M is formed, as shown in
A metal material of the head main body M is not particularly limited, however, can employ, for example, a stainless steel, a maraging steel, a titanium, a titanium alloy, an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, an amorphous alloy or the like, and can especially employ one or two or more of the titanium alloy, the aluminum alloy and the magnesium alloy which have a large specific strength, and particularly preferably employs the titanium alloy.
As shown in
Each of the receiving portions 10b and 11b is bonded to an inner surface of the resin member FR1 in the crown side and a peripheral edge portion thereof, whereby the crown side resin member FR1 and the head main body M are integrally formed. Further, each of the receiving portions 10b and 11b absorbs a thickness of the crown side resin member FR1 on the basis of the step mentioned above, and serves for finishing each of the outer surfaces of the resin member FR1 and the head main body M (the crown surface portion 10a and the side surface portion 10b) in a flush manner.
In this embodiment, the crown receiving portion 10b and the side receiving portion 11b are connected around the opening portion O. Accordingly, the annularly continuous receiving portion is formed. A width (a length measured along the surface of the receiving portion) Wa of the receiving portions 10b and 11b measured in a perpendicular direction from an edge of the opening portion O is not particularly limited. However, if the width is too short, a joint area between the head main body M and the crown side resin member FR1 becomes small, so that a bonding strength tends to be lowered. On the contrary, if it is too long, an area of the opening portion O becomes small, so that there is a tendency that a weight saving effect can not be sufficiently obtained. From this point of view, for example, it is desirable that the width Wa is equal to or more than 5.0 mm, and preferably equal to or more than 10.0 mm, and it is desirable that an upper limit is equal to or less than 30.0 mm, more preferably equal to or less than 20.0 mm, and particularly preferably equal to or less than 15.0 mm. In this case, in the present embodiment, the width Wa is exemplified as being changed in each of the portions.
The crown side resin member FR1 is structured by a fiber reinforced resin corresponding to a compound material of a matrix resin and a fiber f.
As the matrix resin R, for example, it is possible to employ a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, a polyester resin or an unsaturated polyester resin, as well as a thermoplastic resin such as a polycarbonate resin or a nylon resin. In the present embodiment, the epoxy resin is used in view of a cost and a general-purpose property.
As the fiber f mentioned above, for example, it is desirable to employ one or more of a carbon fiber, a graphite fiber, a glass fiber, an alumina fiber, a boron fiber, an aromatic polyester resin fiber, an aramid resin fiber or a PBO resin fiber, or an amorphous fiber or a titanium fiber, and the like, and particularly, the carbon fiber in which a specific gravity is small and a tensile strength is large is preferably employed. The fibers f are structured as a short fiber, a long fiber or both. The long fiber is used in the present embodiment.
An elastic modulus of the fiber f is not particularly limited, however, if it is too small, it is impossible to secure a rigidity of the resin member FR and there is a tendency that the durability is lowered. On the other hand, if it is too large, there is a tendency that the tensile strength is lowered as well as a cost is increased. From this point of view, it is desirable that the elastic modulus of the fiber is equal to or more than 50 GPa, more preferably equal to or more than 100 GPa, further preferably equal to or more than 150 GPa, and particularly preferably equal to or more than 200 GPa. Further, an upper limit thereof is preferably set to be equal to or less than 500 GPa, more preferably equal to or less than 450 GPa, and further preferably equal to or less than 400 GPa. The elastic modulus mentioned above corresponds to an elastic modulus in tension and is a value measured in accordance with a “carbon fiber test method” in JIS R7601.
Further, the crown side resin member FR1 is arranged in a head main body M so as to cover the opening portion O, as shown in
The resin member FR1 in the crown side is exemplified by a structure constituted by five fiber reinforced resin layers having different fiber orientation directions in accordance with the present embodiment. Specifically speaking, the resin member FR1 in the crown side in accordance with this embodiment is structured such as to include a fiber intersection lamination portion 8 in which four one-way fiber reinforced resin layers L1 to L4 are laminated, and a fiber woven portion 9 constituted by one intersection fiber reinforced resin layer L5 arranged in an outer side thereof. The outer side fiber woven portion 9 forms an outer surface A of the resin member FR1. Including a plurality of fiber reinforced resin layers having the different fiber orientation directions as mentioned above serves for uniformly dispersing the stress with respect to a thickness direction of the resin member FR1. Accordingly, it is desirable that the fiber intersection lamination portion 8 is preferably constituted by at least three or more one-way fiber reinforced resin layers.
Each of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layers L1 to L4 mentioned above is structured such that the fiber f is oriented in the matrix resin R in one direction. Accordingly, for example, a reinforced resin layer having a woven fabric fiber obtained by alternately weaving warp or warps and weft or wefts is not included in the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer. Further, as shown in
In the present embodiment, the one-way fiber reinforced resin L1 arranged in the innermost side has a fiber f which is oriented in one direction substantially having an angle of −45 degrees (the angle is set to be positive in a counterclockwise direction) with respect to a base line BL in a head longitudinal direction. In the same manner, the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer L2 overlapped in an outer side thereof has a fiber f which is oriented in a direction in which the angle θ is 45 degrees, the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer L3 overlapped in further an outer side thereof has a fiber f which is oriented in a direction in which the angle θ is −45 degrees, and the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer L4 overlapped in further an outer side thereof has a fiber f which is oriented in a direction in which the angle θ is 45 degrees. Three interlayer boundary surfaces are formed by overlapping four one-way fiber reinforced resin layers L1 to L4. In this case, the base line BL in the head longitudinal direction corresponds to a line segment in which a vertical surface including a vertical line N drawn from a head gravity point G to the face surface 2 intersects the resin member FR1 in a plan view (
If the angle α at which the fiber f intersects is less than 30 degrees in the boundary surface of each of the layers, a large strength anisotropy tends to be generated by these two one-way fiber reinforced resin layers. As a result, in the case that the stress is applied in the direction having a low strength, there is a risk that the resin member FR1 is broken. Particularly preferably, it is desirable that the angle α is set from 60 to 90 degrees, further preferably from 80 to 90 degrees, most preferably from 85 to 90 degrees. In the present embodiment, there is shown a particularly preferable aspect that the angles a in all the boundary surfaces are substantially 90 degrees.
Further, in the fiber intersection lamination portion 8, it is sufficient that the fibers of at least two one-way fiber reinforced resin layers intersect at the angle α mentioned above. As in the present embodiment, the angle α mentioned above is preferably satisfied in all the one-way fiber reinforced resin layers which are adjacent in the thickness direction.
Further, the angle θ formed between each of the fibers f in the one-way fiber reinforced resin layers L1 to L4 and the base line BL in the head longitudinal direction is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of a general amateur golfer, it is hard to correctly hit a golf ball at a sweet spot SS of the face surface 2 (a point at which the vertical line N intersects the face surface 2 as shown in
At this time, a torsional deformation is generated crown portion 4 of the head 1. The deformation mentioned above mainly applies inclined stresses a and b as shown in
On the other hand, as for professional and senior golfers, as shown in
Further, the angles θ and α mentioned above may employ any values as far as the angles are satisfied at an optional position on the base line BL in the head longitudinal direction of the resin member FR1. Because a greatest stress tends to be generated in this portion. It is not necessary that the angle θ of the fiber f is exactly an angle just corresponding to the numeric value, and it is sufficient that the angle is a substantial value obtained by taking a manufacturing error and a dispersion of the material into consideration. For example, the angle θ of the fiber f can allow at least a dispersion of −10 to +10 degrees (that is, ±10 degrees), more preferably a dispersion of −5 to +5 degrees (that is, ±5 degrees) Further, the fiber woven portion 9 arranged in an outer side of the fiber intersection lamination portion 8 is structured, as shown in
In this case, the base portion 12 of the resin member FR1 in the crown side is smoothly curved so as to protrude to an upper side of the head in the cross section in the base line BL in the head longitudinal direction shown in
On the other hand, in the fiber f of the fiber reinforced resin, the compressive strength is smaller in comparison with the tensile strength in the axial direction. Accordingly, it is possible to estimate that any breakage is generated in most of the conventional resin members due to the compression stress applied to the inner side thereof. In the head 1 in accordance with the present invention, the compressive strength of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer L1 which is arranged in the innermost side in the fiber intersection lamination portion 8 is set to be equal to or more than 1.3 GPa which is larger than the conventional one. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent the resin member FR1 in the crown side from being broken. Further, an elastic energy stored in the resin member FR1 in the crown side deflected at the time of hitting the ball generates a great kinetic energy pushing back the face portion 3 at the time of restoring the deflection, by increasing the compressive strength in the inner side of the resin member FR1. This serves for improving a repulsing performance of the head 1.
In the case that the compression strength of the resin member FR1 in the crown side is less than 1.3 GPa, it is impossible to sufficiently intend to improve the strength. As a particularly preferable aspect, it is desirable that the compressive strength is equal to or more than 1.5 GPa, and more preferably equal to or more than 1.6 GPa. In this case, since the larger compressive strength is preferable, an upper limit thereof is not particularly limited, however, can be practically set to about 1.8 GPa.
Further, in the fiber intersection lamination portion 8, an entire thereof can be structured by the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer having the same compressive strength, however, the compression stress of the resin member FR1 in the crown side generated at the time of hitting the ball is in proportion to a distance from a bending neutral line Mc as shown in
Specifically, on the assumption that the compressive strength of the fiber of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer in the fiber intersection lamination portion 8 is sequentially set to σc1, σc2, σcn (in this case, n is an integer equal to or more than 3) from that arranged in the inner side, it is desirable to satisfy the following expressions (1) and (2).
σc1≧σc2≧≧σcn (1)
σc1>σcn (2)
Particularly, it is desirable that the expression (1) is the following expression (1)′,and the compressive strength is differentiated in each of the layers.
σc1>σc2>σcn (1)′
Further, in these cases, it is desirable that a difference (σc1−σcn) between the compressive strength σc1 of the fiber f in the innermost side one-way fiber reinforced resin layer L1, and the smallest compressive strength σcn in the other one-way fiber reinforced resin layer is preferably equal to or more than 0.20 GPa, more preferably equal to or more than 0.25 GPa, and further preferably equal to or more than 0.30 GPa, and upper limit thereof is preferably equal to or less than 0.60 GPa, more preferably equal to or less than 0.55 GPa, and further preferably equal to or less than 0.50 GPa. If the difference is less than 0.20 GPa, it is impossible to apply a sufficient strength difference, and it is hard to achieve the cost reduction. On the contrary, if it is more than 0.60 GPa, the strength difference becomes too large, and the breakage or the like tends to be generated in the other one-way fiber reinforced resin layer.
Further, the tensile stress is generated in the outer side of the resin member FR1 in the crown side at the time of hitting the ball, as mentioned above. The tensile strength of the fiber f is larger in comparison with the compressive strength, however, it is possible to further increase the durability of the resin member FR1 in the crown side by inhibiting the value. Accordingly, it is desirable that the tensile strength of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer L4 arranged in the outermost side is set to be equal to or more than 3.5 GPa, more preferably equal to or more than 4.0 GPa, and further preferably equal to or more than 5.0 GPa, preferably in the fiber intersection lamination portion 8 mentioned above. In this case, since the larger tensile strength is preferable, an upper limit thereof is not particularly limited, however, can be set practically to about 6.0 GPa.
Further, in the fiber intersection laminated portion 8, an entire thereof can be structured by the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer having the same tensile strength. However, the tensile stress of the resin member FR1 in the crown side generated at the time of hitting the ball is in proportion to the distance from the bending neutral line Mc in the same manner as the compression stress, becomes largest in the outer surface A, and becomes smaller toward the inner side. Accordingly, it is desirable to make the tensile strength of the fiber in each of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layers of the fiber intersection lamination portion 8 larger toward the outer side, in correspondence to the internal stress state of the resin member FR1 mentioned above. Therefore, it is possible to improve the durability while maintaining the product cost in the same manner as mentioned above.
Specifically speaking, on the assumption that the tensile strength of the fiber of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer in the fiber intersection lamination portion 8 is sequentially set to σt1, σt2, σtn (in this case, n is an integer equal to or more than 3) from that arranged in the inner side, it is desirable to satisfy the following expressions (3) and (4).
σt1≧σt2≧≧σtn (3)
σt1>σtn (4)
In particularly preferable, it is desirable that the expression (3) is expressed by the following expression (3)′ and the tensile strength is differentiated in each of the layers.
σt1>σt2>σtn (3)′
Further, in these cases, it is desirable that a difference (σtn−σt1) between the tensile strength σtn of the fiber f in the outermost side one-way fiber reinforced resin layer L1, and the smallest tensile strength σt1 in the other one-way fiber reinforced resin layer is preferably equal to or more than 0.20 GPa, more preferably equal to or more than 0.25 GPa, and further preferably equal to or more than 0.30 GPa, and upper limit thereof is preferably equal to or less than 0.60 GPa, more preferably equal to or less than 0.55 GPa, and further preferably equal to or less than 0.50 GPa. If the difference is less than 0.20 GPa, it is impossible to apply a sufficient strength difference, and it is hard to achieve the cost reduction. On the contrary, if it is more than 0.60 GPa, the strength difference becomes too large, and the breakage or the like tends to be generated in the other one-way fiber reinforced resin layer.
Further, the resin member FR1 in the crown side intends to achieve a weight saving (a thickness saving) while securing a rigidity required for the gold club head. Accordingly, on the assumption that the elastic modulus (the elastic modulus in tension) of the fiber of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layer in the fiber intersection lamination portion 8 is sequentially set to E1, E2, . . . En (in this case, n is an integer, or integral number equal to or more than 3) from that arranged in the inner side, it is desirable to satisfy the following expressions (5) and (6).
E1≦E2≦. . . ≦En (5)
E1<En (6)
In particularly preferable, it is desirable that the expression (5) is expressed by the following expression (5)′, and the elastic modulus in tension is differentiated in each of the layers.
E1<E2<<En (5)′
In this case, if a ratio of the elastic modulus (En/E1) is too large, the strength in the inner layer is lowered. On the contrary, if it is too small, the strength in the outer layer tends to be lowered. Although not being particularly limited, it is desirable that the ratio (En/E1) of the elastic modulus is preferably equal to or more than 1.50, more preferably equal to or more than 1.75, further preferably equal to or more than 2.0, and particularly preferably equal to or more than 2.25, and it is desirable that an upper limit thereof is preferably equal to or less than 4.0, and more preferably equal to or less than 3.0.
In this case, as shown in
The compressive strength, the tensile strength and the elastic modulus in tension of the fiber mentioned above can be appropriately set by differentiating a fiber material, a filament diameter, a twisting method, a structure of the toe (bundle) and the like.
Further, each of the one-way fiber reinforced resin layers L1 to L4 can be formed by a sheet-like one-way prepreg Pa bound by orienting the fiber f in one direction in an uncured matrix resin R, as shown in FIGS. 12(B) to 12)(E). The one-way prepreg Pa has an array body of the fiber f oriented only in one direction. In this example, the angle θ of the fiber f is sequentially set to +45 degrees, −45 degrees, +45 degrees and −45 degrees from the outer side. Each of the one-way prepregs Pa is worked in an outline having a predetermined shape in correspondence to a shape of an opening portion O in the head main body M, as shown in
In the same manner, the intersection fiber reinforced resin layer L5 constituting the fiber woven portion 9 can be structured by at least one cross prepreg Pb as shown in
The outline shape of each of the prepregs P can be appropriately set in correspondence to the shapes of the opening portion O and each of the receiving portions 10b and 11b. In this example, there is exemplified the structure in which a plurality of slits are provided for bending a peripheral edge in the side portion side of each of the prepregs P so as to easily form the trailing portion 13.
Further, the resin member FR1 in the crown side can be formed in accordance with various methods. For example, as shown in
Further, the resin member FR1 in the crown side can be formed in accordance with an internal pressure molding method. In accordance with the internal pressure molding method, a head base body 1A is prepared first by attaching a laminated body Ps of the prepreg P to the opening portion O of the head main body M. The head base body 1A is put in a metal mold 20, for example, constituted by an upper mold 20a and a lower mold 20b which can be separable. The head main body M is previously provided with a through hole 23 communicating with the hollow portion i in the side portion 6 or the like, and an expandable and shrinkable bladder C is inserted therefrom. At this time, it is desirable to previously apply a thermosetting type adhesive agent, a primer and the like between the laminated body Ps of the prepreg and each of the receiving portions 10b and 11b.
Thereafter, as shown in
Further, in the case of using the internal pressure molding method, for example, as shown in
Accordingly, as shown in
It is more effective that the head 1 in accordance with the present embodiment is applied to a head volume equal to or more than 200 cm3, more preferably equal to or more than 300 cm3, and further preferably equal to or more than 350 cm3. If the head volume is less than 200 cm3, a moment of inertia is reduced, and a sweet spot area is reduced. On the other hand, if the head volume is too large, the weight is increased and the height of the sweet spot SS becomes equal to or more than 38 mm, so that the ball tends to be hit with backspin and at a low flying angle. It is desirable that the head volume is preferably equal to or less than 500 cm3, more preferably equal to or less than 480 cm3, and further preferably equal to or less than 470 cm3.
The description is given above of the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, however, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment mentioned above, and can be applied, for example, to an iron type golf club head and a utility type golf club head having a hollow structure, and further to a putter type golf club head Further, in the embodiment mentioned above, there is shown the structure in which the resin member constituted by the fiber reinforced resin is constituted by the resin member FR1 in the crown side, however, it goes without saying that the resin member may be arranged, for example, in the side portion and the sole portion. Further, the thickness of each of the resin member FR, the head main body M and the like can be appropriately determined in accordance with general rule.
In order to confirm the effect of the present invention, a wood type driver head having the head volume of 430 cm3 is manufactured by way of trial on the basis of the specification in Table 1. A shape and the specification of the head main body and the resin member are shown in
Material: Ti-6Al-4V
Manufacturing method: integral molding in accordance with a lost wax precise casting method
Manufacturing method: internal pressure forming method
Number of used prepreg: five
The fiber intersection lamination portion uses four one-way prepregs and an angle of orientation of the fiber is shown in Table.
The fiber woven portion uses one plain woven cross prepreg. The angle of orientation of the fiber is set to 0 degrees and 90 degrees in the example in Table 1 and set to ±45 degrees in the example in Table 2.
Fiber material: carbon fiber
Elastic modulus in tension of fiber: 240.3 GPa
Thickness of resin member in crown side after being formed: about 0.8 to 0.9 mm
Base resin of matrix resin: epoxy resin
Repulsing performance and durability are tested with respect to each of the trial heads manufactured on the basis of the specification mentioned above. The methods therefor are as follows.
The repulsing performance of the head is measured in accordance with Procedure for Measuring the Velocity Ratio of a Club Head for Conformance to Rule 4-le, Revision 2 (Feb. 8, 1999) of U.S.G.A. The larger the numeric value is, the better the performance is.
A 45 inch wood type club is manufactured by way of trial by attaching each of the trial heads to a carbon shaft MP-200 (Flex R) manufactured by SRI Sports Ltd., and is attached to a swing robot (Short Robo IV) manufactured by MIYAMAE CO., LTD., thereby hitting the golf ball at a head speed of 51 m/s and a face center position. The number of the balls until the head is broken is measured. Results of test are shown in Table 1 and Table 2.
As a result of the tests, it is possible to confirm that the golf club head in accordance with the embodiment improves the durability without changing the sweet spot height or the like. Further, there is no significant reduction of the repulsing performance.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-133936 | Apr 2004 | JP | national |
The present application is a 37 C.F.R. § 1.53(b) divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/103,555 filed Apr. 12, 2005, which in turn claims priority on Japanese Application No. 2004-133936 filed Apr. 28, 2004. The entire contents of each of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11103555 | Apr 2005 | US |
| Child | 12273763 | US |
