STRIKING PLATE FOR A GOLF CLUB HEAD

Abstract

A striking plate for a golf club head includes a striking surface, a plurality of parallel linear grooves, and a plurality of protrusions. The parallel linear grooves are formed in the striking surface and are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance. The protrusions are formed on the striking surface, extend between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves, and are spaced apart from each other.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 104119123, filed on Jun. 12, 2015.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a striking plate for a golf club head, more particularly to a striking plate for a golf club head having improved striking controllability.

BACKGROUND

A conventional golf club head is primarily made from a titanium alloy or tungsten carbide due to such characteristics as light weight and stiffness of these materials. The golf club head thus made has an enhanced spring-like effect, and thus can achieve a relatively long flying distance before landing.

In addition to modifying the materials for the golf club head, it would also be desirable to modify the configuration of the golf club head so as to improve striking controllability.

In order to enhance the striking controllability, a golf club head 1 as shown in FIG. 1 has been produced. The golf club head 1 includes a striking plate 11 formed with a plurality of linear grooves 111 spaced apart from each other.

Friction between the striking plate 11 and a golf ball may be enhanced by the linear grooves 111 so that the residence time of the golf ball on the striking plate 11 is increased. Therefore, the stricken golf ball produces a back spin so that the rolling distance of the golf ball after landing may be reduced and that the striking controllability and the hitting distance of the golf club head may be enhanced.

There is still a need in the art to further enhance the striking controllability and hitting distance of a golf club head.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a striking plate for a golf club head, which can enhance striking controllability.

A striking plate for a golf club head having a toe-to-heel direction according to the disclosure includes a striking surface, a plurality of parallel linear grooves, and a plurality of protrusions.

The plurality of parallel linear grooves are formed in the striking surface in a first direction extending in the toe-to-heel direction and are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the linear grooves includes two rounded edges spaced apart from each other in the second direction. Each of the rounded edges adjoins a corresponding portion of the striking surface and has a tangent point for a tangent line passing therethrough to cooperate with the corresponding portion of the striking surface to define an angle of 30°.

The plurality of protrusions are formed on the striking surface, extend in the first direction between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves, and are spaced apart from each other in the second direction.

Letting N be a number of the protrusions between the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves, S be a minimum distance between the tangent point of one of the rounded edges of one of the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves and the tangent point of one of the rounded edges of the other of the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves, H be a height of each of the protrusions relative to the striking surface, D₁, D₂ . . . D_N be respective widths of the protrusions between the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves, D_max be a maximum of D₁, D₂ . . . D_N, each of V₁, V₂ . . . V_N-2 be a gap between two adjacent ones of the protrusions between the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves, V_min be a minimum of V₁, V₂ . . . V_N-1, Ra be a centerline average roughness of a portion of the striking surface between the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves, T1 be a minimum distance between the tangent point of one of the rounded edges of one of the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves and one of the protrusions which is proximate to the tangent point of the one of the rounded edges of the one of the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves, and T2 be a minimum distance between the tangent point of one of the rounded edges of the other of the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves and one of the protrusions which is proximate to the tangent point of the one of the rounded edges of the other of the two adjacent ones of the linear grooves,

1.905 mm≦S≦3 mm,

0.004 mm≦H≦0.044 mm,

D _max ≦V _min,

$\mathrm{Ra}=\frac{\begin{array}{c}\left(D_1+D_2+D_3+\dots +D_N\right)\times \left(H-h\right)+\\ \left(V_1+V_2+V_3+\dots +V_{N-1}+T1+T2\right)\times h\end{array}}{S}=\frac{A}{S}$

(i.e., A=(D₁+D₂+D₃+ . . . +D_N)×(H−h)+(V₁+V₂+V₃+ . . . V_N-1+T1+T2)×h),wherein

$h=\frac{\left(D_1+D_2+D_3+\dots +D_N\right)\times H}{S},$

and

A≦0.004572 mm×S.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional golf club head;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a first embodiment of a striking plate for a golf club head according to the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is another partially enlarged sectional view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of a second embodiment of a striking plate for a golf club head according to the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of a third embodiment of a striking plate for a golf club head according to the disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of a third embodiment of a striking plate for a golf club head according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure 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. 2 and 3, the first embodiment of a striking plate 2 for a golf club head 3 according to the disclosure is shown to include a striking surface 21, a plurality of parallel linear grooves 22, and a plurality of protrusions 23. The golf club head 3 has a toe-to-heel direction.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the parallel linear grooves 22 are formed in the striking surface 21 in a first direction (X) extending in the toe-to-heel direction and are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the first direction (X).

Each of the linear grooves 22 includes two rounded edges 221 spaced apart from each other in the second direction (Y). Each of the rounded edges 221 adjoins a corresponding portion of the striking surface 21 and has a tangent point 222 for a tangent line (L) passing therethrough to cooperate with the corresponding portion of the striking surface 21 to define an angle (θ) of 30°.

The protrusions 23 are formed on the striking surface 21, extend in the first direction (X) between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22, and are spaced apart from each other in the second direction (Y). Each of the protrusions 23 has a rectangular cross section.

In the first embodiment, there are four protrusions 23 between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22. Alternatively, the number of the protrusions 23 between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22 in the first embodiment may be less than or more than four.

Referring to FIG. 5, letting T1 be a distance between the tangent point 222 of the left one of the rounded edges 221 of the right one of two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22 and the rightmost one of the protrusions 23, and letting T2 be a distance between the tangent point 222 of the right one of the rounded edges 221 of the left one of two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22 and the leftmost one of the protrusions 23, T1=T2=0.4235. Alternatively, T1 may not be equal to T2.

Letting S be a minimum distance between the tangent point 222 of one of the rounded edges 221 of one of two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22 and the tangent point 222 of one of the rounded edges 221 of the other of two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22, 1.905 mm≦S≦3 mm. In the first embodiment, S is equal to 2.522 mm.

Letting H be a height of each of the protrusions 23 relative to the striking surface 21, 0.004 mm≦H≦0.044 mm. In the first embodiment, H is equal to 0.024 mm.

Letting D₁, D₂, D₃, and D₄ be respective widths of the protrusions 23 between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22, D_max be a maximum of D₁, D₂, D₃, and D₄, each of V₁, V₂, and V₃ be a gap between two adjacent ones of the protrusions 23 between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22, and V_min be a minimum of V₁, V₂, and V₃, D_max is less than or equal to V_min (i.e., D_max≦V_min). In the first embodiment, D₁=D₂=D₃=D₄=D_max=0.067 mm, and V₁=V₂=V₃=V_min=0.469 mm. Alternatively, D₁, D₂, D₃, and D₄ may not be equal to one another and V₁, V₂, and V₃ may not be equal to one another provided that the condition of D₁+D₂+D₃+D₄+V₁+V₂+V₃+T1+T2=S is satisfied. In the first embodiment, (D₁+D₂+D₃+D₄)×(H−h)=(V₁+V₂+V₃+T1+T2)×h=0.005749 mm², wherein

$h=\frac{\left(D_1+D_2+D_3+\dots +D_N\right)\times H}{S}=0.00255\mathrm{mm}.$

Letting a be an average cross-sectional area of the protrusions 23 along the second direction (Y) between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22, and Ra be a centerline average roughness of a portion of the striking surface 21 between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves 22, in the first embodiment,

$\mathrm{Ra}=\frac{\begin{array}{c}\left(D_1+D_2+D_3+D_4\right)\times \left(H-h\right)+\\ \left(V_1+V_2+V_3+V_4+T1+T2\right)\times h\end{array}}{S}=\frac{A}{S}=0.004559\mathrm{mm},a=\frac{\left(D_1+D_2+D_3+D_4\right)\times H}{N}=0.001608{\mathrm{mm}}^2,$

and

A≦0.004572 mm×S(i.e., A≦0.011530584 mm²)

In order to demonstrate the effects of the striking plate for a golf club head of the disclosure, the first embodiment of the disclosure was compared with a comparative example which has a similar configuration except that the protrusions 23 in the first embodiment are changed to grooves having the same limitation conditions in the comparative example. The results are shown in the following table.

		Centerline
	Back spin	average	Maximum
	speed	roughness	roughness
	(rpm)	(mm)	(mm)
	The first	5772	0.004013	0.023470
	embodiment
	Comparative	4996	0.004293	0.023825
	example

As shown in the table above, under the same limitation conditions, the first embodiment of the striking plate for a golf club head of the disclosure has a relatively high back spin speed, and thus the striking controllability and hitting distance can be enhanced compared to the comparative example.

FIG. 6 illustrates the second embodiment of a striking plate 2 for a golf club head (not shown) according to the disclosure, which has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment except that each of the protrusions 23 in the second embodiment has a triangular cross section.

FIG. 7 illustrates the third embodiment of a striking plate 2 for a golf club head (not shown) according to the disclosure, which has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment except that each of the protrusions 23 in the third embodiment has a trapezoid cross section.

FIG. 8 illustrates the fourth embodiment of a striking plate 2 for a golf club head (not shown) according to the disclosure, which has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment except that each of the protrusions 23 in the fourth embodiment has a semi-circular cross section.

In view of the aforesaid, the striking plate for a golf club head of the disclosure which is provided with the protrusions on the striking surface between two adjacent ones of the linear grooves and which satisfies the limitation conditions specified herein has a relatively high back spin speed. Therefore, the striking controllability and hitting distance may be enhanced.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure 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.

Claims

1. A striking plate for a golf club head having a toe-to-heel direction, comprising: a striking surface,a plurality of parallel linear grooves formed in said striking surface in a first direction extending in the toe-to-heel direction and spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each of said linear grooves including two rounded edges spaced apart from each other in the second direction, each of said rounded edges adjoining a corresponding portion of said striking surface and having a tangent point for a tangent line passing therethrough to cooperate with said corresponding portion of said striking surface to define an angle of 30°, anda plurality of protrusions formed on said striking surface, extending in the first direction between two adjacent ones of said linear grooves, and spaced apart from each other in the second direction, whereinletting N be a number of said protrusions between said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves, S be a minimum distance between said tangent point of one of said rounded edges of one of said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves and said tangent point of one of said rounded edges of the other of said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves, H be a height of each of said protrusions relative to said striking surface, D1, D2 . . . DN be respective widths of said protrusions between said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves, Dmax be a maximum of D1, D2 . . . DN, each of V1, V2 . . . VN-1 be a gap between two adjacent ones of said protrusions between said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves, Vmin be a minimum of V1, V2 . . . VN-1, Ra be a centerline average roughness of a portion of said striking surface between said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves, T1 be a minimum distance between said tangent point of one of said rounded edges of one of said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves and one of said protrusions which is proximate to said tangent point of said one of said rounded edges of said one of said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves, and T2 be a minimum distance between said tangent point of one of said rounded edges of the other of said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves and one of said protrusions which is proximate to said tangent point of said one of said rounded edges of the other of said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves, 1.905 mm≦S≦3 mm,0.004 mm≦H≦0.044 mm,Dmax≦Vmin,

2. The striking plate according to claim 1, wherein N is at least 3.

3. The striking plate according to claim 1, wherein T1 is equal to T2.

4. The striking plate according to claim 1, wherein T1 is not equal to T2.

5. The striking plate according to claim 1, wherein letting a be an average cross-sectional area of said protrusions along the second direction between said two adjacent ones of said linear grooves,