US20080004131A1

US20080004131A1 - Golf club head

Info

Publication number: US20080004131A1
Application number: US11/476,032
Authority: US
Inventors: Chon-Chen Lin; Shun-Fu HU; Yen-Chi Hsu
Original assignee: O Ta Precision Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: O-TA PERCISION INDUSTRY Co Inc; O Ta Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-28
Filing date: 2006-06-28
Publication date: 2008-01-03

Abstract

A golf club head includes a head body and a striking plate member. The head body has a front opening, and an inner periphery defining the front opening. The striking plate member covers the front opening, and includes a front plate, and a back plate opposite to the front plate. One of the front and back plates is made of a carbon fiber plastic material. The other one of the front and back plates is made of a titanium alloy.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a golf club head, more particularly to a golf club head that has a good vibration-absorbing effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional golf club head 1 includes a head body 11 having a front opening 111, and a striking plate 12 covering the front opening 111 for striking a golf ball (not shown). Since the conventional golf club head 1 is not provided with a vibration-absorbing element, when a player strikes the ball with a large swinging force, a substantial impact force is absorbed by the striking plate 12, such that an intense vibration is produced. This intense vibration can make it difficult to hit the ball accurately. Further, the intense vibration is transmitted to the player's hands which may bring discomfort to the player. Such transmission of vibration may be especially acute when the player is using a wood.
Referring to FIG. 3, another conventional golf club head 2, as disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. M240256, includes a head body 21, and a striking plate 22 fixed to a front end face of the head body 21. A receiving space 23 is formed in a bottom portion of the head body 21 adjacent to the striking plate 22. Fluid 24 is filled into the receiving space 23 to serve as a vibration-absorbing element. The fluid 24 in the receiving space 23 produces a viscous force that dampens the vibration produced during striking of the ball.
Although the conventional golf club head 2 of FIG. 3 can achieve a vibration-absorbing effect, the fluid 24 may leak out from the receiving space 23 during use of the golf club head 2 over time. Further, such a configuration of the conventional golf club head 2 is difficult to produce, so that the cost to produce the same is high. Moreover, during swinging of a golf club incorporating the golf club head 2, because of the movement of the fluid 24 in the receiving space 23, a delayed condition is produced, which reduces stability during hitting of the ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head that can absorb vibration during hitting of a golf ball so that a player can control stably a striking direction of the golf ball and so that any feelings of discomfort given to the player as a result of receiving the transmission of vibration can be reduced.
According to one aspect of this invention, a golf club head comprises a head body and a striking plate member. The head body has a front opening, and an inner periphery defining the front opening. The striking plate member covers the front opening, and includes a front plate that has a front face with a striking zone, and a back plate opposite to the front plate. One of the front and back plates is made of a carbon fiber plastic material. The other one of the front and back plates is made of a titanium alloy.
According to another aspect of this invention, a golf club head comprises a head body and a striking plate member. The head body has a front opening, and an inner periphery defining the front opening. The striking plate member covers the front opening, and includes a front plate that has a front face with a striking zone, and a back plate opposite to the front plate. The head body further has a plurality of lugs that project from the inner periphery and that are spaced apart angularly from each other relative to a center of the striking zone. Each of the lugs is formed with an engaging hole. Each of the front and back plates is formed with a plurality of through holes corresponding to the engaging holes in the lugs. The striking plate member further includes a plurality of fasteners that extend respectively through the through holes in the front and back plates and the engaging holes of the lugs to secure the striking plate member to the head body.

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; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention.

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 shown to comprise ahead body 5 and a striking plate member 6. The golf club head of the present invention is adapted to be applied to a wood.
The head body 5 has a front opening 52, an inner periphery 51 defining the front opening 52, and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart lugs 53 projecting from the inner periphery 51. Each of the lugs 53 is formed with an engaging hole 531. In this embodiment, the engaging hole 531 of each of the lugs 53 is a screw hole. There are twelve lugs 53 provided along the inner periphery 51 of the head body 5. However, the number of the lugs 53 can be varied as needed.
The striking plate member 6 covers the front opening 52 of the head body 5, and includes a front plate 61 made of a carbon fiber plastic material and adapted to strike a golf ball (not shown), a back plate 62 opposite to the front plate 61 and made of a titanium alloy, and a plurality of fasteners 532, in the form of screws. Each of the front and back plates 61, 62 is formed with a plurality of through holes 610, 620 corresponding to the engaging holes 531 in the lugs 53. The front plate 61 has a thickness of 0.5 mm.
The fasteners 532 extend respectively through the through holes 610, 620 in the front and back plates 61, 62, and engage threadedly the engaging holes 531 in the respective lugs 53, thereby securing the front and back plates 61, 62 to the inner periphery 51 of the head body 5 and covering the front opening 52. Because the fasteners 532 are exposed on the front plate 61, it is preferable that the golf club head of the present invention be provided with an outer cover layer (not shown) so as to enhance the appearance of the golf club head.
When the golf club head of the present invention strikes the golf ball, through the use of a carbon fiber plastic material for the front plate 61, the vibration produced during hitting of the golf ball is directly absorbed by the front plate 61. The support provided by the titanium alloyed back plate 62 enhances the vibration-absorbing ability of the front plate 61. As such, the vibration that is transferred to the player's hands is minimized, and the player can stably and accurately strike the golf ball in a desired direction. Because the vibration that is transmitted to the player's hands is minimized, any feelings of discomfort given to the player are reduced.
Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown the second preferred embodiment of a golf club head of the present invention, which is adapted to be applied to a putter. Like the first preferred embodiment, the golf club head comprises a head body (5 a) having a front opening (52 a), and a striking plate member (6 a) covering the front opening (52 a). The striking plate member (6 a) includes front and back plates (61 a, 62 a). However, in this embodiment, the front plate (61 a) is made of a titanium alloy, while the back plate (62 a) is made of a carbon fiber plastic material.
Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown the third preferred embodiment of a golf club head of the present invention, which is adapted to be applied to an iron. Like the first preferred embodiment, the golf club head comprises a head body (5 b) having a front opening (52 b), and a striking plate member (6 b) covering the front opening (52 b). The striking plate member (6 b) includes front and back plates (61 b, 62 b). However, in this embodiment, the front plate (61 b) is made of a titanium alloy, while the back plate (62 b) is made of a carbon fiber plastic material.
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.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a head body having a front opening and an inner periphery defining said front opening; and

a striking plate member covering said front opening, and including a front plate that has a front face with a striking zone, and a back plate opposite to said front plate, one of said front and back plates being made of a carbon fiber plastic material, the other one of said front and back plates being made of a titanium alloy.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said front plate is made of a carbon fiber plastic material, and said back plate is made of a titanium alloy.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said front plate is made of a titanium alloy, and said back plate is made of a carbon fiber plastic material.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said head body further has a plurality of lugs that project from said inner periphery and that are spaced apart angularly from each other relative to a center of said striking zone, each of said lugs being formed with an engaging hole, each of said front and back plates being formed with a plurality of through holes corresponding to said engaging holes in said lugs, said striking plate member further including a plurality of fasteners that extend respectively through said through holes in said front and back plates and said engaging holes of said lugs to secure said striking plate member to said head body.

5. A golf club head comprising:

a head body having a front opening, and an inner periphery defining said front opening;

a striking plate member covering said front opening, and including a front plate that has a front face with a striking zone, and a back plate opposite to said front plate; and

said head body further having a plurality of lugs that project from said inner periphery and that are spaced apart angularly from each other relative to a center of said striking zone, each of said lugs being formed with an engaging hole, each of said front and back plates being formed with a plurality of through holes corresponding to said engaging holes in said lugs, said striking plate member further including a plurality of fasteners that extend respectively through said through holes in said front and back plates and said engaging holes of said lugs to secure said striking plate member to said head body.