U.S. patent application number 10/809368 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for combination of golf club head body and striking plate.
Invention is credited to Chen, Chan-Tung, Huang, Chun-Yung.
Application Number | 20050215349 10/809368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34990744 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050215349 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang, Chun-Yung ; et
al. |
September 29, 2005 |
Combination of golf club head body and striking plate
Abstract
In a combination of a club head body and a striking plate, the
club head body includes an opening in a front end thereof, a
perimeter delimiting the opening forming an inner engaging face.
The striking plate includes a front face for striking a golf ball,
the striking plate including an outer perimeter that forms an outer
engaging face. The striking plate is received in the opening of the
club head body. The inner engaging face and the outer engaging face
together form a filler-receiving space for receiving a welding
material. Further, the inner engaging face and the outer engaging
face together form an abutting section that reliably retains the
striking plate in place for a subsequent welding process.
Inventors: |
Huang, Chun-Yung;
(Kaohsiung, TW) ; Chen, Chan-Tung; (Kaohsiung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
34990744 |
Appl. No.: |
10/809368 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/342 ;
473/350 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/047 20130101;
A63B 53/0416 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/342 ;
473/350 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A combination of a club head body and a striking plate,
comprising: a club head body including an opening in a front end
thereof, a perimeter delimiting the opening forming an inner
engaging face; and a striking plate including a front face for
striking a golf ball, the striking plate including an outer
perimeter that forms an outer engaging face; the striking plate
being received in the opening of the club head body, the inner
engaging face and the outer engaging face together forming a
filler-receiving space for receiving a welding material, the inner
engaging face and the outer engaging face further together forming
an abutting section that reliably retains the striking plate in
place for a subsequent welding process.
2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner
engaging face of the club head body tapers rearward, with the
filler-receiving space being formed between the inner engaging face
and the outer engaging face.
3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner
engaging face of the club head body extending in an inclining angle
different from that of the outer engaging face of the striking
plate, with the filler-receiving space and the abutting section
being formed between the inner engaging face and the outer engaging
face.
4. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer
engaging face includes a rear end portion having a maximum width
that is larger than that of a rear end portion of the inner
engaging face, the rear end portion of the outer engaging face of
the striking plate abutting against the rear end portion of the
inner engaging face of the club head body, thereby forming the
abutting section.
5. The combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer
engaging face includes a rear end portion having a maximum width
that is larger than that of a rear end portion of the inner
engaging face, the rear end portion of the outer engaging face of
the striking plate abutting against the rear end portion of the
inner engaging face of the club head body, thereby forming the
abutting section.
6. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer
engaging face of the striking plate is formed on a rear end portion
of the outer perimeter of the striking plate, the inner engaging
face of the club head body extending in an inclining angle the same
as that of the outer engaging face of the striking plate, the outer
perimeter of the striking plate further including a second outer
engaging face on a front end portion thereof, the outer engaging
face of the striking plate and the inner engaging face of the club
head body together forming the abutting section, the
filler-receiving space being formed between the second outer
engaging face of the striking plate and the inner engaging face of
the club head body.
7. The combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the club head
body further includes a shoulder extending from a rear end portion
of the inner engaging face along a plane orthogonal to an inserting
direction for inserting the striking plate into the opening of the
club head body, the striking plate having a rear face supported by
the shoulder.
8. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner
engaging face of the club head body is formed on a rear end portion
of the perimeter delimiting the opening of the striking plate, the
inner engaging face of the club head body extending in an inclining
angle the same as that of the outer engaging face of the striking
plate, the perimeter delimiting the opening of the club head body
further including a second inner engaging face on a front end
portion thereof, the outer engaging face of the striking plate and
the inner engaging face of the club head body together forming the
abutting section, the filler-receiving space being formed between
the second inner engaging face of the club head body and the outer
engaging face of the striking plate.
9. The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein the club head
body further includes a shoulder extending from the rear end
portion of the inner engaging face along a plane orthogonal to an
inserting direction for inserting the striking plate into the
opening of the club head body, the striking plate having a rear
face supported by the shoulder.
10. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner
engaging face of the club head body includes a cutout in a front
end portion thereof, the cutout forming the filler-receiving
space.
11. The combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cutout
extends along the perimeter delimiting the opening of the club head
body.
12. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer
engaging face of the striking plate includes a cutout in a front
end portion thereof, the cutout forming the filler-receiving
space.
13. The combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cutout
extends along a perimeter of the striking plate.
14. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the club head
body further includes a shoulder extending from a rear end portion
of the inner engaging face along a plane orthogonal to an inserting
direction for inserting the striking plate into the opening of the
club head body, the striking plate having a rear face supported by
the shoulder.
15. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner
engaging face is one of planar and arcuate.
16. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer
engaging face is one of planar and arcuate.
17. The combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second outer
engaging face is one of planar and arcuate.
18. The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second inner
engaging face is one of planar and arcuate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a combination of a golf
club head and a striking plate. In particular, the present
invention relates to a combination of a golf club head and a
striking plate in which the golf club head and the striking plate
together provide a reliable engaging relationship therebetween to
improve welding reliability and to simplify positioning for the
assembling procedure.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,408 discloses a method for fusing a
ball-striking plate with a golf club head case. A golf club head
case of a metal material is prepared and includes a recess having a
shoulder located in a bottom of the recess. The shoulder of the
recess of the golf club head case has a deformable protruded
portion in an outer edge thereof for enhancing the fusion of the
ball-striking plate with the recess of the golf club head case. A
ball-striking plate of a metal material is prepared and received in
the recess of the golf club head case, with the underside of the
ball-striking plate abutting against the protruded portion, thereby
slightly deforming the protruded portion. A welding material is
arranged on the shoulder of the recess of the golf club head case
such that the underside of the ball-striking plate is in contact
with the welding material. The golf club head case containing the
ball-striking plate is baked in an oven at a temperature higher
than the melting point of the welding material but lower than those
of the golf club head case and the ball-striking plate. The based
case is removed from the oven.
[0005] However, a space delimited by the ball-striking plate, the
shoulder, and the protruded portion receives a limited amount of
welding material. Further, a portion of the welding material is
used to fill slits between an inner perimeter delimiting the recess
and an outer perimeter of the ball-striking plate such that the
remaining amount of welding material becomes insufficient. Voids
are thus generated. As a result, the joining areas of brazing are
apt to crack when the ball-striking plate hits a golf ball and thus
deforms. Further, the gap between the striking plate and the inner
perimeter of the golf club head case should be precisely controlled
to assure filling of the brazing material into the gap regardless
of the process for manufacturing the golf club head case and the
ball-striking plate. To achieve this, the golf club head case and
the ball-striking plate must be milled by additional machines to
control the gap tolerance. The overall time for manufacturing the
golf club head is prolonged and the overall manufacturing cost is
increased, which are detrimental to mass production.
[0006] Taiwan Patent Publication No. 469144 discloses an improved
method of that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,408. In the
improved method, after the brazing procedure, an ordinary welding
procedure such as Argon welding is carried out along a joining gap
between the ball-striking plate and the golf club head case. Then,
grinding and polishing are carried out on the outer surfaces of the
golf club head case. However, the tolerance between the golf club
head case and the ball-striking plate still needs precise control.
The problem of generation of voids resulting from insufficient
welding material, the problem of defective welding result, and the
problem of long manufacturing time still exist.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a
combination of a club head body and a striking plate, wherein
positioning of the striking plate in the club head body in the
subsequent welding process is simplified while providing improved
welding effect, improved welding convenience, and improved bonding
reliability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, in a
combination of a club head body and a striking plate, the club head
body includes an opening in a front end thereof, a perimeter
delimiting the opening forming an inner engaging face. The striking
plate includes a front face for striking a golf ball, the striking
plate including an outer perimeter that forms an outer engaging
face. The striking plate is received in the opening of the club
head body. The inner engaging face and the outer engaging face
together form a filler-receiving space for receiving a welding
material. Further, the inner engaging face and the outer engaging
face together form an abutting section that reliably retains the
striking plate in place for a subsequent welding process.
[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of this
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment
in accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the first embodiment
in accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first embodiment in
accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment in
accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment
in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded sectional view of the third embodiment
in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the third embodiment in
accordance with the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth
embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 9 is an exploded sectional view of the fourth
embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the fourth embodiment in
accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a fifth
embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the fifth embodiment in
accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a sixth
embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the sixth embodiment in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now to be
described hereinafter in detail.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a first embodiment in
accordance with the present invention includes a club head body 10
and a striking plate 20. The club head body 10 includes is made of
stainless steel, titanium alloy, carbon steel, low-alloy steel,
cast iron, nickel-base alloy, structural steel, Fe--Mn--Al alloy,
or super alloy. The club head body 10 includes an opening 11 in a
front side thereof. A perimeter that delimits the opening 11 forms
an inner engaging face 12. Preferably, the inner engaging face 12
tapers rearward and may be a planar face or an arcuate face.
[0026] The striking plate 20 includes a front face (not labeled)
for striking a golf ball (not shown). The striking plate 20 further
includes an outer perimeter that forms an outer engaging face 21.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, a maximum width w1 of a rear end portion
of the outer engaging face 21 is larger than a maximum width w2 of
a rear end portion of the inner engaging face 12.
[0027] In assembly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the striking plate
20 is placed into the opening 11 of the club head body 10. Since
the maximum width w1 of the rear end portion of the outer engaging
face 21 of the striking plate 20 is larger than the maximum width
w2 of the rear end portion of the inner engaging face 12 of the
club head body 10, the outer engaging face 21 tightly abuts against
the inner engaging face 12 at least at the rear end portion of the
outer engaging face 21, forming an abutting section B. Further,
since the inner engaging face 12 tapers rearward, a
filler-receiving space A is defined between the inner engaging face
12 and the outer engaging face 21.
[0028] The abutting section B allows the striking plate 20 to be
reliably positioned in the opening 11 of the club head body 10
without the need of a tool or the like. Positioning in the
subsequent welding process is simplified. Further, during the
welding process, in a heating procedure of a brazing process
performed in a vacuum environment or in a high-temperature furnace
filled with inert gas, a sufficient amount of welding material 30
can be filled into the filler-receiving space A for engaging the
inner engaging face 12 and the outer engaging face 21. The welding
material 30 also flows inward (downward in FIG. 3) by capillary
action to fill slits in the abutting section B. The boding
reliability of the abutting section B is thus assured. In contrast,
in the welding processes of U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,408 and Taiwan
Patent Publication No, 469144, the welding material flows upward by
capillary action, which may not able to completely fill the slits
and thus fails to provide a reliable bonding effect. Accordingly,
the combination of the striking plate 20 and the club head body 10
in accordance with the present invention provides improved welding
effect, improved welding convenience, and improved bonding
reliability.
[0029] Further, since the striking plate 20 and the club head body
10 are tightly engaged with each other due to provision of the
inner engaging face 12 and the outer engaging face 21 in which the
maximum width w1 of the rear end portion of the outer engaging face
21 is larger than the maximum width w2 of the rear end portion of
the inner engaging face 12, a larger tolerance between the striking
plate 20 and the opening 11 of the club head body 10 is provided.
Namely, the precision requirement for the striking plate 20 and the
club head body 10 can be lowered. The manufacturing cost for the
golf club head is cut, as milling of the striking plate 20 and the
club head body 10 during manufacture of the striking plate 20 and
the club head body 10 can be eliminated or at least shorted,
regardless of the manufacturing methods (such as precision casting,
forging, pressing, or composite engaging of different materials)
for manufacturing the striking plate 20 and the club head body
10.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the present
invention, wherein the outer engaging face 21 of the striking plate
20 tapers reward. Nevertheless, the outer engaging face 21 extends
in an inclining angle different from that of the inner engaging
face 12. Again, the rear end portion of the outer engaging face 21
tightly abuts against the inner engaging face 12 to form an
abutting section B, and a filler-receiving space A is formed
between the inner engaging face 12 and the outer engaging face 21.
Positioning in the subsequent welding process is simplified.
Improved welding effect, improved welding convenience, and improved
bonding reliability are provided. Further, the outer engaging face
21 can be planar or arcuate.
[0031] FIGS. 5 through 7 illustrate a third embodiment of the
present invention modified from the first embodiment. In this
embodiment, the outer perimeter of the striking plate 20 includes a
first outer engaging face 21 on a rear end portion thereof and a
second outer engaging face 21' on a front end portion thereof.
Preferably, the first outer engaging face 21 tapers rearward and
extends in an inclining angle the same as that of the inner
engaging face 12 of the club head body 10 such that the first outer
engaging face 21 is in intimate contact with a portion of the inner
engaging face 12 of the club head body 10, forming an abutting
section B. Further, a filler-receiving space A is formed between
the second outer engaging face 21' of the striking plate 20 and the
other portion of the inner engaging face 12 of the club head body
10, as the second outer engaging face 21' extends in a directing
different from that of the inner engaging face 12 of the club head
body 10. Positioning in the subsequent welding process is
simplified. Improved welding effect, improved welding convenience,
and improved bonding reliability are provided. Further, the club
head body 10 may include a shoulder 13 extending from the rear end
portion of the inner engaging face 12 along a plane orthogonal to
an inserting direction for inserting the striking plate 20 into the
opening 11 of the club head body 10. A rear face (not labeled) of
the striking plate 20 is reliably supported by the shoulder 13, as
shown in FIG. 7.
[0032] FIGS. 8 through 10 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the
present invention, wherein the inner perimeter delimiting the
opening 11 of the club head body 10 includes a first inner engaging
face 12 on a front end portion thereof and a second inner engaging
face 12' on a rear end portion thereof. The first inner engaging
face 12 and the second inner engaging face 12' taper rearward, with
the first inner engaging face 12 extending in an inclining angle
different from that of the second inner engaging face 12', and with
the second inner engaging face 12' extending in an inclining angle
the same as that of the outer engaging face 21. Thus, the second
inner engaging face 12' of the club head body 10 is in intimate
contact with the a rear end portion of the outer engaging face 21
of the striking plate 20 to form an abutting section B. A
filler-receiving space A is formed between a front end portion of
the outer engaging face 21 of the striking plate 20 and the second
inner engaging face 12' of the club head body 10. Positioning in
the subsequent welding process is simplified. Improved welding
effect, improved welding convenience, and improved bonding
reliability are provided. Further, the club head body 10 may
include a shoulder 13 extending from the rear end portion of the
first inner engaging face 12 along a plane orthogonal to an
inserting direction for inserting the striking plate 20 into the
opening 11 of the club head body 10. A rear face (not labeled) of
the striking plate 20 is reliably supported by the shoulder 13, as
shown in FIG. 10.
[0033] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the present
invention, wherein the outer engaging face 21 of the striking plate
20 includes a cutout 22 in a front end portion thereof. Preferably,
the cutout 22 extends along the perimeter of the striking plate 20.
Further, the outer engaging face 21 extends in an inclining angle
the same as that of the inner engaging face 12 of the club head
body 10. Thus, when the striking plate 20 is mounted in the opening
11 of the club head body 10, the cutout 22 of the striking plate 20
forms a filler receiving space A for receiving a sufficient amount
of welding material 30. Further, the outer engaging face 21 of the
striking plate 20 and the inner engaging face 12 of the club head
body 10 together form an abutting section B. Positioning in the
subsequent welding process is simplified. Improved welding effect,
improved welding convenience, and improved bonding reliability are
provided.
[0034] FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a sixth embodiment of the present
invention, wherein the inner engaging face 12 of the club head body
10 includes a cutout 14 in a front end portion thereof. Preferably,
the cutout 14 extends along the perimeter delimiting the opening 11
of the club head body 10. Further, the outer engaging face 21
extends in an inclining angle the same as that of the inner
engaging face 12 of the club head body 10. Thus, when the striking
plate 20 is mounted in the opening 11 of the club head body 10, the
cutout 14 of the club head body 10 forms a filler receiving space A
for receiving a sufficient amount of welding material 30. Further,
the outer engaging face 21 of the striking plate 20 and the inner
engaging face 12 of the club head body 10 together form an abutting
section B. Positioning in the subsequent welding process is
simplified. Improved welding effect, improved welding convenience,
and improved bonding reliability are provided.
[0035] While the principles of this invention have been disclosed
in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by
those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not intended
to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and
variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended
to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the
appended claims.
* * * * *