Golf club head with damping member

Abstract

A golf club head includes a body having at least one compartment and at least one damping member removably mounted in the at least one compartment. The damping member includes a receptacle, and a damping block is mounted in the receptacle for absorbing vibrations during a swing. The damping member includes an outer threading, and an inner periphery delimiting the compartment includes an inner threading for threadedly engaging with the outer threading of the damping member, allowing easy mounting and removal of the damping member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a golf club head. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf club head with at least one damping member.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,612 discloses a weighting member for a golf club head. The club head comprises at least one indentation or cavity for receiving at least one weighting device composed of a polymer body having a plurality of receiving ports therein. A plurality of high density members are placed within a corresponding receiving port of the plurality of receiving ports. The plurality of high density members allow for the weight of the weight device to be modified depending on the number of the high density members placed within the receiving ports. The center of gravity of the golf club head can be adjusted while improving the overall vibration-absorbing effect of the golf club head.

[0005] The weighting device is mechanically fixed through compaction in the indentation (or cavity), or chemically adhered to the recessed portion or indentation with an adhesive. However, in either case, due to the nature of easy deformation of the elastomeric weighting device, the weighting device temporarily deforms during a swing. The bonding reliability between the weighting device and indentation (or cavity) is adversely affected. Further, the mechanical or chemical bonding of the weighting device causes inconvenience to frequent detachment of the weighting device for altering the number and/or the size of the high density members. Further, the weight device has a relatively large size and thus compromises the weighting effect. Further, rolling of the high density members in the receiving ports result in odd sound during a swing.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head with improved vibration-absorbing effect while allowing easy assembly.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head with improved vibration-absorbing effect and reliable assembly.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head with improved sounding frequency during a swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a golf club head comprises a body including at least one compartment and at least one damping member removably mounted in the at least one compartment. The damping member includes a receptacle, and a damping block is mounted in the receptacle for absorbing vibrations during a swing.

[0010] The damping member includes an outer threading, and an inner periphery delimiting the compartment includes an inner threading for threadedly engaging with the outer threading of the damping member, allowing easy mounting and removal of the damping member.

[0011] The damping member is preferably made of a material selected from the group comprising epoxy, polyurethane, rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, foam materials, foamable resins, polyethylene, polyamides, and mixtures thereof.

[0012] The damping member may further include a driving portion allowing rotation of the damping member for mounting or disengaging the damping member into or from the compartment.

[0013] The damping member may further include at least one weight member mounted in the receptacle. In an embodiment, the weight member includes a first end in contact with an end wall delimiting the receptacle and a second end flush with an outer end face of the damping member. In another embodiment, the weight member is embedded in the damping block and includes an end in contact with an end wall delimiting the receptacle. In a further embodiment, the weight member is completely embedded in the damping block.

[0014] In an embodiment, an inner periphery delimiting the receptacle of the damping member includes an inner threading, and the weight member includes an outer threading for threadedly engaging with the inner threading of the receptacle, allowing easy mounting and removal of the weight member. The weight member may further include a driving portion on an outer end thereof, allowing rotation of the weight member for mounting or disengaging the weight member into or from the receptacle.

[0015] 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

[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded sectional view of a first embodiment of a golf club head in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the golf club head in FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of a second embodiment of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the golf club head in FIG. 4;

[0021] FIG. 6 is an exploded sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 8 is an exploded sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention; and

[0024] FIG. 9 is an exploded sectional view of a seventh embodiment of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a golf club head in accordance with the present invention comprises a body 2 and at least one damping member 3 (one in this embodiment). The body 2 is made of metal or non-metal material, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, Fe--Mn--Al alloy, or carbon fiber. The body 2 can be formed by casting, forging, or mechanical processing. The body 2 in the illustrated embodiment is a wood-type golf club head body, detailed structure of which is not described to avoid redundancy. The body 2 includes at least one compartment 21 (one in this embodiment) in a rear end of a sole thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, an inner periphery delimiting the compartment 21 includes an inner threading 22 for threadedly engaging with the damping member 3.

[0026] The damping member 3 is substantially in the form of a bolt. The damping member 3 is made of a material the same as or different from that of the body 2, such as tungsten, iron, nickel, titanium, copper, and alloys thereof. Usable iron alloys include stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, and Fe--Mn--Al alloy. The damping member 3 includes an outer threading 31 for threadedly engaging with the inner threading 22 of the compartment 21. The damping member 3 further includes a receptacle 32 defined in an end of the damping member 3 and a damping block 33 mounted in the receptacle 32. The damping block 33 may be directly filled into and thus formed in the receptacle 32. Alternatively, the damping block 33 is formed and then adhered in the receptacle 32. The damping block 33 is made of a damping material capable of absorbing vibrations generated during a swing. The damping material is selected from the group comprising epoxy, polyurethane, rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, foam materials, foamable resins, polyethylene, polyamides, and mixtures thereof.

[0027] Further, the damping member 3 includes a driving portion 34. A user may use a tool (such as a wrench or the like, not shown) to engage with the driving portion 34 for turning the damping member 3, thereby mounting or disengaging the damping member 3 into or from the compartment 21. The golf club head in FIG. 2 is in an assembled state. The damping member 3 is reliably mounted in the compartment 21 of the body 2 due to threaded engagement between the inner threading 22 of the body 2 and the outer threading 31 of the damping member 3. During a swing, the damping block 33 in the receptacle 32 of the damping member 3 absorbs vibrations as a result of the swing, reducing the odd sounds and improving the sounding frequency. Loosening of the damping member 3 resulting from vibrations is less likely to occur.

[0028] It is noted that the center of gravity (CG) of the golf club head can be adjusted and the moment of inertia (MOI) of the golf club head can be increased can be can be adjusted by altering the weight of the damping member 3. The driving portion 34 and the outer threading 31 of the damping member 3 allows easy, rapid mounting, removal, and replacement of the damping member 3, increasing the assembling convenience and improving utility.

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the body 2 is also a wood-type golf club head body. Nevertheless, the compartment 21 is defined in a sole. The compartment 21 in the illustrated embodiment is in the central portion of the sole. Nevertheless, the compartment 21 can be in a position adjacent to the toe, heel, or striking plate of the body 2. Thus, the position of the compartment 21 and the weight of the damping member 3 can be selected to meet different needs in the location of the CG and vibration-absorbing effect.

[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the body 2 is an iron-type golf club head body comprising a plurality of compartments 21 (three in this embodiment) in a bottom portion of a rear side thereof, and a plurality of damping members 3 (three in this embodiment) are respectively mounted in the compartments 21. Similar to the first embodiment, an inner periphery delimiting each compartment 21 includes an inner threading 22, and each damping 3 includes an outer threading 31, a receptacle 32, a damping block 33, and a driving portion 34. More flexible adjustment in the position of the CG and the vibration-absorbing effect is allowed.

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the damping member 3 includes at least one weight member 35 (one in this embodiment) mounted in the receptacle 32. The weight member 35 is at least partially embedded in the damping block 33. The weight member 35 is made of a material the same as or different from that of the damping member 3. In this embodiment, the weight member 35 includes a first end in contact with an end wall delimiting the receptacle 32 and a second end flush with an outer end face of the damping block 33. FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the invention, wherein the weight member (now designated by 35') is embedded in the damping block 33, with the first end of the weight member 35' still in contact with the end wall delimiting the receptacle 32. FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the invention, wherein the weight member (now designated by 35'') is completely embedded in the damping block 33, with the first end of the weight member 35'' not in contact with the end wall delimiting the receptacle 32. Thus, a variety of damping members 3 with different vibration-absorbing effects and different weighting effects (for adjusting the position of the CG) can be manufactured to allow easy, rapid replacement of the damping member 3 in the golf club head in accordance with the present invention, increasing the assembling convenience and improving utility.

[0032] FIG. 9 illustrates a seventh embodiment of the invention modified from the fourth embodiment in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, an inner periphery delimiting the receptacle 32 includes an inner threading 321, and the damping block 33 includes an outer threading 331 for threading engagement with the inner threading 321 of the receptacle 32. Further, a driving portion 351 is provided on an end of the damping block 33, allowing easy, rapid removal of the damping block 33 by a wrench or the like. Thus, the damping member 3 can be used with various damping blocks 33 and various weight members 35, reducing the number of the damping blocks 3 while increasing assembling convenience and improving utility.

[0033] 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.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising: a body including at least one compartment; and at least one damping member removably mounted in said at least one compartment, said at least one damping member including a receptacle, a damping block being mounted in the receptacle for absorbing vibrations during a swing.

2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one damping member includes an outer threading, and wherein an inner periphery delimiting said at least one compartment includes an inner threading for threadedly engaging with the outer threading of said at least one damping member.

3. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one damping member is made of a material selected from the group comprising epoxy, polyurethane, rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, foam materials, foamable resins, polyethylene, polyamides, and mixtures thereof.

4. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one damping member further includes a driving portion allowing rotation of said at least one damping member for mounting or disengaging said at least one damping member into or from said at least one compartment.

5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one damping member further includes at least one weight member mounted in the receptacle.

6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 5 wherein said at least one weight member includes a first end in contact with an end wall delimiting the receptacle and a second end flush with an outer end face of said at least one damping member.

7. The golf club head as claimed in claim 5 wherein said at least one weight member is embedded in the damping block and includes an end in contact with an end wall delimiting the receptacle.

8. The golf club head as claimed in claim 5 wherein said at least one weight member is completely embedded in the damping block.

9. The golf club head as claimed in claim 5 wherein an inner periphery delimiting the receptacle of said at least one damping member includes an inner threading, and wherein said at least one weight member includes an outer threading for threadedly engaging with the inner threading of the receptacle.

10. The golf club head as claimed in claim 9 wherein said at least one weight member further includes a driving portion on an outer end thereof, allowing rotation of said at least one weight member for mounting or disengaging said at least one weight member into or from the receptacle.

11. The golf club head as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one damping member further includes at least one weight member mounted in the receptacle.

12. The golf club head as claimed in claim 11 wherein said at least one weight member includes a first end in contact with an end wall delimiting the receptacle and a second end flush with an outer end face of said at least one damping member.

13. The golf club head as claimed in claim 11 wherein said at least one weight member is embedded in the damping block and includes an end in contact with an end wall delimiting the receptacle.

14. The golf club head as claimed in claim 11 wherein said at least one weight member is completely embedded in the damping block.

15. The golf club head as claimed in claim 11 wherein an inner periphery delimiting the receptacle of said at least one damping member includes an inner threading, and wherein said at least one weight member includes an outer threading for threadedly engaging with the inner threading of the receptacle.

16. The golf club head as claimed in claim 15 wherein said at least one weight member further includes a driving portion on an outer end thereof, allowing rotation of said at least one weight member.

17. The golf club head as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one damping member is made of a material selected from the group comprising epoxy, polyurethane, rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, foam materials, foamable resins, polyethylene, polyamides, and mixtures thereof.

18. The golf club head as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one damping member further includes a driving portion allowing rotation of said at least one damping member for mounting or disengaging said at least one damping member into or from said at least one compartment.

19. The golf club head as claimed in claim 5 wherein said at least one damping member is made of a material selected from the group comprising epoxy, polyurethane, rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, foam materials, foamable resins, polyethylene, polyamides, and mixtures thereof.

20. The golf club head as claimed in claim 5 wherein said at least one damping member further includes a driving portion allowing rotation of said at least one damping member for mounting or disengaging said at least one damping member into or from said at least one compartment.