U.S. patent application number 11/344088 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-02 for golf club head.
This patent application is currently assigned to NELSON PRECISION CASTING CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Wen-Ching Hou.
Application Number | 20070178991 11/344088 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38322799 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070178991 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hou; Wen-Ching |
August 2, 2007 |
Golf club head
Abstract
Disclosed is a golf club head including a faceplate portion and
a main body constituting a remaining part of the golf club head. A
plurality of linear protrusions formed parallel to one another on
the rear surface (opposing to the front striking surface) of the
faceplate portion. The linear protrusions have different lengths
and are arranged in an elliptical pattern or a diamond pattern
covering the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity of the
golf club head on the rear surface of the faceplate portion.
Inventors: |
Hou; Wen-Ching; (Kaohsiung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
NELSON PRECISION CASTING CO.,
LTD
FU SHENG INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
|
Family ID: |
38322799 |
Appl. No.: |
11/344088 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/346 ;
473/349; 473/350 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0466 20130101;
A63B 53/045 20200801; A63B 53/0416 20200801; A63B 53/047 20130101;
A63B 53/0458 20200801; A63B 53/0454 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/346 ;
473/349; 473/350 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/00 20060101
A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. A golf club head comprising: a faceplate portion having a front
striking surface for striking a golf ball and a rear surface
opposing to the front striking surface; a top portion forming an
upper part of the golf club head; a sole portion forming a lower
part of the golf club head; a toe portion forming a forepart of the
golf club head; a heel portion forming a rear part of the golf club
head; a hosel portion adapted to be fastened to a shaft; and a
plurality of linear protrusions formed parallel to one another on
the rear surface of the faceplate portion and located among the top
portion, the sole portion, the toe portion, the heel portion, and
the hosel portion, wherein the linear protrusions have different
lengths and are arranged in an elliptical pattern or a diamond
pattern covering the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity
of the golf club head on the rear surface of the faceplate
portion.
2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the geometrical
center of the elliptical pattern or the diamond pattern is
substantially located at the vertical projection of the
center-of-gravity of the golf club head on the rear surface of the
faceplate portion.
3. The golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of scoring lines extends horizontally on the front
striking surface of the faceplate portion, and the linear
protrusions extend in a direction parallel to the extending
direction of the scoring lines.
4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the linear
protrusions have a protruding height in a range of 0.3 to 3 mm and
are spaced at intervals in a range of 0.3 to 3 mm.
5. A golf club head comprising: a faceplate portion having a front
striking surface for striking a golf ball and a rear surface
opposing to the front striking surface; a main body constituting a
remaining part of the golf club head; a plurality of scoring lines
extends horizontally on the front striking surface of the faceplate
portion; and a plurality of linear protrusions formed parallel to
one another on the rear surface of the faceplate portion and
extending in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the
scoring lines, wherein the linear protrusions have different
lengths and are arranged in an elliptical pattern or a diamond
pattern with its geometrical center substantially located at the
vertical projection of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head
on the rear surface of the faceplate portion.
6. The golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the linear
protrusions have a protruding height in a range of 0.3 to 3 mm and
are spaced at intervals in a range of 0.3 to 3 mm.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to wood or iron type golf club
heads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various improvements are applied to a golf club head in
order to increase a striking distance that a stable strike can
achieve. Particularly, the striking distance directly influences
the score. In order to obtain a maximum striking distance, golfers
usually have to hit the ball on the sweet area of golf club head.
However, it is difficult for many amateur players to hit the ball
on the sweet area.
[0003] There has been developed golf clubs having an enlarged
dimension of the driver head thereby obtaining an enlarged sweet
area so as to realize an easy strike. However, the sweet area is
inevitably moved upward since the center of gravity is shifted to
the upper side due to the enlarged dimension of the head. This
contradicts the requirement for lowering the center of gravity of
the golf club head.
[0004] Therefore, there is still room for improvement of golf club
heads, particularly in terms of enlarging the sweet area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a golf club head having enlarged sweet area thereby
resulting in less missing shots.
[0006] An iron type or wood type golf club head having features of
the present invention generally comprises a faceplate portion and a
main body. The faceplate portion has a front striking surface for
striking a golf ball and a rear surface opposing to the front
striking surface. The main body includes a top portion forming an
upper part of the golf club head, a sole portion forming a lower
part of the golf club head, a toe portion forming a forepart of the
golf club head; a heel portion forming a rear part of the golf club
head; and a hosel portion adapted to be fastened to a shaft.
[0007] To achieve the above listed and other objects, a plurality
of linear protrusions are formed parallel to one another on the
rear surface of the faceplate portion and located among the top
portion, the sole portion, the toe portion, the heel portion, and
the hosel portion, thereby having an enlarged sweet area so as to
realize an easy strike. The linear protrusions have different
lengths and are arranged in an elliptical pattern or a diamond
pattern covering the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity
of the golf club head on the rear surface.
[0008] Preferably, the geometrical center of the elliptical pattern
or the diamond pattern is substantially located at the vertical
projection of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head on the
rear surface of the faceplate portion.
[0009] The golf club heads of the present invention have a larger
sweet area which is realized by providing the linear protrusions on
the rear surface of the faceplate portion thereof. By expanding the
sweet area, it becomes easier for many amateur players to hit the
ball on the sweet area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing:
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a golf club head
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a golf club head
according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a golf club head with a sole
portion removed according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in
various forms, there are presently preferred embodiments shown in
the drawings and will hereinafter be described with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the
invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.
[0016] Now, embodiments of the present invention are described with
reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a golf club head 100
according to one embodiment of the present invention. This golf
club head 100 is an iron type golf club head including a faceplate
portion 110 and a main body 120 made of metal (such as pure titan,
a titan alloy, an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy). The
faceplate portion 110 and the main body 120 may be integrally
formed during a casting or molding operation. Alternatively, the
golf club head of the present invention may be manufactured by
integrally casting a main body having a faceplate-fitting opening
by a lost wax method, fitting a faceplate in the opening, and
welding the faceplate to the main body. If a welding process is
conducted, the welded product may be further subjected to grinding
and/or age hardening. The faceplate to be welded to the main body
may be formed by casting or pressing.
[0017] The main body 120 includes a top portion 122 forming an
upper part of the golf club head, a sole portion 123 forming a
lower part of the golf club head, a toe portion 124 forming a
forepart of the golf club head; a heel portion 126 forming a rear
part of the golf club head; and a hosel portion 128 adapted to be
fastened to a shaft (not shown). The top portion 122 may have a
recess or cavity in the back thereof.
[0018] The faceplate portion 110 has a front striking surface 110a
for striking a golf ball and a rear surface 110b opposing to the
front striking surface. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of linear
protrusions 112 are formed parallel to one another on the rear
surface 110b of the faceplate portion 110 and located among the top
portion 122, the sole portion 123, the toe portion 124, the heel
portion 126, and the hosel portion 128. Note that, the linear
protrusions 112 have different lengths and are arranged in an
elliptical pattern covering the vertical projection 132 of the
center-of-gravity 130 of the golf club head 100 on the rear surface
110b. Preferably, the protruding height of each linear protrusion
112 falls within the range of from 0.3 to 3 mm, and the interval of
every two adjacent linear protrusions 112 is set to be in a range
of 0.3 to 3 mm.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the faceplate portion 110 is provided
with scoring lines 9 formed horizontally on the front striking
surface thereof, i.e., generally parallel to the sole portion 123.
Preferably, the linear protrusions 112 are formed to extend in a
direction parallel to the extending direction of the scoring lines
114.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a golf club head 200 according to another
embodiment of the present invention. The golf club head 200 is
substantially identical to the golf club head 100 of FIG. 1 except
that the linear protrusions 112 are arranged in a diamond
pattern.
[0021] Preferably, the geometrical center of the elliptical pattern
or the diamond pattern is substantially located at the vertical
projection of the center-of-gravity 130 of the golf club head on
the rear surface 110b of the faceplate portion.
[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sole portion
123 may have an opening (not shown) formed in the lower corner edge
thereof, and an insert is fitted into and joined to the opening.
The insert has the same contours as that of the opening and is made
of a material with a larger specific gravity than that of the
material of the sole portion 123. With this arrangement, the
center-of-gravity of the head shifts rearward in relation to the
mounting position of the insert 6. Accordingly, it is possible to
further deepen and lower the center-of-gravity of the iron club
head.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a golf club head 300 according to another
embodiment of the present invention wherein a sole portion thereof
is not shown. This golf club head 300 is a wood type golf club head
including a faceplate portion 310 and a main body 320 made of
metal. The faceplate portion 310 has a front striking surface 310a
and a rear surface 310b at the opposite side thereof. The main body
120 has a crown portion (top portion) 4, a sole portion (not
shown), a toe portion 324, a heel portion 326 and a hosel portion
328. Note that the rear surface 310b of the faceplate portion 310
has formed integrally therewith a plurality of linear protrusions
312 located among the top portion 322, the sole portion, the toe
portion 324, the heel portion 326, and the hosel portion 328.
Preferably, the linear protrusions 312 are arranged in
substantially the same way as that mentioned above. The entirety,
except for the sole portion (not shown), of the wood type golf club
head 300 can be easily made by a precision casting, for example,
the lost wax process.
[0024] The golf club heads of the present invention have a larger
sweet area which is realized by providing the linear protrusions on
the rear surface of the faceplate portion thereof. By expanding the
sweet area, it becomes easier for many amateur players to hit the
ball on the sweet area.
[0025] As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the
foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are
illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the
present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications
and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of
the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the
broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications
and similar structure.
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