U.S. patent application number 11/679681 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-21 for golf club head.
Invention is credited to Yen-Chi HSU, Shun-Fu HU, Chon-Chen LIN.
Application Number | 20080045356 11/679681 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38644546 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080045356 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIN; Chon-Chen ; et
al. |
February 21, 2008 |
GOLF CLUB HEAD
Abstract
A golf club head includes a hollow head body having a front
striking member, an upper shell portion extending rearwardly from
the front striking member, and a lower shell portion extending
rearwardly from the front striking member and connected to the
upper shell portion. One of the upper and lower shell portions is
made of plastic, and the other one of the upper and lower shell
portions is made of metal. The plastic shell portion has an inner
surface, and reinforcing ribs projecting from the inner surface.
The front striking member has a rear inner surface free of the
reinforcing ribs projecting therefrom. By virtue of the reinforcing
ribs on the plastic shell portion, the distance of the center of
gravity of the hollow head body from the front striking member can
be increased.
Inventors: |
LIN; Chon-Chen; (Ping-Tung
Hsien, TW) ; HU; Shun-Fu; (Ping-Tung Hsien, TW)
; HSU; Yen-Chi; (Ping-Tung Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
US
|
Family ID: |
38644546 |
Appl. No.: |
11/679681 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/346 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0454 20200801;
A63B 53/0433 20200801; A63B 53/045 20200801; A63B 2209/02 20130101;
A63B 53/0437 20200801; A63B 53/0466 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/346 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 18, 2006 |
TW |
095214696 |
Claims
1. A golf club head, comprising: a hollow head body having a front
striking member, an upper shell portion extending rearwardly from
said front striking member, and a lower shell portion extending
rearwardly from said front striking member and connected to said
upper shell portion, said upper and lower shell portions and said
front striking member cooperatively confining an enclosed inner
space; wherein one of said upper and lower shell portions is made
of plastic, the other one of said upper and lower shell portions is
made of metal, said one of said upper and lower shell portions has
an inner surface, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs projecting
from said inner surface, and said front striking member has a rear
inner surface which is free of the reinforcing ribs projecting
therefrom, whereby presence of said reinforcing ribs of said one of
said upper and lower shell portions can increase the distance of
the center of gravity of said hollow head body from said front
striking member.
2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
reinforcing ribs are provided at a distance of at least 2 cm from
said front striking member.
3. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper
shell portion and said reinforcing ribs are made of plastic, and
said reinforcing ribs project from said upper shell portion.
4. The golf club head as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
reinforcing ribs are formed as one piece with said upper shell
portion.
5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper
shell portion is made of plastic, and said reinforcing ribs are
made of metal and project from said upper shell portion.
6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
reinforcing ribs are parallel to each other.
7. The golf club head as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
reinforcing ribs are straight.
8. The golf club head as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
reinforcing ribs are curved.
9. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
reinforcing ribs extend along intersecting lines.
10. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower
shell portion and said reinforcing ribs are made of plastic, and
said reinforcing ribs project from said lower shell portion.
11. The golf club head as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
reinforcing ribs are formed as one piece with said lower shell
portion.
12. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower
shell portion is made of plastic, and said reinforcing ribs are
made of metal and project from said lower shell portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a golf club head, more particularly
to a golf club head with high strength and lightweight
properties.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional golf club head 2
includes a front striking portion 22, an upper shell portion 23
formed as one piece with the front striking portion 22 and
cooperating with the front striking portion 22 to define a lower
opening 20, and a lower shell portion 21 fitted in the lower
opening 20. Both of the upper shell portion 23 and the front
striking portion 22 are formed with reinforcing ribs 24 projecting
inwardly therefrom so as to reinforce the mechanical strength of
the golf club head 2 while reducing the thickness of the upper
shell portion 23 and the front striking portion 22 to reduce the
overall weight of the golf club head 2.
[0005] Since the upper shell portion 23 and the front striking
portion 22 are made of metal, the weight thereof cannot be reduced
effectively. Moreover, since the front striking portion 22 is
provided with the reinforcing ribs 24, the center of gravity of the
golf club head 2 is located at a distance relatively proximate to
the front striking portion 22, which in turn reduces the striking
stability and the striking distance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a golf club head which possesses high strength and lightweight
properties.
[0007] Accordingly, the golf club head of this invention includes a
hollow head body having a front striking member, an upper shell
portion extending rearwardly from the front striking member, and a
lower shell portion extending rearwardly from the front striking
member and connected to the upper shell portion. The upper and
lower shell portions and the front striking member cooperatively
confine an enclosed inner space. One of the upper and lower shell
portions is made of plastic, and the other one of the upper and
lower shell portions is made of metal. The plastic shell portion
has an inner surface, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs
projecting from the inner surface. The front striking member has a
rear inner surface which is free of the reinforcing ribs projecting
therefrom. By virtue of the reinforcing ribs on the plastic shell
portion, the distance of the center of gravity of the hollow head
body from the front striking member can be increased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] 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:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
golf club head;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional golf club
head;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment
of a golf club head according to this invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the second preferred of a golf
club head according to this invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the third preferred of a golf
club head according to this invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the fourth preferred of a golf
club head according to this invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the fifth preferred embodiment
of a golf club head according to this invention; and
[0017] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the fifth preferred
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] 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.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment
of a golf club head according to this invention is shown to include
a hollow head body 1 having a front striking member 12, an upper
shell portion 13 extending rearwardly from the front striking
member 12, and a lower shell portion 11 extending rearwardly from
the front striking member 12 and connected to the upper shell
portion 13. The upper and lower shell portions 13,11 and the front
striking member 12 cooperatively confine an enclosed inner space.
In this embodiment, the upper shell portion 13 is made of plastic.
Preferably, the upper shell portion 13 is made of carbon fibers.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the lower shell portion 11 is made of
metal. The upper shell portion 13 has an inner surface 131, and a
plurality of reinforcing ribs 14 projecting from the inner surface
131. The front striking member 12 has a rear inner surface 121
which is free of the reinforcing ribs 14 projecting therefrom. By
virtue of the reinforcing ribs 14 on the upper shell portion 13,
the distance of the center of gravity of the hollow head body 1
from the front striking member 12 can be increased. In other wards,
the center of gravity of the hollow head body 1 can be shifted
rearwardly from the front striking member 12 compared to that of
the conventional golf club head 2 so that the striking stability
and the striking distance can be improved. The reinforcing ribs 14
are provided at a distance of at least 2 cm from the front striking
member 12, are parallel to each other, and are straight. Therefore,
the distance of the center of gravity of the hollow head body 1
from the front striking member 12 can be increased. In this
preferred embodiment, the upper shell portion 13 and the
reinforcing ribs 14 are made of plastic, and the reinforcing ribs
14 are formed as one piece with the upper shell portion 13.
[0020] When making the golf club head of this embodiment, the upper
shell portion 13 is formed as one piece with the reinforcing ribs
14 by any suitable manner, such as molding, from carbon fibers. The
upper shell portion 13 is then assembled with the lower shell
portion 11 and the front striking member 12 by any suitable manner
well known in the art to form the golf club head.
[0021] Alternatively, the reinforcing ribs 14 can be made of a
material different from that of the upper shell portion 13, and are
assembled to the upper shell portion 13 by any suitable manner,
such as gluing or anchoring. For example, the reinforcing ribs 14
can be made of a metal material, and the upper shell portion 13 is
made of carbon fibers.
[0022] In view of the aforesaid, the golf club head of this
embodiment has the following advantages:
[0023] 1. Since the upper shell portion 13 of the golf club head is
made of carbon fibers, the total weight of the golf club head can
be reduced. On the other hand, since the upper shell portion 13 is
provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 14 projecting from
the inner surface 131 thereof, the mechanical strength can be
increased as well while reducing the total weight of the golf club
head.
[0024] 2. Since the reinforcing ribs 14 are provided at a distance
distal from the front striking member 12, i.e., at a distance of at
least 2 cm from the front striking member 12, the distance of the
center of gravity of the hollow head body 1 from the front striking
member 12 can be increased. Therefore, the striking stability and
the striking distance can be improved accordingly.
[0025] 3. The sound wave produced inside the hollow head body 1
while striking a golf ball can be destroyed by the reinforcing ribs
14. Therefore, the striking sound is relatively crisp.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 5, the second preferred embodiment of a
golf club head according to this invention is similar to the first
preferred embodiment except that the reinforcing ribs 14 are
straight and extend along intersecting lines.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 6, the third preferred embodiment of a
golf club head according to this invention is similar to the first
preferred embodiment except that the reinforcing ribs 14 are
cured.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 7, the fourth preferred embodiment of a
golf club head according to this invention is similar to the second
preferred embodiment except that the reinforcing ribs 14 are
curved.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the fifth preferred embodiment
of a golf club head according to this invention is similar to the
first preferred embodiment except that the lower shell portion 11
and the reinforcing ribs 14 are made of plastic, and that the
reinforcing ribs 14 project from the lower shell portion 11. In the
fifth preferred embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 14 are formed as
one piece with the lower shell portion 11. Alternatively, the
reinforcing ribs 14 can be made of a material different from that
of the lower shell portion 11, and are assembled to the lower shell
portion 11 by any suitable manner, such as gluing or anchoring. For
example, the reinforcing ribs 14 can be made of a metal material,
and the lower shell portion 11 is made of carbon fibers.
[0030] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are 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.
* * * * *