U.S. patent application number 12/652783 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-30 for golf club head.
Invention is credited to Hideo Matsunaga, Fumiaki Sato, Hiroshi Takahashi.
Application Number | 20100331103 12/652783 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43381350 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-30 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20100331103 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takahashi; Hiroshi ; et
al. |
December 30, 2010 |
GOLF CLUB HEAD
Abstract
A golf club head includes a hollow head main body provided with
a recess portion in a sole portion thereof; a gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion with a plate shape disposed in the
recess portion between a center part of the recess portion and a
part of a surrounding wall of the recess portion; and a fixing
portion for fixing the gravity center characteristic adjusting
portion onto the hollow head main body at an arbitrary rotational
position.
Inventors: |
Takahashi; Hiroshi;
(Saitama, JP) ; Sato; Fumiaki; (Saitama, JP)
; Matsunaga; Hideo; (Saitama, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kazunao Kubotera;KUBOTERA & ASSOCIATES, LLC
Suite 202, 200 Daingerfield Road
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
43381350 |
Appl. No.: |
12/652783 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/338 ;
473/345; 473/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2053/0491 20130101;
A63B 53/0433 20200801; A63B 60/02 20151001; A63B 53/0466
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/338 ;
473/345; 473/349 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/06 20060101
A63B053/06; A63B 53/04 20060101 A63B053/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 29, 2009 |
JP |
2009-153807 |
Claims
1. A golf club head comprising: a head main body having a recess
portion in a sole portion thereof; a gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion disposed in the recess portion; and a fixing
portion for fixing the gravity center characteristic adjusting
portion onto the hollow head main body at an arbitrary rotational
position.
2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said gravity
center characteristic adjusting portion includes a screw insertion
hole, said fixing portion includes a male screw portion having a
head portion and a shaft portion, and said head main body includes
a female screw portion so that the shaft portion is inserted in the
screw insertion hole to engage the female screw portion.
3. The golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising an
anti-rotation mechanism, said anti-rotation mechanism including a
protruding portion formed on one of the head main body and the
gravity center characteristic adjusting portion, and an engaging
groove formed in the other of the head main body and the gravity
center characteristic adjusting portion for engaging the protruding
portion.
4. The golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising a
rib disposed in the recess portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
[0001] The present invention relates to a golf club head capable of
adjusting a gravity center thereof.
[0002] Patent Reference discloses a conventional golf club head
whose gravity center position is changeable. The conventional golf
club head disclosed in Patent Reference has a recess portion behind
a ball hitting face thereof. The recess portion has a diameter
equal to or larger than a diameter of a golf ball. The conventional
golf club head also includes a movable weight for adjusting a
gravity center position thereof by moving the movable weight
outward and inward inside the recess portion.
[0003] Patent Reference: Japanese Patent Publication No.
2006-101918
[0004] In the conventional golf club head disclosed in Patent
Reference, the recess portion with a size at least the same as that
of the golf ball is provided behind the ball hitting face, and the
movable weight is disposed inside the recess portion. Accordingly,
the conventional golf club head has an unusual shape.
[0005] In view of the problem described above, an object of the
present invention is to provide a golf club head capable of
adjusting a gravity center position without having an unusual
shape.
[0006] Further objects and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In order to attain the object described above, according to
a first aspect of the present invention, a golf club head includes
a hollow head main body provided with a recess portion in a sole
portion thereof; a gravity center characteristic adjusting portion
with a plate shape disposed in the recess portion between a center
part of the recess portion and a part of a surrounding wall of the
recess portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion onto the hollow head main body at
an arbitrary rotational position.
[0008] In the first aspect of the present invention, the golf club
head includes the recess portion in the sole portion of the hollow
head main body, and the gravity center characteristic adjusting
portion with the plate shape is disposed in the recess portion.
Further, the fixing portion is provided for fixing the gravity
center characteristic adjusting portion with the plate shape onto
the head main body at an arbitrary rotational position, so that a
position of the gravity center of the golf club head is adjusted.
Therefore, it is possible to change the position of the gravity
center without forming the golf club head in an unusual shape.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in
the golf club head in the first aspect, the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion may have a screw insertion hole at
a position corresponding to the center of the recess portion of the
head main body. The fixing portion is formed of a male screw
portion having a head portion and a shaft portion, and a screw
thread is formed on an outer circumference of the shaft portion. A
female screw portion is provided at the center of the recess
portion of the head main body. The gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion is placed inside the recess portion of the head
main body, and the shaft portion of the fixing portion is inserted
into the screw insertion hole and engages the female screw portion.
Accordingly, it is possible to fix the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion onto the head main body at an
arbitrary rotational position.
[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the
golf club head may include an anti-rotation mechanism. The
anti-rotation mechanism includes a protruding portion formed on one
of the head main body and the gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion, and an engaging groove formed in the other of
the head main body and the gravity center characteristic adjusting
portion for engaging the protruding portion. Accordingly, it is
possible to prevent the gravity center characteristic adjusting
portion fixed onto the head main body from rotating when the golf
club is swung.
[0011] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the
golf club head may be provided with a rib on a back side (a side of
a hollow portion) of the recess portion formed in the sole portion
of the head main body. With the rib, it is possible to improve an
impact sound produced when a ball is hit. More specifically, the
recess portion disposed in the sole portion of the head main body
has a substantially flat bottom. Accordingly, the golf club head
tends to be deformed and the impact sound tends to be low when the
golf club head hits a ball. With the rib, it is possible to
increase a rigidity of the golf club head, thereby improving the
impact sound.
[0012] In the golf club head of the present invention, it is
possible to adjust the position of the gravity center without
having an unusual shape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a bottom view showing a golf club head viewed from
a sole side thereof according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the golf club head taken
along a projected line II-II in FIG. 1 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are views showing an example No. 1 of a
gravity center characteristic adjusting portion of the golf club
head according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
wherein FIG. 3(A) is a perspective view thereof and FIG. 3(B) is a
schematic sectional view thereof in a state that the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion is fixed onto a head main
body;
[0016] FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are views showing an example No. 2 of
the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion of the golf
club head according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, wherein FIG. 4(A) is a perspective view thereof and FIG.
4(B) is a schematic sectional view thereof in the state that the
gravity center characteristic adjusting portion is fixed onto the
head main body;
[0017] FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) are views showing an example No. 3 of
the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion of the golf
club head according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, wherein FIG. 5(A) is a perspective view thereof and FIG.
5(B) is a schematic sectional view thereof in the state that the
gravity center characteristic adjusting portion is fixed onto the
head main body;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a fixing portion or a
male screw portion of the golf club head according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a cover of the golf
club head according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 8(A) is a schematic plan view showing a gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion of a golf club head according to a
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 8(B) is a schematic plan view showing another gravity
center characteristic adjusting portion of the golf club head
according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing an anti-rotation
mechanism of a gravity center characteristic adjusting portion
according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and
[0023] FIG. 10 is a partial cutout perspective view showing a golf
club head having ribs on a back side of a recess portion disposed
in a sole portion of a head main body according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Hereunder, embodiments of the present invention will be
explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
[0025] A first embodiment of the present invention will be
explained. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a golf club head 10 according to the
first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a bottom view
showing the golf club head 10 viewed from a sole side thereof, and
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a projected line II-II in
FIG. 1.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the golf club head 10 is provided
with a head main body 12. The head main body 12 includes a hollow
portion 14. A recess portion 16 with a substantially circular shape
is disposed in a sole portion of the head main body 12. A female
screw portion 18 with a hole shape is provided in the recess
portion 16 of the head main body 12 at a center thereof.
[0027] There is no limitation to a material of the head main body
12. For example, fiber reinforced resins and metals such as
titanium, a titanium alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum
alloy, a beryllium copper alloy and a magnesium alloy may be used
to form the head main body 12.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a gravity center characteristics
adjusting portion 20 is disposed in the recess portion 16 of the
head main body 12. The gravity center characteristic adjusting
portion 20 is a substantially fan-shaped plate and disposed between
the center and a part of a surrounding wall 22 of the recess
portion 16 of the head main body 12. The gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20 has a screw insertion hole 24
at a position corresponding to the center of the recess portion 16
of the head main body 12.
[0029] There is no limitation to a material of the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20. For example, metals such as
tungsten, a tungsten alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, and an
aluminum alloy may be used for producing the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20. Also, plastics such as a
polyester and a nylon may be used. The gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20 is preferred to have a specific
gravity from 0.9 to 19.3.
[0030] In the embodiment, the gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion 20 may have configurations shown in FIGS. 3(A),
3(B), 4(A), 4(B), 5(A), and 5(B). In FIGS. 3(B), 4(B), and 5(B), a
cover 36 (explained later) is omitted.
[0031] FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are views showing an example No. 1 of
the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20 of the golf
club head 10 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0032] In the example No. 1 shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), the
gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20 has a
ring-shaped convex portion 26 formed around the screw insertion
hole 24. The convex portion 26 abuts at a bottom thereof against a
bottom surface of the recess portion 16 of the head main body 12.
Accordingly, even if the bottom surface of the recess portion 16 is
curved to a certain extent, the gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion 20 can be securely fixed onto the head main body
12. Further, a fan-shaped part of the gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion 20 formed at one end thereof does not touch the
bottom surface of the recess portion 16, so that the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20 can rotate smoothly.
[0033] FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are views showing an example No. 2 of
the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20 of the golf
club head 10 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0034] In the example No. 2 shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), the
gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20 has a fan-shaped
bent portion 28 at one side thereof. A bottom surface of the bent
portion 28 abuts against the bottom surface of the recess portion
16. Accordingly, the gravity center characteristic adjusting
portion 20 can be securely fixed onto the head main body 12, even
if the bottom surface of the recess portion 16 is curved to a
certain extent. Further, a washer 31 is disposed between the
gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20 and the bottom
surface of the recess portion 16. Accordingly, when the gravity
center characteristic adjusting portion 20 is attached to the head
main body 12, a base end portion of the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20 becomes parallel to the bottom
surface of the recess portion 16.
[0035] FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) are views showing an example No. 3 of
the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20 of the golf
club head 10 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] In the example No. 3 shown in FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B), the
gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20 is entirely
formed in a flat shape. The gravity center characteristic adjusting
portion 20 abuts against the bottom surface of the recess portion
16 of the head main body 12 over an entire surface thereof. With
the configuration described above, the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20 contacts with the recess
portion 16 in a large area. Accordingly, the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20 can be securely fixed onto the
head main body 12.
[0037] In the embodiment, a fixing portion or a male screw portion
30 fixes the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20
onto the head main body 12 at an arbitrary rotational position. As
shown in FIG. 6, the fixing portion 30 has a head portion 32 and a
shaft portion 34, and a screw thread is formed on an outer
circumference of the shaft portion 34. There is no limitation to a
material of the fixing portion 30. For example, metals such as
stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, titanium, a titanium
alloy and a magnesium alloy may be used for producing the fixing
portion 30. Also, plastics such as a polyester and a nylon may be
used.
[0038] In the embodiment, the cover 36 is disposed between the head
portion 32 of the fixing portion 30 and the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20. As shown in FIG. 7, the cover
36 includes a base plate 40 having a substantially ring shape. The
base plate 40 includes a screw insertion hole 38 at a center
thereof, and protruding portions 42 on one side thereof. The cover
36 is provided for preventing the gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion 20 from rotating due to a shock of hitting a
ball. There is no limitation to a material of the cover 30. For
example, metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum
alloy, titanium, a titanium alloy and a magnesium alloy may be used
for producing the cover 30. Also, plastics such as a polyester and
a nylon may be used.
[0039] In the embodiment, when the golf club head 10 is assembled,
first, the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20 is
placed inside the recess portion 16 of the head main body 12. Next,
the cover 36 is placed on the gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion 20. Then, the shaft portion 34 of the fixing
portion 30 is sequentially inserted into both the screw insertion
hole 38 of the cover 36 and the screw insertion hole 24 of the
gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 20. Lastly, the
shaft portion 34 is screwed into the female screw portion 18 by
turning the head portion 32 of the fixing portion 30 with a tool.
Accordingly, it is possible to fix the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 20 onto the head main body 12 at
an arbitrary rotational position.
Second Embodiment
[0040] A second embodiment of the present invention will be
explained. FIG. 8(A) is a schematic plan view showing a gravity
center characteristic adjusting portion 50 of the golf club head 10
according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
8(B) is a schematic plan view showing a gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 52 of the golf club head 10
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 8(A), the gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion 50 has a rectangular shape. As shown in FIG.
8(B), the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 52 has an
oval shape.
Third Embodiment
[0042] A third embodiment of the present invention will be
explained. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing an anti-rotation
mechanism of a gravity center characteristic adjusting portion 72
according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 9, the gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion 72 is fixed to a head main body 68. The head main
body 68 has engaging grooves 70, and the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 72 has a protruding portion 74 for
engaging one of the engaging grooves 70. The engaging grooves 70
and the protruding portion 74 constitute the anti-rotation
mechanism. When the protruding portion 74 engages one of the
engaging grooves 70, it is possible to prevent the gravity center
characteristic adjusting portion 72 disposed on the head main body
68 from rotating.
[0044] In the embodiment, alternatively, the head main body 68 may
have a protruding portion, and the gravity center characteristic
adjusting portion 72 may have engaging grooves for engaging the
protruding portion. The number of the protruding portion and the
engaging grooves may be arbitrary.
Fourth Embodiment
[0045] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be
explained. FIG. 10 is a partial cutout perspective view showing a
golf club head having ribs 80 on a back side of a recess portion 78
disposed in a sole portion of a head main body 76 according to the
fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 10, the head main body 76 has the ribs 80
with an arbitrary shape at the back side of the recess portion 78
(a side of a hollow portion) disposed in the sole portion of the
head main body 76. When the ribs 80 are formed in the head main
body 76, it is preferable that the ribs 80 have a uniform height.
Accordingly, when a gravity center characteristic adjusting portion
is disposed in the recess portion 78, it is possible to easily
rotate the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion.
[0047] In the embodiment, with the ribs 80, it is possible to
improve an impact sound produced when a ball is hit. More
specifically, the recess portion 78 disposed in the sole portion of
the head main body 76 has a substantially flat bottom. Accordingly,
the golf club head tends to be deformed and the impact sound tends
to be low when the golf club head hits a ball. With the ribs 80, it
is possible to increase rigidity of the golf club head, thereby
improving the impact sound.
[0048] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2009-153807, filed on Jun. 29, 2009 is incorporated in the
application by reference.
[0049] While the invention has been explained with reference to the
specific embodiments of the invention, the explanation is
illustrative and the invention is limited only by the appended
claims.
* * * * *