U.S. patent application number 16/410036 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-26 for golf club head.
This patent application is currently assigned to Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Wataru BAN.
Application Number | 20190388741 16/410036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68981348 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-26 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190388741 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BAN; Wataru |
December 26, 2019 |
GOLF CLUB HEAD
Abstract
A golf club head includes a face portion, a plurality of score
lines formed in the face portion and extending in a toe-heel
direction, a plurality of convex portions formed in the face
portion at intervals in the toe-heel direction, extending in the
toe-heel direction, and arranged as a plurality of arrays between
the score lines adjacent to each other in a vertical direction of
the face portion, and a plurality of concave portions formed in the
face portion and extending in a direction, which intersects with
the toe-heel direction, while passing between the convex portions
adjacent to each other in the toe-heel direction.
Inventors: |
BAN; Wataru; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Bridgestone Sports Co.,
Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
68981348 |
Appl. No.: |
16/410036 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0445 20200801;
A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 53/04
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 22, 2018 |
JP |
2018-119204 |
Claims
1. A golf club head that includes a face portion, comprising: a
plurality of score lines formed in the face portion and extending
in a toe-heel direction; a plurality of convex portions formed in
the face portion at intervals in the toe-heel direction, extending
in the toe-heel direction, and arranged as a plurality of arrays
between the score lines adjacent to each other in a vertical
direction of the face portion; and a plurality of concave portions
formed in the face portion and extending in a direction, which
intersects with the toe-heel direction, while passing between the
convex portions adjacent to each other in the toe-heel
direction.
2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of concave portions extend linearly.
3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the plurality
of concave portions are formed at equal pitches in the toe-heel
direction.
4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of concave portions extend arcuately.
5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein each of the
plurality of concave portions has a circular arc shape that bulges
toward a heel side in the toe-heel direction and toward a lower
side in the vertical direction.
6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of concave portions communicate with the score lines.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of
Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-119204 filed on Jun. 22, 2018,
the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a golf club head.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] There have been proposed golf club heads each of which
includes a face portion in which grooves, concave portions, and
convex portions thinner than score lines are formed (for example,
US-2018-0036606, US-2017-0100792, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2016-007537, Japanese Patent Nos. 6257635 and 6183191, Japanese
Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-186513, and Japanese Patent No. 6065376).
These grooves and the like are effective for increasing the spin
amount on a struck ball or preventing a decrease in spin amount in,
for example, rainy weather.
[0004] However, conventional golf club heads have room for
improvement in terms of the drainage performance of the face
portion and the spin amount on a struck ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to improve the
drainage performance of the face portion and the spin amount on a
struck ball.
[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a golf club head that includes a face portion, comprising:
a plurality of score lines formed in the face portion and extending
in a toe-heel direction; a plurality of convex portions formed in
the face portion at intervals in the toe-heel direction, extending
in the toe-heel direction, and arranged as a plurality of arrays
between the score lines adjacent to each other in a vertical
direction of the face portion; and a plurality of concave portions
formed in the face portion and extending in a direction, which
intersects with the toe-heel direction, while passing between the
convex portions adjacent to each other in the toe-heel
direction.
[0007] Further features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments
(with reference to the attached drawings).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows an external view and a partial enlarged view of
a golf club head according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional perspective view of the golf
club head shown in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of the golf club head
shown in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a view showing another formation example of convex
portions and concave portions; and
[0012] FIGS. 5A to 5C are views showing an example of a
manufacturing method.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0013] FIG. 1 shows an external view and a partial enlarged view of
a golf club head A according to an embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the present
invention is applied to an iron type golf club head. The present
invention is suitable for an iron type golf club head and, more
particularly, for middle iron, short iron, and wedge type golf club
heads. More specifically, the present invention is suitable for
manufacturing a golf club head with a loft angle of 30.degree.
(inclusive) to 70.degree. (inclusive) and a head weight of 240 g
(inclusive) to 320 g (inclusive). However, the present invention is
also applicable to wood type and utility (hybrid) type golf club
heads.
[0014] The golf club head A includes a face portion 1 and a hosel
portion 5. The face portion 1 forms a striking surface for striking
a golf ball. A shaft (not shown) is attached to the hosel portion
5. In FIG. 1, an arrow d2 indicates a toe-heel direction, and
reference symbols T and H indicate the toe side and the heel side,
respectively. An arrow d1 indicates a vertical direction (top-sole
direction) perpendicular to the toe-heel direction and along the
face portion 1. Reference symbols U and L indicate the upper side
and the lower side, respectively, upon grounding the sole portion
of the head A.
[0015] A plurality of score lines 2, a plurality of convex portions
3, and a plurality of concave portions 4 are formed in the face
portion 1. The concave portion 4 is a groove with a dimension
different from that of the score line 2. In this embodiment, the
concave portion 4 is a groove thinner than the score line 2.
[0016] The score lines 2, the convex portions 3, and the concave
portions 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3B. FIG.
2 is a partial sectional perspective view of the golf club head A,
and illustrates a part of the face portion 1 taken by cutting along
the d1 direction and the d2 direction. FIG. 3A is a sectional view
of the golf club head A taken along a line I-I in FIG. 1, and FIG.
3B is a sectional view of the golf club head A taken along a line
II-II in FIG. 3A.
[0017] The respective score lines 2 are linear grooves extending in
the d2 direction. The plurality of score lines 2 are aligned
parallel to each other in the d1 direction. Although the score
lines 2 are aligned at equal intervals (equal pitches) in this
embodiment, they may be aligned at different intervals. In this
embodiment, each score line 2 has the same cross-sectional shape
throughout its entire longitudinal portion except for its two ends
(toe- and heel-side ends). Also, the score lines 2 have the same
cross-sectional shape.
[0018] Each score line 2 includes a pair of side walls (side
portions) 21 and a bottom wall (bottom portion) 22, and has a
trapezoidal cross-sectional shape bilaterally symmetric about a
center line in the d1 direction. Note that the cross-sectional
shape of the score line 2 is not limited to a trapezoidal shape,
and may be other shapes such as a V shape. Rounded portions are
formed on edges 23 of each score line 2. The radius of the rounded
portion is, for example, 0.05 mm (inclusive) to 0.3 mm (inclusive).
The face portion 1 includes a reference plane FS. The reference
plane FS is a flat plane and includes portions adjacent to the
edges 23 of the score lines 2. In other word, a virtual plane
including the planes adjacent to the edges 23 is the reference
plane FS.
[0019] A depth Ds of the score line 2 (the distance between the
bottom wall 22 and the reference plane FS) is preferably 0.3 mm or
more. When the golf club head A is intended for athletics, the
depth Ds is set to 0.5 mm or less to comply with a relevant rule. A
width Ws (the width defined by the 30-degree measurement rule) of
the score line 2 is preferably 0.6 mm or more. When the golf club
head A is intended for athletics, the width Ws is set to 0.9 mm or
less to comply with a relevant rule.
[0020] The respective convex portions 3 are protrusions protruding
from the reference plane FS and extending in the d2 direction. At
the time of striking a golf ball, its surface is readily caught
between the convex portions 3 so that the spin amount can be
increased. In this embodiment, the respective convex portions 3
extend parallel to the score lines 2. However, the respective
convex portions 3 may extend obliquely with respect to the score
lines 2. In this embodiment, when viewing in the d2 direction, the
plurality of convex portions 3 are formed at intervals IT. When
viewing in the d1 direction, a plurality of arrays of convex
portions 3 (five arrays of convex portions 3 in this example) are
formed between two score lines 2 adjacent to each other in the d1
direction. The height (a protruding amount from the reference plane
FS) of the convex portion 3 is, for example, 10 .mu.m to 25 .mu.m.
The width (the width in the d1 direction on the reference plane FS)
of the convex portion 3 is, for example, 100 .mu.m to 600 .mu.m.
The cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 3 in the d1
direction in this embodiment is a chevron shape. However, the
cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 3 may be a rectangle or
a circular arced shape.
[0021] The concave portion 4 is a groove recessed from the
reference plane FS and extends in a direction intersecting with the
d2 direction. Since the concave portions 4 are formed, it becomes
possible to drain water (such as rainwater) on the face portion 1
into the concave portions 4 so that the drainage performance of the
face portion 1 can be improved. In this embodiment, the concave
portion 4 extends linearly. Although the concave portion 4 extends
in a direction perpendicular to the d2 direction, that is, in the
d1 direction in this embodiment, the extending direction of the
concave portion 4 may be oblique with respect to the d1 direction.
In this embodiment, the concave portions 4 are aligned at equal
intervals in the d2 direction, and the interval is, for example, 3
mm to 8 mm.
[0022] The concave portion 4 extends while passing between the
convex portions 3 adjacent to each other in the d2 direction (a
portion corresponding to the interval IT). Although water is
readily trapped between the convex portions 3 adjacent to each
other in the d1 direction, since the concave portion 4 is formed to
traverse these convex portions 3, trapped water can be effectively
drained into the concave portions 4.
[0023] In this embodiment, the concave portion 4 communicates with
two score lines 2 adjacent to each other in the d1 direction. It is
also possible to adopt an arrangement in which the concave portion
4 does not communicate with the score lines 2. However, when the
concave portion 4 communicates with the score lines 2, water on the
face portion 1 readily flows from the concave portion 4 to the
score line 2 so that the drainage performance of the face portion 1
can be further improved.
[0024] In addition, since the concave portions 4 are aligned at
equal pitches in the d2 direction in this embodiment, the drainage
performance of the face portion 1 can be evenly improved.
[0025] The improvement in the drainage performance of the face
portion 1 enhances the effect of suppressing a decrease in back
spin amount in, for example, rainy weather. Note that although one
concave portion 4 passes between the convex portions 3 adjacent to
each other in the d2 direction (the portion corresponding to the
interval IT) in this embodiment, the plurality of concave portions
4 may be arranged to pass there. In this case, the drainage
performance can be further improved.
[0026] The depth of the concave portion 4 (the distance from the
reference plane FS to the deepest part of the concave portion 4)
is, for example, 5 .mu.m to 25 .mu.m. The width (the width on the
reference plane FS in the d2 direction) of the concave portion 4
is, for example, 30 .mu.m to 200 .mu.m. In this embodiment, the
cross-sectional shape of the concave portion 4 along the d2
direction is a triangular shape, and particularly an isosceles
triangular shape (V shape). The isosceles triangular
cross-sectional shape of the concave portion 4 makes it possible to
form a narrower water channel. In addition to facilitate a
capillary phenomenon, this can prevent dust such as grass from
clogging in the concave portion 4. However, the cross-sectional
shape of the concave portion 4 may be a rectangle or a circular
arced shape.
[0027] As described above, in this embodiment, formation of the
convex portions 3 and the concave portions 4 makes it possible to
achieve both of an increase in back spin amount and the effect of
suppressing a decrease in back spin amount in, for example, rainy
weather owing to improvement in the drainage performance. That is,
improvement in the drainage performance of the face portion 1 and
that in the spin amount on a struck ball can be achieved.
[0028] Next, another formation example of the convex portions 3 and
the concave portions 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.
Although the concave portions 4 extend linearly in the example
shown in FIGS. 1 to 3B, they may extend arcuately. FIG. 4 shows its
example.
[0029] In the example shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of concave
portions 4 extend arcuately and, more specifically, extend
concentrically centering on a center 10. The concave portions 4
adjacent to each other are aligned at equal intervals when viewing
from the center 10 in a radial direction. This interval is, for
example, 3 mm to 8 mm. The concave portions 4 adjacent to each
other may be aligned at different pitches, or may not be aligned
concentrically. The concave portions 4 shown in FIG. 4 also
communicate with the score lines 2, but it is possible to adopt an
arrangement in which the concave portions 4 do not communicate with
the score lines 2.
[0030] The center 10 is located on the toe side in the d2 direction
and on the upper side in the d1 direction when using the center
portion of the face portion 1 as a reference. Therefore, each
concave portion 4 has a circular arc shape that bulges toward the
heel side in the d2 direction and toward the lower side in the d1
direction. When striking a golf ball while opening the face portion
1, the surface of the golf ball may be caught on the edge of the
concave portion 4, resulting in an increase in spin amount. That
is, the example of the concave portions 4 shown in FIG. 4 can
contribute to an increase in spin amount in addition to improvement
in the drainage performance.
[0031] Also in the example shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of convex
portions 3 are formed at intervals in the d2 direction, and the
concave portion 4 passes the portion corresponding to the interval.
Different from the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3B, the position of
the interval in the d2 direction is different for each array of
convex portions 3 in the example shown in FIG. 4. In the example
shown in FIG. 4, one concave portion 4 passes the portion
corresponding to the interval between the convex portions, but the
plurality of concave portions 4 may pass there.
[0032] A formation method of the convex portions 3 and the concave
portions 4 will be described next. As the golf club head A, for
example, a primary molded product without the convex portions 3 and
the concave portions 4 is manufactured by forging or casting. Then,
the convex portions 3 and the concave portions 4 are formed in the
primary molded product. After that, coating and a surface treatment
are performed to complete the golf club head A. The primary molded
product may be formed with or without the score lines 2. When the
primary molded product includes no score line 2, it is possible to
form the score lines 2 upon forming the convex portions 3 and the
concave portions 4. The primary molded product may be formed from a
single member or multiple members. When the primary molded product
is formed from multiple members, it may be formed from, for
example, a face forming member which forms the face portion 1 and a
head body which forms the part other than the face portion 1. In
this case, the face forming member and the head body may be
combined after the convex portions 3 and the concave portions 4 are
formed in the face forming member.
[0033] The convex portions 3 and the concave portions 4 can be
formed by laser processing or cutting. FIGS. 5A and 5B exemplify a
case in which the convex portions 3 and the concave portions 4 are
formed by laser processing. A primary molded product A' in which
the convex portions 3 and the concave portions 4 are to be formed
is fixed to a laser irradiation device (not shown) via a jig 100.
The laser irradiation device includes an irradiation unit 101 which
emits laser light. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3B, the
convex portions 3 are formed while irradiating the face portion 1
with laser light emitted by the irradiation unit 101, and
relatively moving the face portion 1 (primary molded product A') or
irradiation unit 101 in the d2 direction. In addition, the concave
portions 4 are formed while irradiating the face portion 1 with
laser light emitted by the irradiation unit 101, and relatively
moving the face portion 1 (primary molded product A') or
irradiation unit 101 in the d1 direction. In the example shown in
FIG. 4, the concave portions 4 are formed while relatively moving
the face portion 1 (primary molded product A') or irradiation unit
101 on circular arc tracks.
[0034] FIG. 5C exemplifies a case in which the convex portions 3
and the concave portions 4 are formed by cutting. The primary
molded product A' is fixed to an NC milling machine via the jig
100. The NC milling machine includes a spindle 102 that is
rotatably driven about the Z-axis, and a cutting tool (end mill)
103 is attached to the lower end of the spindle 102. As in the case
of laser processing, in the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3B, the
convex portions 3 are formed while relatively moving the face
portion 1 (primary molded product A') or cutting tool 103 in the d2
direction. In addition, the concave portions 4 are formed while
relatively moving the face portion 1 (primary molded product A') or
cutting tool 103 in the d1 direction. In the example shown in FIG.
4, the concave portions 4 are formed while relatively moving the
face portion 1 (primary molded product A') or cutting tool 103 on
circular arc tracks.
[0035] Note that the formation method may be different between the
convex portions 3 and the concave portions 4. For example, the
convex portions 3 may be formed by cutting, and the concave
portions 4 may be formed by laser processing. The concave portions
4 are preferably formed by laser processing using laser with a
short pulse width. This can suppress the thermal effect due to
laser irradiation, thereby facilitating formation of thinner
grooves.
[0036] Note that after the formation of the convex portions 3 and
the concave portions 4, a surface treatment for increasing the
hardness of the face portion 1 is preferably performed. Examples of
such a surface treatment are a carburizing treatment, nitriding
treatment, soft nitriding treatment, PVD (Physical Vapor
Deposition) treatment, ion plating, DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon)
treatment, and plating treatment. Especially surface treatments
such as a carburizing treatment and nitriding treatment, which
modify the surface without forming another metal layer on the
surface, are preferable. The surface of the face portion 1 may be
covered with a plating layer.
[0037] While the present invention has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
* * * * *