Golf club head and method of making the same

• US 20030104878A1
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Yabu, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 6,852,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49799 Providing transitory integral holding or handling portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4981 Utilizing transitory attached element or associated separate material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49988 Metal casting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49989 Followed by cutting or removing material

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a hollow body having a cavity, a plurality of rib-like walls provided on the inner surface of the hollow body so as to extend backward from a position near the face portion, and a sound bar disposed behind the face portion so as to extend along the back face of the face portion. A method of making a golf club head comprises making a wax model of the hollow main body having an opening, wherein in order to prevent deformation of the wax model during making a casting mold, the wax model is provided with a brace which extends across the opening and protruding walls which are disposed on the inner surface of the wax model and extend backwards from the opening.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising

a hollow body having a cavity and comprising a face portion having a front face defining a club face for hitting a ball and a back face facing said cavity,

a plurality of rib-like walls provided on the inner surface of the hollow body facing the cavity so as to extend backward from a position adjacent to the back face of the face portion, and

at least one sound bar disposed behind the face portion so as to extend along the back face at a small distance from the back face.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

one end of the sound bar is fixed to the inner surface of the hollow body, but the other end is a free end at a certain distance from the inner surface.

3. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one sound bar extends continuously across the face portion and both ends thereof are fixed to the inner surface of the hollow body.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one sound bar is a plurality of sound bars each extending continually across the face portion and both ends thereof are fixed to the inner surface of the hollow body.

5. A golf club head according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein

said rib-like walls are formed on the inner surface in a crown portion,

6. A golf club head according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein

said rib-like walls are formed on the inner surface in a sole portion

7. A golf club head according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein

said rib-like walls are

at least two rib-like walls formed on the inner surface in a crown portion and

at least two rib-like walls formed on the inner surface in a sole portion.

8. A golf club head according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein

said rib-like walls are

at least two adjacent rib-like walls having a length of from 42 to 75 mm formed on the inner surface in a crown portion and

at least two adjacent rib-like walls having a length of from 42 to 75 mm formed on the inner surface in a sole portion.

9. A method of making a golf club head comprising a hollow main body provided on the front with an opening and a face plate disposed on the front of the main body, said the method comprising

making a hollow wax model of said hollow main body, wherein the wax model has an opening corresponding to said opening and the wax model comprises at least one brace and protruding walls, said at least one brace extends across the opening to prevent deformation of the wax model, and said protruding walls are disposed on the inner surface of the wax model and extend backwards from the opening,

making a casting mold using the wax model, and

casting a metal material into the head main body using the casting mold.