Golf club head and golf club set

• US 20030176231A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Hasebe, Yu
• Granted Patent: US 6,984,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/291
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head is formed by integrally welding a face portion and a back portion with each other. The face portion has a circumferential edge portion in its back surface. The circumferential edge portion is made of a flat surface all over its circumference. In the rear surface of the face portion, the part other than the circumferential edge portion is formed as a recess portion. In the bottom surface of the recess portion, a first bottom surface which is the deepest, a second bottom surface which is the second deepest, a third bottom surface which is the third deepest, and a fourth bottom surface which is the shallowest are formed in descending order. Three ribs are provided vertically to extend through the recess portion.

Claims

1. An iron-type hollow golf club head comprising:

a face portion;

a back portion; and

a sole portion;

wherein the face portion, the back portion, and the sole portion define a hollow portion; and

wherein the face portion is thicker as approaching to a lower portion thereof at least on a toe side thereof.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of step portions extending in a width direction of the face portion are provided at least on a toe side of a back surface of the face portion facing the hollow portion so that the face portion is thicker stepwise as approaching to the lower portion thereof.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a rib extending vertically is provided near a central portion of a back surface of the face portion in a width direction of the face portion.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a thick portion is provided near a central portion of a back surface of the face portion in a width direction of the face portion so that the thick portion is thicker than the face portion on a toe side.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a loft angle is not larger than 43°

.

6. A golf club set comprising a plurality of iron-type golf clubs different in club length, each golf club having a head whose loft angle is larger as club length of the golf club is shorter,

wherein each of the gold club heads includes a face portion, a back portion, and a sole portion;

wherein the face portion, the back portion, and the sole portion define a hollow portion; and

wherein the face portion is thicker as approaching to a lower portion thereof at least on a toe side thereof.

7. The golf club set according to claim 6, wherein thickness of an upper portion of the face portion of each of golf club heads, thickness of an upper portion of the back portion of each of golf club heads, and a distance between an upper end of the hollow portion and an upper end of each of golf club heads are thicker in a golf club whose club length is shorter.

8. The golf club set according to claim 6, wherein thickness of an intersecting portion of the back portion and the sole portion of each of golf club heads is thinner in a golf club whose club length is shorter.