Golf club head

• US 20060172818A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akio
• Granted Patent: US 7,390,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics

Abstract

A hollow golf club head is provided. A sole portion is provided with at least one rib extended from a toe side to a heel side. The rib is curved in a manner that a toe-side end and a heel-side end of the rib are located closer to a face side than a central part of the rib.

Claims

1. A hollow golf club head comprising,

a sole portion provided with at least one rib extended from a toe side to a heel side,

wherein the rib is curved in a manner that a toe-side end and a heel-side end of the rib are located closer to a face side than a central part of the rib.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein provided that a toe-heel width of the sole portion is A(mm), a face-back width of the rib defined between a point thereof closest to the face side and a rearmost part thereof is B(mm), and a toe-heel width between a toe-side end of the sole portion and the rearmost part of the rib is C(mm),

B (mm) is in the range of 20 mm to 60 mm, (B/A) is in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 and (C/A) is in the range of 0.3 to 0.7.

3. A golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the width of the rib is defined to be 3 mm or more whereas the thickness of the rib is defined to be 1.5 or more times the thickness of the sole portion determined at the other parts than the rib.

4. A golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the rib divides the sole portion into two or more regions, and one of the regions, which is the closest to the face side, has an area of 50% to 80% of the overall area of the sole portion.

5. A golf club head according to claim 3, wherein the rib divides the sole portion into two or more regions, and one of the regions, which is the closest to the face side, has an area of 50% to 80% of the overall area of the sole portion.

6. A golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein a head volume is in the range of 380 to 470 cc and a head weight is in the range of 170 to 210 g.

7. A golf club head according to claim 3, wherein a head volume is in the range of 380 to 470 cc and a head weight is in the range of 170 to 210 g.

8. A golf club head according to claim 4, wherein a head volume is in the range of 380 to 470 cc and a head weight is in the range of 170 to 210 g.

9. A golf club head according to claim 5, wherein a head volume is in the range of 380 to 470 cc and a head weight is in the range of 170 to 210 g.

10. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a face-back width D(mm) of the rib defined between a point closest to the face side and a face-side end of the sole portion is 20 mm or more, and 50 mm or less.

11. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a face-back length E(mm) of the sole portion is 75 mm or more, and 105 mm or less.