GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20120149495A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: WADA, Kozue, MATSUNAGA, Hideo
• Application Number:
  US13/297,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20120149495A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/349
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type

Abstract

A golf club head is provided that includes a face part formed of a metallic material. The face part includes a thick-walled portion centrally located in the face part and configured as an elliptical or circular shape having depressions on two opposite sides thereof, and an outer peripheral portion located on the outer periphery thereof. The thick-walled portion includes a central portion having a first thickness which is greatest in the face part; a first ridge surrounding the central portion and having a second thickness less than the first thickness; and a first valley located between the central portion and the first ridge and having a third thickness less than the second thickness. The outer peripheral portion includes two first areas respectively adjacent to the two depressions of the thick-walled portion and having a fourth thickness less than the third thickness.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising a face part formed of a metallic material, the face part comprising:

a thick-walled portion centrally located in the face part and configured as a substantially elliptical or circular shape having substantially arc-shaped depressions on two opposite sides thereof, each of the depressions being directed toward a center of the face part, wherein the thick-walled portion comprises;

a central portion having a first thickness which is greatest in the face part;

a first ridge surrounding the central portion and having a second thickness less than the first thickness; and

a first valley located between the central portion and the first ridge and having a third thickness less than the second thickness and;

an outer peripheral portion located on an outer periphery of the thick-walled portion, wherein the outer peripheral portion comprises;

two first areas respectively adjacent to the two substantially arc-shaped depressions of the thick-walled portion and having a fourth thickness less than the third thickness; and

two second areas respectively extending from the substantially elliptical or circular line of the thick-walled portion toward a toe side of a sole of the head and a heel side of a crown of the head and having a thickness greater than the fourth thickness.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two first areas of the outer peripheral portion are extended from the two substantially arc-shaped depressions of the thick-walled portion up to ends of the face part.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two second areas of the outer peripheral portion are extended from the substantially elliptical or circular line of the thick-walled portion up to ends of the face part.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein one of the two first areas of the outer peripheral portion is adjacent to one of the second areas of the outer peripheral portion.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two first areas of the outer peripheral portion have a thickness of 1.8 to 2.2 mm and the two second areas of the outer peripheral portion have a thickness of 2.5 to 3.0 mm.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral portion further comprises a third area having a medium thickness between the first areas and the second areas.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein an axis of the substantially elliptical or circular shape of the thick-walled portion that passes through both centers of the two substantially arc-shaped depressions is inclined with respect to a horizontal line extending to the face part, the axis shifting to a crown side on a toe side of the head and to a sole side on a heel side of the head.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first valley has a length between an upper side and a lower side thereof which is about 30% to about 50% of a height of the face part passing a center thereof.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first ridge has a length between an upper side and a lower side thereof which is about 40% to about 60% of a height of the face part passing a center thereof.

10. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein a difference between the thicknesses of the central portion and the first ridge is 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm and a difference between the thicknesses of the first ridge and the first valley is 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm.

11. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the thick-walled portion further comprises:

a second ridge surrounding the first ridge and having a thickness less than the thickness of the first ridge; and

a second valley located between the first and second ridges and having a thickness less than the thickness of the second ridge.