Golf club head with ceramic face plate

• US 3,975,023 A
• Filed: 02/26/1974
• Issued: 08/17/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kyoto Ceramic Company Limited (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kyoto Ceramic Company Limited (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Inamori, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US05/445,984
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 273/77 R, 273/78, 273/167 R, 273/167 D, 273/167 J, 273/173, 273/175
• US Class Current: 473/329
• 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 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• 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

Abstract

This invention relates to a golf club head capable of increasing the flying distance of the ball hit in a substantial degree, imparting a refreshing feeling of ball hitting to the player and being manufactured at low cost and durable for long time use by fixing the striking face of the club head with a ceramic face plate made of a sintered body of metallic oxides such as alumina ceramics, mullite ceramics, etc.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a. a striking face adapted to strike a golf ball, said striking face defining a recessed mating groove;

b. a face plate having a thickness of from about 10 to 20 mm and consisting essentially of a ceramic comprising alumina as the major component, said face plate further characterized as having an irregular exterior surface formed of fine aggregate of said ceramic, said face plate fitted into said mating groove such that said exterior surface of said face plate is flush with said striking face; and

c. an elastic sheet member disposed in said mating groove so as to be sandwiched between said face plate and said golf club head.

2. The golf club head in accordance with claim 1 wherein said striking face is formed of material selected from the group consisting of:

glass fibers, polyamide resin, acrylbutatiene styrol, ivory, wood, iron, plastic and combinations thereof.

3. The golf club head in accordance with claim 1 wherein said striking face is a separate and discrete element coupled to said golf club head.

4. The golf club head in accordance with claim 3 wherein said striking face is coupled to said golf club head by screw means.

5. The golf club head in accordance with claim 1 wherein said elastic sheet is a rubber film.

6. The golf club head in accordance with claim 1 wherein said face plate is made of a composition comprising about

a. 90 wt. percent Al₂ O₃ ;

b. 5 wt. percent SiO₂ ;

c. 3 wt. percent CaO; and

d. 2 wt. percent K₂ O + Na₂ O.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a. a striking face disposed on said golf club head adapted to strike a golf ball, said striking face defining a recessed mating groove;

b. a face plate having a thickness of from about 10 to 20mm and having an irregular exterior surface and consisting essentially of a ceramic material comprising alumina as the major component with said irregular surface formed of aggregate of said ceramic material having a particle size in the range of 5 to 10 microns, said face plate fitted into said mating groove such that said exterior surface of said face plate is flush with said striking face; and

c. an elastic sheet member disposed in said mating groove so as to be sandwiched between said face plate and said golf club head

whereby a golf club head having resistance to shock and good tonal qualities is produced.

8. The golf club head in accordance with claim 7 wherein said striking face is formed of material selected from the group consisting of:

glass fibers, polyamide resin, acrylbutatiene styrol, ivory, wood, iron, plastic and combinations thereof.

9. The golf club head in accordance with claim 7 wherein said plastic film is a rubber film.

10. The golf club head in accordance with claim 7 wherein said face plate is made of a composition comprising about

a. 90 wt. percent Al₂ O₃ ;

b. 5 wt. percent SiO₂ ;

c. 3 wt. percent CaO; and

d. 2 wt. percent K₂ O + Na₂ O.