Golf club head

• US 5,697,855 A
• Filed: 12/15/1995
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daiwa Seiko Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Daiwa Seiko Incorporated
• Inventors: Aizawa, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US08/573,223
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 473/342, 473/345, 473/350, 473/324, 473/332, 473/335, 473/329, 473/349
• US Class Current: 473/350
• 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 53/0454 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

The invention concerns a golf club head in which by fully utilizing restitution characteristics of a face plate made of a high-elasticity material, the directional stability of a ball and a flying distance are enhanced, and also a good ball-hitting feel is obtained. In the golf club head of the invention, a through hole is formed through a face portion of a metal head body with a peripheral portion thereof remaining. A face plate, which is smaller in specific gravity than the head body, is mounted on the face portion in such a manner that the face plate is supported by a fitting recess portion formed at a peripheral edge portion of the through hole. A vibration-absorbing member, which is lower in elasticity than the face plate, is mounted on a back surface of the face plate in spaced relation to the head body.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a through hole formed through a face portion of a metal head body with a peripheral portion thereof remaining;

a face plate, which is smaller in specific gravity than said head body, is mounted on said face portion in such a manner that said face plate is supported by a peripheral edge portion of said through hole; and

at least one vibration-absorbing member, which is lower in elastic modulus than said face plate, is mounted directly on a back surface of said face plate in spaced relation to said head body;

wherein said vibration damper has a peripheral surface confined to an area of said back surface substantially adjacent a sweet spot corresponding position.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said face plate is made of material higher in elastic modulus than said head body.

3. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a fitting recess portion is formed in said peripheral edge portion of said thorough hole so as to support said face plate.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said face plate is mounted so as to close said through-hole.

5. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said vibration-absorbing member is made of elastic rubber.

6. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said vibration-absorbing member is made of visco-elastic material.

7. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said vibration-absorbing member is made of rigid synthetic resin.

8. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said vibration-absorbing member is made of metal lower in elastic modulus than said face plate.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a through hole formed through a face portion of a metal head body with a peripheral portion thereof remaining;

a face plate, which is smaller in specific gravity than said head body, is mounted on said face portion in such a manner that said face plate is supported by a peripheral edge portion of said through hole; and

at least two vibration-absorbing members, which is lower in elastic modulus than said face plate, each mounted on a back surface of said face plate in spaced relation to said head body, each of said at least two vibration-absorbing members are located at a position other than a sweet spot corresponding position.

10. A golf club according to claim 9, wherein said at least two vibration-absorbing members are respectively located at a toe-side portion and a heel side portion of said face plate so that said sweet spot corresponding position is located between said vibration-absorbing members.

11. A golf club according to claim 9, wherein said at least two vibration-absorbing members are respectively located at a top-side portion and a sole side portion of said face plate so that said sweet spot corresponding position is located between said vibration-absorbing members.