Golf club

• US 6,638,180 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Endo Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: K.K. Endo Seisakusho
• Inventors: Tsurumaki, Masaei
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/208,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20030027661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/342, 473/345, 473/346, 473/349, 473/329, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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

Abstract

A golf club whose ball-striking portion realizes an improved repulsive force against balls and improved durability of as face member against repeated strikes of balls. The face member 16 is made up of a plurality of metallic plates 20, 21 which are superimposed over an entire surface thereof. Each of the metallic plates has an outer peripheral edge extended rearwardly to form an extended portion 22. The extended portion 22 has a rear end portion 23 joined to a body member 17 and a crown member 18 which construct a rear part of the head 1. A repulsive force of the ball-striking portion against balls can be improved by making the metallic plates 20, 21 thinner and more flexible. The durability of the face member 16 can be improved by transmitting the impacts caused by the repeated strikes of balls to the body member 17 and the crown member 18.

Claims

1. A golf club including a head and a shaft connected to one side of the head, said head including a hollow body formed by combining a plurality of metallic shells inclusive of a face member which is provided with a ball-striking portion on a front, wherein said face member is made up of a plurality of metallic plates which are superimposed over an entire surface thereof, each of said metallic plates having an outer peripheral edge extended rearwardly to define an extended portion, said extended portion having a rear end portion joined to a rear shell which constructs a rear part of said head.

2. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of metallic plates which construct said face member are not mutually joined at least in said ball-striking portion.

3. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said ball-striking portion is less than 3.0 mm, while said extended portion is thinner than said ball-striking portion.

4. A golf club according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of said ball-striking portion is less than 3.0 mm, while said extended portion is thinner than said ball-striking portion.

5. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein said rear shell is formed of a body member and a crown member.