Golf club head

• US 7,273,423 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Imamoto, Yasunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/001,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type

Abstract

To provide a golf club head in which a sole portion has a high rigidity. A weight material is mounted near a central part of the sole portion in the fore-to-aft direction, and a rib extends in the toe-to-heel direction. Since the sole portion has high rigidity in the toe-to-heel direction, there is less deformation of the head in the toe-to-heel direction when hitting the ball, thereby suppressing the vibration of the sole portion. An elastic body is filled in a recess portion and closely contacted with the weight material, whereby the vibration of the sole portion is absorbed by the elastic body.

Claims

1. A golf club head having a hollow shell structure, comprising:

a face portion;

a sole portion;

a rib provided on the sole portion; and

a weight material mounted to the sole portion, wherein

at least the face portion and the sole portion are made of metal, and

the rib extends from a position on which the weight material is mounted such that an extension line of the rib traverses the weight material,

wherein the golf club head further comprises a recess portion provided on the sole portion which is depressed inward, and

an elastic body, wherein

the weight material is mounted by a screw into the recess portion, and

the elastic body is filled in a closed space surrounded by an upper end face of the weight material and a rearmost part of the recess portion.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the rib extends in a toe-to-heel direction.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the rib extends in a fore-to-aft direction.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the rib extends in a direction between a toe-to-heel direction and a fore-to-aft direction.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the rib extends in a plurality of directions.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a volume of the golf club head is configured to be in a range of 250 to 600 cc.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising a second weight material provided on the sole portion, wherein

the second weight material is provided on a position where a extension line of the rib traverses.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the rib provided on the sole portion has a height of 1.2 mm to 5.0 mm.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the rib provided on the sole portion has a width of 1.0 to 8.0 mm, the width being measured in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the rib extends from the position on which the weight material is mounted.

10. A golf club head having a hollow shell structure, comprising:

a face portion;

a sole portion;

a rib provided on the sole portion;

a recess portion provided on the sole portion which is depressed inward;

a first weight material; and

an elastic body, wherein

the rib extends from a position on which the recess portion is provided, and

the first weight material is mounted in the recess portion, and

the elastic body is filled in a closed space surrounded by an upper end face of the first weight material and a rearmost part of the recess portion.

11. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the rib extends in a toe-to-heel direction.

12. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the rib extends in a fore-to-aft direction.

13. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the rib extends in a direction between a toe-to-heel direction and a fore-to-aft direction.

14. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the rib extends in a plurality of directions.

15. The golf club head according to claim 10, further comprising a second weight material provided on the sole portion, wherein

the second weight material is provided on a position where a extension line of the rib traverses.

16. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein

the sole portion includes an incline portion, and

the recess portion is provided on the incline portion.

17. The golf club head according to claim 16, wherein the recess portion is covered with a plate so as to conceal the first weight material.

18. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the rib provided on the sole portion has a width of 1.0 to 8.0 mm, the width being measured in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the rib extends from the position on which the weight material is mounted.

19. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the rib extends from the position on which the weight material is mounted such that an extension line of the rib traverses the weight material.

20. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the rib provided on the sole portion has a height of 1.2 mm to 5.0 mm.

21. A golf club head having a hollow shell structure, comprising:

a face portion;

a sole portion; and

a rib provided on the sole portion, wherein

at least the face portion and the sole portion are made of metal,

wherein the golf club head further comprises;

a weight material mounted in the sole portion, wherein the rib extends from a position on which the weight material is mounted,

a recess portion provided on the sole portion which is depressed inward, and

an elastic body, wherein

the weight material is mounted by a screw into the recess portion, and

the elastic body is filled in a closed space surrounded by an upper end face of the weight material and a rearmost part of the recess portion.

22. A golf club head according to claim 21, further comprising an elastic body.