Golf club head

• US 7,303,486 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• 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:
  US11/048,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A golf club head made of metal includes a face surface, a back surface, and an elastic body. Plural hollow portions are defined between the face surface and the back surface and are arranged in an upper and lower direction. The elastic body is filled in the lowermost hollow portion. The plural hollow portions are defined in a lower portion of the golf club head.

Claims

1. A golf club head made of metal comprising:

a face surface;

a back surface, plural hollow portions being defined between the face surface and the back surface, the plural hollow portions including a first hollow portion and a lowermost hollow portion, and the first hollow portion being arranged above the lowermost hollow portion;

an elastic body filled in the lowermost hollow portion, wherein;

the plural hollow portions are defined in a lower portion of the golf club head.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is one of an iron type golf club head and a utility type golf club head.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

the elastic body is filled in the lowermost hollow portion in a compressed state; and

the elastic body is in close contact with a surface of the lowermost hollow portion.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein an empty portion where the elastic body does not exist is defined at a rearmost portion of the lowermost hollow portion.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein an empty portion is defined between the elastic member and an internal rearmost portion of the lowermost hollow portion.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a head main body that comprises a hosel portion; and

a face plate mounted on a front side of the head main body, wherein;

an upper portion of the head main body defines an opening portion that penetrates the head main body in a forward and rearward direction;

a lower portion of the head main body defines plural recess portions that open forward; and

the plural recess portions are the plural hollow portions.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body has JIS C hardness in a range of 15 to 80.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body includes particles of one selected from a group consisting of tungsten, tungsten alloy, stainless steel, lead, and copper.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a head main body that defines an opening penetrating the head main body and plural recess portions, the plural recess portions including a first recess portion and a lowermost recess portion, the first recess portion being arranged above the lowermost recess portion, and the opening being located higher than the recess portions;

an elastic member that is disposed in the lowermost recess portion; and

a face plate that is mounted on the head main body.

11. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein:

the elastic body is disposed in the lowermost recess portion in a compressed state; and

the elastic body is in close contact with a surface of the lowermost recess portion and a surface of the face plate.

12. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the elastic member defines at least one groove therein.

13. The golf club head according to claim 12, wherein the at least one groove of the elastic member forms an empty portion in the lowermost recess portion of the golf club head.

14. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the recess portion other than the lowermost recess portion forms an empty portion.

15. The golf club head according to claim 10, further comprising at least one weight that is located lower than the opening.

16. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the elastic body includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

17. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the elastic body has JIS C hardness in a range of 15 to 80.

18. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the elastic body includes particles of one selected from a group consisting of tungsten, tungsten alloy, stainless steel, lead, and copper.

19. A golf club head comprising:

a head main body that defines an opening penetrating main body and plural recess portions, the opening being located higher than the recess portions;

a elastic member that is disposed in the lowermost recess portion; and

a face plate that is mounted on the head main body;

wherein the elastic member defines at least one groove therein,

wherein the at least one groove of the elastic member forms an empty portion in the lowermost recess portion of the golf club head.