Golf club head

• US 7,445,564 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daiwa Seiko Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Daiwa Seiko Incorporated
• Inventors: Kusumoto, Harunobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/091,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20050221913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/346
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head includes: a hollow shell head body that defines a face portion for hitting a ball and a crown portion; and a weight-massed portion that is formed on at least crown portion, wherein the weight-massed portion extends in a face-to-back direction of the head body and has a larger mass than that of a peripheral portion of the head body.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow shell head body that defines a face portion for hitting a ball and a crown portion; and

a weight-massed portion formed on at least said crown portion, wherein the weight-massed portion extends in a face-to-back direction of the head body and includes a greater mass than a mass of a peripheral portion of the head body,

wherein the weight-massed portion is disposed from the crown portion to a sole portion, and

wherein a length of the weight-massed portion as measured in the face-to-back direction on the crown portion corresponds to one third of a length of the crown portion as measured in the face-to-back direction.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the weight-massed portion is disposed 5 mm or more rearward of a point of inflection between the crown portion and the face portion.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the weight-massed portion is disposed in such a manner as to follow a lie angle.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the weight-massed portion is disposed to protrude towards a hollow space in the head body.

5. The golf club head according to claim 4, wherein hole portions are disposed in the weight-massed portion.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the weight-massed portion is disposed in such a manner as to curve to follow a swing plane when viewing the head body from the top thereof.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow shell head body that defines a face portion for hitting a ball, a crown portion including an opening, and a back portion;

a fiber-reinforced resin plate that closes the opening;

a support portion that bridges the opening to divide the opening in a face-to-back direction of the head body, and supports the fiber-reinforced resin plate;

a reinforcement portion that is disposed at the support portion to extend from the back portion toward a vicinity of a center area of the opening and reinforces the fiber-reinforced resin plate, and

a rib integrally formed with the support portion,

wherein the rib extends from the support portion toward a center area of a sole portion.

8. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcement portion is disposed in such a manner as to curve to follow a swing plane when viewing the head body from the top thereof.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow shell head body that defines a face portion for hitting a ball, a crown portion including an opening, and a back portion;

a fiber-reinforced resin plate that closes the opening; and

a reinforcement portion that divides the opening in a face-to-back direction of the head body, extends from the back portion toward a vicinity of a center area of the opening and supports the fiber-reinforced resin plate,

wherein said reinforcement portion has a support portion and a rib-shaped protrusion inwardly extending from the support portion.

10. The golf club head according to claim 9, wherein a face member is disposed in the face portion and a thickness of a sole portion of the head body is smaller than that of the face member.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow shell head body that defines a face portion for hitting a ball, and a crown portion; and

a rib-shaped protruding portion that is disposed inside the head body, wherein the protruding portion includes indented portions, raised portions and a through hole,

wherein the rib-shaped protruding portion is disposed continuously from the crown portion to a sole portion.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow shell head body that defines a face portion for hitting a ball and a crown portion; and

a weight-massed portion that is disposed on at least said crown portion, wherein the weight-massed portion extends in a face-to-back direction of the head body and includes a larger mass than a mass of a peripheral portion of the head body,

wherein the weight-massed portion is disposed continuously from the crown portion to a sole portion,

wherein the weight-massed portion is disposed in such a manner as to follow a lie angle.

13. The golf club head according to claim 12, wherein the weight-massed portion is disposed to protrude towards a hollow space in the head body.

14. The golf club head according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of hole portions are formed in the weight-massed portion.

15. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow shell head body that defines a face portion for hitting a ball, a crown portion including an opening, and a back portion;

a fiber-reinforced resin plate that closes the opening; and

a reinforcement portion that is disposed to extend from the back portion toward a vicinity of a center area of the opening and reinforces the fiber-reinforced resin plate, wherein the reinforced portion is disposed continuously from the crown portion to a sole portion.