Golf club head

• US 7,806,781 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• 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): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/775,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 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 on a recess of 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,

wherein the rib has a width smaller than a width of the weight material,

wherein the recess has a cylindrical cross-section, and

wherein the rib extends to an edge of the sole portion,

wherein the recess of the sole portion is provided on an outer surface of the sole portion and the weight material is retained therein.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the rib extends to a toe side portion and a heel side portion.

3. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the rib extends from a face portion to a back portion.

4. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the rib comprises:

a first rib, which extends to a toe side portion, and a heel side portion; and

a second rib, which extends to the face portion, and to a heel side portion.

5. 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 on a recess of 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,

wherein the rib has a width smaller than a width of the weight material,

wherein the recess has a cylindrical cross-section, and

wherein the rib extends to touch an edge of the sole portion,

wherein at least a piece of a crown portion and a toe side portion is made of FRP.

6. 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 on a recess of 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,

wherein the rib has a width smaller than a width of the weight material,

wherein the recess has a cylindrical cross-section;

wherein the weight material is made of a high specific gravity material; and

wherein the recess of the sole portion is provided on an outer surface of the sole portion and the weight material is retained therein.

7. The golf club head according to claim 6, wherein the rib extends to an edge portion where the sole portion contacts a side portion.

8. The golf club head according to claim 6, wherein the rib has a width greater than or equal to 1.0 mm and less than or equal to 8.0 mm and a height greater than or equal to 1.2 mm and less than or equal to 5.0 mm.