Golf club head

• US 7,942,759 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsunaga, Hideo, Kubota, Makoto, Hiruta, Masaomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/930,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 53/0412 Volume
• 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 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type

Abstract

A golf club head 1 has a face part 2, a crown part 3, a sole part 4, a side part 5, and a hosel part 6, which are formed of titanium or a titanium alloy. The golf club head 1 is formed by integrating a head body 10 and a face plate 30 with each other by welding such as laser welding or plasma welding. A thick part 20 is provided only in the central portion in the toe-heel direction of the cross corner portion between the face part 2 and the sole part 4. The width in the toe-heel direction of the thick part 20 is 20 mm or narrower. Therefore, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention can increase a carry on average even if being used by an amateur golfer who is prone to hit a ball by varied hit points across the clubface.

Claims

1. A golf club head being metallic and hollow, comprising at least a face part, a sole part, a side part, and a crown part, and formed by welding a face plate to a head body, wherein

a lower part of the face plate is formed in a plane shape along the face part,

a thick part is provided in a central portion in a toe-heel direction of a cross corner portion between the face part and the sole part in the golf club head, and the thick part is provided on the face plate so as to project from the planar lower part of the face plate rearward along a bottom surface of the head body which forms the sole part,

a bottom surface of the head body forming the sole part, and a lower surface of the thick part are welded together so as to abut each other,

the head body comprises the bottom surface, a toe elevation surface, a back elevation surface, and a heel elevation surface which form the side part, and flanges, each of which projects to the face side from the toe elevation surface, the heel elevation surface, and the bottom surface, respectively, and

the face plate constitutes a region excluding the flanges.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

an average thickness of the face part is 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm,

a length in the toe-heel direction of the thick part is 0.5 mm to 20 mm,

a maximum height from a sole part bottom surface of the thick part is 2.0 mm to 20 mm, and

a maximum length from a face surface to a rear of the thick part is 3 mm to 35 mm.

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

a height of the thick part decreases toward a rear of the thick part.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

a metal forming the golf club head is titanium or a titanium alloy.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein

a first Young'"'"'s modulus of a first metal forming the face plate is lower than a second Young'"'"'s modulus of a second metal forming the head body.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

a volume of the golf club head is 250 cc to 460 cc.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

a projecting part projecting to a rear of the face plate is provided in an upper part of the face plate, and the projecting part forms a part of the crown part.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

a corner of the thick part positioned in a back side and an upper side is formed to be curved toward the face surface and the lower surface of the thick part.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the head body is an α

-β

type titanium alloy, and the face plate is a β

type titanium alloy.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

a rib having a base end which begins at the immediate rear of the rear end of the thick part, and extending from the immediate rear of the rear end of the thick part in the front and rear direction, is provided on the bottom surface, and has a width smaller than that of the thick part and a height lower than that of the thick part.

11. The golf club head according to claim 1, where

mounting parts for a weight formed of a metal having a high specific gravity are provided in the head body.

12. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein

the face place is a β

type titanium alloy or an α

-β

type titanium alloy, and

a Young'"'"'s modulus of the face place is substantially 1000 kgf/mm² to 3000 kgf/mm² lower than a Young'"'"'s modulus of the head body.

13. A golf club head being metallic and hollow, comprising at least a face part, a sole part, a side part, and a crown part, and formed by welding a face plate to a head body, wherein

a thick part is provided in a central portion in a toe-heel direction of a cross corner portion between the face part and the sole part in the golf club head, and the thick part is provided on the face plate,

a bottom surface of the head body forming the sole part, and a lower surface of the thick part are welded together so as to abut each other,

the head body comprises the bottom surface, a toe elevation surface, a back elevation surface, and a heel elevation surface which form the side part, and flanges, each of which projects to the face side from the toe elevation surface, the heel elevation surface, and the bottom surface, respectively,

the face plate constitutes a region of the face part excluding the flanges,

a rib having a base end which begins at the immediate rear of the rear end of the thick part, and extending from the immediate rear of the rear end of the thick part in the front and rear direction, is provided on the bottom surface, and has a width smaller than that of the thick part and a height lower than that of the thick part,

an average thickness of the face part is 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm,

a length in the toe-heel direction of the thick part is 0.5 mm to 20 mm,

a maximum height from a sole part bottom surface of the thick part is 2.0 mm to 20 mm,

a maximum length from a face surface to a rear of the thick part is 3 mm to 35 mm,

a height of the thick part decreases toward a rear of the thick part, and

a metal forming the golf club head is titanium or a titanium alloy.

14. The golf club head according to claim 13, wherein

a first Young'"'"'s modulus of a first metal forming the face plate is lower than a second Young'"'"'s modulus of a second metal forming the head body.

15. The golf club head according to claim 13, wherein

a projecting part projecting to a rear is provided in an upper part of the face plate, and the projecting part forms a part of the crown part.

16. The golf club head according to claim 13, wherein

a corner of the thick part positioned in a back side and an upper side is formed to be curved toward the face surface and the lower surface of the thick part.

17. The golf club head according to claim 13, wherein

the face plate is a β

type titanium alloy or an α

-β

type titanium alloy, and

the Young'"'"'s modulus of the face plate is substantially 1000 kgf/mm² to 3000 kgf/mm² lower than the Young'"'"'s modulus of the head body.

18. The golf club head according to claim 13, wherein

two of the ribs are provided.

19. The golf club head according to claim 18, wherein

a projecting part projecting to a rear is provided in an upper part of the face plate, the projecting part forms a part of the crown part.

20. The golf club head according to claim 13, wherein

the rib is a curved ridge part.