Golf clubhead

• US 7,018,303 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/246,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20030064823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 413/330, 413/331, 413/342, 413/325, 413/329, 413/340
• US Class Current: 473/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A golf clubhead comprises a face portion having a back surface which is provided around a center region with at least two annular grooves so that the face portion is provided with at least two annular thin parts each being thinner than the center region and at least one rib part between the thin parts, whereby the rebound performance and durability of the face portion can be improved.

Claims

1. A golf clubhead comprising

a face portion having a back surface,

said back surface provided around a center region thereof with at least two annular grooves so that said face portion is provided with at least two annular thin parts each being thinner than the center region and at least one rib part between the thin parts, wherein

between said at least two annular thin parts and said at least one rib part, corners are rounded by an arc having a radius (r) in a range of 2.0 to 4.0 mm so that the thickness of the face portion changes smoothly, and also, in the annular thin parts, corners are rounded by an arc having a radius (r) in a range of 2.0 to 4.0 mm

said center region has an oval shape having a minor axis of at least 10 mm extending in a crown-sole direction, and a major axis of at least 20 mm extending in a toe-heel direction,

in a cross section of the face portion, said at least two annular thin parts and said at least one rib part are formed by a sine-like curved line in a vertical direction, and in a horizontal direction by a curved line that is a hybrid of a sine wave defined by said at least two annular thin parts and a trapezoidal wave defined by said at least one rib part.

2. A golf clubhead according to claim 1, wherein

said face portion is further provided with a rib part around the annular thin part which is outermost in said at least two annular thin parts.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, in which

said at least two annular thin parts are three or more annular thin parts, and

the annular thin parts are gradually increased in width from the center region towards the periphery of the club face.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, in which

said at least two annular thin parts are three or more annular thin parts, and

the minimum thicknesses of the respective annular thin parts are gradually decreased from the center region towards the periphery of the club face.

5. The golf club head of claim 2, in which

said at least two annular thin parts are three or more annular thin parts, and

the minimum thicknesses of the respective annular thin parts are gradually decreased from the center region towards the periphery of the club face, and

the annular thin parts are gradually increased in width from the center region towards the periphery of the club face.

6. A golf clubhead according to claim 1, wherein

in said at least two annular thin parts, each thin part is thinner than the thin part inwardly adjacent thereto.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, in which

the thickness of each rib is approximately equal to the thickness of the center region.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, in which

the thickness of an annular thin region nearer the center region is greater than the thickness of an annular thin region nearer the periphery of the club face.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, having at least three annular thin regions separated by at least two ribs, in which the thickness of a rib nearer the center of the club face is greater than the thickness of a rib nearer the periphery of the club face.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, in which

the thickness of an annular thin region nearer the center region is greater than the thickness of an annular thin region nearer the periphery of the club face.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, in which

said at least two annular thin parts are three or more annular thin parts, and

the annular thin parts are gradually increased in width from the center region towards the periphery of the club face.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, in which

said at least two annular thin parts are three or more annular thin parts, and

the minimum thicknesses of the respective annular thin parts are gradually decreased from the center region towards the periphery of the club face.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, in which

said at least two annular thin parts are three or more annular thin parts, and

the minimum thicknesses of the respective annular thin parts are gradually decreased from the center region towards the periphery of the club face, and

the annular thin parts are gradually increased in width from the center region towards the periphery of the club face.