Golf club head

• US 7,387,579 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: O-Ta Precision Industry Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: O-Ta Precision Industry Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hsu, Yen-Chi, Hu, Shun-Fu, Lin, Chon-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/476,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0429 the face insert comprising two or more layers of material
• 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 53/0458 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 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head includes a head body having a front opening, a striking plate member covering the front opening, and at least one vibration-absorbing element. The striking plate member includes a striking face with a striking zone, and a back face opposite to the striking face and having a receiving groove. The vibration-absorbing element is disposed in the receiving groove.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a head body having a front opening;

a striking plate member covering said front opening, and including a front plate having a striking face with a striking zone, and a back plate connected face-to-face with said front plate and having a back face with a plurality of receiving grooves; and

a plurality of vibration-absorbing elements disposed respectively in said receiving grooves;

wherein said back face has an annular reinforcing rib formed thereon behind said striking zone and corresponding in position to said striking zone, a central boss formed concentrically within said annular reinforcing rib, and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart diametral reinforcing ribs extending diametrically through said central boss and said annular reinforcing rib, said annular reinforcing rib and said diametral reinforcing ribs cooperating to define said receiving grooves.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said diametral reinforcing ribs include a substantially vertical reinforcing rib and a substantially horizontal reinforcing rib that intersect each other perpendicularly.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said diametral reinforcing ribs further include a plurality of angularly spaced-apart oblique reinforcing ribs that intersect said vertical reinforcing rib obliquely.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said front plate has a ring projecting rearwardly from a rear side of said front plate and defining an indentation to receive said back plate.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein said front plate further has a plurality of angularly spaced-apart studs projecting rearwardly from said rear side, said back plate having a plurality of spaced-apart through holes to receive respectively said studs, and a plurality of fasteners fixed respectively to said studs.

6. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein said front plate further has a plurality of angularly spaced-apart radial through holes formed in said ring, said striking plate member further including a cover plate attached to said ring and covering said back plate, and a plurality of fasteners each extending through one of said radial through holes to fasten said cover plate to said ring.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said back plate is made of an alloy selected from the group consisting of a magnesium alloy, an aluminum-magnesium alloy, an aluminum alloy, and an aluminum-scandium alloy.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein each of said vibration-absorbing elements is made of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane, silicone, natural rubber, and a soft metal.