Golf club head

Abstract

Disclosed is a golf club head including a faceplate portion and a main body constituting a remaining part of the golf club head. A plurality of linear protrusions formed parallel to one another on the rear surface (opposing to the front striking surface) of the faceplate portion. The linear protrusions have different lengths and are arranged in an elliptical pattern or a diamond pattern covering the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head on the rear surface of the faceplate portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wood or iron type golf club heads.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various improvements are applied to a golf club head in order to increase a striking distance that a stable strike can achieve. Particularly, the striking distance directly influences the score. In order to obtain a maximum striking distance, golfers usually have to hit the ball on the sweet area of golf club head. However, it is difficult for many amateur players to hit the ball on the sweet area.

There has been developed golf clubs having an enlarged dimension of the driver head thereby obtaining an enlarged sweet area so as to realize an easy strike. However, the sweet area is inevitably moved upward since the center of gravity is shifted to the upper side due to the enlarged dimension of the head. This contradicts the requirement for lowering the center of gravity of the golf club head.

Therefore, there is still room for improvement of golf club heads, particularly in terms of enlarging the sweet area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head having enlarged sweet area thereby resulting in less missing shots.

An iron type or wood type golf club head having features of the present invention generally comprises a faceplate portion and a main body. The faceplate portion has a front striking surface for striking a golf ball and a rear surface opposing to the front striking surface. The main body includes a top portion forming an upper part of the golf club head, a sole portion forming a lower part of the golf club head, a toe portion forming a forepart of the golf club head; a heel portion forming a rear part of the golf club head; and a hosel portion adapted to be fastened to a shaft.

To achieve the above listed and other objects, a plurality of linear protrusions are formed parallel to one another on the rear surface of the faceplate portion and located among the top portion, the sole portion, the toe portion, the heel portion, and the hosel portion, thereby having an enlarged sweet area so as to realize an easy strike. The linear protrusions have different lengths and are arranged in an elliptical pattern or a diamond pattern covering the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head on the rear surface.

Preferably, the geometrical center of the elliptical pattern or the diamond pattern is substantially located at the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head on the rear surface of the faceplate portion.

The golf club heads of the present invention have a larger sweet area which is realized by providing the linear protrusions on the rear surface of the faceplate portion thereof. By expanding the sweet area, it becomes easier for many amateur players to hit the ball on the sweet area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a golf club head according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a golf club head according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a golf club head with a sole portion removed according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there are presently preferred embodiments shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.

Now, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a golf club head 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. This golf club head 100 is an iron type golf club head including a faceplate portion 110 and a main body 120 made of metal (such as pure titan, a titan alloy, an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy). The faceplate portion 110 and the main body 120 may be integrally formed during a casting or molding operation. Alternatively, the golf club head of the present invention may be manufactured by integrally casting a main body having a faceplate-fitting opening by a lost wax method, fitting a faceplate in the opening, and welding the faceplate to the main body. If a welding process is conducted, the welded product may be further subjected to grinding and/or age hardening. The faceplate to be welded to the main body may be formed by casting or pressing.

The main body 120 includes a top portion 122 forming an upper part of the golf club head, a sole portion 123 forming a lower part of the golf club head, a toe portion 124 forming a forepart of the golf club head; a heel portion 126 forming a rear part of the golf club head; and a hosel portion 128 adapted to be fastened to a shaft (not shown). The top portion 122 may have a recess or cavity in the back thereof.

The faceplate portion 110 has a front striking surface 110a for striking a golf ball and a rear surface 110b opposing to the front striking surface. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of linear protrusions 112 are formed parallel to one another on the rear surface 110b of the faceplate portion 110 and located among the top portion 122, the sole portion 123, the toe portion 124, the heel portion 126, and the hosel portion 128. Note that, the linear protrusions 112 have different lengths and are arranged in an elliptical pattern covering the vertical projection 132 of the center-of-gravity 130 of the golf club head 100 on the rear surface 110b. Preferably, the protruding height of each linear protrusion 112 falls within the range of from 0.3 to 3 mm, and the interval of every two adjacent linear protrusions 112 is set to be in a range of 0.3 to 3 mm.

As shown in FIG. 2, the faceplate portion 110 is provided with scoring lines 9 formed horizontally on the front striking surface thereof, i.e., generally parallel to the sole portion 123. Preferably, the linear protrusions 112 are formed to extend in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the scoring lines 114.

FIG. 3 shows a golf club head 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The golf club head 200 is substantially identical to the golf club head 100 of FIG. 1 except that the linear protrusions 112 are arranged in a diamond pattern.

Preferably, the geometrical center of the elliptical pattern or the diamond pattern is substantially located at the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity 130 of the golf club head on the rear surface 110b of the faceplate portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the sole portion 123 may have an opening (not shown) formed in the lower corner edge thereof, and an insert is fitted into and joined to the opening. The insert has the same contours as that of the opening and is made of a material with a larger specific gravity than that of the material of the sole portion 123. With this arrangement, the center-of-gravity of the head shifts rearward in relation to the mounting position of the insert 6. Accordingly, it is possible to further deepen and lower the center-of-gravity of the iron club head.

FIG. 4 shows a golf club head 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention wherein a sole portion thereof is not shown. This golf club head 300 is a wood type golf club head including a faceplate portion 310 and a main body 320 made of metal. The faceplate portion 310 has a front striking surface 310a and a rear surface 310b at the opposite side thereof. The main body 120 has a crown portion (top portion) 4, a sole portion (not shown), a toe portion 324, a heel portion 326 and a hosel portion 328. Note that the rear surface 310b of the faceplate portion 310 has formed integrally therewith a plurality of linear protrusions 312 located among the top portion 322, the sole portion, the toe portion 324, the heel portion 326, and the hosel portion 328. Preferably, the linear protrusions 312 are arranged in substantially the same way as that mentioned above. The entirety, except for the sole portion (not shown), of the wood type golf club head 300 can be easily made by a precision casting, for example, the lost wax process.

The golf club heads of the present invention have a larger sweet area which is realized by providing the linear protrusions on the rear surface of the faceplate portion thereof. By expanding the sweet area, it becomes easier for many amateur players to hit the ball on the sweet area.

As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a faceplate portion having a front striking surface for striking a golf ball and a rear surface opposing to the front striking surface;

a top portion forming an upper part of the golf club head;

a sole portion forming a lower part of the golf club head;

a toe portion forming a forepart of the golf club head;

a heel portion forming a rear part of the golf club head;

a hosel portion adapted to be fastened to a shaft; and

a plurality of linear protrusions formed parallel to one another on the rear surface of the faceplate portion and located among the top portion, the sole portion, the toe portion, the heel portion, and the hosel portion,

wherein the linear protrusions have different lengths and are arranged in an elliptical pattern or a diamond pattern covering the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head on the rear surface of the faceplate portion.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the geometrical center of the elliptical pattern or the diamond pattern is substantially located at the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head on the rear surface of the faceplate portion.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of scoring lines extends horizontally on the front striking surface of the faceplate portion, and the linear protrusions extend in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the scoring lines.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the linear protrusions have a protruding height in a range of 0.3 to 3 mm and are spaced at intervals in a range of 0.3 to 3 mm.

5. A golf club head comprising:

a faceplate portion having a front striking surface for striking a golf ball and a rear surface opposing to the front striking surface;

a main body constituting a remaining part of the golf club head;

a plurality of scoring lines extends horizontally on the front striking surface of the faceplate portion; and

a plurality of linear protrusions formed parallel to one another on the rear surface of the faceplate portion and extending in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the scoring lines,

wherein the linear protrusions have different lengths and are arranged in an elliptical pattern or a diamond pattern with its geometrical center substantially located at the vertical projection of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head on the rear surface of the faceplate portion.

6. The golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the linear protrusions have a protruding height in a range of 0.3 to 3 mm and are spaced at intervals in a range of 0.3 to 3 mm.