Golf club head with adjustable vibration-absorbing capacity

Abstract

A golf club head includes a body, a striking plate engaged with the body and including a front side for striking a golf ball and a rear side, at least one vibration-receiving member made of an elastomeric material, and at least one adjusting member. At least one compartment is defined in a rear side of the body and is delimited by the rear side of the striking plate. The vibration-absorbing member is mounted in the compartment and in contact with a portion of the rear side of the striking plate. The adjusting member is adjustably mounted in the compartment to adjust a pressing force exerting on the rear side of the striking plate by the vibration-absorbing member and to adjust a compressed amount of the vibration-absorbing member, thereby effectively absorbing residual vibrations and avoiding loss of momentum.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf club head. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf club head with adjustable vibration-absorbing capacity.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,036 discloses a cavity back iron with vibration damping material in the cavity. As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the golf club disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,036 comprises a head 100 including a striking face 101 and a back cavity 102, which is substantially filled with polyurethane 200 (or damping material). When striking a golf ball with the golf club, the damping material 200 may absorb residual vibrations and thus improve gripping comfort.

To improve striking accuracy and direction controllability of the golf ball, when the golf ball begins to contact with the striking face 101, the striking face 101 should be rapidly and significantly compressed when subjected to a slight striking stress, and the striking face 101 should rapidly resume its shape, creating a greater restoring force to be fed to the golf ball.

The striking face 101 creates a rearward stress during continuous deformation of the striking face 101, which causes compression of the damping material 200. Nevertheless, different golfers hit golf balls with different strengths from different angles. Further, a set of golf club includes different clubs with different striking effects, such as clubs giving a long shot of a golf ball, clubs allowing the golfer to hit a golf ball out of a sand trap, clubs for putting, clubs with direction-controlling functions, etc. However, currently available golf club heads can provide a single predetermined function. Namely, the golf club heads cannot be adjusted to obtain the proper striking effect according to the golfer's need.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head including at least one vibration-absorbing member and at least one adjusting member for adjusting the pressing force exerting on the rear side of a striking plate of the golf club head by the vibration-absorbing member and for adjusting the compressed amount of the vibration-absorbing member, thereby improving gripping comfort, improving striking accuracy, and assuring the overall striking effect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head for avoiding loss of momentum and assuring the overall striking effect.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head for effectively absorbing residual vibrations, thereby improving gripping comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a golf club head comprises a body, a striking plate engaged with the body and including a front side for striking a golf ball and a rear side, at least one vibration-receiving member made of an elastomeric material, and at least one adjusting member. At least one compartment is defined in a rear side of the body and is delimited by the rear side of the striking plate. The vibration-absorbing member is mounted in the compartment and in contact with a portion of the rear side of the striking plate. The adjusting member is adjustably mounted in the compartment to adjust a pressing force exerting on the rear side of the striking plate by the vibration-absorbing member and to adjust a compressed amount of the vibration-absorbing member, thereby effectively absorbing residual vibrations and avoiding loss of momentum.

In an embodiment of the invention, the adjusting member is a screw having an outer threading. An inner periphery delimiting the compartment includes an inner threading for threadedly engaging with the outer threading of the screw. The adjusting member may further include a slot for engaging with a tool for driving the adjusting member.

In another embodiment of the invention, the vibration-absorbing member is bonded in the compartment. Alternatively, the vibration-absorbing member is slidably received in the compartment.

Preferably, the compartment and the vibration-absorbing member are located in a location opposite to a sweet spot of the striking plate. Alternatively, the compartment and the vibration-absorbing member are located in a location opposite to a residual vibration concentrating area of the striking plate, such as the toe and the heel of the striking plate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the vibration-absorbing member includes a bladder defining a gas chamber. The gas chamber is filled with at least a gas to provide the vibration-absorbing member with compressibility. Preferably, the gas chamber in the bladder has a pressure not lower than atmosphere. The gas chamber may further contain a liquid. The liquid is selected from the group including water, oil, gel-like fluid, non-corrosive water solution, organic solution, mixed solution, and viscous solution.

In another embodiment of the invention, the vibration-absorbing member is solid and has compressibility.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the vibration-absorbing member and the adjusting member are integrally formed with each other.

In an embodiment of the invention, the body is an iron club head body including a back cavity that exposes the rear side of the striking plate. The back cavity may be communicated with the compartment.

The elastomeric material of the bladder is selected from the group including rubber, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomers, and high-molecular elastomeric resins. Preferably, the elastomeric material has a hardness between Shore A 10 and Shore D 30.

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional golf club head;

FIG. 2 is an exploded rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a golf club head in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the golf club head in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a second embodiment of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now to be described in detail, in which the like reference numerals denote like elements.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first embodiment of a golf club head in accordance with the present invention comprises a body 1, at least one vibration-absorbing member 2 (three in this embodiment), and at least one adjusting member 3 (three in this embodiment). The body 1 is a body for an iron club head. The body 1 is engaged with a striking plate 11 and includes a back cavity 12 and at least one compartment 13 (three in this embodiment). The body 1 can be engaged with the striking plate 11 by welding, brazing, insertion, or screwing. The striking plate 11 has a front side for striking golf balls. Alternatively, the body 1 and the striking plate 11 can be integrally formed with each other, with the striking plate 11 being a striking face of the body 1 for striking golf balls.

The back cavity 12 is defined in a rear side of the body 1. The rear side of the striking plate 1 1 is thus exposed. Each compartment 13 is defined in a lower portion of the rear side of the body 1 and includes a rearward-facing opening (not labeled). Each compartment 13 is delimited by a portion of the rear side of the striking plate 11. Preferably, each compartment is delimited by an area of the rear side of the striking plate 11 that is opposite to the sweet spot or the residual vibration concentrating area, such as the heel or toe of the rear side of the striking plate 11. Further, each compartment 13 is preferably cylindrical and includes an inner threading 131 in an inner periphery delimiting the compartment 13.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each vibration-absorbing member 2 is bonded to a perimeter wall delimiting the compartment 13 or slidably received in the associated compartment 13. Preferably, each vibration-absorbing member 2 is in intimate contact with the associated portion of the rear side of the striking plate 11.

Each vibration-absorbing member 2 includes a bladder 21 defining a gas chamber 22 therein. The bladder 21 is made of an elastomeric material such as rubber, polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic elastomers, or high-molecular elastomeric resins. The elastomeric material preferably has a hardness between Shore A 10 and Shore D 30. The gas chamber 22 defined in the bladder 21 is sealed, with an appropriate amount of gas being filled into the gas chamber 22 to a pressure not less than the atmosphere.

Each adjusting member 3 is preferably a screw with an outer threading 31 and a slot 32 for engaging with a screwdriver or the like. The outer threading 31 of each adjusting member 3 is threadedly engaged with the inner threading 131 of the associated compartment 13. A golfer may use a screwdriver or other tool to drive adjusting member 3, moving the adjusting member 3 toward or away from the associated vibration-absorbing member 2, thereby adjusting the pressing force exerting on the rear side of the striking plate 11 by the vibration-absorbing member 2 and thereby adjusting a compressed amount of the vibration-absorbing member 2.

During hitting of a golf ball by the golf club head, the golf ball comes in contact with the striking plate 11 at the first stage, results in maximum deformation of the striking plate 11 at the second stage, and leaves the striking plate 11 at the third stage. During each stage of the golf ball, the striking plate 11 deforms rearward and creates a stress pressing against each vibration-absorbing member 2, resulting in continuous compression of each vibration-absorbing member 2. The volume of each vibration-absorbing member 2 changes accordingly.

As mentioned above, an appropriate amount of gas is contained in the gas chamber 22, allowing easy elastic compressive deformation when each vibration-absorbing member 2 is subjected to a stress. Namely, at the first stage of the golf ball mentioned above, the striking plate 11 begins to elastically deform and imparts a smaller stress to each vibration-absorbing member 2, and this stress gradually increases to allow rapid momentary compression of each vibration-absorbing member 2. Thus, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention avoids each vibration-absorbing member 2 from overpressing against the striking plate 11 at the first stage, prolonging the contact time between the golf ball and the striking face 11 while assuring the overall striking effect.

At the second stage mentioned above, the striking plate 11 reaches its maximum deformation and creates the maximum stress that compresses the gas cushion 2 to the maximum extent. Each vibration-absorbing member 2 bears the striking plate 11 and further prolongs the contact time between the golf ball and the striking plate 11, further improving the direction controllability and striking accuracy of the golf ball.

At the third stage mentioned above, the stress from the striking plate 11 gradually reduces to zero. In response, the volume of each vibration-absorbing member 2 rapidly resumes its original value. Thus, after the golf ball has been stricken, although a part of momentum is not imparted to the golf ball and thus results in residual vibrations of the striking plate 11, the vibration-absorbing members 2 in intimate contact with the rear side of the striking plate 11 effectively absorb the residual vibrations and thus improve the gripping comfort.

Referring to FIG. 3, as mentioned above, each adjusting member 3 can be turned to adjust the pressing force exerting on the rear side of the striking plate 11 by the vibration-absorbing member 2 and to adjust the compressed amount of the vibration-absorbing member 2. Thus, before hitting a golf ball, if an adjusting member 3 is turned to press against the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 to a greater extent, the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 is pre-loaded with a pre-loaded stress and pre-pressed to a smaller volume. Thus, the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 presses against the striking plate 11 to a greater extent and thus has a higher vibration-absorbing capacity. On the other hand, if the adjusting member 3 is turned to press against the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 to a smaller extent or to be in loose contact with the associated vibration-absorbing member 2, a larger buffering space is provided between the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 and the striking plate 11, or a loose contact is provided between the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 and the striking plate 11. Thus, the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 does not overpress against the striking plate 11 and thus has a lower vibration-absorbing capacity while assuring the striking effect, prolonging the contact time between the golf ball and the striking plate 11, improving the direction controllability, and improving the striking accuracy of the golf ball.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the gas chamber 22 may contain an appropriate amount of liquid 23 and an appropriate amount of gas. The liquid 23 may be water, oil, gel-like fluid, non-corrosive water solution, organic solution, mixed solution, or viscous solution. When hitting a golf ball with the body 1, the liquid 23 in the gas chamber 22 provides a damping effect due to viscosity, thereby absorbing the residual vibrations of the body 1. Further, the gas in the gas chamber 22 maintains the compression characteristics of gas for the vibration-absorbing member 2. It is noted that the back cavity 12 is communicated with the compartments 13, allowing greater deformation of the vibration-absorbing members 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, wherein each vibration-absorbing member 2 is solid and slidably received in the associated compartment 13. As mentioned above, each adjusting member 3 can be turned to adjust the pressing force exerting on the rear side of the striking plate 11 by the vibration-absorbing member 2 and to adjust the compressed amount of the vibration-absorbing member 2. Thus, before hitting a golf ball, if an adjusting member 3 is turned to press against the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 to a greater extent, the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 is pre-loaded with a pre-loaded stress and pre-pressed to a smaller volume. Thus, the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 presses against the striking plate 11 to a greater extent and thus has a higher vibration-absorbing capacity. On the other hand, if the adjusting member 3 is turned to press against the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 to a smaller extent or to be in loose contact with the associated vibration-absorbing member 2, a larger buffering space is provided between the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 and the striking plate 11, or a loose contact is provided between the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 and the striking plate 11. Thus, the associated vibration-absorbing member 2 does not overpress against the striking plate 11 and thus has a lower vibration-absorbing capacity while assuring the striking effect, prolonging the contact time between the golf ball and the striking plate 11, improving the direction controllability, and improving the striking accuracy of the golf ball.

FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention, wherein each vibration-absorbing member 2 is integrally formed with the associated adjusting member 3. Firstly, an adjusting member 3 is formed with metal or non-metal material, and a vibration-absorbing member 2 is integrally formed on an end of the adjusting member 3 by molding injection. Alternatively, the adjusting member 3 and the vibration-absorbing member 2 can be integrally and simultaneously formed with the same material. This simplifies the assembling procedure of the golf club head.

While the principles of this invention have been disclosed in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not-intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body, a striking plate being engaged with the body and including a front side for striking a golf ball and a rear side, the body including at least one compartment in a rear side of the body and being delimited by the rear side of the striking plate;

at least one vibration-receiving member made of an elastomeric material and mounted in said at least one compartment, said at least one vibration-absorbing material being in contact with a portion of the rear side of the striking plate; and

at least one adjusting member mounted in said at least one compartment, said at least one adjusting member being adjustable to adjust a pressing force exerting on the rear side of the striking plate by said at least one vibration-absorbing member and to adjust a compressed amount of said at least one vibration-absorbing member, thereby effectively absorbing residual vibrations and avoiding loss of momentum.

2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one adjusting member is a screw having an outer threading, an inner periphery delimiting said at least one compartment including an inner threading for threadedly engaging with the outer threading of the screw.

3. The golf club head as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one adjusting member further includes a slot for engaging with a tool for driving said at least one adjusting member.

4. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one vibration-absorbing member is bonded in said at least one compartment.

5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one vibration-absorbing member is slidably received in said at least one compartment.

6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one compartment and said at least one vibration-absorbing member are located in a location opposite to a sweet spot of the striking plate.

7. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, said at least one compartment and said at least one vibration-absorbing member are located in a location opposite to a residual vibration concentrating area of the striking plate.

8. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one vibration-absorbing member includes a bladder defining a gas chamber, the gas chamber being filled with at least a gas to provide said at least one vibration-absorbing member with compressibility.

9. The golf club head as claimed in claim 8, wherein the gas chamber in the bladder has a pressure not lower than atmosphere.

10. The golf club head as claimed in claim 8, wherein the gas chamber further contains a liquid.

11. The golf club head as claimed in claim 10, wherein the liquid is selected from the group including water, oil, gel-like fluid, non-corrosive water solution, organic solution, mixed solution, and viscous solution.

12. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one vibration-absorbing member is solid and has compressibility.

13. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one vibration-absorbing member and said at least one adjusting member are integrally formed with each other.

14. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is an iron club head body including a back cavity that exposes the rear side of the striking plate.

15. The golf club head as claimed in claim 14, wherein the back cavity is communicated with said at least one compartment.

16. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material of the bladder is selected from the group including rubber, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomers, and high-molecular elastomeric resins.

17. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material has a hardness between Shore A 10 and Shore D 30.