Golf club head structure for improving casting fluidity in a slurry shell
A golf club head structure includes a first portion and a second portion adjacent thereto. The first portion and the second portion have a first thickness and a second thickness respectively. The ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness ranges between 0.56 and 1.00 that may enhance casting fluidity of molten iron in a slurry shell to thereby reduce the possibility of generating contraction cavities and slag-eyes in the golf club head.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club head structure for improving casting fluidity in a slurry shell. More particularly, the present invention relates to a golf club head structure consisting of two adjacent portions having changes in thickness to improve casting fluidity in a slurry shell and casting quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fe—Mn—Al alloy has highly low density, excellently vibration-absorbable and high degree of hardness. Casting a golf club head with Fe—Mn—Al alloy, the center of gravity of the golf club head may be lowered, and a striking surface area and dimensions of the golf club head may be increased. In slush casting, inevitably, when Fe—Mn—Al alloy is employed to cast a casting of a golf club head, a finished product of the casting has many casting deficiencies of cold-shot, contraction cavities and slag-eye due to low casting fluidity in a slurry shell. Generally, the improvement of casting technology and cast molding system may eliminate deficiencies of cold-shot and slag bonding. As to the contraction cavity, a finishing and grinding process can eliminate it. However, when the contraction cavities are located in a complicated structure and an unbalanced thickness (such as an opening or an undercut) of the golf club head, it is hard to eliminate the contraction cavities by means of the finishing and grinding process. Consequently, the contraction cavities may be remained on the surface of the golf club head that may result in a decrease in the value of products. Thus, the applied scope of Fe—Mn—Al alloy in the industry is restricted and unsuitable for casting the golf club head. Hence, there is a need for a club head structure which is suitable for using Fe—Mn—Al alloy in slush casting.
The present invention intends to provide a golf club head structure for a casting consisting of two adjacent portions having changes in thickness to improve casting fluidity in a slurry shell and casting quality. In slush casting, the ratio of width of the slurry shell allows the fluent passage of molten iron of Fe—Mn—Al alloy to eliminate contraction cavities and slag-eyes in a casting in such a way to mitigate and overcome the above problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary objective of this invention is to provide a golf club head structure for improving casting fluidity in a slurry shell. The golf club head structure consists of two adjacent portions having changes in thickness corresponding to changes in width of the slurry shell to thereby avoid generating contraction cavities and slag-eyes in a casting.
The golf club head structure in accordance with the present invention includes a first portion and a second portion adjacent thereto. The first portion and the second portion have a first thickness and a second thickness respectively. The ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness ranges between 0.56 and 1.00 that may enhance casting fluidity of molten iron in a slurry shell to thereby reduce the possibility of generating contraction cavities and slag-eyes in the golf club head.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
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By contrast, the conventional club head body is made of stainless steel having density of 7.8 g/cm3. The club head body 10 in accordance with the present invention is suitable for Fe—Mn—Al alloy having lower density of 6.8 g/cm3 that can reduce 15% of weight and further lower a center of gravity. To adjust a center of gravity, the weight member 15 (density of 10.0 g/cm3) received in the compartment 14 is added for maintaining total weight of the club head body 10.
In consideration of the thickness ranging from 2 mm to 6 mm, the club head body 10 is unsuitable for press-fitting or snap-fitting the weight member 15 into the compartment 14. To prevent deformation and cracks of the club head body 10, the weight member 15 preferably connects to the compartment 14 of the club head body 10 by welding. In welding process, the present invention employs a nickel-welding material and a current of a welding torch preferably ranges from 100 A to 150 A that may improve heterogeneous-weldable characteristic.
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To prevent deformation and cracks of the club head members, the thiner stepped portion 33 of the club head body 30 connects to an outer periphery of a striking plate by welding instead of press-fitting the striking plate into the front opening 31.
In slush casting, the conventional structure of the club head casting in Fe—Mn—Al alloy results in generating contraction cavities and slag-eyes. However, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention has any two adjacent portions having changes in thickness to improve casting fluidity in a slurry shell and casting quality.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A golf club head made of Fe—Mn—Al alloy, comprising:
- a club head body having at least two adjacent portions located at a reference point;
- the two adjacent portions having a first thickness and a second thickness with respect to the reference point;
- the ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness ranging between 0.56 to 1.00 that improves casting fluidity of molten iron of Fe—Mn—Al alloy to reduce the possibility of generating contraction cavities and slag-eyes in slush casting;
2. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the club head body is an iron-type club head.
3. The golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein the club head body has a thickness ranging from 2 mm to 6 mm.
4. The golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein further comprising a weight member welding to the club head body.
5. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the club head body is a pitching wedge or a sand wedge.
6. The golf club head as defined in claim 5, wherein the club head body has a thickness ranging from 2 mm to 17 mm.
7. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the club head body is a wood-type club head.
8. The golf club head as defined in claim 7, wherein the club head body has a thickness ranging from 1 mm to 3 mm.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 13, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 19, 2006
Inventor: Wen-Ching Hou (Kaohsiung)
Application Number: 10/889,000
International Classification: A63B 53/04 (20060101);