IRON GOLF CLUB HEAD AND IRON GOLF CLUB

Abstract

There can be provided an iron golf club head including a face plate that can provide an enhanced stereoscopic visual effect while minimizing increased weight, and an iron golf club therewith. The iron golf club head, having a face with a back side provided with a face plate, has said face plate formed of a metal plate having a plurality of holes, and a colored, transparent resin cover covering said metal plate, said resin cover gradually varying in thickness in a range that covers at least a portion of a pattern region formed of said plurality of holes.

Description

This nonprovisional application is based on, and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-071659 filed on Mar. 31, 2014 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an iron golf club head and an iron golf club, and more specifically to an iron golf club head including a visually stereoscopic face plate and an iron golf club with that iron golf club head.

2. Description of the Background Art

A cavity back type-iron golf club head has a back with a face plate (or badge) attached thereto to decorate it, control sound made by hitting a ball therewith, adjust weight, and/or the like. The badge is made of aluminum, stainless steel, brass, ABS, electroformed materials, nickel, magnesium or other various materials.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-284794 discloses that a synthetic resin having a large elastic limit is molded into a thick synthetic resin product which is in turn plated with metal to produce a badge. Furthermore, Japanese National Patent Publication No. 6-510689 discloses that a face plate has a back side with elliptical butyl rubber or similar, viscoelastic material bonded thereto and thereon a 1 mm thick aluminum alloy, aluminum-zinc-magnesium alloy, or similar metal plate is stuck to produce a badge.

An iron golf club having a deep cavity allows a stereoscopic badge to be stuck therein so that the iron golf club may be more decorated. Employing resin-molding to stereoscopically shape a badge requires using resin in an increased amount resulting in the badge per se having an increased weight, which negatively affects designing the center of mass of the golf club head. Furthermore, press-forming aluminum, stainless steel or a similar metal material to produce a badge has a limit in forming it stereoscopically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the above issue, and contemplates an iron golf club head that can provide an enhanced stereoscopic visual effect while minimizing increased weight, and an iron golf club therewith.

To resolve the above issue, the present invention in an embodiment provides an iron golf club head having a face with a back side provided with a face plate, the face plate being formed of a metal plate having a plurality of holes, and a colored, transparent resin cover covering the metal plate, the resin cover gradually varying in thickness in a range that covers at least a pattern formed of the plurality of holes.

Furthermore, in the present iron golf club head, the at least a pattern is a pattern that can indicate a specific direction of the at least a pattern, and the resin cover varies in thickness in the specific direction.

Furthermore, in the present iron golf club head, the at least a pattern is formed of a plurality of holes different in geometry, and the specific direction may be determined based on a direction in which an elongate hole region that is a constituent of the plurality of holes extends.

Furthermore, the present invention in an embodiment provides an iron golf club characterized by comprising the iron golf club head as described above. Thus the iron golf club head can have stuck thereto a badge including a metal plate having a plurality of holes and covered with a colored, transparent resin cover, and a surplus weight corresponding to the holes of the metal plate can be allocated to the resin. This allows the resin to be applied in an increased amount without increasing the badge in weight and the resin cover to be stereoscopically molded. Furthermore, the transparent, colored resin cover that is gradually varied in thickness in a range having holes forming a pattern, allows the metal plate to be visually observed therethrough with a gradual difference in lightness and darkness, and also allows a direction in which the holes extend to serve as an indication of in what direction and to what extent lightness and darkness vary. This allows the badge to be visually observed with an enhanced sense of depth, an enhanced stereoscopic visual effect, or the like.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a badge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along a line A-A shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along a line B-B shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an exemplary variation of a metal plate of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an exemplary variation of a metal plate of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a distinctive pattern by a hole 13.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a golf club head having a badge attached thereto according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a golf club including the golf club head.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a metal plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a badge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross section C-C in a broken line of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, reference will be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in embodiment. In the figures, identical or corresponding components are identically denoted and will not be described repeatedly.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a face plate 10 (hereinafter also referred to as a badge 10) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, FIG. 2 represents a cross section taken along a line A-A shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 represents a cross section taken along a line B-B shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, badge 10 is configured of a metal plate 11 and a resin cover 12 that covers metal plate 11. Metal plate 11 is formed of an aluminum, stainless steel, magnesium, or similar metallic thin plate punched into a desired shape of the badge. In FIG. 1, the rightward and leftward direction corresponds to the golf club head's toe-heel direction and the upward and downward direction corresponds to its sole-top direction.

Metal plate 11 has a plurality of holes 13. Note that FIG. 1 et seq. denote only some of holes 13 for the sake of illustration. Hole 13 is an opening provided in metal plate 11, and reduces metal plate 11 in weight and allows metal plate 11 and resin cover 12 to be coupled together more strongly and also provides badge 10 with a distinctive pattern. In the first embodiment, badge 10, as shown in FIG. 1, has a plurality of large and small, U-shaped holes 13 nested. This provides badge 10 with a distinctive pattern. A “distinctive pattern” as used in the present invention means a single pattern formed of a plurality of holes 13 gathered, that can be clearly distinguished from other independent holes 13, a pattern formed of a plurality of other holes gathered, and the like.

Hole 13 is not limited in geometry to the U-letter shape, and may be formed as desired. For example, hole 13 can be elongate (or linear), annular, curved, and furthermore, bent by an obtuse angle, or L-shaped, or may have such geometries partially bent, as appropriate, to be a deformed elongate hole, a deformed L-shaped hole, a deformed U-shaped hole, or the like. Hole 13 preferably has a width equal to or greater than 0.6 mm in view of the production process, and the width may not be fixed. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 each show an exemplary variation of metal plate 11. Hole 13 may be formed in a zig-zag as shown in FIG. 4, or may formed in dots as shown in FIG. 5.

Hole 13 is disposed in a pattern such that geometrically identical holes 13 are geometrically disposed, or alternatively, holes 13 different in geometry and size may be combined as desired to form a distinctive pattern. In that case, preferably, holes 13 are disposed to form the distinctive pattern to allow a specific direction to be defined. The specific direction defined by the distinctive pattern is not necessarily defined uniquely based on hole 13; rather, it can be defined, as desired, by various directivities recognized depending on how holes 13 configuring the distinctive pattern are in geometry.

For example, when holes 13 are disposed in the pattern shown in FIG. 1, hole 13 has a U-shape having a long side extending in a direction and a short side extending in another direction, and each direction can be defined as a specific direction of the distinctive pattern. When a plurality of dots form a distinctive pattern, as shown in FIG. 5, the dots can be disposed in a direction selected as desired to allow the distinctive pattern to have a plurality of specific directions defined therefor.

When holes 13 different in geometry and size are combined as desired to form a distinctive pattern, a direction in which each hole 13 is disposed may be defined as a specific direction of the distinctive pattern, and if a plurality of holes 13 having elongate hole portions, respectively, form a distinctive pattern, then, in which direction the elongate hole portions extend may be referred to to define a specific direction of the distinctive pattern, as desired. For example, if the plurality of holes 13 have elongate hole portions all extending in a single direction to form a distinctive pattern, the single direction may be defined as a specific direction of the distinctive pattern. If the plurality of holes 13 have elongate hole portions that do not all extend in a single direction but extend along straight lines, respectively, forming an angle falling within a range of 0-90 degrees to form a distinctive pattern, each hole 13's elongate hole portion is considered to indicate a common directivity, and a direction in which any of the elongate hole portions extends may be defined as a specific direction of the distinctive pattern.

Resin cover 12 will be described hereinafter.

Resin cover 12 is formed with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or polycarbonate, or ABS resin or similar transparent resin used as a source material injection-molded to cover metal plate 11. Resin cover 12 is colored to such an extent that metal plate 11 covered therewith can be visually observed, and metal plate 11 and hole 13 are visually observed through resin cover 12. Note that in the present invention resin cover 12 has constituents, and when badge 10 is stuck on a golf club head, a constituent of resin cover 12 that is a side visually observed by a user is a front side of resin cover 12 and a constituent of resin cover 12 that is a side stuck on the golf club head is a back side of resin cover 12 for the sake of illustration.

Resin cover 12 varies in thickness at the front side. As shown in FIG. 2, the first embodiment provides badge 10 with resin cover 12 gradually varied in thickness such that badge 10 has a thickness largest at a center thereof and reduced toward the toe and the heel. Resin cover 12, in thickness, is only required to vary in an extent (or have a difference) to have a thickest portion and a thinnest portion allowing metal plate 11 to be visually observed with a difference in lightness and darkness, and it can be varied in thickness to or have a difference in thickness of at least approximately 0.6 mm.

Resin cover 12, in thickness, is only required to vary in a range in a region in which at least one pattern of a plurality of distinctive patterns formed of holes 13 is covered. More specifically, in FIG. 1, resin cover 12 is only required to vary in thickness in a range covering either a distinctive pattern closer to the toe or that closer to the heel. Furthermore, resin cover 12 is only required to vary in thickness at a portion of a distinctive pattern, and it is not necessary to vary resin cover 12 in thickness throughout the range covering the distinctive pattern. Why resin cover 12 is set to vary in thickness in a range as described above will be described later.

Resin cover 12 is not limited in in which direction it is varied in thickness, and if holes 13 form a distinctive pattern that does not allow any specific direction to be defined, resin cover 12 may be varied in thickness in any direction. If the distinctive pattern allows a specific direction to be defined, it is preferable that resin cover 12 be varied in thickness in that direction. This case also does not require varying resin cover 12 in thickness in a direction exactly along the specific direction of the distinctive pattern. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a plurality of elongate holes 13 are aligned in one direction to form a distinctive pattern, it is preferable that resin cover 12 vary in thickness in a direction indicated by an arrow D1 extending in the longitudinal direction of the distinctive pattern, however, resin cover 12 is not limited as such, and may by varied in thickness in a direction falling within a range of approximately ±45 degrees with D1 serving as a center. Furthermore, if a distinctive pattern is adjacent to another distinctive pattern, resin cover 12 may be varied in thickness in a specific direction of any distinctive pattern selected as desired. Badge 10 configured as described above is stuck on a golf club head via double-faced tape, an adhesive agent and/or the like. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a golf club head 100 with badge 10 bonded thereto. FIG. 7 shows a golf club 200 including golf club head 100 with badge 10 bonded thereto. The FIG. 7 golf club 200 has golf club head 100 with a shaft connected thereto. The shaft can be a shaft having any conventionally well known configuration. In mounting badge 10 on golf club head 100, resin cover 12 may be provided at the front side with a logo, a character and/or the like added as a decoration or a separate decorative plate may be stuck. The separate decorative plate may be stuck directly on resin cover 12, or resin cover 12 may be provided with an opening to expose metal plate 11 therethrough and the separate decorative plate may be stuck directly to the exposed portion of metal plate 11. This allows the separate decorative plate to be firmly secured to badge 10 if resin cover 12 and the separate decorative plate have material properties, respectively, that do not allow sufficient adhesion therebetween.

The present invention has a function and effect, as will be described hereinafter. The present invention provides badge 10 characterized in that metal plate 11 provided with a plurality of holes 13 is covered with transparent, colored resin cover 12, and the resin cover is gradually varied in thickness in a range in which the holes exist. Metal plate 11 that has holes 13 allows metal plate 11 and resin cover 12 to be integrally injection-molded with the injected resin introduced into holes 13 of metal plate 11. This allows metal plate 11 and resin cover 12 to be fitted together and can thus prevent resin cover 12 from sliding off metal plate 11.

Furthermore, a surplus weight corresponding to the mass of holes 13 eliminated from metal plate 11 can be provided, and this surplus weight can be allocated to resin to be injected. This allows resin to be applied in an increased amount without increasing badge 10 in weight and can thus facilitate providing resin cover 12 visually stereoscopically. Furthermore, the resin increased in amount as the surplus weight is allocated can be utilized to vary resin cover 12 in thickness and, as will be described hereinafter, a visual effect can be provided to provide a sense of further depth (or a further stereoscopic visual effect).

More specifically, the present invention allows badge 10 to have metal plate 11 and hole 13 visually observed through colored, transparent resin cover 12. Resin cover 12 can be provided with a difference in thickness to allow metal plate 11 to be visually observed differently. That is, resin cover 12 at a thick portion thereof allows a relatively deep color to be observed and at a thin portion thereof allows a relatively light color to be observed and as a result metal plate 11 is visually observed with a gradual difference in lightness and darkness. Furthermore, hole 13 visually observed through resin cover 12 functions as an indication of in what direction and to what extent resin cover 12 has a difference in lightness and darkness, and hole 13 visually observed through resin cover 12 will thus allow the difference in lightness and darkness to be more emphasized than metal plate 11 alone visually observed would. This allows a user who visually observes badge 10 to feel a strong sense of depth and thus allows the user to feel a sense of depth, a stereoscopic visual effect or the like that is stronger than those which an identically stereoscopic resin badge, a badge having a metal plate simply covered with colored transparent resin, and the like provide.

EXAMPLE

Hereinafter, an inventive example of the present invention will be described.

A 0.4 mm thick aluminum plate was punched to have a geometry and hole 13 to thus produce metal plate 11. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of metal plate 11 according to the present example. Holes 13a-13e were an elongate hole, a hole bent by an obtuse angle, an L-letter shaped hole, and such holes bent randomly to have deformed linear geometries in combination, and these are combined as appropriate to form a distinctive pattern on metal plate 11.

Subsequently, metal plate 11 thus produced was introduced into a die and set at a resin injector, and thermoplastic polyurethane colored deep blue was subsequently injected to integrally injection-mold badge 10. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of badge 10.

Resin cover 12 had a front side provided with openings OP1-OP3 in the form of an outer moat to expose a metallic sense that the aluminum plate has directly at the front side. Furthermore, resin cover 12 also had the front side with an opening OP4 to provide a region to allow a separate electroformed plate to be stuck thereto. Badge 10 has resin cover 12 varied in thickness in a region shown in FIG. 9 shaded with small dots. The region having a difference in thickness has L-letter holes 13a and 13b, deformed L-letter holes 13c and 13d, and a deformed U-letter hole 13e disposed therein to form a pattern, as shown in FIG. 8. L-letter holes 13a and 13b and deformed U-letter hole 13e shown in FIG. 8 have bent points, and a virtual straight line connecting these bent points is defined as a specific direction of the pattern and resin cover 12 is varied in thickness in that direction. FIG. 10 is a cross section C-C taken in the portion having small dots shown in FIG. 9. It has a thickest portion and a thinnest portion having a difference in thickness set to 0.8 mm.

In contrast, a comparative example was provided as follows: a flat aluminum plate was set in the same die as used in the inventive example and thermoplastic polyurethane colored deep blue was injected on the plate to produce a resin badge.

The badge of the inventive example and that of the comparative example that had thus been produced were visually observed by five golfers and the golfers were asked which badge provided a superior stereoscopic visual effect. The golfers all answered that the badge of the inventive example had a superior stereoscopic visual effect to that of the comparative example.

The present invention according to an embodiment is thus useful in that it can provide an iron golf club head including a badge, that can provide the badge with an enhanced stereoscopic visual effect or sense of depth without applying resin in an increased amount, and an iron golf club therewith.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being interpreted by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An iron golf club head having a face with a back side provided with a face plate,

said face plate being formed of a metal plate having a plurality of holes, and a colored, transparent resin cover covering said metal plate,

said resin cover gradually varying in thickness in a range that covers at least a pattern formed of said plurality of holes.

2. The iron golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least a pattern is a pattern that can indicate a specific direction of said at least a pattern; and

said resin cover varies in thickness in said specific direction.

3. The iron golf club head according to claim 2, wherein:

said at least a pattern is formed of a plurality of holes different in geometry; and

said specific direction is determined based on a direction in which an elongate hole region that is a constituent of said plurality of holes extends.

4. An iron golf club characterized by comprising the iron golf club head according to claim 1.