Golf club head

Abstract

To provide a golf club head which provides a comfortable hitting sound and hitting feeling while improving a strength and reflection coefficient of a face part.SOLUTION: A golf club head of the present invention includes: a head body having a face part and a sole part; a cavity provided on a back face side of the face part in the head body; a fiber reinforced resin layer provided on a back face of the face part in the cavity; and a resin member extending in a toe-heel direction on a sole part side of the back face of the fiber reinforced resin layer in the cavity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a golf club head.

Background Art

[0002] Since the face portion of a golf club head is the part that strikes a golf ball, high strength and a high coefficient of restitution are required. Also, the hitting sound and feel when hitting a golf ball are important, and it is required to achieve a comfortable hitting sound and feel desired by a golfer.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Patent Document 6

Patent Document 7

Patent Document 8

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head that improves the strength and coefficient of restitution of the face portion and realizes a comfortable hitting sound and feel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This golf club head includes a head main body portion including a face portion and a sole portion, a cavity provided on the back side of the face portion in the head main body portion, a fiber reinforced resin layer disposed on the back of the face portion in the cavity, and a resin member disposed in the cavity on the sole portion side of the back of the fiber reinforced resin layer so as to extend in the toe-heel direction.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the disclosed technology, it is possible to provide a golf club head that improves the strength and coefficient of restitution of the face portion and realizes a comfortable hitting sound and hitting feeling.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and redundant descriptions may be omitted.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a golf club head according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a rear view illustrating the golf club head according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the golf club head according to the present embodiment, and is a view of the golf club head as viewed from obliquely above the rear side. FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views illustrating the golf club head according to the present embodiment, and show a longitudinal cross-section cut in the face-back direction so as to pass through the central axis CL of the abutting portion described later. FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a state where the weight member is removed from the head main body portion.

[0010] Note that FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate a case where the golf club head 1 is grounded at a reference lie angle and a reference loft angle with respect to a horizontal plane H (corresponding to the ground). In each figure, arrows d1, d2, and / or d3 are shown as necessary. Arrow d1 indicates the toe-heel direction (left-right direction), arrow d2 indicates the top-sole direction (up-down direction), and arrow d3 indicates the face-back direction (front-rear direction).

[0011] The golf club head 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is a cavity-back iron type golf club head. The golf club head 1 is applicable to any of long irons, middle irons, short irons, and wedges.

[0012] The golf club head 1 has a head main body portion 10, a fiber reinforced resin layer 20, and a resin member 30 as a minimum configuration. In the illustrated example, the golf club head 1 further has a weight member 40. The total weight of the golf club head 1 including the head main body portion 10, the fiber reinforced resin layer 20, the resin member 30, and the weight member 40 is, for example, 240 g or more and 300 g or less.

[0013] The head main body 10 includes a face portion 11 and a sole portion 13 as the minimum configuration. In the illustrated example, the head main body 10 further includes a top portion 14 and a hosel portion 15. The head main body 10 may further include other parts.

[0014] The head main body 10 can be formed using a metal material such as soft iron, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, chromium molybdenum steel, etc. The specific gravity of the head main body 10 is, for example, 7 or more and 9 or less. The head main body 10 can be manufactured by, for example, forging, casting, machining, or a combination thereof, but is not limited thereto.

[0015] The face portion 11 has a face surface 11f that serves as a striking surface for hitting the ball and a back surface 11h located on the opposite side of the face surface 11f. Further, the face portion 11 has a plurality of score lines 11s extending in the toe - heel direction. The score lines 11s are grooves that are recessed from the face surface 11f toward the back surface 11h side. The score lines 11s are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the top - sole direction. Each score line 11s is parallel to the horizontal plane H. In the present application, parallel and perpendicular are each allowed an error of ±5 degrees.

[0016] In the face portion 11, the region where the score lines 11s are formed on the face surface 11f becomes the part for hitting the ball. The face portion 11 has a predetermined thickness. The thickness of the thinnest part of the face portion 11 not considering the score lines 11s is, for example, 1.4 mm or more and 1.85 mm or less.

[0017] The sole portion 13 is the part that forms the bottom of the golf club head 1. The top portion 14 is the part that extends rearward from the upper edge of the face portion 11. The top portion 14 is arranged to face the sole portion 13 across the face surface 11f in the top - sole direction. The top portion 14 extends from the toe side to the heel side. The hosel portion 15 is the part that is connected to the shaft.

[0018] In the head main body 10, a cavity 18 surrounded by the outer edge of the head main body 10 is provided on the back surface 11h side of the face portion 11. The cavity 18 extends from the toe side to the heel side and also extends from the top side to the sole side.

[0019] In the cavity 18, a fiber reinforced resin layer 20 is disposed on the back surface 11h of the face portion 11. By disposing the fiber reinforced resin layer 20 on the back surface 11h of the face portion 11, the strength of the face portion 11 can be improved. From the viewpoint of improving the strength of the face portion 11, it is preferable that the fiber reinforced resin layer 20 is disposed over the entire back surface 11h of the face portion 11 within the cavity 18.

[0020] Also, since the strength of the face portion 11 is improved by the arrangement of the fiber reinforced resin layer 20, the face portion 11 can be made thinner, so that the coefficient of restitution of the face portion 11 can be increased. For example, the coefficient of restitution can be increased by setting the thickness of the thinnest portion without considering the score line of the face portion 11 to 1.85 mm or less.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a rear view illustrating the fiber reinforced resin layer and is a view seen from the same direction as FIG. 2. The fiber reinforced resin layer 20 shown in FIG. 7 is a composite material of fibers and resin serving as a reinforcing member. The fiber reinforced resin layer 20 can have, for example, a structure in which a fiber reinforced resin sheet having a fiber direction of 90° and a fiber reinforced resin sheet having a fiber direction of 0° are alternately laminated in a required number of sheets.

[0022] The specific gravity of the fiber reinforced resin layer 20 is, for example, 0.7 or more and 1.3 or less. The thickness of the fiber reinforced resin layer 20 can be made substantially uniform, for example. The thickness of the fiber reinforced resin layer 20 is, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less.

[0023] Examples of the fibers constituting the fiber-reinforced resin layer 20 include carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, zylon fibers, boron fibers, and the like. Examples of the resin constituting the fiber-reinforced resin layer 20 include epoxy resins, phenolic resins, polyester resins, polycarbonate resins, and the like.

[0024] When the fiber serving as the reinforcing member in the fiber-reinforced resin layer 20 is a carbon fiber, the fiber-reinforced resin layer 20 is configured as a carbon fiber-reinforced resin layer (CFRP layer). The fiber-reinforced resin layer 20 is preferably a carbon fiber-reinforced resin layer. By forming the fiber-reinforced resin layer 20 as a carbon fiber-reinforced resin layer, it is possible to achieve both weight reduction and high rigidity of the fiber-reinforced resin layer 20.

[0025] The resin member 30 is disposed in the cavity 18 so as to extend in the toe-heel direction on the sole portion 13 side of the back surface of the fiber-reinforced resin layer 20. The resin member 30 can be formed in advance using a mold and disposed at a predetermined position in the cavity 18, for example. The surface of the resin member 30 on the face portion 11 side is in contact with the sole portion 13 side of the back surface of the fiber-reinforced resin layer 20. A part of the surface of the resin member 30 on the side opposite to the face portion 11 is in contact with the weight member mounting portion 16 of the head main body portion 10.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the resin member and is a view seen from the same direction as FIG. 2. In the example of FIG. 8, the region located between the toe side and the heel side of the resin member 30 is thinner than the regions on the toe side and the heel side, and a substantially V-shaped recess is formed. The tip of the abutting portion 60 described later contacts the surface of this recess.

[0027] The specific gravity of the resin member 30 is, for example, 0.9 or more and 1.3 or less. Examples of the material of the resin member 30 include TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer). By using TPU as the material of the resin member 30, the resin member 30 can have elasticity and strength. Instead of TPU, silicon or the like may be used as the material of the resin member 30.

[0028] The hammer member 40 is fixed to the sole portion 13 side of the head main body portion 10 so as to face the face portion 11 with the fiber reinforced resin layer 20 and the resin member 30 interposed therebetween, and extends in the toe-heel direction. The sole portion 13 side of the cavity 18 is surrounded by the face portion 11, the sole portion 13, and the hammer member 40 to form a cavity pocket. The fiber reinforced resin layer 20 and the resin member 30 are arranged so as to fill this cavity pocket.

[0029] Generally, when a cavity pocket is provided, the sound resonates in the cavity pocket, resulting in a hard and unpleasant hitting sound and a thin and unpleasant hitting feeling. In the golf club head 1, since the resin member 30 is arranged in the cavity pocket where the sound resonates, the unpleasant resonance is reduced, the hitting sound is improved, and the hitting feeling can be enhanced. That is, by arranging the resin member 30 in the cavity pocket, it is possible to achieve a comfortable hitting sound and hitting feeling required by the golfer.

[0030] In particular, in the case of a thin wall where the thickness of the thinnest part of the face portion 11 is 1.85 mm or less, when a cavity pocket is provided, the hitting sound and hitting feeling tend to deteriorate strongly. Therefore, in such a case, it is particularly effective to arrange the resin member 30 in the cavity pocket.

[0031] In the illustrated example, the hammer member 40 is fastened to the hammer member mounting portion 16 of the head main body portion 10 by two screws 51 and 52. Specifically, the screw 51 is inserted into a through hole 41 provided on the toe side of the hammer member 40 and fastened to the hammer member mounting portion 16. The screw 52 is inserted into a through hole 42 provided on the heel side of the hammer member 40 and fastened to the hammer member mounting portion 16. The hammer member 40 may be fastened to the hammer member mounting portion 16 of the head main body portion 10 by three or more screws.

[0032] The specific gravity of the hammer member 40 is, for example, 8 or more and 14 or less. Examples of the hammer member 40 include tungsten and tungsten alloys. Stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloys, etc. may be used as the hammer member 40.

[0033] In this way, by arranging the heavy hammer member 40 at an effective position, it becomes possible to increase the moment of inertia of the golf club head 1 or decrease the height of the center of gravity. By arranging the hammer member 40, for example, the moment of inertia of the golf club head 1 can be made 2700 g·cm 2 or more. Also, by arranging the hammer member 40, for example, the height HGR of the center of gravity G of the golf club head 1 shown in FIG. 5 can be made 18 mm or less. Thereby, it is possible to realize a golf club head 1 in which the hit ball is less likely to curve and is likely to fly upward. In FIG. 5, the circle indicated by the symbol G is a virtual circle showing the position of the center of gravity and is not a member.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hammer member 40 may be provided with an abutting portion 60. The abutting portion 60 is a shaft-like member extending toward the back surface 11h side of the face portion 11. The central axis CL of the abutting portion 60 is, for example, parallel to the horizontal plane H. The abutting portion 60, for example, penetrates the hammer member 40, and the tip portion is in contact with the back side surface of the resin member 30.

[0035] The abutting portion 60 can be fastened to the hammer member 40 with screws, for example. Specifically, for example, the hammer member 40 is provided with a through hole 43 extending from the back side toward the cavity 18 side, and a screw is cut on the inner surface of the through hole 43 on the cavity 18 side. Also, the back side of the inner surface of the through hole 43 has a larger diameter than the cavity 18 side, and a step is formed at the portion where the diameter changes. This step functions as a stopper for the abutting portion 60 when fixing the abutting portion 60 to the hammer member 40.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the through hole 43 is located at approximately the center in the toe-heel direction, but the through hole 43 may be located on the toe side or the heel side. Also, in the present embodiment, the set of the through hole 43 and the abutting portion 60 is one set, but two or more sets may be provided at different portions.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating the abutting portion. Referring to FIG. 9, the abutting portion 60 includes, for example, a head portion 61, a threaded portion 62 provided on one side in the direction of the central axis CL of the head portion 61, and a tip portion 63 provided on the side opposite to the head portion 61 in the direction of the central axis CL of the threaded portion 62. The abutting portion 60 is a substantially cylindrical member having different diameters in part. The head portion 61, the threaded portion 62, and the tip portion 63 are provided concentrically. Threads are cut on the outer surface of the threaded portion 62.

[0038] The diameter of the threaded portion 62 is smaller than the diameter of the head portion 61, and the diameter φ1 of the tip portion 63 is even smaller than the diameter of the threaded portion 62. The diameter φ1 of the tip portion 63 is, for example, 3.5 mm or more and 8 mm or less. The combined length L1 of the threaded portion 62 and the tip portion 63 is, for example, 8 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

[0039] The head portion 61 is provided with grooves such as triangles or hexagons, for example. By inserting the tip of a triangle or hexagon wrench or the like into this groove, the abutting portion 60 can be rotated. When the abutting portion 60 is inserted into the through hole 43 and the abutting portion 60 is rotated, the threaded portion 62 is screwed with a part of the through hole 43, and the abutting portion 60 is fixed to the hammer member 40.

[0040] At the tip portion 63, the side opposite to the threaded portion 62 in the direction of the central axis CL (that is, the side in contact with the resin member 30) has a shape in which the cross-sectional area (the cross-sectional area in the direction perpendicular to the central axis CL) gradually decreases as it moves away from the threaded portion 62 along the central axis CL. That is, the tip portion 63 has a curved surface, and the curved surface of the tip portion 63 is in contact with the resin member 30. The portion of the tip portion 63 in contact with the resin member 30 is, for example, hemispherical.

[0041] From the viewpoint of improving strength, the abutting portion 60 is preferably an integral part. That is, it is preferable that the abutting portion 60 does not include a joined portion by welding, adhesion, or the like. The specific gravity of the abutting portion 60 is, for example, 2.7 or more and 7.8 or less. The abutting portion 60 is made of metal and can be formed, for example, from aluminum, magnesium, titanium, iron, tungsten, stainless steel (SUS), or the like.

[0042] Since the abutting portion 60 has a variable screwing amount depending on the tightening torque of the screw portion 62 with respect to the through hole 43, the fixing position of the abutting portion 60 with respect to the through hole 43 changes. Thereby, the protruding amount of the abutting portion 60 from the end face on the face portion 11 side of the weight member 40 to the face portion 11 can be adjusted. That is, the distance between the resin member 30 and the tip end portion 63 of the abutting portion 60 can be made variable by the torque when fastening the screw portion 62 to the through hole 43 of the weight member 40.

[0043] The portion of the back surface 11h in contact with the abutting portion 60 is the lower part of the face portion 11, particularly below the face center. By the abutting portion 60 contacting the lower part (sole portion 13 side) of the face portion 11, the deformation of the lower part of the face portion 11 is more restricted than the upper part. Thereby, the launch angle of the hit ball can be increased at the time of hitting. Further, by adjusting the protruding amount of the abutting portion 60, the degree of restricting the deformation of the face portion 11 can be made variable. Thereby, the strength of the face portion 11 can be improved and the coefficient of restitution can be adjusted.

[0044] Although the preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope described in the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 1 Golf club head 10 Head main body portion 11 Face portion 11f Face surface 11h Back surface of face portion 11s Score line 13 Sole portion 14 Top portion 15 Hosel portion 16 Weight member mounting portion 18 Cavity 20 Fiber reinforced resin layer 30 Resin member 40 Weight member 41, 42, 43 Through-holes 51, 52 Screws 60 Contact part 61 Head 62 Threaded part 63 Tip

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising a head main body portion including a face portion and a sole portion, in the head main body portion, a cavity provided on the back side of the face portion, in the cavity, a fiber reinforced resin layer disposed on the back surface of the face portion, in the cavity, a resin member disposed on the sole portion side of the back surface of the fiber reinforced resin layer so as to extend in the toe-heel direction.

2. The specific gravity of the head main body portion is 7 or more and 9 or less, The specific gravity of the fiber reinforced resin layer is 0.7 or more and 1.3 or less, The specific gravity of the resin member is 0.9 or more and 1.3 or less. The golf club head according to claim 1.

3. The fiber reinforced resin layer is disposed entirely on the back surface of the face portion in the cavity. The golf club head according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Further comprising a weight member fixed to the sole portion side of the head main body portion so as to face the face portion with the fiber reinforced resin layer and the resin member interposed therebetween, and extending in the toe-heel direction. The golf club head according to claim 1.

5. The specific gravity of the weight member is 8 or more and 14 or less. The golf club head according to claim 4.

6. The weight member is fastened to the head main body portion by two or more screws. The golf club head according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The weight member is provided with an abutting portion, The abutting portion penetrates the weight member, and the tip portion is in contact with the resin member. The golf club head according to claim 4 or 5.

8. The specific gravity of the abutting portion is 2.7 or more and 7.8 or less. The golf club head according to claim 7.

9. The abutting portion is fastened to the weight member with screws, The distance between the resin member and the tip portion of the abutting portion can be varied by the torque when the abutting portion is fastened to the weight member. The golf club head according to claim 7.

10. The thickness of the face portion is 1.4 mm or more and 1.85 mm or less. The golf club head according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The total weight is 240 g or more and 300 g or less. The golf club head according to claim 1 or 2.

12. The moment of inertia is 2700 g·cm ２ The golf club head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the moment of inertia is 2700 g·cm or more.

13. The center of gravity height is 18 mm or less. The golf club head according to claim 1 or 2.

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