JP2008011870A - Golf club - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a golf club capable of reducing the energy loss and securing the firm integrated structure of a crown part while increasing the flexibility in the distribution of the weight of a golf club head by thinning the crown part. <P>SOLUTION: The golf club 10 has a face part 20 in the front for hitting a ball, and the golf club head 14 with an opening 38 formed in the crown part 22 of a hollow head body 18 and closed by a plate-like member 46. An extension part 40 is made to project from a back part 26 side of the head body 18 to the center region inside the opening 38 toward the face part 20. The plate-like member 46 is thinner than the peripheral edge of the opening 38. A notch 48 for receiving the extension part 40 is formed in the plate-like member 46, and the peripheral edge of the notch 48 and the peripheral edge of the extension part 40 are jointed to each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a golf club, and more particularly to a golf club having a hollow golf club head having a front face portion for hitting a ball.

  In order to increase the flight distance of the hit ball by the metal golf club head having a hollow structure, a golf club head has been developed that increases the loft angle by bending the crown portion upward at the time of impact of the ball and decreases the backspin amount. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In this golf club head, the crown portion is made thinner by controlling the crystal grain size of the crown portion, and the rigidity of the crown portion is made lower than the rigidity of the sole portion. Is also greatly deflected.

  In addition, a thin cover made of a metal material, for example, having a thickness of 0.5 mm or less, is provided in the opening formed in the top of the club head body so as to cover the entire top, and the periphery of the thin cover is hard soldered with the club head. A golf club head coupled to a main body has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). This club head moves the center of gravity to the bottom by using a thin cover.

In addition, in order to prevent cracks in the welded part due to impact at the time of hitting, etc., the bridging piece part in the front-rear direction is left in the middle of the toe-heel direction of the crown part, and the toe part and the heel part are A golf club head in which two openings are formed and a lid plate part is welded to the edge of each of these openings has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In this golf club head, the end portion is integrated with the head body in the middle of the toe-heel direction, so that a weld crack is generated at a portion where a large impact acts on the face surface side in the toe-heel direction. The welded portion to be generated is eliminated, and the function as a golf club head is maintained for a long period of time.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-98076 Utility Model Registration No. 31007046 JP-A-11-114107

  However, in the case of a golf club head in which the crown portion is thinned and the crown portion is bent at the time of impact of the ball, the entire crown is bent not only on the face portion side but also on the back portion side. The energy of time is lost, and the rebound energy given to the ball is reduced.

  Also, in the case of a golf head in which the opening formed at the top of the head body is covered with a thin cover made of a metal material, energy is lost due to the deflection of the thin cover. In particular, since this thin cover is bonded to the top of the head body with hard solder, the bonding strength is weak and there is a limit to reducing the thickness.

  Further, in the case of a golf club head in which a bridging portion is extended at the intermediate portion of the crown portion in the toe-heel direction, the bridging portion increases the rigidity of the intermediate portion of the crown portion in the toe-heel direction. The deflection of the department cannot be used.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of such circumstances, and while reducing the thickness of the crown portion to increase the degree of freedom of weight distribution of the golf club head, the energy loss is suppressed and the crown portion has a strong integrated structure. An object of the present invention is to provide a golf club capable of ensuring the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a golf club head having a face portion for hitting a ball at a front portion and an opening formed in a crown portion of a hollow head body closed with a plate-like member. A projecting portion extending from the back portion side of the head body toward the front portion to a central region in the opening portion, and the plate-like member is made thicker than the peripheral portion of the opening portion. A golf club is provided in which a thickness is reduced and a cutout portion for receiving the extended portion is formed, and a peripheral edge portion of the cutout portion and a peripheral edge portion of the extended portion are joined to each other.

  The extending portion preferably has a rib on the inner surface located on the inner space side of the head main body, and it is preferable that the height of the rib gradually decreases from the inner surface toward the front portion.

  It is preferable that the extending portion extends toward the face portion.

  According to the golf club of the present invention, the plate-like member that closes the opening formed in the crown portion of the golf club head is reduced in weight by being formed thinner than the peripheral portion of the opening, and the head body The strength of the back portion side is increased by joining the peripheral portion of the cutout portion that receives the extended portion protruding into the opening from the back portion side of the back portion side to the peripheral portion of the extended portion. Energy loss hardly occurs, the repulsive force is improved, and the flight distance of the golf ball can be increased. Further, the extended portion protruding from the back portion side of the head main body lengthens the joint between the plate-like member and the head main body, improves the joint strength, and promotes the thinning of the crown portion.

  When ribs are provided on the inner surface of the extended portion, the rigidity on the back portion side of the golf club head increases, and energy loss during hitting is less likely to occur. In particular, when the height of the rib is gradually reduced toward the front portion, that is, the central region of the opening, a large rigidity difference along the face-back direction of the golf club head hardly occurs, and the rib is extended with the plate-like member. It is possible to prevent breakage of the joint portion with the portion.

  In addition, since the extension portion extends toward the face portion, the joint portion between the extension portion and the notch portion along the toe-heel direction becomes extremely short, and therefore stress due to impact at the time of hitting is generated in the joint portion. It is difficult to increase the durability of the joint.

  1 to 6 show a golf club 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In addition, in the figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same site | part over all the figures.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the golf club 10 of the present embodiment is formed of, for example, a tubular body that is a laminated member formed by winding a plurality of prepreg sheets in which a reinforcing fiber is impregnated with a synthetic resin, or a metallic tubular body. The golf club head 14 is attached to the tip of the shaft 12, and a golf club of a wood head is attached to the base end with a grip 16 formed of a soft or soft material such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber. It is. The shaft 12 may be formed by combining a plurality of members instead of forming the entirety of the shaft 12 by a laminated member or one metal member.

In the golf club 10 of the present embodiment, the golf club head 14 has a size of 250 to 470 cm ³ , preferably 100 to 470 cm ³ , and a head weight of 150 to 250 g.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the golf club head 14 includes a head body 18 formed into a hollow integrated structure by casting or forging from a metal material such as a titanium alloy, an aluminum alloy, or a stainless alloy. The head main body 18 has a face portion 20 for hitting a ball at the front portion, and a crown portion 22 and a sole portion 24 are extended rearward from an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion of the face portion 20, and a back portion 26. As protruding. Further, a curved cross-sectional shape similar to a normal one along the peripheral edge of the sole portion 24 from the edge on the toe portion 28 side of the face portion 20 to the edge on the heel portion 30 side of the face portion 20 via the back portion 26 side. A side portion 32 having a protrusion extends toward the crown portion 23 side. The face portion 20 and the crown portion 22 can be specified by a ridge line therebetween, but may be specified by a portion that is smaller than the radius of curvature of the surface portion that forms most of the face portion 20. In addition to the face portion 20, for example, the same applies to the relationship with other portions that define the crown portion 22.

  The head main body 18 includes a hosel portion 34 for fixing the shaft 12 in a state where the head 12 is inclined from the crown portion 22 on the heel portion 30 side to the side opposite to the toe portion 28, and the shaft 12 extending from the hosel portion 34 is provided on the shaft 12. Is fitted with a socket 36 made of a relatively soft material. The socket 36 prevents the shaft 12 from coming into contact with the head main body 18 and damaging it without inhibiting the deflection of the shaft 12, and prevents foreign matter from entering between the head main body 18 and the shaft 12. To do. Further, the socket 36 closes the opening end 34a (see FIG. 3) for inserting the shaft 12 formed in the hosel portion 34, and smoothly transitions from the head body 18 to the shaft 12 without forming a large step. The outer shape to be formed is formed.

  Further, in addition to the score line 20a as shown in FIG. 1, the face 20 has such a case that a slight dent or the like is formed due to a collision with a hard foreign object such as a stone. Rough surface processing may be performed to form a large number of minute streak-like grooves or ridges at minute intervals so that the dents are not noticeable. The head body 18 may be formed by forming each part or a part thereof as separate members and joining these members together by welding or the like instead of being formed in such an integral structure.

  As shown in an exploded view in FIG. 3, the head body 18 has a large opening 38 formed in the crown portion 22, and the extending portion 40 extends from the back portion 26 side toward the front face portion 20. It protrudes into the opening 38 until it almost reaches its central region. The opening portion 38 is formed over almost the entire area of the crown portion 22, and the edge portions 42 a and 42 b having a substantially uniform width along the outer edge between the face portion 20 and the side portion 32. In the vicinity of the hosel portion 34, a substantially triangular edge 42c is formed.

  It is preferable that the edge part 42a on the face part 20 side is formed wider than the edge part 42b on the side part 32 side, and the rigidity on the face part 20 side is secured together with the edge part 42c near the hosel part 34. The width of the edge part 42a on the face part 20 side, that is, the length in the face-back direction between the upper edge part of the face part 20 and the edge part of the opening part 38 is preferably formed to be, for example, about 15 mm to 20 mm. Further, the width of the edge portion 42b on the side portion 32 side is preferably formed to be about 3 mm to 8 mm in order to ensure a balance between the weight surplus force and the crown strength.

  Of these edge portions 42a, 42b, 42c, the thickness of the edge portion 42a on the face portion 20 side is formed in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm in order to improve the flexibility when hitting the ball. It is preferable to do this. When the wall thickness is formed in a thinner structure than this range, deformation at the time of hitting increases, the strength becomes insufficient, and when formed in a wall structure thicker than this range, the flexibility of the head is impaired, This is because the rebound energy is lost.

  The extended portion 40 protruding into the opening 38 is continuous with the outer surface of the edge portion 42b on the side portion 32 side, and is opened with a substantially constant width d through a smoothly curved transition portion. Project into the portion 38. The distal end portion of the extended portion 40 is curved in an arc shape or a semicircular shape, and is substantially the central region of the opening 38, that is, of the three regions when the opening 38 is divided into three along the face-back direction. Located in the center area. More specifically, the distal end portion of the extended portion 40 is preferably located at a position that divides the opening 38 into two, but if it is too far to the face portion 20 from the deflection balance and weight balance of the crown portion, it is difficult to bend and has a high center of gravity. Become. On the other hand, if it is too close to the back portion 26, it will bend too much. Further, when the distal end portion of the extending portion 40 is disposed on the back portion 26 side from the position where the crown portion 22 protrudes highest, the face portion 20 side of the plate-like member 46 is efficiently deflected. Can do.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the extended portion 40 has a dimension W in the face-back direction of the opening 38, and the length in which the extended portion 40 protrudes into the opening 38 in the same direction is W1. When the gap between the tip of the extended portion 40 and the face portion side edge portion 42a is W2, it is preferable that W1> W2. This improves the strength of a plate-like member 44 (described later) that closes the opening 38, and can reduce energy loss during hitting due to excessive bending.

  Further, the width d of the extended portion 40 may be set so that the value of d / D is in the range of 0.05 to 0.30, where D is the dimension in the toe-heel direction of the opening 38. preferable. When the value of d / D is larger than 0.30, the joint part of the extending part along the toe-heel direction becomes longer, the durability of the joint part is lowered, and it is made smaller than 0.05. This is because the strength on the back side of the head decreases, energy loss is likely to occur, and the repulsive force decreases.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the extending portion 40 of the present embodiment includes a rib 44 that protrudes into the internal space from the inner surface 40 a disposed on the internal space side of the head body 18. The rib 44 has a height from the inner surface 40a while maintaining a constant thickness b (see FIG. 4) from the protruding height t1 at the base on the back portion 26 side to the protruding height t2 at the semicircular tip. Is gradually reduced. By forming t1 <t2 in this way, the rigidity along the face-back direction of the extended portion 40 changes smoothly, and the stress concentration at the joint portion at the tip portion can be relaxed. On the other hand, t1 and t2 may be formed to be substantially equal. In this case, the width d of the extending portion 40 may be decreased toward the distal end side. In any case, by forming the rib 44 on the extended portion 40, the extended portion 40 can be prevented from being deformed during casting.

  In this way, the extending portion 40 protruding into the opening 38 may have a width d of 5 to 10 mm, a height t1 of the rib 44 on the tip side of 1 to 5 mm, and a width b of the rib 44 of 1 to 2 mm. preferable. When the width d of the extended portion is larger than this value, the joint portion becomes long and the durability of the joint portion is lowered, and when it is small, the back side of the head is deflected more than necessary and energy loss occurs. Further, when the height t1 of the rib 44 is larger than this value, the head tends to have a high center of gravity, and when it is small, the strength cannot be improved. Further, even when the width b of the rib 44 is larger than this value, the head tends to have a high center of gravity, and when it is small, the energy loss and the hitting sound due to insufficient strength may be deteriorated.

  Furthermore, the ribs 44 of this embodiment are formed continuously from the extended portion 40 to the sole portion 24 via the side portion 32 as well as the extended portion 40. The rib 44 has a structure in which the protrusion height t3 from the inner surface at a portion close to the sole portion 24 is formed larger than the protrusion height t1 at the base portion of the extending portion 40, and the golf club head 14 has a low center of gravity. is there. Although the height is formed constant, the composition of the head changes gradually when changing, there is no stress concentration, and the center of gravity can be lowered. In either case, the center of gravity of the golf club head 14 can be arranged at the rear and at a low position by the rib 44 formed on the side portion 32.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable that the extended portion 40 or the central portion in the width d direction of the extended portion 40 protrudes. However, the rib 44 has the face portion 20 in consideration of a deflection balance at the time of hitting a ball. It is preferable to arrange at the center of the hitting surface along the length L in the toe-heel direction. Thereby, the weight balance and the deflection balance in the toe-heel direction of the golf club head 14 can be optimized.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the plate-like member 46 that closes the opening portion 38 has an outer shape along the peripheral edge portion of the opening portion 38, and a notch portion 48 that receives the extended portion 40 opens to the back portion 26 side. It is formed in a state. The deepest portion of the notch 48 is formed in a semicircular shape corresponding to the tip of the extended portion 40.

  The plate-like member 46 is preferably formed of the same material as that for forming the head body 18, for example. In the case where the head main body 18 has an assembly structure composed of a plurality of members, it is preferable that the head main body 18 is formed of the same type of material as that of at least the peripheral portion of the opening 38 such as the edges 42a, 42b and 42c. Here, the same type refers to a combination of materials that can be joined together by welding, even if they are different materials. This welding includes various types of welding such as TIG welding, plasma welding, and laser welding.

  A preferable material for the plate-like member 46 is, for example, a metal material having a specific gravity lower than that of the head body 18 such as titanium, aluminum, magnesium, or beryllium, and is preferably formed by forging, rolling, or the like in order to maintain strength. . In any case, the plate-like member 46 has a thickness in the range of, for example, 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm, and is thinner than the edges 42a, 42b, and 42c that are the peripheral portions of the opening 38. Is done.

  A mounting portion 39 that supports the outer peripheral edge portion of the plate-like member 46 is integrally formed on the peripheral edge portion of the opening 38 that is closed by the plate-like member 46, and the plate-like member is provided on the peripheral edge portion of the extending portion 40. A mounting portion 41 that supports the peripheral edge of the notch 48 of the member 46 is integrally formed. The mounting portions 39 and 41 are substantially equal to the thickness of the plate-like member 46 along the face portion 20 and the hosel portion 34 and between the edge portions 42a, 42b and 42c forming a part of the crown portion 22. When a step is formed and the plate-like member 46 is placed, a smooth continuous outer surface is formed without forming a step between the plate-like member 46 and the edges 42a, 42b, 42c. To do.

  The plate-like member 46 that closes the opening 38 has the outer peripheral edge and the peripheral edge of the notch 48 placed on the mounting portions 39 and 41, and the peripheral edge of the opening 38 and the extending portion 40. For example, when joined by welding as described above, the crown portion 22 is formed together with the edge portions 42a, 42b, and 42c of the head body 12. The outer peripheral surface forms a flat, continuous curved surface without causing a step.

  In the golf club head 14 thus formed, the plate-like member 46 that closes the opening 37 formed in the crown portion 22 is thinner than the peripheral edges 42a, 42b, 42c of the opening 38. It is reduced in weight by being formed. Further, a peripheral portion of the cutout portion 48 that receives the extended portion 40 that protrudes into the opening portion 38 from the back portion 28 side of the head body 18 is formed on the mounting portion 41 that is formed along the peripheral portion of the extended portion 40. By joining in the mounted state, the strength of the portion extending over the protruding length W1 of the extended portion 40, particularly the strength in the face-back direction, is increased on the back portion 28 side of the plate-like member 46. Time deflection is suppressed. Further, at the time of hitting, since the tip portion disposed on the face portion 20 side of the extended portion 40 is arcuate or semicircular, the number of joints perpendicular to the striking direction can be reduced. Thus, the impact from the plate-like member 46 can be reduced.

  Thereby, at the time of hitting the golf club, the portion corresponding to the gap W2 between the extended portion 40 and the edge portion 42a opposite to the plate-like member 46 is bent while suppressing excessive energy loss. The repulsive force that the head 14 gives to the golf ball can be improved, and the flight distance of the golf ball can be increased. Further, the extended portion 40 protruding from the back portion 28 side of the head main body 18 lengthens the entire joint portion between the plate-like member 46 and the head main body 18, improving the joint strength, and reducing the thickness of the crown portion 22. Can be improved.

  Further, by providing the rib 44 on the inner surface of the extended portion 40, the rigidity on the back portion 28 side of the golf club head 14 is increased, and energy loss at the time of hitting is less likely to occur. In particular, the height t2 on the front end side of the rib 44 gradually decreases from the height t1 on the base side toward the front end side, that is, the central region of the opening 38, thereby increasing the face-back direction of the golf club head 14. A difference in rigidity is unlikely to occur, and damage to the joint portion between the plate-like member 46 and the extending portion 40 can be prevented.

  Further, since the extending portion 40 extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the face portion 20, the joint portion between the extending portion 40 and the notch portion 48 along the toe-heel direction becomes extremely short. Therefore, stress due to impact at the time of hitting the ball is hardly generated in the joint portion along the placement portion 41, and the durability of the joint portion can be increased.

  In the golf club head 14 of this embodiment, a face member 20a formed by a member different from the head main body 18 is joined to the face portion 20, but the head is replaced with the face member 20a which is such a separate member. The main body 18 may be integrally formed.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, only one extending portion 40 is disposed at the central portion along the toe-heel direction of the hitting surface. However, as shown in FIG. The portions 40a and 40b may be provided on the head main body 18. These extending portions 40a and 40b are preferably arranged in parallel with each other and symmetrically along the toe-heel direction. The plate-like member 46 is also formed with notches 48a and 48b for receiving the extended portions 40a and 40.

  As described above, when the plurality of extending portions 40a and 40b are formed, the length of the joint portion between the head body 18 and the plate-like member 46 is increased, and the joint strength can be increased. Further, it is possible to prevent torsional deformation of the plate-like member 46 and the head main body 18 and improve the directionality of the hit ball.

1 is an overall view of a golf club according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the golf club head of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1. Sectional drawing which follows the VV line VV of FIG. Sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG. The exploded view of the golf club head by a modification.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Golf club, 12 ... Shaft, 14 ... Golf club head, 18 ... Head main body, 20 ... Face part, 26 ... Back part, 38 ... Opening part, 40 ... Extension part, 46 ... Plate-shaped member, 48 ... Notch Department.

Claims (4)

A golf club having a golf club head having a face portion for hitting a ball at a front portion and having an opening formed in a crown portion of a head body having a hollow structure closed with a plate-like member,
The extending part protrudes from the back part side of the head body toward the front part to the central part region in the opening part, and the plate-like member is formed thinner than the peripheral part of the opening part, 1. A golf club comprising a cutout portion that receives the extended portion, and a peripheral portion of the cutout portion and a peripheral portion of the extended portion are joined to each other.   The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the extending portion has a rib on an inner surface located on the inner space side of the head body.   The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the rib gradually decreases in height from the inner surface toward the front portion.   4. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the extending portion extends toward the face portion. 5.

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