JPH05237207A - Golf club head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a gold club head having a ball flying direction correcting function when a ball hit point is outside a sweet spot. CONSTITUTION:A resilient body layer 12 comprising a base material of a resilient body having a smaller rigidity than that of a head main body is provided at a face part 10a of a head main body 10. The resilient body layer 12 is composed of a layer of the resilient body base material 13 and plural reinforcement fiber layers 14b as reinforcement materials for regulating lateral distortion of the resilient body base material layer laminated alternately on each other, and apertures 14a which become larger gradually in the order of lamination are formed in the reinforcement fiber layer 14b. The rigidity of the resilient body layer is thus set to become larger gradually from a sweet spot SS of a head toward a face part peripheral edge.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to golf club heads, and more particularly to improvements in head face structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a golf club head, which is generally called a wood club and which emphasizes flight distance, since a slight convex curved surface (round) is formed on the face, that is, a hitting surface, the ball hitting point is a sweet spot (head). When it deviates from the intersection of the perpendicular line drawn from the center of gravity of the face to the face and the face), the ball is rotated due to the so-called gear effect, so that the flight direction of the ball approaches the flight direction when hit at the sweet spot. However, the effect of correcting the flight direction of the ball by the gear effect was not fully satisfactory. In addition, since the head of a golf club, which is generally called an iron club and which emphasizes directionality, has a flat face and a shallow center of gravity from the face, such a gear effect does not occur. Therefore, when the ball hitting point is out of the sweet spot, the effect of correcting the flight direction of the ball cannot be produced at all.

On the other hand, conventionally, many golf clubs are used in which a recess is formed in the face of the club head and a face insert plate made of plastic, ceramics or the like is mounted in the recess. This type of insert plate is mainly intended to increase the rigidity of the head to reinforce the head matrix and to increase the ball repulsion coefficient at the time of hitting to increase the flight distance of the ball. An insert plate is used.

[0004]

In the conventional golf club head having the insert plate attached, the rigidity of the region of the face where the insert plate is attached is higher than that of the region where the insert plate is not attached. Only a substantially constant stiffness is obtained in the region. Therefore, the conventional insert plate cannot exhibit the function of correcting the flight direction of the ball when the ball hitting point deviates from the sweet spot.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head having an improved function of correcting the flight direction of the ball when the hitting point deviates from the sweet spot.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention according to claim 1 is to provide an elastic body layer having an elastic body having a rigidity lower than that of the head body as a base material on a face portion of the head body. Provided is a golf club head, wherein a reinforcing material is arranged in the elastic layer so that the rigidity of the elastic layer gradually increases from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the golf club head according to the first aspect, the reinforcing material comprises a plurality of reinforcing fiber layers alternately laminated with elastic base material layers, and at least a part of the reinforcing fibers. A substantially circular or substantially elliptical opening that is concentric with the sweet spot of the head is formed in the layer, and the opening of the reinforcing fiber layer gradually increases in the laminating direction, thereby increasing the rigidity of the elastic layer. The feature is that the height gradually increases from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the golf club head according to the first aspect, the reinforcing material comprises a plurality of metal foils alternately laminated with an elastic base material layer, and at least a part of the metal foils is formed. Has a substantially circular or substantially elliptical opening that is concentric with the sweet spot of the head, and the opening of the metal foil gradually increases in the stacking direction, so that the rigidity of the elastic layer is the sweetness of the head. The feature is that the height gradually increases from the spot toward the peripheral edge of the face portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the golf club head according to the first aspect, the reinforcing material is a whisker-like or short fibrous reinforcing material mixed in an elastic base material. The mixing ratio of the fibrous reinforcing material is gradually increased from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion, so that the rigidity of the elastic layer is substantially concentric or circular from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion. It is characterized by gradually increasing in a substantially concentric oval shape.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the golf club head according to the first aspect, a fiber reinforced resin layer having higher rigidity than the elastic layer is provided on the surface of the elastic layer. To do.

[0011]

In the golf club head having the above structure, the elasticity of the elastic layer provided on the face portion of the head body is gradually increased from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion. Since the reinforcing material is provided, when the deformation amount due to the collision with the ball is the same, the repulsive force with respect to the ball increases from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion. Therefore, when the ball striking position deviates from the sweet spot of the head, the repulsive force acting on the ball at the portion away from the sweet spot becomes larger than the repulsive force acting on the ball at the portion near the sweet spot. The ball is given a ball rotating action similar to the gear effect, and the flight direction of the ball is corrected so as to approach the flight direction when hit at the sweet spot. Therefore, if the present invention is applied to the head of a wood club having a round face, the effect of correcting the flight direction of the ball can be obtained in combination with the gear effect of the round. Further, the present invention is applied to an iron club having a flat face. Even when applied to the head of a wood club with a flat head or face,
The effect of correcting the flight direction of the ball can be obtained.

In the golf club head having the above structure, the rigidity of the elastic body layer is improved by arranging the reinforcing material inside the elastic body layer for restricting the lateral strain in the direction orthogonal to the thickness of the elastic body base material. Since the head body is changed, it is not necessary to add a special shape or processing to the head body, and the head body can be manufactured at low cost.

Further, when a fiber-reinforced resin layer having a rigidity higher than that of the elastic layer is provided on the surface of the elastic layer, the effect of correcting the flight direction of the ball by the elastic layer is enhanced and the durability of the head face portion is enhanced. As a result, a high-performance and long-life golf club head can be provided.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a head of a wood club. With reference to these drawings, the club head includes a hollow main body 10 made of metal such as stainless steel, light alloy, or fiber-reinforced resin, fiber-reinforced metal, and the like. The recess 11 has a substantially constant depth. The recess 11 has an elastic layer 12 having a substantially constant thickness, which is less rigid than the head body 10.
The surface of the elastic layer 12 is continuous with the main body surface of the peripheral portion of the recess of the head main body 11 to form the face surface of the head. In the figure, reference symbol G indicates the center of gravity of the head, and SS indicates the sweet spot.

The elastic layer 12 is formed by disposing a reinforcing material in an elastic base material 13 having a base material such as rubber or an elastomer material, and the reinforcing material alternates with the layers of the elastic base material 13. A plurality of (four in this case) reinforcing fiber layers 14b laminated
It consists of These reinforcing fiber layers 14b regulate the lateral strain of the layers of the elastic base material 13 in the direction along the surface of each layer, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the direction of collision with the ball, so that the apparent elastic base material 13 is not apparent. It plays a role of increasing Young's modulus, that is, rigidity. Therefore, the more the reinforcing fiber layers 14b are interposed in the layer of the elastic body material 13 in the thickness direction of the elastic body material 13, the higher the rigidity of that portion.

As shown in FIG. 4, each reinforcing fiber layer 14b is formed by arranging long fibers such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, and metal fibers, and the directions of the long fibers are along the laminating direction. They are orthogonal to each other. As the long fibers arranged in each layer, the above-mentioned various fibers may be used alone or in an appropriate combination. Further, the reinforcing fiber layer 14b is formed with a substantially circular or substantially elliptical opening 14a concentric with the sweet spot SS of the head, and the opening 14a of the reinforcing fiber layer 14b gradually increases in the laminating direction. ing. The elastic body layer 12 having such a configuration can be easily manufactured by alternately stacking the reinforcing fiber layers 14b and the layers of the base material 13 and then heat-pressing.

The reinforcing fiber layer 14 used as a reinforcing material.
As b, a resin impregnated with long fibers such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, and metal fibers, that is, a layer of fiber reinforced resin may be used. In this case, the elastic body layer can be obtained by heating and pressurizing the fiber reinforced resin layers in the prepreg sheet (uncured sheet) state and the elastic body base material layer alternately laminated.

The elastic layer 12 may be individually molded for each head, but a plurality of elastic layers may be integrally formed and then cut into a shape suitable for the recess 11 and mounted on the head body 10. .. It is also possible to directly form the elastic body layer 12 in the recess 11 for each of the layers 13 and 14b or collectively by utilizing the recess 11 of the head body 10. Further, when the bottom surface of the recess 11 is formed to be flat, the elastic layer 12 in the present invention may have a thickness changed so that the surface thereof follows the round of the face portion.

The elastic body layer 12 having the above-mentioned structure is applied to the head body 10.
As shown in FIG. 12, when the elastic layer 12 is mounted in the recess 11, the rigidity of the elastic layer 12 gradually increases from the sweet spot SS of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion, so that the deformation amount due to the collision with the ball is the same. In this case, the repulsive force with respect to the ball increases from the sweet spot SS of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, when the hitting position of the ball deviates from the sweet spot SS of the head, the repulsive force F1 acting on the ball near the sweet spot SS is applied to the ball at a position farther from the sweet spot SS. Since the repulsive force F2 acting becomes larger, the ball is given a ball rotating action similar to the gear effect, and the flight direction of the ball is corrected so as to approach the flight direction when hit at the sweet spot SS. It will be. Therefore, in a wood club head having a rounded face portion, the effect of correcting the flight direction of the ball can be obtained in combination with the gear effect of the round.

FIG. 5 shows a modified example of the reinforcing fiber layer 14b, in which each reinforcing fiber layer 14b is made of long fibers such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber and metal fiber, either alone or in an appropriate composite. It is woven into a cloth. Also in this embodiment, the openings 14a formed in the reinforcing fiber layer 14b gradually increase in the stacking direction. Each layer may be formed by impregnating the thus woven fibers with a resin.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which a metal foil 14c is used as a reinforcing material instead of the reinforcing fiber layer. Also in this embodiment, the openings 14a formed in the metal foil 14c gradually increase in the stacking direction. The elastic layer is formed by laminating the metal foil 14c alternately with the layers of the elastic base material.

7 and 8 show another embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, the same components as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In these examples, the fiber reinforced resin layer 15 having a higher rigidity than the elastic body layer 12 is provided on the surface of the elastic body layer 12. The fiber reinforced resin layer 15 can be formed integrally with the elastic body layer 12 by laminating sheets made by weaving long fibers such as carbon and glass and impregnating them with a resin as shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the fiber reinforced resin layer 15 is formed integrally with the elastic layer 12 to form the recess 1 of the head body 10.
1, the fiber-reinforced resin layer 15 formed integrally with the elastic body layer 12 covers not only the surface of the elastic body layer 12 but also the surface of the head body 10 in the embodiment shown in FIG. It is provided in.

9 and 10 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the head of an iron club. In these figures, the same components as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Generally, the head of an iron club, which emphasizes the directionality rather than the flight distance, has a flat face and the depth of the center of gravity is shallower than that of the head of a wood club. However, also in this embodiment, since the recess 11 formed in the face portion 10a of the head body 10 is provided with the elastic body layer 12 having the same structure as the elastic body layer 12 shown in FIGS. , If the amount of deformation of the elastic layer 12 due to the collision with the ball is the same, and the ball striking position deviates from the sweet spot SS of the head, the repulsion force acting on the ball is closer to the sweet spot SS than the repulsive force acting on the ball. The repulsive force acting on the ball becomes larger in the part away from the spot SS. Therefore, the ball is given a ball rotating action similar to the gear effect, and the flight direction of the ball is corrected so as to approach the flight direction when the ball is hit at the sweet spot SS.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the head of an iron club. In this embodiment, the fiber reinforced resin layer 15 is integrally formed on the surface of the elastic layer 12 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. The fiber reinforced resin layer 15 may be formed so as to cover the surface of the head body 10 as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIGS. 14 to 17 show still another constitutional examples of the elastic layer 12 which characterizes the present invention.

In the elastic body layer 12 shown in FIG. 14, a whisker-like or short fiber reinforcing material 14d is mixed in an elastic body material 13, and the mixing ratio of the whisker-like or short fiber reinforcing material 14d is the head. Sweet spot SS
By gradually increasing from the head to the peripheral edge of the face portion, the rigidity of the elastic layer 12 gradually increases from the sweet spot SS of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion. More specifically, in this embodiment, the reinforcing material 14d is not mixed in the substantially single-sided lens-shaped area around the sweet spot SS of the elastic layer 12, and the reinforcing material is provided inside the base material 13 outside the area. 14
d is uniformly mixed. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the rigidity of the elastic layer 12 gradually increases in a substantially concentric circle shape or a substantially concentric ellipse shape from the sweet spot SS of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion.

As the whisker-like reinforcing material, that is, a whisker-like single crystal body, metal whiskers of various metal simple substances, oxide or carbide whiskers and the like can be used, but silicon carbide whiskers are preferable. Further, as the short fibrous reinforcing material, short cut carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, metal fibers and the like can be used.

As a mode of distributing the reinforcing material 14d, in addition to the above-described mode, the reinforcing material 14d is uniformly distributed in the thickness direction of the base material 13 and the mixing ratio of the reinforcing material 14d is increased as the distance from the sweet spot SS increases. May be

The elastic layer 12 shown in FIG. 15 is a reinforcing material 14d.
The substantially single-sided lens-like portion of only the base material 13 in which is not mixed with the portion in which the reinforcing material 14d is mixed in the base material 13 is joined.

The elastic body layer 12 shown in FIG. 16 has the same structure as the elastic body layer 12 shown in FIG. 15, but, contrary to the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, it is reinforced on the bottom side of the recess 11 of the head body 10. The substantially single-sided lens-like portion of only the base material 13 in which the material 14d is not mixed is located. With this arrangement, there is no risk of the substantially one-sided lens-shaped portion being peeled off by an impact.

The elastic layer 12 shown in FIG. 17 has the same structure as the elastic layer 12 shown in FIG. 15, but in this embodiment, the fiber reinforced resin layer 15 is integrally formed on the surface of the elastic layer 12. ing.

Although the embodiments shown in the drawings have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above,
For example, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the distribution of the reinforcing materials 14b, 14c, 14d in the elastic body layer 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 14 should be such that many reinforcing materials exist on the outer surface side of the elastic body base material 13. The arrangement can be reversed. Further, known materials such as the head body, the base material of the elastic layer, the reinforcing material, and the fiber reinforced resin layer can be appropriately selected.
In the case where the reinforcing fiber layer or the metal foil is used as the reinforcing material in 2, the number of layers of the reinforcing fiber layer or the metal foil can be other than 4, for example, 2 layers, 3 layers or 5 layers or more, As the number of layers increases, the change in rigidity becomes smoother, so that the flight direction of the ball when the ball striking point deviates from the sweet spot can be corrected more accurately.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the elastic layer 12
Is provided in the recess 11 formed in the face portion 10a of the head body 10, but the present invention is not limited to such an aspect, and the recess is formed in the face portion of the head body 10. Alternatively, the elastic layer 12 may be directly provided on the face portion.

The elastic layer 12 or the elastic layer 12 having the fiber reinforced resin layer 15 on the surface of each of the above embodiments may be integrally fixed to the head main body 10, but may be detachably attached. Alternatively, it may be detachably attached via a fixing member. In this way, by making the elastic body layer 12 or the elastic body layer 12 provided with the fiber reinforced resin layer 15 on the surface detachable,
It is also possible to replace the elastic body layer 12 having different rigidity change characteristics or the elastic body layer 12 having the fiber reinforced resin layer 15 on the surface with an optimum one according to the player's preference or the playing environment such as golf course and weather. become. Therefore,
It is within the protection scope of the present invention to prepare the sheet-shaped or plate-shaped elastic body layer 12 having various rigidity characteristics or the similar elastic body layer 12 with the fiber-reinforced resin layer 15 which is the characteristic of the present invention for each head. Be done.

Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to golf clubs having various uses and functions.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to correct the flight direction of a ball when the ball hitting point deviates from the sweet spot, without the need for specially shaping the face portion of the head body. Function can be enhanced,
It is possible to provide a golf club head that is inexpensive and has a stable ball flight direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a club head showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a wood club head.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the club head shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the club head shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a reinforcing fiber layer as a reinforcing material used in the elastic layer of the club head shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a reinforcing fiber layer as a reinforcing material used for an elastic layer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example in which a metal foil is used as a reinforcing material used for the elastic layer.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a club head showing another embodiment when the present invention is applied to a wood club head.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a club head showing still another embodiment when the present invention is applied to a wood club head.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a club head showing an embodiment when the present invention is applied to an iron club head.

10 is a cross-sectional side view of the club head shown in FIG. 9 taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional side view of a club head showing another embodiment when the present invention is applied to an iron club head.

FIG. 12 is a graph schematically showing how the rigidity of the elastic body layer changes from the sweet spot toward the peripheral edge of the face portion when the elastic body layer is incorporated into the club head.

FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing a repulsive force applied to a ball when a ball is hit from a sweet spot by a club head having an elastic layer.

FIG. 14 is a main-portion cross-sectional view of a club head showing still another configuration example of the elastic layer.

FIG. 15 is a main-portion cross-sectional view of a club head showing still another configuration example of the elastic layer.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a club head showing still another configuration example of the elastic layer.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of a club head showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Head body 10a Face part 11 Recess 12 Elastic body layer 13 Elastic body base material 14a Opening 14b Reinforcing fiber layer (reinforcing material) 14c Metal foil (reinforcing material) 14d Whisker-like or short fibrous reinforcing material 15 Fiber reinforced resin layer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A face layer of a head body is provided with an elastic body layer whose base material is an elastic body having a rigidity lower than that of the head body,
A golf club head, wherein a reinforcing material is arranged in the elastic layer so that the rigidity of the elastic layer gradually increases from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion. 2. The reinforcing material comprises a plurality of reinforcing fiber layers alternately laminated with an elastic base material layer, and at least a part of the reinforcing fiber layers has a substantially circular shape or an elliptical shape concentric with a sweet spot of the head. Openings are formed, and the openings of the reinforcing fiber layer gradually increase in the laminating direction, so that the rigidity of the elastic layer gradually increases from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The reinforcing material is composed of a plurality of metal foils alternately laminated with an elastic base material layer, and at least a part of the metal foils has a substantially circular or elliptical opening concentric with a sweet spot of a head. Is formed, and the opening of the metal foil gradually increases toward the laminating direction, so that the rigidity of the elastic layer gradually increases from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is a golf club head. 4. The reinforcing material is a whisker-like or short fiber reinforcing material mixed in an elastic base material, and a mixing ratio of the whisker-like or short fiber reinforcing material is from a sweet spot of a head to a peripheral portion of a face portion. The rigidity of the elastic layer gradually increases in a substantially concentric shape or a substantially concentric elliptical shape from the sweet spot of the head toward the peripheral edge of the face portion. The golf club head according to claim 1. 5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a fiber reinforced resin layer having a rigidity higher than that of the elastic body layer is provided on a surface of the elastic body layer.