JP2001286588A - Golf club head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a golf club head allowing fitting of a face member in a recessed part of a head main body and fixing the same without causing a product failure. SOLUTION: The face members 30 and 70 are shaped to be substantially similar to the front face shape of recessed parts 15 and 55 of head main bodies 10 and 50 and smaller by a designated size, the face members are fitted in the recessed parts with a designated space left between the sides of both members, and the gaps are filled with connecting members 40 and 80. In the inside of the recessed part, recessed pats 17 and 57 are formed recessed parts 31 and 71 in the outer peripheral edge or outside surface of the face members, and a part of the connecting member is fitted in both recessed parts to fix the head main body and the face member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a golf club head, and more particularly to a club head capable of improving the degree of freedom in weight distribution of a head within a range of a head weight that a player can swing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a wood type club and an iron type club are often used in golf play. In the case of manufacturing the former wood type club, it is common to separately manufacture the constituent parts of the head and assemble them together by welding or the like, but the entire iron type club is integrally manufactured by casting or forging. The method was adopted.

Recently, many people have come to enjoy golf competitions, but there are variations in the height and muscles of the players, such as children to the elderly, women to men, and beginners to advanced players, and golf clubs. There is also a tendency for the characteristics required for a variety of players to vary.

For example, in the case of an iron type club,
As shown in JP-A-337222, a recess is formed in a striking face of a head body, and a face member made of a metal material having a small specific gravity is fitted into the recess to increase the size of the head body to obtain a wide sweet zone. Although such a structure has been proposed, simply pressing the face member into the recess of the head body may cause the face member to fall off the head body due to impact or the like at the time of impact.

On the other hand, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-182006, a protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the recess of the head main body, and a step is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the face member. A structure has been proposed in which the face member is fixed to the recess of the head body by being plastically deformed and engaged with the step of the face member after being fitted into the recess of the head body and plastically deforming the projection on the face member side. ing.

[0006]

However, in the iron type club head described in the above-mentioned conventional publication, the face member is fixed to the head body by plastically deforming the projection on the outer peripheral edge of the recess of the head body by press forming from above. Therefore, there is a risk that a load from above acts on the frame portion outside the concave portion during press molding, and the frame portion falls outward before the protrusion is plastically deformed, resulting in a defective product.

In order to prevent the head side frame portion from falling down, a frame portion having a width of 4 mm or more is required outside the concave portion of the head main body. As a result, the head main body becomes inevitably heavy, so that the weight of the face member is reduced. Even if a titanium-based face member having a small specific gravity is used, there is a limitation in increasing the size of the head body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head which can be fixed by fitting a face member into a recess of a head body without causing a product defect.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a golf club head according to the present invention is a golf club head in which a face member made of a dissimilar metal material is fitted into a recess formed in a striking face of a head body. The face member is substantially similar to the front shape of the head body recess and has a shape smaller by a predetermined dimension, and the face member is fitted into the recess with a predetermined gap between both side surfaces. Is filled with a connecting member, while a concave portion is formed on the inner surface of the concave portion, a concave portion is formed on the outer peripheral edge or the outer surface of the face member, and a part of the connecting member is formed in the concave portion. And the head body and the face member are connected by fitting into both recesses of the face member.

One of the features of the present invention is that a gap is provided between the recess of the head body and the face member, the connecting member is filled therebetween, and a part of the connecting member is formed in the recess and the face member. The point is that the head main body and the face member are connected to each other by being fitted into the concave portions. This allows
When the connecting member is plastically deformed by press molding, it flows through the gap between the head body recess and the face member, but a load from above directly acts on the frame outside the recess of the head body. Therefore, there is no possibility that the frame part falls down and a product defect occurs.

Another feature of the present invention is that a recess is formed in the recess of the head main body and the face member, and a part of the connecting member is fitted into the recess. Thereby, the face member can be securely fixed to the head main body, and the face member does not fall off the head main body due to an impact or the like at the time of impact.

Although the present invention has a great effect when applied to an iron-type club head, the present invention can be similarly applied to a wood-type club head, and has the same operation and effect as the iron-type club head.

The connecting member may be made of any material as long as it can be plastically deformed. However, if a material having a small specific gravity is used, the striking face side of the head can be lightened, and the weight can be distributed to an arbitrary position on the head body. For example, a head having a low center of gravity can be manufactured by distributing the head to the sole of the head body, and a large sweet zone head can be manufactured by increasing the dimensions of the head body and the face member by the reduced weight.

That is, it is preferable to use a metal material having a specific gravity smaller than that of the head body for the connecting member. For example, a stainless steel, maraging steel, copper or copper alloy material is widely used for the head body, and a titanium, titanium alloy, or aluminum alloy material is widely used for the face member. It is preferable to use an aluminum-based or aluminum alloy-based material, a titanium-based or titanium alloy-based material.

The recess side of the head body and the recess of the face member may be one as long as the face member can be fixed to the head body by the connecting member fitted therein, but the head body and the face member are securely fixed to each other. Above, it is preferable to form a plurality of concave portions or linear concave portions. That is, the recess is preferably formed continuously or intermittently on the entire inner surface of the head body recess in the head body, and the recess is formed on the outer periphery or outer surface of the face member on the face member. It is good to form continuously or intermittently.

When hitting a golf ball with the club head, it is common to hit the golf ball in the sweet zone of the hit face, and hitting the golf ball out of the sweet zone before the performance of the golf club is described. Is a problem. Therefore, there may be a step between the face member and the connecting member and / or the frame of the head body. However, in consideration of the appearance of the club head, the face member and the connecting member are preferably substantially flush with the frame portion outside the recess of the head body.

The recess of the head body may have a bottom. The recess is formed in the back side of the head body in the case of an iron type club head, and is opened in the head body in the case of a wood type club head. You may. However, since the face member is fixed in the recess, it is necessary to leave a receiving portion for receiving and supporting the face member in the recess.

According to the present invention, when manufacturing a golf club head by fitting a face member made of a dissimilar metal material into a recess formed in the hitting face of the head body, the recess is formed in the hitting face of the head body. Forming and forming a recess on the inner surface of the recess, forming the face member into a shape substantially similar to the front shape of the recess and smaller by a predetermined dimension, and A step of forming a concave portion on the outer side surface, a step of fitting the face member into the concave portion of the head body with a predetermined gap between both side surfaces, and a ring-shaped connection similar to the front shape in the gap. A member is inserted, the connection member is pressed from above to fill the gap, and a part of the connection member is fitted into both the recess of the head body and the recess of the face member. Further comprising a step of written Ri can provide a method of manufacturing a golf club head according to claim.

Further, according to the present invention, when a golf club head is manufactured by fitting a face member made of a dissimilar metal material into a recess formed in a striking face of the head body, the recess in the head body has the same shape. The face member having a shape substantially similar to the front shape of the recess and smaller by a predetermined dimension is fitted with a predetermined gap between both sides, and a ring-shaped connecting member similar to the front shape is inserted into the gap. ,
The connecting member is pressed from above to fill the gap, and a part of the connecting member is continuously or intermittently formed on the inner surface of the recess inside the head main body or intermittently formed with the face member. A method of manufacturing a golf club head characterized by being fitted into a concave portion formed continuously or intermittently on the entire outer peripheral edge or the outer peripheral surface can be provided.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to specific examples shown in the drawings. 1 to 4 show a preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention, which is an example applied to an iron type club head. In the figure, a cylindrical hosel 20 is integrally formed on one side of the head main body 10, and a shaft (not shown) is connected to the hosel 20. The head body 10 has a striking face 11, a top face 12,
It is composed of a sole 13 and a back side 14, and the back side 14 is formed in a concave shape, forming a so-called cavity back.

The striking face 11 of the head body 10
A recess 15 is formed at the center of the recess 30. The recess 15 has a substantially square shape having a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the face member 30, and the recess 15 has a receiving portion 16 for receiving and supporting the face member 30. And is open to the back side 14.

On the other hand, the face member 30 is
The recess 15 of the head body 10 is formed using a metal material different from
Is manufactured in a shape similar to the front shape of the above and smaller by a predetermined dimension. A recessed step (recess) 31 is formed continuously on the outer periphery of the face member 30 over the entire outer periphery, and a recess 17 is continuously formed on the bottom of the side surface of the recess 15 of the head body 10 over the entire side surface. It is formed.

The face member 30 is connected to the head body 10.
Of the head body 10 is filled with a connecting member 40 made of a metal material having a lower specific gravity than the head body 10, and the connecting member 40 is filled with the connecting member 40. Are fitted into the side recess 17 of the recess 15 of the head body 10 and the recessed step 31 of the face member 30 to connect the face member 30 to the head body 10.

When the club head of this embodiment is manufactured, the head body 10 is manufactured by forging or casting as in the prior art. Recess 1 at the bottom of the inner surface
7 is formed continuously over the entire inner surface. The recess 15 may be formed at the same time as the head body 10 is forged or cast. Alternatively, the recess 15 may be formed by cutting or forging the head body 10. Also, the recess 17
May be formed in the same step as the recess 15, or after the recess 15 is formed, the recess 17 may be formed by cutting or the like.

The face member 30 is also manufactured by forging or casting into a shape that is substantially similar to the front shape of the recess 15 of the head body 10 and is smaller by a predetermined dimension. The step 31 is formed continuously over the entire outer peripheral edge. The concave step portion 31 may be formed at the same time as the face member 30 is forged or cast. Alternatively, the concave step portion 31 may be formed by forging or casting the face member 30 and then cutting.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, the face member 30 is fitted into the recess 15 of the head main body 10 with a predetermined gap between the side surfaces thereof, and then the face member 30 is inserted. When a ring-shaped member 41 having a similar shape is inserted into the gap and the ring-shaped member 41 is press-formed from above against the striking face 11, the ring-shaped member 41 is plastically deformed and flows through the gap to fill the gap. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), a part of the connecting member 40 is
5 and the concave step 31 of the face member 30, and thus the iron-type club head of this example can be manufactured.

As described above, the recess 15 of the head body 10
A gap is provided between the head member 10 and the face member 30. The connection member 30 is inserted into the gap, and the connection member 30 is plastically deformed by press molding.
Is fixed, so that the recess 15 of the head body 10 is fixed.
A load from above does not directly act on the outer frame portion, and the frame portion does not fall over and no product failure occurs.

Further, since it is not necessary to receive a load during press forming by the frame portion outside the recess 15 of the head body 10, the width of the frame portion can be reduced, and a metal material having a small specific gravity is used for the connecting member 40. The head body 10
Is disclosed in JP-A-06-182006,
The weight can be reduced as compared with the method of plastically deforming the protrusion on the outer peripheral edge of the concave portion of the head body, and the weight of the reduced weight can be distributed to an arbitrary position of the head body 10. For example, a head having a low center of gravity can be manufactured by distributing the head to the sole of the head body, and a large sweet zone head can be manufactured by increasing the dimensions of the head body and the face member by the reduced weight.

According to the prototype of the present inventors, when stainless steel is used for the head body 10, titanium alloy is used for the face member 30, and aluminum alloy is used for the connecting member 40, the outside of the recess 15 of the head body 10 is formed. Frame part width is 3m
m or less, or 2 mm or less depending on the club number, and it has been confirmed that the weight of the head body 10 can be reduced by about 5 g. The weight of about 5 g is a value that brings a remarkable result when the center of gravity of the head is moved and the size of the head is increased.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment, and the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same or corresponding parts. In the present example, the recess 15 is not opened on the back side 14 of the head main body 10, and the space between the face member 30 and the back side 14 of the head main body 10 is hollow.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment, and the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same or corresponding parts. In the present embodiment, the face member 30 is received and supported on the entire bottom surface of the recess 15.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a fourth embodiment of the golf club head according to the present invention, which is an example applied to a wood type club head. In the figure, a cylindrical hosel 60 is integrally formed on one side of the head body 50, and a shaft (not shown) is connected to the hosel 60. The head body 50 includes a hitting face 51, a top face 52, a sole 53, and a back side 54.

The striking face 51 of the head body 50
, A recess 55 is formed at the center, the recess 55 has a substantially inverted trapezoidal shape having a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the face member 70, and the recess 55 has a receiving portion for receiving and supporting the face member 70. The opening 56 is open inside the head main body 50 except for 56.

On the other hand, the face member 70 is
The recess 55 of the head body 50 is formed by using a metal material different from
Is manufactured in a shape similar to the front shape of the above and smaller by a predetermined dimension. A concave step portion 71 is continuously formed on the outer peripheral edge of the face member 70 over the entire outer peripheral edge, and a concave portion 57 is continuously formed over the entire side surface of the concave portion 55 of the head main body 50 at the bottom of the side surface. Have been.

The face member 70 is connected to the head body 50.
Is inserted into the recess 55 with a predetermined gap between both side surfaces, and the gap is filled with a connecting member 80 made of a metal material having a specific gravity smaller than that of the head body 50. A part is a side recess 5 of the recess 55 of the head body 50.
The face member 70 is connected to the head main body 50 by fitting into the concave step portion 71 of the face member 7 and the face member 70.

The connecting member 80 can be formed in the same manner as in the case of the iron type club head. That is, in FIG.
As shown in (a), after the face member 70 is fitted into the recess 55 of the head body 50 with a predetermined gap between both sides, the face member 70 has a shape similar to the shape of the gap and the head body 5
A ring-shaped member 81 made of a metal material having a smaller specific gravity than that of the impact member 51 is fitted therein, and the ring-shaped member 81 is press-molded from above with respect to the striking face 51 to be plastically deformed and flow through the gap. Fig. 9
The connecting member 40 is obtained as shown in FIG.

The manufacturing method other than the step of fitting the face member 70 and connecting it to the head main body 50 is the same as that of the conventional wood type club head, and can be easily understood, so that the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, in the above embodiment, the example in which the recess 55 is opened inside the head main body 50 is shown, but the recess 55 having a bottom may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing one example of the manufacturing method of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the golf club head according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view schematically showing one example of the manufacturing method of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 50 Head body 11, 51
Blow face 12, 52 Top face 13, 53
Sole 14, 54 Backside 15, 55
Recess 16, 56 Receiving part 17, 57
Concave parts 20,60 Hosel 30,70
Face member 31, 71 Recessed step (recess) 40, 80
Connecting member 41, 81 Ring-shaped member

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A golf club head in which a face member made of a dissimilar metal material is fitted into a recess formed in a hitting face of a head body, wherein the face member is substantially similar to the front shape of the head body recess. The face member is fitted in the recess with a predetermined gap between the side surfaces thereof, and the gap is filled with a connecting member. A concave portion is formed on the inner side surface, a concave portion is formed on the outer peripheral edge or the outer side surface of the face member, and a part of the connecting member fits into both the concave portion and the concave portion of the face member, and the head main body is formed. And a face member connected to the golf club head. 2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said connecting member is made of a metal material having a specific gravity smaller than that of said head body. 3. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the recess is formed in the head body continuously or intermittently around the entire inner surface of the recess of the head body. 4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the recess is formed in the face member continuously or intermittently around the outer periphery or the outer surface of the face member. 5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the face member and the connecting member are substantially flush with a frame portion outside the recess of the head body. 6. The head body according to claim 1, wherein the recess of the head body is opened to the back side of the head body or the inside of the head body except for a receiving portion for receiving and supporting the face member. Golf club head. 7. When manufacturing a golf club head by fitting a face member made of dissimilar metal material into a recess formed in the hitting face of the head body, a recess is formed in the hitting face of the head body.
Forming a recess on the inner surface of the recess; forming the face member into a shape substantially similar to the front shape of the recess and smaller by a predetermined dimension; and forming a recess on the outer peripheral edge or the outer surface of the face member. Forming the face member in the recess of the head body with a predetermined gap between the side surfaces of the two, and inserting a ring-shaped connecting member having a similar front shape into the gap. Pressing the connecting member from above to fill the gap, and fitting a part of the connecting member into both the recess of the head body and the recess of the face member. Of manufacturing a golf club head. 8. When manufacturing an iron-type club head by fitting a face member made of dissimilar metal material into a recess formed in the hitting face of the head body, the recess of the head body has a front shape of the recess. The face member, which is substantially similar to the above and is smaller by a predetermined dimension, is fitted with a predetermined gap between the two side surfaces, and a ring-shaped connecting member having a similar front shape is inserted into the gap, and the connecting member is inserted. Pressing from above fills the gap, and a part of the connecting member is continuously or intermittently formed on the inner surface of the recess inside the head main body and the outer peripheral edge of the face member or outside. A method of manufacturing a golf club head, characterized in that the golf club head is fitted into a recess formed continuously or intermittently on the entire periphery of the side surface.