JP2007117743A - Golf club head with alignment system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved golf club head enabling improvement of techniques and not disturbing a golfer in use. <P>SOLUTION: A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head includes a first body member and a second body member. The first body member includes a strike face and a top portion. The second body member is coupled to the first body member and extends away from the first body member in a direction opposite the strike face. At least a top portion of the second body member is camouflaged. A preferred method of camouflage is color differentiation, wherein the second body member is darker than the first body member. Specific color values and club head geometries are also disclosed and claimed. The club head may include a body member and a weight member such as a bar that extends rearward from the body member. A cover may be included to camouflage the weight member. A separate core member and high visibility sight lines may also be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a golf club head. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf club head having two body members, one of which is camouflaged. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head having two body members of different colors.

  This application is a continuation-in-part of US application Ser. No. 10 / 637,530, filed Aug. 11, 2003, which is now pending, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

  There are many types of putters including blade type, mallet type, heel-to-weight type and T-line type putters. Different types of putters give different benefits. For example, the tolerance and accuracy of the putter can be increased by increasing the moment of inertia (MOI) of the club head and moving the center of gravity away from the hitting surface. Heel-to-weight type putters also increase the MOI and provide tolerance to off-center hits.

  However, some of these putter designs result in a larger putter club head. Although these designs improve putter performance, they are exaggerated in aesthetics. The extended club body can have a negative impact on the user. This is particularly undesirable in golf because golf is a very “mental” sport.

  Therefore, what is needed is an improved golf club head that allows technical improvements but does not distract the golfer in use.

  The golf club head of the present invention solves the above defects. The golf club head of the present invention has a first body member and a second body member. The second body member can be integral with the first body member or can be coupled to the first body member independently of the first body member. The first body member includes a striking surface that can be either integral with the first body member or coupled to the first body member independent of the first body member. The second main body member extends away from the first main body member in a direction opposite to the striking surface. The weight member may be coupled to the second body member, or the second body member may have a greater specific gravity than the first body member. The golf club is preferably a putter.

  The second body member is preferably camouflaged. This may be done by making the top of the second body member a darker color than the top of the first body member. The upper part of the second body member is preferably substantially black, and the upper part of the first body member is preferably substantially gray. This means of differentiating or hiding colors makes the club head appear smaller than it actually is.

The upper portion of the first body member is preferably a first color having an L ^* value of about 35 to about 100. The upper portion of the second body member is preferably a second color having an L ^* value of about 2 to about 35. The first color L ^* value is more preferably about 40 to about 60 and even more preferably about 45. The second color L ^* value is more preferably from about 20 to about 30, and even more preferably about 25. Alternatively, the first L ^* value is 2 times to about 1.4 times the second L ^* value, and more preferably about 1.5 times the second L ^* value.

  The upper portion of the first body member includes a first region, the upper portion of the second body member includes a second region, and the first region and the second region are combined to form the entire upper region of the club head. The first region comprises about 20% to about 80% of the entire upper region, and the second region comprises about 20% to about 80% of the entire upper region. More preferably, the first region comprises about two thirds of the entire upper region and the second region comprises about one third of the entire upper region.

  The first region has a first depth, the second region has a second depth, and the depth is measured from the face to the rear. Preferably, the second depth is about 0.5 to about twice the first depth. More preferably, the second depth is about two thirds of the first depth.

  The golf club head has a width measured in the direction from toe to heel. The first depth is preferably about 0.5 to about 1 times the width, more preferably about 2/3 times the width. The first depth plus the second depth is about 0.5 to 1 times the width, more preferably about 3/4 to about 1 time the width.

  The golf club head has a center of gravity. The center of gravity is preferably located at a distance of about 1 inch to about 5 inches rearward from the striking surface. More preferably, the center of gravity is located at a distance of about 2 inches to about 4 inches rearward from the striking surface. More preferably, the center of gravity is disposed at a distance of about 3.75 inches rearward from the striking surface.

The golf club head has a MOI measured about a substantially vertical axis through the center of gravity when the golf club head is substantially in a horizontal plane. MOI is preferably about 4000 g · cm ² to about 6000 g · cm ^2, more preferably from about 4750g · cm ² to about 5250g · cm ^2.

The golf club head has a MOI measured about an axis that passes through a center of gravity that is substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the striking surface when the golf club head is substantially in a horizontal plane. MOI is preferably about 2500 g · cm ² to about 4500 g · cm ^2, more preferably from about 2800 g · cm ² to about 3500 g · cm ^2.

The golf club head has a MOI measured about an axis passing through a center of gravity that is substantially horizontal and parallel to the striking surface when the golf club head is substantially in a horizontal plane. The MOI is preferably about 2000 g · cm ^{2 to} about 3000 g · cm ² , more preferably about 2300 g · cm ^{2 to} about 2500 g · cm ² .

  The golf club head may include a site line that helps the user line up golf shots. The site line may be on the first body member only, or on both the first body member and the second body member.

  The weight member may be provided in the form of a bar attached to the rear portion of the main body member. In one embodiment, the weight bar includes a slot in which one or more individual weights are adjustably positioned. Using a bar configuration or the like to move the weight member away from the body member further allows the designer to better control when positioning the club head's center of gravity and adjusting the club head's MOI There is an advantage of doing. To further enhance this control, the body member may be provided with a large central cavity in which the low density core is positioned. By removing material from the central part of the body, the mass and weight of the club head is essentially biased towards the heel and toe, which increases the MOI and increases the playability of the club, Be tolerant. The core may also be used to mitigate unwanted vibrations, increasing the feel and playability of the golf club.

  A cover may be included in the club head. The cover may be attached to the weight member / bar, core, body member, or various combinations of these components. The cover provides a convenient means for providing the camouflage described herein.

  The high visibility site line may be included in the club head as a separate element or as part of another component. These site lines use one or more materials that have a physical property that naturally highlights, intensifies, or focuses light on brighter, high visibility points or lines, or so on It has high visibility through being processed. Two site lines may be provided that are parallel to the striking surface and perpendicular to the intended pad direction, which allow the golfer to properly direct and position the golf club in use. In order to increase their usefulness, they may be widely spaced.

  The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a golf club head 1 of the present invention. The illustrated golf club is a putter. The club head 1 includes a first main body member 10 and a second main body member 14. The first main body member 10 has a hitting surface 11 that comes into contact with the golf ball during normal use. The striking surface 11 can be integrated with the first main body member 10. As a modification, the hitting surface 11 may be independent of the first main body member 10 and coupled to the first main body member 10. Preferred bonding means include the use of adhesives, brazing and welding. Other coupling means such as mechanical fasteners may be used. Furthermore, combinations of these coupling modes can be used. The first body member 10 has a bore 12 for connecting the shaft to the first body member 10. The club head 1 has a heel 1 _H , a toe 1 _T , a face 1 _F, and a rear 1 _R.

  The second body member 14 extends away from the rear portion of the first body member 10. The second body member 14 is preferably integrated with the first body member 10. As a modification, the second main body member 14 may be independent of the first main body member 10 and may be coupled to the first main body member 10 by a known method. The 2nd main body member 14 may have the weight member 18 couple | bonded with this. Instead of a separate weight member 18, the second body member 14 may optionally have a greater specific gravity than the first body member 10.

  Inclusion of the second main body member 14 causes the center of gravity of the club head to move rearward away from the hitting surface 11. By moving the center of gravity rearward, a smoother pad stroke is possible, and the user can touch the golf ball more smoothly. This further increases the MOI of the club head, helps keep the club stable during use, and is particularly beneficial during off-center hits.

  However, the extended club body can have a negative impact on the user. This is particularly undesirable in golf because golf is a very “mental” sport. Therefore, it is preferable that the second body member 14 is camouflaged so as not to be noticeable so that it does not distract the golfer during use.

  The preferred method of camouflage is color differentiation. The first body member 10 is the first color, and the second body member 14 is the second color. These colors include the entire outer portion of the body members 10, 14 as shown in FIG. As a variation, these colors may include only the upper portions of the body members 10, 14 as shown in FIG.

  The second color is darker than the first color. Making the second body member 14 darker also allows the second body member 14 to blend into the background (golf green for putters) in addition to directing human attention to the first body member 10 originally. To contribute. The second color is preferably substantially darker than the first color. More preferably, the first color is substantially gray and the second color is substantially black.

A convenient method for classifying colors and representing colors numerically is by the CIE Ch system. The CIE Ch system is a standard color system well known in the field of color and appearance to describe the effective color of an object. The CIE Ch system defines a color by three values L ^* , C ^* , and h ° on a cylindrical polar coordinate system. L ^* determines the lightness, C ^* specifies the saturation, and h ° indicates the hue angle. The CIE Ch value indicates both the magnitude and direction of color sharpness. An L ^* value of 0 is pure black, that is, complete absorption of light of all wavelengths. An L ^* value of 100 is pure white, that is, a complete reflection of light of all wavelengths. Thus, 0 is the minimum L ^* value and 100 is the maximum L ^* value.

L ^* is calculated by the following equation: L ^* = 116 (Y / Yn) 1 / 3-16, where Yn is the reference white value and Y is the measured color value in the CIE Ch coordinate system. is connected with.

The first color preferably has an L ^* value of about 35 to about 100. The second color preferably has an L ^* value of about 2 to about 35. More preferably, the first color have about 40 to about 60 L ^* value, a second color having from about 20 to about 30 L ^* value. More preferably, the first color has an L ^* value of about 45 and the second color has an L ^* value of about 25.

As a variant, the luminance values of the first and second colors can be defined by a percentage difference. The first body member 10 has a first L ^* value and the second body member 14 has a second L ^* value. The first L ^* value is preferably about 1.4 to 2 times the second L ^* value. More preferably, the first L ^* value is about 1.5 times the second L ^* value. As described above, at least the upper parts of the body members 10 and 14 are colored.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first body member 10 has an upper part of the first region A ₁ , and the second body member 14 has an upper part of the second region A ₂ . The first area A ₁ and the second area A ₂ are combined to form the entire upper area of the club head. The proportion of the entire upper area covered by the first area A ₁ and the second area A ₂ determines how the club head 1 will appear to the user in its camouflaged state. Since the purpose is to make the club head 1 look like a conventional club head, the first area A ₁ preferably comprises about 20% to about 80% of the entire upper area, and the second area A 1 ₂ preferably constitutes about 20% to about 80% of the entire upper region. More preferably, the first region A ₁ preferably constitutes about two-thirds of the entire upper region, and the second region A ₂ preferably constitutes about one-third of the entire upper region.

The spatial relationship between the first main body member 10 and the second main body member 14 can alternatively be classified according to the depth of each region A ₁ , A ₂ . The first region A ₁ has a first depth D ₁ , the second region A ₂ has a second depth D ₂ , and the depths D ₁ and D ₂ are measured in the direction from the face to the rear. . Preferably, the second depth D ₂ is about 2 times to about 0.5 of the first depth D _1. More preferably, the second depth D ₂ is about two thirds of the first depth D ₁ .

The spatial relationship between the first body member 10 and the second body member 14 can alternatively be classified by depths D ₁ and D _{2 with} respect to the width of the club head 1. The club head 1 has a width W measured from the toe to the heel. The first depth D ₁ is preferably about 0.5 to about 1 times the width W, more preferably about 2/3 times the width W. The first depth D ₁ plus the second depth D ₂ is about 0.5 to 1 times the width W, more preferably about 3/4 to about 1 time the width W.

The first region A ₁ can be divided into a toe region A _T having a toe depth D _T and a crown region A _C having a crown depth D _C. The toe region A _T and the crown region A _C are combined to form the first region A ₁ , and the toe depth D _T and the crown depth D _C are combined to form the first depth D ₁ . The toe region _AT preferably comprises about 10% to about 50% of the entire upper region.

  When a club such as a putter hits the ball off-center, the club tends to rotate about a substantially vertical axis that passes through the center of gravity of the club head. This club rotation will remove the shot or putt from the intended course, either by push / pull (straight ball path), slice / hook (curved ball path) or a combination thereof. Moving the center of gravity further back in the club head creates a greater resistance to this rotation.

  Increasing the club head MOI also creates greater resistance to this rotation. Inertia is the property of things that an object remains stationary or is in constant velocity unless some external force is applied. MOI is the magnitude of an object's resistance to angular acceleration about a certain axis and is equal to the sum of the product of each mass element of the object and the square of the element's distance from the axis. Therefore, the MOI increases as the distance from the axis increases.

By including the second body member 14, the center of gravity CG of the club head 1 is moved away from the face 1 _F towards the rear 1 _R. This is enhanced by including the weight member 18 and / or increasing the specific gravity of the second body member 14. Thus, the second body member 14 increases resistance to club head rotation and produces a more accurate off-center shot.

  The center of gravity CG is preferably disposed at a distance of about 1 inch to about 5 inches rearward from the striking surface 11. More preferably, the center of gravity CG is disposed at a distance of about 2 inches to about 4 inches rearward from the hitting surface 11. More preferably, the center of gravity CG is disposed at a distance of about 3.75 inches rearward from the striking surface 11.

Club head 1 has a MOI measured about a substantially vertical axis through the center of gravity when the golf club head is substantially in a horizontal plane. MOI is preferably about 4000 g · cm ² to about 6000 g · cm ^2, more preferably from about 4750g · cm ² to about 5250g · cm ^2.

By including the second body member 14, the MOI around the other axis also increases. These increased MOIs increase the stability of the club head 1. The club head 1 has a MOI measured about an axis passing through a center of gravity CG substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the striking surface when the golf club head is substantially in a horizontal plane. The MOI is preferably about 2000 g · cm ^{2 to} about 3000 g · cm ² , more preferably about 2300 g · cm ^{2 to} about 2500 g · cm ² . The club head 1 has a MOI measured about an axis passing through a center of gravity CG substantially horizontal and parallel to the striking surface when the golf club head is substantially in a horizontal plane. MOI is preferably about 2500 g · cm ² to about 4500 g · cm ^2, more preferably from about 2800 g · cm ² to about 3500 g · cm ^2.

  The club head 1 may include a site line 20 as shown in FIG. The site line 20 helps the user to straighten the golf shot. Since the site line 20 is substantially perpendicular to the striking surface 11, it shows a preferred angle for hitting a golf ball. The site line 20 preferably passes through the center of gravity CG of the club head so that a true putt is provided by hitting the ball at the portion of the striking face 11 opposite the site line 20. The site line 20 may be only on the first main body member 10, or may be on both the first main body member 10 and the second main body member 14.

As shown in FIG. 5, the weight member 18 of the club head 1 may be provided in a form in which a bar 21 is attached to the main body member 10 and extends rearwardly away from the main body member 10. The bar 21 facilitates moving the CG toward the rear 1 _R of the club head 1 and increases the playability of the club. It is preferable that the body member 10 and the weight member 21 cooperate to form the hole 25, so that the club designer can maintain the weight of the club head 1 while maintaining the weight of the club head 1. Mass and weight can be beneficially redistributed. For example, the hole 25 and the weight member 21 allow the club designer to optimize the CG position and MOI of the club head 1 without increasing the weight so that the club head 1 becomes too heavy. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the hole 25 extends from the toe end of the rear portion of the body member 10 to the heel end. As a modification, the central portion of the weight member 21 may extend toward the main body member 10 and abut against the main body member 10 to divide the hole 25 into two holes 25.

  A cover member 22 may be included in the club head 1. The cover member 22 is attached to the upper portion of the weight member 21 so that the weight member 21 is covered and hidden from the golfer's view during normal use. The cover member includes an upper portion that can be colored to give the aforementioned beneficial camouflage and make the club head look smaller than it actually is. The cover member 22 preferably covers most of the upper portion of the weight member 21.

The weight member 21 is preferably made of a high density material. For example, a material having a density of 6 g / cm ³ or more. The body member 10 preferably has a low density of 4 g / cm ³ or less. The density of these constituent materials may be expressed relatively. In such a case, the density of the weight member 21 is preferably at least twice the density of the main body member 10.

The weight member 21 may optionally be provided as a bar having a slot in which the weight is positioned. In this design, the bar need not be formed from a high density material, but is preferably formed from a low density material such as plastic. This configuration has the advantage that the club designer has greater flexibility in designing the club, positioning the CG, and setting the MO. The weight can be adjusted to various positions within the slot to provide a customized setup for a particular swing type or to correct a failure. For example, when the golfer always hits the ball at the off-center position of the hitting surface 11 such as near the toe 1 _T , the weight is placed in the slot so that the CG of the club head is directly behind the off-center hit position. Can be adjusted. By using weights, the bar 21 can be made of a low density material such as plastic or composite.

  The weight is preferably permanently housed in the slot. This can be achieved, for example, by providing a T-shaped slot in the bar 21 and taking a weight therein. When the weight is positioned at a desired position, the weight is locked at that position. The weight is then permanently positioned so that its position does not change. As a variant, the weights may be removably attached in place so that the position can be adjusted later. The weight can actually be locked in place by any means, and preferred means include mechanical fasteners, welds, adhesives, and the like. In order to fix the weight in place, a number of locking means may be used in combination.

  FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the club head 1 with the slotted weight bar 21. The bar 21 comprises one or more slots 26 into which one or more weights 27 are placed. In the illustrated embodiment, two separate slots 26 are shown, but one continuous slot 26 can also be used. Similarly, although two weights 27 are shown, in practice any number of weights can be used. Multiple weights 27 can be placed in a single slot 26. FIG. 8A shows in detail, in cross-section, how the weight member 27 is attached to and retained by the bar 21. The slot 26 has a T-shape in which a corresponding T-shaped portion of the weight member 27 is disposed. This can be accomplished in various ways. For example, if the slot 26 extends the entire length of the bar 21, the weight 27 can be slid to the end of the bar 21 prior to coupling the bar 21 to the remainder of the club head 1. As a variant, the T-shaped extension of the weight member 27 can be slid into the slot 26 at any position and then rotated in the slot (eg 90 °) and held there, The T-shaped extension of the weight member 27 can be sized. When the weight 27 is placed in the slot 26 and positioned at the desired position, a set screw 29 is attached to engage the bar 21 and locks the weight 27 in place. The set screw 29 is preferably provided with a unique tool engaging surface so that it cannot be easily adjusted. This attachment method is just one example of the many ways in which the weight 27 can be positioned.

The core 28 may be included in the club head 1. FIG. 7 shows a partially assembled club head 1 that includes a core 28. The core 28 is shaped to be received and held by the body member 10. The core 28 may be formed of a low density material, such as 2 g / cm ³ or less, to further enhance the aforementioned CG and MOI advantages. The core 28 preferably has about 50 Shore D hardness. Alternatively, the hardness of the core 28 may be less than about 60 Shore D, less than about 50 Shore D, or from about 30 Shore D to about 45 Shore D. The body 10 and core 28 can be shaped and weighted to provide the desired MOI and acoustic properties in use. Preferred MOI ranges are about 4000 g · cm ² to about 10,000 g · cm ² , about 5000 g · cm ² to about 7000 g · cm ² , and about 5500 g · cm ² to about 6500 g · cm ² .

  One or more site lines may be provided on the club head to help the golfer properly align the club in use. The site line is preferably a high visibility sight line, which means that the site line naturally enhances, enhances or focuses light. Means that one or more materials with physical properties are used or machined as such, resulting in brighter, higher visibility points or lines.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the club head 1 is provided with a site line incorporating a luminescent pigment, which is preferably a fluorescent pigment. The fluorescent site line is “stored” by ambient light and re-emits this absorbed energy, causing the site line to shine or shine.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the club head 1 is provided with a site line incorporating a natural luminescent material such as tritium. The result is the same as that of the aforementioned fluorescent site line.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the club head 1 is provided with a site line incorporating an optical fiber. Ambient light is captured and passed through the channel through the use of optical fibers. This captured light is directed to the site line where it is preferably emitted upwards towards the golfer. The optical fiber can be provided in the form of a continuous light emission line or in the form of an inconspicuous light emission site along the site line. The club head may be provided with one or more windows for capturing additional ambient light that is poured into the fiber optic site line. These windows can be provided in many forms, such as a horizontal or nearly horizontal surface of the club head. This ambient light is then passed through the channel of the site line, possibly through the inner part of the club head 1.

  In all of these listed exemplary embodiments, the site line is immediately distinguished from the rest of the club head 1. In order to further enhance this effect, the upper surface of the entire club head may be darkened. This can be achieved by providing a cover member 22 that covers the main body 10 and the weight member 18. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 showing the site line 30 with the club head 1. The site line 30 is preferably located at the top of the club head 1 and is substantially aligned with the intended direction of the pad. Accordingly, the site line 30 is substantially perpendicular to the striking surface 11, which means here that it is substantially perpendicular to the striking surface having a 0 ° loft angle. Providing a vertical site line increases the ability of the golfer to properly align the club head. A second site line 32 may be provided. The site line 32 is preferably substantially perpendicular to the site line 30 and substantially parallel to the hitting surface 11. A third site line 34 may be provided. The site line 34 is preferably parallel to the second site line 32. Site lines 30, 32, 34 are designated as first, second and third for distinction only, and each site line can be used independently or in combination with any other site line. When site lines 34, 34 are used in combination, they are preferably separated by an effective distance. One site line 32 may be positioned near the front of the club head 1 and the other site line 34 may be positioned near the rear of the club head 1. By being widely spaced, the parallel lines allow the golfer to easily determine whether the club head 1 is properly aligned. These site lines 32, 34 are preferably separated by a minimum distance of 2 inches or more, and the foremost site line 32 is adjacent to the striking surface 11 and from the front leading edge of the club head 1. A maximum of 0.75 inches is preferred. More preferably, the site lines 32, 34 are separated by 2.5 inches or more.

  FIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the club head 1 includes a single high visibility site line 30 positioned substantially perpendicular to the striking surface 11. The first body member 10 is provided with a slot, and the site line 30 is positioned and held in the slot by a known method. The site line 30 extends from the first body member 10 to the weight bar 21 adjacent to the upper line, and in the illustrated embodiment, the weight bar 21 is also provided with a slot in which the site line 30 is positioned and held. It is done. A hole 25 is provided and the site line 30 extends into the weight bar 21 across the hole 25. The site line 30 includes a body 30a formed from a material impregnated with a luminescent pigment such as a fluorescent pigment. Secondary bodies 30b in the form of optical fibers and / or natural luminescent materials are arranged at regular intervals along the length of the body 30a. In order to further increase the visibility of the site line 30, the upper surface of the club head 1 of the illustrated embodiment is darkened. At least the upper part of the first main body member 10 is darkened so as to be darker than the upper line and less noticeable than the upper line. At least the upper portion of the weight bar 21 is darkened so as to be darker than the first body member 10 and less noticeable than the first body member 10. Alternatively, the same darkness level can be given to the first body member 10 and the weight bar 21.

  FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view through the preferred site lines 30, 32, 34 of the present invention. This embodiment of the site line may be used in any of the positions described above, alone or in combination with other embodiments of the site line. Similar to the aforementioned site lines, the site lines in FIG. 10 are arranged at regular intervals along the length of the main body 30a formed from a material impregnated with a luminescent pigment such as a fluorescent pigment, and the length of the main body 30a. And a secondary body 30b in the form of an optical fiber and / or a natural luminescent material. In this embodiment, the secondary body 30b is provided in the form of a loop or u-bend, and both ends of the secondary body 30b are at or near the top surface of the body 30a. Accordingly, both ends of the secondary main body 30b appear as aiming lines. This design also maximizes the brightness of the site lines 30, 32, 34 as light is emitted through the ends of the secondary body 30b. The main body 30a may include a dark upper surface that further enhances the contrast of the secondary main body 30b. The body 30a is translucent so that ambient light passes through it into the secondary body 30b, propagates through the secondary body 30b, and is emitted through the end of the secondary body. Is preferred. Instead of having both ends of the secondary body 30b at or near the top surface of the club head 1, one of the ends of the secondary body may be positioned at other beneficial positions of the club head 1. For example, one of the ends of one or more secondary bodies 30b may be positioned at or near the hitting surface 11 to provide additional alignment assistance to the golfer. Additional secondary body 30 b may be positioned in other areas of club head 1, such as on weight member 18 including bar 21.

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of the golf club head of the present invention. In this embodiment, three substantially parallel site lines 41, 42, 43 are provided. The site line can be provided in any of the forms described herein. These site lines 41, 42, 43 are aligned in the intended direction of the putt. The outer site lines 41, 43 are preferably spaced so that they are aligned with the outer edge of the golf ball to be hit. That is, the distance D ₃ is preferably equal to the diameter of a golf ball. In most of the golf ball, the distance D ₃ is 1.68 inches. Preferred length range of the distance D ₃ is up to 2 inches 1.5 inches. The central site line 42 is optional and may not exist. If present, the central site line 42 may be given a different color from the outer site lines 41, 43. As an example, the outer site lines 41 and 43 can be given a green color, and the central site line 42 can be given a red color.

The club head 1 of the present invention, including the embodiments specifically addressed above, may be manufactured in any suitable manner, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. One such manufacturing method is to form the body 10 from a metallic material, with aluminum being the preferred material. Forging is a preferred manufacturing method for forming the body 10, but other methods such as die casting or machining may be used. If necessary, the secondary structure can be formed by stamping or machining. An exemplary secondary structure is a groove or hole for mounting other club head components. The body 10 may include a face 11, or the face 11 may alternatively be provided separately (eg, as an insert) and coupled to the body 10. The bore 12 can be created, such as by boring or drilling such that a shaft (not shown) is attached to the club head. Alternatively, the shaft can be coupled to the club head 1 via an extension 15 that can be provided on the body 10. The shaft, any desired can be attached to the body 10 at a position, preferably the position, near the heel side and / or the striking surface 1 _F near the top line 13 of the striking surface 1 _F of the upper line 13 There is a center. The face 11, the sole, and the shaft mounting portion are preferably all included in the main body 10. Keeping both of these elements of the club head 1 together in one component allows for an effective means of keeping the club properly “settled”, which helps to ensure beneficial results in use. Become. The shaft is coupled to the club head 1 by a known method capable of suppressing rotation with respect to the club head 1. If the shaft is positioned to block or obscure all or part of one or more site lines 30, 32, 24 from the golfer's field of view, near the attachment with the club head 1 The lower portion of the shaft may be transparent so that the golfer can see the site lines 30, 32, 34 through the shaft.

The core 28 is preferably formed from a polymer, copolymer, silicone, butite, thermosetting, thermoplastic, rubbery material such as urethane, rubber or elastomer, nylon or the like. It is preferably lightweight with a density of 2 g / cm ³ or less. The lightweight nature of the core 28 allows the club designer to use the mass and weight moved to a more useful location. Transparent or translucent materials may be used so that ambient light is transmitted. Injection molding is a preferred manufacturing technique for forming the core 28. In addition to being lightweight, the material of the core 28 (such as the specific exemplary materials listed above) can also be selected and machined to provide vibration damping to the club head 1; Beneficially enhance club feel and playability. The core 28 is preferably configured to bondably engage a corresponding cavity in the body member 10. The face insert (described above) may be included as part of the core 28, either as one integral part or as a separate component coupled to the core 28.

The weight member / bar 21 is preferably formed from a high density metal material and has a density of 6 g / cm ³ or more. Instead of a metal material, plastic or urethane with a load applied may be used. Among the preferred manufacturing methods for forming the weight member 21 are forging, casting and machining. The weight member 21 is preferably configured to bondably engage the body member 10 along its periphery. The end of the weight member 21 may be positioned in a corresponding cavity configured to jointly receive the end of the weight member, and the cavity is positioned along the periphery of the body member 10.

Preferred materials for forming the cover member 22 include lightweight plastics, polymers, metals and composites. The cover member 22 preferably has a density of ³ g / cm ³ or less. The cover member 22 is configured to be attached to the weight member 21, the main body member 10, the core 28, or a combination of these elements. Decorative markings may be provided on the cover member 22. Grooves configured to bondably engage the site lines 30, 32, 34 may be included in the cover member 22. Site lines may be provided on the cover member 22 if separate site line components are not used.

  Optionally, one or more site lines 30, 32, 34 may be provided as separate elements. The site lines 30, 32, and 34 are preferably formed from a highly fluorescent plastic, an optical fiber material, a tritium material, or the like. A preferred manufacturing method is injection molding.

  The components of the club head 1 can be assembled in a variety of ways, and a preferred method includes coupling the weight member 18 (or weight bar 21) to the body member 10 by use of a mechanical fastener. The core 28 is preferably bonded to the body 10 by the use of an adhesive, glue, epoxy or the like. The body 10 may include a cavity shaped to accept the core 28 jointly. Other attachment means such as co-molding or mechanical fasteners may be used. The site lines 30, 32, 34 may be press fitted to the underside of the cover member 22 so as to extend therethrough. Alternatively, the site lines 30, 32, and 34 are press-fitted in grooves provided on the surface of the cover member 22. The cover is secured to one or more other components, preferably by bonding.

  While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes can be made in the form and details of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the present invention has been described above with respect to putters, the present invention may also be used with other golf clubs such as irons, hybrid or utility clubs, wood and metalwood. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

1 is a plan view of a golf club head of the present invention. 4 is another plan view of the golf club head of the present invention. FIG. It is a bottom view of the golf club head of the present invention. It is a top view of another golf club head of the present invention. 1 is a plan view of a golf club head of the present invention. 1 is a plan view of a golf club head of the present invention. 1 is a plan view of a partially assembled club head of the present invention. FIG. It is a bottom view of the golf club head of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a weight member mounting mechanism for use with the golf club head of FIG. 1 is a plan view of a golf club head of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which passes along the preferable site line of this invention. 1 is a plan view of a golf club head of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 club head 10 first body member 11 striking surface 14 second body member 1 _H heel 1 _T toe 1 _T
1 _F face 1 _R rear

Claims (20)

A golf club head,
A body member having a striking surface;
A weight member coupled to the body member and extending rearward of the body member;
A cover member coupled to the weight member;
A first high visibility site line positioned on top of the club head;
Golf club head. A second high visibility site line at the top of the club head;
The first site line is positioned substantially parallel to the striking surface;
The second site line is positioned substantially perpendicular to the first site line;
The golf club head according to claim 1. A third high visibility site line at the top of the club head;
The third site line is positioned substantially parallel to the first site line;
The site line is positioned such that the second site line is intermediate the first site line and the third site line;
The golf club head according to claim 2.   The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the first site line and the third site line are separated by a distance of at least 2 inches. A second high visibility site line on top of the club head;
The second site line is substantially parallel to the first site line;
The golf club head according to claim 1.   The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the upper portion includes a leading edge adjacent to the striking surface, and the first site line is spaced from the leading edge by a maximum of 0.75 inches.   The golf club head of claim 1, comprising a channel for directing ambient light to the site line.   The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the channel directs the ambient light to an inner portion of the club head. The body member comprises an upper portion of a first color;
The cover member comprises an upper portion of a second color;
The second color is substantially darker than the first color;
The golf club head according to claim 1. The first color has an L ^* value from about 35 to about 100;
The second color has an L ^* value from about 2 to about 35;
The golf club head according to claim 9.   The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the cover is designed to conceal at least a portion of the club head. The club head has a center of gravity and a moment of inertia measured about a substantially vertical axis through the center of gravity when the golf club head is substantially in a horizontal plane, wherein the moment of inertia is about 4000 g. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head is from cm ² to about 10,000 g · cm ² . The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the moment of inertia is about 5500 g · cm ² to about 6500 g · cm ² .   The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the center of gravity is disposed at a distance of about 1 inch to about 5 inches from the striking surface. A golf club head,
A main body comprising a striking surface and an upper surface;
A high-visibility site line positioned on the upper surface, the high-visibility site line comprising a main body member and a plurality of secondary main bodies in the main body member, the secondary main body, Comprising at least one end visible from an upper surface of the body member;
Golf club head.   The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the high visibility site line is flush with the top surface and extends downward from the top surface.   The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the secondary body comprises an optical fiber material. A weight member coupled to the body member and extending rearward of the body member;
A cover member coupled to the weight member;
The golf club head according to claim 15. A golf club head,
A main body comprising a striking surface and an upper surface;
A first site line positioned on the top surface and substantially perpendicular to the striking surface;
A second site line positioned on the top surface substantially parallel to the first high visibility site line;
The first site line and the second site line are separated by a distance of 1.5 inches to 2 inches;
Golf club head.   20. A third site line intermediate the first site line and the second site line, wherein the first, second, and third site lines are high visibility site lines. The golf club head described in 1.