JPS61164574A - Golf club head - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to golf clubs, and more particularly to improvements in heads having a keel feature on the bottom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In general, when a club-ball impact load is transferred to the metal base plate of the club, the load is typically instantaneously transferred to the adjacent wooden head of the base plate.

If the laminated laminae forming the head run parallel to the bottom plate, the load will be transferred to some of the laminae adjacent to the edges of the bottom plate, creating a tendency for destructive lamella separation. This occurs especially when a relatively immovable object, such as a hidden pebble, is accidentally struck. This problem is discussed in U.S. Patent No. 3.761, 0
The results are even worse for clubs of the type disclosed in No. 95. That is, in this patent, the bottom plate has a downwardly projecting keel, but the keel is more likely to hit objects hidden in the grass or the ground.

Problem to be Solved Attaching the bottom plate to the thin piece with screws as in the conventional example described above does not solve the problem. This is because the ends of the thread grooves may form cracks in or between the laminae, promoting separation of the laminae.

Similarly, direct collision of the front surface of the keel with hard grass or ground during a golf swing results in a slower swing speed and reduced forward driving impact force on the golf ball. This is true not only for woods, but also for golf irons, as well as metal shell woods and iron leads.

The present invention solves the above problems, and includes a front surface, a bottom surface and a top surface, and a keel extending substantially forward at the bottom of the head, the keel extending upward and forward from the bottom of the keel. a forward-most surface sloping toward the keel, the sloping forward-most surface intersecting the front surface in a lateral line arrangement substantially above the keel bottom level, such that the keel sloped surface strikes the ground during a golf swing; It then carries some force upward towards the head.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a golf club head embodying the present invention is shown generally at 10 and is secured to a shaft 11. As shown in FIG.

The shaft 11 has a conventional grip 12 to form an improved golf club 13. The club 13 is held in the hands of the golfer 14, and the head 10 is exactly aligned with the ball 100.
It is shown about to hit.

As best shown in FIG. 2, golf club head 10 includes a hosel 15 for receiving an upwardly extending shaft, a body 16, and a bottom plate 25. As best seen in FIG.

Golf club head 10 is shown as a "wood" shoulder having a wooden body 16 with a front surface 17. The front surface 17 has an inclination with respect to the vertical direction, as shown by the angle α in FIG. 4, as in the conventional example. This front face 17 has a cutout 1 in the center for attaching the trapezoidal panel 35.
It has 8. The main body 16 has a front part 17 similar to the conventional wood.
The rear part thereof is swollen as shown by reference numeral 19. Main body 1
6 further has a bottom surface 20 provided with a cutout 21 for receiving a bottom plate 25. The cutout 21 is shaped to match the shape of the bottom plate 25 to be fitted therein and has a centrally located opposing projection 22 for positioning the bottom plate 25 with respect to the body 16.

The bottom plate 25 is made of cast metal, such as zinc or a zinc-aluminum alloy.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom plate 25 is shaped to fit into a cutout 21 in the bottom surface 20 of the main body 16. The bottom plate 25 has a shallow V-shaped front surface 26.

When the bottom plate 25 is installed in the cutout 21, the front surface 26 is configured as an extension of the front surface 11 of the main body 16 as shown by reference numeral 26a. This extension 26a is located above the intersection line 60 between the extension 26a and the front surface 61 that slopes rearward and downward. The inclined front surface (keel inclined surface) 61 of the front part is relatively medium wide, and the bottom plate 25 extends rearward from the front surface 61, narrows at the body part 21, and becomes wide again at the rear end part 28. The body portion 27 has an opposing main body protrusion 22 located at the center.
The bottom plate 25 is engaged with the main body 16 to position the bottom plate 25 with respect to the main body 16. The bottom plate 25 is attached to the bottom surface 2 of the body 16 with an adhesive such as epoxy to bond the bottom plate 25 and the body 16 together.
It is fixed in the cutout 21 of 0.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom plate 25 has a bottom surface 29.
A keel 30 extends downward from 9 and extends in the longitudinal direction, that is, in the front-back direction. In FIG. 3, the longitudinal keel 30
is the golf club head 10 from the front surface 26 and the inclined surface 61.
It extends rearward and approximately toward the center along a line corresponding to the swing path of the front surface.

A surface that slopes backwards and downwards (or upwards and forwards) (
The keel slope (keel slope) 61 includes a central keel slope 61a whose shape is determined by the extension of the frontmost part of the keel 30, and a side portion (keel auxiliary slope) 61b extending laterally beyond the front surface 61a of the keel 30. I want to be noticed. keel 30
typically contacts the ground before the ball 100 is struck at its lowest end, so that the majority of the bottom surface 29 of the bottom plate 25 and the bottom surface 20 of the body 16 are spaced from the ground. In particular, the "curved" shaped surface 61a of the keel 30 (1) reduces resistance as the head 10 is carried forward, and (2) also directs impact forces upward and aft toward the head lamina 16a. ,
(3) It can also impact the ground at an angle that minimizes the tendency for delamination due to impact. Similarly, the rearwardly and downwardly sloping surface portion 61b enhances these effects.

In a preferred embodiment, the keel 30 has a downwardly facing concave side 31.
(See Figure 2). This concave side portion 31 smoothly connects with the downwardly convex keel 30 and a large portion 29 of the bottom surface of the bottom plate 25, and also connects with the inclined surfaces 61a and 6ib. Most of these 29, keel 30, side 3
1 and the inclined surfaces 61a, 61b create a favorable air flow over the bottom surface 29.30 of the club head 10 when the club 13 is swung through the air. Further, as the head 10 passes through the air, the keel 30 splits the air in front of the club head 10, causing the air to pass through the bottom surfaces 29 and 20.
The concave sides 31 direct the air outward as it passes through.

This air flow pattern allows the head 10 to move closer to the ball 100, whereas a conventional planar-bottomed head would tend to crush the grass as it approaches the ball 100.
(See Figure 1).

The illutsu club head 10 includes a trapezoidal panel 35 and a main body 16.
It is completed by inserting it into the cutout part 18 of the front surface 17 of. Panel 35 is typically formed from a typically rigid plastic material. This hard plastic material allows the ball to be hit repeatedly without the denting or abrasion that would occur if the wooden portion of the body 16 were not provided with such panels 35. A suitable adhesive such as epoxy is applied to the rear wall 3 of the insert (panel 35).
It can be used to adhere the 5a1 sides 35b and bottom 35C to corresponding surfaces of the main body 16 and bottom plate 25.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 16 is typically formed by sequentially depositing substantially horizontal and parallel flakes 16a in a vertical direction;
The lamina 16a is formed from thin wooden boards whose intermediate surfaces are glued together. As an example, from 1γ to 19 per inch (25,4aw+) in the direction of arrow 40 in FIG.
There may be several such flakes 16a. The strength of the club head 10 is increased to the extent that it can withstand the force of collision with the ball 100. However, the relatively thin thickness of the bottom plate 25 in the direction of arrow 40 means that the entire impact force of the club head 10 impacting a concealed rock or other object is often transferred from the bottom plate 25 to the lowermost lamina 16a. Therefore, the lowermost thin piece 16a (i.e., the upper surface 2 of the bottom plate 25
This causes stress concentration to occur in the thin section 16a) below the level 5d.

The base plate 25 is typically provided with or formed with at least one extension, preferably a plurality of extensions or retainers. These are essential to the bottom plate 25 and project upwardly from the bottom plate upper side 25d and extend upwardly into the head 10 from the cutout or recess 21 - or a plurality of corresponding holes 41
a to 44a.

As shown in each figure, a large number of extensions or holders 41 to 4
4 protrudes into the corresponding drilled holes 41a to 44a and is fitted in the air. In this case, the vertical dimension of the holes 41a to 44a is the thin piece 16a through which the studs 41 to 44 are inserted.
The thickness shall be greater than the combined thickness of at least two sheets. For best results, the studs 41-44 should pass through at least about ten lamellas 16a. A sticky adhesive material such as epoxy resin is placed between the studs 41-44 and the inner wall of the name tag 418-44a that receives them @46.
The studs 41 to 44 are firmly adhered to the thin piece 16a. In response to a large impact load, this load is transferred to a large number of lamellas 1 above the recess or cutout 21.
6a. However, such a load is directed upwardly and rearwardly against the lamina 16a by the ramp 618.degree. 61b, forcing the lamella g16a to stick together rather than pulling them apart. This ensures that the load is well distributed and directed to the lamina 16a, so that destructive lamina separation is avoided.

In FIG. 3, the studs 41, 43 are located at the vertical plane 47 which divides the keel 30 into thirds;
2.44 is located on the opposite side of said plane 47.

The plane 47 extends past the top of the keel 30 in the fore-and-aft direction. Also, the studs 43 , 44 are arranged in front of the projection 22 , and the studs 41 , 42 are arranged behind the projection 22 . Such a spaced arrangement allows the head 10 and the bottom plate 25 to
An average relationship related to the load on the club head 1
It will be distributed beyond 0. Pockets 22a on both sides of the bottom plate 25 receive such protrusions 22.

FIG. 6 shows that two additional holes 48, 49 are provided which extend upwardly and forwardly into the body 16. The holes 48, 49 are arranged at an angle with the vertical plane, on opposite sides of the vertical plane 47, and laterally remote from the plane 47. Such holes 48, 49 intersect the bottom surface of the recess or cutout 21 and have a larger diameter than studs of the same diameter, for example about 1/8 inch.

A hidden weight 50.51 is inserted into a recess typically located behind the transverse upright plane 53 (clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) which trisects the projection 22.

Weights 50,51 are typically glued in place to the shingles within their associated holes 48,49. In FIGS. 2 and 3, another additional hole profile 54 for receiving another weight is shown. The circular hole is formed in the cutout 1 above the keel 30.
8 and extends rearward into the main body 16 from the position where it intersects with the main body 16 . A vertical plane 47 bisects the circular hole 54.

FIGS. 7-9 show the bottom plate 25 in its original configuration with ears 56,57. The ears 56 and 57 are attached to the wooden body 1 during assembly.
It is later partially cut away to match the external contour of 6. Plate 58 is also cut away during such assembly. The central groove 59 is formed for the purpose of casting, and casting is performed via the vibro 0 within the groove 59. As shown in the figure, the grooved line 59 crosses the concave upper rTJ6B of the bottom plate 25. Since the bottom plate 25 has a symmetrical structure as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the bottom plate 25 can be used for either a left-handed or a right-handed club head 10.

Since the studs 41 to 44 have smooth surfaces as do the receiving holes 41a to 44a, the formation of cracks within or between the thin pieces 16a that would promote separation of the thin pieces is prevented.

The holes 48 , 49 have a transverse upright plane 5 passing through the projection 22 .
3, but in front of the holes 41a, 42a so as not to collide with the holes 41a, 42a.

It should be noted that the keel auxiliary slope 61b intersects the head front surface 17 at a line 60b, which is an extension of the intersection line 60a between the keel slope 61 and the head front surface 17. The intersection line 60a extends in the lateral direction by at least half of the lateral dimension of the head front surface 17, and
0a is located between about /8 and /4 of the head length, measured from the bottom of the keel 30 upwardly to the extension of the top of the front face 17.

Furthermore, the keel ramp 61 extends at a predetermined angle β between about 40 degrees and 50 degrees with respect to the horizontally placed head bottom surface 20. In addition, the keel inclined surface 61 is designated by the reference numeral 72 in FIG.
It should be noted that this is below the sweet spot, which is schematically indicated by . The preferred hitting point is a ball hitting surface that is preferably centrally located and has a generally circular shape.

The concave opposing side 31 of the 1-rule 30 intersects with the auxiliary inclined surface 61b at the intersection line 73.74. The auxiliary inclined surface 61b is curved laterally and in the front-rear direction, and is inclined toward one side or downward and rearward. Accordingly, the force of collision with the ground is transmitted upward and rearward toward the lamina 16a, and the shear force tends to bring the lamina lea into close contact with each other and prevent lamina separation.

Such a slope also helps the head 10 to be carried forward despite the keel 30 colliding with the grass or ground.

10 and 11 show the application of the "metal wood" head 80 of the present invention. The head 80 has a shell 81 made of a thin metal (for example, steel), and the shell 81 has a hollow portion indicated by the reference numeral 82 and filled with a plastic material or the like. A reinforcing strut 83 also extends into the body from the rear of the anterior wall 84 to the rear MI'', 85 at the corner 86.The keel 130 has the same shape and shape as the keel 30 described above, and has a slanted front surface 161 and a keel 130. Keel auxiliary slope 1
61b is also similar to the above-mentioned inclined surfaces 61 and 61b. Furthermore, the intersection lines 160a and 160b are also the above-mentioned intersection line 60a.

60b.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show the golf iron 2 according to the present invention.
It is shown expanded to 80. golf iron 2
80 has a head 281, and the head 281 is attached to the front surface 21.
7. Keel front wall (keel inclined surface) 2 that slopes downward and rearward from the intersection line 260a between the keel 320 and the front surface 217
61, and a keel auxiliary slope 261b (corresponding to the above-mentioned surface 61b), which is located on a laterally opposite side of the keel slope 261 and forms an extension of the keel slope 261. The intersection line 260a has the same symbol 2 as the extension 60b above.
It has a lateral extension indicated at 60b.

As described in detail, the golf club head with an inclined keel according to the present invention has a front surface, a bottom surface and a top surface, and a keel extending substantially forward at the bottom of the head, and the keel extends upward from the bottom of the keel. and having a forwardly sloping forward-most surface that intersects the front surface in a lateral line arrangement substantially above the keel bottom level so that the keel sloped surface touches the ground during a golf swing. Because it is configured to carry some of the force upward toward the head when hit,
The resistance due to the collision force between the head and the ground is the slope 11it.
The impact force can be reduced by being released by the m-direction, helping the head to move forward and stabilizing the golf swing. The frontmost inclined surface presses the thin pieces to make them stick together, suppressing the tendency of the thin pieces to separate, and providing a stable head structure.

It further includes a supplementary upwardly and forwardly inclined surface lateral to the uppermost extension of the keel ramp, the supplementary ramp being a lateral extension of the intersection of the keel ramp and the front surface. Since the horizontal line intersects with the front surface of the head, the curvature effect of the auxiliary inclined surface reduces the resistance caused by the collision force, helps the head to move forward, and makes it more stable. In addition, the impact force is transmitted upward and rearward toward the lamina, thereby suppressing the tendency of -11 lamina separation.

Further, the portion where the auxiliary inclined surface intersects with the extension of the line of intersection between the keel inclined surface and the front surface of the head is between approximately / and /4 of the helad height measured upward from the bottom of the keel to the uppermost limit of the front surface of the head. Moreover, since the keel slope extends at an angle of between 40 degrees and 50 degrees with respect to the horizontally placed bottom surface of the head, the tendency for flaking can be further suppressed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a golf club head with an inclined keel according to the present invention in use, FIG. 2 is a front view of a wood head which is an embodiment of the golf club head, and FIG. Middle, bottom arrow view along line 3-3, Figure 4 is
In the figure, the vertical arrow view along line 4-4, Figure 5 is in Figure 3,
6 is a bottom view of FIG. 3 with the bottom plate removed; FIG. 7 is a molded state of the bottom plate;
That is, a bottom view showing the state before cutting and removal, FIG. 8 is a front view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7, and FIG.
FIG. 10, a side view taken along line -9, shows another embodiment of the golf club head. 4th metal wood head
11 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to the figure, 11 in FIG. 10.
12 is a longitudinal sectional view of an iron head which is still another embodiment of the golf club head, and FIG. 13 is a partial front view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 12. This is a perspective view. 10... Golf club head 11... Shut 13... Golf club 14... Golfer-16... Main body 16a...
Thin piece 17...Head front 18, 21
...Cutout part 2o...Head bottom surface 22...
・Protruding portion 25...bottom plate 30, 130
, 230...Keel 31...Concave side portions 41-4
4... Thumbnail 50.51... Hidden weight 6
0, 60a, 60b, 160a, 160b,
260a... Intersection line 61, IGl, 261.
...Keel inclined surface 61a...Keel inclined surface central portion 61b, 161b, 261b...Keel auxiliary inclined surface 12...Good hitting point 80...Metal wood head 81...Metal shell 82... Hollow part 83
... Reinforcement strut 211 ... Head front surface 28
0... Golf iron 281... Head (outer 5
given name)

Claims (12)

[Claims] (1) It has a front surface, a bottom surface, a top surface, and a keel extending substantially forward at the bottom of the head, the keel having a frontmost surface that slopes upward and forward from the bottom of the keel, and the inclined frontmost surface The keel intersects the front surface in a lateral line arrangement substantially above the bottom level so that the sloped surface of the keel carries some force upwardly toward the head when striking the ground during a golf swing. A golf club head characterized by: (2) further comprising an auxiliary upwardly and forwardly sloping surface on the side of the uppermost extension of the keel slope, the auxiliary slope lateral to the line of intersection of the keel slope and the front surface; 2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal line, which is a directional extension, intersects the front surface of the head. (3) said line of intersection is about 1/8 to 1/8 of the head height measured upwardly from the bottom of said keel to the topmost extension of said front surface;
3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the golf club head is between 4 and 4. 4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the keel slope extends at an angle between 40 degrees and 50 degrees relative to the horizontally placed bottom surface of the head. 5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the keel is located below a sweet spot delimited by the front surface. (6) The keel has opposite side portions that slope upwardly and laterally behind the forward and upwardly sloped front surface of the keel and that intersect with the front surface. The described golf club head with a slanted keel. (7) The golf club head according to claim 6, wherein the opposing side portion is a concave portion recessed upward. (8) The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the horizontal intersection line is located above and apart from a level of a connection between the opposite side of the keel and the bottom surface of the head. head. (9) The head has a wooden body made of a thin piece and a metal insert provided with the keel, the insert is attached to the body made of a thin piece, and the keel slope is configured to prevent collision loads. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head is angled to transmit upwardly toward the body lamina. (10) The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the body and the keel are defined by a single metal structure. (11) The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the metal structure is hollow. (12) The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the head is a golf iron head.