US20070293347A1

US20070293347A1 - Integrated structure of golf club head and striking face

Info

Publication number: US20070293347A1
Application number: US11/455,782
Authority: US
Inventors: Li-Yang Lai; Chien-Chi Lai; Chun-Kuo Liao
Original assignee: Shanghai Precision Technology Corp
Current assignee: Shanghai Precision Technology Corp
Priority date: 2006-06-20
Filing date: 2006-06-20
Publication date: 2007-12-20

Abstract

An integrated structure of golf club head and striking face includes a primary body and a secondary body formed by dividing a belly of a club head between one quarter and one third portion. The primary body has a head body and a striking face. The head body has a first tangent surface on one side with a wedging ridge formed thereon. The secondary body has a second tangent surface on one side engageable with the first tangent surface and a balance weight close to the second tangent surface. The second tangent surface has an annular groove corresponding to the wedging ridge so that the primary body and the secondary body can be welded together. The welding spot is moved outside the striking face. The welding amount is smaller. The gravity center of the club head can be moved rearwards at an optimal position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an integrated structure of golf club head and striking face that has a head body and a striking face formed in an integrated manner through transfer of a coupling surface of the head body to improve accuracy and stability for striking of the golf ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays the working environments of most people are very tense and stressful, leisure and recreational activities become very important for people to release the pressure. Golf tournaments provide a desirable channel for golf fans to enjoy the funs of golf sport.
Compared with other recreational sports, golf is one of the high end sports. It needs an expansive field. Making of golf outfits also requires a high level technology and skillful craftsmanship. Golf club heads in the earlier days were made from wood. These days they are made by precision forging that requires a very sophisticated technique. The condition of the golf club has a great impact on the stability and accuracy during striking of the golf ball. To pursue a higher precision and advanced technology in fabrication of the golf club is a big concern of golf players.
The conventional golf club head has a striking face coupling with a head body by soldering. While such a structure can provide a greater stability, soldering at high temperature often causes material alteration of the striking face. The molecular particles of the striking face are coarser. As a result, the strength and corrosion resistance of the bonding spot of the striking face and the head body are affected. Moreover, the thickness of the striking face and head body is reduced after grinding and polishing processes. This further reduces the strength of the club head and the striking face. Moreover, some head bodies require alteration of balance weight. To do this the striking face and the head body have to be dissembled. This could damage the integrity of the striking face and the head body.
Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 for a conventional golf club head 10. It includes at least a head body 11, a striking face 12 and a balance weight (not shown in the drawings). The striking face 12 and the head body 11 are two different elements. The area of the striking face 12 is limited. The striking face 12 and the head body 11 are coupled by soldering. As a result, the material structure of the striking face 12 alters due to soldering at high temperature and the molecular particles are coarser. This affects the hardness and corrosion resistance of the striking face 12. Grinding and polishing of the striking face 12 and the head body 11 also reduce the thickness and strength of the club head and the striking face 12. The striking stability and accuracy of the golf club head 10 suffer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an integrated structure of golf club head and striking face that has the top and bottom of a head body and a striking face joined in an integrated manner through transfer of a coupling surface of the head body to shift the gravity center of the club head rearwards at an optimal location (at the rear and bottom) to improve accuracy and stability during striking of the golf ball.
To achieve the foregoing object, the invention provides an integrated structure for the golf club head and the striking face. The club head is divided into a primary body and a secondary body between one quarter and one third of the belly portion. The primary body includes a head body and a striking face. The head body has a first tangent surface on one side with a wedging ridge formed thereon. The secondary body has a second tangent surface on one side engageable with the first tangent surface and an annular groove corresponding to the wedging ridge. The wedging ridge and the annular groove can be coupled to allow the primary body and the secondary body to be welded together. The welding spot is transferred to a location outside the striking face and is formed at a smaller quantity. Thus the gravity center is transferred to where is needed.
The integrated structure of the invention has the head body and the striking face formed in an integrated manner by forging or casting. The area of the striking face increases. Such a structure can achieve the following effects:
1. Striking accuracy increases: As the striking face and the club head are formed in an integrated manner, the striking area of the striking face increases and the uniformity of the striking face is enhanced. Stability of club swinging improves.
2. The gravity center can be adjusted on the required location: By integrating the striking face and the club head, the balance weight does not have to be located on the striking face. The balance weight can be mounted onto the club head and a sealing cap can be coupled by bonding. The profile also can be made according to user's preference. Positioning of the balance weight is more versatile and can better meet user's requirement.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional golf club head.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a conventional golf club head.

FIG. 3A is rear exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross section taken on line 3B-3B in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a fragmentary enlarged view of the welding section of the primary and secondary body according to FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the primary and secondary body after coupled by welding.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the integrated structure of golf club head and striking face according to the invention includes a club head 20 which is divided into a primary body 21 and a secondary body 22 between one quarter and one third of the belly portion thereof. The primary body 21 includes a head body 211 and a striking face 212. The head body 211 has a first tangent surface 213 on one side with a wedging ridge 214 formed thereon. The secondary body 22 has a second tangent surface 221 on one side engageable with the first tangent surface 213 and an annular groove 222 formed thereon corresponding to the wedging ridge 214. The wedging ridge 214 and the annular groove 222 can be coupled to allow the primary body 21 and the secondary body 22 to be welded together (referring to FIG. 3C).
The secondary body 22 further has a balance weight 223 close to the second tangent surface 221. The number and location of the balance weight 223 are allocated according to the required location of the gravity center. The balance weight 223 does not have to be located on the striking face 212. In an embodiment shown in the drawings, two sets of the balance weight 223 are provided close to the second tangent surface 221 of the secondary body 22, then the secondary body 22 is coupled with the primary body 21.
Referring to FIGS. 3C and 4, the wedging ridge 214 of the primary body 21 and the annular groove 222 of the secondary body 22 are coupled together by welding. The welding spot of the golf club head 20 is moved outside the striking face. The welding amount is smaller. Thus the gravity center of the golf club head 20 is transferred to an optimal position and can improve the stability and accuracy of the swinging of the golf club.
Referring to FIG. 5, the head body 211 and the striking face 212 are coupled together by forging or casting to become integrated. The striking face 212 and the top and bottom 215 of the head body 211 are formed integrally. The area of the striking face 212 increases.
Refer to FIG. 6 for another embodiment of the invention. In the event that the gravity center of the club head 20 is not stable during swinging of the golf club, it can be remedied by forming an indented surface 216 on an upper portion of the head body 211. An additional balance weight 217 is mounted onto one side of the indented surface 216, and a sealing cap 218 is coupled on the indented surface 216. The upper side of the indented surface 216 is coupled with a sealing cap 218 by bonding (as shown in FIG. 7). Such an approach can increase the balance weight 217 on the club head 20 to shift the location of the gravity center thereof according to user's requirement.

Claims

1. An integrated structure of golf club head and striking face comprising a primary body and a secondary body formed by dividing a golf club head between one quarter and one third of a belly portion thereof, wherein:

the primary body includes a head body and a striking face, the head body having a first tangent surface on one side that has a wedging ridge formed thereon;

the second body includes a second tangent surface engageable with the first tangent surface that has an annular groove corresponding to the wedging ridge and a balance weight close to the second tangent surface, the primary body and the secondary body being coupled together by welding through the wedging ridge and the annular groove.

2. The integrated structure of golf club head and striking face of claim 1, wherein the head body and the striking face are coupled integrally by forging.

3. The integrated structure of golf club head and striking face of claim 1, wherein the head body and the striking face are coupled integrally by casting.

4. The integrated structure of golf club head and striking face of claim 1, wherein the head body has an indented surface and a balance weight located thereon to shift the gravity center of the club head, the indented surface being covered by a sealing cap by bonding.