US20030171162A1

US20030171162A1 - Three wing reinforced golf club head

Info

Publication number: US20030171162A1
Application number: US10/090,571
Authority: US
Inventors: John Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-05
Filing date: 2002-03-05
Publication date: 2003-09-11

Abstract

A novel golf club head for increasing the driving distance and the accuracy of the flying direction of a golf ball includes a body shell, a faceplate that is held on the body shell for striking the golf ball, and internal elements mounted in the body shell for reinforcing the faceplate. The thickness of the club face is reduced by using titanium as a head material. Connection of the sole and crown of the head with three wings of titanium reinforcements as the inner head structure of this invention reinforces a spring-like property to the face plate allowing the ball to repel off the clubface faster, with a bouncining effect. The loss of power is minimized and remained within the clubface. The speed and flying distance of the golf ball impacted with the head of this invention increased drastically. Accuracy of the flying direction is thus increased.

Description

This invention relates to a golf club for increasing the driving distance and the accuracy of the flying direction of a golf ball.

1. Field of the Invention

A golf club is invented for increasing the driving distance and the accuracy of the flying direction. The titanium clubface and the sole and crown of the head connected with three wings of titanium reinforces a spring-like propertyminimizes the club thickness requirement.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Improving golf head for longer flying distance and accurate impact has been described in many prior arts. U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,814 to Lu illustrates a reinforced head for a golf club including a body shell, a face plate held on the body shell for striking the golf ball and an internal element mounted in the body shell. The reinforcing element 16 is mounted within the body shell behind the faceplate. Use of a titanium alloy is suggested for the reinforcing element 16. The reinforcing element 16 is comprised of sophisticated backing members to the support plate. The faceplate 14 is anchored in position by a mechanical mounting of a sophisticated design. The key concept of Lu's invention is that the faceplate 14 is constructed to withstand the stress of impact with a golf ball while providing for some limited deflection from the static position to the striking position. However, it is clear that energy will be lost when the faceplate 14 hits the support plate 30. Then the bouncing force will be lessened and the flying distance of the golf ball will be decreased. The Lu's invention is so sophisticated and complex that a commercialization is difficult.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,010 to Werner, et al. illustrates a golf club of hollow construction including a shell wall, which is attached to the backside of the faceplates and extends rearward to a mass mounted as part of the head. Their idea of the improvement in strength and rigidity is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. They insist that bending stress is decreased by decreasing the distance of top edge and bottom edge of the faceplate. They installed shell wall 20 inboard from the edge of the strike face at least 0.15 inch or at least about 10% of the height of the strike face. But, no data of increasing flying distance is illustrated.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,058 to Price, et al. illustrates a golf club having a force transfer assembly formed internally in the golf club head whereby the face plate is blended into the handle. They installed force transfer assembly including many members connected in any 3-dimensionally spaced configuration with respect to each other. They insist that their club eliminates the “hot-spots” in the face metal, which results in an inconsistent bending and transmission of energy of the ball. Their golf club strikes the golf ball with “L” type rod though it may significantly increase the efficiency of transmission of energy by direct contact to the rear of the head and the soleplate. Resilient bouncing force is decreased, accordingly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a golf club with increased driving distance and the accuracy of the flying direction of a golf ball. The golf club head of this invention includes a body shell, a faceplate that is held on the body shell for striking the golf ball, and internal reinforcement elements mounted in the body shell for reinforcing the faceplate. More specifically, using titanium as a head material minimizes the thickness of the clubface. The sole and crown of the head are connected with three wings of titanium reinforcement as the inner head structure to reinforce a spring-like property to the face plate allowing the ball to bounce off the clubface faster. The loss of power is minimized and remained within the clubface. The speed and flying distance of the golf ball impacted with the head of this invention increase drastically. Accuracy of the flying direction is also enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an aerial view of crown club head of this invention. [0009]
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the club head of this invention. [0010]
FIG. 3 is a front view of the club head of this invention. [0011]
FIG. 4 is a view of toe of the club head of this invention. [0012]
FIG. 5 is a view of hosel of club head of this invention. [0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, it is easily understood that the club head has hollow structure reinforced with three wings. Nothing is introduced to fill the void in the head. [0014]
FIG. 1 is an aerial view of crown of the club head. When viewed at this position, the wings are approximately 1 mm thick in width. The wings are approximately 2 mm away from the face of the club. The wings are positioned in the center of the toe and the hosel. [0015]
Three wings shown in FIG. 1 as [0016] 11, 12 and 13 are installed inside the head at the locations of 21, 22 and 23, respectively and securely welded at the points of 31, 32, 33 and 34 in FIG. 1 and 35, 36, 37 and 38 in FIG. 2. Two wings of 11 and 12 have projected length of 5.04 cm when look at the front view of FIG. 2. They are positioned side by side in the center of the club as shown in from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 is a toe view of the club head. When viewed at this position the [0017] wings 11 and 12 have an oval-shaped curve. The top of the wings are approximately 1 cm wide and the bottom of the wings approximately 0.5 cm wide. The thickness for the middle of the wings shall vary because of the differentials of thickness for the top and bottom of the beam.
The shape of the wings are curved so that the center of gravity directs towards the back allowing the club head to release the ball in the air in a better angle of trajectory. This allows the ball easy to airbone carry more. Directing the gravity in the back allows a better accuracy as well as an enhanced consistency. [0018]
Without the wings, at impact, 25% of the power is distorted throughout the sole and the crown of the head. By welding these three wings to the sole and the crown of the head as shown above, the velocity is quarantined within the face of the club. [0019]
Once the crown and sole are attached with the beam, the power transfer would be strictly minimized towards the clubface, allowing the ball to increase in both speed and distance, upon impact. This produces a tighter spring impact of the golf ball. [0020]
Measured Coefficient of Restitution (COR), suggested by the staff of USGA (United States Golf Association) in the Spring of 2000 Conforming Ball Booklet, records well over [0021] 0.83. Which means that this golf head bounces the golf ball more than any other previous golf head. Tests done by robotics and average golf players with swing speed between 105 to 110 mile per hour shows the same results of increased “Yardage” of at least 5%.
Therefore the ball speed as well as distance is improved. The best of this invention is using Beta titanium as the raw material of the head and wings and welding them by electricity. [0022]

Claims

What is claimed is;

1. A golf club head for increasing the driving distance and the accuracy of the flying direction of a golf ball including a body shell, a face plate which being held on the body shell for striking the golf ball, and an internal wings mounted in the body shell for reinforcing the face plate.

2. The golf club head, in the claim 1, having coefficient of restitution in the range of 0.8 to 0.9, more preferably, 0.82 to 0.85.

3. The thickness of the wings, in the claim 1, is in the range of 0.1 mm to 10 mm, more preferably, 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

4. The body shell of the club head and the internal wings, in the claim 1, are made with the beta titanium.

5. The body shell of the club head and the internal wings, in the claim 1, are connected in rigid form by electrical welding.