US20090105007A1

US20090105007A1 - Golf club head

Info

Publication number: US20090105007A1
Application number: US11/876,665
Authority: US
Inventors: Chon-Chen Lin; Shun-Fu HU; Yen-Chi Hsu
Original assignee: O-TA PRECISION INDUSTRY Co Ltd
Current assignee: O-TA PRECISION INDUSTRY Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-22
Filing date: 2007-10-22
Publication date: 2009-04-23

Abstract

A golf club head includes a hollow head body, a striking plate, and a shock absorber. The hollow head body has a front opening. The striking plate covers the front opening, and has a front face, a rear face, and a sweet spot. The shock absorber is connected to the rear face of the striking plate, corresponds in position to the sweet spot, and has a size smaller than that of the front opening and substantially equal to an area of the sweet spot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a golf club head, more particularly to a golf club head with a lightweight property, superior weight distribution, and improved striking stability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional golf club head 1 includes a striking portion 11 made of a metal having a high coefficient of restitution, and a shock-absorbing layer 12 connected to a rear face of the striking portion 11 and having a size substantially equal to that of the striking portion 11 so as to raise the rebound and shock-absorbing capabilities of the golf club head. However, since the size of the shock-absorbing layer 12 is substantially equal to that of the striking portion 11, the overall weight of the golf club head 1 is relatively heavy, which in turn increases the striking load of the player and reduces the striking controllability. Moreover, since the striking portion 11 is provided with the shock-absorbing layer 12 having the size substantially equal to that of the striking portion 11, the center of gravity of the golf club head 1 is located at a distance relatively proximate to the striking portion 11, which in turn reduces the striking stability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head which possesses a lightweight property, superior weight distribution, and improved striking stability.
Accordingly, the golf club head of this invention includes a hollow head body, a striking plate, and a shock absorber. The hollow head body has a front opening. The striking plate covers the front opening, and has a front face, a rear face, and a sweet spot. The shock absorber is connected to the rear face of the striking plate, corresponds in position to the sweet spot, and has a size smaller than that of the front opening and substantially equal to an area of the sweet spot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional golf club head;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention is shown to include a hollow head body 2, a striking plate 31, and a shock absorber 32.
The hollow head body 2 has a front opening 21.
The striking plate 31 covers the front opening 21, and has a front face 311, a rear face 312, and a sweet spot 310. In the preferred embodiment, the striking plate 31 is made of a titanium alloy.
The shock absorber 32 is connected to the rear face 312 of the striking plate 31, corresponds in position to the sweet spot 310, and has a size smaller than that of the front opening 21 and substantially equal to an area of the sweet spot 310. The shockabsorber 32 includes a rim member 321 attached to the rear face 312 of the striking plate 31 and defining a receiving space 320, and a shock absorbing element 322 fitted into the receiving space 320. In the preferred embodiment, the rim member 321 is made of a carbon-fiber material, and the shock absorbing element 322 is made of a resilient material. Examples of the resilient material suitable for the present invention are rubber, silica gel, thermoplastic polyurethane, soft metal (for example, aluminum, magnesium, copper, zinc, tin, or an alloy thereof), and the like. In the preferred embodiment, the shock absorber 32 including the rim member 321 and the shock absorbing element 322 is glued to the rear face 312 of the striking plate 31. The rim member 321 is formed in an annular shape. It should be noted that the rim member 321 can be formed in other suitable shapes.
In use, a superior rebound capability can be provided with the striking plate 31 made of the titanium alloy. Furthermore, shock forces produced on the striking plate 31 can be transmitted effectively to the shock absorbing element 322 so as to raise the striking stability and the striking controllability. Additionally, since the rim member 321 is formed in an annular shape, the overall weight of the golf club head of the present invention is reduced, as compared to the prior art. Therefore, the problem regarding the location of the center of gravity of the golf club head as encountered in the prior art can be solved.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a hollow head body having a front opening;

a striking plate covering said front opening, and having a front face, a rear face, and a sweet spot; and

a shock absorber connected to said rear face of said striking plate, corresponding in position to said sweet spot, and having a size smaller than that of said front opening and substantially equal to an area of said sweet spot.

2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shock absorber includes a rim member attached to said rear face of said striking plate and defining a receiving space, and a shock absorbing element fitted into said receiving space.

3. The gold club head as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rim member is made of a carbon-fiber material.

4. The golf club head as claimed in claim 2, wherein said shock absorbing element is made of a resilient material.

5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 4, wherein said resilient material is selected from the group consisting of rubber, silica gel, thermoplastic polyurethane, and soft metal.

6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shock absorber is glued to said striking plate.