GOLF CLUB HEAD

Abstract

A golf club head includes a club head body with an opening at one side thereof, a face panel fixedly covered on the opening of the club head body and defining a ball hitting surface and an opposite back surface, a support plate fixed on the back surface of the face panel, and an elastic material sandwiched between the face panel and the support plate and having a density less than the density of the face panel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to golf club technology, and more particularly, to a golf club head, which has an elastic material disposed on the back surface of the face panel to change the ball striking effect of the face panel.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] In order to make the golf club head have different ball striking effect, different materials are generally used to make the face panel. The physical properties of various materials are used to enhance the stability of the swing and can assist the user to effectively hit the ball to increase the flight distance of the ball.

[0003] However, the ball hitting surfaces of conventional golf club heads are mostly made of a single material such as titanium alloy. Although some products will add reinforcing structures such as grooves or ribs on the back surface of the face panel, but the face panel is simply formed of one single material. There is need for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a golf club head that can be made into the face panel using different interlayer materials according to actual needs, thereby generating different ball striking effects.

[0005] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a golf club head comprises a club head body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel, a neck provided at the heel and an opening defined in one side thereof, a face panel fixedly covered on the opening of the club head body and comprising a ball hitting surface for hitting the ball, a back surface opposite to the ball hitting surface and a recessed chamber located on the back surface, an elastic material filled in the recessed chamber, and a support plate fixed on the back surface of the face panel for enabling the elastic material to be sandwiched between the support plate and the face panel.

[0006] As can be seen from the above, the golf club head of the present invention can make the golf club head provide a different hitting effect according to the elastic material used between the face panel and the support plate.

[0007] Preferably, the area set by the elastic material can be set to one or divided into two or plural.

[0008] Preferably, the density of the elastic material is less than the density of the face panel, most preferably, less than or equal to 2.7 g/cm.sup.3.

[0009] Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of a golf club head in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the golf club head in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a front view of the face panel of the first embodiment of the present invention and shows the position of the interlayer material on the back surface of the face panel and its relative relationship with the face panel.

[0014] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, which is a front view of the face panel of the second embodiment of the present invention and shows the position of the interlayer material on the back surface of the face panel and its relative relationship with the face panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a golf club head in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The golf club head comprises a club head body 10, a face panel 20, an elastic material 30, and a support plate 40.

[0016] The club head body 10 comprises a crown 11, a sole 12, a heel 13, a neck 14 provided at the heel 13 for connection of a club shaft, and an opening 15 defined in one side thereof.

[0017] The form of the face panel 20 is not limited to an insert face or a cup face. The face panel 20 is fixedly covered on the opening 15 of the club head body 10. The face panel 20 has a ball hitting surface 21 for hitting the ball, and a back surface 22 opposite to the ball hitting surface 21. The back surface 22 is recessed in the direction of the ball hitting surface 21 to form a recessed chamber 23 that is filled with the elastic material 30. The elastic material 30 may be polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic rubber material (TPR), thermoplastic starch (TPS), resin or silicone rubber. The density of the elastic material 30 must be less than the density of the face panel 20 and preferably less than or equal to 2.7 g/cm.sup.3.

[0018] The support plate 40 is fixed on the back surface 22 of the face panel 20, and the elastic material 30 is sandwiched between the support plate 40 and the face panel 20. The support plate 40 is provided with a recess 41 on one side thereof that is attached to the back surface 22 of the face panel 20. The recess 41 has a shape and a position corresponding to the recessed chamber 23 so that the elastic material 30 can be accommodated in the recessed chamber 23 and the recess 41. The support plate 40 is made of the same material as the face panel 20 to facilitate the fixation of the support plate 40 and the face panel 20. The support plate 40 and the face panel 20 can be fixed by bonding or welding.

[0019] As can be seen from the above, the golf club head of the present invention sets the elastic material 30 on the back surface 22 of the face panel 20 to change the structural strength of the face panel 20. By changing the density of the elastic material 30, the face panel 20 can have different elastic structural strengths, so that the face panel 20 can be different from the face panel made of a single material and can provide different impact elasticity.

[0020] The position of the elastic material 30 is preferably corresponding to the sweet spot of the ball hitting surface 21 of the face panel 20. If the area of the elastic material 30 is too large, the elasticity of the ball will be weakened. If the area of the elastic material 30 is too small, it will be difficult to exert good elasticity. Therefore, the width L2 of the elastic material 30 is preferably greater than or equal to 1/3 of the width L1 of the face panel 20 and the height 112 of the elastic material 30 is preferably greater than or equal to 1/2 of the height H1 of face panel 20, as shown in FIG. 4. Within the range constructed, the elastic material 30 exerts its structural properties.

[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a golf club head in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. According to this second embodiment, the gold club head comprises a club head body 10, a face panel 20, an elastic material 30, and a support plate 40.

[0022] The club head body 10 comprises a crown 11, a sole 12, a heel 13, a neck 14 provided at the heel 13 for connection of a club shaft, and an opening 15 defined in one side thereof.

[0023] The face panel 20 is fixedly covered on the opening 15 of the club head body 10. The face panel 20 has a ball hitting surface 21 for hitting the ball, and a back surface 22 opposite to the ball hitting surface 21. The back surface 22 is recessed in the direction of the ball hitting surface 21 to form two recessed chambers 23 that is filled with the elastic material 30. The elastic material 30 may be polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic rubber material (TPR), thermoplastic starch (TPS), resin or silicone rubber. The density of the elastic material 30 must be less than the density of the face panel 20 and preferably less than or equal to 2.7 g/cm.sup.3.

[0024] The support plate 40 is fixed on the back surface 22 of the face panel 20, and the elastic material 30 is sandwiched between the support plate 40 and the face panel 20. The support plate 40 is provided with a plurality of recesses 41 on one side thereof that is attached to the back surface 22 of the face panel 20. The recesses 41 have a shape and a position corresponding to the recessed chambers 23 so that the elastic material 30 can be accommodated in the recessed chambers 23 and the recesses 41.

[0025] The difference between this second embodiment and the aforesaid first embodiment is that the elastic material is not set centrally in the same area but is divided into a plurality of elongated blocks. However, the overall width L2 of the elastic material 30 is preferably greater or equal to 1/3 of the width L1 of the face panel 20 and the overall height H21+H22 of the elastic material 30 is preferably greater than or equal to 1/2 of the height H1 of face panel 20 to achieve a better elastic effect.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel, a neck provided at said heel and an opening defined in one side thereof; a face panel fixedly covered on said opening of said club head body, said face panel comprising a ball hitting surface for hitting the ball, a back surface opposite to said ball hitting surface, and a recessed chamber located on said back surface; an elastic material filled in said recessed chamber; and a support plate fixed on said back surface of said face panel for enabling said elastic material to be sandwiched between said support plate and said face panel.

2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support plate comprises a recess located on one side thereof that is attached to said back surface of said face panel, enabling said elastic material to be accommodated in said recessed chamber and said recess.

3. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of said elastic material is preferably greater than or equal to 1/3 of the width of said face panel.

4. The golf club head as claimed in claim 2, wherein the width of said elastic material is preferably greater than or equal to 1/3 of the width of said face panel.

5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of said elastic material is preferably greater than or equal to 1/2 of the height of said face panel.

6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 2, wherein the height of said elastic material is preferably greater than or equal to 1/2 of the height of said face panel.

7. The golf club head as claimed in claim 3, wherein the density of said elastic material is preferably less than 2.7 g/cm.sup.3.

8. The golf club head as claimed in claim 4, wherein the density of said elastic material is preferably less than 2.7 g/cm.sup.3.

9. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel, a neck provided at said heel and an opening defined in one side thereof; a face panel fixedly covered on said opening of said club head body, said face panel comprising a ball hitting surface for hitting the ball, a back surface opposite to said ball hitting surface, and a plurality of recessed chambers located on said back surface; an elastic material filled in said recessed chambers; and a support plate fixed on said back surface of said face panel for enabling said elastic material to be sandwiched between said support plate and said face panel.

10. The golf club head as claimed in claim 9, wherein said support plate comprises a plurality of recesses located on one side thereof that is attached to said back surface of said face panel, enabling said elastic material to be accommodated in said recessed chambers and said recesses.

11. The golf club head as claimed in claim 9, wherein the width of said elastic material is preferably greater than or equal to 1/3 of the width of said face panel.

12. The golf club head as claimed in claim 10, wherein the width of said elastic material is preferably greater than or equal to 1/3 of the width of said face panel.

13. The golf club head as claimed in claim 9, wherein the height of said elastic material is preferably greater than or equal to 1/2 of the height of said face panel.

14. The golf club head as claimed in claim 10, wherein the height of said elastic material is preferably greater than or equal to 1/2 of the height of said face panel.

15. The golf club head as claimed in claim 11, wherein the density of said elastic material is preferably less than 2.7 g/cm.sup.3.

16. The golf club head as claimed in claim 12, wherein the density of said elastic material is preferably less than 2.7 g/cm.sup.3.