KR20060010743A - Golf club head with force transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

Golf club head 100 designed to act as a bridge under impact load has a face 110 acting as a bridge span, a force transmission system 130 located at the rear of the face, and a force transmission located at the rear of the force transmission system. The back structure 140 acts as a bridge truss with the system and an inertial support system 120 connected to the face and acting as a bridge support.

Description

GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH FORCE TRANSFER SYSTEM {GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH FORCE TRANSFER SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a golf club head, and more particularly to the design of a golf club head.

Generally, a golf club head may be a solid body (eg, persimmon), a beam (eg, a putter and iron with a perimeter weight), or a shell (eg, metal driver and fairway) with a diaphragm face. Wood). Today, the general opinion is that a shell with a diaphragm provides an optimal design solution for the golf club head, further improving on this design to improve how far and how precisely a golfer can hit the golf ball. Subsidiary.

For example, as discussed in US Pat. No. 6,348,015, the face of the “shell” golf club head is designed from a material having a natural frequency between 2800 Hz and 4500 Hz. When hitting the material, the golf ball undergoes small deformations, lowering energy losses. Or, as discussed in US Pat. No. 6,348,013, a “shell” golf club head is designed to have one or more recesses in one or more head walls. The recess increases the amount of time that the face of the head contacts the ball, and also reduces energy loss.

Similarly, in US Pat. No. 6,267,691, the face of the “shell” golf club is reinforced with balanced ribs along the rear side of the face, controlling the degree of bending of the face under impact load. The ribs resist bending the face in a direction parallel to the rib but assist in allowing the face to bend in a direction perpendicular to the rib. The reinforcement of the ribs assists in damping the vibration of the head and provides the face with a large area (known as a "sweet spot") where energy is efficiently transferred from the face to the ball.

According to one aspect of the invention, a golf club head includes a face having a first side edge and a second side edge, and a rear structure connected to the face. In addition, the golf club head is positioned behind the face via an inertial support system connected to the face via a first side edge and a second side edge of the face, and extends the rear structure under impact load and cooperates with the inertial support system to It includes a force transmission system that controls the bending, the bending pattern of the face being substantially the same along a vertical line running to the height of the face.

In another embodiment of the present invention, in coordination with the inertial support system and the rear structure, the force transmission system controls the bending of the face, and the bending pattern of the face is substantially the same along a vertical line running substantially to the height of the face. In another embodiment of the invention, under off-center impact loads, a portion of the face moves forward relative to the inertial support system.

In another embodiment of the invention, the face further comprises a first side bent under impact load and connected to the first side edge of the face. The face further includes a second side bent under impact load and connected to the second side edge of the face.

In another embodiment of the invention, the connection between the inertial support system and the side edges of the deformable portion of the face may be a line connection. The line connections can be parallel. In addition, the inertial support system may include a hosel, and the mass of the inertial support system may be at least equal to the combined mass of the face, force transmission system, and rear structure. In addition, each of the inertial support system, the force transmission system, the face or the rear structure may be an integral unit, or some combination of the inertial support system, the force transmission system, the face or the rear structure may be an integral unit.

In another embodiment of the invention, the force transmission system may be a crown of a golf club head, a sole of a golf club head, or a combination of a sole and a crown of a golf club head. Alternatively, part of the force transmission system may be a crown of a golf club head, a sole of a golf club head, or a combination of a sole and a crown of a golf club head. The golf club head may also include a conventional crown or conventional sole. Conventional crowns or conventional soles may be composed of thermoplastic elastomers, thermoset elastomers or engineering plastics. In addition, conventional crowns or conventional soles may be (completely or partially) transparent or (completely or partially) translucent.

According to another aspect of the invention, the golf club head comprises a face and a substantially undeformed mass connected to the face. Under the impact load, the contact force from the impact load, in conjunction with the resulting inertial reaction force from the mass that is virtually undeformed, creates a pattern of bending of substantially the same face along a vertical line that actually proceeds to the height of the face.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a golf club head includes a face having a first side edge and a second side edge, and a rear structure connected to the face. The golf club head also has an inertial support system connected to the face via a first side edge and a second side edge of the face, and a force positioned at the rear of the face and at least partially capable of being placed in virtually pure axial compression under impact load. It includes a delivery system.

In another embodiment of the invention, the rear structure can be placed in virtually pure axial tension under impact load.

According to another aspect of the invention, a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact load is provided with a face acting as a bridge span, a force transmission system located at the rear of the face, and a rear of the force transmission system. And a rear structure that acts as a bridge truss with the force transmission system, and an inertial support system connected to the face and acting as a bridge support.

The above features of the present invention will be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact loads.

2 is a schematic plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact loads.

3 is a schematic plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact loads.

4 is a schematic plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact load.

5A is a schematic plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact load, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view thereof.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the golf club head is designed to act as a "bridge" when the golf club head collides with the golf ball during a game (hereinafter referred to as "under impact load"). In general, the face of the golf club head corresponds to the bridge span, with the bridge truss and the bridge inertial support being located behind the face. As such, the bridged golf club head design described herein is a minimum weight structure that is inertically supported under dynamic loads.

In general, a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact load may have a sweet spot extending across the height of the face of the golf club head and a center of mass that may be closer to the face of the golf club head. Bridge trusses located behind the face may be custom made to provide a specific strain under impact load, and the bridge inertial support may be custom made to provide a specific moment of inertia. In addition, the mass of the golf club head required to support the impact load may be less than the mass required within the "shell" golf club head. This makes more mass available to optimize the inertial performance of the golf club head.

1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact loads. In golf club head 100, face 110 is connected to inertial support system 120 and force transmission system 130. The rear structure 140 is then connected to the force transmission system 130 and the face 110. The force transmission system 130 includes two component parts, an internal structure 130a and a radial structure 130b.

For ease of reference, the term "connection" is used herein to refer to a physical connection between structures as well as an operable connection between structures. For example, the statement that the structure A is connected to the structure B may include (1) the structure A is physically attached to the structure B, or (2) the structure A is connected to the structure B under operating conditions. Or (3) structure (A) is physically attached to structure (B) and structure (A) interacts with structure (B) under operating conditions.

An inertial support system 120 connected to the left and right edges of face 110 supports the "bridge structure" of golf club head 100. The bridge structure is part of the golf club head 100 required to support the impact load of the golf ball, which is the face 110, the force transmission system 130 and the rear structure 140. Under the impact load, the bridge structure transmits the load to the inertial support system 120.

In addition, under off-center impact loads, the inertial support system 120 counters the " rotation " of the golf club head 100 resulting from off-center impact loads. For example, when the golf club head strikes the golf ball somewhere between the center of the face and the toe of the golf club head, the golf club head will rotate about a vertical axis. The golf ball will then move in an unintended direction. In contrast, if the inertial support system 120 is provided, the rotation of the golf club head is reduced. That is, the inertial support system 120 produces a high moment of inertia with respect to the golf club head 100.

In general, under impact loads, the force transmission system 130 extends the posterior support 140 in conjunction with the inertial support system 120 and “bends” the face 110 (and thus the deformation of the face 110). ], And the strain of the surface 110 is controlled. For example, the force transmission system 130 and the inertial support system 120 can control the strain of the face 110 at the same strain rate as the golf ball hit at a particular swing speed, so that the good between the face 110 and the golf ball is good. Dynamic response matching can be achieved. In golf terminology, a good dynamic response match means a good driver shot distance to the golf ball. Further, in another embodiment of the golf club head 100, in conjunction with the force transmission system 130 and the inertial support system 120, the rear structure 140 may control the bending of the face 110, and The strain of 110 may be controlled.

Specifically, under the center impact load, the radial structure 130b is in a virtually pure axial compression state (“compression” along the length of the structure) and the rear structure 140 is in virtually pure axial tension state (length of the structure). "Towing"). Because the structure “bends” from a force that acts perpendicularly rather than parallel to the length of the structure, the radial structure 130b and the rear structure 140 exhibit minimal bending under the center impact load.

In contrast, under all impact loads, the face 110 bends under impact. However, the bending pattern is different from the bending pattern seen in terms of the "drum" golf club head. In a drum golf club head, also referred to herein as a shell golf club head, the bending pattern of the face is not uniform as measured along a vertical line (relative to the horizontal line) from the top edge of the face to the bottom edge of the face. In other words, along a vertical line (a ¹ to a ^10), rearward deformation of a ¹ may not be the same as the rearward deformation of a ^2, rearward deformation of a ² may not be the same as the back deformation of a ^3, a The back strain of ³ may not be the same as the back strain of a ⁴ , and the like. The reason for non-uniform bending is inherent in drum golf club head designs that require rigid connections of faces along the top, bottom and side edges.

In golf club head 100, the bending pattern of face 110 is generally the same from the top edge of the face to the bottom edge of the face as measured along the vertical line (relative to the horizontal line) (hereinafter referred to as the "bridged bend pattern"). box). That is, the vertical line (b ¹ to b ¹⁰⁾ a depending, b ¹ rear deformation rearward deformation with the rear deformation of the substantially equal, and b ² is virtually identical to the posterior deformation of the b ^3, rearward deformation of the b ³ of b ² of Is substantially the same as the back variant of b ⁴ and the like. That is, in contrast to a drum golf club head having a sweet “spot” (defined as a single point on the face of the drum golf club head), the face 110 is a series of (on the face 110 of the golf club head 100). Has a suite "line" defined as a point. The “sweet” area on the face of the golf club head is partly the area where energy is efficiently transferred from the face of the golf club head to the golf ball.

As discussed, under off-center impact load, face 110 bends in a bridge-like bend pattern. Also, during off-center impact loads, a portion of face 110 moves forward relative to inertial support system 120. Typically, a portion of the face 110 moving forward relative to the inertial support system 120 is opposite to the side of the face 110 that is impacted by the golf ball. Forward movement of face 110 under off-center impact loads is one of the important characteristics of a bridge-type golf club head, i.e. the driver may drive the golf ball in the intended direction even if the golfer hits the golf ball beyond the center line of face 110. It's believed to take into account the ability to shoot.

In another embodiment of golf club head 100, face 110 includes a bent "hinge" portion (or portion) that acts as a hinge. The hinge portion, typically located at the right edge or left edge of face 110, is bent under impact load. That is, the hinge portion of the face 110 rotates about the connection of the face 110 and the inertial support system 120.

In another embodiment of golf club head 100, the mass of inertial support system 120 is greater than or equal to the combined mass of face 110, force transmission system 130, and rear structure 140. Thus, in this other embodiment of golf club head 100, at least 50% of the golf club head 100 mass may be used to achieve the highest moment of inertia about the vertical axis of the golf club head 100.

2 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact load. In golf club head 200, force transmission system 230 includes three radial structures, denoted as 230b, rather than one radial structure. Under the impact load, the radial structure 230b reacts in the same manner as the radial structure 130b. That is, under central impact loads, each of the radial structures 230b is in a virtually pure axial compression state that exhibits minimal bending. Although the disclosed exemplary embodiment describes a force transmission system having one radial structure or three radial structures, the force transmission system may include any number of radial structures. For example, a force transmission system may be seen as a "solid" structure with the naked eye, but at the microscopic level it consists of a number of radial structures.

3 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact load. In golf club head 300, face 310 is connected to inertial support system 320, force transmission system 330, and back surface 350. The rear structure 340 is then connected to the force transmission system 330 and the face 310. The force transmission system 330 includes two component parts, an internal structure 330a and a radial structure 330b.

However, unlike the inertial support system of the golf club heads 100, 200, the inertial support system of the golf club head 300 is a set of props. Under the impact load, the inertial support system 320 supports the bridge structure of the golf club head 300, receives the load during the impact, resists rotation of the golf club head 300 under off-center impact load, and supports inertial support. Responds in the same manner as systems 120 and 220.

In another embodiment of golf club head 300, inertial support system 320 is comprised of a set of struts connected to one or more bars. The bar may connect the strut on the strut along any point or points. For example, the bar can connect the top of the strut, the bottom of the strut, the center of the strut or the top and bottom of the strut.

4 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact load. In golf club head 400, face 410 is connected to inertial support system 420 (including hosel 450) and to force transmission system 430. The rear structure 440 is then connected to the force transmission system 430 and the face 410. In this exemplary golf club head, the connection between face 410 and inertial support system 420 is two line connections. A line connection is actually a connection between two structures along a single set of points forming a line. The force transmission system 430 includes three component parts, an internal structure 430a and a radial structure 430b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inertial support system 420 is a set of struts, designated 420a, associated with a curved bar labeled 420b. The inertial support system 420 may be a straddle radial structure 430b, may be seated on top of the radial structure 430b, or may be seated in the radial structure 430b. Under the impact load, the inertial support system 420 supports the bridge structure of the golf club head 400, receives the load during the impact, resists rotation of the golf club head 400 under off-center impact load, and supports inertial support. Respond in the same manner as systems 120, 220, and 320.

5A and 5B are schematic diagrams of another exemplary embodiment of a golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact loads. In golf club head 500, face 510 is connected to inertial support system 520 and force transmission system 530. The rear structure 540 is then connected to the force transmission system 530 and the face 510.

Unlike the force transmission system 130, 230, 330, 430, the force transmission system 530 includes a crown of the golf club head 500. In particular, the force transmission system 530 is a variable thickness crown that acts as part of the bridge structure. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the force transmission system 530 may have a single zone whose thickness varies from the front of the zone to the back of the zone. Alternatively, the force transmission system 530 may have one or more zones in which the thickness of each zone varies in the same way or in a different way. For example, the thickness in each zone can vary from the front of each zone to the back of each zone. Alternatively, the thickness in the first zone may vary from the front of the zone to the rear of the zone, and in the second zone the thickness may change from the center of the zone to the edge of the zone, and so forth. Under the impact load, the force transmission system 530 produces the same effect as that produced in the force transmission system 130, 230, 330, 430. That is, in conjunction with the inertial support system 520 (or in other embodiments, in conjunction with the inertial support system 520 and the rear structure 540), the rear structure 540 is stretched and The bending (and thus the deformation of the face 110) is controlled, and the strain of the face 110 is controlled.

In another embodiment of golf club head 500, force transfer system 530 includes a sole of golf club head 500. In another embodiment of golf club head 500, force transmission system 530 includes both the sole and crown of golf club head 500.

In another embodiment of the golf club head 500, the force transmission system 530 may comprise a portion of the crown of the golf club head 500, with the remainder of the force transmission system shown in FIGS. 1-4. It is constructed in a manner similar to a force transmission system. Alternatively, the force transmission system 530 may include a portion of the sole of the golf club head 500, with the remainder of the force transmission system configured in a manner similar to the force transmission system shown in FIGS. Similarly, the force transmission system 530 may include a portion of the sole and a crown of the golf club head 500, with the remainder of the force transmission system similar to the force transmission system shown in FIGS. 1-4. Is configured in a manner.

Exemplary Embodiments of a Golf Club Head In each other embodiment, the golf club head may further include a backside, such as backside 350, in the golf club head 300. Or, in another embodiment of each of the golf club heads, the back of the golf club head may be a rear structure or an inertial support system.

Exemplary Embodiments of a Golf Club Head In each other embodiment, the inertial support system further includes a hosel, such as a hosel 450, in the golf club head 400. The hosel is a connection point on the golf club head to which the golf club shaft is attached.

Exemplary Embodiments of a Golf Club Head In each of the other embodiments, the face, inertial support system, force transmission system, and rear structure may be an integral unit alone or in combination with each other. For example, the face and force transmission system may be an integral unit, the inertial support system may be an integral unit, or the face, force transmission system and the rear structure may be an integral unit.

Exemplary Embodiments of a Golf Club Head In each other embodiment, the golf club head may further comprise a conventional crown, a conventional sole, or a conventional crown and a conventional sole. The term "conventional" is used herein to differentiate it from the "crown of variable thickness" described in FIG. Conventional crowns or conventional soles may be constructed of thermoset elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers or engineering resins to ensure that conventional crowns or conventional soles do not adversely affect the bridged operation of the golf club heads described herein. In addition, conventional crowns or conventional soles may be (completely or partially) transparent or (completely or partially) translucent.

Although various exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. These and other obvious modifications are intended to be included in the appended claims.

Claims (39)

A face having a first side edge and a second side edge, Rear structure connected to the face, An inertial support system connected to the face via a first side edge and a second side edge, Located in the rear of the face, including a force transmission system in cooperation with the inertial support system to extend the rear structure under impact load and to control the bending of the face, The bending pattern of the face is substantially the same as the golf club head along a vertical line running at the height of the face. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the force transmission system cooperates with the inertial support system and the rear structure to control the bending of the face under impact load, wherein the bending pattern of the face is substantially the same along a vertical line running substantially to the height of the face. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein during off-center impact loads, a portion of the face moves forward relative to the inertial support system. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face further comprises a first side bent under impact load and connected to a first side edge of the face. 5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the face further comprises a second side bent under impact load and connected to a second side edge of the face. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the connection between the inertial support system and the side edges of the face is substantially a line connection. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the line connections are parallel. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the mass of the inertial support system is at least equal to the combined mass of the face, force transmission system, and rear structure. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein S is an integral unit, wherein S is an inertial support system, a force transmission system, a face, a rear structure, or a combination of an inertial support system, a force transmission system, a face, or a rear structure. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the inertial support system further comprises a hosel. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the force transmission system is H, where H is a crown of a golf club head, a sole of a golf club head, or a combination of a sole and a crown of a golf club head. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a portion of the force transmission system is H, where H is a crown of a golf club head, a sole of a golf club head, or a combination of a sole and a crown of a golf club head. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a crown consisting of R, wherein R is a thermoset elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer, or engineering plastic. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a sole consisting of R, wherein R is a thermoset elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer, or engineering plastic. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the crown is T, where T is partially transparent, entirely transparent, partially translucent, or entirely translucent. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the sole is T, where T is partially transparent, entirely transparent, partially translucent, or entirely translucent. Cotton, Contains virtually undeformed mass connected to the face, A golf club head in which the contact force from the impact load under impact load in conjunction with the resulting inertial reaction force from the mass produces a substantially same face bending pattern along a vertical line running substantially to the height of the face. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the mass further comprises a hosel. A face having a first side edge and a second side edge, Rear structure connected to the face, An inertial support system connected to the face via a first side edge and a second side edge of the face, A golf club head comprising a force transmission system positioned rearward of the face and placed under substantially impact axial compression. 20. A golf club head according to claim 19, wherein the rear structure is in substantially pure axial tension under impact load. 20. A golf club head according to claim 19, wherein the mass of the inertial support system is at least equal to the combined mass of the face, force transmission system, and rear structure. Golf club head designed to act as a bridge under impact loads, The face acting as a bridge span, A force transmission system located behind the face, A rear structure located at the rear of the force transmission system and acting as a bridge truss with the force transmission system, A golf club head comprising an inertial support system coupled to the face and acting as a bridge support. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein during off-center impact loads, a portion of the face moves forward relative to the inertial support system. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the face further comprises a first side bent under impact load and connected to a first side edge of the face. The golf club head of claim 24, wherein the face further comprises a second side bent under impact load and connected to a second side edge of the face. 23. A golf club head according to claim 22, wherein the connection between the face and the inertial support system is substantially a line connection. 27. A golf club head according to claim 26, wherein the line connections are parallel. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the mass of the inertial support system is at least equal to the combined mass of the face, the force transmission system, and the inertial support system. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein S is a unitary unit, wherein S is an inertial support system, a force transmission system, a face, a rear structure, or a combination of an inertial support system, a force transmission system, a face, or a rear structure. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the inertial support system further comprises a hosel. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the force transmission system is H, where H is a crown of a golf club head, a sole of a golf club head, or a combination of a sole and a crown of a golf club head. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein a portion of the force transmission system is H, where H is a crown of a golf club head, a sole of a golf club head, or a combination of a sole and a crown of a golf club head. 23. The golf club head of claim 22, further comprising a crown composed of R, wherein R is a thermoset elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer or engineering plastic. The golf club head of claim 22, further comprising a sole composed of R, wherein R is a thermoset elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer, or engineering plastic. 34. The golf club head of claim 33, wherein the crown is T, where T is partially transparent, entirely transparent, partially translucent or entirely translucent. 35. A golf club head according to claim 34, wherein the sole is T, where T is partially transparent, entirely transparent, partially translucent or entirely translucent. Cotton, The back connected to the face, Connected to the face and includes a crown consisting of R, Where R is a thermoset elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer or engineering plastic. Cotton, The back connected to the face, It is attached to the face and contains a brush consisting of R, Where R is a thermoset elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer or engineering plastic. Cotton, The back connected to the face, The crown connected to the face, Includes a brush connected to a face, The crown and sole consist of R, where R is a thermosetting elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer or engineering plastic golf club head.

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