GB2160109A - Improved golf club head construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf club head includes a plurality of laminated wooden layers 15 and 16 and a plurality of resin impregnated fiber layers 17 provided between said wooden layers each of the wooden layers being provided with engagement surfaces for interengaging with other wooden layers. The engagement surfaces may include a plurality of projecting ridges 14 in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the stroke. The interengagement renders the golf club head more durable than conventional laminated heads. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved golf club head construction This invention relates to the construction of a golf club, particularly to an improved construction of a composite golf club head.

Golf club heads have existed in various constructions. The early golf clubs were made of wood which was weak and not very tough, but still used because of their light weight. Such material is not suitable for use when driving the ball a long distance, since a large compression force, bending force and shear force are produced. To improve the strength of the golf club head, steel or stainless steel are used, but the club became very heavy.

Further improvements have been attempted for the golf club construction by using a composite material. However, the composite material was found unsuitable because it became delaminated after use.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of a golf club head having a light weight characteristic of wood and a toughness like steel. In addition, it possesses a characteristic suitable for driving long or short distances.

The foregoing and other objects can be achieved in accordance with the present invention through the provision of a composite construction of a golf club head which includes a plurality of laminated wooden layers and a plurality of resin impregnated fiber layers provided between said wooden layers and is characterized in that each of said wooden layer is provided with engagement surfaces for interengaging with other wooden layers.

Advantageously, the engagement surfaces includes a plurality of spaced apart projecting stripes in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the strokes.

The presently preferred embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectioned view of a golf club head constructed according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectioned view taken along the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing one form of the cross-section of the projecting stripe; and Figure 4 is an enlarged view showing another form of the cross-section of the projecting stripe.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a head portion 11 and a throat 12 constructed of a laminated wooden structure. Each of the wooden layers is provided with engagement surfaces for interengaying with the surfaces of other wooden layers. The interengaging surfaces includes a plurality of spaced apart projecting stripes 14 extending from one end of the head 11 to one end of the throat 12 in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the stroke provided on the inner surfaces of the outer layers 15 and on two surfaces of interposed layers 16.

Each projecting stripes 14 has a trapezium shape in its cross-section which gradually decreases in its width to the deeper portion like the form as shown in Figure 3 or 4, thereby rendering the wooden layers 15 and 16 to firmly interengage each other.

Between each two wooden layers are further provided resin impregnated fiber layer 17 which is adhesively bonded to the wooden layers. The composite structure is formed by molding tiers of wood and resin impregnated fiber in a compression mold with heating. The formed structure has a light weight characteristic like wood and a toughness like metal. In addition, the lamination is more durabe than the conventional lamination because of the presence of interengaging surfaces.

With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that obvious modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as indicated in the appended

claims.

CLAIMS 1. A composite construction of a golf club head including a plurality of laminated wooden layers and a plurality of resin impregnated fiber layers provided between said wooden layers characterized in that each of said wooden layer is provided with an engagement surface for interengaging with other wooden layers.

2. A composite construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said engagement surfaces includes a plurality of spaced apart projecting stripes in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the stroke.

3. A composite construction as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said projecting stripes has a trapezium shape in its cross-section.

4. A composite construction as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved golf club head construction This invention relates to the construction of a golf club, particularly to an improved construction of a composite golf club head. Golf club heads have existed in various constructions. The early golf clubs were made of wood which was weak and not very tough, but still used because of their light weight. Such material is not suitable for use when driving the ball a long distance, since a large compression force, bending force and shear force are produced. To improve the strength of the golf club head, steel or stainless steel are used, but the club became very heavy. Further improvements have been attempted for the golf club construction by using a composite material. However, the composite material was found unsuitable because it became delaminated after use. An object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of a golf club head having a light weight characteristic of wood and a toughness like steel. In addition, it possesses a characteristic suitable for driving long or short distances. The foregoing and other objects can be achieved in accordance with the present invention through the provision of a composite construction of a golf club head which includes a plurality of laminated wooden layers and a plurality of resin impregnated fiber layers provided between said wooden layers and is characterized in that each of said wooden layer is provided with engagement surfaces for interengaging with other wooden layers. Advantageously, the engagement surfaces includes a plurality of spaced apart projecting stripes in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the strokes. The presently preferred embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectioned view of a golf club head constructed according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectioned view taken along the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing one form of the cross-section of the projecting stripe; and Figure 4 is an enlarged view showing another form of the cross-section of the projecting stripe. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a head portion 11 and a throat 12 constructed of a laminated wooden structure. Each of the wooden layers is provided with engagement surfaces for interengaying with the surfaces of other wooden layers. The interengaging surfaces includes a plurality of spaced apart projecting stripes 14 extending from one end of the head 11 to one end of the throat 12 in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the stroke provided on the inner surfaces of the outer layers 15 and on two surfaces of interposed layers 16. Each projecting stripes 14 has a trapezium shape in its cross-section which gradually decreases in its width to the deeper portion like the form as shown in Figure 3 or 4, thereby rendering the wooden layers 15 and 16 to firmly interengage each other. Between each two wooden layers are further provided resin impregnated fiber layer 17 which is adhesively bonded to the wooden layers. The composite structure is formed by molding tiers of wood and resin impregnated fiber in a compression mold with heating. The formed structure has a light weight characteristic like wood and a toughness like metal. In addition, the lamination is more durabe than the conventional lamination because of the presence of interengaging surfaces. With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that obvious modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as indicated in the appended claims. CLAIMS

1. A composite construction of a golf club head including a plurality of laminated wooden layers and a plurality of resin impregnated fiber layers provided between said wooden layers characterized in that each of said wooden layer is provided with an engagement surface for interengaging with other wooden layers.

2. A composite construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said engagement surfaces includes a plurality of spaced apart projecting stripes in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the stroke.

3. A composite construction as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said projecting stripes has a trapezium shape in its cross-section.

4. A composite construction as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.