US20040166959A1

US20040166959A1 - Impact absorber for a golf club head

Info

Publication number: US20040166959A1
Application number: US10/369,735
Authority: US
Inventors: Chan-Tung Chen
Original assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fu Sheng Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-04
Filing date: 2003-02-21
Publication date: 2004-08-26
Also published as: JP2004236771A

Abstract

An impact absorber for a golf club head. The impact absorber for a golf club head in the invention comprises a main body and a chamber. The main body comprises a striking plate, and the chamber is adapted to receive viscous damping liquid. Thereby, the damping liquid can absorb vibration and impact energy of the main body when striking a golf ball.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an impact absorber for a golf club head, and in particular to an impact absorber for a golf club head having a chamber to contain damping liquid thereby absorbing impact energy when striking a golf ball.

2. Description of the Related Art

The conventional golf club head, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is an iron club head, which mainly comprises a

main body

11, a striking plate 12 and a necked portion 13. An opening 14 is formed in the main body 11 and connected a front side to a rear side. The striking plate 12 is combined with the main body 11 by welding or embedding it in the opening 14. The necked portion 13 is adapted to hold a shaft (not shown). When striking a golf ball, the club head is swung and the striking plate 12 is hit a ball by the striking force. So then a simultaneous reacting force (i.e. striking stress) is affected on the striking plate 12 that may cause vibration and shock on the golf club. Although most of the striking stress or impact energy is absorbed or reduced by the structure of the main body 11 and the opening 14, the unabsorbed impact energy may transmit through the shaft to the handle (not shown). This causes an uncomfortable condition in user's hand when striking, and even damages the structural strength of the golf club. Therefore, an improvement structure of golf club head is required.

Hence, the golf club head in the invention is provided with a chamber to contain damping liquid for absorbing the impact energy when striking. Thereby, this can enhance swinging feel in user's hand and furthermore avoid damage to the structural strength of golf club head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an impact absorber for a golf club head, wherein viscous damping liquid is provided for absorbing or reducing the shock or vibration when striking to enhance swinging feel in user's hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide an impact absorber for a golf club head, wherein viscous damping liquid is provided for absorbing or reducing the shock or vibration when striking to prolong the useful life of golf club head.

Accordingly, the impact absorber for a golf club head of the invention comprises a main body and a chamber. The main body has a striking plate, and the chamber is formed in the main body for containing damping liquid. When striking a ball, the viscosity of the damping liquid serves as a damper to absorb or reduce shock or vibration generated on the golf club head.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0010]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional golf club head in accordance with the prior art; [0011]
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the conventional golf club head in accordance with the prior art; [0012]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an impact absorber for a golf club head of a first embodiment of the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line [0014] 4-4 in FIG. 3, of the impact absorber for the golf club head of the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an impact absorber for a golf club head of a second embodiment of the present invention; and [0015]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line [0016] 6-6 in FIG. 5, of the impact absorber for the golf club head of the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 3, the first embodiment of the invention, an impact absorber for golf club head comprises a [0017] main body 11 and a chamber 15. The main body 11 has a striking plate 12, and the chamber 15 is formed in an appropriate position to receive damping liquid 16. When an impact of the golf ball hitting on the main body 11, the damping liquid in the chamber 15 is able to absorb the impact energy and thereby reducing the shock or vibration.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the details of the [0018] main body 11 and the chamber 15 are shown. The main body 11 is a forged or cast iron club head, and a striking plate 12 is welded thereto or embedded therein. A necked portion 13 is formed on one side of the main body 11 to hold a shaft (not shown). An opening 14 is formed in the main body 11 and connected a front side to a rear side. The chamber 15 is preferably formed in an appropriate position of the main body 11, particularly located in the opening 14, and adjoined the striking plate 12 and main body 11. The chamber 15 is usually a frame member, which is made of metal, and alternatively welded to or integrated into the main body 11. At least one hole 151 is provided for filling damping liquid 16 into the chamber 15. The chamber 15 is sealed with adhesives or a seal member. The chamber 15 is filled up with damping liquid 16 so as to avoid liquid vibration. The damping liquid 16 is preferably consisted of water, oil, colloid liquid, non-corrosive solution, organic solution, viscous solution, and mixture thereof. Compared with solid such as metal, alloy etc, the damping liquid has higher viscosity and hence has better ability to absorb impact energy. Therefore, when striking a golf ball with the main body 11, the damping liquid 16 in the chamber 15 can indeed absorb or reduce the shock or vibration caused by reacting force (striking stress). This may enhance swinging feel in user's hand and furthermore avoid damage to the structural strength of the golf club head and prolong the useful life of the golf club head.
Furthermore, the [0019] chamber 15 can optionally be formed in any position in the main body 11, for example a rear surface of the sweet spot of the striking plate 12 or in a position located in the opening 14, and proximal the necked portion 13. The chamber 15 may be sized appropriate, depending on the requirements. The chamber 15 may have an extending portion 152 to obtain more inner space for containing increase amount of damping liquid 16. Furthermore, the chamber 15 can also be embedded and hidden in the main body 11.
Referring to the FIGS. 5 and 6, the detailed structures of the [0020] main body 21 and the chamber 25 of the second embodiment of the invention are shown. The main body 21 is a forged, cast or welded to form a wood club head. A stepped portion 211 is provided on the front of the main body 21 for assembling with a striking plate 22 by welding or embedding. A necked portion 23 is formed on the side of the main body 21 to hold a shaft (not shown). A cavity 24 is formed in the main body 21. Compared with the first embodiment, the chamber 25 in the second embodiment of the invention is preferably formed in an appropriate position located in the cavity 24 of the main body 21, particularly located on a bottom surface of the cavity 24, and adjoined the striking plate 22 and main body 21. The chamber 25 is alternatively welded to or integrated into the main body 21. At least one hole 251 is formed for filling damping liquid 26 into the chamber 25 and sealed by adhesives or sealing components. The hole 251 of the chamber 25 can be optionally formed on the outer surface of the main body 21 or an outer surface of the chamber 25 facing the cavity 24. Thereby, when striking a golf ball with main body 21, the damping liquid 26 in the chamber 25 is able to absorb or reduce shock or vibration caused by the reacting force (striking stress).
Furthermore, the [0021] chambers 15, 25 in the invention can be formed by welding to, embedding in or integrating into a putter club head (not shown) to reduce the shock or vibration.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the impact absorber for a golf club head in the invention is provided with a [0022] chamber 15 filled with viscous damping liquid 16 in the main body 11 to absorb or reduce shock while striking. Compared with conventional golf club head incapable of absorbing impact energy effectively, the impact absorber for a golf club head in the invention indeed enhances swinging feel in user's hand and prolongs the useful life thereof.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. [0023]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An impact absorber for a golf club head, comprising:

a main body having a striking plate and a necked portion; and

a chamber formed in the main body, which contains damping liquid to absorb impact energy when a golf ball impacting the main body.

2. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the damping liquid is consisted of water, oil, colloid liquid, non-corrosive solution, organic solution, viscous solution, and mixture thereof.

3. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is a wood club head.

4. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is made of an iron club head.

5. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is a putter golf club head.

6. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 3, wherein an opening is formed in the main body, and the chamber is formed in the opening.

7. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 4, wherein a cavity is formed in the main body, and the camber is formed in the cavity.

8. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber is in a position adjoined the main body and the striking plate.

9. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camber is-formed on a rear surface of a sweet spot on the striking plate.

10. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber is formed in a position proximal the necked portion.

11. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber further comprises an extending portion to obtain an increased inner space thereof, thereby obtaining increase amount of the damping liquid.

12. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber is hidden in the main body.

13. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber is integrated into the main body.

14. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber is welded to the main body.

15. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hole is formed on the chamber for filling the damping liquid into the chamber.

16. The impact absorber for a golf club head as claimed in claim 15, wherein the hole is sealed by adhesives or sealing components.