JP2005095244A - Golf club head and golf club - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a golf club head in which the mass of the face part is reduced while maintaining the hitting performance such as carry and the strength or the like and moreover, excellent hitting touch mainly attributed to the striking sounds in the hitting of the balls and a golf club. <P>SOLUTION: The golf club head has the face part having a face plane for striking the golf balls. In the golf club head, at least the striking part of the face plane for striking the golf balls is composed of a laminate component having a lamination structure in which metal layers and fiber-reinforced resin layers are laminated. At the face part, a first tensile strength in a first direction from the toe to the heel is different from a second tensile strength in the direction orthogonal to the first direction within the face plane and the second tensile strength is higher than the first tensile strength. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a golf club head and a golf club that maintain a hitting performance such as a flight distance, strength, and the like, reduce a weight of a face portion, and further improve a hit feeling due to hitting sound at the time of hitting. .

  In recent years, various golf club heads have been proposed in which a metal plate and a laminated plate in which a fiber reinforced plastic (hereinafter referred to as FRP) layer or an FRP plate is used as a face portion (Patent Document 1 and (See Patent Document 2 etc.).

In the golf club head disclosed in Patent Document 1, a face molding formed of one or a plurality of composite layers in which metal foil layers are laminated is integrally provided on at least a part or all of a face.
This face molded product is formed by laminating one or more composite layers in which a resin layer made of a resin plate or a fiber reinforced composite material is integrally bonded to at least one side of a metal foil layer via a resin film. It is composed. Further, in the golf club head of Patent Document 1, various metal foils having a thickness of 5 to 50 μm are used as the metal foil layer.
The golf club head of Patent Document 1 is excellent in wear resistance, mechanical strength such as impact strength by providing this face molding, and also excellent in touch and aesthetics during use. A golf club can be obtained.

Patent Document 2 discloses a hollow golf club head using a composite material in which a metal thin plate and a high elastic fiber are laminated on a face portion.
According to this golf club head, even if the thickness of the metal thin plate is reduced, the metal thin plate is reinforced by the high elastic fiber, so that it does not undergo plastic deformation. For this reason, even a golfer with a fast head speed can be used sufficiently. Furthermore, when the composite metal thin plate constituting the face portion is made considerably thin and easily bent, even a golfer with a slow head speed increases the initial speed of the hit golf ball and increases the amount of pack spin. The launch angle also increases. This increases the flight distance.
In the golf club head disclosed in Patent Document 2, a titanium alloy plate having a thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 mm is used as the metal thin plate.

JP-A-6-165842 JP 2003-102878 A

  However, the golf club heads disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 both improve the hitting performance such as flight distance and durability and the feel transmitted to the hand at the time of hitting. This does not maintain the performance, reduce the weight of the face portion, and improve the hitting sound when hitting the golf club head.

  The object of the present invention is to eliminate the problems based on the above-mentioned prior art, reduce the weight of the face part while maintaining the hitting performance and strength such as the flight distance, and further hit feeling by hitting sound mainly at the time of hitting Another object is to provide an excellent golf club head and golf club.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf club head having a face portion having a face surface for hitting a golf ball, wherein at least the golf ball is hit among the face portions. The striking portion of the face surface is configured by a laminated structure having a laminated structure in which a metal layer and a fiber reinforced plastic layer are laminated, and the face portion has a first direction in a first direction from the toe toward the heel direction. The tensile strength is different from the second tensile strength in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the face surface, and the second tensile strength is higher than the first tensile strength. A golf club head having the characteristics is provided.

  In the present invention, the face portion has a first Young's modulus in the first direction different from a second Young's modulus in the second direction, and the second Young's modulus is the first Young's modulus. It is preferable to be smaller than the rate.

  In the present invention, the face portion is directed in at least one of a third direction from the central axis in the thickness direction of the face portion toward the face surface and a fourth direction from the central axis toward the back surface. Accordingly, it is preferable that at least one of the metal layer and the fiber-reinforced plastic layer having a high tensile strength stepwise is disposed.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the surface portion of the hitting portion of the face portion that is in direct contact with the golf ball is composed of a metal layer.
In this case, the metal layer constituting the surface portion is preferably the thickest among the metal layers.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the back surface of the face portion is composed of a fiber reinforced plastic layer.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the thickness of the fiber reinforced plastic layer in the laminated structure increases stepwise from the front surface portion toward the back surface.
The metal layer preferably has a thickness of 0.05 to 2.0 mm.
In the present invention, the laminated structure constituting the face portion preferably has a total of at least three layers of the metal layer and the fiber reinforced plastic layer.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the laminated structure of the face portion is provided in a region having a radius of 15 mm from the center position of the face surface, and the specific gravity is 1.8 to 8.5.
In the present invention, the laminated structure of the face portion is preferably provided in a region having a radius of 15 mm from the center position of the face surface, and the thickness thereof is preferably 2.0 to 5.0 mm.
In the present invention, the laminated structure of the face portion is preferably provided in a region having a radius of 15 mm from the center position of the face surface, and its Young's modulus is preferably 40 to 210 GPa.

  A second aspect of the present invention provides a golf club having the golf club head of the present invention.

  In the golf club head and the golf club of the present invention, at least a hitting portion of a face portion of a face portion that hits a golf ball is constituted by a laminated structure having a laminated structure in which a metal layer and a fiber reinforced plastic layer are laminated, For the face portion, the first tensile strength in the first direction from the toe toward the heel direction is different from the second tensile strength in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the face surface. By making the second tensile strength higher than the first tensile strength, the mass of the face portion can be reduced while maintaining the impact performance such as the flight distance and the strength such as durability. Furthermore, in the present invention, by making the face part a laminated structure in which a metal layer and a fiber reinforced plastic layer are laminated, it is possible to mainly improve the hit feeling due to the hitting sound.

  Hereinafter, a golf club head and a golf club of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a golf club according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf club head shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the golf club 10 includes a golf club head 20 and a golf club shaft 40.
The golf club head 20 has a face portion 22, a sole portion 24, a crown portion 26, a side wall portion 28, and a hosel portion 30. In the golf club head 20 of the present embodiment, the face portion 22, the sole portion 24, the crown portion 26, and the side wall portion 28 are each formed into a plate shape, and these members are joined together to form an outer shell structure. doing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hosel portion 30 is for fixing the golf club shaft 40 to the golf club head 20 and is provided in the crown portion 26. The hosel portion 30 is provided with an opening 32 into which the golf club shaft 40 is inserted. The golf club shaft 40 is fixed to the golf club head 20 via a socket 42. The socket 42 is provided with an opening 44 through which the golf club shaft 40 can be inserted.

The surface of the face portion 22 is a face surface 23 that hits the golf ball. At least the surface portion of the hitting portion that is in direct contact with the golf ball is a metal layer and an FRP layer. The laminated structure is arranged. This laminated structure has a laminated structure in which a total of at least three metal layers and FRP layers are laminated.
As will be described later, the surface portion of the hitting portion of the face surface 23 is in direct contact with the golf ball and is formed of a metal layer. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, three score lines L extending in the horizontal direction H (first direction) from the toe α side to the heel β side are formed in parallel on the metal layer on the surface portion. Has been.

  In the golf club head 10 of the present embodiment, the face portion 22 is formed such that the length in the vertical direction V (hereinafter also referred to as the short side) is shorter than the length in the horizontal direction H (hereinafter also referred to as the long side). ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the face portion 22 has a vertical direction V (second direction) orthogonal to the horizontal direction H from the sole portion 24 side to the crown portion 26 side when the face portion 22 is vertically set. And the above-mentioned horizontal direction H is comprised with the raw material which has anisotropy from which tensile strength differs. The face portion 22 of the present embodiment has a tensile strength in the vertical direction V higher than that in the horizontal direction H.

  In the present embodiment, when a golf ball collides with the face portion 22, the strain in the vertical direction V (short side) per unit length is greater than the strain per unit length in the horizontal direction H (long side). Is also big. For this reason, the face portion 22 has an anisotropy whose tensile strength in the vertical direction V is higher than the tensile strength in the horizontal direction H, thereby maintaining sufficient strength as the face portion 22. The mass can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to this, and the anisotropy of the member used for the face portion 22 may be determined according to the shape of the face portion 22.
In the golf club head 10 of the present embodiment, since the vertical direction V is on the short side, a sufficient strength of the face portion 22 is obtained by increasing the tensile strength on the short side where distortion increases. However, conversely, when the horizontal direction H is shorter, the tensile strength in the horizontal direction H is increased. As described above, by appropriately changing the anisotropy of the face portion 22 as necessary, it is possible to reduce the weight while maintaining the strength of the face portion 22.

  The tensile strength of the face portion 22 in the horizontal direction H and the vertical direction V in the present embodiment can be adjusted using, for example, rolling anisotropy caused by rolling. The rolled material has different tensile strength in a direction parallel to the rolling direction and tensile strength in a direction orthogonal to the rolling direction. For this reason, the anisotropy of the tensile strength of the face part 22 is realizable by arrange | positioning a rolling material so that the horizontal direction H and a rolling direction may become parallel. In addition to this, for example, the crystal structure can be adjusted to give anisotropy in tensile strength.

Further, the tensile strength in the horizontal direction H and the vertical direction V of the face portion 22 in this embodiment is adjusted for the orientation direction of the reinforcing fiber or the anisotropy of the cloth woven with the reinforcing fiber is used for the FRP layer. By doing so, it can be adjusted.
Further, the tensile strength of the face portion 22 in the present embodiment is not limited to adjusting the metal layer or the FRP layer alone, but the face is formed by combining the anisotropic metal layer and the FRP layer. It is also possible to give the part anisotropy.

  Further, the coefficient of restitution can be increased by lowering the Young's modulus. For this reason, in the present invention, the Young's modulus in the direction of high tensile strength is preferably lower than the Young's modulus in the direction of low tensile strength. That is, it is preferable to lower the Young's modulus in the direction of large strain. In this embodiment, since the tensile strength in the vertical direction V is higher than the tensile strength in the horizontal direction H, it is preferable that the Young's modulus in the vertical direction V is low. In the present embodiment, the restitution coefficient of the golf club head can be efficiently increased by making the Young's modulus in the vertical direction V, which has a large strain with respect to the length, smaller than the Young's modulus in the horizontal direction H.

The laminated structure constituting at least a part of the face portion 22 will be described in detail below.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the face portion shown in FIG. Note that reference numeral 52 shown in FIG. 3 is a composite structure that collectively shows a laminate of a metal layer and an FRP layer, and the face layer 20 is formed by forming a metal layer 50 on the surface thereof.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the face portion 22 is composed of a laminated structure of metal layers 50, 62a, 62b and FRP layers 60a-60c. In the present embodiment, the metal layers 50, 62a and 62b are three layers, and the FRP layers 60a to 60c are three layers in total. A face surface 23 (surface portion) on which a golf ball is hit is constituted by a metal layer 50. Moreover, the back surface 25 is comprised by the FRP layer 60c.
In FIG. 4, a line indicated by a symbol C indicates a neutral axis (center axis) in the thickness T direction of the face portion 22. The golf ball collides with the face surface 23 and the face portion 22 is deformed. In some cases, the stress is zero. That is, the neutral axis C is an axis that does not generate compressive stress and tensile stress even when bending stress is generated in the face portion 22. A direction from the neutral axis C toward the face surface 23 is defined as a third direction F, and a direction from the neutral axis C toward the back surface 25 is defined as a fourth direction R. In the present invention, the upper limit of the number of layers of the metal layer and the FRP layer is 14 from the degree of cost and complexity of the manufacturing process.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, by providing the face portion 22 with anisotropy, it is possible to obtain sufficient strength against an impact when hitting a golf ball, and the mass of the face portion 22. Can also be reduced in weight. For this reason, since the design freedom of a golf club head increases and the thing with the further excellent balance can be produced, flight distance can be improved. In addition, since the face portion 22 has a laminated structure of a metal layer and an FRP layer, the hit feeling felt by the golfer by the hitting sound can be improved. As described above, the golf club head according to the present embodiment can provide a golf club head with excellent hit feeling due to hitting sound while hitting performance and strength.

Further, in the present embodiment, the face portion can have strength corresponding to the deformation caused by the collision of the golf ball by providing anisotropy, and therefore, the peeling between the metal layer and the FRP layer caused by the deformation caused by the hitting. And the delamination strength of the face portion can be improved.
In the present embodiment, the portion in direct contact with the golf ball is a metal layer, so that the wear resistance of the face surface is high. For this reason, the golf club head of the present embodiment has high strength because of high strength, high resilience because of low elasticity, and further low weight because of low specific gravity.
The same effect can be obtained for a golf club using the golf club head of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, in the face portion 22 shown in FIG. 4, each of the metal layers 50, 62a, 62b may have different tensile strengths. In this case, it is preferable that the metal layer 50 has the highest tensile strength, the next highest tensile strength is the metal layer 62b, and the lowest tensile strength is the metal layer 62a.
Also, each of the FRP layers 60a to 60c may have different tensile strengths. In this case, it is preferable that the FRP layer 60c has the highest tensile strength, the next highest tensile strength is the FRP layer 60b, and the lowest tensile strength is the FRP layer 60c.
In the present embodiment, the metal layer 50 having the maximum tensile strength is preferably disposed on the face surface 23. Furthermore, it is preferable that the metal layers 62a and 62b and the FRP layers 60a, 60b, and 60c have high tensile strength as they go from the neutral axis C to the third direction F and the fourth direction R.

  Here, when the golf ball collides with the face portion 22, a compressive stress is generated on the face surface 23, and a tensile stress is generated on the back surface 25 on the opposite side. Therefore, according to the configuration of the face portion 22 of this embodiment, the metal layer 50 having the highest tensile strength is used on the face surface 23 and the FRP layer 60c having the highest tensile strength is provided on the back surface 25, so that no stress is received. Since the strength of the layer provided in the vicinity of the neutral axis C can be reduced, sufficient strength can be ensured against any deformation of the face surface 23 and the back surface 25. In particular, since the FRP layer has high tensile stress, it is particularly preferable to dispose it on the back surface.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the tensile strength is higher in the third direction F and the fourth direction R than the metal layer or the FRP layer disposed in the vicinity of the neutral axis C of the face portion 22. By disposing a metal layer or FRP layer and gradually increasing the tensile strength of the metal layer or FRP layer disposed with the neutral axis C as a boundary at the face portion 22, the region where strength is required Therefore, the required strength can be obtained, and the mass of the face portion 22 can be further reduced while maintaining the strength required for the face portion 22.

In the present embodiment, it is preferable that the thickness Ts of the metal layer 50 constituting the face surface 23 is the largest including the thicknesses Tm of the other metal layers 62a and 62b. Thereby, the strength of the face surface 23 that receives compressive stress can be further increased.
In the face portion 22, the thickness of the FRP layers 60a to 60c is not particularly limited. For example, it is preferable that the thickness increases stepwise in at least one of the third direction F and the fourth direction R. In particular, it is preferable that the thicknesses of the FRP layers 60a to 60c increase as they move toward the fourth direction R side. Thereby, sufficient intensity | strength can be easily ensured on the back surface 25 side which receives a tensile stress with the neutral axis C as a boundary. The tensile strength in the present invention is the maximum tensile strength.

In the present embodiment, the difference in tensile strength means that when the tensile strength is compared for both the metal layer and the FRP layer, the value of the material having a high tensile strength is 3% or more higher than the value of the material having a low tensile strength. Say.
For example, when the material A (tensile strength = 900 MPa) and the material B (tensile strength = 930 MPa) are compared, 3% of the tensile strength of the material A is 900 × 0.03 = 27 MPa. When the tensile strength of the material A is increased by 3%, 900 + 27 = 927 MPa. Therefore, the material B (tensile strength = 930 MPa) has a tensile strength of 3% or more higher than that of the material A (tensile strength = 900 MPa), so that the material A and the material B have different tensile strengths.
Moreover, the tensile strength in this invention is the maximum tensile strength, and the sample number n is given as an average value of 3-10.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the Young's modulus is different when the Young's modulus is compared for both the metal layer and the FRP layer. The value of the material having a high Young's modulus is 3% or more higher than that of the material having a small Young's modulus. Say.
For example, when the material C (Young's modulus = 100 GPa) and the material D (Young's modulus = 105 GPa) are compared, 3% of the Young's modulus of the material C is 100 × 0.03 = 3 GPa. When the Young's modulus of the material C is increased by 3%, 100 + 3 = 103 GPa. Therefore, since the material D (Young's modulus = 105 GPa) has a Young's modulus 3% or more higher than that of the material C (Young's modulus = 100 GPa), the material C and the material D are different in Young's modulus.
The Young's modulus is given as an average value of 3 to 10 samples.

In the present invention, the thickness Ts of the metal layer 50 of the face portion 22 and the thickness Tm of the metal layers 62a and 62b are preferably 0.05 to 2.0 mm.
By setting the thickness Ts of the metal layer 50 of the face portion 22 and the thickness Tm of the metal layers 62a and 62b to be in the range of 0.05 to 2.0 mm, it is possible to further improve the hit feeling due to the hitting sound.

Further, the material of the metal layer and the FRP layer of the laminated structure constituting the face portion 22 of the present embodiment is not particularly limited.
Examples of the metal layer include stainless steel, maraging steel, iron, aluminum, titanium, titanium alloy, copper, brass, nickel, nichrome, tin, lead, magnesium, gold, silver, platinum, and various other metals and alloys. What is comprised by is illustrated.

Examples of the stainless steel described above include NSSHT1770 (trade name (composition: Fe-0.04C-1.5Si-0.3Mn-0.03P-0.004S-7.2Ni-14. Manufactured by Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd.). 7Cr-0.7Cu-0,4Ti-0.009N)).
Examples of the marage steel described above include YAG250 (trade name (composition: Fe-18Ni-8Co-5Mo-0.4Ti-0.1Al)), YAG300 (trade name (composition: Fe--), manufactured by Hitachi Metals, Ltd. 18Ni-9Co-5Mo-0.9Ti-0.1Al)) and YAG350 (trade name (composition: Fe-18Ni-12Co-4Mo-1.7Ti-0.1Al)).

Furthermore, as the above-mentioned titanium alloy, Kobe Steel, TVC (trade name (composition: Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al)), JFE Holding (former Nippon Steel Pipe Co., Ltd.), SP700 (trade name ( Composition: Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Mo-2Fe)).
The metal layer of the present embodiment preferably has a tensile strength of 300 MPa or more and a specific gravity of 1.8 or more.

Moreover, the FRP layer of this embodiment is a matrix resin reinforced with reinforcing fibers. Examples of the reinforcing fibers include inorganic fibers such as carbon fibers, boron fibers, glass fibers, alumina fibers, silicon carbide fibers, and silicon nitride fibers, and organic materials such as aramid fibers, polyarylate fibers, polyethylene fibers, and polyester fibers. Examples are fibers or metal fibers such as titanium fibers, amorphous fibers, and stainless steel fibers. Further, as the reinforcing fiber, a plurality of types may be selected from those exemplified above and used as the reinforcing fiber. Further, the orientation of the reinforcing fibers is not particularly limited, and they may be arranged in one direction or used in a cloth (woven fabric) state. Further, even if one or more (layers) of these reinforcing fibers or cloths are provided so as to overlap each other, in the present invention, it is defined as one FRP layer. The tensile strength in the horizontal direction H and the vertical direction V can be adjusted by the orientation of the reinforcing fibers as described above.
Further, as the reinforcing fiber of the FRP layer, for example, it is preferable that the tensile strength of the single fiber in the 0 degree direction is 2500 MPa or more and the specific gravity is 2.6 or less.

  Examples of the matrix resin include thermosetting matrix resins such as epoxy resins, unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethane resins, diallyl phthalate resins, and phenol resins.

  The matrix resin is preferably an epoxy resin. Examples of the matrix resin include glycidyl ether type epoxy resins (bisphenol A, F, S type epoxy resins, novolac type epoxy resins, brominated bisphenol A type epoxy resins), cyclic aliphatic epoxy resins, glycidyl ester type epoxy resins. And glycidylamine epoxy resins such as tetraglycidyldiaminodiphenylmethane or triglycidyl-p-aminophenol, and heterocyclic epoxy resins. Furthermore, as the matrix resin, one or more selected from these various epoxy resins can also be used. As the matrix resin in the present embodiment, bisphenol A, F, and S glycidylamine epoxy resins are particularly suitable.

  Examples of the curing agent include amine curing agents such as dicyandiamide (DICY), diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS), diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM); acid anhydrides such as hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA), methylhexahydroanhydride. Examples include phthalic acid (MHHPA). Especially as a hardening | curing agent, an amine type hardening | curing agent can be used conveniently.

  A prepreg can also be used for the FRP layer. Examples of the prepreg include P3251S-15 (trade name) UD prepreg manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc., and F6343B-05P (trade name) cross prepreg manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.

  Further, in the laminated structure constituting the face portion 22 in the golf club head 10 of the present embodiment, a resin film may be provided at the boundary between the metal layer and the FRP layer, or an adhesive may be applied. In this case, the thickness of the adhesive layer of the adhesive is preferably 0.02 to 0.2 mm.

  Examples of the resin film include thermoplastic resin films such as polyurethane resin, nylon resin, modified nylon resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polycarbonate resin, polyvinylidene chloride resin, ethyl cellulose resin, and cellulose acetate resin. Illustrated.

  In addition, it is preferable to use this resin film having high compatibility with the matrix resin of the prepreg. For example, when an epoxy resin or the like is used as the matrix resin, a polyurethane resin, a modified nylon resin film, or the like is preferable as the resin film. The thickness of this resin film is preferably 0.02 to 0.2 mm.

  In the golf club head of the present invention, the laminated structure is provided in a region having a radius of 15 mm from the center position of the face surface 23 of the face portion 22. The specific gravity of the laminated structure is preferably 1.8 to 8.5 in order to sufficiently maintain impact performance such as flight distance and strength.

  Furthermore, in the golf club head of the present invention, the laminated structure is provided in a region having a radius of 15 mm from the center position of the face surface 23 of the face portion 22. The thickness T (see FIG. 4) of the face portion 22 (laminated structure) is preferably 2.0 to 5.0 mm in order to sufficiently maintain the hitting performance such as the flight distance and the strength. .

  Furthermore, in the golf club head of the present invention, the laminated structure is provided in a region having a radius of 15 mm from the center position of the face surface 23 of the face portion 22. The Young's modulus of this laminated structure is preferably 40 to 210 GPa in order to sufficiently maintain impact performance such as flight distance and strength.

  Here, in this embodiment, the center of the face surface 23 of the face portion 22 is measured by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-246023. Hereinafter, a method for measuring the center of the face surface 23 of the face portion 22 will be described.

  The method of measuring the center of the face surface 23 of the face portion 22 is obtained by a center measuring instrument having a support portion for supporting a center measurement object (golf club head) at the top. The center measuring instrument can know the position of the measuring object that supports the measuring object in a balanced manner. That is, the center measuring method is to find an equilibrium position where the golf club head is placed on the support portion and does not fall even if the hand is released.

In addition, it is preferable that a support part is a form supported with a plane or 3 or more points. Moreover, it is preferable that the area of a support part is 15 mm < ² > or less. Further, the lower limit of the area of the support portion is not particularly limited as long as the golf club head is supported. The area of the support part is indicated by the area of the plane part if it is a plane, or by the area of a figure connecting the points if it is supported by three or more points. Thus, by setting the area of the support portion within the above range, the center can be obtained more accurately.
In the present embodiment, the center position thus determined by measurement is referred to as the center position of the golf club head.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a golf club head according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the golf club head of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the golf club head 20a of the present embodiment, a crown portion 26a is used for the face portion 22 of the first embodiment as compared to the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment. The other structure is the same as that of the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment. With such a configuration, the same effects as those of the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the striking sound can also be adjusted. Furthermore, the crown part 26a can also be comprised only by FRP.

  Further, in the golf club head 20a of the present embodiment, since the numerical values of the components common to the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment are the same, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the golf club head 20a has the crown portion 26a formed of a laminated structure, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to the crown portion, the sole portion and the side wall portion (side portion) may be a laminated structure. Furthermore, the crown portion, the sole portion, and the side wall portion (side portion) may be a laminated structure. In addition, at least one of the crown part, the sole part, and the side wall part (side part) is a laminated structure, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be constituted by FRP. In addition, it cannot be overemphasized that the laminated structure of 1st Embodiment can be used for the laminated structure of this embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified example of the golf club head according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the golf club head 20b has a configuration in which reinforcing members 90 and 92 each including a FRP layer or a laminated structure of a FRP layer and a metal layer constituting the face portion as described above are provided. Also good. The reinforcing members 90 and 92 are used for improving the bonding strength of the crown portion 26a. The reinforcing members 90 and 92 are provided on a part or all of the inner edge portion of the crown portion 26a according to the bonding strength. The reinforcing members 90 and 92 may be made of the same material or may be made of different materials. Furthermore, the crown portion 26a and the reinforcing members 90 and 92 can be formed of only FRP.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a golf club head according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the golf club head of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 7, in the golf club head 20 c of this embodiment, the back surface 25 of the laminated structure constituting the face portion 22 is configured with a metal layer 54 compared to the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment. The other configuration is the same as that of the golf club head of the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
As described above, it is effective to configure the back surface 25 of the face portion 22 with the FRP layer, but even if the metal layer 54 is disposed, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, in the golf club head 20c of the present embodiment, since the numerical values of the components common to the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment are the same, detailed description thereof is omitted.
Further, it goes without saying that a laminated structure can be applied to the present embodiment in addition to the face portion 22 as in the second embodiment. Furthermore, the configuration of the laminated structure can be the same as that of the second embodiment. In this case, the same effect as the golf club head of the second embodiment can be obtained.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a golf club head according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the golf club head of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 8, the golf club head 21 of the present embodiment is different from the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment in that the shape thereof is an iron type. Since it is the same structure as the golf club head 20 of 1 embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Even in this case, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, in the golf club head 21 of the present embodiment, since the numerical values of the components common to the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment are the same, detailed description thereof is omitted.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a golf club according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the golf club head of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the golf club 12 of this embodiment, the golf club head 21a has a face portion 22, a sole portion 24a, an upper portion 27, and a hosel portion 30 as compared with the golf club 10 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). However, it is different in that it is a type of head generally called an iron, and other configurations are the same as those of the golf club 10 of the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Also in the golf club head 21a of the present embodiment, the face portion 22 has a laminated structure in which a metal layer and an FRP layer are laminated, and the sole portion 24 and the upper portion 27 are made of a metal material. is there. The face portion 22, the sole portion 24, and the upper portion 27 are joined together to form a non-hollow structure.

  Also in the present embodiment, on the face surface 23 of the face portion 22, for example, three score lines L extending from the toe α side to the heel β side (horizontal direction H) are formed in parallel. This score line L is formed only on the metal layer 50.

  Further, in the golf club head 21 of the present embodiment, since the numerical values of the components common to the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment are the same, detailed description thereof is omitted. The golf club 12 of this embodiment also has the same effect as the golf club 10 of the first embodiment.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a golf club head according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the golf club head of the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 11, in the golf club head 21b of the present embodiment, the back surface 25 of the laminated structure that constitutes the face portion 22 is composed of a metal layer 54, as compared with the golf club head 21a of the fifth embodiment. Otherwise, the configuration other than that is the same as that of the golf club head 21a of the fifth embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As described in the first embodiment, it is effective to configure the back surface 25 of the face portion 22 with an FRP layer. However, even if the metal layer 54 is disposed, the same effect as in the fifth embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, in the golf club head 21b of the present embodiment, the numerical values of the components that are common to the golf club head 20 of the first embodiment are the same, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. The golf club head 21b of this embodiment can also exhibit the same effects as the golf club head of the first embodiment.

  Further, it goes without saying that the same effects as those of the above-described golf club head embodiment can be obtained for a golf club using the golf club head of the above-described embodiment.

  The present invention is basically as described above. Although the golf club head and golf club of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements or modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Of course.

Hereinafter, examples of the golf club head of the present invention will be specifically described in comparison with comparative examples that are out of the scope of the present invention.
In this example, with respect to Examples 1 to 14 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 having the configurations shown in Table 1 and Table 2 below, face face wear, feel, strength, resilience, design freedom, and Evaluation was performed using the flight distance as an evaluation item. The evaluation results for each item are shown in Table 3 below.
In all of Examples 1 to 14 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 in this example, the shape of the face portion is shorter in the vertical direction V than in the horizontal direction H as shown in FIG. Is.

In this embodiment, the face portion having the structure shown in FIG. 4 is used. In this embodiment, the first layer corresponds to the metal layer 50, the second layer corresponds to the FRP layer 60a, the third layer corresponds to the metal layer 62a, the fourth layer corresponds to the FRP layer 60b, The fifth layer corresponds to the metal layer 62b, and the sixth layer corresponds to the FRP layer 60c. Note that the symbol C indicates the neutral axis as described above. The neutral axis C is an axis that does not generate compressive stress or tensile stress even when bending stress is generated in the face portion 22.
In addition, “-” shown in Table 1 below indicates that the layer is not provided. In addition, “AFRP” shown in Table 1 below indicates a fiber reinforced plastic using aramid fibers as reinforcing fibers.

The “toe-heel direction” shown in Table 2 below corresponds to the horizontal direction H, and the “crown-sole direction” corresponds to the vertical direction V. The “face thickness” shown in Table 2 below corresponds to the symbol T shown in FIG.
Furthermore, “tensile strength”, “Young's modulus”, and “specific gravity of face” shown in Table 2 below are values of the face portion in a region having a radius of 15 mm centered on the center position of the face surface. As described above, the center position of the face surface was obtained by a center measuring device having a support portion for supporting the golf club head on the upper portion. The “mass of the face part” shown in Table 2 below represents the mass of the entire face part.

In this example, each evaluation item shown in the following Table 3 was evaluated with relative numerical values, with Comparative Example 1 as a reference (100). Here, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the golf club heads of Comparative Examples 1 to 3.
As shown in FIG. 12, in the golf club head 100 of Comparative Example 1, the face portion 22, the sole portion 24, and the crown portion 26 are integrally formed of a Ti alloy, and the thickness t of the face portion 22 Is 2.9 mm. In Comparative Example 2 and Comparative Example 3, the thickness t of the face portion 22 is 2.75 mm.

In this example, golf club shafts for TRX-DUO M40 (trade name) manufactured by Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. were attached to each golf club head to produce golf clubs, and the following tests were conducted. The length of this golf club is 45 inches.
Further, in each test of this example, a TRX (trade name) ball manufactured by Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. was used as the golf ball unless otherwise specified.

Further, the composition of “Ti alloy” shown in the column of “first layer (face surface)” of “material of face part” in Table 1 below is Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al. Furthermore, the composition of “Ti alloy” shown in the following Table 1 is Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn.
Further, “Marage steel” shown in “Material of face portion” in Table 1 below is Ni maraging steel (trade name: YAG250).

“AFRP” shown in Table 1 below is a fiber reinforced plastic using aramid fibers as reinforced fibers. As this “AFRP”, one having a fiber basis weight of 160 g / m ² and a resin content of 38% was used.
Furthermore, “CFRP” shown in Table 1 below has a fiber Young's modulus of 24 ton type, a fiber basis weight of 160 g / m ² , and a resin content of 38%.
Furthermore, in this example, a polyurethane resin-based resin film having a thickness of 0.08 mm was provided between the layers of the face portion.

As the “Ti alloy” shown in “Crown material” in Table 2 below, one having a composition of Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn was used.
Further, Ni maraging steel (trade name: YAG250) was used for “maraging steel” shown in “Material of crown portion” and “Material of sole portion” in Table 2 below.

In “Ti alloy + FRP” and “Ti alloy + (FRP + metal)” shown in “Material of crown part” and “Material of sole part” in Table 2 below, “Ti alloy” includes Ti-15Mo— The composition of 5Zr-3Al was used. As the “FRP”, a fiber having a Young's modulus of 24 ton type, a fiber basis weight of 160 g / m ² and a resin content of 38% was used.
The “metal” used was Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn. The thickness of this metal was 0.13 mm.
Further, KS100 (trade name) was used for “Ti alloy” shown in “Material of sole portion” in Table 2 below.

  Further, regarding the face surface wear shown in Table 3 below, the golf clubs of Examples 1 to 14 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 were evaluated using an air cannon tester. The evaluation of the wear of the face surface is carried out by measuring the roughness of the face surface of the face portion in advance, colliding the golf ball with the center portion of the face portion at 10000 shots at a ball speed of 50 m / sec, The roughness of was measured. It was investigated whether the roughness of the face surface was changed by the collision of the golf ball. At this time, Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 2 to 4 were evaluated with the change of Comparative Example 1 as 100.

  Further, the hit feeling shown in Table 3 below was evaluated by making a total of 100 hits of amateur golfers and professional golfers having a head speed in the range of 34 m / sec to 50 m / sec. As an evaluation method, the hit feelings of the examples and other comparative examples are “too much metal sound” (3 to 5), “just right” (−2 to 2), and “too much metal sound” for each person. A score was assigned at (−3 to −5), the average value was obtained, and the hit feeling of each example and each comparative example was evaluated with a numerical value of −5 to 5. In addition, as a numerical value, -2 to 2 is a good range for the hit feeling.

  With respect to the strength shown in Table 3 below, using an air cannon test machine, until the golf ball collides with the center part of the face part of each golf club head of the example and the comparative example at a speed of 50 m / second until it breaks. The number of hit balls was measured. In this case, the strength of each example and each comparative example was represented by a numerical value, assuming that the number of hit balls until destruction in comparative example 1 was 100.

Regarding the repulsion shown in Table 3 below, the “Procedure for Measuring the Velocity Ratio of a Club Head for Conformance to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II Revision 2 February 8” defined by the United States Golf Association , 1999 "was evaluated using the coefficient of restitution of the examples and comparative examples. In this case, the restitution coefficient of the comparative example 1 was set to 100, and the repulsion of each Example and each comparative example was represented by the numerical value.

  The degree of freedom of design shown in Table 3 below is expressed as a numerical value by converting the specific gravity of the face part of each example and each comparative example with the specific gravity of the face part of Comparative Example 1 being 100.

  Regarding the flight distance shown in Table 3 below, for each of the golf clubs of the examples and comparative examples, 10 for each of a total of 100 amateur golfers and professional golfers with a head speed in the range of 34 m / sec to 50 m / sec. The average value obtained by hitting each ball.

  As shown in Table 3 above, all of Examples 1 to 14 were able to obtain good results with respect to face surface wear, feel, strength, resilience, design freedom, and flight distance. That is, Examples 1 to 14 were able to improve the design freedom and the flight distance while maintaining the strength.

  On the other hand, Comparative Example 1 was inferior in strength because the face portion was composed only of a Ti alloy, and was composed of an isotropic member rather than a laminated structure. Further, since Comparative Example 1 is not a laminated structure, the mass of the face portion is large, the degree of freedom in design is low, and the flight distance is inferior. Further, Comparative Example 1 was inferior in hit feeling due to excessive metal sound.

  Comparative Example 2 was inferior in strength because the face portion was composed only of a Ti alloy and not a laminated structure. Further, since Comparative Example 2 was not a laminated structure, the face portion had a large mass, the degree of design freedom was low, and the flight distance was inferior. Further, Comparative Example 2 was inferior in hit feeling due to excessive metal sound.

  In Comparative Example 3, the face portion is composed only of a Ti alloy, not a laminated structure, and the tensile strength in the crown-sole direction is low, so the strength of the face portion is inferior. Further, since Comparative Example 3 was not a laminated structure, the face portion had a large mass, the design freedom was low, and the flight distance was inferior. Furthermore, Comparative Example 3 was inferior in hit feeling due to excessive metal sound.

  In Comparative Example 4, since the face portion is formed of an isotropic member, the strength is inferior, and the degree of freedom in design and the flight distance are inferior. Further, Comparative Example 4 was inferior in hit feeling due to excessive metal sound.

  In Comparative Example 5, the strength of the face portion was inferior because the face portion had a low tensile strength in the crown-sole direction. Further, Comparative Example 5 was slightly inferior in hit feeling due to a slight metal sound.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a golf club according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf club head shown in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing by the AA line of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of a face portion shown in FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing which shows the golf club head which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the golf club head which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the golf club head which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the golf club head which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the golf club which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing by the BB line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the golf club head which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing golf club heads of Comparative Examples 1 to 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 12 Golf club 20, 21, 100 Golf club head 22 Face part 23 Face surface 24 Sole part 25 Back surface 26 Crown part 27 Upper part 30 Hosel part 40 Golf club shaft 42 Socket 50, 62a, 62b Metal layer 60a, 60b, 60c FRP layer

Claims (13)

A golf club head having a face portion having a face surface for hitting a golf ball,
Of the face portion, at least the hitting portion of the face surface that hits the golf ball is composed of a laminated structure having a laminated structure in which a metal layer and a fiber reinforced plastic layer are laminated,
The face portion has a different first tensile strength in a first direction from the toe toward the heel direction, and a second tensile strength in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the face surface,
The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the second tensile strength is higher than the first tensile strength. The face portion has a first Young's modulus in the first direction different from a second Young's modulus in the second direction,
The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the second Young's modulus is smaller than the first Young's modulus.   The face portion is pulled stepwise as it moves in at least one of a third direction from the central axis in the thickness direction of the face portion toward the face surface and a fourth direction from the central axis toward the back surface. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the metal layer having a high strength and the fiber reinforced plastic layer is disposed.   4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a surface portion of the hitting portion of the face portion that directly contacts the golf ball is formed of a metal layer.   The golf club head according to claim 4, wherein a thickness of the metal layer constituting the surface portion is the thickest among the metal layers.   The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a back surface of the face portion is formed of a fiber reinforced plastic layer.   The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the fiber reinforced plastic layer in the laminated structure increases stepwise from the front surface portion toward the back surface.   The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the metal layer has a thickness of 0.05 to 2.0 mm.   9. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the laminated structure constituting the face portion has a total of at least three layers of the metal layer and the fiber reinforced plastic layer.   The laminated structure of the face portion is provided in a region having a radius of 15 mm from the center position of the face surface, and has a specific gravity of 1.8 to 8.5. Golf club head.   The laminated structure of the face part is provided in a region having a radius of 15 mm from the center position of the face surface, and has a thickness of 2.0 to 5.0 mm. The described golf club head.   The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the laminated structure of the face portion is provided in a region having a radius of 15 mm from the center position of the face surface, and has a Young's modulus of 40 to 210 GPa. head. A golf club comprising the golf club head according to claim 1.

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