US20080039230A1

US20080039230A1 - Striking plate for a golf club head

Info

Publication number: US20080039230A1
Application number: US11/502,861
Authority: US
Inventors: Chon-Chen Lin; Shun-Fu HU; Yen-Chi Hsu
Original assignee: O Ta Precision Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: O Ta Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-11
Filing date: 2006-08-11
Publication date: 2008-02-14

Abstract

A striking plate of a golf club head includes a plate body, a plurality of parallel elongate grooves formed in a surface of the plate body and each having a groove bottom, and a plurality of protrusions projecting from the groove bottom of each of the grooves and spaced apart from each other along the groove bottom.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a striking plate for a golf club head, more particularly to a striking plate for a golf club head having an increased friction coefficient.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional golf club head 1 includes a head body 11 and a striking plate 12 bonded to the head body 11. The striking plate 12 includes a plurality of parallel elongate grooves 121 formed in a surface of the striking plate 12. When the striking plate 12 strikes a golf ball (not shown), the elongate grooves 121 can provide the striking plate 12 with a relatively high friction coefficient so as to control the traveling direction of the stricken golf ball.
It is desirable in the art to further increase the friction coefficient of the striking plate 12 so as to further improve the direction controllability of the striking plate 12.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a striking plate for a golf club head which is increased in its friction coefficient.
Accordingly, a striking plate of a golf club head of this invention includes a plate body, a plurality of parallel elongate grooves formed in a surface of the plate body and each having a groove bottom, and a plurality of protrusions projecting from the groove bottom of each of the grooves and spaced apart from each other along the groove bottom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional striking plate used in a golf club head;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a first preferred embodiment of a striking plate according to this invention, which is used in a golf club head;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are fragmentary schematic views illustrating various geometries of protrusions suitable for the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a second preferred embodiment of a striking plate according to this invention, which is used in a golf club head; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a third preferred embodiment of a striking plate according to this invention, which is used in a golf club head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment of a striking plate 22 according to this invention is shown to be mounted on a head body 21 so as to make a golf club head 2. The striking plate 22 includes a plate body 221, a plurality of parallel elongate first grooves 222, and a plurality of protrusions 223. The first grooves 222 are formed in a surface of the plate body 221. Each of the first grooves 222 has a groove bottom 2221. The protrusions 223 project from the groove bottom 2221 of each of the first grooves 222 and are spaced apart from each other along the groove bottom 2221. Each of the first grooves 222 has a depth larger than a height of each of the protrusions 223. The protrusions 223 are arranged in a row along each of the first grooves 222, and each of the protrusions 223 tapers upwardly from the groove bottom 2221 of a corresponding one of the first grooves 222.
In view of the aforesaid, since the friction coefficient of the striking surface of the striking plate 22 can be increased by providing the protrusions 223 in the first grooves 222 of the striking plate 22, the direction controllability of the striking plate 221 can be improved.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, it should be noted the geometries of the protrusions 223 can be various suitable shapes, such as a substantially rectangular cross section, a substantially circular cross section, an oval cross section, or a substantially X-shaped cross section. It will be appreciated that the aforesaid list is not exhaustive, and that the present invention encompasses the protrusions 223 having any suitable geometries.
Specifically referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the protrusions 223 can be arranged in two rows along each of the first grooves 222, and the protrusions 223 in one of the two rows are staggered relative to the protrusions 223 in the other one of the two rows. Of course, the protrusions 223 can be arranged in more than two rows along each of the first grooves 222.
The protrusions 223 can be formed by laser engraving or by using an engraving machine for preliminary engraving followed by laser engraving for refining engraving.
Referring to FIG. 11, the second preferred embodiment of a striking plate 22 according to this invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment except that each of the first grooves 222 further has two opposite groove walls 2222. The groove bottom 2221 bridges the groove walls 2222. Each of the groove walls 2222 has a stepped surface. Therefore, the friction coefficient of the striking surface of the striking plate 22 can be further increased by the groove walls 2222.
Referring to FIG. 12, the third preferred embodiment of a striking plate 22 according to this invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment except that the striking plate 22 further includes a plurality of elongate second grooves 224 formed between two adjacent ones of the first grooves 222. Each of the second grooves 224 has a depth smaller than that of the first grooves 222, and has a width smaller than that of the first grooves 222. The friction coefficient of the striking surface of the striking plate 22 can also be increased further by the second grooves 224.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A striking plate for a golf club head, comprising:

a plate body;

a plurality of parallel elongate first grooves formed in a surface of said plate body and each having a groove bottom; and

a plurality of protrusions projecting from said groove bottom of each of said first grooves and spaced apart from each other along said groove bottom.

2. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first grooves has a depth larger than a height of each of said protrusions.

3. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first grooves further has two opposite groove walls, said groove bottom bridging said groove walls, each of said groove walls having a stepped surface.

4. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least an elongate second groove formed between two adjacent ones of said first grooves and having a depth smaller than that of said first grooves.

5. The striking plate as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second groove has a width smaller than that of said first grooves.

6. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protrusions are arranged in a row along each of said first grooves.

7. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said protrusions has a substantially rectangular cross section.

8. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said protrusions has a substantially circular cross section.

9. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said protrusions has an oval cross section.

10. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said protrusions has a substantially X-shaped cross section.

11. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said protrusions tapers upwardly from said groove bottom of a corresponding one of said first grooves.

12. The striking plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protrusions are arranged in two rows along each of said first grooves.

13. The striking plate as claimed in claim 12, wherein said protrusions in one of said two rows are staggered relative to said protrusions in the other one of said two rows.