GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH IMPROVED STRIKING FACE
A golf club head with improved striking face is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head wherein the striking face is further comprised out of a thickened central region, located near a geometric center of the striking face portion, a central transition region extending outward radially from the thickened central region, a thinned intermediate region, extending outward radially from the central transition region, a thickened stress reducing region, extending outward radially from the thinned intermediate region, and a thinned perimeter region, extending outward radially from the thickened stress reducing region, all of which combine to form the improved striking face.
1 . A golf club head comprising:
a striking face portion, located at a frontal portion of said golf club head, adapted to impact a golf ball; and
a body portion, attached to a rear of said striking face portion,
wherein said striking face portion further comprises;
a frontal striking surface, wherein said frontal striking surface is substantially planar, and
an internal rear surface,
wherein said frontal striking surface and said internal rear surface combine to further comprises;
a thickened central region, located near a geometric center of said striking face portion, having a first thickness,
a central transition region, extending outward radially from said thickened central region, having a variable thickness,
a thinned intermediate region, extending outward radially from said central transition region, having a third thickness,
a thickened stress reducing region, extending outward radially from said thinned intermediate region, having a fourth thickness, and
a thinned perimeter region, extending outward radially from said thickened stress reducing region, having a fifth thickness,
wherein said thickened stress reducing region forms a horseshoe shaped ring, protruding rearward from said internal rear surface of said striking face portion, and
wherein said fourth thickness is greater than said first thickness.
2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein an opening in said horseshoe shaped ring is located near a crown transition portion of said striking face portion.
3 . The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein said thickened stress reducing region further comprises;
a toe side upper thickened stress reducing region,
a toe side thickened stress reducing region,
a lower thickened stress reducing region,
a heel side thickened stress reducing region, and
a heel side upper thickened stress reducing region,
wherein said toe side upper thickened stress reducing region and said heel side upper thickened stress reducing region are discontinuous from one another.
4 . The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein said toe side upper thickened stress reducing region connects directly to said crown transition portion.
5 . The golf club head of claim 4 , wherein said heel side upper thickened stress reducing region connects directly to said crown transition portion.
6 . The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein said thickened stress reducing region have a T over H ratio of between about 0.6 to 1.1, said T over H ratio defined as;
T
over
H
Ratio
=
Thickness
T
4
of
Thickened
Stress
Reducing
Region
Height
H
4
of
Thickened
Stress
Reducing
Region
.
7 . The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein said T over H ratio is between about 0.7 to about 0.9.
8 . The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein said T over H ratio is about 0.8.
9 . A golf club head comprising:
a striking face portion located at a frontal portion of said golf club head, adapted to impact a golf ball, and
a body portion, attached to a rear of said striking face portion,
wherein said striking face portion further comprises;
a perimeter region having a central opening,
wherein said perimeter region further comprises a thickened stress reducing region, having a fourth thickness, and
a face insert adapted to engage said central opening,
wherein said face insert further comprises a thickened central region, located near a geometric center of said striking face portion, having a first thickness,
wherein no part of said thickened stress reducing region engages said face insert, and
wherein said fourth thickness is greater than said first thickness.
10 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein a top ledge of said central opening is located less than about 1.5 mm away from a crown leading edge of said striking face portion.
11 . The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein said top ledge of said central opening is located less than about 1.0 mm away from said crown leading edge of said striking face portion.
12 . The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein said top ledge of said central opening is located less than about 0.9 mm away from said crown leading edge of said striking face portion.
13 . The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein said thickened central portion forms an incomplete circle.
14 . The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein a discontinuity of said incomplete circle is located near a crown side of said thickened central portion.
15 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein said face insert has an aspect ratio of between about 1.3 to about 1.7.
16 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein said face insert has an aspect ratio of between about 1.4 to about 1.6.
17 . The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein said face insert has an aspect ratio of about 1.5.
18 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein a top ledge of said central opening is located less than about 10 mm away from a crown apex.
19 . The golf club head of claim 18 , wherein said top ledge of said central opening is located less than about 9 mm away from a crown apex.
20 . The golf club head of claim 19 , wherein said top ledge of said central portion is located less than about 8 mm away from a crown apex.