Striking plate of a golf club head and golf club head including the same

Abstract

A golf club head and a striking plate for connecting a shell of a golf club head are provided. The striking plate includes a plate body and at least one rib member. The plate body has a crown-connecting side, a sole-connecting side, a toe-connecting side, a heel-connecting side respectively connecting to a crown, a sole, a toe and a heel, a central portion surrounded by the crown-connecting side, the sole-connecting side, the toe-connecting side and the heel-connecting side, a front striking face, and a rear face. The at least one rib member includes two opposite end portions projecting rearwardly from the rear face, and a bridge portion connected between the two opposite end portions and spaced apart from the rear face.

1 . A striking plate for connecting a shell of a golf club head, which has a sole, a crown, a toe and a heel, said striking plate comprising:
 a plate body having a crown-connecting side configured to connect said crown of said shell, a sole-connecting side configured to connect said sole, a toe-connecting side configured to connect said toe, a heel-connecting side configured to connect said heel, a central portion that is surrounded by said crown connecting side, said sole-connecting side, said toe-connecting side and said heel-connecting side, a front striking face, and a rear face opposite to said front striking face; and   at least one rib member including two opposite end portions connected to and projecting rearwardly from said rear face, and a bridge portion connected between said two opposite end portions and spaced apart from said rear face, one of said two opposite end portions being proximal to one of said crown-connecting side and said toe-connecting side, the other one of said two opposite end portions being proximal to one of said sole-connecting side and said heel-connecting side.   
     
     
         2 . The striking plate of  claim 1 , wherein said plate body having a first width along a first direction parallel to a line passing through said central portion and connecting between said crown-connecting side and said sole-connection side, and a second width along a second direction parallel to a line passing through said central portion and connecting between said toe-connecting side and said heel-connecting side, the second width being greater than the first width, said two opposite end portions of said at least one rib member being spaced apart along one of the first and second directions, said bridge portion of said at least one rib member extending along one of the first and second directions. 
     
     
         3 . The striking plate of  claim 2 , wherein said bridge portion extends along the first direction, said two opposite end portions being respectively proximal to said crown-connecting side and said sole-connecting side of said plate body. 
     
     
         4 . The striking plate of  claim 2 , wherein said bridge portion extends along the second direction, said two opposite end portions being respectively proximal to said toe-connecting side and said heel-connecting side of said plate body. 
     
     
         5 . The striking plate of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rib member includes two rib members intersecting each other. 
     
     
         6 . The striking plate of  claim 1 , wherein said bridge portion of said at least one rib member curvedly extends from one of said two opposite end portions to the other one of said two opposite end portions. 
     
     
         7 . The striking plate of  claim 1 , wherein said plate body is curved. 
     
     
         8 . The striking plate of  claim 1 , wherein said two opposite end portions extend rearwardly and straightly from said rear face of said plate body along a third direction perpendicular to said rear face. 
     
     
         9 . The striking plate of  claim 1 , wherein said bridge portion of said at least one rib member is spaced apart from said rear face of said plate body by a maximum distance ranging from 4 mm to 8 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The striking plate of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rib member having a cross-sectional area decreased from said two opposite end portions toward a middle of said bridge portion. 
     
     
         11 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a shell having a sole, a crown, a toe, a heel, and an inner chamber surrounded by said sole, said crown, said toe and said heel; and   a striking plate covering said inner chamber and having a plate body and at least one rib member,   said plate body having a crown-connecting side connecting said crown, a sole-connecting side that connects said sole, a toe-connecting side that connects said toe, a heel-connecting side that connects said heel, a central portion that is surrounded by said crown-connecting side, said sole-connecting side, said toe-connecting side and said heel-connecting side, a front striking face, and a rear face opposite to said front striking face and facing said inner chamber,   said at least one rib member including two opposite end portions connected to and projecting rearwardly from said rear face, and a bridge portion connected between said two opposite end portions and spaced apart from said rear face, one of said two opposite end portions being proximal to one of said crown-connecting side and said toe-connecting side, the other one of said two opposite end portions being proximal to one of said sole-connecting side and said heel-connecting side.   
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said plate body having a first width along a first direction parallel to a line passing through said central portion and connecting between said crown-connecting side and said sole-connection side, and a second width along a second direction parallel to a line passing through said central portion and connecting between said toe-connecting side and said heel-connecting side, the second width being greater than the first width, said two opposite end portions of said at least one rib member being spaced apart along one of the first and second directions, said bridge portion of said at least one rib member extending along one of the the first and second directions. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said bridge portion extends along the first direction, said two opposite end portions being respectively proximal to said crown-connecting side and said sole-connecting side of said plate body. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said bridge portion extends along the second direction, said two opposite end portions being respectively proximal to said toe-connecting side and said heel-connecting side of said plate body. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one rib member includes two rib members intersecting each other. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said bridge portion of said at least one rib member curvedly extends from one of said two opposite end portions to the other one of said two opposite end portions. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said plate body is curved. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said two opposite end portions extend rearwardly and straightly from said rear face of said plate body along a third direction perpendicular to said rear face. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said bridge portion of said at least one rib member is spaced apart from said rear face of said plate body by a maximum distance ranging from 4 mm to 8 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one rib member having a cross-sectional area decreased from said two opposite end portions toward a middle of said bridge portion.