Composite materials for golf club heads

• US 10,722,766 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2019
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Gonczi, Robert S., Webb, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau, Stephen L
• Application Number:
  US16/510,738
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/00 Producing hollow articles tubular articles B29D23/00; pneumatic tyres B29D30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2307/04 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/00 Layered products having a non-planar shape
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/14 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/20 comprising aluminium or copper B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/02 on fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/20 Inorganic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/28 Multiple coating on one surface
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/023 Two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/046 Synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0269 Aromatic polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/101 : Glass fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/106 : Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 : Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/02 : characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 : another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties

Abstract

A multiple-material golf club head with a resilient crown structure and an improved, graphene-infused coating is disclosed herein. The crown comprises a metal support structure that is attached to the body of the golf club head and supports a composite outer layer. The golf club head is also at least partially coated with a paint film that is infused with graphene particles.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body comprising an upper opening encircled by a bond flange;

a crown comprising a composite layer, an adhesive layer, and a metal support structure; and

a plurality of clear, graphene-infused coating layers comprising boron nitride,

wherein the composite layer comprises at least one ply of carbon fibers and a resin material,

wherein the metal support structure has a thickness of no more than 0.030 inch and is composed of a metal alloy selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, and aluminum alloy,

wherein the crown is bonded to an upper surface of the metal support structure with the adhesive layer,

wherein a lower surface of the metal support structure is affixed to the bond flange to cover the upper opening,

wherein the coating layer comprises a paint film and no more than 5% of graphene particles based on dry weight, and

wherein the coating layer covers at least a portion of the composite layer of the crown.