Composite golf club head and method of manufacturing

• US 20010001302A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 05/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Reyes, Herbert, Galloway, J. Andrew, Evans, D. Clayton, Murphy, James M., Helmstetter, Richard C., Jacobson, Daniel R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,406,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/342 using isostatic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/865 completely encapsulated
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs

Abstract

A golf club having a club head with a striking plate composed of a composite material and having a thickness in the range of 0.010 to 0.250 inches is disclosed herein. The golf club head also has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.8 under test conditions such as the USGA test conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II, of the Rules of Golf for 1998-1999. The golf club head body is also composed of a composite material, and a weight strip is placed within a ribbon of the body.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow body having a crown composed of a plurality of face/crown plies of pre-preg sheets, a sole composed of a plurality of sole plies of pre-preg sheets and a striking plate composed of a plurality of face/crown plies of pre-preg sheets, a plurality of full face plies of pre-preg sheets and a plurality of face doubler plies of pre-preg sheets, the striking plate having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inches to 0.250 inches, and the golf club head having a coefficient of restitution in the range of 0.8 to 0.9.

2. The golf club head according to

claim 1

further comprising a return disposed between the striking plate and the crown, and having a thickness in the range of 0.100 to 0.200 inches.

3. The golf club head according to

claim 1

further comprising a ribbon and a weight strip composed of a metal material disposed on the ribbon.

4. The golf club head according to

claim 1

further comprising an integral hosel and sole plate composed of a metal material attached to the sole.

5. The golf club head according to

claim 1

wherein the plies of pre-preg sheets are in a ninety degree orientation.

6. The golf club head according to

claim 1

plies of pre-preg sheets are in a forty-five degree orientation.

7. The golf club head according to

claim 1

wherein the full face plies and face/crown plies of pre-preg sheets are in a quasi-isotropic orientation.

8. The golf club head according to

claim 1

wherein the golf club head has a volume in the range of 300 cubic centimeters to 310 cubic centimeters, and a weight in the range of 100 grams to 195 grams.

9. A method for producing a golf club head composed of a composite material, the method comprising:

placing at least one sole ply pre-preg sheet on a mold to form a portion of a preform, the sole ply having a zero to forty-five degree orientation;

placing at least one face/crown ply pre-preg sheet and at least one full face ply pre-preg sheet on a mold to form a portion of a preform, the face/crown ply and the full face ply each having a quasi-isotropic orientation;

assembling the portions of preforms and a bladder to form a preform with a bladder therein;

inflating the bladder to consolidate the plies of pre-preg sheets; and

curing the preform to form a golf club head composed of a composite material.