Golf club head and method of manufacturing the same

• US 20020025861A1
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GPS Limited (Gap Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: GPS Limited (Gap Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ezawa, Hiroyuki
• Application Number:
  US09/861,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20020025861A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• 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 53/047 iron-type

Abstract

A face portion 11 of a golf club head 10 is obtained press-forming a metal plate into a predetermined shape. On the front surface 11a of the face portion 11, score lines 12 are formed by means of die sinking of electrical discharge machining, and a mirror finished surface portion 13 is formed by means of finish processing of electrical discharge machining. On the rear surface 11b of the face portion 11, a rib structure 15, and a high hardness layer 16 of an amorphous metal layer are formed. The electrical discharge machining is numerically controlled.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising a high hardness layer on front and/or rear surfaces of a face portion, the high hardness layer being constituted by a transmuted layer formed by means of electrical discharge machining.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the high hardness layer has a micro-Vickers hardness of 1000 or more.

5. The golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the high hardness layer, the corrosion resistant layer or the wear resistant layer is an amorphous layer which is formed using a silicon electrode and contains silicon.

6. The golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the high hardness layer, the corrosion resistant layer or the wear resistant layer is constituted by the transmuted layer and an amorphous layer which is formed on the transmuted layer by means of finish processing using a silicon electrode and contains silicon.

3. A golf club head comprising a corrosion resistant layer formed on front and/or rear surfaces of a face portion, the corrosion resistant layer being constituted by a transmuted layer formed by means of electrical discharge machining.

4. A golf club head comprising a wear resistant layer formed on front and/or rear surfaces of a face portion, the wear resistant layer being constituted by a transmuted layer formed by means of electrical discharge machining.

7. A golf club head comprising a mirror finished surface portion formed on a front surface of a face portion, the mirror finished surface portion being formed by means of finish processing of electrical discharge machining.

8. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the mirror finished face portion has a maximum roughness of 1 μ

m or less.

9. A golf club head comprising a roughly finished surface portion formed on a front surface of a face portion, the roughly finished surface portion being formed by means of rough processing of electrical discharge machining.

10. A golf club head comprising a reinforced layer having a rib structure formed on a rear surface of a face portion, the reinforced layer being formed by means of die sinking of electrical discharge machining.

11. A golf club head of an iron having a cavity back structure, comprising a decoration layer which is formed on a rear surface of a face portion formed by means of die sinking of electrical discharge machining.

12. The golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the decoration layer includes electrical discharge traces formed by means of electrical discharge machining.

13. A method of manufacturing a golf club head in which a high hardness layer is formed on front surface and/or rear surfaces of a face portion, the high hardness layer being constituted by a transmuted layer formed by means of electrical discharge machining.

16. The method of manufacturing a golf club head according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein, the high hardness layer, the corrosion resistant layer or the wear resistant layer is an amorphous layer which is formed using a silicon electrode and contains silicon.

17. The method of manufacturing a golf club head according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein, the high hardness layer, the corrosion resistant layer or the wear resistant layer is constituted by the transmuted layer and an amorphous layer which is formed on the transmuted layer by means of finish processing using a silicon electrode and contains silicon.

14. A method of manufacturing a golf club head in which a corrosion resistant layer is formed on front surface and/or rear surfaces of a face portion, the corrosion resistant layer being constituted by a transmuted layer formed by means of electrical discharge machining.

15. A method of manufacturing a golf club head in which a wear resistant layer is formed on front surface and/or rear surfaces of a face portion, the wear resistant layer being constituted by a transmuted layer formed by means of electrical discharge machining.

18. A method of manufacturing a golf club head in which a mirror finished surface portion is formed on a front surface of a face portion, the mirror finished surface portion being formed by means of finish processing of electrical discharge machining.

19. A method of manufacturing a golf club head in which a roughly finished surface portion is formed on a front surface of a face portion, the roughly finished surface portion being formed by means of rough processing of electrical discharge machining.

20. A method of manufacturing a golf club head of an iron, wherein a reinforced layer having a rib structure is formed on a rear surface of a face portion, the reinforced layer being formed by means of die sinking of electrical discharge machining.

21. A method of manufacturing a golf club head of an iron having a cavity back structure, wherein a decoration layer is formed on a rear surface of the face portion by means of die sinking of electrical discharge machining.