Positioning Tool for Ceramic Cores
First Claim
1. A method for forming a hollow, metallic golf club head, the method comprising:
- placing a ceramic core into a first mold cavity, the first mold cavity having a plurality of depressions formed therein;
injecting wax into the first mold cavity to fill in the plurality of depressions, the wax adhering to portions of an exterior surface of the ceramic core and forming a plurality of wax protuberances on the exterior surface, each protuberance corresponding to a respective depression in the first mold cavity;
placing the ceramic core with the wax protuberances into a second mold cavity, the second mold cavity having a shape complementary to a desired exterior of the golf club head, the plurality of wax protuberances properly positioning the ceramic core in the second mold cavity;
injecting wax into the second mold cavity, the wax adhering to a majority of the exterior surface of the ceramic core and to the wax protuberances;
forming a shell over the wax;
melting the wax to form a gap between the shell and the ceramic core; and
casting molten metal into the gap to form the golf club head.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming a hollow golf club head is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first mold cavity having depressions formed therein, a second mold cavity having a shape complementary to the exterior of the desired club head, a ceramic core, and wax injecting means. Each depression of the first mold cavity has a depth equal to a desired wall thickness of a corresponding portion of the club head. When the ceramic core is placed in the first mold cavity and wax is injected, wax protuberances, which correspond to the depressions, are formed about the ceramic core. The wax protuberances position the ceramic core in the second mold cavity, where wax is deposited over the majority of the ceramic core.
52 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for forming a hollow, metallic golf club head, the method comprising:
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placing a ceramic core into a first mold cavity, the first mold cavity having a plurality of depressions formed therein; injecting wax into the first mold cavity to fill in the plurality of depressions, the wax adhering to portions of an exterior surface of the ceramic core and forming a plurality of wax protuberances on the exterior surface, each protuberance corresponding to a respective depression in the first mold cavity; placing the ceramic core with the wax protuberances into a second mold cavity, the second mold cavity having a shape complementary to a desired exterior of the golf club head, the plurality of wax protuberances properly positioning the ceramic core in the second mold cavity; injecting wax into the second mold cavity, the wax adhering to a majority of the exterior surface of the ceramic core and to the wax protuberances; forming a shell over the wax; melting the wax to form a gap between the shell and the ceramic core; and casting molten metal into the gap to form the golf club head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for forming a hollow golf club head, the apparatus comprising:
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a first mold having a cavity with a plurality of depressions formed therein, each of the depressions having a depth substantially equal to a desired wall thickness of a corresponding portion of the golf club head; a second mold having a cavity formed therein, the second mold cavity being larger than the first mold cavity and having a shape complementary to a desired exterior of the golf club head; and means for injecting wax into the first and second mold cavities. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification