Method for manufacturing and golf club head

• US 20050032585A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Erik Zedelmayer, Todd P. Beach
• Original Assignee: Erik Zedelmayer, Todd P. Beach
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Zedelmayer, Erik
• Granted Patent: US 7,041,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/345
• 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 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/46 using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/86 Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, e.g. by winding
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

A method for forming a golf club head comprises placing an uncured composite material between a core and a mold that comprises a first piece and a second piece. The second piece is moved towards the first piece such that the uncured composite material is compressed between the core and at least a portion of the mold. The uncured composite material is heated. A first portion of the golf club head is removed from the mold. A second portion of the golf club head is provided. The first portion is attached to the second portion. In certain arrangements, the second portion is formed from a metallic material.

Claims

1-40. -40. (Canceled)

41. A golf club head, comprising:

a strike plate comprised of titanium;

a sole plate comprised of titanium and coupled to the strike plate;

a crown portion comprised of titanium and coupled to the strike plate, the crown portion having an outer surface, an inner surface, an outwardly facing attachment surface generally parallel to and disposed between the inner and outer surfaces of the crown portion, and a first abutment surface extending between the attachment surface and the outer surface of the crown portion, wherein the first abutment surface is substantially normal to the outer surface of the crown portion; and

a shell comprised of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy and coupled to the crown portion, the shell having an outer surface, an inner facing surface, and a second abutment surface extending between the outer and inner facing surfaces of the shell, wherein the second abutment surface is substantially normal to the outer surface of the shell;

wherein the attachment surface extends along an entire periphery of the shell, the attachment surface is bonded to the inner facing surface of the shell, the first abutment surface is connected to the second abutment surface, and the attachment surface is at least four times as wide as a thickness of the shell.