Golf club head and method for manufacturing the golf club head

• US 20050043115A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: O-Ta Precision Casting Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: O-Ta Precision Casting Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lin, Chon-Chen
• Application Number:
  US10/643,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043115A1
• 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 53/0416 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A composite golf club head includes a light-weight alloy strike plate, a composite material body, a metal sole plate and a balance weight. The strike plate has a rear, and a rim is formed around the rear to form a hollow cup-like body. The body is bonded to the rim and is composed of a crown and a sole made of fiber prepreg material. A sole plate made of metal is mounted in the sole, and has a seat formed in the sole plate and a hole defined through the seat. A balance weight is mounted in the hole.

Claims

1. A composite golf club head comprising:

a strike plate made of a light-weight alloy, having a front, a rear, a toe, a heel, a shank formed at the heel of the strike plate, and a rim formed around the rear of the strike plate to form a hollow cup-like body;

a body bonded to the rim and being composed of a crown and a sole made of fiber prepreg material;

a sole plate made of metal, mounted in the sole and having a seat formed in the sole plate and a hole defined through the seat; and

a balance weight mounted in the hole.

2. The composite golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber prepreg material is carbon fiber impregnated with resin.

3. The composite golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber prepreg material is glass fiber impregnated with resin.

4. The composite golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber prepreg material is Kevlar™

fiber impregnated with resin.

5. The composite golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber prepreg material is boron fiber impregnated with resin.

6. The composite golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber prepreg material is titanium fiber impregnated with resin.

7. The composite golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber prepreg material is copper fiber impregnated with resin.

8. The composite golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber prepreg material is aluminum fiber impregnated with resin.

9. The composite golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein an opening is defined through the sole, and the sole plate is mounted in the opening.

10. A method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in claim 1 comprising steps of:

preparing the individual elements comprising casting or forging the strike plate with the shank, the sole plate and the balance weight;

cutting and bonding the fiber prepreg material based on the profiles of the crown and the sole; and

preparing adhesive sheets and an air bladder;

pressing prepreg material comprising pressing the fiber prepreg material pieces in corresponding dies to form the crown and the sole;

assembling the golf club head comprising attaching the strike plate, the crown, the sole and the sole plate together by the adhesive sheets; and

inserting the air bladder through the hole in the golf head with a nozzle extending out of from the hole;

shaping the golf club head comprises pumping air into the air bladder to pre-shape the golf club head;

curing the prepreg materials comprising heating, pressing and blowing the pre-shaped golf club head in a hot-press molding die to cure the fiber prepreg materials of the body; and

the air bladder pressing the adhesive sheets to tightly abut the inside wall of the golf head;

removing the golf club head from the die comprises removing the cured golf club head from the hot-press molding die, and removing the air bladder through the hole from the golf club head; and

finishing the golf club head comprising finishing the golf club head, installing the balance weight in the hole in the sole plate and painting the golf club head.