ROTATIONAL MOLDED GOLF CLUB HEADS

• US 20080248895A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavares, Gary G., Waatti, Todd Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,814,723 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 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/04 Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/20 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. moulding inserts or for coating articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/68 by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers , e.g. foam blocks mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/681 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/00 Use of unspecified macromolecular compounds as moulding material use of unspecified rubbers B29K2021/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2705/00 Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs

Abstract

Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include: (a) a golf club head base member including a face member having a ball striking face; and (b) a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member, wherein the polymeric body member is formed via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process) and/or engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process). The polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the club head in some structures.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head base member including a golf club head face member having a ball striking face engaged therewith or integrally formed therewith as a unitary one piece construction; and

a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process, wherein the polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the golf club head.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head base member includes a sole portion engaged with the face member or integrally formed with the face member as a unitary one piece construction.

3. A golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the polymeric body member includes at least a portion of a skirt member of the golf club head, wherein the skirt member is located between the crown member and the sole portion of the golf club head base member.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric body member includes at least a portion of a skirt member of the golf club head.

5. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric body member forms at least a portion of an aft body portion extending from the golf club head face member.

6. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head base member includes a frame portion engaged with the face member or integrally formed with the face member as a unitary one piece construction, wherein the frame portion extends rearward from the face member.

7. A golf club head according to claim 6, wherein the frame member includes a crown region including plural openings defined therein, wherein the polymeric body member fills in at least some of the openings.

8. A golf club head according to claim 6, wherein the frame member includes a skirt region, wherein the polymeric body member engages the skirt region.

9. A golf club head according to claim 6, wherein the frame member includes a crown region and a skirt region, wherein the polymeric body member engages the crown region and the skirt region.

10. A golf club head according to claim 6, wherein the frame member includes a crown region, wherein the polymeric body member engages the crown region.

11. A golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first weight element engaged with the frame member.

12. A golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the first weight element is engaged with the frame member and is located within an interior space defined, at least in part, by the golf club head base member and the polymeric body member.

13. A golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the first weight element is engaged at an exterior of the frame member.

14. A golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the first weight element is removably engaged with respect to the frame member.

15. A golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the first weight element is movably engaged with the frame member.

16. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the base member includes at least one opening defined therein, wherein the polymeric body member extends through the opening.

17. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the base member includes at least a first opening and a second opening defined therein, wherein the polymeric body member extends through and completely covers an exterior of the first and second openings.

18. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is a driver.

19. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is a wood-type golf club head.

20. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head base member including a golf club head face member having a ball striking face engaged therewith or integrally formed therewith as a unitary one piece construction; and

a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member, wherein the polymeric body member is produced via a rotational molding process, and wherein the polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the golf club head.

21. A golf club head according to claim 20, wherein the golf club head is a driver.

22. A golf club head according to claim 20, wherein the golf club head is a wood-type golf club head.

23. A golf club, comprising:

a golf club head, including;

a golf club head base member including a golf club head face member having a ball striking face engaged therewith or integrally formed therewith as a unitary one piece construction, and

a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process, wherein the polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the golf club head; and

a shaft member engaged with at least one of the base member or the polymeric body member.

24. A golf club according to claim 23, wherein the golf club head base member includes a sole portion engaged with the face member or integrally formed with the face member as a unitary one piece construction.

25. A golf club according to claim 24, wherein the polymeric body member includes at least a portion of a skirt member of the golf club head, wherein the skirt member is located between the crown member and the sole portion of the golf club head base member.

26. A golf club according to claim 23, wherein the polymeric body member includes at least a portion of a skirt member of the golf club head.

27. A golf club according to claim 23, wherein the polymeric body member forms at least a portion of an aft body portion extending from the golf club head face member.

28. A golf club according to claim 23, wherein the golf club head base member includes a frame portion engaged with the face member or integrally formed with the face member as a unitary one piece construction, wherein the frame portion extends rearward from the face member.

29. A golf club according to claim 28, wherein the frame member includes a crown region including plural openings defined therein, wherein the polymeric body member fills in at least some of the openings.

30. A golf club according to claim 28, wherein the frame member includes a skirt region, wherein the polymeric body member engages the skirt region.

31. A golf club according to claim 28, wherein the frame member includes a crown region and a skirt region, wherein the polymeric body member engages the crown region and the skirt region.

32. A golf club according to claim 28, wherein the frame member includes a crown region, wherein the polymeric body member engages the crown region.

33. A golf club according to claim 23, further comprising:

a first weight element engaged with the frame member.

34. A golf club according to claim 33, wherein the first weight element is engaged with the frame member and is located within an interior space defined, at least in part, by the golf club head base member and the polymeric body member.

35. A golf club according to claim 33, wherein the first weight element is engaged at an exterior of the frame member.

36. A golf club according to claim 33, wherein the first weight element is removably engaged with respect to the frame member.

37. A golf club according to claim 33, wherein the first weight element is movably engaged with the frame member.

38. A golf club according to claim 23, further comprising:

a grip member engaged with the shaft member.

39. A golf club according to claim 23, wherein the golf club head further includes a hosel member, wherein the shaft is engaged with the golf club head through the hosel member.

40. A golf club according to claim 23, wherein the base member further includes a hosel member, wherein the shaft is engaged with the golf club head through the hosel member.

41. A golf club according to claim 23, wherein the golf club head is a driver.

42. A golf club according to claim 23, wherein the golf club head is a wood-type golf club head.

43. A golf club, comprising:

a golf club head, including;

a golf club head base member including a golf club head face member having a ball striking face engaged therewith or integrally formed therewith as a unitary one piece construction, and

a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member, wherein the polymeric body member is produced via a rotational molding process, and wherein the polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the golf club head; and

a shaft member engaged with at least one of the base member or the polymeric body member.

44. A golf club according to claim 43, wherein the golf club head is a driver.

45. A golf club according to claim 43, wherein the golf club head is a wood-type golf club head.

46. A method of forming a golf club head, comprising:

engaging a golf club head base member with at least a portion of a mold, wherein the base member includes at least a portion of a golf club head face member;

placing a material for forming a portion of a golf club body member into at least a portion of the mold; and

moving the mold with the material therein and with the golf club head base member engaged therewith to position the material at one or more desired locations with respect to the golf club head base member.

47-64. -64. (canceled)

65. A method of forming a golf club head, comprising:

engaging a golf club head base member with at least a portion of a mold, wherein the base member includes at least a portion of a golf club head face member;

placing a material for forming a portion of a golf club body member into at least a portion of the mold;

heating the material;

rotational molding the material to thereby form at least a portion of a crown portion of the golf club head from the material.

66-73. -73. (canceled)

74. A method of forming a golf club head, comprising:

providing a golf club head base member, wherein the base member includes at least a portion of a golf club head face member;

placing a material for forming a portion of a golf club body member into at least a portion of a mold;

moving the mold with the material therein to position the material at one or more desired locations with respect to the mold and to thereby provide a molded material; and

engaging the molded material with the golf club head base member.

75-80. -80. (canceled)