Club Heads With Multiple Density Weighting And Methods Of Manufacturing The Same

• US 20100317461A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Solheim, John A., Jertson, Marty R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,449,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/349
• 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 2225/64 Heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49906 Metal deforming with nonmetallic bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming

Abstract

Embodiments of club heads with multiple density weighting and methods of manufacturing the same are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a body comprising a receptacle at a surface of the body; and

a multi-density weight comprising;

a first weight component comprising a first density, an inner portion and a periphery around the inner portion; and

a second weight component comprising a second density different from the first density and secured to the inner portion of the first weight component;

wherein;

the body, the first weight component, and the second weight component comprise materials different from each other;

the receptacle comprises a receptacle base and a receptacle wall at least partially circumscribing the receptacle base;

the multi-density weight comprises a perimeter secured to the receptacle wall;

the second weight component comprises a material having a weld-averse trait with respect to the body; and

the surface of the body is proximate to at least one of a hosel region, an upper toe region, a lower toe region, a heel region, a backside region, an upper-half region, or a lower-half region of the body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the weld-averse trait comprises at least one of;

a propensity for brittleness, cracking, or non-elastic deformation after welding.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first weight component further comprises a first base and a wall circumscribing the inner portion of the first weight component over the first base;

the second weight component comprises;

a second perimeter secured with a bonding mechanism at least partially along the inner portion of the first weight component; and

a bottom abutted against the first base of the first weight component;

a bottom of the multi-density weight is abutted against the receptacle base of the receptacle;

an outermost perimeter of the periphery of the first weight component comprises the perimeter of the multi-density weight;

the bonding mechanism comprises at least one of;

a swedged bond, an epoxy bond, a sintered bond, or a shrink-fit bond;

and

the perimeter of the multi-density weight is secured along the receptacle wall via at least one of;

a weld bond,

a brazed bond,

a barbing element,

a lip folded between a rim of the receptacle wall and at least a portion of a top of the multi-density weight;

or

a compression element between the receptacle wall and the perimeter of the multi-density weight.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the multi-density weight comprises a swedged bond to secure the second weight component along the inner portion of the first weight component; and

the swedged bond comprises a perimeter of the second weight component compressed against the inner portion of the first weight component.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the swedged bond further comprises at least one of;

a barbing element between the perimeter of the second weight component and the inner portion of the first weight component;

or

a bottom of the second weight component larger than an opening of the inner portion before being located within the inner portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a density relationship comprising at least one of;

the second density being greater than the first density;

or

the first and second densities being greater than a density of the body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

top surfaces of the first and second weight portions face towards an exterior of the club head; and

the perimeter of the multi-density weight is non-circular to conform to a shape of the surface of the body.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the multi-density weight further comprises;

a third weight component coupled between the first and second weight components and comprising a third density different from the first and second densities.

9. A method comprising:

providing a body of a club head;

providing a multi-density weight; and

coupling the multi-density weight to a region of the body;

wherein;

providing the multi-density weight comprises;

forming a first weight portion out of a first material different than a body material of the body and having a first density, the first weight portion comprising a pro-bond characteristic;

forming a second weight portion out of a second material different than the body material and the first material and having a second density, the second weight portion comprising an anti-bond characteristic; and

bounding the second weight portion with the first weight portion to form the multi-density weight.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

forming the first weight portion out of the first material comprises;

forming the first weight portion to comprise an inner space and a periphery conforming to a perimeter of the multi-density weight;

and

forming the second weight portion out of the second material comprises;

forming a perimeter of the second weight portion to nest in the inner space of the first weight portion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

providing the multi-density weight further comprises;

forming the perimeter of the multi-density weight as non-circular to conform to a non-circular contour of the region of the body.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

forming the first weight portion further comprises;

forming the first weight portion to comprise a tub surface bounding the inner space of the first weight portion;

and

forming the perimeter of the second weight portion further comprises;

forming the second weight portion to conform to the tub surface of the first weight portion.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein:

coupling the multi-density weight comprises at least one of;

welding the multi-density weight to the region of the body;

brazing the multi-density weight to the region of the body;

deforming a lip between a rim of the region of the body and at least a portion of a top of the multi-density weight;

barbing a barbing element between the multi-density weight and the region of the body;

or

compressing a compression ring between the multi-density weight and the region of the body.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

providing the multi-density weight further comprises;

providing a compression element coupled at least partially around a perimeter of the multi-density weight;

and

coupling the multi-density weight comprises;

expansively deforming the compression element between the multi-density weight and a wall of a recess at the region of the body.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

providing the multi-density weight further comprises;

forming a groove at the perimeter of the multi-density weight;

providing the compression element comprises;

coupling a tongue of the compression element with the groove of the perimeter of the multi-density weight; and

providing a protrusion at the compression element;

and

expansively deforming the compression element comprises;

buckling the protrusion of the compression element against the wall of the recess.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein:

providing the multi-density weight further comprises;

plating a portion of at least one of the first or second weight portions with a plating layer;

and

coupling the multi-density weight comprises;

deforming the plating layer to secure at least a portion of the multi-density weight upon a swedging of at least one of;

the first weight portion with the region of the body;

or

the second weight portion with the first weight portion.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein:

bounding the second weight portion with the first weight portion comprises at least one of;

swedging the second weight portion into the inner space of the first weight portion;

bonding the second weight portion to the inner space of the first weight portion with an epoxy material;

or

sintering the second weight portion at the inner space of the first weight portion.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein:

coupling the multi-density weight comprises at least one of;

coupling the multi-density weight to a hosel-shaped region of the body;

coupling the multi-density weight to a lower toe-shaped region of the body;

coupling the multi-density weight to an upper toe-shaped region of the body;

coupling the multi-density weight to a heel-shaped region of the body;

coupling the multi-density weight to a backside-shaped region of the body;

coupling the multi-density weight to an upper-half-shaped region of the body;

or

coupling the multi-density weight to a lower-half-shaped region of the body.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein:

forming the first weight portion out of the first material comprises;

providing a first mold comprising a first mold base circumscribed by a first mold wall;

coating the first mold base with the first material to form a first material base;

coating the first mold wall with the first material to form a first material wall circumscribing the first material base; and

forming the inner space of the first weight portion to be bounded by the first material base and the first material wall.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

forming the second weight portion comprises;

placing the second material into the inner space of the first weight portion; and

bounding the second weight portion with the first weight portion comprises;

sintering the first and second materials together.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

forming the first weight portion out of the first material further comprises;

at least partially sintering the first material base and the first material wall before placing the second material into the inner space of the first weight portion.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein:

forming the second weight portion out of the second material comprises;

providing a second mold;

placing the second material into the second mold; and

at least partially sintering the second material to shape the second weight portion;

and

bounding the second weight portion with the first weight portion to form the multi-density weight comprises;

placing the second weight portion into the inner space of the first weight portion; and

sintering the first and second weight portions together.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

forming the first weight portion out of the first material further comprises;

at least partially sintering the first material base and the first material wall before placing the second weight portion into the inner space of the first weight portion.

24. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the body material comprises a steel material;

the first material comprises a tungsten-nickel alloy; and

the second material comprises at least one of;

a tungsten material, a brass material, or a lead material.

25. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the body material comprises a specific gravity of approximately 5 to approximately 8;

the first material comprises a specific gravity of approximately 8 to approximately 11; and

the second material comprises a specific gravity of approximately 11 to approximately 20.

26. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the pro-bond characteristic comprises a compatibility for welding with other metals; and

the anti-bond characteristic comprises at least one of;

a propensity for brittleness, for cracking, or for non-elastic deformation after exposure to welding temperatures.

27. The method of claim 9, wherein:

providing the multi-density weight further comprises;

forming a third weight portion out of a third material and between the first and second portions, the third weight portion having a third density;

and

the third material is different than the body material, the first material, and the second material.

28. A method comprising:

providing a shaft of a golf club;

providing a club head of the golf club;

providing a multi-density weight;

coupling the multi-density weight to a body of the club head; and

coupling the shaft to the club head;

wherein;

providing the multi-density weight comprises;

forming a first weight portion of the multi-density weight to comprise;

a periphery conforming to a perimeter of the multi-density weight; and

a tub surface bounded by the periphery of the first weight portion;

forming a second weight portion of the multi-density weight to conform to the tub surface of the first weight portion; and

bounding the second weight portion with the first weight portion to form the multi-density weight via at least one of;

swedging the second weight portion to the tub surface;

adhesively bonding the second weight portion to the tub surface;

or

sintering the second weight portion to the tub surface;

providing the club head of the golf club comprises;

providing a recess proximate to at least one of a hosel, a lower toe region, an upper toe region, a heel region, a backside, an upper-half region, or a lower-half region of the body;

coupling the multi-density weight comprises;

coupling a bottom of the multi-density weight to a base of the recess; and

securing the perimeter of the multi-density weight to a wall of the recess via at least one of;

a welding procedure;

a brazing procedure;

a deformation of a lip between a rim of the recess and a top of the multi-density weight;

or

a deformation of a compression ring between the multi-density weight and the recess;

the second weight portion comprises a second material having an anti-weld characteristic; and

the second material, a body material of the body, and a first material of the first weight portion are different from each other.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein:

forming the first weight portion comprises;

providing a first mold comprising a first mold tub surface;

coating the first mold tub surface with a powder form of the first material to form the tub surface of the first weight portion; and

at least partially sintering the powder form of the first material;

forming the second weight portion out of the second material comprises;

pouring a powder form of the second material into the tub surface; and

sintering the second weight portion into the tub surface comprises;

sintering the powder form of the second material with the at least partially sintered first material.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein:

providing the recess comprises;

providing the recess to conform to a non-circular shape of the surface of the body;

providing the multi-density weight further comprises;

providing the multi-density weight to conform to the non-circular recess;

the body material comprises a steel material;

the first material comprises a tungsten-nickel alloy;

the second material comprises at least one of;

a tungsten material;

a brass material;

or

a lead material;

the body material comprises a specific gravity of between approximately 5 to approximately 8;

the first material comprises a specific gravity of between approximately 8 to approximately 11;

the second material comprises a specific gravity of between approximately 11 to approximately 20; and

the anti-weld characteristic comprises at least one of;

a propensity for brittleness, for non-elastic deformation, or for cracking after welding.