GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH FACE INSERT

• US 20130310192A1
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Wahl, Bret H., Deng, Xinhui
• Granted Patent: US 9,033,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/331
• 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 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 1/00 Electroforming
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 1/003 3D structures, e.g. superposed patterned layers
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 1/10 Moulds; Masks; Masterforms
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 1/20 Separation of the formed objects from the electrodes with no destruction of said electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling

Abstract

A golf club head is provided having a club body and a contact plate secured to the club body. The contact plate defines at least a portion of a striking surface having a plurality of striking surface grooves. The contact plate is formed using an electroforming process.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head body having a forward surface and a rear surface; and

a striking plate secured to the forward surface of the club head body, the striking plate defining at least a portion of a striking surface having a plurality of striking surface grooves;

wherein the striking plate comprises an alloy of nickel and cobalt having a nickel concentration of at least about 55% and a cobalt concentration of at least about 10%.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the cobalt concentration is less than about 45%.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the nickel concentration is less than about 90%.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the cobalt concentration is from about 20% to about 35%.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the nickel concentration is from about 65% to about 80%.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the striking plate has a maximum thickness that is less than about 0.50 mm.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the striking plate has a maximum thickness that is less than about 0.40 mm.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the striking plate has a maximum thickness that is less than about 0.25 mm.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the forward surface of the club head body defines a recessed region, and wherein the striking plate is secured to the club head body within the recessed region.

10. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head body having a forward surface and a rear surface;

a backing plate having a forward surface and a rear surface, with the rear surface of the backing plate being secured to the forward surface of the club head body; and

a striking plate having a forward surface and a rear surface, with the rear surface of the striking plate being secured to the forward surface of the club head body, the striking plate defining at least a portion of a striking surface having a plurality of striking surface grooves;

wherein the striking plate comprises an alloy of nickel and cobalt having a nickel concentration of at least about 55% and a cobalt concentration of at least about 10%.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the cobalt concentration is less than about 45%.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the nickel concentration is less than about 90%.

13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the cobalt concentration is from about 20% to about 35%.

14. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the nickel concentration is from about 65% to about 80%.

15. A method of manufacturing a golf club head, comprising:

providing a mandrel having a negative physical representation of a golf club striking plate;

electroforming a striking plate using the mandrel; and

attaching the electroformed striking plate to a body of the golf club head.

16. The method of manufacturing a golf club head of claim 15, wherein the step of providing a mandrel comprises:

providing a master of a golf club head striking plate;

manufacturing the mandrel from the master.

17. The method of manufacturing a golf club head of claim 16, wherein the step of manufacturing the mandrel from the master comprises electroforming the mandrel.

18. The method of manufacturing a golf club head of claim 15, wherein the step of electroforming a striking plate comprises:

placing the mandrel into an electrolytic bath;

electroforming a striking plate sheet using the mandrel, with the striking plate sheet comprising a plurality of striking plates;

removing the striking plate sheet and mandrel from the electrolytic bath; and

separating each of the plurality of striking plates from the striking plate sheet.