METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AND GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20140038749A1
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Zedelmayer, Erik
• Granted Patent: US 9,579,549 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 shell made of a composite material that is attached to a strike plate that is formed of a metallic material, the shell including a first mating section and the strike plate including a second mating section configured to mate with the first mating section;

wherein the first mating section defines an opening at a front of the shell, the opening extending rearwardly along a sole of the club head to adjacent a rear of the club head.

42. The golf club head of claim 41, wherein the first mating section and the second mating section extend entirely along an interface between the shell and the strike plate.

43. The golf club head of claim 41, wherein the first mating section includes a first abutment surface, which is transverse to an outer surface of the shell and the second mating section includes a second abutment surface, which is substantially parallel to the first abutment surface.

44. The golf club head of claim 41, wherein the first mating section includes a first attachment surface, which is generally parallel to an outer surface of the shell and the second mating section includes a second attachment surface, which is substantially parallel to the first attachment surface.

45. The golf club head of claim 41, wherein the first mating section includes a first abutment surface, which is transverse to an outer surface of the shell and a first attachment surface, which is generally parallel to an outer surface of the first portion and the second mating section includes a second abutment surface that is substantially parallel to the first abutment surface and a second attachment surface that is substantially parallel to the first attachment surface.

46. The golf club head of claim 41, wherein adhesive secures the first mating section to the second mating section.

53. The golf club head of claim 41, wherein the first mating section overlaps and is external to the second mating section.

54. The golf club head of claim 41, wherein the shell comprises a toe side wall and a heel side wall that extend downward to the sole of the club head and terminate at lower edges that form part of the first mating section.

47. A golf club head comprising

a shell made of a composite material that is attached to a strike/sole plate combination that includes a strike plate and a sole plate which are integrally formed and made of a metallic material, the shell including a first mating section and the strike/sole plate combination including a second mating section configured to mate with the first mating section;

wherein the strike/sole plate combination comprises a hosel and the shell comprises a toe side wall and a heel side wall that extend downward to the sole plate and form toe and heel portions of the club head;

wherein the shell includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a second abutment surface formed as a portion of the second mating section and extending between the outer and inner facing surfaces of the shell; and

wherein a first abutment surface is connected to the second abutment surface.

48. The golf club head of claim 47, wherein the first mating section and the second mating section extend entirely along an interface between the shell and the strike/sole plate combination.

49. The golf club head of claim 47, wherein the first mating section includes a first abutment surface, which is transverse to an outer surface of the shell and the second mating section includes a second abutment surface, which is substantially parallel to the first abutment surface.

50. The golf club head of claim 47, wherein the first mating section includes a first attachment surface, which is generally parallel to an outer surface of the shell and the second mating section includes a second attachment surface, which is substantially parallel to the first attachment surface.

51. The golf club head of claim 47, wherein the first mating section includes forming a first abutment surface, which is transverse to an outer surface of the shell and a first attachment surface, which is generally parallel to an outer surface of the first portion and the second mating section includes a second abutment surface that is generally parallel to the first abutment surface and a second attachment surface that is generally parallel to the first attachment surface.

52. The golf club head of claim 47, wherein adhesive secures the first mating section to the second mating section.

55. The golf club head of claim 47, wherein the sole plate comprises a rib that protrudes inwardly from a periphery of the sole plate into an interior of the club head.

56. The golf club of claim 55, wherein the rib extends around a first side edge of the sole plate, a rear edge of the sole plate, and a second side edge of the sole plate.

57. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head comprising a shell made of a composite material that is attached to a strike plate that is formed of a metallic material;

wherein the strike plate includes a face portion, a sole plate portion connected to the face portion, and a crown portion connected to the face portion;

wherein the crown portion has an outwardly facing attachment surface generally between an outer surface and an inner surface of the crown portion and a first abutment surface extending between the attachment surface and the outer surface of the crown portion, wherein the attachment surface defines a crown opening;

wherein the shell comprises carbon fiber reinforced epoxy and is coupled to the attachment surface, the shell having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a second abutment surface extending between the outer and inner facing surfaces of the shell; and

wherein the attachment surface is bonded to the inner surface of the shell and the first abutment surface is connected to the second abutment surface.