ROTATIONAL MOLDED GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20180072007A1
• Filed: 11/17/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Stites, John T., Tavares, Gary G., Waatti, Todd A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,442,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 comprising a face portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, a body member portion, and a hosel area, wherein the face portion, the crown portion, the sole portion, the body member portion, and the hosel area are integrally formed or engaged with each other to form a unitary structure,

a polymeric body comprising a crown portion and a body portion, wherein

the polymeric body forms the top and rearmost portions of the overall club head structure,

at least some portion of the polymeric body is engaged with at least some portion of the base member, and

at least some portion of an exterior surface of the polymeric body is coated with a metal containing material.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric body is epoxied to the base member.

3. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric body is engaged with the base member via mechanical connectors.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the base member is coated with a metal containing material.

5. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric body forms a portion of the sole of the club head.

6. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base member is formed from a metal material including but not limited to:

metals or metal alloys containing steel, titanium, magnesium, aluminum, and other metallic elements.

7. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head base member comprising a face portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, a body member portion, and a hosel area, wherein the face portion, the crown portion, the sole portion, the body member portion, and the hosel area are integrally formed or engaged with each other to form a unitary structure,

a polymeric body comprising a crown portion and a body portion, wherein

the polymeric body forms the top and rearmost portions of the overall club head structure, and

at least some portion of the polymeric body is engaged with at least some portion of the base member.

8. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the polymeric body is epoxied to the base member.

9. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the polymeric body is engaged with the base member via mechanical connectors.

11. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the polymeric body forms a portion of the sole of the club head.

12. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the base member is formed from a metal material including but not limited to:

metals or metal alloys containing steel, titanium, magnesium, aluminum, and other metallic elements.

13. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the base member is formed from a polymeric material including but not limited to:

polyethylene materials, polyvinylchlorides and polyvinylchloride plastisols, nylons or other polyamides, and polypropylenes.

14. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the base member is formed from a composite material including but not limited to:

carbon fiber composites and basalt fiber composites.

15. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the polymer body forms a shell-like structure on the interior wall of at least a portion of the base member. (not worded this way in spec but can be supported from provided spec information)

16. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein at least some portions of the base member provide a frame member that extends rearward and underlies and/or is embedded in at least some parts of the polymeric body.

17. A golf club head according to claim 16, wherein the frame member comprises a plurality of openings defined through it, including at least a first opening and a second opening, wherein

the first opening and the second opening are separated from one another by a part of the frame member.

18. A golf club head according to claim 16, wherein the frame member comprises a polymeric or composite material.

19. A golf club head according to claim 16, wherein at least some portion of an exterior surface of the polymeric body is coated with a metal containing material.