Fabrication of metal shell golf club heads
First Claim
1. In the method of fabricating a metal shell golf club head, the steps that include(a) forming a core to the form of the inside surface of the head shell, forming a plug integral with said core to project outwardly therefrom, the plug formed to outer peripheral shape conforming to the inner peripheral edge of a sole plate opening in the head shell, and forming at least one gripper finger opening in the side of the plug and at least one locking recess in the side of the plug, said core characterized as being soluble in a fluid solvent,(b) forming a wax shell about the core while locating the plug in fixed position in a mold to hold the core in predetermined position, and while maintaining a locking plunger in said recess,(c) removing the core and plug relative to the wax shell, said removing including dissolving the core and plug in said solvent,(d) said step (a) being carried out at a first station and said step (b) being carried out at a second station, and including transferring the core between said stations by introducing a gripper finger into said gripper finger opening and bodily displacing the finger and plug,(e) forming said metal shell golf club head with a lost wax process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method of fabricating a metal shell golf club head includes forming a core to the form of the inside surface of the shell; forming a plug integral with the core to project outwardly therefrom, the plug formed to outline peripheral shape conforming to the inner peripheral edge of a sole plate opening in the head shell; forming at least one gripper finger opening and at least one locking recess in the side of the plug, the core characterized as being soluble in a fluid solvent; forming a wax shell about the core while locating the plug in fixed position in a mold to hold the core in predetermined position and while maintaining a locking plunger in the formed recess; and removing the core and plug relative to the wax shell by dissolving the core and plug in the solvent; the core being transferred between stations (at which the (a) and (b) steps are carried out) by gripping and bodily displacing the plug which is integral with the core.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. In the method of fabricating a metal shell golf club head, the steps that include
(a) forming a core to the form of the inside surface of the head shell, forming a plug integral with said core to project outwardly therefrom, the plug formed to outer peripheral shape conforming to the inner peripheral edge of a sole plate opening in the head shell, and forming at least one gripper finger opening in the side of the plug and at least one locking recess in the side of the plug, said core characterized as being soluble in a fluid solvent, (b) forming a wax shell about the core while locating the plug in fixed position in a mold to hold the core in predetermined position, and while maintaining a locking plunger in said recess, (c) removing the core and plug relative to the wax shell, said removing including dissolving the core and plug in said solvent, (d) said step (a) being carried out at a first station and said step (b) being carried out at a second station, and including transferring the core between said stations by introducing a gripper finger into said gripper finger opening and bodily displacing the finger and plug, (e) forming said metal shell golf club head with a lost wax process.
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14. In combination:
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(a) a solid soluble core having the exterior shape of the inside surface of a metal shell head of a golf club, and (b) a plug attached to the core and projecting therefrom for grasping, thereby to transfer the core to and from a location at which a wax shell is formed about the core (c) the plug containing a recess to receive a locating pin, (d) the plug also containing a least one gripping finger recess to receive a finger or fingers of a robot operable to lift the plug from a first mold section and to lower the plug onto a second mold section, and (e) including said robot having said finger or fingers in said recess or recesses. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification