Method of manufacturing golf club head with integral insert

• US 5,595,548 A
• Filed: 02/15/1995
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Beck, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/388,762
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167 R, 273/167 A, 273/167 H, 273/169, 273/171, 273/170, 273/172, 273/173, 273/174, 273/175, 273/167 F, 273/77 R, 273/193 R, 273/194 R, 473/324-350
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 19/00 Casting in, on, or around objects which form part of the product B22D23/04 takes precedence; alumino-thermic welding B23K23/00; coating by casting molten material on the substrate C23C6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 25/02 by its peculiarity of shape; of works of art cylinders, pistons B22D15/02

Abstract

A golf club head comprising a head body which defines the front striking face of the club head. Disposed within the head body is a ceramic insert which defines the rear face of the club head. The head body is cast about the insert in a manner wherein the insert is partially encapsulated by the head body and rigidly captured therewithin.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a head body defining a front striking face, a rear face, and an interior cavity having a peripheral sidewall, said rear face having a window formed therein which communicates with the interior cavity, said window including a peripheral edge which is disposed inwardly relative to the peripheral sidewall; and

a pre-formed ceramic insert disposed within the interior cavity;

said head body being formed about said ceramic insert to facilitate the rigid capture of the ceramic insert within the interior cavity of the head body in a manner preventing the non-destructive removal of the ceramic insert from within the interior cavity.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the front striking face includes a plurality of recessed score lines formed therewithin.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said head body is formed of a stainless steel.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said ceramic insert is formed of a fiber-reinforced ceramic material.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said head body further defines a neck portion for attaching the club head to an elongate shaft.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the head body is cast in place about the ceramic insert.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a head body defining a front striking face of the club head; and

a pre-formed ceramic insert having front and back surfaces and a continuous peripheral edge, said ceramic insert being disposed within said head body and defining a rear face of the club head;

said head body being formed about said ceramic insert in a manner wherein the front surface, the peripheral edge, and a peripheral region of the back surface of the ceramic insert are encapsulated by the head body to rigidly capture the ceramic insert therewithin and prevent the non-destructive removal of the ceramic insert therefrom.

8. The golf club head of claim 7 wherein the head body is cast in place about the ceramic insert.