Golf club with porous striking surface and its method of manufacture

• US 6,030,294 A
• Filed: 04/22/1997
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carbite, Inc. (Carbite Golf, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Carbite, Inc. (Carbite Golf, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shira, Chester S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US08/840,545
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 473/342, 473/348, 473/349, 473/324
• US Class Current: 473/342
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/004 Striking surfaces coated with high-friction abrasive materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A method of making a golf club head or an insert for a golf club head and the product produced thereby which comprises preparing a porous base selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, and cermets, and coating at least the face of said base with a plastic material.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a compressed, sintered porous base having been prepared from non-spherical powders, the particle size of said powders having been determined by the degree of porosity desired in order to achieve the mechanical properties desired in said base, which mechanical properties in turn have been determined by the desired characteristics of the golf club head being made, said powders having been selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, and cermets, said base having been sintered at a suitable temperature and a suitable length of time in order to achieve said selected degree of porosity so as to provide the mechanical properties desired in said base dependent upon the desired characteristics of the golf club head being made, and at least the face of said base being coated with a plastic material.

2. An insert for the face of a golf club head comprising:

a compressed, sintered porous insert having been prepared from non-spherical powders, the particle size of said powders having been determined by the degree of porosity desired in order to achieve the mechanical properties desired in said insert, which mechanical properties in turn have been determined by the desired characteristics of the golf club head which will receive said insert, said powders being selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, and cermets, said insert having been sintered at a suitable temperature and a suitable length of time in order to achieve said selected degree of porosity so as to provide the mechanical properties desired in said insert dependent on the desired characteristics of the golf club head which will receive said insert, and at least the face of said insert having been coated with a plastic material.

3. A method of making a golf club head comprising:

determining the desired degree of porosity in said golf club head to achieve the desired mechanical properties in said gold club head which mechanical properties in turn have been determined by the desired characteristics of said golf club head,

selecting non-spherical powders of a particle size which when sintered and compressed will produce a golf club head having said desired degree of porosity,

said powders being selected from the group of metals, metal alloys and cermets,

compressing said golf club head to a desired density,

selecting a suitable temperature and a suitable length of time for sintering said compressed golf club head in order to achieve said selected degree of porosity so as to provide the mechanical properties desired in said golf club head depending on the desired characteristics of said golf club head being made,

thereafter sintering said compressed golf club head at said selected temperature and said selected length of time,

coating at least the face of said golf club head with a plastic material in liquid form, and

thereafter curing and solidifying said plastic coating.

4. A method of making an insert for the face of a golf club head comprising:

determining the desired degree of porosity in said insert to achieve the desired mechanical properties in said insert which mechanical properties in turn have been determined by the desired characteristics of the golf club head which will receive said insert,

selecting non-spherical powders of a particle size which when sintered and compressed will produce a porous insert having said desired degree of porosity,

said powders being selected from the group of metals, metal alloys and cermets,

compressing said insert to a desired density,

selecting a suitable temperature and a suitable length of time for sintering said compressed insert in order to achieve said selected degree of porosity so as to provide the mechanical properties desired in said insert dependent upon the desired characteristics of the golf club head which will receive said insert,

thereafter sintering said compressed insert at said selected temperature and selected length of time,

coating at least the face of said insert with a plastic material in liquid form, and

thereafter curing and solidifying said plastic coating.