Method for manufacturing a golf club

• US 6,558,273 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K.K. Endo Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: K.K. Endo Seisakusho
• Inventors: Tsurumaki, Masaei, Kobayashi, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/864,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20020022534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/349, 473/342, 294/28, 292/28, 148/669, 148/670, 148/671, 723/41
• US Class Current: 473/349
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a golf club with an improved durability which realizes so thin a club head that the head can be enlarged, suppressing the increase of the total weight. A cold rolled material, which is a beta type titanium alloy in a beta single phase and subjected to direct aging, is used for the head. Preferably, the material is subjected to at least 15% cold rolling reduction. The aging is able to improve durability and surface hardness. Due to the direct aging of the cold worked material without solution treatment, such a long time heat treatment is no longer necessary, thereby resulting in the reduction of production costs.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a golf club having a metallic hollow head, said head including a face member which has a thickness less than 3.0 mm, formed with a plurality of score lines thereon, the method comprising:

forming said face member from a beta type titanium alloy with a hot or cold press, said beta type titanium alloy being in a beta single phase, cold rolled to 10-50% cold reduction; and

forming cold rolled tissues in said face member without subjecting said beta type titanium alloy to a solution treatment so that the durability of said face member ranges from 1038 N/mm² to 1387 mm².

3. A method for manufacturing a golf club according to claim 1, wherein said face member has a hardness in a range from Hv 357 to 450.

5. A method for manufacturing a golf club according to claim 3, wherein said cold roll reduction rate ranges from 15% to 50%, the durability ranging from 1179 N/mm² to 1387 N/mm², and the hardness ranging from Hv 393 to 450, respectively.

7. A method for manufacturing a golf club according to claim 5, wherein said beta type titanium alloy is either a Ti-15Mo based alloy or a Ti-15V based alloy.

9. A method for manufacturing a golf club according to claim 7, wherein said face member has a thickness of about 2.7 mm.

10. A method for manufacturing a golf club according to claim 5, wherein said face member has a thickness of about 2.7 mm.

2. A method for manufacturing a golf club having a metallic hollow head, said head including a face member which has a thickness less than 3.0 mm, formed with a plurality of score lines thereon, the method comprising:

forming said face member from beta type titanium alloy with a hot or cold press, said beta type titanium alloy being in a beta single phase, cold rolled to 10-50% cold reduction;

forming cold rolled tissues in said face member without subjecting said beta type titanium alloy to a solution treatment, and

further subjecting the formed face member to an aging treatment performed in a range from 300°

C. to 600°

C. so that the durability of said face member ranges from 1038 N/mm² to 137 N/mm²;

fabricating the head by using said face member thus formed; and

attaching the head to a shaft.

4. A method for manufacturing a golf club according to claim 2, wherein said face member has a hardness in a range from Hv 357 to 450.

6. A method for manufacturing a golf club according to claim 4, wherein said cold roll reduction rate ranges from 15% to 50%, the durability ranging from 1179 N/mm² to 1387 N/mm², and the hardness ranging from Hv 393 to 450, respectively.

8. A method for manufacturing a golf club according to claim 6, wherein said beta type titanium alloy is either a Ti-15Mo based alloy or a Ti-15V based alloy.