Method for manufacturing and golf club head

• US 6,623,378 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Zedelmayer, Erik, Beach, Todd P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASSANITI, SEBASTIANO
• Application Number:
  US09/878,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20020187853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/345, 473/346, 473/347, 473/348, 473/349, 473/350, 473/342
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• 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 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/46 using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/86 Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, e.g. by winding
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

A method for forming a golf club head comprises placing an uncured composite material between a core and a mold that comprises a first piece and a second piece. The second piece is moved towards the first piece such that the uncured composite material is compressed between the core and at least a portion of the mold. The uncured composite material is heated. A first portion of the golf club head is removed from the mold. A second portion of the golf club head is provided. The first portion is attached to the second portion. In certain arrangements, the second portion is formed from a metallic material.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a shell made of composite material having an inner surface and an outer surface,

a strike plate/sole plate combination made of metallic material attached to said shell, said strike plate defining an inner surface and an outer surface and forming at least a portion of a crown of the golf club head, said strike plate/sole plate combination defining an outwardly facing first attachment surface generally parallel to and spaced outward from a corresponding portion of said inner surface of said strike plate, at least a portion of the first attachment surface being formed on the crown;

said shell defining an inwardly facing second attachment surface generally parallel to and spaced inward from a corresponding portion of said outer surface of said shell, at a portion of said second attachment surface being formed on the crown;

said shell further defining a first abutment surface transverse to said outer surface and said inner surface of said shell, said first abutment surface abutting a second abutment surface defined by said strike plate, said second abutment surface transverse to said outer surface and said inner surface of said strike plate.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface extend entirely along an interface between the shell and the strike plate/sole plate combination.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the first abutment surface of said shell is substantially normal to said outer surface and said second abutment surface of said strike plate is substantially normal to said outer surface and said inner surface of said strike plate.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein an adhesive secures the first attachment surface to the second attachment surface.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first abutment surface of said shell is substantially normal to said outer surface and said second abutment surface of said strike plate is substantially normal to said outer surface and said inner surface of said strike plate.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein an adhesive secures the first attachment surface to the second attachment surface.

7. A golf club head, comprising:

a shell made of composite material having an inner surface and an outer surface,

a strike plate made of metallic material attached to said shell, said strike plate defining an inner surface and an outer surface, said strike plate defining an outwardly facing first attachment surface generally parallel to and spaced outward from a corresponding portion of said inner surface of said strike plate, said strike plate forming at least a portion of a crown of the golf club head, at least a portion of said first attachment surface being formed on said crown;

said shell defining an inwardly facing second attachment surface generally parallel to and spaced inward from a corresponding portion of said outer surface of said shell;

said shell further defining a first and second abutment surface transverse to said outer surface and said inner surface of said shell, said first abutment surface abutting a third abutment surface defined by said strike plate, said second abutment surface abutting a fourth abutment surface defined by said strike plate, said third and said fourth abutment surfaces transverse to said outer surface and said inner surface of said strike plate.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface extend entirely along an interface between the shell and the strike plate.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein an adhesive secures the first attachment surface to the second attachment surface.

10. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the first and second abutment surfaces of said shell are substantially normal to said outer surface and said inner surface of said shell, and said third and forth abutment surfaces are substantially normal to said outer surface and said inner surface of said strike plate.

11. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein an adhesive secures the first attachment surface to the second attachment surface.

12. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the first and second abutment surfaces of said shell are substantially normal to said outer surface and said inner surface of said shell, and said third and forth abutment surfaces are substantially normal to said outer surface and said inner surface of said strike plate.