Method for manufacturing and golf club head

• US 6,872,152 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Zedelmayer, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): PASSANITI, SEBASTIANO
• Application Number:
  US10/621,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 473/345, 473/324, 473/349, 473/346, 473/347, 473/348, 473/350, 473/342, 473/409, 473/288, 473/291, 473/131
• US Class Current: 473/324
• 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 method of manufacturing a golf club head, comprising:

forming a strike plate from a metallic material, 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 defining an outwardly facing first attachment surface, at least a portion of said first attachment surface being formed on said crown;

providing a shell made of composite material comprising

an inner surface and an outer surface,

an inwardly facing second attachment surface, at least a portion of said second attachment surface being formed On said crown,

a first abutment surface transverse to said outer surface and said inner surface of said shell; and

attaching said strike plate to 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, said first attachment surface generally parallel to and spaced outward from a corresponding portion of said inner surface of said strike plate, said second attachment surface spaced inward from a corresponding portion of said outer surface of said shell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching said strike plate to said shell comprises adhesively securing said first attachment surface to said second attachment surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein forming said strike plate comprises forming a hosel.

4. A method of manufacturing a golf club head, comprising:

forming a strike plate/sole plate combination from a metallic material, said strike plate defining an inner surface and an outer surface and forming at least a portion or a crown of the golf club head, said strike plate defining an outwardly facing first attachment surface, at least a portion of said first attachment surface being formed on said crown;

providing a shell made of material comprising

an inner surface and an outer surface,

an inwardly facing second attachment surface, at least a portion of said second attachment surface being formed on said crown,

a first abutment surface transverse to said outer surface and said inner surface of said shell; and

attaching said strike plate/sole plate combination to 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, said first attachment surface generally parallel to and spaced outward from a corresponding portion of said inner surface of said strike plate, said second attachment surface spaced inward from a corresponding portion of said outer surface of said shell.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein attaching said strike plate/sole plate combination to said shell comprises adhesively securing said first attachment surface to said second attachment surface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein forming said strike plate/sole plate combination comprises forming a hosel.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein forming said strike plate/sole plate combination comprises forming an annular rib extending inwardly from a periphery of said sole plate.