Method of manufacturing a golf club head

• US 6,880,222 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsunaga, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cozart, Jermie E.
• Application Number:
  US10/691,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 294/28, 295/275, 295/276, 295/277, 148/405, 148/420, 148/DIG.3, 164/80, 164/113, 164/129, 164/284, 473/324, 473/328, 473/344, 473/345, 473/349, 228/101, 219/617
• US Class Current: 29/428
• 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 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 148/003 Anneal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49988 Metal casting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49989 Followed by cutting or removing material

Abstract

A golf club head has a face portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, a side portion and a hosel portion. Each portion is made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The side portion is formed integrally entirely from its toe side to its back side and its heel side. The side portion and the hosel portion are cast integrally. The face portion, the crown portion and the sole portion are molded separately from one another. The face portion, the crown portion, the sole portion and the side portion are welded integrally so as to form a golf club head. The Young'"'"'s modulus of the crown portion is lower than any Young'"'"'s modulus of the face portion, the sole portion, the side portion and the hosel portion.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a hollow golf club head made of metal including a face portion, a sole portion, a side portion, and a crown portion, the method comprising the steps of:

welding the portions other than the crown portion;

heat-treating the portions; and

welding the portions and the crown portion, which is not subjected to a heat treatment.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of press-molding each of face, sole, side, and crown portions.

3. The method according to claim 1, in which the golf club head further including a hosel portion, the method further comprising the steps of:

press-molding a titanium alloy to form the face, sole, side, and crown portions; and

punching a titanium alloy stick to form the hosel portion.

4. The method according to claim 1, in which the golf club further includes a hosel portion, the method further comprising the steps of integrally casting the sole, side, and hosel portions.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least the crown portion is made of β

type titanium alloy.