Golf club head and method of making the same

• US 7,051,416 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Yabu, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Compton, Eric
• Application Number:
  US11/025,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 295/275, 295/276, 294/18, 294/22, 294/23, 164/45, 164/516, 164/34, 164/35, 473/224, 473/332, 473/345, 473/346, 473/329
• US Class Current: 29/527.6
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• 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: Y10T 29/49799 Providing transitory integral holding or handling portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4981 Utilizing transitory attached element or associated separate material
• 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 comprises a hollow body having a cavity, a plurality of rib-like walls provided on the inner surface of the hollow body so as to extend backward from a position near the face portion, and a sound bar disposed behind the face portion so as to extend along the back face of the face portion.

A method of making a golf club head comprises making a wax model of the hollow main body having an opening, wherein in order to prevent deformation of the wax model during making a casting mold, the wax model is provided with a brace which extends across the opening and protruding walls which are disposed on the inner surface of the wax model and extend backwards from the opening.

Claims

1. A method of making a golf club head comprising

a hollow main body provided on the front with an opening and

a face plate disposed on the front of the main body, said method comprising

making a hollow wax model of said hollow main body,

wherein

the wax model has an opening corresponding to said opening and

the wax model comprises a brace extending across the opening to prevent deformation of the wax model, and

making a casting mold using the wax model,

casting a metal material into the head main body using the casting mold, and

cutting said brace to form a sound bar having a free end and an end fixed to the head main body.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2 which further comprises

making a face plate from a metal material by die-cutting and press working, and

welding the face plate to the cast head main body.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2 which further comprises

making a face plate by forging a metal material, and

welding the face plate to the cast head main body.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

said wax model further comprises protruding walls disposed on the inner surface of the wax model and extend backwards from the opening.

6. The method according to claim 5, which further comprises

making a face plate from a metal material by die-cutting and press working, and

welding the face plate to the cast head main body.

7. The method according to claim 5, which further comprises

making a face plate by forging a metal material, and

welding the face plate to the cast head main body.

2. A method of making a golf club head comprising

a hollow main body provided on the front with an opening and

a face plate disposed on the front of the main body, said method comprising

making a hollow wax model of said hollow main body,

wherein

the wax model has an opening corresponding to said opening and

the wax model comprises a brace extending across the opening to prevent deformation of the wax model, and

making a casting mold using the wax model,

casting a metal material into the head main body using the casting mold, and

removing said brace from the cast head main body.