Method of forming golf club head with low density crown

• US 7,861,395 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Douglas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; John C
• Application Number:
  US11/907,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20080028590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 295/251.3, 294/28, 473/349, 473/345
• US Class Current: 29/525.13
• 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 53/0433 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: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49966 with supplemental joining

Abstract

A golf club head and a method for forming a golf club head are disclosed. The golf club head may include a low density portion and a high density portion. The high density portion includes at least a sole, a face, and at least one support member. The support member is operatively connected to the face and the sole, and maintains the structural integrity of the golf club head. The low density portion comprises the crown and the skirt of the club head. When the low density portion is attached to the at least one support member, a golf club head may be formed. In this manner, the center of gravity of the club head may be lowered and moved away from the face of the club.

Claims

1. A method for forming a golf club head, comprising:

forming a first portion comprising a sole, a face, and one or more support members;

forming a second portion comprising a crown and a skirt, the second portion comprising a low density material, wherein the low density material comprises one of magnesium, thermal plastic, or a composite material;

inserting the second portion through the face; and

forcing the second portion into contact with the one or more support members.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying an adhesive to selected areas of the second portion and the one or more support members.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising attaching a face plate to the face.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the forcing is performed using one of a bladder or a jack.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the forming the first portion includes attaching weights to the sole.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the forming the first portion includes forming the one or more support members such that they extend from the face to a rear portion of the sole.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the forcing is performed manually.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the between about 50% and about 90% of the crown and skirt comprise the low density material.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes one or more recesses that correspond to one or more protrusions formed in the second portion.

10. A method for forming a golf club head, comprising:

forming a first portion comprising a sole, a face, and one or more support members;

forming a second portion comprising a crown and a skirt, the second portion comprising a low density material, wherein the low density material comprises one of magnesium, thermal plastic, or a composite material;

inserting the second portion through the face; and

forcing the second portion into contact with the one or more support members;

wherein one support member originates at about a center portion of a upper portion of the face and terminates at about a center portion of a rear portion of the sole.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the forming further comprises forming between about 50% and about 90% of the crown and skirt using the low density material.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the forcing further comprises forcing one or more protrusions formed in the second portion into contact with one or more recesses formed in the first portion.

13. A method for forming a golf club head, comprising:

forming a first portion comprising a sole, a face, and one or more support members;

forming a second portion comprising a crown and a skirt, the second portion comprising a low density material, wherein the low density material comprises one of magnesium, thermal plastic, or a composite material;

inserting the second portion through the face; and

forcing the second portion into contact with the one or more support members;

wherein the first support member is formed such that it originates between a center point of a upper portion of the face and a toe area of the upper portion of the face, and one of the support members terminates at about a center of the rear portion of the sole.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the forming a second portion further comprises forming the crown and skirt to comprise about 20% or less of the total weight of the golf club head.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the ratio of the weight of the first portion to the weight of the second portion is between about 100:

1 and about 20;

1.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the forcing further includes forcing contact between the first portion and second portion for between about 5 second and about 60 seconds.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing thermal cycling to bond the second portion to the first portion.