Golf club head or other ball striking device having multi-piece construction and method for manufacturing
First Claim
1. A method for forming a ball striking device comprising:
- providing a frame formed from a first material, comprising a face and a band connected to the face and extending around a rear periphery of the frame, wherein the band and the face cooperate to define an internal cavity, a first opening on a top side of the frame, and a second opening on the bottom side of the frame, the first opening being separate from the second opening, wherein the frame includes ridges located on an inner surface of the frame and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the frame around at least a portion of a periphery of the first opening and around at least a portion of a periphery of the second opening;
placing a first composite prepreg and a second composite prepreg inside the cavity, the first and second prepregs being formed from a second material different from the first material, wherein the first prepreg is larger than the first opening and overlaps the periphery of the first opening to contact the inner surface of the frame around the periphery of the first opening, and wherein the second prepreg is larger than the second opening and overlaps the periphery of the second opening to contact the inner surface of the frame around the periphery of the second opening;
applying pressure to inner sides of the first and second prepregs to force the first prepreg to cover the first opening of the frame and to force the second prepreg to cover the second opening of the frame; and
curing the first prepreg and the second prepreg to form a first composite piece positioned to cover the first opening and a second composite piece positioned to cover the second opening,wherein the first composite piece is larger than the first opening and overlaps the periphery of the first opening to cover the first opening and further engages the inner surface of the frame around the periphery of the first opening and the ridge extending around the first opening to secure the first composite piece in place, and wherein the second composite piece overlaps the periphery of the second opening to cover the second opening and further engages the inner surface of the frame around the periphery of the second opening and the ridge extending around the second opening to secure the second composite piece in place.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ball striking device has a head that includes a metal face configured for striking a ball, a rearwardly extending metal band, a top piece, and a bottom piece. The metal band has a first end extending from one side of the face, a second end extending from the opposite side of the face, and a rear portion extending between the first and second ends and defining at least a portion of the rear periphery of the head. The top piece and the bottom piece are non-metallic or substantially non-metallic. The top piece is connected to the top side of the metal band and forms at least a portion of a top side of the head, and the bottom piece is connected to the bottom side of the metal band and forms at least a portion of a bottom side of the head. The top piece and the bottom piece are separated by the metal band.
50 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for forming a ball striking device comprising:
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providing a frame formed from a first material, comprising a face and a band connected to the face and extending around a rear periphery of the frame, wherein the band and the face cooperate to define an internal cavity, a first opening on a top side of the frame, and a second opening on the bottom side of the frame, the first opening being separate from the second opening, wherein the frame includes ridges located on an inner surface of the frame and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the frame around at least a portion of a periphery of the first opening and around at least a portion of a periphery of the second opening; placing a first composite prepreg and a second composite prepreg inside the cavity, the first and second prepregs being formed from a second material different from the first material, wherein the first prepreg is larger than the first opening and overlaps the periphery of the first opening to contact the inner surface of the frame around the periphery of the first opening, and wherein the second prepreg is larger than the second opening and overlaps the periphery of the second opening to contact the inner surface of the frame around the periphery of the second opening; applying pressure to inner sides of the first and second prepregs to force the first prepreg to cover the first opening of the frame and to force the second prepreg to cover the second opening of the frame; and curing the first prepreg and the second prepreg to form a first composite piece positioned to cover the first opening and a second composite piece positioned to cover the second opening, wherein the first composite piece is larger than the first opening and overlaps the periphery of the first opening to cover the first opening and further engages the inner surface of the frame around the periphery of the first opening and the ridge extending around the first opening to secure the first composite piece in place, and wherein the second composite piece overlaps the periphery of the second opening to cover the second opening and further engages the inner surface of the frame around the periphery of the second opening and the ridge extending around the second opening to secure the second composite piece in place. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification