Golf club head with a compression-molded, thin-walled aft-body

• US 8,529,370 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Peralta, Martin, Watson, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/886,773
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/347
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf club head composed of a face component and an aft body composed of a long fiber material. The aft body is composed of a compression molded material. The compression molded aft-body is composed of two pieces which are bonded to a metal face component.

Claims

1. A method for forming an aft-body of golf club head, the method comprising:

combining a carbon fiber material in an amount of 20-70 volume % of the combination with a resin material in an amount of 30-80 volume % of the combination to form a pre-processing material;

forming the pre-processing material into a long fiber precursor material, wherein the long fiber precursor material has a carbon fiber of at least 0.43 inches in length;

compressing the long fiber precursor material into a closed mold for a component of an aft-body of a golf club head; and

forming the component of the aft-body of a golf club head.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the component of the aft-body has a wall thickness ranging from 0.020 inch to 0.080 inch.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the compression molded compound comprises a carbon/vinyl ester material.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the compression molded compound comprises an epoxy based material.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the compression molded compound comprises a high fiber count compression molded material.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the compression molded compound comprises carbon nano-tubes and/or nano-clays.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the compression molded compound comprises a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polycarbonate, PPS, PEKK and PEEK.