Golf club head having a composite face insert
First Claim
1. An iron-type golf club head comprising:
- a body having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face;
a cavity being defined by at least a rear surface of the striking face, an interior rear wall surface arranged behind the rear surface of the striking face, and the sole portion;
a composite face insert comprising prepreg plies having a fiber areal weight of less than 200 g/m2, the face insert being attached at a front opening of the body and enclosing the front opening of the body, wherein the thickness of the prepreg plies is within a range of about 1 mm to about 8 mm; and
wherein the composite face insert includes a front striking surface having a polyurethane layer that is located on a majority of the front striking surface of the composite face insert,wherein the body includes a lower leading edge zone that is entirely filled with material.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A golf club head having a composite face insert attached to a metallic body is provided. The club head preferably has a volume of at least 200 cc and provides superior durability and club performance. The face insert includes prepreg plies having a fiber areal weight (FAW) of less than 100 g/m2. The face insert preferably has a thickness less than 4 mm and a mass at least 10 grams less than an insert of equivalent volume formed of the metallic material of the body of the club head. A metallic cap with a peripheral rim is also provided to protect the ends of the composite material of the face insert. Related methods of manufacturing and alternative materials are disclosed. The resin content of the prepreg plies can be controlled through management of the timing and environment in which the resultant prepreg plies are cured and soaked.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An iron-type golf club head comprising:
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a body having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face; a cavity being defined by at least a rear surface of the striking face, an interior rear wall surface arranged behind the rear surface of the striking face, and the sole portion; a composite face insert comprising prepreg plies having a fiber areal weight of less than 200 g/m2, the face insert being attached at a front opening of the body and enclosing the front opening of the body, wherein the thickness of the prepreg plies is within a range of about 1 mm to about 8 mm; and wherein the composite face insert includes a front striking surface having a polyurethane layer that is located on a majority of the front striking surface of the composite face insert, wherein the body includes a lower leading edge zone that is entirely filled with material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An iron-type golf club head comprising:
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a body having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face; a cavity being defined by at least a rear surface of the striking face, an interior rear wall surface substantially facing the rear surface of the striking face, and the sole portion; a composite face insert comprising prepreg plies having a fiber areal weight less than 100 g/m2, the face insert being attached at a front opening of the body and enclosing the front opening of the body, wherein the thickness of the prepreg plies is within a range of about 1 mm to about 8 mm, the golf club head having a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.79.
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Specification