Rotational molded golf club heads

• US 8,814,723 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavares, Gary G., Waatti, Todd Anthony, Stites, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US11/697,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,700 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/04 Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/20 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. moulding inserts or for coating articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/68 by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers , e.g. foam blocks mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/681 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/00 Use of unspecified macromolecular compounds as moulding material use of unspecified rubbers B29K2021/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2705/00 Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs

Abstract

Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include: (a) a golf club head base member including a face member having a ball striking face; and (b) a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member, wherein the polymeric body member is formed via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process) and/or engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process). The polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the club head in some structures.

Claims

1. A golf club, comprising:

a golf club head, including;

a golf club head base member including a golf club head face member having a ball striking face engaged therewith or integrally formed therewith as a unitary one piece construction, wherein the golf club head base member includes a frame portion engaged with the face member or integrally formed with the face member as a unitary one piece construction, and wherein the frame portion extends rearward from the face member, and

a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process, wherein the polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the golf club head;

a shaft member engaged with at least one of the base member or the polymeric body member; and

a first weight element engaged with the frame portion, wherein the first weight element is movably engaged with the frame portion.

2. A method of forming a golf club head, comprising:

engaging a golf club head base member with at least a portion of a mold, wherein the base member includes at least a portion of a golf club head face member;

placing a material for forming a portion of a golf club body member into at least a portion of the mold; and

moving the mold with the material therein and with the golf club head base member engaged therewith to position the material at one or more desired locations with respect to the golf club head base member.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

heating the material while in the mold.

4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

heating the material while moving the mold.

5. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

after the material is positioned at the one or more desired locations with respect to the golf club head base member, cooling the material.

6. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

heating the material while in the mold such that the material flows during the moving; and

cooling the material when the material is positioned at the one or more desired locations with respect to the golf club head base member.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the material is a polymer material.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein, during the moving, the material is positioned such that the material forms at least a portion of a crown of the golf club head.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein, during the moving, the material is positioned such that the material forms at least a portion of a crown and a skirt of the golf club head.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein the club head base member includes at least a portion of a sole member of the golf club head.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein, during the moving, the material is positioned such that the material forms at least a portion of a crown of the golf club head.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein, during the moving, the material is positioned such that the material forms at least a portion of a crown and a skirt of the golf club head.

13. A method according to claim 2, wherein the moving includes applying a centrifugal force to the material to position the material at the one or more desired locations with respect to the golf club head base member.

14. A method according to claim 2, wherein the golf club head is a driver.

15. A method according to claim 2, wherein the golf club head is a wood-type golf club head.

16. A method of forming a golf club head, comprising:

engaging a golf club head base member with at least a portion of a mold, wherein the base member includes at least a portion of a golf club head face member;

placing a material for forming a portion of a golf club body member into at least a portion of the mold;

heating the material;

rotational molding the material to thereby form at least a portion of a crown portion of the golf club head on the club head base member from the material.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the heating includes heating the material while in the mold.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the heating includes heating the material during at least a portion of the rotational molding.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the rotational molding includes cooling the material to thereby fix the material in place with respect to the club head base member.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the heating includes heating the material before placing it in the mold.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein the material is a polymer material.

22. A method according to claim 16, wherein the rotational molding additionally forms at least a portion of a skirt of the golf club head.

23. A method according to claim 16, wherein the golf club head is a driver.

24. A method according to claim 16, wherein the golf club head is a wood-type golf club head.