COMPOSITE GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH INTEGRAL WEIGHT STRIP

• US 20020055393A1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: REYES, HERBERT, MURPHY, JAMES M., JACOBSON, DANIEL R., GALLOWAY, J. ANDREW, EVANS, D. CLAYTON
• Granted Patent: US 6,386,990 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/305
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/342 using isostatic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/865 completely encapsulated
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs

Abstract

A golf club head composed of a composite material and having a metal weight strip in a ribbon section is disclosed herein. The metal strip may be composed of copper, tungsten or a similar metal. The composite golf club head may also have a sole plate composed of stainless steel attached to a sole of the golf club head. The golf club head is preferably composed of plies of pre-peg sheets. A method for fabricating the golf club head is also disclosed herein. The method uses a three-piece mold and bladder to produce a composite golf club head with a metal weight strip embedded in the ribbon.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a hollow interior and composed of a composite material, the body having a face, a sole, a crown, a ribbon juxtaposed by the sole and the crown, a heel end and a toe end; and

at least one weight strip composed of a material having a density greater than the composite material, the weight strip disposed on the ribbon.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the at least one weight strip is embedded within the ribbon.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a plurality of layers of plies of pre-peg material.

4. The golf club head according to claim 3 wherein the weight strip is juxtaposed between layers of the plurality of layers of plies of pre-peg material.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 further comprising a secondary weight disposed on the sole.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the weight strip is composed of a copper material.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the weight strip is composed of a tungsten material.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the weight strip extends from the toe end of the ribbon to the heel end of the ribbon.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the weight strip extends along at least fifty percent of the length of the ribbon.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the weight strip extends along only a rear portion of the ribbon.

11. The golf club head according to claim 1 further comprising a sole plate having a hosel tube integral therewith, the sole plate disposed within an aperture in the sole of the body, the sole plate composed of a material having a density greater than the composite material.

12. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the club head has a volume greater than 320 cubic centimeters.

14. The golf club head according to claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of weight strips is composed of a copper material.

15. The golf club head according to claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of weight strips is parallel to each other on the ribbon.

16. The golf club head according to claim 13 wherein the plurality of weight strips comprise a first weight strip disposed in the heel end of the ribbon, a second weight strip disposed in the rear of the ribbon and a third weight strip disposed in the toe end of the ribbon.

17. The golf club head according to claim 1 further comprising a sole plate having a hosel tube integral therewith, the sole plate disposed within an aperture in the sole of the body, the sole plate composed of a material having a density greater than the composite material.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising placing a layer of prepeg material over the weight strip prior to curing.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein curing the prepeg comprises:

inflating a bladder within the mold to a predetermined pressure; and

heating the mold to a predetermined temperature.

21. The method according to claim 18 further comprising placing a sole plate on the sole of the golf club head composed of a composite material, the sole plate having a hosel tube integral therewith, the sole plate disposed within an aperture in the sole of the body, the sole plate composed of a material having a density greater than the composite material.

22. The method according to claim 20 wherein the predetermined temperature for heating is in the range of 250°

F. to 400°

F., and the predetermined pressure is in the range of 100 psi to 200 psi.

23. The method according to claim 18 wherein the weight strip is composed of a copper material.

24. The method according to claim 18 wherein the weight strip is composed of a tungsten material.

25. The method according to claim 18 wherein the weight strip extends from the toe end of the ribbon to the heel end of the ribbon.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a hollow interior and composed of a composite material, the body having a face, a sole, a crown, a ribbon juxtaposed by the sole and the crown, a heel end and a toe end; and

a plurality of weight strips, each of the plurality of weight strips composed of a material having a density greater than the composite material, each of the plurality of weight strips disposed on the ribbon.

18. A method for producing a golf club head, the method comprising:

placing a prepeg material in a mold, the mold having the shape of a golf club head having a face, a sole, a crown, a ribbon juxtaposed by the sole and the crown, a heel end and a toe end;

placing a weight strip in the ribbon area of the mold; and

curing the prepeg to create a golf club head composed of a composite material.