Double-wall iron with composite inner wall

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020368591-A1
Application number	US-202016988406-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 7, 2020
Priority date	Jun 16, 2016
Publication date	Nov 26, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A golf club head includes a golf club head body, a striking face, and an inner wall supporting the striking face. A ledge extends from a body into the interior of the golf club head body, and the inner wall is disposed within a gap between the striking face and the ledge. A rear surface of the inner wall is supported by a portion of the golf club head body, and a rear surface of the striking face is in contact with a portion of the inner wall. The inner wall may be inserted into the golf club head through an opening defined in the toe portion of the golf club head or the rear portion of the golf club head.

First claim

1 . A golf club head comprising:
a golf club head body, said golf club head body comprising:
a striking face;
a toe portion;
a heel portion opposite said toe portion;
a sole portion;
a topline portion opposite said sole portion; and
a ledge extending toward an interior of said golf club head body from said sole portion, said toe portion, and said topline portion,
wherein said ledge is not provided in said heel portion,
wherein said ledge is spaced apart from a rear surface of said striking face so as to define a gap therebetween;
an inner wall comprising at least one of a composite material, fiberglass, and carbon fiber, wherein said inner wall is in contact with at least a portion of said rear surface of said striking face, and at least a portion of said inner wall is disposed in said gap; and a perimeter support member interposed between said inner wall and said ledge.

2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said inner wall and said perimeter support member completely fill said gap so as to mechanically lock said inner wall in place.

3 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said perimeter support member comprises at least one of a resin, an epoxy, and a chopped fiber.

4 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a release agent is interposed between said striking face and said inner wall to reduce friction therebetween.

5 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said golf club head body further comprises a heel wall extending from said sole portion to said topline portion proximate said heel portion.

6 . The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein said inner wall and said perimeter support member abut said heel wall.

7 . The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein an upper portion of said heel wall proximate said topline portion has a first depth, a lower portion of said heel wall proximate said sole portion has a second depth, and a central portion of said heel wall between said upper portion and said lower portion has a third depth,
wherein said third depth is less than said first depth and said second depth.

8 . The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein said third depth is about equal to a thickness of said inner wall, and
wherein said first depth and said second depth are about equal to a combined thickness of said inner wall, said perimeter support member, and said ledge.

9 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said club head body further comprises a rear opening defined in a rear portion of said club head body opposite said striking face, and
wherein said rear opening is adapted to receive said inner wall therethrough.

10 . A method for manufacturing a golf club head, comprising:
providing a golf club head body comprising a heel portion, a toe portion opposite said heel portion, a sole portion, a topline portion opposite said sole portion, and a striking face; positioning an inner wall within said golf club head body against a rear surface of said striking face such that said inner wall at least partially contacts said rear surface of said striking face, and said inner wall at least partially fills a gap defined between said striking face and a ledge extending toward an interior of said golf club head body from said sole portion, said toe portion, and said topline portion, wherein said ledge is not provided in said heel portion; and inserting a perimeter support member between said ledge and said inner wall so as to completely fill said gap.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said step of positioning said inner wall within said golf club head body further comprises:
positioning a prepreg member within said golf club head body against said rear surface of said striking face; curing said prepreg member for a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature to define said inner wall.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said step of positioning said inner wall within said golf club head body comprises:
placing a release agent within said golf club head body against said rear surface of said striking face; positioning a prepreg member within said golf club head body such that said release agent is interposed between said rear surface of said striking face and said prepreg member; and curing said prepreg member for a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature to define said inner wall, wherein said release agent decreases friction between said inner wall and said rear surface of said striking face.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said step of inserting said perimeter support member between said ledge and said inner wall comprises:
inserting said perimeter support member comprising at least one of a resin, an epoxy, and a chopped fiber between said ledge and said inner wall to completely fill said gap; and curing said perimeter support member.

14 . A golf club head comprising:
a striking face; and a golf club head body comprising:
a contact rim at least partially supporting said striking face, wherein said striking face is secured to said golf club head body proximate said contact rim along at least a sole portion and a topline portion of said golf club head body;
an inner wall comprising at least one of a composite material, fiberglass, and carbon fiber; and
an opening defined in said golf club head body and adapted to receive said inner wall therethrough,
wherein a rear surface of said inner wall is supported by said golf club head body and reinforces said striking face, and at least a portion of a front surface of said inner wall is in contact with a rear surface of said striking face.

15 . The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said opening is a toe opening defined in a toe portion of said golf club head body, and said golf club head further comprises a toe cap adapted to capture and retain said inner wall by enclosing said toe opening.

16 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein said golf club head body further comprises a ledge extending from said contact rim toward an interior of said golf club head body along said sole portion, said toe portion, and said topline portion of said golf club head body,
wherein said ledge is spaced from said rear surface of said striking face so as to define a gap that is completely filled by said inner wall, and wherein said ledge supports a perimeter edge of said inner wall along said sole portion, said toe portion, and said topline portion so as to mechanically lock said inner wall in place.

17 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein said golf club head body further comprises:
a ledge extending from said contact rim toward an interior of said golf club head body along a sole portion, a toe portion, and a topline portion of said golf club head body, said ledge spaced from said rear surface of said striking face so as to define a gap; and a perimeter support member, comprising at least one of a resin, an epoxy, and a chopped fiber, interposed between said inner wall and said ledge proximate said topline portion, said toe portion, and said sole portion, wherein said inner wall and said perimeter support member completely fill said gap so as to mechanically lock said inner wall in place.

18 . The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said opening is a rear opening defined in a rear portion of said golf club head body opposite said striking face, and
wherein said inner wall is configured to only pass through said rear opening in an uncured state.

19 . The golf club head of claim 18 , wherein said golf club head body further comprises:
a ledge extending from said contact rim toward an interior of

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Hebreo Jonathan
• Takehara Doug M
• Breier Joshua G
• Sugimae Ryuichi
• Frame Nick

Classifications

• A63B53/0408

  characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness · CPC title

• A63B53/0429

  the face insert comprising two or more layers of material · CPC title

• A63B60/52

  with slits · CPC title

• A63B53/0433

  with special sole configurations · CPC title

• A63B53/047

  iron-type · CPC title