Method for manufacturing and golf club head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9579549-B2
Application number	US-201314048829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2013
Priority date	Jun 11, 2001
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A method for forming a golf club head comprises placing an uncured composite material between a core and a mold that comprises a first piece and a second piece. The second piece is moved towards the first piece such that the uncured composite material is compressed between the core and at least a portion of the mold. The uncured composite material is heated. A first portion of the golf club head is removed from the mold. A second portion of the golf club head is provided. The first portion is attached to the second portion. In certain arrangements, the second portion is formed from a metallic material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A golf club head comprising:
a shell made of a composite material that is attached to a strike plate formed of a metallic material, the shell including a first mating section and the strike plate including a second mating section configured to mate with the first mating section and a hosel formed of a metallic material extends outward from the strike plate;
wherein the first mating section defines an opening at a front and bottom of the shell, the opening extending rearwardly along a perimeter of the club head adjacent to a rear of the club head, and the second mating section is at least four times as wide as a thickness of the shell;
wherein the first mating section overlaps the second mating section along a perimeter of the club head adjacent to the rear of the club head;
wherein the first mating section includes a first attachment surface that faces inward and the second mating section includes a second attachment surface that faces outward; and
wherein the shell has an inner surface that is smooth.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first mating section and the second mating section extend entirely along an interface between the shell and the strike plate.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first mating section includes a first abutment surface, which is transverse to an outer surface of the shell and the second mating section includes a second abutment surface, which is substantially parallel to the first abutment surface.

4. The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein the shell is made with a tolerance that is less than approximately ±0.15 millimeters such that a gap between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface is less than approximately 0.3 millimeters.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first mating section includes a first abutment surface, which is transverse to an outer surface of the shell and a first attachment surface, which is generally parallel to an outer surface of the shell and the second mating section includes a second abutment surface that is substantially parallel to the first abutment surface and a second attachment surface that is substantially parallel to the first attachment surface.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first mating section overlaps and is external to the second mating section.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a toe side wall and a heel side wall that extend downward to the sole of the club head and terminate at lower edges that form part of the first mating section.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first mating section overlaps the second mating section along a skirt of the club head at the rear of the club head.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the golf club head comprises an interior volume that is substantially hollow with the exception of at least one rib.

10. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the golf club head comprises an interior volume that is greater than 400 centimeters cubed.

11. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the strike plate comprises titanium.

12. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the shell is permanently affixed to the strike plate using an adhesive.

13. A golf club head comprising:
a shell made of a composite material that is attached to a strike/sole plate combination that includes a strike plate and a sole plate which are integrally formed and made of a metallic material, the shell including a first mating section and the strike/sole plate combination including a second mating section configured to mate with the first mating section;
wherein the strike/sole plate combination comprises a hosel that extends outward from the strike/sole plate combination and the shell comprises a toe side wall and a heel side wall that extend downward to the sole plate and form toe and heel portions of the club head;
wherein the shell includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a first abutment surface formed as a portion of the first mating section and extending between the outer and inner facing surfaces of the shell;
wherein the second mating section includes a second abutment surface and the second mating section is at least four times as wide as a thickness of the shell;
wherein the first mating section includes a first attachment surface that faces inward and the second mating section includes a second attachment surface that faces outward; and
wherein the inner surface of the shell is smooth.

14. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the first mating section and the second mating section extend entirely along an interface between the shell and the strike/sole plate combination.

15. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the shell is made with a tolerance that is less than approximately ±0.15 millimeters such that a gap between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface is less than approximately 0.3 millimeters.

16. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the first mating section includes a first attachment surface, which is generally parallel to an outer surface of the shell and the second mating section includes a second attachment surface, which is substantially parallel to the first attachment surface.

17. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the first mating section includes forming the first abutment surface, which is transverse to an outer surface of the shell and a first attachment surface, which is generally parallel to an outer surface of the first portion and the second mating section includes a second abutment surface that is generally parallel to the first abutment surface and a second attachment surface that is generally parallel to the first attachment surface.

18. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the sole plate comprises a rib that protrudes inwardly from a periphery of the sole plate into an interior of the club head.

19. The golf club head of claim 18 , wherein the rib extends around a first side edge of the sole plate, a rear edge of the sole plate, and a second side edge of the sole plate.

20. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the golf club head comprises an interior volume that is greater than 400 centimeters cubed.

21. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the strike plate comprises titanium and the shell is permanently affixed to the strike plate using an adhesive.

22. A golf club head comprising:
a shell made of a composite material that is attached to a strike plate that is formed of a metallic material;
wherein the strike plate includes a face portion, a sole plate portion connected to the face portion, a crown portion connected to the face portion, and a hosel that extends outward from the strike plate;
wherein the shell includes a first mating section adjacent the crown portion and the strike plate includes a second mating section that is part of the crown portion and that mates with the first mating section and forms interlocking steps that couple the shell and the strike plate together;
wherein the first mating section of the shell comprises a first abutment surface and a third abutment surface, the first abutment surface extending inwardly from an outer surface of the shell and the third abutment surface extending outwardly from an inner surface of the shell, the first and third abutment surfaces being offset and spaced apart by a first attachment surface of the first mating section that extends from an inner end of the first abutment surface to an outer end of the third abutment surfac

Assignees

• Taylor Made Golf Co

Inventors

• Beach Todd P
• Zedelmayer Erik

Classifications

• A63B53/0466 Primary

  wood-type · CPC title

• Y10T29/4998

  Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material · CPC title

• A63B2209/02

  with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres · CPC title

• B29L2031/5227

  Clubs · CPC title

• Y10T156/10

  Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor · CPC title