U.S. patent application number 09/818836 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-06 for golf club head and a method for manufacturing the same.
Invention is credited to Chen, Hsiao-Kun, Cheng, Bernard, Chiu, Jen-Hung.
Application Number | 20010049310 09/818836 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21659937 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010049310 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheng, Bernard ; et
al. |
December 6, 2001 |
Golf club head and a method for manufacturing the same
Abstract
A golf club head has a metal base, face and tubular neck and a
carbon-fiber cover. The face extends up vertically from one edge of
the base. The tubular neck is integrally connected to the base and
the face. The cover is made of a carbon-fiber material and is
securely attached to the base and the face. Because the
carbon-fiber material is lighter than metal, the area of the face
is enlarged. In addition, the shock absorbing effect of the golf
head club is also improved.
Inventors: |
Cheng, Bernard; (Kaohsiung,
TW) ; Chen, Hsiao-Kun; (Kaohsiung, TW) ; Chiu,
Jen-Hung; (Kaohsiung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Browdy and Neimark, P.L.L.C.
Suite 300
624 Ninth Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Family ID: |
21659937 |
Appl. No.: |
09/818836 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/334 ;
473/345; 473/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49799 20150115;
A63B 53/0437 20200801; Y10T 29/49888 20150115; A63B 53/0466
20130101; Y10T 29/49886 20150115; A63B 60/00 20151001; A63B 60/54
20151001; A63B 53/0433 20200801; Y10T 29/49861 20150115; A63B 53/04
20130101; Y10T 29/49947 20150115; Y10T 29/49986 20150115; A63B
60/02 20151001; A63B 2209/02 20130101; Y10T 29/49989 20150115; Y10T
29/49984 20150115; A63B 2053/0491 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/334 ;
473/345; 473/349 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04; A63B
053/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 2000 |
TW |
089110593 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A golf club head comprising: a metal base; a metal face
extending up vertically from one edge of the base; a tubular neck
integrally connected to the base and the face; and a cover made of
a carbon-fiber material and securely attached to the base and the
face.
2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lip extends
vertically from an edge of the base to connect to the cover.
3. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein a countersunk
threaded hole is defined in the base.
4. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein a threaded
plug with an enlarged head and a threaded shaft is screwed into the
countersunk threaded hole in the base.
5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one
bore is formed in a side of the cover.
6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 5, wherein a weighted
plug is inlaid in each bore in the cover.
7. The golf club head as claimed in claim 6, wherein an annular
recess is defined in an outer edge of each weighted plug.
8. The golf club head as claimed in claim 6, wherein an annular rib
is formed on an outer edge of each weighted plug.
9. A method for manufacturing a golf club head, the method
comprising the following steps: a. integrally forming the body
comprising a base and a face of metal in a casting molding process
and forming a tubular neck of metal on the body by a forging
process such that a cavity is defined between the base and the
face; b. spraying aluminum oxide sand onto an inner surface of the
cavity and an outer edge around the cavity to increase a surface
roughness of the body; c. attaching a cover formed from multiple
carbon-fiber layers to the body to cover the cavity; and d.
attaching the cover to the body in a hot-pressing mold process such
that a golf club head with a carbon-fiber cover is made.
10. The method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in
claim 9 further comprising a step of a thermal treatment to the
body after the body is formed
11. The method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in
claim 10 further comprising a step of grinding the body after the
thermal treatment process to form the body to a desired shape and
size.
12. The method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in
claim 9, wherein at least one bore is defined in the cover to
receive a weighted plug.
13. The method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in
claim 9, wherein a countersunk through hole is defined in the base
after the body is formed; the through hole is tapped; and a plug
with a threaded shaft is screwed into the threaded hole.
14. The method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in
claim 13, wherein an air bag is inserted into the body with the
cover through the threaded hole before the hot-pressing mold
process is processed; the air bag is inflated and expands to press
against the inner surface of the cover and the body during the
hot-pressing mold process to form the cover into a desired shape;
the air bag is taken out of the body after the cover has hardened;
and the threaded plug is screwed into the threaded hole in the
base.
15. The method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in
claim 9 further comprising a step of fine grinding to increase the
smooth of a surface of the golf club head.
16. The method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in
claim 15 further comprising a step of applying a lacquer coating to
an outer surface of the gold club head to provide a protective
coating on the golf club head.
17. The method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in
claim 9, wherein a lip is formed on an edge of the body to connect
to the cover.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a golf club head and the
method for forming the same, and more particularly to a golf club
head with a large hitting face and good flexibility.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] In general, one of two ways are usually used to manufacture
a golf club head. One is to form the head with a cast mold process,
and the other is to weld several parts together. However, because
the conventional golf club head is always made of metal and the
weight of the golf club head is standardized, the area of the face
of the golf club head is limited. A new golfer easily misses the
golf ball with a golf club having a conventional head. In addition,
the shock absorbing effect of the conventional golf club head
formed by combining several parts is easily reduced because of the
welding process.
[0005] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to
provide an improved golf club head to mitigate or obviate the
aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The main objective of the invention is to provide an
improved golf club head having a face with a large area. The golf
club head has a metal base, face and tubular neck and a carbon
fiber cover. The face extends up vertically from one edge of the
base. The tubular neck is integrally connected to the base and the
face. The cover is securely attached to the base and the face.
Because the carbon-fiber material is lighter than the metal, the
area of the face is enlarged. In addition, a better shock absorbing
effect is achieved due to the carbon-fiber cover.
[0007] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a golf club head
in accordance with the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a method for manufacturing the
golf club head in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side plan view in partial section of the golf
club head in FIG. 1 with an air bag; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side plan view in partial section of the golf
club head in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, a golf club head in accordance
with the present invention comprises a base (10), a face (11), a
neck (12) and a cover (20). The base (10) is made of metal. A
countersunk threaded hole (15) is defined in the base (10). A
countersunk recess (16) is defined in the base (10) around the
threaded hole (15). A threaded plug (18) with an enlarged head (17)
is screwed into the threaded hole (15). Consequently, the threaded
plug (18) is securely attached to the base (10) due to the
engagement with the threaded hole (15).
[0013] The face (11) extends up vertically from one edge of the
base (10). Grooves are defined on the outside of the face (11). The
neck (12) is a tubular member and is integrally connected to the
base (10) and the face (11). A lip (14) is formed around the edges
of the base (10) to form a cavity (13) between the base (10), the
lip (14) and the face (11).
[0014] The cover (20) is securely attached to the lip (14) and the
face (11) to cover the cavity (13). At least one weighted plug (22)
with an annular recess (23) in the outer edge is inlaid in the
cover (20). A bore (21) is formed in the cover (20) to securely
hold each weighted plug (22).
[0015] With reference to FIG. 1 and 2, the process of manufacturing
the golf club head comprises the following steps:
[0016] a. forming the base (10) and the face (11):
[0017] The base (10) with the lip (14) and the face (11) are cast
molded. Then, the tubular neck (12) is formed with a forging
process. The countersunk threaded hole (15) and the circular recess
(16) are drilled in the base (10) and the threaded hole (15)
tapped.
[0018] b. thermal treatment:
[0019] The body comprising the base (10), the lip (14), the face
(11) and the neck (12) is thermally treated.
[0020] c. grinding:
[0021] The body is then ground to a desired shape and size.
[0022] d. spraying aluminum oxide sand onto the body:
[0023] By spraying the aluminum oxide sand onto the inner surface
of the cavity (13) of the body and the edge around the cavity (13),
the surface roughness of the body is increased.
[0024] e. attaching the cover (20) to the body:
[0025] The cover (20) formed with multiple carbon-fiber layers.
Multiple bores (21) are defined in the cover (20). The cover (20)
with bores (2 1) is attached to the body to cover the cavity
(13).
[0026] f. inlaying the weighted plugs (22) into the cover (20):
[0027] A weighted plug (22) is put into each bore (21) in the cover
(20).
[0028] g. inserting an air bag (30) into the body:
[0029] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, an air bag (30) is inserted
into the cavity (14) through the threaded hole (15) in the base
(10). The body with the air bag (30) is then put into a
hot-pressing machine.
[0030] h. inflating the air bag (30) and hot pressing:
[0031] The air bag (30) is inflated and expands to abut the inner
surface of the cover (20) and the body, such that the outer surface
of the cover (20) will press against the entire inner face of the
mold in the hot-pressing machine. During the hot-pressing mold
process, the cover (20) will harden and form to a shape conforming
to the shape of the hot-pressing mold. The cover (20) will be
securely attached to the base (10) and the face (11). Because the
edge of the base (10) and the face (11) was sprayed with the
aluminum oxide sand, the attachment between the cover (20) and the
body is enhanced. The weighted plugs (22) received in the bores
(21) will be securely held into the cover (20) when the cover (20)
hardens during the hot-pressing mold process. In addition, with
reference to FIG. 4, a rib (212) will be automatically formed in
each bore (21) during the hot-pressing mold process to engage the
annular recess (23) in each weighted plug (22). The combination
between each weighted plug (22) and the cover (20) is enhanced. In
another embodiment, an annular rib is formed on an outer edge of
each weighted plug (22), such that a recess engaging with the rib
of each second block (22) will be defined in each bore (21) during
the hot-pressing mold process.
[0032] i. attaching the threaded plug (18) to the base (10):
[0033] The air bag (30) is taken out of the body. The threaded plug
(18) is screwed into the threaded hole (15) in the base (10) so
that the head (17) is flush with the outer surface of the base
(10). Consequently, the position of the center of gravity of the
golf club head is adjustable based on the size and placement of the
threaded plug (18) and weighted plugs (22).
[0034] j. fine grinding:
[0035] To increase the smooth of the surface of the golf club head,
a fine grinding process is carried out.
[0036] k. coating: and
[0037] The outer surface of the golf club head is coated with
lacquer to provide a protective coating on the head.
[0038] l. packing:
[0039] The golf club head is packed.
[0040] Accordingly, a golf club head with a carbon-fiber cover (20)
is made. Because the weight of the carbon-fiber material is lighter
than the metal, the weight of the golf club head is reduced.
Consequently, a face (11) with a larger area can be formed on the
golf club head that is the same weight as the conventional golf
club head made of metal. The face is enlarged. The likelihood of
completely missing the golf ball can be greatly reduced. In
addition, because the elasticity of the carbon-fiber material is
better than that of the metal material, the shock absorbing effect
of the golf club head is improved.
[0041] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and function of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be
made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and
arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the
full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *