U.S. patent application number 15/242837 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-22 for manufacturing method of golf iron head by combining different metal materials.
The applicant listed for this patent is CHI-HUNG SU. Invention is credited to CHI-HUNG SU.
Application Number | 20180050241 15/242837 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61191028 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180050241 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SU; CHI-HUNG |
February 22, 2018 |
MANUFACTURING METHOD OF GOLF IRON HEAD BY COMBINING DIFFERENT METAL
MATERIALS
Abstract
A manufacturing method of a golf iron head by combining
different metal materials includes a pre-forming step, an engaging
step, a pre-heating step and a forming step. A head body and a
strike plate are provided in the pre-forming step to combine with
each other. The strike plate is engaged with the head body in the
engaging step, and the strike plate and the head body are
pre-heated together. The forming step combines the head body and
the strike plate as a one-piece iron head without clearances.
Because the materials of the head body and strike plate are
different and the connection force between the head body and the
strike plate is increased, the mechanical properties and striking
performance are improved and noises upon striking are
eliminated.
Inventors: |
SU; CHI-HUNG; (Tainan City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SU; CHI-HUNG |
Tainan City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
61191028 |
Appl. No.: |
15/242837 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/042 20200801;
A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 2209/00 20130101; B21K 17/00
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A manufacturing method of a golf iron head comprising: a
pre-forming step comprising providing a head body, wherein the head
body has a base, a rod portion formed on one side of the base, a
plate recess formed in a front surface of the base and having an
inner wall in the plate recess, and at least one engaging recess
formed in the inner wall of the plate recess; providing a strike
plate, wherein a material of the strike plate is different from a
material of the head body, the shape of the strike plate
corresponds to the shape of the plate recess, and the thickness of
the strike plate is larger than the depth of the plate recess; an
engaging step comprising: placing the strike plate in the plate
recess, wherein a front surface of the strike plate protrudes out
of the front surface of the base; a pre-heating step comprising:
heating the head body and the strike plate to a forging temperature
according to the materials of the head body and the strike plate,
wherein the range of the forging temperature is from
500-1200.degree. C.; and a forming step comprising: combining the
head body and the strike plate by a forging process, wherein the
strike plate is deformed by the forging pressure to form a
protrusion on the strike plate, and the protrusion is engaged with
the at least one engaging recess, and the shape of the strike plate
fits correspondingly with the plate recess and the at least one
engaging recess, the front surface of the strike plate is flush
with the front surface of the base of the head body, and the strike
plate and the head body are engaged integratedly and formed as an
iron head.
2. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head
body is made by a casting process or a forging process, and the
strike plate is made by a stamping press process or a forging
process from a metal sheet.
3. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
material of the head body is one selected from the group consisting
of stainless steel, carbon steel, titanium alloys, aluminum bronze
alloys, manganese bronze alloys and the combinations of them; the
material of the strike plate is one selected from the group
consisting of titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, bronze alloys,
stainless steel and carbon steel and the combinations of them.
4. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
stainless steel is one selected from the group consisting of JIS
No. SUS304, SUS303, SUS431, SUS15-5 and SUS17-4 stainless steels;
the carbon steel is one selected from the group consisting of JIS
No. 1020C, 1025C, 1035C and 1045 carbon steels; the steel alloys
with carbon is one selected from the group consisting of 4140
steel, 4130 steel and 4340 steel.
5. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the
pre-forming step, the plate recess is formed to have four wall
surfaces around the plate recess and perpendicular to the bottom of
the plate recess, each one of the wall surfaces is formed to have
one engaging recess inclined relative to the bottom of the plate
recess and formed triangular in cross section.
6. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the
pre-forming step, the plate recess is formed to have four wall
surfaces around the plate recess and perpendicular to the bottom of
the plate recess, each one of the wall surfaces is formed to have
one engaging recess inclined relative to the bottom of the plate
recess and formed triangular in cross section.
7. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein in the
pre-forming step, the plate recess is formed to have four wall
surfaces around the plate recess and perpendicular to a bottom of
the plate recess, each one of the wall surfaces is formed to have
one engaging recess inclined relative to the bottom of the plate
recess and formed triangular in cross section.
8. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 4, wherein in the
pre-forming step, the plate recess is formed to have four wall
surfaces around the plate recess and perpendicular to a bottom of
the plate recess, each one of the wall surfaces is formed to have
one engaging recess inclined relative to the bottom of the plate
recess and formed triangular in cross section.
9. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height
difference between the front surface of the strike plate and the
front surface of the base of the head body is from 0.1 mm to 3.0
mm.
10. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a
height difference between the front surface of the strike plate and
the front surface of the base of the head body is from 0.1 mm to
3.0 mm.
11. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a
height difference between the front surface of the strike plate and
the front surface of the base of the head body is from 0.1 mm to
3.0 mm.
12. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 4, wherein a
height difference between the front surface of the strike plate and
the front surface of the base of the head body is from 0.1 mm to
3.0 mm.
13. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a
height difference between the front surface of the strike plate and
the front surface of the base of the head body is from 0.1 mm to
3.0 mm.
14. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 6, wherein a
height difference between the front surface of the strike plate and
the front surface of the base of the head body is from 0.1 mm to
3.0 mm.
15. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 7, wherein a
height difference between the front surface of the strike plate and
the front surface of the base of the head body is from 0.1 mm to
3.0 mm.
16. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 8, wherein a
height difference between the front surface of the strike plate and
the front surface of the base of the head body is from 0.1 mm to
3.0 mm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a
golf club head, especially to a manufacturing method of a golf iron
head by combining different metal materials.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] A conventional golf iron head is mostly manufactured by
forging or casting with one single steel material. Because the
material properties lack diversity, the hitting performance of the
club head is limited. Therefore, to enhance the hitting
performance, the manufacture method of the conventional golf club
head mostly adopts different metal materials.
[0003] A conventional golf iron head manufacturing method is
disclosed with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In a pre-forming step,
an iron head body 30 is made by a casting process and a strike
plate 40 is made by a metal pressing process. The materials of the
iron head body 30 and the strike plate 40 are different. A plate
recess 31 is formed in the iron head body 30. A flange 32 is formed
around the plate recess 31. An annular recess 41 is formed around a
periphery of the strike plate 40.
[0004] In a forming step, the strike plate 40 is placed in the
plate recess 31 of the iron head body 30. The flange 32 is blended
toward the annular recess 41 by stamping press or hydraulic press,
and the strike plate 40 and the iron head body 30 are fixed
together and are formed as an iron head.
[0005] However, the strike plate 40 and the iron head body 30 are
not really integrated as a one-piece structure, and a clearance
still exists between the strike plate 40 and the iron head body 30,
which makes the combination force of the strike plate 40 and the
iron head body 30 insufficient and easily generates noises upon
striking. After the iron head hits a ball for several times, the
strike plate 40 may fall down from the iron head body 30 or be
loosened from the iron head body 30, and the hitting performance of
the iron head will get worse and noises are generated upon
striking.
[0006] To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional manufacture
method, the present invention provides a manufacturing method of a
golf iron head to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a
manufacturing method of a golf iron head comprising a pre-forming
step, an engaging step, a pre-heating step and a forming step.
[0008] A head body and a strike plate are provided in the
pre-forming step to combine together. The strike plate is engaged
with the head body in the engaging step, and the strike plate and
the head body are pre-heated together. The forming step combines
the head body and the strike plate as a one-piece iron head without
clearances.
[0009] Because the materials of the head body and strike plate are
different and the connection force between the head body and the
strike plate is increased, the mechanical properties and hitting
performance are improved and noises upon hitting are
eliminated.
[0010] 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
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a
manufacturing method of a golf iron head in accordance with the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of a head body made by the method in
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional bottom view of the head body in
FIG. 2 with a strike plate;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional bottom view of the head body
with the strike plate in FIG. 2 engaged with each other by an
engaging step;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional bottom view of a golf iron head
made by the method in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional bottom view of a golf iron head
made by a conventional golf iron head manufacturing process;
[0017] FIG. 7 is cross sectional bottom view of the golf iron head
in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a
manufacturing method of a golf iron head includes a pre-forming
step S1, an engaging step S2, a pre-heating step S3 and a forming
step S4.
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the pre-forming step S1
further includes providing a head body and providing a strike
plate.
[0020] A head body 10 is provided, is selectively made by a casting
process or a forging process, and has a base 11, a rod portion 12,
a plate recess 13 and at least one engaging recess 14. The rod
portion 12 is formed and integrated with one side of the base 11.
The plate recess 13 is formed in a front surface of the base 11 and
has an inner wall. The at least one engaging recess 14 is formed in
the inner wall of the plate recess 13. Preferably, the inner wall
of the plate recess 13 has four wall surfaces around the plate
recess 13, and each one of the wall surfaces is perpendicular to
the bottom of the plate recess 13. Four engaging recesses 14 are
implemented and respectively defined in the four wall surfaces of
the plate recess 13. The engaging recesses 14 are inclined relative
to the bottom of the plate recess 13 and formed triangular in cross
section.
[0021] Furthermore, the engaging recesses 14 are formed by molding
when the head body 10 is made by a casting process, or the engaging
recesses 14 are formed by machine cutting when the head body 10 is
made by a forging process.
[0022] The material of the head body 10 could be applied to a
casting process or a forging process, which are selected from
stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel such as titanium alloys,
aluminum bronze alloys, manganese bronze alloys, non-ferrous alloys
or the combinations of them. Preferably, the stainless steel of the
head body 10 can be JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) No. SUS304,
SUS303, SUS431, SUS15-5 or SUS17-4 stainless steel, or some other
stainless steel alloys. The carbon steel of the head body 10 can be
JIS No. 1020C, 1025C, 1035C or 1045C carbon steel. Or some other
steel alloys with carbon contain as 4140 steel, 4130 steel or 4340
steel.
[0023] A strike plate 20 is provided to engage with the head body
10. The material of the strike plate 20 is different from that of
the head body 10. Preferably, the strike plate 20 is made by a
stamping press process or a forging process from metal sheets; the
material of the strike plate 20 is selected from titanium alloys,
aluminum alloys, bronze alloys, stainless steel and carbon steel or
the combinations of them.
[0024] In the engaging step S2 and with reference to FIG. 3, the
strike plate 20 is placed in the plate recess 13 and protrudes out
of the front surface of the base 11. The shape of the strike plate
20 corresponds to the shape of the plate recess 13. The thickness
of the strike plate 20 is higher than the depth of the plate recess
13. A height difference between a front surface of the strike plate
20 and the front surface of the head body 10 is from 0.1 mm to 3.0
mm.
[0025] In the pre-heating step S3, the head body 10 and the strike
plate 20 are preheated to a forging temperature according to their
materials. The range of the forging temperature is from 500.degree.
C. to 1200.degree. C.
[0026] In the forming step S4 and with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5,
the head body 10 and the strike plate 20 are combined by a forging
process. After the pre-heating process, the head body 10 and the
strike plate 20 are placed in a forging mold. The forging pressure
deforms the strike plate 20 to a strike plate 20A, whose shape fits
correspondingly with the plate recess 13 and the engaging recesses
14. The forging pressure is controlled according to the material of
the strike plate 20 and the temperature of the forging environment.
A protrusion 21 is formed on the strike plate 20A by the forging
pressure, and the protrusion 21 is engaged with the engaging
recesses 14. After the forging process, the front surface of the
strike plate 20 is flush with the front surface of the base 11 of
the head body 10, and the strike plate 20A and the head body 10 are
engaged integratedly and are formed as a complete iron head.
[0027] A surface treatment process can be applied to the iron head,
and the iron head can be assembled with a golf rod in the rod
portion 12 as a complete golf iron club.
[0028] The technique of the present invention adopts the pre-formed
head body 10 to combine with the pre-formed strike plate 20. To
integrally connect the strike plate with the head body 10 and to
engage the protrusion 21 on the strike plate with the engaging
recesses 14, the thickness of the strike plate 20 must be larger
than the depth of the plate recess 13. Hence, the material volume
of the strike plate 20 is calculated correspondingly to the volume
of the plate recess 13 of the head body 10. The materials of the
strike plate 20 can flow into the engaging recesses 14 and fill up
the plate recess 13 by the forging pressure, and are formed
integratedly and firmly with the head body 10 without clearances.
Accordingly, the connection force between the head body 10 and the
strike plate 20 is increased and is stronger than the conventional
manufacturing method. Also, the hitting performance is better than
that of the conventional iron club and noises upon hitting are
eliminated.
[0029] 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.
* * * * *