Positioning Tool for Ceramic Cores

Abstract

An apparatus and method for forming a hollow golf club head is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first mold cavity having depressions formed therein, a second mold cavity having a shape complementary to the exterior of the desired club head, a ceramic core, and wax injecting means. Each depression of the first mold cavity has a depth equal to a desired wall thickness of a corresponding portion of the club head. When the ceramic core is placed in the first mold cavity and wax is injected, wax protuberances, which correspond to the depressions, are formed about the ceramic core. The wax protuberances position the ceramic core in the second mold cavity, where wax is deposited over the majority of the ceramic core.

1 . An apparatus for forming a hollow golf club head, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first mold having a cavity with a plurality of depressions formed therein, each of the depressions having a depth substantially equal to a desired wall thickness of a corresponding portion of the golf club head;    a second mold having a cavity formed therein, the second mold cavity being larger than the first mold cavity and having a shape complementary to a desired exterior of the golf club head; and    means for injecting wax into the first and second mold cavities.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a ceramic core having an exterior surface corresponding to an interior of the golf club head, the ceramic core being removably and sequentially placed in the first and second mold cavities.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the ceramic core is fully enclosed within each of the first and second mold cavities.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the means for injecting wax forms a plurality of protuberances on the exterior surface of the ceramic core when the ceramic core is placed in the first mold cavity, each protuberance corresponding to a respective depression in the first mold cavity.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of wax protuberances properly position the ceramic core in the second mold cavity.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the means for injecting wax forms wax about a majority of the exterior surface of the ceramic core and the wax protuberances.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first mold cavity further includes a plurality of channels formed therein, the channels interconnecting the depressions.