Golf club head and method for manufacturing the golf club head

Abstract

A composite golf club head includes a light-weight alloy strike plate, a composite material body, a metal sole plate and a balance weight. The strike plate has a rear, and a rim is formed around the rear to form a hollow cup-like body. The body is bonded to the rim and is composed of a crown and a sole made of fiber prepreg material. A sole plate made of metal is mounted in the sole, and has a seat formed in the sole plate and a hole defined through the seat. A balance weight is mounted in the hole.

1 . A composite golf club head comprising: 
 a strike plate made of a light-weight alloy, having a front, a rear, a toe, a heel, a shank formed at the heel of the strike plate, and a rim formed around the rear of the strike plate to form a hollow cup-like body;    a body bonded to the rim and being composed of a crown and a sole made of fiber prepreg material;    a sole plate made of metal, mounted in the sole and having a seat formed in the sole plate and a hole defined through the seat; and    a balance weight mounted in the hole.    
   
   
       2 . The composite golf club head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fiber prepreg material is carbon fiber impregnated with resin.  
   
   
       3 . The composite golf club head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fiber prepreg material is glass fiber impregnated with resin.  
   
   
       4 . The composite golf club head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fiber prepreg material is Kevlar™ fiber impregnated with resin.  
   
   
       5 . The composite golf club head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fiber prepreg material is boron fiber impregnated with resin.  
   
   
       6 . The composite golf club head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fiber prepreg material is titanium fiber impregnated with resin.  
   
   
       7 . The composite golf club head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fiber prepreg material is copper fiber impregnated with resin.  
   
   
       8 . The composite golf club head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fiber prepreg material is aluminum fiber impregnated with resin.  
   
   
       9 . The composite golf club head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an opening is defined through the sole, and the sole plate is mounted in the opening.  
   
   
       10 . A method for manufacturing a golf club head as claimed in  claim 1  comprising steps of: 
 preparing the individual elements comprising casting or forging the strike plate with the shank, the sole plate and the balance weight; cutting and bonding the fiber prepreg material based on the profiles of the crown and the sole; and preparing adhesive sheets and an air bladder;    pressing prepreg material comprising pressing the fiber prepreg material pieces in corresponding dies to form the crown and the sole;    assembling the golf club head comprising attaching the strike plate, the crown, the sole and the sole plate together by the adhesive sheets; and inserting the air bladder through the hole in the golf head with a nozzle extending out of from the hole;    shaping the golf club head comprises pumping air into the air bladder to pre-shape the golf club head;    curing the prepreg materials comprising heating, pressing and blowing the pre-shaped golf club head in a hot-press molding die to cure the fiber prepreg materials of the body; and the air bladder pressing the adhesive sheets to tightly abut the inside wall of the golf head;    removing the golf club head from the die comprises removing the cured golf club head from the hot-press molding die, and removing the air bladder through the hole from the golf club head; and    finishing the golf club head comprising finishing the golf club head, installing the balance weight in the hole in the sole plate and painting the golf club head.