Method of creating scorelines in club face insert

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to composite articles, and in particular a composite face plate for a golf club-head, and methods for making the same. In certain embodiments, a composite face plate for a club-head is formed with a cross-sectional profile having a varying thickness. The face plate comprises a lay-up of multiple, composite prepreg plies. At least a portion of the plies comprise a plurality of elongated prepreg strips arranged in a predetermined criss-cross pattern in the lay-up. The prepreg strips create one or more areas of increased thickness where the strips overlap each other, thereby creating a desired profile for the plate. Metallic or polymer covers or cover layers can be used to define a striking surface.

1 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a club body;   a striking plate secured to the club body, the striking plate further comprising;
 a face plate; and 
 a cover plate secured to the face plate and defining a striking surface, 
   wherein the striking surface includes a plurality of scoreline indentations.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer that secures the cover plate to the face plate. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the scoreline indentations are at least partially filled with a pigment selected to contrast with an appearance of an impact area of the striking surface. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate is metallic and has a thickness between about 0.25 mm and 0.35 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein the scoreline indentations are between about 0.05 and 0.09 mm deep. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein a ratio of a scoreline indentation width to a cover plate thickness is between about 2.5 and 3.5. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein the face plate is formed of a titanium alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the scoreline indentations include transition regions having radii of curvature of between about 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate includes a rim configured to extend around a perimeter of the face plate. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the face plate is a composite face plate. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the club body is a wood-type club body. 
     
     
         12 . A cover plate for a golf club face plate, comprising a titanium alloy sheet having bulge and roll curvatures, and including a plurality of scoreline indentations, wherein a scoreline indentation depth D is between about 0.05 mm and 0.12 mm, and a titanium alloy sheet thickness T is between about 0.20 mm and 0.40 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a club body; and   a striking plate secured to the club body and that includes a metallic cover having a plurality of impact resistant scoreline indentions situated on a striking surface.   
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the metallic cover is between about 0.2 mm and 1.0 mm thick. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14  wherein the scoreline indentations have depths between about 0.1 mm and 0.02 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the scoreline indentations have a depth D and the metallic cover has a thickness T such that a ratio D/T is between about 0.15 and 0.30. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein the ratio D/T is between about 0.20 and 0.25. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the face plate is a variable thickness face plate. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 selecting a metallic cover sheet;   trimming the metallic cover sheet so as to conform to a golf club face plate and provide a striking surface for a golf club; and   defining a plurality of scoreline indentations in the striking surface, wherein the metallic cover sheet has a thickness T between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, and the scoreline indentations have a depth D such that a ratio D/T is between about 0.1 and 0.4.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the ratio D/T is between about 0.15 and 0.30. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forming a rim on the cover plate configured to cover a perimeter of a face plate. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the metallic sheet is a titanium alloy sheet. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the metallic sheet is trimmed after formation of the scoreline indentations. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the scoreline indentations are formed in an impact area of the striking surface. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the scoreline indentations are formed outside of an impact area of the striking surface.