Golf club head with a multi-material face cup

Abstract

A golf club head having a face cup made of multiple materials attached to an aft body. More specifically, the face cup has a composite inner core which improves mass properties in the golf club head. The face cup also has a metallic outer cover which improves abrasion resistance, durability, surface finishing, and bonding techniques.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a striking face configured to contact a golf ball;   a crown;   a sole opposite said crown;   a skirt between said crown and said sole;   a toe portion;   a heel portion opposite said toe portion; and   a hosel at said heel portion configured to connect to a shaft,   wherein a forward portion of said golf club head defines a face cup and a rearward portion of said golf club head defines an aft body,   wherein said aft body is located rearward of said face cup and is bonded to said face cup to form an interior cavity within said golf club head,   wherein said hosel is connected to said face cup,   wherein said face cup includes said striking face, a front portion of said crown, a front portion of said sole, a front portion of said skirt, a front portion of said toe portion, and a front portion of said heel portion, and   wherein said face cup comprises an inner core and an outer cover located exterior of said inner core.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said inner core and said outer cover are made of different materials. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said inner core is made of composite material and said outer cover is made of metal. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein said outer cover is made of titanium, steel, or aluminum. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein said inner core has a thickness between 2.5 mm and 6.0 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein said inner core has a thickness between 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein said outer cover has a thickness between 0.1 mm and 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein said outer cover has a thickness between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein said outer cover covers an entirety of an outer surface of said inner core. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein said inner core is cured within said outer cover. 
     
     
         11 . A golf club head comprising:
 a striking face configured to contact a golf ball;   a crown;   a sole opposite said crown;   a skirt between said crown and said sole;   a toe portion;   a heel portion opposite said toe portion; and   a hosel at said heel portion configured to connect to a shaft,   wherein a forward portion of said golf club head defines a face cup and a rearward portion of said golf club head defines an aft body,   wherein said aft body is located rearward of said face cup and is bonded to said face cup to form an interior cavity within said golf club head,   wherein said hosel is connected to said face cup,   wherein said face cup includes said striking face, a front portion of said crown, a front portion of said sole, a front portion of said skirt, a front portion of said toe portion, and a front portion of said heel portion,   wherein said face cup comprises an inner core and an outer cover located exterior of said inner core,   wherein said inner core and said outer cover are made of different materials, and   wherein said outer cover spans over said striking face, said front portion of said crown, said front portion of said sole, said front portion of said skirt, said front portion of said toe portion, and said front portion of said heel portion.   
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said inner core forms an interior portion of said striking face, said front portion of said crown, said front portion of said sole, said front portion of said skirt, said front portion of said toe portion, and said front portion of said heel portion. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said inner core is made of composite material and said outer cover is made of metal. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein said outer cover is made of titanium. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein said inner core has a thickness between 2.5 mm and 6.0 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein said inner core has a thickness between 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein said outer cover has a thickness between 0.1 mm and 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 17 , wherein said outer cover has a thickness between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 18 , wherein said inner core is cured within said outer cover. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 18 , wherein said inner core is bonded to said outer cover,
 wherein said outer cover undergoes a surface treatment prior to being bonded to said inner core, and   wherein said inner core is cured prior to being bonded to said outer cover.