JP2003024483A - Composite golf club head and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a golf club head with a high coefficient of restitution. SOLUTION: The golf club disclosed has a club head with a striking plate composed of a composite material and having a thickness in the range of 0.01 to 0.25 inches. The golf club head also has a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.81 under test conditions such as the USGA test conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II, of the Rules of Golf for 1998-1999. The golf club head body is composed of a composite material, and a weight strip is placed within a ribbon of the body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation application of pending US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 474,670, which is filed on October 23, 1997, US patent application Ser. No. 09/431. , 982 (currently US Pat.
010, 411) is a partial continuation application.

The present invention relates to a golf club head provided with a face member made of a composite material, and more specifically,
The present invention relates to a golf club head made of a composite material having a special stretched sheet that improves the efficiency of energy transfer to a golf ball at the time of impact.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art When a golf club head hits a golf ball, a large impact force is applied to the club head and the golf ball. Most of that energy is transferred from the head to the golf ball, but some energy is lost as a result of the collision. Golf balls typically consist of a polymeric cover material (such as an ionomer) that wraps a rubber-like core. These softer polymeric materials have strain (strain rate) dependent damping (loss) properties that are on the order of 10-100 times greater than the damping properties of metallic club faces. Therefore, most of the energy during impact is high stress and deformation of the golf ball (0.001-0.2 inch) as opposed to small deformation (0.025-0.050 inch) of the metal club face. ) Resulting in loss.
More efficient energy transfer from the club head to the golf ball can lead to greater flight distance of the golf ball.

The generally accepted approach is to increase the hardness of the club head face to reduce metal or club head deformation. However, this results in greater deformation of the golf ball and increases energy transfer problems.

Some have recognized the above problems and have disclosed possible solutions. For example, Campau U.S. Pat.
No. 965 “Method Of Making Iron Golf Club With Flexib
le Impact Surface ”discloses a club having a flexible elastic faceplate with slots that allows the faceplate to bend. Campau's faceplate is made of a ferrous material such as stainless steel. , 0.1 × 25.4 mm to 0.125 × 25.4 mm.

Another example is Eggiman, US Pat. No. 5,865.
No. 3,261 “Golf Club Head With Elastically Deforming
Face And Back Plates ", which discloses the use of multiple plates that function cooperatively to act like a spring on a golf ball during impact. At least 2
A fluid is placed between the two plates and acts as a viscous bond.

Yet another example is the US patent to Jepson et al.
No. 3,937,474 “Golf Club With A Polyurethane Inser
t ". Jepson discloses that the polyurethane insert has a Shore D hardness of between 40 and 75.

[0008] Yet another example is Inamori's US Pat. No. 3,975,023 “Golf Club With Ceramic Face Plate”.
Discloses a face plate made of a ceramic material that has a high energy transfer coefficient, although the ceramic is usually a hard material. Chen et al., US Pat. No. 5,743,813 “G
olf Club Head "discloses the use of multiple layers on the face to absorb the shock of a golf ball. One of the above materials is a non-metallic material.

Lu US Pat. No. 5,499,814 “Hollow Club
"Head With Deflecting Insert Face Plate" discloses a reinforcing member made of a plastic or an aluminum alloy. This face plate is made of various materials including stainless steel, titanium, KEVLAR (registered trademark) and the like, and is 0.01 × 25.4. Plate thicknesses in the range of mm to 0.3 x 25.4 mm allow for small deflection of the faceplate Other Campau U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,248 "Golf Cl
ub Having Insert Capable Of Elastic Flexing "discloses a wood club made of wood with a metal insert.

The golf rules established and interpreted by the US Golf Association (USGA) and St Andrews Royal and Ocean Golf Club define certain requirements for golf club heads. Requirements for golf club heads are set forth in Rule 4, Appendix II. The full text of the golf rules is available on the USGA web page www.
usga. Available from org. Although this golf rule does not specify specific parameters for a golf club face, rule 4-1e prohibits the face from having a spring effect upon impact with a golf ball.
In 1998, the USGA adopted a test procedure according to Rule 4-1e for measuring COR of club faces. This USGA test procedure, as well as similar procedures, is used to measure the COR of a club face.

[0011]

Although the prior art discloses many variations of striking plates, the prior art fails to provide a face with a high coefficient of restitution made of thin material.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head with a striking plate having a high coefficient of restitution to increase the velocity of the pre-impact golf ball relative to the velocity of the golf ball after a given impact. Especially.

[0013]

The present invention has the following objects.
This can be achieved by using a striking plate made of thin composite material.

One aspect of the invention is a thickness of 0.010 inch to 0.2 of composite material having a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.83 under test conditions as specified in the USGA.
A golf club head having a 5 inch striking plate. The standard USGA conditions for measuring the coefficient of restitution are:
“Rule 4-1e, Appendix II,” available from USGA.
Revision 0 June 6, 1998, Revision 1 August 4, 1998, USGA Procedure for Measuring Club Head Speed Ratios, Rule 4-1e.

Another aspect of the invention is a golf club head including a body of composite material. The body has a crown, a striking plate, a sole, a ribbon and toe end and a heel end. The golf club head has a coefficient of restitution of greater than 0.83 under standard test conditions. The composite material is a multi-layered prepreg sheet with a special orientation. The body has a barb with a special thickness that allows greater flexibility of the striking plate.

Another aspect of the invention is a method for making a golf club head made of composite material. The method includes placing a stack of prepreg sheets in a mold to form a preform. Each layer has a pseudo-isotropic orientation. The preform is cured by an internal bladder to make a composite golf club head.

Although a summary of the invention has been set forth, the above as well as additional objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a golf club head having a thin striking plate and a high coefficient of restitution, and can increase the flight distance of a golf ball hit by the golf club head of the present invention. To do. Coefficient of restitution (CO
(Also referred to as R) is then determined by the equation.

E = (v ₂ −v ₁ ) / (U ₁ −U ₂ ), where U ₁ is the club head velocity before impact, U ₂ is the velocity of the golf ball before impact, and zero. v ₁ is the club head velocity immediately after the golf ball leaves the face of the club head and v ₂ is the velocity of the golf ball immediately after the golf ball leaves the face of the club head. e is the coefficient of restitution between the golf ball and the club head.

The value of e is between zero and one in a system without energy addition. The coefficient of restitution e for a soft clay or putty is zero and the value of e will be 1.0 if no energy is lost as a result of the deformation. The present invention provides a club head having a coefficient of restitution near 0.9 when measured under traditional test conditions.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the golf club head of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 20. The club head 20 may be a fairway wood type or driver. The club head 20 has a body 22 that is generally made of a composite material such as a stack of carbon pre-preg sheets. The main body 22 has a crown 24, a striking plate 26, a sole 28, and a ribbon 30 juxtaposed to the sole 28 and the crown 24. The ribbon 30 generally extends from the toe end 32 to the heel end 34. The ribbon 30 generally starts at one end of the striking plate 26,
It ends at the other end of the striking plate 26. The rear portion 36 of the body 22 is opposite the striking plate 26 and is formed by the ribbon 30, sole 28 and crown 24 sites. Also, at the heel end 34 of the club head 20,
Hosel 3 with opening 39 for mounting the shaft
There are eight.

The ribbon 30 increases the volume of the club head 20 and contributes to making the club head 20 with a higher moment of inertia. The ribbon 30 is a flat crown 24 or Carlsbad, Ca.
It provides a crown 24 with a smaller radius of curvature than conventional wood type club heads such as the Great Big Versa (R) by Caraway Golf of lifornia. As shown in FIG. 1, the crown is provided in each section 24a-2.
It may be divided into 4e. Crown central section 24a
Is the flattest part with little or no curvature. The crown hosel section 24b has a downward convex shape toward the hosel 38. The crown rear sections 24c-24d have a downwardly convex shape toward the ribbon 30, as does the crown toe section 24e.

As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the club head is
It has a weight piece 40 arranged on the ribbon 30 of the club head 20. Weight piece 40 includes pending US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 474,688 “A Composit, filed Nov. 29, 1999, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
e Golf Club Head With An Integral Weight Strip ". The sole plate 42 is attached to the sole 28 of the body 22. Return portion 100
In order to adjust the flexibility of the striking plate 26,
It has a predetermined thickness of 0.100 inches to 0.200 inches.

As shown in FIG. 8, the sole plate 42
May be integrated with the hosel to form a sole plate hosel integral 43 that is incorporated into the club head 20. The hosel 38 has a hollow interior 4 of the club head 20.
Located within 4. Preferably, the club head 20 has a hollow interior 44, but the lightweight composite body 22 allows for a number of operations in placing weights, foams, sound enhancing devices, etc. within the hollow interior 44. .

As shown in FIG. 9, the sole plate hosel integral piece 43 is inserted into a sole cavity configured to house the sole plate 42. Hosel 3
8 is inserted through the hosel aperture 50 and connects to the shaft opening 39 for shaft attachment. The sole plate aperture 52 allows access to the hollow interior 44 through the sole 28 utilized for the manufacture of the club head 20 described below. In the preferred embodiment, sole plate hosel integral 43 is made of a stainless steel material. The sole plate hosel integrated part 43 is incorporated in its entirety here.
Pending US Patent Application No. 09 /
474,927 "Integral Sole Plate And Hosel For
Further disclosure is made to the Golf Club Head ”.

The weight piece 40 is preferably made of a metallic material such as copper, tungsten, steel, aluminum, tin, silver, gold, platinum and the like. The preferred material is copper. The weight piece 40 has a greater density than the composite material of the body 22. Preferably, the weight piece 40 extends from near the heel end 34 of the striking plate 26 through the rear portion 36 to the toe end 32 of the striking plate 26. However, the weight piece 40 may only extend along the back portion 36 of the ribbon 30, the heel end 34 of the ribbon 30, the toe end 32 of the ribbon 30, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the weight piece 40 occupies most of the area of the ribbon 30. However, the weight piece 40 may only occupy a small area of the ribbon 30. Alternatively, the densified film material may be replaced with the weight piece 40. Such a densified film material is disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,010,411 “Densified Loaded F” filed October 23, 1997, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
ilms In Composite Golf Club Heads ”.

The coefficient of restitution of the club head 20 of the present invention is
Under standard USGA test conditions with a given golf ball, in the range 0.8 to 0.9, preferably 0.83.
Is in the range of 0.88, most preferably 0.876.
The thickness of the striking plate 26 and the direction of stacking of the pre-plugs allows the golf club head 20 of the present invention to have a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.83. Further, the weight piece 40 and the sole plate hosel integrated product 43 contribute to increase the coefficient of restitution of the golf club head 20 of the present invention.

Further, the return portion 1 of the golf club head 20.
A thickness of 00 allows greater deflection in the striking plate 26 and increases the coefficient of restitution of the golf club head 20. The return portion 100 couples the striking plate 26 to the crown 24 to reduce energy loss of the striking plate 26 during impact with the golf ball. Return part 1
If 00 is too thick, the striking plate 26 is isolated and has rigidity, and the coefficient of restitution is reduced. If the return portion 100 is too thin, the striking plate 26 will be damaged at the time of impact with the golf ball.

Moreover, the striking plate 26 of the present invention has a smaller aspect ratio than prior art striking plates. The aspect ratio used here is as shown in FIG.
It is defined as a value obtained by dividing the face width "w" by the face height "h". In a preferred embodiment, the width w is 90 mm and the height h is 54 mm, 1.666.
Gives the aspect ratio of. In conventional golf club heads, the aspect ratio is typically much greater than 1.
For example, the original Great Big Versa® driver has an aspect ratio of 1.9. The striking plate portion 72 of the present invention has an aspect ratio smaller than 1.7. The aspect ratio of the present invention is preferably 1.0
The range is from to 1.7.

The club head 20 of the present invention has a greater volume than prior art club heads while maintaining a weight equal to or substantially less than that of the prior art. The volume of the club head 20 of the present invention is in the range of 175 cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters, more preferably 300 cubic centimeters to 310 cubic centimeters. The weight of the club head 20 of the present invention is
It is preferably in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, more preferably in the range of 175 grams to 225 grams, and most preferably in the range of 188 grams to 195 grams.

10-17 show preferred prepreg sheets for forming the composite body of the golf club head 20 of the present invention. 10 and 11 generally have the reference numeral 5.
5 shows a face / crown ply prepreg sheet indicated by 5. The face / crown ply 55 has a plurality of fibers 51 dispersed in a resin body 53. Fiber 5
1 is preferably made of a carbon material. Alternatively, the fibers 51 may be aramid fibers, glass fibers or the like. When the striking plate 26 is in a position where the striking plate 26 strikes the golf ball, the relationship between the fiber 51 and the striking plate 26 is that
Determine the orientation of 1. Fiber 5
The face / crown ply 55 has zero orientation when 1 is parallel to the striking plate 26, ie, extending transversely from the toe end to the heel end as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the face / crown ply 55, when positioned on the preform 56 of the golf club head body 22, extends from the rear portion 36 of the club head 20 to the bottom of the striking plate 26, and the sole 2 inside.
Engage a stack of 8 prepreg sheets.

12 and 13 show a full face ply prepreg sheet, generally designated 57. Like the face / crown ply 55, the full face ply 57 has a plurality of fibers 51 dispersed in a resin body 53. The fiber 51 extends from the sole 28 to the crown 2
4 and thus the full face ply 57 has fibers 51 perpendicular to the striking plate 26 at the striking position of the golf ball. Therefore, the full face ply 57 of FIG. 12 has a 90 degree orientation. As shown in FIG. 13, in the full-face ply 57, the extension portion is the crown 24.
And in a state of being engaged with the prepreg sheet of the sole 28,
The striking plate 26 is substantially covered.

14 and 15 show a face doubler ply prepreg sheet, generally designated 58. Like the face / crown ply 55, the face doubler ply 58 has a plurality of fibers 51 dispersed in a resin body 53. The fibers 51 extend from the sole 28 to the crown 24, and thus the face doubler plies 58 provide the striking plate 2 at the striking position of the golf ball.
It has fibers 51 perpendicular to 6. Therefore, the face doubler ply 58 of FIG. 14 has a 90 degree orientation.
As shown in FIG. 15, the face doubler ply 58 is
It substantially covers the striking plate 26 and is used in cooperation with the full face ply 57, face / crown ply 55 or both.

16 and 17 show a sole ply prepreg sheet generally designated by the reference numeral 59. Same as face / crown ply 55, sole ply 59
Has a plurality of fibers 51 dispersed in a resin body 53. The fibers 51 extend at 45 degrees with respect to the striking plate 26 at the striking position of the golf ball. Therefore,
The sole ply 59 of FIG. 16 has a directionality of 45 degrees. As shown in FIG. 17, the sole ply 59 defines the sole 28 and the ribbon 30.

As mentioned above, the preferred composite material comprises a stack of carbon prepreg sheets. Laminations of prepreg composite sheets are produced by pulling strands of fibers, preferably carbon fibers, aramid fibers or glass fibers, in parallel through a resin film, allowing the resin to partially cure or "stage". It is possible. When the resin is semi-cured, the resin holds the fibers together, forming a ductile sheet in which all the fibers have a particular orientation to the edges of the sheet. The preferred orientations are 0, +45, -45 and 90 degrees. An exemplary carbon prepreg sheet is Santa Ana, California.
Newport Composites, Fiberite in Greenville, Texas
Available from Hexcel, Inc., Pleasonton, California. Alternatively, the layers of composite body 22 may be dry reinforced preforms as disclosed in pending US Pat. No. 6,010,411 filed Oct. 23, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It may be a plurality of laminates of resin-free composite fibers, each of which is typically a continuous fiber braid or a continuous fiber mat, used to make the.

The mold for the golf club head 20 may be a male (male) or female (female),
Female molds are currently preferred. As shown in FIG. 18, the mold 60 includes three pieces, a sole piece 62, a crown piece 64, and a crown piece 64, which are aligned during the molding process.
It consists of a face piece 66. The face piece 66 is
It may be attached to the crown piece 64 prior to placing the stack. The sole piece 62 has a swelled portion 70 of the sole plate.
And a main cabinet 68 with a ribbon section 72. The sole piece 62 has a front opening portion 74.
The face piece 66 is the front opening 7 of the sole piece 62.
4 has a face protrusion 76 arranged on the upper surface. The crown piece 64 has a crown cabinet 78. The source piece 62 has a bladder port 82.

Prepreg sheets 55, 57, 58, 59
Of the preform 5 and optionally the weight piece 40.
6 is mounted on the molding die 60 in a predetermined method. The stack of prepreg sheets 55, 57, 58, 59 is first placed at a predetermined position of the molding die 60. The weight piece 40 is placed in the ribbon section 72 of the sole piece 62. Thereafter, an additional sole ply 59 is placed on the weight piece 40, which causes the weight piece 4 to
0 will be embedded in the ribbon 30 of the composite body 22 of the preform 56.

Alternatively, the additional sole ply 59 is not placed on the weight piece 40, so that one surface of the weight piece 40 is integrally hardened to the inner wall of the ribbon 30 of the body 22, The other surface will be exposed to the hollow interior 44. Face / crown ply 55, full face ply 57 and face doubler ply 58
Are disposed on the face bulge 76 and the crown cabinet 78.

The golf club head 20 has a hollow interior 44.
Since it includes a substantially enclosed composite body 22 having
It is not necessary to make the preform 56 in two or more separate sections or pieces that will later be assembled and cured into the finished golf club head 20.

As shown in FIGS. 20-22, when the pieces of mold 60 are assembled together, a pressurizable bladder 90, preferably made of latex, silicone, etc., passes through bladder port 82 within hollow interior 4. May be introduced by The final opening of the golf club head 20 is covered by the sole plate hosel integral 43.
Once the bladder 90 is placed in the hollow interior 44 of the preform 56, a source of compressed gas (not shown) may be attached to the bladder 90 by a gas line and the bladder 90 may be inflated within the hollow interior 44. As a result, the bladder 90 contacts the inner surface of the preform 56 and faces the inner wall of the mold 60 toward the prepreg sheets 55, 5.
The plies 7, 58, 59 and the weight piece 40 are pressed. The mold 60 is then removed at a selected time, namely the prepreg sheets 55, 57, 58, 59 and the weight piece 40.
It may be heated at a predetermined temperature for a time sufficient to allow proper curing of the resin therein. After depressurization, the bladder 90 may be removed through the bladder port 82 and the golf club head 20 may be removed from the mold 60. The finished golf club head 20 in the mold 60 is shown in FIG.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that depending on the type of resin used, the cure temperature may range from 250 ° to 800 ° F and the required cure time will be a few minutes (eg, "immediate polymerization").
It will be appreciated that the epoxies and thermoplastics) can range from 1 hour and a half and the pressure applied through the latex or silicone bladder 90 can range from 100 to 300 psi.

In the first example, the striking plate 2 of the body 22 is
6 and crown 24 consist of 19 layers of full face plies 57 and 8 layers of face / crown plies 55 with pseudo-isotropic orientation. Pseudo-isotropic directionality is defined by rotation angles beginning at 0 degree directionality and spaced by at least 15 degree intervals. The directionality is preferably 0 degree, +45 degree, -45 degree.
And 90 degrees. The sole 28 and the ribbon 30 of the main body 22 are made of an eight-layered sole ply 59 with pseudo isotropic directionality.
And a weight piece 40. Impact plate 26 of this example
Has a thickness of 0.117 inches, a return 100 of thickness 0.117 inches, and a coefficient of restitution of 0.876.

In the second example, the striking plate 2 of the main body 22
6 and the crown 24 are all quasi-isotropic directions,
19 layers full face ply 57, 8 layers face / crown ply 55 and 2 layers face doubler ply 5
It consists of 8. The sole 28 and the ribbon 30 of the main body 22 are
It is composed of eight layers of sole plies 59 and weight pieces 40 in a pseudo-isotropic direction. The striking plate 26 of this example is 0.1
It has a thickness of 22 inches, has a return portion 100 with a thickness of 0.117 inches, and a coefficient of restitution of 0.863.

In the third example, the striking plate 2 of the main body 22
6 and the crown 24 are all quasi-isotropic directions,
26 layers full face ply 57, 8 layers face / crown ply 55 and 6 layers face doubler ply 5
It consists of 8. The sole 28 and the ribbon 30 of the main body 22 are
It is composed of eight layers of sole plies 59 and weight pieces 40 in a pseudo-isotropic direction. The striking plate 26 of this example is 0.1
It has a thickness of 40 inches, a return portion 100 of 0.120 inches thick, and a coefficient of restitution of 0.851.

In the fourth example, the striking plate 2 of the main body 22
6 and the crown 24 are all quasi-isotropic directions,
It consists of 19 layers of full face plies 57, 8 layers of face / crown plies 55 and 10 layers of face doubler plies 58. The sole 28 and the ribbon 30 of the main body 22
Is composed of an eight-layer sole ply 59 and a weight piece 40 in a pseudo-isotropic direction. The striking plate 26 of this example is
It has a thickness of 0.152 inches, a return portion 100 of 0.117 inches thickness, and a coefficient of restitution of 0.834.

In the fifth example, the striking plate 2 of the main body 22 is
6 and the crown 24 are all quasi-isotropic directions,
28 layers of full face plies 57, 8 layers of face / crown plies 55 and 2 layers of face doubler plies 5
It consists of 8. The sole 28 and the ribbon 30 of the main body 22 are
It is composed of eight layers of sole plies 59 and weight pieces 40 in a pseudo-isotropic direction. The striking plate 26 of this example is 0.1
It has a thickness of 35 inches, a return 100 of 0.126 inches thick, and a coefficient of restitution of 0.851.

The thickness of the striking plate 26 and the ply orientation allow the golf club head 20 to have a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.83. However, the golf club head 20 of the present invention has a structure, an aspect ratio, and a return portion 100.
Of the US, as defined in accordance with the 1998-1999 Golf Rule, Appendix II, Rule 4-1e
Under test conditions, such as GA test conditions, a greater coefficient of restitution can be achieved for a given golf ball. Therefore, unlike springs, the present invention increases the flexibility of the striking plate 26 without adding energy to the system and reduces energy loss to the golf ball at impact.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a golf club of the present invention.

2 is a rear view of the golf club head of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a side view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 viewed from the toe end side.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 viewed from the heel end side.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5.

6 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 taken along line 6-6.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 taken along line 7-7.

8 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 taken along line 8-8.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the golf club head of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a striking plate / crown pile with 0 degree orientation.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the striking plate / crown pile of the golf club head of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a full striking plate pile having a 0 degree orientation.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a full striking plate pile of the golf club head of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a top view of a striking plate doubler pile having a 90 degree orientation.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a striking plate doubler pile of the golf club head of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a top view of a sole pile having a directional property of 45 degrees.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a sole pile of the golf club head of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an exploded view of a multi-piece mold used for manufacturing the golf club head of the present invention.

19 is an isolated view of the sole piece of the mold of FIG. 18. FIG.

FIG. 20 is a front sectional view of a preform of the golf club head of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a side sectional view of the preform of the golf club head of the present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates the cured golf club head of the present invention in a mold.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 club heads 22 body 24 crown 26 striking plate 28 Sole 30 ribbons 40 weight pieces 55 Face / Crown Ply 57 Full face ply 58 Face Doubler Ply 59 Sole ply 100 return section

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Richard Sea Helmsetter             United States California             92067 Rancho Santa Fe Calle V             Ida Buena 17993 (72) Inventor Herbert Rays             United States California             92677 Laguna Niger Vista Nigue             Le 10 (72) Inventor Dee Clayton Evans             United States California             92069 San Marcos Eucalyptus             Hills 828 (72) Inventor Jay Andrew Galloway             United States California             92029 Escondido Quail             Glen Way 10197 (72) Inventor Daniel Earl Jacobson             United States California             92131 San Diego Nikita Court               12133 F-term (reference) 2C002 AA02 CH01 CH02 CH06 LL01                       MM02 MM04 MM07 PP01

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A fairway wood or driver golf club head, comprising a hollow main body composed of a plurality of layers of prepreg sheet containing fibers, having a crown, a sole and a striking plate having a thickness of 0.152 × 25.4 mm or less, Located between the striking plate and the above crown, 0.10
A golf club head including a return portion having a thickness in the range of 0 × 25.4 mm to 0.200 × 25.4 mm and having a coefficient of restitution of 0.8 to 0.9. 2. The striking plate includes face / crown plies of multiple layers of prepreg sheets and full face plies of multiple layers of prepreg sheets.
The described golf club head. 3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the striking plate further comprises face doubler plies of multiple layers of prepreg sheets. 4. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the multi-layer prepreg sheet has a directionality of 90 degrees. 5. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the multi-layer prepreg sheet has a directionality of 45 degrees. 6. The crown includes a face / crown ply of multiple layers of prepreg sheet, and the sole includes a sole ply of multiple layers of prepreg sheet.
The golf club head according to claim 1. 7. A golf club head for fairway woods or drivers, comprising a plurality of layers of prepreg sheets containing fibers, a crown, a sole, and an aspect ratio of 1.0 to 1.7 and a thickness.
A hollow body having a striking plate of 0.152 × 25.4 mm or less, and a 0.10
A golf club head including a return portion having a thickness in the range of 0 × 25.4 mm to 0.200 × 25.4 mm and having a coefficient of restitution of 0.8 to 0.9. 8. The striking plate includes face / crown plies of multiple layers of prepreg sheets and full face plies of multiple layers of prepreg sheets.
The described golf club head. 9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the striking plate further comprises face doubler plies of multiple layers of prepreg sheets. 10. The golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the multi-layer prepreg sheet has a directionality of 90 degrees. 11. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the multi-layer prepreg sheet has a directivity of 45 degrees. 12. A fairway wood or driver golf club head, comprising a hollow main body composed of a plurality of layers of prepreg sheets containing fibers, having a crown, a sole, a ribbon and a striking plate having a thickness of 0.152 × 25.4 mm or less. Located between the striking plate and the crown,
A return part having a thickness in the range of 0 × 25.4 mm to 0.200 × 25.4 mm, a metal sole plate attached to the sole of the hollow body, and a weight made of a densified film arranged in the ribbon. A golf club head including a member and having a coefficient of restitution of 0.8 to 0.9. The volume of 13. 300cm ³ ~310cm ^3, and, 100 g to
The golf club head of claim 12, having a weight of 195g. 14. A golf club head for a fairway wood or a driver, which is a hollow body having a crown, a sole, a ribbon and a striking plate, which comprises a multi-layered prepreg sheet containing fibers, the striking plate and the crown. Located between, 0.10
A return part having a thickness in the range of 0 × 25.4 mm to 0.200 × 25.4 mm, a metal sole plate attached to the sole of the hollow body, and a weight made of a densified film arranged in the ribbon. and a member, the volume of 175cm ³ ~400cm ^3, and has a weight of 165G～300g, golf club heads. 15. A fairway wood or driver golf club head comprising a hollow body having a crown, a sole, a ribbon and a striking plate, wherein the striking plate and crown are quasi-isotropic directional and fiber. And a face / crown ply of at least 8 layers of prepreg sheets containing fibers, wherein the sole and ribbon are the sole plies of prepreg sheets of at least 8 layers containing fibers. And a golf club head comprising a weight piece. The volume of 16. 300cm ³ ~310cm ^3, and, 100 g to
The golf club head of claim 15, having a weight of 195 g. 17. The golf club head of claim 15, having a coefficient of restitution of 0.8 to 0.9 under standard USGA conditions. 18. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the striking plate has a thickness of 0.25 × 25.4 mm or less. 19. The golf club head of claim 15, further comprising a return portion located between the striking plate and the crown and having a thickness in the range of 0.100 × 25.4 mm to 0.200 × 25.4 mm. 20. A method of manufacturing a golf club head made of a composite material, comprising forming a sole ply of at least one layer of prepreg sheet having a directionality of 0 to 45 degrees to form a part of the preform. A face / crown ply of at least one layer of prepreg sheet and a full-face ply of at least one layer of prepreg sheet, each having a pseudo-isotropic orientation to form a part of the preform A step of placing the mold on a mold, a step of assembling the bladder with the part of the preform for forming a preform by a bladder, and a step of expanding the bladder for hardening the layer of the prepreg sheet, To form a golf club head made of material,
Curing the preform.