Clubface of golf club head and method for fabricating the same

Abstract

A clubface of golf club head and a method for fabricating the same can fabricate the clubface in mass production and will not consume much more valuable metal. The method has the following steps: firstly, a conductive top mould and a conductive bottom mould are provided. Then, titanium powder is placed on the conductive bottom mould and press down the top mould. Following, the conductive top mould and the conductive bottom mould are electrified. The conductive top mould is provided with consistent pressure to contact with the conductive bottom mould, and consistently electrifying the conductive top mould and the conductive bottom mould for a predetermined period. After that, removing electricity, and removing the conductive top mould and taking out the clubface of the golf club head.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a clubface of golf club head and a method for fabricating the same, and in particular to a clubface of golf club head fabricated by electrical mould sintering and associated method.

2. Description of Related Art

A clubface of golf club head is made of metal with high strength because the clubface is subjected to and withholds massive impact. In addition, surface of the clubface is usually not flat but curved. In this regard, it is rather complicated to fabricate the clubface of the golf club head. Especially, melting point of the metal with high strength is very high so the clubface of the golf club head cannot be fabricated by casting process.

In prior art, the clubface of the golf club head is usually cut or carved out by cutting tool with very high strength so that curved surface is formed on the clubface. However, it spends too much valuable metal to carve the golf club head, and it is impossible to fabricate the clubface in mass production by this cutting process.

Thus, there is a need for a clubface of golf club head and a method for fabricating the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clubface of golf club head and a method for fabricating the same. The clubface of the present invention can be fabricated in mass production and will not consume much more valuable metal.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a clubface of golf club head and a method for fabricating the same. It is convenient to fabricate curved surface of the clubface of the golf club head in mass production.

To achieve object of the present invention, a method for fabricating a clubface of golf club head is provided. The method comprises the steps: providing a conductive top mould and a conductive bottom mould; placing titanium powder on the conductive bottom mould; electrifying the conductive top mould and the conductive bottom mould; providing consistent pressure to have the conductive top mould in contact with the conductive bottom mould; consistently electrifying the conductive top mould and the conductive bottom mould for a predetermined period; removing electricity; and removing the conductive top mould and taking out the clubface of the golf club head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be fully understood from the following detailed description and preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for fabricating a clubface of golf club head according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a drawing schematically illustrating how to place metallic powder according to the method of present invention;

FIG. 3 is a drawing schematically illustrating how the mould is subjected to electrical voltage according to method of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a drawing schematically illustrating how clubface of golf club head is assembled to a golf shaft according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Reference is made to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart of method for fabricating a clubface of golf club head according to the present invention. Reference is made to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically illustrate the method for fabricating a clubface of golf club head according to the present invention. The processing of the flowchart is described in detail below.

Step 41: In step 41, a top mould 10 and a bottom mould 20 are provided. The top mould 10 and the bottom mould 20 are conductive and made of metallic material that withholds high voltage, for example made of graphite. And, the top mould 10 and the bottom mould 20 are formed with a top mould cavity 12 and a bottom mould cavity 22 corresponding to a shape of the clubface of the golf club head, respectively. Top surface of the bottom mould 20 is encircled by an insulation spacer 24 that abuts against the bottom surface of the top mould 10 to prevent the top mould 10 and the bottom mould 20 from being short circuits. Then, processing goes to step 42.

Step 42: In step 42, titanium powder 30 is placed on the bottom mould cavity 22 of the bottom mould 20. It is easy to manufacture titanium powder 30 with small size but it spends much more time to manufacture titanium powder 30. According to the present invention, it is recommended that size of the titanium powder 30 is smaller than 40 μm. Then, processing goes to step 43.

Step 43: In step 43, because the top mould 10 is downwardly pushed so that the titanium powder 30 is positioned between the top mould 10 and the bottom mould 20. In this step, before the top mould 10 is in contact with the bottom mould 20, the top mould 10 will be in contact with the titanium powder 30. Then, processing goes to step 44.

Step 44: In step 44, the top mould 10 and the bottom mould 20 are electrified by high voltage electricity. According to the present invention, it is recommended that the high voltage ranges from 10,000 voltage to 500,000 voltage. Because the titanium powder 30 is higher then the top surface of the bottom mould 20, the top mould 10 will contact the titanium powder 30 firstly when pushed down. When the titanium powder 30 is electrified by the high voltage, oxide (TiO₂) of the titanium powder 30 is heated and vaporized out of the top mould 10 and the bottom mould 20 so that pure titanium powder is formed. The titanium powder 30 is sintered by high temperature in a short time. In this regard, the clubface that is sintered is formed to prevent the titanium powder 30 from oxidizing. Therefore, the present invention solves the problem that titanium powder is easily oxidized and affects the sintering effect. Then, processing goes to step 45.

Step 45: In step 45, the top mould 10 is subjected to a consistent pressure so that the top mould 10 is in contact with the bottom mould 20. Then, processing goes to step 46.

Step 46: In step 46, the top mould 10 and the bottom mould 20 is consistently electrified for a predetermined period. In this regard, to implement a consistent pressure P on the top mould 10, during sintering process, the titanium powder 30 is much more compact. How long electricity is supplied is depends on size of the titanium powder 30 and the clubface. Then, processing goes to step 47.

Step 47: In step 47, until the titanium powder 30 is completely sintered, electrical voltage is removed. Finally, the top mould 10 is removed, and the clubface 32 of golf club head is formed after cooling process. Then, processing stops.

According to the present invention, the clubface 32 includes a main body 322 and a hitting curved surface 320, and the hitting curved surface 320 is used as a top surface of the main body 322. Microstructure of the main body 322 is structure of sintering. People who are skilled at the art know this structure of sintering and it is amorphous so related description is omitted. Advantages of the present invention are that the hitting curved surface 320 of the clubface 32 is easily formed with embossing structure (such as plural protrusions or protrusive stripes) to enhance striking characteristics during strike the club ball. In addition, according to the present invention, it is easy to fabricate the hitting curved surface 320 having embossing structure in mass production. Unlike the prior art, used cutting technology to form the embossing structure.

According to the present invention, a consistent pressure P is implemented on the top mould 10 so that the top mould 10 is in contact with the bottom mould 20 and density and strength of the clubface 32 are satisfied. Furthermore, according to the present invention, impact is applied at the top mould 10 and the bottom mould 20 so that density and strength of the clubface 32 are significantly improved.

Reference is made to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates how clubface of golf club head is assembled to a golf shaft according to the present invention. A golf club 100 includes a golf shaft 102 and a golf club head 104. According to the present invention, the clubface 32 is screwed and fixed or welded at the golf club head 104 of the golf club 100.

To screw the clubface 32 to the golf club 100, a plurality of screw holes 106 are integrally formed with the golf club head 104. Furthermore, a plurality of fixing holes corresponding to the screw holes 106 are integrally formed with the clubface 32 so that the clubface 32 is fixed at the golf club head 104 by the screws 108.

As described above, advantages of the present invention are in the following.

1. According to the present invention, it is easy to fabricate the clubface of the golf club head in mass production and valuable metal will not be significantly consumed.

2. According to the present invention, it is convenient to fabricate curved surface of the clubface of the golf club head in mass production.

3. According to the present invention, the present invention needs smaller space than those of the prior art used cutting machine.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as may fall within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating a clubface of a golf club head, the method including the steps:

providing a conductive top mould and a conductive bottom mould;

placing titanium powder on the conductive bottom mould;

providing consistent pressure to the conductive top mould;

electrifying the conductive top mould and the conductive bottom mould;

providing consistent pressure to have the conductive top mould in contact with the conductive bottom mould;

consistently electrifying the conductive top mould and the conductive bottom mould for a predetermined period;

removing electricity; and

removing the conductive top mould and taking out the clubface of the golf club head.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top mould and the bottom mould are made of graphite.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom mould has an insulation spacer encircled on a top surface thereof that abuts against a bottom surface of the top mould.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the size of the titanium powder is smaller than 40 μm.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high voltage electrified to the moulds ranges from 10,000 voltages to 500,000 voltages.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of impacting the clubface removed from the top mould and the bottom mould.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fixing holes are integrally formed with one side of the clubface.

8. A clubface of golf club head produced according to the method of claim 1, comprising:

a main body, having a structure of sintering; and

a hitting curved surface, formed on a top surface of the main body.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hitting curved surface is formed with embossing structure.