Composite golf club head withan integral weight strip

Abstract

A golf club head composed of a composite material and having a metal weight strip in a ribbon section is disclosed herein. The metal strip may be composed of copper, tungsten or a similar metal. The composite golf club head may also have a sole plate composed of stainless steel attached to a sole of the golf club head. The golf club head is preferably composed of plies of pre-preg sheets. A method for fabricating the golf club head is also disclosed herein. The method uses a three-piece mold and bladder to produce a composite golf club head with a metal weight strip embedded in the ribbon.

We claim as our invention:  
     
         1 . A method for producing a golf club head, the method comprising: 
 placing a pre-preg material in a mold, the mold having the shape of a golf club head having a face, a sole, a crown, a ribbon juxtaposed by the sole and the crown, a heel end and a toe end;    placing a weight strip in the ribbon area of the mold; and    curing the pre-preg to create a golf club head composed of a composite material.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to claim  18  further comprising placing a layer of pre-preg material over the weight strip prior to curing.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to claim  18  wherein curing the pre-preg comprises: 
 inflating a bladder within the mold to a predetermined pressure; and  
 heating the mold to a predetermined temperature.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method according to claim  18  further comprising placing a sole plate on the sole of the golf club head composed of a composite material, the sole plate having a hosel tube integral therewith, the sole plate disposed within an aperture in the sole of the body, the sole plate composed of a material having a density greater than the composite material.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to claim  20  wherein the predetermined temperature for heating is in the range of 250° F. to 400° F., and the predetermined pressure is in the range of 100 psi to 200 psi.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to claim  18  wherein the weight strip is composed of a copper material.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to claim  18  wherein the weight strip is composed of a tungsten material.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to claim  18  wherein the weight strip extends from the toe end of the ribbon to the heel end of the ribbon.