Multi-piece golf club head

Abstract

A method of making a golf club head includes interposing bonding tape between a first piece and a second piece of the golf club head such that the first piece is temporarily adhered to the second piece via a tackiness of the bonding tape. The method additionally includes positioning the first piece, the second piece, and the bonding tape, interposed between the first piece and the second piece, in a vacuum bag, and reducing a pressure within the vacuum bag, relative to a pressure external to the vacuum bag, such that the vacuum bag collapses onto the first piece and the second piece and compresses the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece. The method also includes heating the bonding tape, at least to a curing temperature of the bonding tape, when the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced.

1 . A method of making a golf club head, the method comprising steps of:
 interposing bonding tape between a first piece and a second piece of the golf club head such that the first piece is temporarily adhered to the second piece via a tackiness of the bonding tape;   positioning the first piece, the second piece, and the bonding tape, interposed between the first piece and the second piece, in a vacuum bag;   reducing a pressure within the vacuum bag, relative to a pressure external to the vacuum bag, such that the vacuum bag collapses onto the first piece and the second piece and compresses the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece; and   heating the bonding tape, at least to a curing temperature of the bonding tape, when the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of interposing the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece of the golf club head comprises temporarily coupling a bonding tape package, comprising the bonding tape, to a tape-retention fixture via a suction force. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of interposing the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece of the golf club head further comprises removing a release layer, adhered to the bonding tape, from the bonding tape package when the bonding tape package is coupled to the tape-retention fixture via the suction force. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of interposing the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece of the golf club head further comprises temporarily adhering the bonding tape to the first piece when the bonding tape package is coupled to the tape-retention fixture via the suction force and after the release layer is removed. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of interposing the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece of the golf club head further comprises disabling the suction force and removing the first piece and the bonding tape package from the tape-retention fixture. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the step of interposing the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece of the golf club head further comprises:
 removing a second release layer, adhered to the bonding tape, from the bonding tape package when the first piece and the bonding tape package from the tape-retention fixture are removed from the tape-retention fixture; and   applying the second piece onto the bonding tape when the second release layer is removed.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, prior to reducing the pressure and heating the bonding tape, the bonding tape is a solid and is tacky at 25° C. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first piece is a non-metal insert;   the second piece comprises at least one recessed ledge;   the bonding tape comprises a first surface and a second surface, opposite the first surface;   the step of interposing the bonding tape between the first piece and the second piece comprises attaching the first surface of the bonding tape to the non-metal insert and attaching the second surface of the bonding tape to the at least one recessed ledge; and   a total surface area of the second surface of the bonding tape, prior to attachment to the at least one recessed ledge, is less than 100% of a total surface area of the at least one recessed ledge.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the total surface area of the second surface of the bonding tape, prior to attachment to the at least one recessed ledge, is less than 99% of the total surface area of the at least one recessed ledge. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the total surface area of the second surface of the bonding tape, prior to attachment to the at least one recessed ledge, is between, and inclusive of, 75% and 99% of the total surface area of the at least one recessed ledge. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the total surface area of the second surface of the bonding tape, prior to attachment to the at least one recessed ledge, is between, and inclusive of, 85% and 99% of the total surface area of the at least one recessed ledge. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the total surface area of the at least one recessed ledge is a total surface area of the at least one recessed ledge covered by the non-metal insert. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein, when the bonding tape is interposed between the first piece and the second piece, the bonding tape is offset from an outer perimeter of the at least one recessed ledge by at least 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein, when the bonding tape is interposed between the first piece and the second piece, the bonding tape is offset from the outer perimeter of the at least one recessed ledge by no more than 3.0 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the golf club head comprises a body, comprising a plurality of openings;   the first piece is a strike plate;   the second piece is the body, such that, when the bonding tape is interposed between the first piece and the second piece, the strike plate covers one of the plurality of openings; and   when the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced and the bonding tape is heated, at least one of the plurality of openings of the body is uncovered.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first piece is a non-metal insert comprising an interior surface having a total surface area between, and inclusive of, 2,000 mm{circumflex over ( )}2 and 13,000 mm{circumflex over ( )}2; and   the method further comprises temporarily adhering the bonding tape to the interior surface of the non-metal insert, via a tackiness of the bonding tape, before the bonding tape is interposed between the first piece and the second piece.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the bonding tape comprises a thermoset adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein, when temporarily adhered to the interior surface of the non-metal insert, the bonding tape is at least 0.25 mm from an outer periphery of the non-metal insert. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising interposing second bonding tape between the second piece and a third piece of the golf club head such that the third piece is temporarily adhered to the second piece via the tackiness of the second bonding tape, wherein:
 the first piece is one of a crown insert, a sole insert, or a strike plate of the golf club head;   the second piece is a body of the golf club head;   the third piece is a second one of the crown insert, the sole insert, or the strike plate;   the step of positioning the first piece, the second piece, and the bonding tape in the vacuum bag further comprises positioning the third piece, with the second bonding tape between the third piece and the second piece, in the vacuum bag;   reducing the pressure within the vacuum bag collapses the vacuum bag onto the third piece and the second piece such that the second bonding tape is compressed between the third piece and the second piece; and   heating the bonding tape comprises heating the bonding tape at least to a curing temperature of the second bonding tape when the pressure within the vacuum bag is reduced.   
     
     
         20 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a hollow interior cavity having an interior volume of at least 5 cubic centimeters;   a first piece, defining at least a first portion of the hollow interior cavity; and   a second piece, defining at least a second portion of the hollow interior cavity,   wherein:
 the first piece is adhesively bonded to the second piece, via bonding tape, along a bonded joint; 
 the bonding tape has a thickness between 90 μm and 550 μm; 
 the bonding tape is a thermosetting adhesive material; and 
 the bonding tape has a width between, and inclusive of, 1 mm and 9 mm. 
   
     
     
         21 - 27 . (canceled)