# US 10,500,450 B2 · Golf club head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,450 B2 - Document ID: US10500450B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/040,974 - Filed: 2018-07-20 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-27 - Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Yuki Motokawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500450B2 ## CPC - A63B 53/0466: {wood-type} - A63B 53/04: Heads - A63B 53/0408: {characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness} - A63B 53/0433: {with special sole configurations} - A63B 53/0437: {with special crown configurations} - A63B 53/08: with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A head 2 includes a face 4, a crown 6, and a sole 8. At least a part of the crown 6 and/or at least a part of the sole 8 is formed by a clad material. The clad material is joined to an adjacent portion brought into contact with a peripheral edge of the clad material. The clad material includes a first layer s1 and a second layer s2. The first layer s1 is the outermost layer. The first layer s1 is welded to the adjacent portion. The second layer s2 does not have an affinity for welding with the adjacent portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming a golf club head comprising the steps of: metallurgically joining a first layer and a second layer to form a clad material having a clad material thickness; forming the golf club head including: a face portion; a crown portion extending rearwardly from an upper part of the face portion and having an opening with a receipt part at a peripheral edge, the receipt part comprising a step having a height equal to the clad material thickness; and a sole portion extending rearwardly from a lower part of the face portion, wherein at least a part of the crown portion includes a clad portion formed by the clad material, the first layer of the clad material forming at least a portion of an outer surface of the golf club head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer of the clad material are metallurgically joined by roll bonding. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer of the clad material are metallurgically joined by explosive welding. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the club head includes closing a crown opening of the golf club head with the clad portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the crown opening includes a receipt part at a peripheral edge of the crown opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein closing the crown opening includes abutting the receipt part to an inner surface of the clad portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein closing the crown opening includes overlaying the receipt part with an overlapping part of the clad portion to define an overlapping width, the overlapping width being less than or equal to 4 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the overlapping width is less than or equal to 1 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein, after closing the crown opening of the golf club head with the clad portion, the receipt part is not visible. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein closing the crown opening comprises welding the first layer of the clad material in the clad portion to an adjacent portion of the crown opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the first layer of the clad material includes a principle component, the principle component making up 50 percent or more of the first layer; and the adjacent portion of the crown opening is made of 50 percent or more of the principle component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the edge layer is made of the same material as the first layer and is continuous with the first layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second layer of the clad material is made of less than 50 percent of the principle component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the clad material includes covering an edge of the second layer with an edge layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the third layer is made of the same material as the first layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the clad material includes metallurgically joining a third layer to the second layer, opposite the first layer. ### Claim 17 A method of forming a golf club head comprising the steps of: metallurgically joining a first layer and a second layer to form a clad material having a clad material thickness; forming the golf club head including: a face portion; a crown portion extending rearwardly from an upper part of the face portion and having an opening with a receipt part at a peripheral edge, the receipt part comprising a step having a height equal to the clad material thickness; and a sole portion extending rearwardly from a lower part of the face portion, the sole portion including a sole member formed from the clad material, the first layer of the clad material forming at least a portion of an outer surface of the sole portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein: the sole portion includes a sole surface area; and the clad material first layer includes a surface area that is at least 50% of the sole surface area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the sole member is disposed adjacent to a rear portion of the golf club head. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein forming the golf club head includes closing a sole opening of the sole portion with the sole member by welding a portion of the first layer of the sole member to an adjacent portion of the sole opening.