# US 10,870,040 B2 · Method of forming golf club head assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,040 B2 - Document ID: US10870040B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/670,972 - Filed: 2019-10-31 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-18 - Assignees: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation - Applicants: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation - Inventors: Matthew W. Simone; Evan R. Greer; Ryan M. Stokke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870040B2 ## CPC - A63B 53/04: Heads - A63B 53/0466: {wood-type} - A63B 53/0475: {with one or more enclosed cavities} - B23K 10/02: Plasma welding - C22C 14/00: Alloys based on titanium - C22F 1/183: {of titanium or alloys based thereon} - A63B 53/0416: {Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert} - A63B 53/042: {the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head} - A63B 53/0425: {the face insert comprising two or more different materials} - A63B 53/0429: {the face insert comprising two or more layers of material} - A63B 53/0462: {characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate} - A63B 53/047: {iron-type} - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - B23K 2103/14: Titanium or alloys thereof - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F) - C22F: CHANGING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND NON-FERROUS ALLOYS (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass, C23F17/00) ## Abstract A method of forming a golf club head assembly includes aligning a faceplate with a recess of a club head; welding the faceplate to the club head; then, after welding the faceplate, heating the club head and the faceplate to at least a solvus temperature of the faceplate for a predetermined amount of time; and then, after heating the club head and the faceplate, allowing the club head and the faceplate to air cool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming a golf club head assembly, the method comprising: (a) providing a faceplate formed from an α-β titanium alloy, the α-β titanium alloy comprising between 4 wt % to 20 wt % aluminum (Al), 2-3 wt % iron (Fe), and 0.25 wt % or less Silicon (Si); (b) aligning the faceplate with a recess of a club head; (c) welding the faceplate to the club head; (d) heating the club head and the faceplate to a temperature that is greater than the solvus temperature of the faceplate for a predetermined amount of time; and (e) allowing the club head and the faceplate to cool in an inert gas, wherein step (d) is performed between 500° C. and 1200° C. for between 1 hour and 6 hours. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the α-β titanium alloy comprises between 4 wt % to 18 wt % aluminum (Al). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the α-β titanium alloy comprises between 5 wt % to 7 wt % aluminum (Al). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the α-β titanium alloy further comprises less than 0.05 wt % carbon, less than 0.05 wt % copper (Cu), less than 0.05 wt % molybdenum (Mo), less than 0.05 wt % vanadium (V) and the remaining weight percent is titanium (Ti). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the welding of step (c) includes a pulse plasma welding process. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the welding of step (c) includes a laser welding process. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inert gas of step (e) is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen (N), argon (Ar), helium (He), neon (Ne), krypton (Kr), and xenon (Xe) or a compound gas thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the inert gas is nitrogen (N) or argon (Ar). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the faceplate of step (a) has a minimum thickness of 0.7 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) includes heating the club head and the faceplate between 500° C. and 1200° C. for between 1 hour and 2 hours. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein heating the club head and the faceplate includes heating the club head and the faceplate to between 550° C. and 580° C. for between 1 hour and 2 hours. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein heating the club head and the faceplate includes heating the club head and the faceplate at or above 535° C. for between 1 hour and 2 hours. ### Claim 13 A method of forming a golf club head assembly, the method comprising: providing a faceplate formed from an α-β titanium alloy, the α-β titanium alloy comprising 4 wt % to 18 wt % aluminum (Al), 2-3 wt % iron (Fe), less than 0.25 wt % Silicon (Si); less than 0.05 wt % carbon, less than 0.05 wt % copper (Cu), less than 0.05 wt % molybdenum (Mo), less than 0.05 wt % vanadium (V) and the remaining weight percent is titanium (Ti); aligning the faceplate with a recess of a club head; welding the faceplate to the club head; after welding the faceplate, heating the club head and the faceplate to a temperature that is greater than the solvus temperature of the faceplate for a predetermined amount of time; and after heating the club head and the faceplate, allowing the club head and the faceplate to cool in an inert gas environment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the α-β titanium alloy comprises between 5 wt % to 7 wt % aluminum (Al). ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein welding the faceplate includes a pulse plasma welding process. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the welding of step (c) includes a laser welding process. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the inert gas of step (e) is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen (N), argon (Ar), helium (He), neon (Ne), krypton (Kr), and xenon (Xe) or a compound gas thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein heating the club head and the faceplate includes heating the club head and the faceplate for between 1 hour and 6 hours. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein heating the club head and the faceplate includes heating the club head and the faceplate to at or above 535° C. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein heating the club head and the faceplate includes heating the club head and the faceplate to between 500° C. and 1200° C. for between 1 hour and 2 hours.