U.S. patent application number 10/885008 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for coating for golf club head.
Invention is credited to Chen, Chan-Tung, Huang, He-Nong.
Application Number | 20050272522 10/885008 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35449687 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050272522 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Chan-Tung ; et
al. |
December 8, 2005 |
Coating for golf club head
Abstract
A coating includes a bottom paint layer coated on a surface of
the golf club head and an elastomeric resin layer coated on the
bottom paint layer, with the elastomeric resin layer containing
quenchers. When light beams are incident on the elastomeric resin
layer, the quenchers provide a double scattering effect for the
light beams passing therethrough and thus reduce the intensity of
the light beams reflected from the bottom paint layer.
Inventors: |
Chen, Chan-Tung; (Kaohsiung,
TW) ; Huang, He-Nong; (Kaohsiung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
35449687 |
Appl. No.: |
10/885008 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/324 ;
473/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20130101;
A63B 60/54 20151001; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 60/00
20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/324 ;
473/349 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 2, 2004 |
TW |
93115799 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A coating on a surface of a golf club head, the coating
comprising: a bottom paint layer coated on the surface of the golf
club head for reflecting light beams incident on the bottom paint
layer; and an elastomeric resin layer coated on the bottom paint
layer, the elastomeric resin layer allowing light beams to pass
therethrough and including quenchers for scattering the light beams
passing therethrough; when the light beams are incident on the
elastomeric resin layer, the quenchers in the elastomeric resin
layer provide a double scatting effect for the light beams passing
therethrough and thus reduce the intensity of the light beams
reflected from the bottom paint layer.
2. The coating on a surface of a golf club head as claimed in claim
1, wherein the bottom paint layer is selected from the group
comprising phenolic paint, alkyd paint, polyurethane paint,
nitrocellulose paint, and acrylic paint.
3. The coating on a surface of a golf club head as claimed in claim
1, wherein the bottom paint layer has a thickness between 10 .mu.m
and 100 .mu.m.
4. The coating on a surface of a golf club head as claimed in claim
1, wherein the elastomeric resin layer is made of a material
selected from the group comprising polyurethane, rubber,
thermoplastic elastomer, and high molecular elastomeric resin.
5. The coating on a surface of a golf club head as claimed in claim
1, wherein the elastomeric resin layer has a thickness between 20
.mu.m and 200 .mu.m.
6. The coating on a surface of a golf club head as claimed in claim
1, wherein the quenchers are fine powders of a material selected
from the group comprising silicon dioxide, talcum, aluminum
stearate, calcium stearate, and low molecular thermoplastic
resin.
7. The coating on a surface of a golf club head as claimed in claim
1, wherein the elastomeric resin layer further contains a hardening
agent for accelerating hardening of the elastomeric resin layer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a coating for a golf club
head. In particular, the present invention relates to a coating on
a golf club head for scattering light beams incident on the golf
club head.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Golf is an outdoor game and the sunlight incident on the
golf club head is sometimes reflected to the eyes of a golfer
hitting a golf ball. Thus, the golfer might be distracted and thus
miss the aim. FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a golf club head
with a bottom paint layer 2 on a surface 1 thereof. The bottom
paint layer 2 contains quenchers 21 to provide not only
anti-rust/decoration functions but also increased light-scattering
power, softening the reflected light beams and thus preventing the
golfer from missing his/her aim.
[0005] However, since the outer face of the bottom paint layer 2
still reflects sunlight incident thereon and since there are only
few quenchers 21 exposed at the outer face of the layer of bottom
paint 2, most of light beams incident on the outer face of the
layer of bottom paint 2 are directly reflected. Namely, the
scattering effect is limited, as the quenchers 21 not on the outer
face of the layer of bottom paint 2 are not effectively used.
Further, in a case that some of the light beams are incident on the
defects 22 on the golf club head, since the incident light beams
are subjected to limited scattering, the reflected light beams
still have sufficient brightness such that the defects 22 on the
golf club head will be perceived by the golfer. Additional
polishing procedure to the surface 1 of the golf club head is
required or the golf club head will be treated as a disqualified
one.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a coating
on a surface golf club head, providing a double scattering effect
for improving the surface scattering effect.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
coating on a surface of a golf club head to improve the visual
effect.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
coating on a surface of a golf club head to improve the touch.
[0009] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a coating on a surface of a golf club head with a durable bottom
paint layer.
[0010] Yet another object of the present is to provide a coating on
a surface of a golf club head with improved damping effect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
coating includes a bottom paint layer coated on a surface of the
golf club head and an elastomeric resin layer coated on the bottom
paint layer, with the elastomeric resin layer containing quenchers.
When light beams are incident on the elastomeric resin layer, the
quenchers provide a double scattering effect and thus reduce the
intensity of the light beams reflected from the bottom paint
layer.
[0012] The bottom paint layer is selected from the group comprising
phenolic paint, alkyd paint, polyurethane paint, nitrocellulose
paint, and acrylic paint. The bottom paint layer preferably has a
thickness between 10 .mu.m and 100 .mu.m.
[0013] The elastomeric resin layer is made of a material selected
from the group comprising polyurethane, rubber, thermoplastic
elastomer, and high molecular elastomeric resin. The elastomeric
resin layer preferably has a thickness between 20 .mu.m and 200
.mu.m.
[0014] Preferably, the quenchers are fine powders of a material
selected from the group comprising silicon dioxide, talcum,
aluminum stearate, calcium stearate, and low molecular
thermoplastic resin.
[0015] The elastomeric resin layer may further contain a hardening
agent for accelerating hardening of the elastomeric resin
layer.
[0016] Other objects, advantages and novel features of this
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional
coating on a golf club head; and
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a coating on a golf
club head in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now to be
described hereinafter in detail.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, in accordance with the present
invention, a coating is coated on a surface 1 of a golf club head
and includes a bottom paint layer 2 coated on the surface 1 of the
golf club head and an elastomeric resin layer 3 coated on the
bottom paint layer 2, with the elastomeric resin layer 3 containing
quenchers 31.
[0021] The surface 1 may be any part of a golf club head of any
material or shape, e.g., a crown, sole, side, striking face, or cap
of a wooden club, iron club, or putter made of metal, alloy, or
carbon fiber. The bottom paint layer 2 includes highly reflective
paint selecting from the group comprising phenolic paint, alkyd
paint, polyurethane paint, nitrocellulose paint, and acrylic paint.
The bottom paint layer 2 is coated on the surface 1 of the golf
club head by painting, spray painting, or immersion. The bottom
paint layer 2 may have any desired color and have a thickness
preferably between 10 .mu.m and 100 .mu.m, most preferably between
20 .mu.m and 40 .mu.m. As illustrated in FIG. 2, defects 22 are
formed on an outer face of the bottom paint layer 2.
[0022] Still referring to FIG. 2, the elastomeric resin layer 3 is
made of transparent elastomeric material with high transmissivity
and low reflectivity. For example, the transparent elastomeric
material is selected from the group comprising polyurethane,
rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, and high molecular elastomeric
resin. The elastomeric resin layer 3 is coated on the bottom paint
layer 2 by painting, spray painting, or immersion. The elastomeric
resin layer 3 has a thickness preferably between 20 .mu.m and 200
.mu.m, most preferably between 35 .mu.m and 80 .mu.m. The quenchers
31 are premixed in the elastomeric resin layer 3 and made of a
material with excellent scattering effect, such as fine powders of
silicon dioxide, talcum, aluminum state, calcium stearate, or low
molecular thermoplastic resin.
[0023] Still referring to FIG. 2, when using a golf club head with
a coating in accordance with the present invention under the
sunlight, light beams are firstly incident on the elastomeric resin
layer 3 and pass through the elastomeric resin layer 3, as the
elastomeric resin layer 3 is transparent and made of a material
with low reflectivity. The light beams passing through the
elastomeric resin layer 3 are scattered by the quenches 31 in the
elastomeric resin layer 3. The scattering undergoes throughout the
elastomeric resin layer 3, not limited to the outer face of the
elastomeric resin layer 3, providing improved scattering
effect.
[0024] Then, the light beams are incident on the outer face of the
bottom paint layer 2 and reflected therefrom. The reflected light
beams pass through the elastomeric resin layer 3 again, during
which the quenchers 31 scatter the light beams again. Thus, the
quenchers 31 provide a double scattering effect irrespective of the
incident angle of the incident light beams, as the light beams will
pass the elastomeric resin layer 3 twice. The intensity of the
light beams reflected from the bottom paint layer 2 is reduced to
an extent acceptable to the golfer that is looking at the golf club
head while string a golf ball. Further, the defects 22 on the outer
face of the bottom paint layer 2 would not be perceived by the
golfer, as the intensity of the light beams reflected from the
outer face of the bottom layer 2 has been reduced by the quenchers
31 in the elastomeric resin layer 3.
[0025] Wear, fading, oxidation, or peeling of the bottom paint
layer 2 is prevented by the elastomeric resin layer 3 coated on the
outer face of the bottom paint layer 2. Further, the elastomeric
resin layer 3 provides improved touch and improved damping effect
when the thickness of the elastomeric resin layer 3 is increased to
an appropriate extent. In a case that the bottom paint layer 2 and
the elastomeric resin layer 3 are coated on a rear side of a
striking plate of a golf club head, the residual vibrations
resulting from striking a golf ball can be absorbed and the
deformability of the striking plate can be adjusted.
[0026] On the other hand, the surface 1 of the golf club head
usually has an outline with various centers of curvatures, bent
corners, or undercuts; namely, the surface 1 of the golf club head
has higher sections and lower sections. When coating the
elastomeric resin layer 3 on the outer face of the bottom paint
layer 2, the material of the elastomeric resin layer 3 tends to
flow from the higher sections toward the lower sections under the
action of gravity, resulting in non-uniform distribution of the
elastomeric resin layer 3. This problem is worse when the
elastomeric resin layer 3 has a greater thickness. To solve this
problem, hardening agent is added into the elastomeric resin layer
3 to increase the adhesion strength and to accelerate the
interlinking between molecules, thereby accelerating hardening of
the elastomeric resin layer 3 and providing the elastomeric resin
layer 3 with a uniform thickness.
[0027] While the principles of this invention have been disclosed
in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by
those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not intended
to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and
variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended
to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the
appended claims.
* * * * *