U.S. patent application number 11/534709 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-27 for customized golf clubs and method for making same.
Invention is credited to Kellie Costa, Megan Morgan.
Application Number | 20080076593 11/534709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39225710 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080076593 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Costa; Kellie ; et
al. |
March 27, 2008 |
CUSTOMIZED GOLF CLUBS AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME
Abstract
A customized golf club comprising a shaft, a club head body, and
a pre-printed, colored, or functional protective wrap applied to
the shaft or club head body. A method of customizing golf clubs by
applying mass, graphics, logos, decals, or colors to the body or
the club head or the shaft by shrink-wrapping or adhering a
protective wrap to a portion of the club.
Inventors: |
Costa; Kellie; (Rochester,
MA) ; Morgan; Megan; (Newport, RI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ACUSHNET COMPANY
333 BRIDGE STREET, P. O. BOX 965
FAIRHAVEN
MA
02719
US
|
Family ID: |
39225710 |
Appl. No.: |
11/534709 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/316 ;
473/300; 473/301; 473/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/06 20151001;
A63B 2053/0491 20130101; A63B 60/08 20151001; A63B 2209/00
20130101; G09F 23/00 20130101; A63B 53/12 20130101; A63B 2209/02
20130101; A63B 60/00 20151001; A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 60/10
20151001; G09F 23/0066 20130101; A63B 53/047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/316 ;
473/324; 473/300; 473/301 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/14 20060101
A63B053/14; A63B 53/12 20060101 A63B053/12; A63B 53/00 20060101
A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. A golf club comprising a shaft, a grip disposed on the shaft, a
club head, and a hitting face, wherein a portion of the shaft or
the club head is surrounded by a wrap, wherein said wrap is
activated by heat or pressure.
2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the club
head is surrounded by the wrap.
3. The golf club of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the wrap
comprises a high-density filler material.
4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the high-density filler
material comprises tungsten.
5. The golf club of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the wrap
comprises a low friction polymer.
6. The golf club of claim 5, wherein the wrap comprises
polytetrafluoroethylene.
7. The golf club of claim 5, wherein said at least portion of the
wrap covers at least a portion of the sole.
8. The golf club of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the
shaft is surrounded by the wrap.
9. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the wrap comprises fibers.
10. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the fibers comprise
Kevlar.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the wrap comprises a
heat-activated adhesive.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. The golf club of claim 2, wherein substantially the entire club
head except the hitting face is surrounded by the wrap.
20. The golf club of claim 8, wherein substantially the entire
shaft is surrounded by the wrap.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to customized golf clubs
having graphics, decals, colors, or other functional
characteristics applied to a portion of the clubs on or within a
protective or decorative wrap, and a method of customizing golf
clubs by applying graphics, decals, or colors using a protective or
decorative wrap such as a shrink-wrap film or pressure-activated
adhesive wrap around the shaft and/or the club head, excluding the
hitting face area.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Shrink-wrap films are generally made from a polymer plastic,
often polyvinylchloride (PVC). Depending upon the type and
construction of polymers used, when heat or pressure is applied to
the material, it decreases in size to form a seal around or fit to
whatever it was covering. At a microscopic level, the long, thin
polymer molecules are lined up in rows. When the heat or pressure
is applied, the molecules vibrate against one another and begin to
tangle and twist together. This tangling and twisting decreases the
volume of the shrink-wrap film, creating the shrinking effect
around whatever object the film is covering.
[0003] Shrink-wrap films and shrink-wrapping have seen a wide
variety of applications, such as CD over-wraps, beverage container
labels, car-body advertising, retail product and food packaging,
etc. Many of these uses employ printed text, logos, or graphics on
the shrink-wrap film to advertise or inform consumers about the
respective products. Holographic images can also be shrink-wrapped
for increased visual appeal and security applications, as disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,036 B2 to Cox et al. entitled "Holographic
Shrink Wrap Element and Method for Manufacture Thereof," the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0004] Because shrink-wrap films are made of polymer plastics, they
also protect the underlying surface, such as in sealing food
containers, scuba tanks, and even batteries, as disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,756,415 to Call for a "Shrink Wrap Battery Package."
[0005] Shrink-wrapping has been used as a method for applying thin
intermediate layers in the manufacturing of golf balls, as
disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,854 to Hogge et al.
entitled "Golf Ball with Vapor Barrier Layer and Method of Making
Same," and commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,774 to Sullivan et
al. entitled "Golf Ball with Non-Ionomeric Layer."
[0006] Recently, the customization of golf clubs to the individual
users has become popular in the golfing industry, with the
emergence of interchangeable grips, shafts, and club heads,
removable club head weights, etc. This also includes painting or
airbrushing colors, logos, or graphics onto the club head or shaft.
However, painting or airbrushing can be expensive and permanent.
Hence, there remains a need for ways of customizing golf clubs by
applying functional wraps, decals, graphics, or colors to the club
head or shaft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to customizing different types
of golf clubs (i.e., driver-type, iron-type, and putter-type) by
applying a protective or decorative wrap to at least a portion of
the club head body or shaft. The protective or decorative wrap is a
traditional shrink-wrap film or a film that uses a pressure or heat
activated adhesive to adhere to the surface of the club onto which
it is applied.
[0008] In one aspect of the invention, the protective or decorative
wrap is applied to at least a portion of the club head body of the
golf club. The wrap includes high density fillers such as tungsten
in selected portions thereof, such as the sole portion, in order to
adjust the center of gravity and moment of inertia of the club
head. The wrap may also include a low-friction polymer, such as
polytetrafluoroethylene, with the portion of the wrap containing
the low-friction polymer applied to the sole portion of the club
head.
[0009] In another aspect of the invention, the protective or
decorative wrap is applied to at least a portion of the golf club
shaft. The wrap includes a polyamide fiber such as Kevlar to change
functional characteristics, such as the stiffness of the portion of
the shaft covered by wrap.
[0010] In yet another aspect of the invention, the wrap is
pre-printed before being applied to a portion of the golf club head
or shaft. The wrap is colored or printed with a graphic, logo,
hologram, or decal. The wrap also is water resistant or
alternatively is covered with an ultraviolet light-resistant layer,
such as a luster overlaminate layer. The protective or decorative
wrap can be a traditional shrink-wrap film or a film that uses a
pressure or heat activated adhesive to adhere to the surface of the
club onto which it is applied.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the
specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in
which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in
the various views:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of an iron-type golf club in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a driver or fairway
wood-type golf club head in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIGS. 3a and 3b show cross-sectional views of shafts of golf
clubs with a protective or decorative wrap applied in accordance
with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a putter-type golf club in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4a is a bottom view of the putter-type golf club in
FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The present invention is directed at golf clubs that are
customized by having a protective or decorative wrap applied to at
least a portion of the club head body or shaft. Several embodiments
of the invention are described in more detail below.
[0018] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed at golf
clubs that are customized by having a protective or decorative wrap
applied to a portion of the clubs. The golf club comprises a shaft,
a club head body portion, and a hitting face. The wrap can be a
heat-activated shrink wrap film or a pressure-activated adhesive
film, but is most preferably a shrink wrap film, and it is
pre-printed with a graphic or decal before application to the club.
Alternatively, the protective or decorative wrap is a pressure
activated adhesive wrap. In one embodiment, the wrap is applied to
a portion of the club head body, and in another embodiment, the
wrap is applied to at least a portion of the shaft. It is also
possible to apply the wrap to both the club head body and the
shaft. The wrap may also be covered with a luster overlaminate
layer, which acts to provide ultraviolet protection for the graphic
that is printed on the wrap. In another embodiment, the wrap is
simply colored with one or more colors. In yet another embodiment,
the wrap comprises an extra layer, and a holographic image is
printed on the extra layer.
[0019] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed at
golf clubs that are customized by having a protective or decorative
wrap applied to a portion of the shaft of the clubs. In this
embodiment, the protective or decorative wrap is embedded with
polymer fibers such as Kevlar.RTM. so as to alter the strength and
stiffness of the shaft. The amount of polymers embedded in the
wraps may vary according to the users' desired club
characteristics, and users can apply the wrap(s) to different
portions of the shaft in order to adjust various points of
flexibility. The fibers can be chopped fibers or can run along the
entire length of the wrap.
[0020] In yet another embodiment, the present invention features
golf clubs wherein a protective or decorative wrap is applied to a
portion of the club head. In this embodiment, the protective or
decorative wrap is preferably embedded with high density fillers
such as tungsten at selected portions thereof. Placement of the
wrap, which may come in any number of sizes, with the high density
areas on selected parts of the club head, such as the sole, allows
users to adjust the moment of inertia and the center of gravity of
the club head, thereby changing a golf ball's flight path.
Additionally, the protective or decorative wrap may be impregnated
with a low-friction polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
commercially available as Teflon.RTM. from DuPont. When applied the
sole of the club head, such a wrap may provide further protection
and reduced friction in addition to added weight.
[0021] Another embodiment of the invention is directed at a method
of customizing clubs by applying a protective or decorative wrap to
a portion of the club in accordance with the invention. A golf club
having a shaft, club head body portion, and hitting face is
provided. The protective wrap, preferably a shrink-wrap film or
adhesive film as discussed above, is applied to a portion of the
golf club, and then is cured to the portion of the club by an
additional step. In one embodiment, the wrap comprises a
pressure-activated adhesive and the curing is done by a process of
applying pressure to the wrap. Alternatively, the wrap comprises a
heat-activated adhesive, and the curing is done by a process of
applying heat to the wrap. In other embodiments of the invention,
the method further comprises an intermediate step wherein the wrap
is pre-printed with a decal, logo, or graphic, preferably with an
inkjet printer, before it is applied to the golf club. The wrap
utilized may even be an opaque color or colors. In some
embodiments, the wrap may be applied to any portion of the shaft,
the club head body excluding the hitting face, or any combination
thereof. In another embodiment, the method comprises applying a
luster overlaminate layer over the protective wrap, preferably for
ultraviolet light ray protection.
[0022] Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 shows an
iron-type golf club in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. Golf club 10 comprises shaft 16 and club head body
portion 12, which in turn comprises hitting face 14 and hosel area
18. Shaft 16 is inserted into hosel 18. Protective or decorative
wrap 20 is pre-printed with graphic 22 and is applied to a portion
of shaft 16. Depending upon the type of adhesive in wrap 20, either
pressure or heat is applied to wrap 20 to adhere it to shaft 16.
Wrap 20 is preferably a shrink-wrap film comprising a polymer such
as polyethylene, but can be any protective or decorative wrap film
known in the art that is capable of being pre-printed or colored.
Suitable materials for wrap 20 include 3M.TM. Controlac.TM. Plus
Changeable Graphic Film with Comply.TM. Performance 3500C and
3M.TM. Scotchcal.TM., both available from and manufactured by
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, Inc. of St. Paul, Minn. This
particular embodiment is especially advantageous when the shaft
comprises stainless steel. Many golfers utilize clubs with steel
shafts, which are generally stiffer than graphite shafts, for
improved control. However, stainless steel is not easily painted or
otherwise customized, so stainless steel shafts generally remain
silver-colored. The inventive wrap provides a way to customize the
shaft to the club owner's liking, whatever the material.
[0023] Furthermore, wrap 20 may be impregnated with fibers or
fillers such as polycrystalline alumina, boron, silicon carbide,
glass, graphite, etc., in order to provide strength or rigidity to
certain area(s) of shaft 16 beneath wrap 20. Preferably, a fiber
such as Kevlar is embedded within wrap 20. Once applied to the
proper area(s) of shaft 16, wrap 20 can be used to adjust the
flexibility and performance of shaft 16, and therefore golf club
10. Because wrap 20 is removable, users can customize the flex
properties of golf club 10 at will. The fibers can be chopped or
may run along the entire length of the wrap, and the impregnated
wrap 20 can cover the entire shaft or portions thereof. The
thickness of wrap 20 can also be adjusted to change the flexibility
of the shaft.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a driver or fairway wood-type golf club head in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Club head
body 12 includes hitting face 14, hosel area 18, and crown portion
17. As shown, graphic 22 is pre-printed on wrap 20, and protective
or decorative wrap 20 is then applied to crown portion 17.
Depending upon the type of adhesive used in wrap 20, either
pressure or heat is applied to adhere it to crown portion 17.
Alternatively, wrap 20 may be applied to any part of the club head
body 12, excluding hitting face 14.
[0025] Wrap 20 may also be impregnated with high-density fillers,
such as tungsten, preferably when wrap 20 is added to the club
head. By adding the high-density fillers to portion(s) of wrap 20,
users may adjust the properties of club head body 12, such as
moment of inertia and center of gravity. For example, a wrap 20
impregnated with a high-density filler on portions thereof that is
applied to crown portion 17 of club head body 12 would shift the
center of gravity up vertically, resulting in a lower trajectory
shot. Contrariwise, applying wrap 20 to sole area 13 would shift
the center of gravity lower in club head body 12, resulting in a
higher trajectory. Preferably, wrap 20 could be designed to contain
areas with or without fillers, or even filler gradients to adjust
the properties of club head body 12.
[0026] FIGS. 3a and 3b both show cross-sectional views of shafts of
golf clubs in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 3a,
shaft 16 is shown completely surrounded by protective or decorative
wrap 20. Optional luster overlaminate layer 25 may be added by a
similar shrink-wrapping process as wrap 20, and may or may not
completely surround shaft 16. In FIG. 3b, another embodiment is
shown where wrap 20 is only applied to part of the circumference of
shaft 16. Optional luster overlaminate layer 25 is shown in this
view as well as covering about the same amount of surface area as
wrap 20, although it is appreciated that layer 25 may be applied so
as to cover either more or less surface area than protective wrap
20.
[0027] A rear view of a putter-type club in accordance with the
present invention is shown in FIG. 4. Club 10 comprises shaft 16
and club head body 12, which comprises crown 17, back portion 15,
and upper back portion 19, as well as a sole 13 (shown in FIG. 4a)
and a hitting face (not shown). Wraps 20a and 20b have graphics 22a
and 22b printed on each respectively, each wrap is applied to a
portion of club 10, and the appropriate pressure or heat is used to
activate the adhesive included in each wrap. In FIG. 4, wrap 20a
displaying graphic 22a is shown applied to upper back portion 19.
In FIG. 4 and FIG. 4a, wrap 20b is applied to back portion 15 of
club head body 12, but extends around the body to cover a portion
of sole 13. For aesthetic purposes, it may be seen as advantageous
by some golfers to apply wrap 20b in this manner, while displaying
graphic 22b on the back portion 15 of club head body 12. Wrap 20b
may also be impregnated with a high-density filler as seen above or
a low-friction polymer such as PTFE, commonly known as Teflon.RTM..
The low-friction PTFE is particularly advantage in wrap 20b in
order to minimize frictional contact with the grass while putting.
Using a high-density filler in wrap 20b helps to product a
"weighty" feel that many golfers desire in putter-type clubs, but
provides the ability to adjust the weight at a moment's notice,
unlike other fixed-weight clubs.
[0028] While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of
the invention disclosed herein fulfill the objectives stated above,
it is appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments
may be devised by those skilled in the art. Such modifications
include that the protective or decorative wraps may comprise
different materials known in the area, the graphics or colors may
be different, the wraps may be applied to different parts of the
club head or shaft, etc. The decorative or protective wrap can also
be applied on the entire shaft from the hosel to the grip and can
be applied on the entire club head, except the hitting face.
Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments, which
would come within the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
* * * * *