U.S. patent application number 11/526774 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-27 for colored, transparent coating layer for golf club head and golf club head members.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yuan-Fu Lin.
Application Number | 20080076598 11/526774 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39225714 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080076598 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Yuan-Fu |
March 27, 2008 |
Colored, transparent coating layer for golf club head and golf club
head members
Abstract
A golf club head includes a metal surface and at least one
colored, transparent coating layer formed thereon. The colored,
transparent coating layer contains a resin material and a coloring
material. The colored, transparent coating layer exposes the metal
surface of the golf club head in the coloring material that
enhances the appearance of the golf club head. In an embodiment,
the colored, transparent coating layer includes a first colored
layer and a second colored layer. The first colored layer and the
second colored layer vary in colors, or the colors of the first
colored layer and the second colored layer vary in depth.
Inventors: |
Lin; Yuan-Fu; (Yingge
Township, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Fu Sheng Industrial Co.,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
39225714 |
Appl. No.: |
11/526774 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/00 20151001;
A63B 53/0487 20130101; A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 53/0425
20200801; A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 53/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/349 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/00 20060101
A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. A golf club head comprising: a metal surface provided on the
golf club head, said metal surface having a predetermined portion;
and at least one colored, transparent coating layer formed on the
predetermined portion of the metal surface; wherein the colored,
transparent coating layer exposes a metallic luster from the metal
surface in color.
2. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the colored,
transparent coating layer contains at least one resin material and
at least one coloring material.
3. The golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein the resin
material of the colored, transparent coating layer is selected from
the group consisting of polyurethane elastomer, epoxy, acrylic
resin, polyurethane resin, nitro-lacquer resin, polyester resin,
phenolic aldehyde resin and alkyd resin.
4. The golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein the resin
material of the colored, transparent coating layer is selected from
a transparent resin or a translucent resin.
5. The golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein a lacquer
thinner is contained in the colored, transparent coating layer.
6. The golf club head as defined in claim 5, wherein the lacquer
thinner is selected from an active thinner or a non-active
thinner.
7. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the colored,
transparent coating layer is formed on a bottom primer layer
provided on the metal surface of the golf club head.
8. The golf club head as defined in claim 7, wherein the bottom
primer layer is made from a transparent resin or a translucent
resin.
9. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein a protective
layer is formed on the colored, transparent coating layer.
10. The golf club head as defined in claim 9, wherein the
protective layer is made from a transparent resin or a translucent
resin.
11. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the colored,
transparent coating layer includes a first colored layer and a
second colored layer.
12. A golf club head member, said golf club head member selected
from one of a striking plate, a crown plate, a blade portion, a
skirt wall, a rear wall, a sole plate, a neck section and a hosel
of a golf club head, comprising: a metal surface provided on the
golf club head member, said metal surface having a predetermined
portion; and at least one colored, transparent coating layer formed
on the predetermined portion of the metal surface, said colored,
transparent coating layer containing at least one resin material
and at least one coloring material; wherein the colored,
transparent coating layer exposes a metallic luster from the metal
surface in color.
13. The golf club head member as defined in claim 12, wherein the
resin material of the colored, transparent coating layer is
selected from the group consisting of polyurethane elastomer,
epoxy, acrylic resin, polyurethane resin, nitro-lacquer resin,
polyester resin, phenolic aldehyde resin and alkyd resin.
14. The golf club head member as defined in claim 12, wherein the
resin material of the colored, transparent coating layer is
selected from a transparent resin or a translucent resin.
15. The golf club head member as defined in claim 12, wherein a
lacquer thinner is contained in the colored, transparent coating
layer.
16. The golf club head member as defined in claim 15, wherein the
lacquer thinner is selected from an active thinner or a non-active
thinner.
17. The golf club head member as defined in claim 12, wherein the
colored, transparent coating layer is formed on a bottom primer
layer provided on the metal surface of the golf club head
member.
18. The golf club head member as defined in claim 17, wherein the
bottom primer layer is made from a transparent resin or a
translucent resin.
19. The golf club head member as defined in claim 12, wherein a
protective layer is formed on the colored, transparent coating
layer.
20. The golf club head member as defined in claim 19, wherein the
protective layer is made from a transparent resin or a translucent
resin.
21. The golf club head member as defined in claim 12, wherein the
colored, transparent coating layer includes a first colored layer
and a second colored layer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a colored, transparent
coating layer for a golf club head and golf club head members.
Particularly, the present invention relates to the colored,
transparent coating layer formed on a pretreated metal surface of
the golf club head and golf club head members. More particularly,
the present invention also relates to the colored, transparent
coating layer for enhancing metallic luster of the golf club head
and golf club head members.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional golf club head, as described in Japanese
Patent Publication No. 2002-325868, entitled "Wood Type Golf Club
Head," generally includes a multi-coating layer formed on an
exterior surface. The multi-coating layer consists of a covering
layer and a polarizing surface layer. Comprised of the covering
layer are a primer paint layer, a coloring layer, a
color-polarizing layer and a transparent layer arranged in order.
Typically, the primer paint layer is located on a position on the
exterior surface of the golf club head. Formed on the primer paint
layer is the coloring layer containing at least one color material.
Similarly, formed on the coloring layer is the color-polarizing
layer containing a resin material, a color material and a
polarizing material which are mixed. The transparent layer is
formed on the color-polarizing layer such that colors of the
coloring layer can appear on the transparent layer via the
color-polarizing layer. Finally, the polarizing surface layer is
formed on the transparent layer to form an outermost layer of the
multi-coating layer. The polarizing surface layer also contains a
resin material, a color material and a polarizing material for
enhancing the appearance of the golf club head. Accordingly, the
multi-coating layer determines the appearance of the final product
of golf club head.
[0005] In the multi-coating layer, light may successively penetrate
the polarizing surface layer, the transparent layer and the
color-polarizing layer, and then the coloring layer and the primer
paint layer may reflect the incident lights. Although it would be
advantage to reflect colors of the multi-coating layer, no original
metallic luster of the golf club head may appear through the
multi-coating layer. In addition, although the polarizing surface
layer and the color-polarizing layer can refract the incident
lights, they cannot reflect transparent and visual effects on the
metal surface of the golf club head.
[0006] Another problem with the contained-contents and multi-layers
of the multi-coating layer is complicated that may increase the
difficulty in manufacture and the production cost, and lower the
efficiency in manufacture. Hence, there is a need for improving the
coating layer of the golf club head or the golf club head
member.
[0007] As is described in greater detail below, the present
invention intends to provide at least one colored, transparent
coating layer formed on a metal surface of a golf club head or a
golf club head member. The colored, transparent coating layer
contains a resin material and a coloring material. The colored,
transparent coating layer exposes the metal surface of the golf
club head or golf club head member in the coloring material in such
a way as to mitigate and overcome the above problem. In the present
invention, the colored, transparent coating layer has replaced the
conventional multi-coating layer of the golf club head or the golf
club head member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The primary objective of this invention is to provide a
colored, transparent coating layer formed on a metal surface of a
golf club head or a golf club head member. Accordingly, the
colored, transparent coating layer can expose a high-degree of
metallic luster of the golf club head or the golf club head
member.
[0009] The golf club head in accordance with an aspect of the
present invention includes a metal surface and at least one
colored, transparent coating layer formed thereon. The colored,
transparent coating layer contains at least one resin material and
at least one coloring material. The colored, transparent coating
layer exposes the metal surface of the golf club head in the
coloring material that enhances the appearance of the golf club
head.
[0010] In a separate aspect of the present invention, the resin
material of the colored, transparent coating layer is selected from
a transparent resin or a translucent resin.
[0011] In a further separate aspect of the present invention, the
colored, transparent coating layer is formed on a bottom primer
layer provided on the metal surface of the golf club head.
[0012] In a yet further separate aspect of the present invention,
the bottom primer layer is made from a transparent resin or a
translucent resin.
[0013] In a yet further separate aspect of the present invention, a
protective layer is formed on the colored, transparent coating
layer.
[0014] In a yet further separate aspect of the present invention,
the protective layer is made from a transparent resin or a
translucent resin.
[0015] In a yet further separate aspect of the present invention,
the colored, transparent coating layer includes a first colored
layer and a second colored layer attached thereto.
[0016] In a yet further separate aspect of the present invention,
the first colored layer and the second colored layer vary in
colors, or the colors of the first colored layer and the second
colored layer vary in depth.
[0017] In a yet further separate aspect of the present invention,
the first colored layer and the second colored layer possess
different transparencies.
[0018] Further scope of the applicability of the present invention
will become apparent from the detailed description given
hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed
description and specific examples, while indicating preferred
embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration
only, since various will become apparent to those skilled in the
art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a colored,
transparent coating layer formed on an iron-typed golf club head in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is an isolated cross-sectional view, in the circle of
FIG. 1, illustrating the colored, transparent coating layer formed
on a metal surface of the iron-typed golf club head in accordance
with the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the colored,
transparent coating layer formed on a wood-typed golf club head in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0023] FIG. 4 is an isolated cross-sectional view, in the circle of
FIG. 3, illustrating the colored, transparent coating layer formed
on a metal surface of the wood-typed golf club head in accordance
with the second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, views of an iron-type
golf club head, designated numeral 1, in accordance with the first
embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. Preferably,
the golf club head 1 is constructed from a metal material, an alloy
material or a non-metal material. For instance, suitable materials
utilized in practicing the golf club head 1 are carbon steel,
low-carbon steel, maraging steel, alloyed steel, low-alloy steel,
stainless steel, Fe--Mn--Al alloy, cast iron, nickel-based alloy,
structural alloy, titanium alloy and carbon fibers etc. In the
first embodiment, the golf club head 1 has at least one metal
surface 10 which is selectively provided on one of a golf club head
body, a striking plate, a hosel portion, a blade portion or other
golf club head member. By referring to FIG. 2, formed on a partial
or entire portion the metal surface 10 are a series of a bottom
primer layer 1 1, a colored, transparent coating layer 12 and a
protective layer 13. The bottom primer layer 11, the colored,
transparent coating layer 12 and the protective layer 13 are
stacked on the metal surface 10 in order so as to form a colored,
transparent coating structure.
[0025] By referring to FIG. 1, the bottom primer layer 11 functions
as a desired surface for adhering the colored, transparent coating
layer 12. The bottom primer layer 11 is made from a paint selected
from the group consisting of acrylic painting, polyurethane
painting, nitro-lacquer painting, polyester painting, epoxy
painting, phenolic aldehyde painting and alkyd resin painting.
Preferably, the bottom primer layer 11 is formed on the metal
surface 10 by means of painting, spraying or immersion.
Furthermore, the bottom primer layer 11 has a thickness preferably
in the range of 10 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m, more preferably in the range
of 20 .mu.m to 40 .mu.m. However, the thickness of the bottom
primer layer 11 is designed for providing a desired degree of
strength on the metal surface 10 for the following procedures. In a
preferred embodiment, the bottom primer layer 11 can be made from a
painting material that possesses a desired color which can be
changed according to the design needs. Preferably, the bottom
primer layer 11 is made from a transparent resin or a translucent
resin. The bottom primer layer 11 functions to enhance the ability
of antirust and the smoothness of the metal surface 10.
[0026] Referring again to FIG. 2, the colored, transparent coating
layer 12 functions to expose metallic luster of the metal surface
10 penetrated from the bottom primer layer 11, and to further, add
at least one color on the metal surface 10. The colored,
transparent coating layer 12 contains at least one resin material
and at least one coloring material which are added in the resin
material. Preferably, the resin material is made from a transparent
resin or a translucent resin which is selected from the group
consisting of polyurethane elastomer (PU), epoxy, acrylic resin,
polyurethane resin, nitro-lacquer resin, polyester resin, phenolic
aldehyde resin and alkyd resin. In a preferred embodiment, the
coloring material of the colored, transparent coating layer 12
possesses a desired color which can be changed according to the
design needs. In preparation, the material of the colored,
transparent coating layer 12 further contains a lacquer thinner
(not shown) which is selected from an active thinner such as a
solvent of glycidyl ethers. In an alternative embodiment, the
lacquer thinner may be selected from a non-active thinner. For
instance, the lacquer thinner may be preferably made from a solvent
selected from the group consisting of methylbenzene, ethanol,
acetone, butanol and di-butyl group. The lacquer thinner can
enhance the ability of flowage of the resin material in coating
operation. Once cured, the contained lacquer thinner can enhance
the ability of transparency of the colored, transparent coating
layer 12 for lights. The cured coating layer 12 possesses a high
degree of chemical resistance and mechanical strength. The colored,
transparent coating layer 12 can expose the metal surface 10 of the
golf club head 1 in the coloring material that enhances the
appearance of the golf club head 1. In a preferred embodiment, the
colored, transparent coating layer 12 varies in colors for
enhancing the appearance of the golf club head 1. In another
preferred embodiment, the color of the colored, transparent coating
layer 12 varies in depth.
[0027] Still referring to FIG. 2, the protective layer 13 functions
as a decorative or protective shell of the colored, transparent
coating layer 12. The protective layer 13 has a degree of hardness
to withstand normal usage of the golf club head 1. The materials of
the bottom primer layer 11 and the protective layer 13 are made
from similar or dissimilar materials. Preferably, the protective
layer 13 is made from a transparent resin or a translucent resin.
Finally, the protective layer 13 exposes the metal surface 10 of
the golf club head 1 and the color of the colored, transparent
coating layer 12 that enhance the appearance of the golf club head
1. In an embodiment, the protective layer 13 may be omitted so as
to simplify the entire procedure.
[0028] Still referring to FIG. 2, prior to painting operation, the
rough metal surface 10 of the golf club head 1 is processed by a
finishing procedure, a polishing procedure or both so as to form a
perfect degree of the smoothness of the metal surface 10.
Subsequently, the material of the bottom primer layer 11 is
uniformly coated and cured by means of a heater or the like such
that the bottom primer layer 11 is formed on the finished metal
surface 10. Subsequent to the formation of the bottom primer layer
11 the material of the colored, transparent coating layer 12 is
uniformly coated and cured by means of a heater or the like such
that the colored, transparent coating layer 12 is formed on the
bottom primer layer 11. Finally, the material of the protective
layer 13 is uniformly coated and cured by means of a heater or the
like such that the protective layer 13 is formed on the colored,
transparent coating layer 12.
[0029] Still referring to FIG. 2, since the materials of the bottom
primer layer 11, the colored, transparent coating layer 12 and the
protective layer 13 are made from transparent resins or translucent
resins, the metallic luster of the metal surface 10 is capable of
penetrating through the entire colored, transparent coating
structure. It would be advantageous that the color of the colored,
transparent coating layer 12 and the metallic luster of the metal
surface 10 mingle on the golf club head 1 for enhancing the
appearance. Advantageously, the bottom primer layer 11 and the
protective layer 13 can protect the metal surface 10 of the golf
club head 1. Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, views of a wood-type
golf club head in accordance with the second embodiment of the
present invention are illustrated. In comparison with the first
embodiment, the colored, transparent coating layer 12 of the second
embodiment includes a first colored layer 12a and a second colored
layer 12b formed on the first colored layer 12a. In a preferred
embodiment, the first colored layer 12a and the second colored
layer 12b vary in colors, or the colors of the first colored layer
12a and the second colored layer 12b vary in depth. In another
preferred embodiment, the first colored layer 12a and the second
colored layer 12b possess different transparencies.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the colored, transparent coating
layer 12 is formed on a predetermined portion selected from a
striking plate, a crown plate, a skirt wall, a rear wall, a sole
plate, a neck section and a hosel of the wood-type club head 1. It
will be understood that the colored, transparent coating layer 12
in accordance with the present invention may be further applied to
the utility-type or putter-type club head.
[0031] It will be apparent from the aforementioned discussions that
the golf club head body disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication
No. 2002-325868 has a multi-coating layer including a polarizing
surface layer, a primer paint layer, a coloring layer, a
color-polarizing layer and a transparent layer. Accordingly, the
multi-coating layer is complicated in manufacture even though it
may enhance the appearance of the golf club head. Conversely, the
colored, transparent coating layer 12 of the present invention can
simplify the entire procedure in manufacture, and also enhance the
appearance and quality of the golf club head 1. Advantageously, the
protective layer 13 is further provided on the golf club head 1 so
as to protect the colored, transparent coating layer 12.
[0032] Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the
scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *