GOLF CLUB HAVING A HOLLOW PRESSURIZED METAL HEAD

• US 20080188322A1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alden J. Blowers
• Original Assignee: Alden J. Blowers
• Inventors: Anderson, Donald A., Khamenian, Babek, Blowers, Alden J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,663,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/346
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49986 Subsequent to metal working

Abstract

A golf club having a hollow golf club head which is filled with a gas under pressure. The interior surface of the golf club head is coated with a solidified layer of plastic material. The pressurized gas permits the use of thinner face plates by compensating for forces generated when the face plate strikes a golf ball. The plastic layer is preferably applied through the process of rotational molding using a thermoplastic material.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a hollow club head having an interior surface;

a shaft affixed to said club head;

a gas under pressure filling said hollow club head; and

a layer of solidified plastic material coating said interior surface of said hollow club head.

2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic material is coated by rotational molding.

3. A golf club head as defined in claim 2 wherein said plastic material is polyurethane.

4. A golf club head as defined in claim 2 wherein said plastic material is polyethylene.

5. A golf club head as defined in claim 2 wherein said gas is nitrogen.

6. A golf club head as defined in claim 1 which further includes a means affixed to said club head for injecting said gas under pressure into said hollow club head.

7. A golf club head as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for injecting said gas under pressure is a valve affixed to the rear of said club head.

8. A golf club head as defined in claim 2 wherein the pressure of said gas is 20 to 300 pounds per square inch.

9. A golf club head as defined in claim 7 which further includes a protective member at said valve to prevent tampering with said valve.

10. A method of manufacturing a golf club head comprising:

providing a hollow golf club head having an interior surface;

injecting a granular thermoplastic material into said hollow golf club head;

heating said golf club head to a temperature at least equal to the melting point of said thermoplastic material;

rotating said golf club head simultaneously through a vertical and horizontal axis while maintaining said temperature to thereby coat said interior surface with said thermoplastic material; and

cooling said golf club head to solidify said thermoplastic material.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 which further includes filling said hollow golf club head with a gas under pressure.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said gas is nitrogen.

13. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the pressure of said gas is 20 to 300 pounds per square inch.

14. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said thermoplastic material is polyurethane.

15. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said thermoplastic material is cross-linked polyethylene.

16. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said thermoplastic material is high density polyethylene.

17. The method as defined in claim 11 which further includes providing a valve having a plunger movable between open and closed positions carried by said hollow golf club head, moving said plunger to its open position to fill said hollow head with gas and moving said plunger to its closed position.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 which further includes measuring the pressure of said gas during filling of said hollow head.