METHODS FOR MARKING GOLF CLUB FERRULE

• US 20130017901A1
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Sargent, Nathan T., Harris, Abram Stanley
• Granted Patent: US 8,480,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/309
• 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 53/023 adjustable angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/025 lie angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about an axis parallel to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/026 loft angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/06 by exposure to radiation B05D3/02 takes precedence ; plasma treatment B05D3/141
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/12 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/06 to obtain multicolour or other optical effects B05D5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 7/54 No clear coat specified

Abstract

Described herein are methods of creating markings on a golf club ferrule, some of which comprising providing a polymeric ferrule body having a first color; painting at least a portion of the ferrule body with a paint material, the paint material having a second color that is different than the first color, such as with a high contrast; and removing one or more portions of the paint material from the ferrule body, such as by laser engraving, to reveal respective portions of the first color, thereby forming one or more markings on the ferrule.

Claims

1. A method of creating markings on a golf club ferrule, comprising:

providing a polymeric ferrule body having a first color;

painting at least a portion of the ferrule body with a paint material, the paint material having a second color that is different than the first color; and

removing one or more portions of the paint material from the ferrule body to reveal respective portions of the first color, thereby forming one or more markings on the ferrule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein removing one or more portions of the paint material from the ferrule body comprises laser engraving.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first color and the second color have a high contrast relative to one another.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the CIELab L* value of the first color is greater than 75 and the CIELab L* value of the second color is less than 25.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the difference between the CIELab L* value of the first color and the CIELab L* value of the second color is at least 50.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric ferrule body comprises a white cellulosic material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein painting at least a portion of the polymeric ferrule body with a paint material comprises painting a substantial portion of the outer surface of the ferrule body with the paint material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein painting at least a portion of the ferrule body with a paint material comprises painting all of the outer surface of the ferrule body with the paint material.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ferrule is fixed to a shaft and a sleeve to form a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly being rotatably adjustable relative to a golf club head, wherein the markings on the ferrule visually indicate a rotational position of shaft assembly relative to the golf club head.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ferrule comprises a plurality of longitudinally oriented recesses and the markings are formed within the recesses.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the markings comprise lines having average line widths of less than 1.0 mm.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the markings comprise one or more outlined characters.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the markings comprise informational markings that provide information related to at least one of a golf club lie angle, a golf club loft angle, a golf ball trajectory, or a golf club face angle.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein removing one or more portions of the paint material from the ferrule body comprises masking the ferrule body prior to painting and removing the masking to reveal portions of the ferrule body.

15. A golf club ferrule comprising:

a polymeric ferule body having a first color and defining an outer surface;

a cover layer comprising a paint material having a second color, the cover layer covering a substantial portion of the outer surface of the ferrule body; and

wherein one or more portions of the ferrule body are exposed through the cover layer, the exposed portions of the ferrule body forming informational markings on the ferrule.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the difference between the CIELab L* value of the first color and the CIELab L* value of the second color is at least 50.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the informational markings have an average line width of less than 1.0 mm.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the ferrule is fixed to a shaft and a sleeve to form a shaft assembly of the golf club, the shaft assembly being rotatably adjustable relative to a golf club head, and wherein the informational markings on the ferrule visually indicate a rotational position of shaft assembly relative to the golf club head.

19. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head and a shaft assembly adjustably attached to the golf club head, the shaft assembly comprising a shaft, a sleeve and a ferrule fixed together, the sleeve having an upper portion that includes at least one informational marking, the ferrule being positioned over the upper portion of the sleeve and comprising at least one feature such that the at least one informational marking can be seen through the at least one feature.

20. The golf club of claim 19, wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one opening in the ferrule or at least one transparent portion of the ferrule.