Face coating for a golf club head

• US 6,435,980 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Byrne, Wayne H., Reyes, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US09/683,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20020045491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/345, 473/347, 473/348, 473/349, 427/421, 427/422, 428/347, 428/348
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• 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: B29C 70/342 using isostatic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/865 completely encapsulated
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

A composite golf club head having a club having a striking plate portion with a texture coating is disclosed herein. The golf club head has a crown component composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material and a sole component composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material. The texture coating is composed of a plurality of polymer resin particles, a medium and a coupling agent. The polymer resin particles are preferably composed of a polyethylene or polypropylene material. The texture coating provides added durability to the composite striking plate portion.

Claims

1. A composite golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a plurality of pre-preg plies having fibers, the plurality of pre-preg plies ranging from 20 to 70 plies, the face component having a striking plate portion and a return portion, the striking plate portion having a thickness in the range of 0.0010 inch to 0.250 inch, and the return portion tapering in thickness rearward from a perimeter of the striking plate portion;

a crown composed of a plurality of pre-preg plies ranging from 3 to 20 plies, the crown attached to the face component;

a sole composed of a plurality of pre-preg plies ranging from 3 to 20 plies, the sole having a ribbon portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion of the sole attached to the return portion of the face component and the ribbon portion of the sole attached to the crown;

a weighting member disposed within the plies of pre-preg of the ribbon portion of the sole; and

a textured coating applied to the striking plate portion, the texture coating comprised of a plurality of polymer resin particles composed of a polyethylene material, a medium and a coupling agent, the plurality of polymer resin particles present in an amount ranging from 5% to 30% of the volume of the texture coating, the textured coating having a thickness of 0.0005 inch to 0.003 inch.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the textured coating has a thickness in the range of 0.001 inch to 0.0015 inch.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of resin particles of the textured coating are composed of a polyethylene material.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the medium is a clear coat.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the medium is a methylsiloxane with silica nanoparticles.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the coupling agent is a silane material.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the textured coating has a thickness in the range of 0.001 inch to 0.0015 inch.

7. A golf club comprising

a golf club head having a volume of 350 cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters, the golf club head composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg, the golf club head having a striking plate portion with a textured coating thereon, the textured coating comprised of a plurality of polymer resin particles composed of a polyethylene material, a medium and a coupling agent, the plurality of polymer resin particles present in an amount ranging from 5% to 30% of the volume of the texture coating, the textured coating having a thickness of 0.0005 inch to 0.003 inch;

a shaft having a tip end and a butt end, the shaft composed of a graphite material and the tip end of the shaft attached to the golf club head; and

a grip placed over a butt end of the shaft;

wherein the golf club has a mass less than 290 grams, and the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution ranging from 0.80 to 0.93 under standard USGA conditions.

8. A composite golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a plurality of pre-preg plies ranging from 20 to 70 plies, the face component having a striking plate portion and a return portion extending laterally rearward from a perimeter of the striking plate, the striking plate portion having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch;

a crown composed of a plurality of pre-preg plies ranging from 3 to 20 plies, the crown attached to the face component and overlapping an upper section of the return portion, the upper section of the return portion extending rearward from the perimeter of the striking plate portion a distance of at least 0.5 inch;

a sole component composed of a plurality of pre-preg plies ranging from 3 to 20 plies, the sole component having a ribbon portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion of the sole component attached to a lower section of the return portion of the face component and the ribbon portion of the sole component attached to the crown component, the lower section of the return portion extending rearward from the perimeter of the striking plate portion a distance of at least 0.5 inch;

a texture coating on the striking plate portion, the texture coating consisting of a plurality of polymer resin particles, composed of a polyethylene material, with diameters ranging from 18 microns to 50 microns, a silane coupling agent and a clear coat, wherein the plurality of resin particles ranges from 5% to 10% of the volume of the texture coating, the silane coupling agent ranges 0.01% to 2% of the volume of the texture coating, and the clear coat is at least 88% of the volume of the texture coating.

9. A composite golf club head comprising:

a body composed of a plurality of pre-preg plies having fibers, the body having a sole, a crown, a ribbon and a striking plate portion defining a hollow interior, the striking plate portion having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch; and

a textured coating applied to the striking plate portion, the texture coating comprised of a plurality of polymer resin particles, composed of a polyethylene material, a medium and a coupling agent, the plurality of polymer resin particles present in an amount ranging from 5% to 30% of the volume of the texture coating, the textured coating having a thickness of 0.0005 inch to 0.003 inch.