Patent Publication Number: US-2009233731-A1

Title: Golf club

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a golf club, more particularly to a golf club having photochromic function. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When purchasing a golf club, consumers may consider aesthetic and textural aspects thereof in addition to normal functions. Therefore, it is desirable in the art to develop a golf club which includes a golf club shaft or head having an improved appearance and texture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a golf club including at least one of a photochromic golf club shaft and a photochromic golf club head. 
     In one aspect of this invention, a photochromic golf club shaft includes a shaft body, and a photochromic portion provided on the shaft body and including a photochromic blend. 
     In another aspect of this invention, a photochromic golf club head includes a head body having a photochromic portion that includes a photochromic blend. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a golf club according to this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a golf club according to this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of a golf club according to this invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary sectional view of the third preferred embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of a golf club according to this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first preferred embodiment of a golf club according to this invention includes a photochromic golf club shaft  1 , and a golf club head  2  connected to the photochromic golf club shaft  1 . The photochromic golf club shaft  1  includes a shaft body  11 , and a plurality of photochromic portions  12  provided on the shaft body  11  and including a photochromic blend. In this embodiment, the photochromic blend is made by blending a coating material with a photochromic material. Each of the photochromic portions  12  is formed by applying the photochromic blend on the shaft body  11  to form a coating layer on the shaft body  11 . Alternatively, the photochromic blend can be applied on the entire shaft body  11  to form a photochromic coating layer covering the entire shaft body  11 . 
     Preferably, the coating material is ink or clear lacquer, and the photochromic material is composed of photochromic powders having a particle size of about 0.01 mm. The photochromic material changes from transparent to a color when it is exposed to visible or ultraviolet light, and reverses to transparency when it is not exposed to the light. 
     When the coating material is clear lacquer, a weight ratio of the photochromic material to the coating material preferably ranges from 1:1900 to 1:2100, and the photochromic portions  12  are formed by coating the photochromic blend on the shaft body  11 . The photochromic portions  12  can be a trademark pattern or any other patterns. When the coating material is ink, a weight ratio of the photochromic material to the coating material preferably ranges from 1:4 to 1:1000, and the photochromic portions  12  are formed by printing (e.g., transfer printing or screen printing) the photochromic blend on the shaft body  11  and by laser engraving the photochromic blend printed on the shaft body  11 . 
     The photochromic powders can be selected according to the desired specific photochromic color of the photochromic portions  12 . Furthermore, different photochromic powders can be used in the photochromic portions  12 , if desired, so as to produce multiple photochromic effects. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the second preferred embodiment of a golf club according to this invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment except that the photochromic blend includes a molding material and the photochromic material, and that the photochromic portion  12  is a preform sleeved on a grip portion  111  of the shaft body  11 . Preferably, the molding material is plastic material, such as thermoplastic polyurethane, silica gel, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, or the like. The weight ratio of the photochromic material to the molding material preferably ranges from 1:200 to 1:2000. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the third preferred embodiment of a golf club according to this invention is shown to include a golf club shaft  1 ′ and a photochromic golf club head  2 ′ connected to the golf club shaft  1 ′. The photochromic golf club head  2 ′ includes a head body  21 ′ having a plurality of photochromic portions  22 ′ that include the photochromic blend. Alternatively, the photochromic blend can be applied on the entire head body  21 ′ to form a photochromic coating layer covering the entire head body  21 ′. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the fourth preferred embodiment of a golf club according to this invention is shown to be similar to the third preferred embodiment except that the photochromic blend includes a molding material and the photochromic material, and that the photochromic portion  22 ′ is a preform covered on the head body  21 ′. Specifically, the head body  21 ′ is composed of two component parts, namely, a main body  211 ′ and a top cover  212 ′. The perform is formed as the top cover  212 ′. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.