Abstract:
A method and apparatus for creating a pattern in the surface of a golf club part having a surface area lacking smoothness using a radiated beam to make portions of such surface smoother. The disclosure is also directed to the golf club part created by the operation of such method and apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Radiated beams such as electron or laser beams have been used to mark and decorate metal objects (U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,295). Beam energy and the heat generated alters the micro structure and light reflectance of the surface and causes contrasts in the appearance of the metal surfaces.  
           [0002]    Golf club heads fabricated by casting have had graphic designs created during the casting process or thereafter by etching the club head surface (U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,285).  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Broadly, the invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating the surface of a golf club part having a non-smooth surface such as a part which has been cast. Preferably, in those instances where the part is cast, the part is abraded for example by tumbling or by directing a light sandblast against the part to create a low reflectivity surface. Such abrading roughens the golf club part so that greater contrast can be obtained using radiated beam treatment. Surface roughening can also be created by acid etch or other suitable method.  
           [0004]    The club part is mounted in a beam treatment station to permit projecting a radiated beam on selected areas of the part&#39;s surface resulting in the momentary and superficial melting or fusing of the surface which makes such areas less rough and more light reflective than adjacent surface areas. Patterns are formed by causing relative movement between the part and a high energy heat source such as a radiated beam. Preferably the heat source or beam is held fixed and the part mounted on a movable table. Table movement may be controlled by a programmable computer, or other suitable arrangement.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a metal golf club head including a partial hosel marked in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a radiated beam treatment station; and  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0008]    In FIG. 1, a metal cast golf club head part  10  is fabricated by casting, forging or other method. Part  10 , particularly when cast, has a top surface  11  which has sufficient irregularities that radiated beam treatment produces markedly contrasting surface areas  8  and  9  in surface  11 . Surface area  8  is the word “RUGER” in stylized letters and background surface area  9  is the surrounding part surface within oval  7 . Such contrasting surface areas  8  and  9  are after treatment relatively rough and relatively smooth with differing light reflection characteristics.  
         [0009]    Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, beam  24  creates graphic designs in surface  11  such as surface area  8  including the word “RUGER”. Prior to such radiated treatment, part  10  if its surface is not sufficiently rough after fabrication, may be roughened or abraded to increase surface irregularities in surface  11  by sandblasting, tumbling or other roughening treatment using an abrasive material or acid.  
         [0010]    The apparatus for treating the club parts, whether further roughened or not, is a charged particle beam such as an electron beam station  18  including electron beam gun projector  19  mounted above computer numerical control table  21  which in turn is mounted on station base  22  positioned within enclosure  20 . Enclosure  20  is evacuated by drawing a vacuum at outlet  20   e . Electron beam treatment must be carried out in a vacuum to avoid oxidation of the anode (not shown) of gun projector  19 . Preferably beam projector  19  is stationary and X-Y control table  21 , with parts  10  mounted in pallet  25  having part receiving recesses  23 , moves to create the desired graphic pattern in surface  11  of parts  10 . Pallet  25  holds six (6) parts  10   a - f.    
         [0011]    Alternatively, table  21  and part  10  mounted therein is held in a stationary position and projector  19  moves to project beam  24  against selected areas of the surfaces of parts  10 . In either arrangement the relative movement between beam  24  and parts  10  creates marks, numbers, patterns, designs, signatures or other graphics on the part surfaces. The focus and width of beam  24  is controlled by varying the distance of beam station  18  from parts  10  and varying the energy in magnetic focusing coil  26 . Beam  24  may be focused from a pinpoint to a relatively wide beam of {fraction (1/16)}of an inch or under. Beam  24  may be energized intermittently depending on the graphics desired.  
         [0012]    Electron beam station  18  preferably includes an electron beam welding unit manufactured by Cambridge Vacuum Engineering Ltd. distributed by Wentgate Dynaweld Inc. More particularly, the welding unit is Model No. CW604 Serial No. M/C547. It operates between 5-60 kilovolts with a beam intensity of 0.5-40 milliamps, and a beam focus current of 275-550 milliamps. The vacuum pulled in enclosure  20  is about 10 to minus 4 millibars. Table  21  is preferably an Allen Bradley Controller.  
         [0013]    A programmable computer  30  positioned exterior to vacuum chamber  20  controls the movements of table  21 . The computer also controls characteristics of the projected beam  24  including its direction, width and intensity.  
         [0014]    The beam treatment of each surface area of each part  10  is controlled such that selected surface areas melt momentarily and fuse to a degree that the treated surface areas reflect more light than the adjacent untreated areas thus highlighting the treated areas. Any beam including a laser beam may be used provided the beam creates sufficient heat on surface  11  of part  10  to melt or fuse the treated area of surface  11  sufficiently so that when the melted or fused area solidifies it reflects more light than an adjacent untreated area. When a laser beam heat source is used, evacuation is not required.