Patent Grant
9468817
Golf club design has increasingly relied on sophisticated materials and manufacturing processes that permit club designs to precisely target club mechanical properties. For example, perimeter weighted iron type club designs provide large sweet spots that substantially reduce the adverse consequences of off-center hits. Designers can place club head mass so as provide a desired center of mass or moment of inertia to provide a preferred ball launch angle or to provide forgiveness with respect to off-center hits.
Clubs are commonly fitted to players so that the benefits associated with these sophisticated designs can be achieved for players of all skill levels. Thus, golfers can choose from a variety of designs that offer broad ranges of capabilities, select designs appropriate for their individual needs, and individualize clubs with respect to loft and lie angles, shaft lengths, and shaft flex.
Although club mechanical properties have been significantly improved, other club characteristics have not seen similar advances. The ball striking required at all skill levels in golf involves precise hand-eye coordination. If a player is unable to accurately and repeatedly align club and ball, the features provided by modern club designs can improve performance, but not eliminate the consequences of mishits. Thus, new approaches that permit more accurate and repeatable alignment are needed.
In some examples, golf club heads comprise a crown having at least an upward facing surface portion provided with a diffused surface treatment as viewed from an address orientation, wherein the diffused surface treatment defines a highest reflected intensity location on the crown in response to illumination from a light source situated within a cone of angular radius of about 30 degrees above the crown and a secondary location situated on the crown at a distance of at least 20% of a crown effective length from the highest reflected intensity location having a reflected intensity of at least 25% of the highest reflected intensity. The golf club head also includes a striking surface situated so as to define an interface with the crown. In some embodiments, the crown effective length is selected from a plurality of pixel radii having a 30 degree angular spacing and radiating from the highest reflected intensity location to an edge of the crown. In other examples, the crown effective length is associated with a toe-to-heel direction, a direction perpendicular thereto, or an angle that is an integer multiple of 5 degrees with respect to the toe-to-heel direction. In still other examples, a zone of crown intensity is defined from the crown effective length in a direction of 30 degrees and negative 30 degrees from the crown effective length orientation, wherein the reflected intensity is at least 20% of the highest reflected intensity within a distance of at least 20%, 40%, or 60% of the crown effective length from the highest reflected intensity location. In representative examples, the secondary location is situated on the crown at a distance of at least 30%, 40%, 50%, or 60% of the crown effective length from the highest reflected intensity location.
In some example embodiments, a plurality of secondary locations are situated on the crown at distances of at least 50% of the crown effective length along a respective plurality of pixel radii situated at angles of at least 30 degrees with respect to each other such that the secondary locations are situated on the crown a distance of at least 50% of a respective pixel radius and are associated with reflected intensities of at least 50% of the highest reflected intensity. In some particular examples, the secondary locations are situated on the crown a distance of at least 75% of the respective pixel radii and are associated with reflected intensities of at least 70% of the highest reflected intensity. In other representative examples, the diffused surface treatment is a white surface treatment associated with a gloss value of less than about 60.
In some embodiments, a transparent matte coating is situated on at least the upward facing portion of the crown, wherein the transparent matte surface is a semigloss or low gloss surface. In typical examples, the transparent matte coating has a gloss value of less than 60 gloss units. In other examples, at least the upward facing portion of the crown surface has a chroma value of less than 5 and at least a top portion of the face surface adjacent the crown has a black surface treatment. In representative examples, at least the top portion of the face surface has a gloss value of less than 50 gloss units, or the black surface treatment has a chroma of less than one and a brightness of less than 50. In additional examples, the face surface has a black surface treatment having a chroma of less than 1.0 and a brightness of less than 50, and at least the upward facing portion of the crown surface has a chroma value of less than 5 and a brightness greater than 85.
Metal wood-type golf club heads include a body comprising a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The head has a golf club head origin positioned on the face plate at an approximate geometric center of the face plate, the head origin including an x-axis tangential to the face plate and generally parallel to the ground when the head is in an address position, a y-axis generally perpendicular to the x-axis and generally parallel to the ground when the head is in an address position, and a z-axis generally perpendicular to the x-axis and to the y-axis and generally perpendicular to the ground when the head is in an address position. A positive x-axis extends toward a club head heel, a positive y-axis extends toward the cavity, and a positive z-axis extends away from the ground with the head in the address position. At least a perimeter portion of the crown adjacent a top portion of the faceplate and having an area that is at least 5% of the crown area has a bright, diffusely reflecting surface, and at least a top perimeter portion of the face plate has a dark diffusely reflecting surface area. In some embodiments, the bright, diffusely reflecting portion of the crown is white and includes at least the upper facing portion of the crown, and the face plate surface is a dark diffusely reflecting surface. In other examples, the bright, diffusely reflecting portion of the crown has a chroma value of less than 5, and the face plate surface has a chroma value of less than 1. In additional representative examples, the bright, diffusely reflecting portion of the crown has a brightness of at least 80.
In some examples, at least a portion of the crown adjacent a top perimeter of the face plate has a semigloss surface with a chroma value of less than 10 and a brightness of at least 50. In other examples, the bright diffusely reflecting surface extends over at least 80% of the upward facing crown area or the crown surface has a CIELab brightness of between 50 and 100, and a gloss value of less than 60 gloss units. In still further examples, the dark, diffusively reflecting face plate surface area has a CIELab brightness of less than 40 and a chroma of less than 10 or the face plate has a gloss value of less than 60 gloss units. In other examples, a difference in L* values between the crown and the face is high contrast for more than about 14.3%, 28.6%, 42.9%, 57.1%, 71.4%, or 85.7% of the face distance.
Putter heads comprise a crown having at least an upward facing surface portion provided with a white diffusing surface treatment as viewed from an address orientation, and a striking face that includes a dark surface portion. In some examples, the crown has a CIELab L* value of between 50 and 100, a chroma of less than 2, a hue of between 235 degrees and 270 degrees. The white diffusing surface treatment extends over at least 90% of the upward facing surface portion and has a gloss that is less than 60 gloss units. In other examples, the crown has a CIELab L* value of between 64 and 93, a chroma of less than 4, and the white diffusing surface treatment extends over at least 80% of the upward facing surface portion and is a semigloss surface treatment. In still further embodiments, the crown has a CIELab L* value of between 88 and 93, a chroma of between 3 and 4, a hue between 215 and 235, and the white diffusing surface treatment extends over at least 60% of the upward facing surface portion and is a semigloss surface treatment.
In other embodiments, golf club heads comprise a crown having at least an upward facing surface portion provided with a diffused surface treatment as viewed from an address orientation, wherein the white surface treatment defines a highest reflected intensity location on the crown in response to illumination from a light source situated within a cone of angular radius of about 30 degrees above the crown. A secondary location situated on the crown a distance of at least 50% of a crown effective length from the highest reflected intensity location has a reflected intensity of at least 25% of the highest reflected intensity. A striking surface is situated so as to define an interface with the crown. In some examples, the secondary location is situated on the crown a distance of at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 60%, 75%, or 85% of the crown effective length from the highest reflected intensity location, and has a reflected intensity of at least 50% or 70% of the highest reflected intensity.
In some examples, a plurality of secondary locations are situated on the crown at distances of at least 50% of a pixel radius along a respective plurality of pixel radii situated at angles of at least 30 degrees with respect to each other such that the secondary locations are situated on the crown a distance of at least 50% of a respective crown effective length from the highest intensity location and are associated with reflected intensities of at least 50% of the highest reflected intensity. In some examples, the white surface treatment defines a semigloss surface that is associated with a gloss value of less than about 60 or 40.
In additional examples, a transparent matte coating is situated on at least the upward facing portion of the crown, wherein the transparent matte surface is a semigloss or low gloss surface, having a gloss value of less than 60 gloss units. In some alternatives, at least the upward facing portion of the crown surface has a chroma value of less than 5 or less than 2. In still other examples, at least a top portion of the face surface adjacent the crown has a black surface treatment that is a semigloss or low gloss surface. In some examples, the face surface has a gloss value of less than 60, 50, or 40 gloss units. In particular examples, the black surface treatment has a chroma of less than 1 or 0.9 and a brightness of less than 50 or 30. In some embodiments, the face surface has a black surface treatment having a chroma of less than 1.0 and a brightness of less than 50, and at least the upward facing portion of the crown surface has a chroma value of less than 5 and a brightness greater than 85.
In some examples, metal wood-type golf club heads comprise a body comprising a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The head has a golf club head origin positioned on the face plate at an approximate geometric center of the face plate. The head origin includes an x-axis tangential to the face plate and generally parallel to the ground when the head is in an address position, a y-axis generally perpendicular to the x-axis and generally parallel to the ground when the head is in an address position, and a z-axis generally perpendicular to the x-axis and to the y-axis and generally perpendicular to the ground when the head is in an address position, wherein a positive x-axis extends toward a club head heel, a positive y-axis extends toward the cavity, and a positive z-axis extends away from the ground with the head in the address position. At least a perimeter portion of the crown adjacent a top portion of the faceplate and having an area that is at least 5% of the crown area has a bright, diffusely reflecting white surface, and at least a top perimeter portion of the face plate has a dark diffusely reflecting surface area. In other examples, the face plate comprises a plurality of scorelines, wherein the scorelines include a diffusely reflecting surface area that has an intermediate value of reflectance between that of the bright, diffusely reflecting portion of the crown and the dark portion of the face plate. In other embodiments, the bright, diffusely white reflecting portion of the crown includes at least the upper facing portion of the crown, and the face plate surface is a dark diffusely reflecting surface. In representative implementations, the bright, diffusely reflecting portion of the crown has a chroma value of less than 5, and the face plate surface has a chroma value of less than 1. In still further examples, the bright, diffusely reflecting white portion of the crown has a brightness of at least 80 and less than 100. Typically, at least a portion of the crown adjacent a top perimeter of the face plate has a semigloss surface with a chroma value of less than 10 and a brightness of at least 50.
In some example embodiments, least a portion of the crown adjacent a top perimeter of the face plate has a semigloss surface with a chroma value of less than 6 and a lightness of at least 75 or at least a portion of the crown adjacent a top perimeter of the face plate has a semigloss surface with a chroma value of less than 4 and a lightness of at least 90. In at least some embodiments, the bright diffusely reflecting surface extends over at least 80% of the upward facing crown area. In other examples, the crown surface has a CIELab brightness of between 50 and 100, and a gloss value of less than 60 gloss units. In typical examples, the dark, diffusively reflecting face plate surface area has a CIELab brightness of less than 30 or 40, a chroma of less than 5 or 10, and a gloss value of less than 60 gloss units.
Putter heads comprise a crown having at least an upward facing surface portion provided with a white diffusing surface treatment as viewed from an address orientation. A central alignment index is situated on the crown and extends so as to be perpendicular to a striking surface, the central alignment index provided with a black diffusing surface treatment. At least one aperture is defined in a club body and situated behind the striking surface as viewed from the address orientation, wherein the aperture is symmetrically situated with respect to the central alignment index. In some examples, the white diffusing surface treatment has a gloss of less than 60 gloss units, and a CIE hue value that is between 250 degrees and 320 degrees. In other examples, the white diffusing surface treatment extends over at least 85% of the upward facing surface portion and the central alignment index comprises a groove extending to the striking surface and the black diffusing surface is situated within the groove. In additional examples, a dark striking surface is provided having a CIE L* values of less than 50.
These and other features and aspects of the claimed technology are set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
As used in this application and in the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.” Further, the term “coupled” does not exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupled items.
The clubs and club heads described herein should not be construed as limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward all novel and non-obvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The disclosed club heads are not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combinations thereof, nor do the disclosed club heads require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved. Any theories of operation are to facilitate explanation, but the disclosed club heads are not limited to such theories of operation.
Typical examples are described below that include bright white diffusing top surfaces that are more readily perceived by a golfer. In addition, such top surfaces produce an appearance of increased size, promoting golfer confidence. By providing a contrasting club face, the face/crown interface that is used for club alignment becomes more visually apparent.
Examples of wood type and iron type golf clubs and club heads are provided below. In addition, examples of putters and putter heads are provided. For convenient description, standard golf illumination is defined herein as illumination associated with common outdoor playing conditions in natural lighting, i.e., full sun, partial sun, partial shade, full shade, and overcast conditions at times a few hours after sunrise and a few hours before sunset. Golf club and club head features are described with reference to a club head position at an address position, i.e., a customary position from which a golfer initiates a swing sequence. For convenience, if needed, directions are referenced to an address position for a right handed golfer addressing a right handed club. A rearward direction is a direction from a striking surface opposite an intended line of ball flight. An upward direction is a direction upward from a playing surface.
Metal wood clubs as described herein can have bare metallic striking or other surface. Textured surfaces can be provided with a texture finish such as a tumble finish or sand blasted finish. Coatings can be applied to striking faces, and a durable coating such as produced with plasma vapor deposition (PVD) or ion plating (IP) is preferred, as paint can chip after use and may cause spin degradation. Clubs can have titanium alloy (Ti) faces or steel alloy (Steel), or other faces. The range of ion plating finish colors available to coat these faces is limited. One face coating for Ti or steel (and more durable than some other colors) is a black IP finish. Crown paints are available in a large variety of colors.
With reference to
The rear arc 116 corresponds to a boundary between a first portion 122 of the putter head 102 having a full thickness, and a stepped down portion 124. The indices 111, 112, 113 noted above promote visual alignment but occupy less that about 5,%, 6%, 7%, 8%, or 10% of the surface area of the first portion 122 which is typically covered with a white diffusively reflecting surface treatment. The stepped down portion includes a circular aperture 126 having a radius that is between about 0.8 and 1.2 times a golf ball diameter, 0.9 and 1.1 times a golf ball diameter, or 0.95 and 1.05 times a golf ball diameter. Typically, the diameter of the aperture 126 is selected to be approximately equal to a golf ball diameter. In some examples, a golf ball diameter is about 41.67 mm. In other examples, the aperture 126 has a diameter of between about 20 mm and 75 mm, 30 mm and about 60 mm, 36 mm and about 44 mm, or 38 mm and about 41 mm. A partial cylindrical bore 127 is situated about the aperture 126 and can have a diameter that is between about 0.1 mm and 5 mm greater that the diameter of the aperture 126. The partial bore 127 typically has a depth of between 0.1 mm and 5 mm. The aperture 126 and the bore 127 are generally circular, but other shapes can be used, but situated so as to be symmetric about the central alignment index 112 to facilitate alignment of the club head. In addition, the rear arc 116 is situated so as to be bisected by the central alignment index 112. The putter head 102 also has a perimeter that is symmetric with respect to the central alignment index 112, but perimeter symmetry can be adjusted to provide apparent symmetry when the putter head 102 is viewed in address position as shaft attachment or other putter features can provide apparent distortion. As shown in
Because putting (as well as other golf strokes) requires precise alignment, the putter head 102 is provided with suitable surface treatments to promote visibility and alignment. In one example (and as shown in
A diffused surface treatment is defined as a surface treatment applied to a club head base material to change the color or glossiness of the surface so as to control, reduce, or minimize any glare spots located on the crown of the golf club head. Diffused surface treatments include coatings located on top of the base material of the club head. In some embodiments, the diffuse surface treatment is a white color. Examples of diffuse surface treatments include paints, matte clear coats, clear coats, powder coatings, PVD, CVD, platings, ion platings, electroplatings, ceramic coatings. Examples of paints include urethane base coatings, pearl coats, epoxy based coatings, decals, inks, and primer coatings.
While providing a diffusing white surface for a putter head top surface is beneficial, such a surface is preferably used in conjunction with alignment indices that are provided with a surface treatment that establishes a dark, highly diffusing surface. In one embodiment, the putter can include a first primer layer being 50 μm thick, a second paint layer being about 85 μm thick, and a clear coat being about 115 μm thick. In one embodiment, the clear coat layer is thicker than the other individual layers. For example, a glossy black surface treatment tends to exacerbate visibility problems when used with a light colored top surface, because the absence (or reduction) in glare elsewhere on the top surface causes attention to be undesirably brought to specular reflections associated with alignment indices such as the alignment indices 111, 112, 113. Thus, a white or neutral diffusing top surface is preferably accompanied with a diffusing surface treatment for alignment indices.
The putter head 102 of
Surface treatments can be provided by applying a diffusing white paint to a club head, typically over a gray or other non-white primer coat. Alignment indices can be formed as grooves in the putter head 102 that are then partially filed with a black diffusing material such as a flat black paint. Because the putter striking face 106 is not visible (or barely visible) to a golfer, the striking face 106 can be configured as desired. Alternatively, the surfaces of the striking face can be partially or completely treated as indicated above. In addition, putter faces can be visible based on the degree loft in the putter head. In preferred embodiments, the face has a high contrast to the remaining club color for alignment purposes. In one embodiment, the face is a black or dark color aiding in alignment while also minimizing the amount of color reflection created on the ball at the address position.
An alternative putter head 202 is illustrated in
The alignment index 212 is generally aligned perpendicular to and centered on the striking surface. Shoulders 220, 221 extend upwardly from the sole 210 and are coupled to or unitary with the blade 204, and permit mass to be distributed away from the center of the striking surface so as to increase moment of inertia. The shoulders 220, 221 can be made of a more dense material than other portions of the putter head 202, or can be provided with bores or other relieved volumes configured to receive additional weights. Inner surfaces 222, 223 of the shoulders 220, 221 are generally situated so as to provide a separation corresponding to a golf ball diameter. Typically, the separation is between about 0.8 and 1.2 times a golf ball diameter, 0.9 and 1.1 times a golf ball diameter, or 0.95 and 1.05 times a golf ball diameter. In some examples, a golf ball diameter is about 41.67 mm. In other examples, the separation is between about 30 mm and 75 mm, about 35 mm and about 60 mm, about 36 mm and about 44 mm, or about 38 mm and about 41 mm. To promote alignment and visibility, at least some portions of the putter body 202 are provided with a suitable surface appearance. For example, upward facing portions of the putter head 202 can be provided with a diffuse, white appearing coating or other surface treatment as described above. In addition, the alignment index 212 can be provided with a dark, diffusing coating.
As used herein, a white reflecting surface is a surface that reflects at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 97% of an incident light flux corresponding to full sun, partial sun, partial shade, or shade daylight conditions or daylight cloud cover conditions. Such reflectances are such that the apparent color of the resulting reflected light is not appreciably different from that of the incident light flux. Reflectance for colored surfaces can be similarly defined. For example, a red surface is a surface that that reflects at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 85% of a red portion of incident light flux corresponding to full sun, partial sun, partial shade, shade daylight conditions, or daylight cloud cover conditions. An effective diffusing surface as used herein is a surface for which a ratio of luminous intensity produced by the diffusing surface with respect to a luminous intensity of a perfect (Lambertian) diffuser in response to illumination at normal incidence to the diffusing surface is at least 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or 0.9 at an angle of 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees, or 45 degrees. As used herein, effective diffusing surfaces can be characterized with an effective diffusing ratio corresponding to the above ratios and a related diffusing angle. Contrasting surfaces can be provided based on total reflectance of less than 20%, 10%, or 5% of an incident light flux corresponding to full sun, partial sun, partial shade, shaded, or daylight cloud cover conditions.
While white appearing surface treatments can provide the greatest reflectances, off-white, eggshell white, and red, green, yellow, or other colors or tinted whites can be used. In some cases, whites corresponding to golf ball appearances are used, and can include brightening agents. In some examples, color contrast can be provided between club head features and a playing surface to increase contrast, but the examples below are described with reference to white or other almost color neutral surface treatments. For example, red surface portions can be contrasted with cyan surface portions, green surface portions with magenta surface portions, and blue surface portion with yellow surface portions, but other color combinations can be used. In addition, while selected portions of a club head can be provided with a selected contrast enhancing (or specular reflection reducing) surface treatment, such treatments can be provided as solid treatments that cover an entire surface portion, or stippling or patterns such as checks, stripes, or other periodic or aperiodic arrangements. Finally, neutral grays or darker colors can be used in which reflectances are less than those listed above. In some examples, only surface areas at or near selected club head edges are provided with white or other contrast enhancing or diffusing surface treatments.
Other types of golf clubs can be configured similarly. Referring to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The lie angle 10 and/or the shaft loft can be modified by adjusting the position of the shaft 50 relative to the club head. Adjusting the position of the shaft can be accomplished by bending the shaft and the hosel relative to the club head. As shown in
Adjusting the shaft loft is effective to adjust the square loft of the club by the same amount. Similarly, when shaft loft is adjusted and the club head is placed in the address position, the face angle of the club head increases or decreases in proportion to the change in shaft loft. In some embodiments, the face angle and the loft are decoupled from one another by an adjustable sole plate. Hence, shaft loft is adjusted to effect changes in square loft and face angle. In addition, the shaft and the hosel can be bent to adjust the lie angle and the shaft loft (and therefore the square loft and the face angle) by bending the shaft and the hosel in a first direction inward or outward relative to the club head to adjust the lie angle and in a second direction forward or rearward relative to the club head to adjust the shaft loft. Adjustable soles are described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/646,769, filed Dec. 23, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference.
While the mechanical adjustments described about with reference to a wood-type golf club permit precise adjustment, the effectiveness of these adjustments can be limited by a golfer's ability to appropriately address and strike a golf ball. To aid in club placement, a club crown area 325 can be provided with a surface treatment so as to contrast with the club face 310. For example, the crown area 325 can be made so as to have a white, diffusing appearance and the club face 310 configured to appear black or otherwise dark. In this way the crown 325 contrasts with the playing surface 70 and the club face 310.
Representative examples of a driver-type club provided with contrast enhancement are shown in
While providing bright diffusing areas and contrasting dark areas facilitates golfer perception of a golf club, clubs such as drivers, fairway woods, and utility clubs (“wood-style clubs”) do not typically include the substantial number of alignment aids that are available on putter heads such as shown in
With regards to putters, studies have shown that on a 12-foot putt, only 35% of shots are aimed inside the cup at address, meaning 65% are aimed outside the cup. The tolerance for being inside the cup at 12 feet is ±0.85 degrees.
The two primary cues for aligning a metal wood type club at address are typically the crown/face masking line and the scorelines. Referring again to
While a white or reflective crown promotes more accurate alignment of a club head with respect to an intended line of flight, the visually larger club head tends to result in shots struck somewhat above the striking face center. To assist in more centered ball striking, scorelines (such as the scorelines 451 of
While providing a substantial upward facing portion of a golf club crown with a white or other bright surface treatment can provide substantial increases in visibility, such treatments can also be provided on selected portions of a crown. Referring to
Iron-type clubs can also be provided with visibility enhancements based on diffusely reflecting surfaces.
To aid alignment of the club head 800 and to provide the club head 800 with a larger appearance, the striking face 804 can be provided with white, off-white, eggshell-white or other surface treatments. Selected portions of the striking surface or the entire striking surface can be provided with such a treatment. The top line 806 can have a similar surface treatment. However, referring to
In the following description of embodiments, some club head surfaces are described with reference to surface gloss. Smooth, polished surfaces generally exhibit a high gloss, and directly reflect light received, and depending on surface curvatures, can form one or more magnified, demagnified, real, or virtual images. Rough surfaces scatter light diffusely, and generally do not form clear images as do smooth surfaces. Surface gloss can be characterized by illuminating a surface at a specific angle, and measuring light intensity received in a range of reflection angles. Gloss measurements can be made with reference to the amount of light reflected from a black glass standard having a specified refractive index. In this way, gloss measurements can be established without direct reference to input light intensity. Standard gloss measurement geometries are specified for three gloss ranges: semigloss for surface glosses between 10 and 70 gloss units measured with a standard 60 degree geometry, high gloss for surface glosses greater than 70 gloss units measured with a standard 20 degree geometry, and low gloss for surface glosses that are less than 10 gloss units measured with a standard 80 degree geometry.
In some disclosed examples, surface gloss is referred to as semigloss or low gloss. As used herein, semigloss refers to a range of 10 to 70 gloss units measured with respect to a standard 60 degree geometry. However, some examples include semigloss surfaces having surface gloss in ranges having lower limits of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 gloss units and upper limits of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, or 70 gloss units. Similarly, low gloss surfaces include surfaces associated with standard gloss values of less than 10, 8, 5, 4, or 2 gloss units. Semigloss surfaces are typically preferred due to a chalky appearance that can be associated with low gloss surfaces. Gloss measurements can be conveniently made with portable glossmeters such as the MICRO-TRI-GLOSS meters from BYK Additives and Instruments.
Examples are also described, for convenience, with respect to CIELab color space using L*a*b* color values or L*C*h color values, but other color descriptions can be used. As used herein, L* is referred to as lightness, a* and b* are referred to as chromaticity coordinates, C* is referred to as chroma, and h is referred to as hue. In the CIELab color space, +a* is a red direction, −a* is a green direction, +b* is a yellow direction, and −b* is the blue direction. L* has a value of 100 for a perfect white diffuser. Chroma and hue are polar coordinates associated with a* and b*, wherein chroma (C*) is a distance from the axis along which a*=b*=0 and hue is an angle measured counterclockwise from the +a* axis. The following description is generally based on values associated with standard illuminant D65 at 10 degrees. This illuminant is similar to outside daylight lighting, but other illuminants can be used as well, if desired, and tabulated data provided herein generally includes values for illuminant A at 10 degrees and illuminant F2 at 10 degree. These illuminants are noted in tabulated data simply as D, A, and F for convenience. The terms brightness and intensity are also used in the following description to refer to CIELab coordinate L*.
Some disclosed examples are described with respect to “hot spots” or other optical intensity profiles that are apparent on a wood-type club head crown, or a top surface of any club type with the club in a standard address position. Hot spots are visually distracting, and tend to promote club head misalignment or reduce golfer confidence in club head alignment. Suitable methods are described for reducing or eliminating such hot spots, typically so as to produce substantial areas of uniform visual intensity as viewed by a player with a club in a normal address position. As used herein, a “light diffusing region” of a club head refers to a portion of a club head surface over which reflected/diffused light intensity directed to a golfer with the golf club in a normal address position is at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of a maximum intensity of such reflected or diffused light. To promote accurate club head alignment without the visual impairment and distraction associated with hot spots, such diffusing regions can occupy substantial portions of an upward facing club head surface. A representative method for determining such light diffusing regions used in characterizing some embodiments is described below.
Referring to
For a putter type club, the arrangement of
Image data from the camera 908 is provided to a computer system 918 or other processing system for analysis using MATLAB mathematical analysis software, but other processing systems and software can be used.
Exposures are set by adjusting image intensity so that maximum pixel intensity value is non-saturated and within a range of greater than 90% and less than 100% of maximum intensity value for the camera sensor. The camera 908 can be set to provide RGB values in a range of 0 to 255. A saturated pixel would have pixel values (255, 255, 255) while a non-saturated pixel would have values of, for example, (254, 254, 254). Intensity is computed as a weighted sum 0.2989*R+0.5870*G+0.1140*B based on R, G, B values provided by the camera 908 using MATLAB's rgb2gray function which converts image data to HSV color space, and produces “V” values or luminance values which are referred to herein as intensities. Pixel intensities can be deemed acceptable when peak pixel intensity is greater than 229.5 and less than 255. To obtain suitable image intensities, images can be obtained using auto focus and averaging metering mode, and the shutter speed set for Exposure Value (EV) 0. An image is then obtained, and camera histogram mode used to identify saturation. If any saturated pixels are detected, the shutter speed can be doubled (i.e. the exposure time halved), and a new image acquired. This process can be repeated as needed. Even after saturation is eliminated, additional images could be acquired at a faster shutter speed to confirm that saturation has been eliminated.
Intensity images can be evaluated by selecting a pixel having a maximum intensity and establishing an image radius that is the longest radius that can be extended from the maximum intensity pixel to the image border. A pixel radius can be defined as a horizontal distance from the crown location associated with the maximum intensity pixel to an edge of the crown surface along an image radius. For convenience, this distance can also be referred to as an effective plan radius (EPR) as this distance is associated with an apparent crown extent as shown in a plan view of a club head (i.e., looking downward with the club in standard address position). In certain embodiments, a crown effective length can be defined as a length of a longest of a plurality of pixel radii from the brightest intensity location to the edge of a crown surface. In other embodiments, an effective crown region or zone can be defined as being a region of the crown surface that contains the longest pixel radius and the surface area between the longest pixel radius and the two adjacent pixel radii at angles of ±30 degrees with respect to the longest pixel radius so as to form a “slice” or triangular area wherein a secondary location on the crown a distance of at least 50% at any given pixel radius within the effective crown region is associated with an reflected intensity that is at least 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% of the highest reflected intensity. In other words, a zone of crown intensity is defined from the crown effective length in a direction of 30 degrees and negative 30 degrees from the crown effective length orientation, the zone of crown intensity being greater that at least 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% of the highest reflected intensity
Intensity values can be scaled by dividing by 255 to be positive and less than 1. Point values along lines at angles of 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, and 330 degrees extending from the maximum value pixel a distance of the image radius are obtained by interpolation of pixel values. These point values can be plotted to characterize a light diffusing region or to locate undesirable hot spots. Unless stated otherwise, image intensities were obtained in this manner for the examples described below. It will be appreciated that an image radius established in this manner generally extends beyond a club head surface. A crown effective length can be defined as a longest distance from the crown location associated with the maximum intensity pixel to a crown perimeter along which a light intensity is measured. In other embodiments, the crown effective length can be defined as a specific pixel radius selected from a plurality of pixel radii according to orientation or length characteristics of the pixel radii. In addition, the crown effective length can be selected to define a ratio of a second point location (number of points) along the crown effective length from the maximum intensity point to a total number of points along the crown effective length to the crown perimeter.
For purposes of illustration, intensity profile results for selected club heads are described. For convenience, examples include both contrast-enhanced clubs and conventional clubs to illustrate differences. In addition, CIELab data and gloss values are provided for selected embodiments associated with contrast-enhancement as well as some conventional club heads.
A representative intensity contour map associated with a conventional glossy black club head crown (club 1) is provided in
Considerable improvement is apparent, with relative intensity dropping to about 0.7 of a maximum value at about 20-40 points, and not approaching zero except when the club head perimeter is reached. With reference to
CIELab coordinates for the club head crowns associated with
A contrast-enhanced crown provides the golfer with superior visibility of a club head at address, increases the apparent (visual) size of the club head, and eliminates or reduces distracting hot spots. With such a club head, the golfer can better visualize ball/club alignment at address. To further improve golfer perception, a club head with a contrast enhanced crown can be provided with a contrasting striking face so that a top portion of a crown/striking face boundary becomes more apparent. For a white, diffusing crown, a dark or black appearing striking face can be used. CIELab values for a representative black striking face as well as several conventional clubs referred to above are included in Table 2.
Referring to Tables 1-2, a contrast enhanced club crown coupled with a black or other contrasting striking face can have a crown-face brightness difference ΔL of about 68, but greater or lesser differences can be used, for example, differences of about 20, 40, 50, 60, or 70 can be provided. The higher the ΔL value between the crown and face, the easier it will be for the golfer to align the face angle at the address position. In one embodiment, a ΔL of greater than 40 is preferred. In another embodiment, a ΔL of greater than about 50 or 60 is even more preferred to provide a very high contrast from the crown to face.
With reference to
With the first vertical plane s0 and the seventh vertical plane s7 defined as above, a face distance fd between the two planes s0, s7 is determined in a horizontal direction along the ground plane 1010. The face distance fd is evenly divided into seven horizontally equidistant regions by planes s1 . . . s6. As shown in
In some embodiments, the difference in L* values between the crown and the face is high contrast, as defined above, for more than about 14.3% of the face distance fd (at least one of the equidistant regions is high contrast). In other embodiments, the difference in L* values between the crown and the face is high contrast, as defined above, for more than about 28.6% of the face distance fd (at least two of the equidistant regions are high contrast). In other embodiments, the difference in L* values between the crown and the face is high contrast, as defined above, for more than about 42.9% of the face distance fd (at least three of the equidistant regions are high contrast). In other embodiments, the difference in L* values between the crown and the face is high contrast, as defined above, for more than about 57.1% of the face distance fd (at least four of the equidistant regions are high contrast). In other embodiments, the difference in L* values between the crown and the face is high contrast, as defined above, for more than about 71.4% of the face distance fd (at least five of the equidistant regions are high contrast). In other embodiments, the difference in L* values between the crown and the face is high contrast, as defined above, for more than about 85.7% of the face distance fd (at least six of the equidistant regions are high contrast). In other embodiments, the difference in L* values between the crown and the face is high contrast, as defined above, for more than about 99% of the face distance fd (at least six of the equidistant regions are high contrast along with a significant portion of the seventh equidistant region)
The equidistant regions of high contrast mentioned above can be contiguous across the face to crown transition or they can be spaced apart from one another in alternating or random fashion across the face to crown transition. In one embodiment, six out of the seven equidistant regions contain a high contrast crown to face transition across the entire horizontal distance (measured along fd) within each region. In some embodiments, two, three, four, or five out of the seven equidistant regions contain a high contrast crown to face transition across the entire horizontal distance within each region.
In the view of
Some representative putter intensity profiles, CIELab color values, and gloss data are provided below for contrast-enhanced putters as well as conventional putters. In some embodiments, putter top surfaces are painted, coated, or otherwise prepared to have color values similar to those associated with a golf ball. Representative CIELab values for golf balls are provided in Table 3 below.
CIELab values for various putter configurations are summarized in Tables 4-5. Table 4 contains data for conventional putters, and Table 5 contains data for contrast-enhanced putter heads similar in shape to the putter head of
A top surface of Putter #10 is provided by a primer coating over which a base coat is applied. A top surface of Putter #12 is provided by a primer coating, followed by a base coating that is covered by a matte clear coat. Data for mechanically similar putter heads with a matte clear coat and a flat black coating are also provided in Table 5.
The thickness of the paint coating can vary based on the type of material being painted. For example, in one embodiment, a steel body is painted with a primer layer and white paint layer having a combined thickness of about 45-60 m and a clear coat layer of about 50-60 p.m. In another embodiment, an aluminum body is painted with a primer layer and a white paint layer having a combined thickness of about 25-40 μm and a clear coat layer of about 30-40 p.m.
The above describes only representative examples with reference to the shortcomings of conventional club heads. Embodiments of the disclosed club heads can provide high contrast and high visibility with respect to typical backgrounds against which a club head is viewed. For example, bright white (such as color neutral surfaces with CIELab L* of greater than 75 and less than 100, a chroma of less than 2) provides superior contrast with respect to grass playing surfaces. In addition, providing a diffusely reflecting surface such as a semigloss surface with a gloss of less than about 60 gloss units, visually distracting hot spots can be eliminated or reduced. In combination with bright white, such a surface appears to have a uniform high brightness to a golfer. Finally, a club face that contrast with a bright white upper surface provides a high face/crown contrast that can be used for shot alignment. However, it will be appreciated that there are many club head variations that offer some or all of these advantages, and the claims are not to be limited so as to require any or all of these advantages. Therefore, we claim all that is encompassed by the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/428,593, filed Dec. 30, 2010, and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/302,817, filed Jun. 12, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/051,973, filed Mar. 18, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,771,095), which is a continuation in part of U.S. Design application Nos. 29/376,895 (now Pat. No. D643,890), filed Oct. 13, 2010; 29/376,896 (now Pat. No. D643,891), filed Oct. 13, 2010; 29/376,897 (now Pat. No. D643,899), filed Oct. 13, 2010; and 29/378,759 (now Pat. No. D643,894), filed Nov. 9, 2010, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20150174460 A1 | Jun 2015 | US |
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| 61428593 | Dec 2010 | US |
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