Golf Club

Abstract

A golf club includes a shaft body, a head body connected to the shaft body, and a thermochromic portion provided on at least one of the shaft body and the head body and including a thermochromic blend. The thermochromic blend is made by blending a coating material or a molding material with a thermochromic material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a golf club, more particularly to a golf club having thermochromic 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 thermochromic golf club shaft and a thermochromic golf club head.

In one aspect of this invention, a thermochromic golf club shaft includes a shaft body, and a thermochromic portion provided on the shaft body and including a thermochromic blend.

In another aspect of this invention, a thermochromic golf club head includes a head body having a thermochromic portion that includes a thermochromic 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 thermochromic golf club shaft 1, and a golf club head 2 connected to the thermochromic golf club shaft 1. The thermochromic golf club shaft 1 includes a shaft body 11, and a plurality of thermochromic portions 12 provided on the shaft body 11 and including a thermochromic blend. In this embodiment, the thermochromic blend is made by blending a coating material with a thermochromic material. Each of the thermochromic portions 12 is formed by applying the thermochromic blend on the shaft body 11 to form a coating layer on the shaft body 11. Alternatively, the thermochromic blend can be applied on the entire shaft body 11 to form a thermochromic coating layer covering the entire shaft body 11.

Preferably, the coating material is ink or clear lacquer, and the thermochromic material is composed of thermochromic powders having a particle size of about 0.01 mm. The weight ratio of the thermochromic material to the coating material preferably ranges from 1:3 to 1:5. The thermochromic blend has a thermochromic temperature preferably ranging from −15° C. to 70° C.

When the coating material is clear lacquer, the thermochromic portions 12 are formed by coating the thermochromic blend on the shaft body 11. The thermochromic portions 12 can be a trademark pattern or any other patterns. When the coating material is ink, the thermochromic portions 12 are formed by printing (e.g., transfer printing or screen printing) the thermochromic blend on the shaft body 11 and by laser engraving the thermochromic blend printed on the shaft body 11.

The thermochromic powders can be selected according to the desired specific thermochromic color of the thermochromic portions 12. The thermochromic temperature range of the thermochromic portions 12 depends on the specific thermochromic powders. Furthermore, different thermochromic powders can be used in the thermochromic portions 12, if desired, so as to produce multiple thermochromic 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 thermochromic blend includes a molding material and the thermochromic material, and that the thermochromic 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 thermochromic material to the molding material preferably ranges from 1:190 to 1:120.

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 thermochromic golf club head 2′ connected to the golf club shaft 1′. The thermochromic golf club head 2′ includes a head body 21′ having a plurality of thermochromic portions 22′ that include the thermochromic blend. Alternatively, the thermochromic blend can be applied on the entire head body 21′ to form a thermochromic 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 thermochromic blend includes a molding material and the thermochromic material, and that the thermochromic 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.

Claims

1. A thermochromic golf club shaft, comprising:

a shaft body; and

a thermochromic portion provided on said shaft body, and including a thermochromic blend.

2. The thermochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermochromic blend includes a coating material and a thermochromic material, said thermochromic portion being a coating layer applied on said shaft body.

3. The thermochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermochromic blend includes a molding material and a thermochromic material, and said thermochromic portion is a preform sleeved on said shaft body.

4. The thermochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coating material is selected from the group consisting of ink and clear lacquer, and said thermochromic material is a thermochromic powder.

5. The thermochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 2, wherein a weight ratio of said thermochromic material to said coating material ranges from 1:3 to 1:5.

6. The thermochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 4, wherein said coating material is clear lacquer, and said thermochromic portion is formed by coating said thermochromic blend on said shaft body.

7. The thermochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 4, wherein said coating material is ink, and said thermochromic portion is formed by printing said thermochromic blend on said shaft body.

8. The thermochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 3, wherein said molding material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane, silica gel, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and said thermochromic material is a thermochromic powder.

9. The thermochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 3, wherein a weight ratio of said thermochromic material to said molding material ranges from 1:190 to 1:120.

10. The thermochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermochromic blend has a thermochromic temperature ranging from −15° C. to 70° C.

11. A thermochromic golf club head, comprising:

a head body having a thermochromic portion that includes a thermochromic blend.

12. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 11, wherein said thermochromic blend includes a coating material and a thermochromic material, said thermochromic portion being a coating layer applied on said head body.

13. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 11, wherein said thermochromic blend includes a molding material and a thermochromic material, and said thermochromic portion is a preform covered on said head body.

14. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 12, wherein said coating material is selected from the group consisting of ink and clear lacquer, and said thermochromic material is a thermochromic powder.

15. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 12, wherein a weight ratio of said thermochromic material to said coating material ranges from 1:3 to 1:5.

16. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 14, wherein said coating material is clear lacquer, and said thermochromic portion is formed by coating said thermochromic blend on said head body.

17. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 14, wherein said coating material is ink, and said thermochromic portion is formed by printing said thermochromic blend on said head body.

18. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 13, wherein said molding material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane, silica gel, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and said thermochromic material is a thermochromic powder.

19. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 13, wherein a weight ratio of said thermochromic material to said molding material ranges from 1:190 to 1:120.

20. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 13, wherein said head body is composed of at least two component parts assembled together, said perform being formed as at least one of said component parts.

21. The thermochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 11, wherein said thermochromic blend has a thermochromic temperature ranging from −15° C. to 70° C.

22. A golf club, comprising:

a shaft body;

a head body connected to said shaft body; and

a thermochromic portion provided on at least one of said shaft body and said head body, and including a thermochromic blend.