Golf club

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A photochromic golf club shaft, comprising:

a shaft body; and

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

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

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

4. The photochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coating material is clear lacquer, said photochromic material is a photochromic powder, and a weight ratio of said photochromic material to said coating material ranges from 1:1900 to 1:2100.

5. The photochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coating material is ink, said photochromic material is a photochromic powder, and a weight ratio of said photochromic material to said coating material ranges from 1:4 to 1:1000.

6. The photochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 4, wherein said photochromic portion is formed by coating said photochromic blend on said shaft body.

7. The photochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 5, wherein said photochromic portion is formed by printing said photochromic blend on said shaft body.

8. The photochromic 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 photochromic material is a photochromic powder.

9. The photochromic golf club shaft as claimed in claim 3, wherein a weight ratio of said photochromic material to said molding material ranges from 1:200 to 1:2000.

10. A photochromic golf club head, comprising:

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

11. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 10, wherein said photochromic blend includes a coating material and a photochromic material, said photochromic portion being a coating layer applied on said head body.

12. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 10, wherein said photochromic blend includes a molding material and a photochromic material, and said photochromic portion is a preform covered on said head body.

13. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coating material is clear lacquer, said photochromic material is a photochromic powder, and a weight ratio of said photochromic material to said coating material ranges from 1:1900 to 1:2100.

14. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coating material is ink, said photochromic material is a photochromic powder, and a weight ratio of said photochromic material to said coating material ranges from 1:4 to 1:1000.

15. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 13, wherein said photochromic portion is formed by coating said photochromic blend on said head body.

16. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 14, wherein said photochromic portion is formed by printing said photochromic blend on said head body.

17. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 12, wherein said molding material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane, silica gel, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and said photochromic material is a photochromic powder.

18. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 12, wherein a weight ratio of said photochromic material to said molding material ranges from 1:200 to 1:2000.

19. The photochromic golf club head as claimed in claim 12, 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.

20. A golf club, comprising:

a shaft body;

a head body connected to said shaft body; and

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