Golf club including composite material with color coated fibers and methods of making the same
A golf club including at least one component with a construction that includes a composite material with color/metallic coated fibers. In some embodiments, at least a portion of an outer surface of the golf club head is defined by a layered structure including color/metallic coated fibers. The layered structure may include a non-woven composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies and woven composite layer disposed over the non-woven fiber composite layer and including color/metallic coated fibers. In some embodiments, an optically transparent coating may be disposed over the woven composite layer. In some embodiments, the color/metallic coated fibers may be electroplated fibers.
1. A golf club, comprising:
a golf club head comprising:
a crown, the crown comprising a first layered composite structure comprising:
a first inner composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies, and
a first outer composite layer disposed over the first inner composite layer and comprising colored fibers embedded in a matrix material, the colored fibers of the first outer composite layer comprising color coated fibers or color dyed fibers;
a sole; and
a club face, the club face comprising a second layered composite structure comprising:
a second inner composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies, and
a second outer composite layer disposed over the second inner composite layer and comprising colored fibers embedded in a matrix material, the colored fibers of the second outer composite layer comprising color coated fibers or color dyed fibers,
wherein the colored fibers of the first outer composite layer comprise a first color and the colored fibers of the second outer composite layer comprise a second color different from the first color.
2. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the first outer composite layer comprises a woven composite layer and the colored fibers of the first outer composite layer comprise woven colored fibers.
3. The golf club of claim 2 , wherein the woven composite layer comprises the woven colored fibers and woven metallic fibers.
4. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the second outer composite layer comprises a woven composite layer and the colored fibers of the second outer composite layer comprise woven colored fibers.
5. The golf club of claim 4 , wherein the woven composite layer comprises the woven colored fibers and woven metallic fibers.
6. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the first outer composite layer comprises a woven composite layer and the colored fibers of the first outer composite layer comprise woven colored fibers, and
wherein the second outer composite layer comprises a woven composite layer and the colored fibers of the second outer composite layer comprise woven colored fibers.
7. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein an outer boundary of the crown terminates where a crown surface transitions to the club face.
8. The golf club of claim 7 , wherein the first layered composite structure defines at least a portion of the outer boundary of the crown.
9. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the colored fibers of the first outer composite layer comprise a core fiber and a colored metallic coating layer coated on the core fiber.
10. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the colored fibers of the second outer composite layer comprise a core fiber and a colored metallic coating layer coated on the core fiber.
11. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the crown comprises a crown insert comprising the first layered composite structure.
12. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the club face comprises a face insert comprising the second layered composite structure.
13. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the sole comprises a third layered composite structure comprising:
a third inner composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies, and
a third outer composite layer disposed over the third inner composite layer and comprising colored fibers embedded in a matrix material, the colored fibers of the third outer composite layer comprising color coated fibers or color dyed fibers.
14. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the second outer composite layer comprises a fiber areal weight in a range of 50 grams per meter squared to 650 grams per meter squared.
15. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the colored fibers of the second outer composite layer comprise at least one of: carbon fibers, fiberglass fibers, or polymer fibers.
16. The golf club of claim 1 , further comprising a hosel portion comprising a sleeve that is configured to attach to a golf club shaft, wherein the sleeve is configured to be positioned to adjust the loft, lie, or face angle of the golf club head.
17. A golf club, comprising:
a golf club head comprising:
a crown, the crown comprising a first layered composite structure comprising:
a first inner composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies, and
a first outer composite layer disposed over the first inner composite layer and comprising fibers embedded in a matrix material;
a sole; and
a club face, the club face comprising a second layered composite structure comprising:
a second inner composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies, and
a second outer composite layer disposed over the second inner composite layer and comprising colored fibers embedded in a matrix material, the colored fibers of the second outer composite layer comprising color coated fibers or color dyed fibers,
wherein the second outer composite layer comprises a fiber areal weight in a range of 50 grams per meter squared to 650 grams per meter squared.
18. A golf club, comprising:
a golf club head comprising:
a crown, the crown comprising a first layered composite structure comprising:
a first inner composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies, and
a first outer composite layer disposed over the first inner composite layer and comprising colored fibers embedded in a matrix material, the colored fibers of the first outer composite layer comprising color coated fibers or color dyed fibers;
a sole; and
a club face, the club face comprising a second layered composite structure comprising:
a second inner composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies, and
a second outer composite layer disposed over the second inner composite layer and comprising fibers embedded in a matrix material,
wherein an outer boundary of the crown terminates where a crown surface transitions to the club face, and
wherein the first layered composite structure defines at least a portion of the outer boundary of the crown.
19. A golf club, comprising:
a golf club head comprising:
a crown, the crown comprising a first layered composite structure comprising:
a first inner composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies, and
a first outer composite layer disposed over the first inner composite layer and comprising colored fibers embedded in a matrix material, the colored fibers of the first outer composite layer comprising color coated fibers or color dyed fibers;
a sole; and
a club face, the club face comprising a second layered composite structure comprising:
a second inner composite layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional fiber composite plies, and
a second outer composite layer disposed over the second inner composite layer and comprising colored fibers embedded in a matrix material, the colored fibers of the second outer composite layer comprising color coated fibers or color dyed fibers,
wherein an outer boundary of the crown terminates where a crown surface transitions to the club face, and
wherein the first layered composite structure defines at least a portion of the outer boundary of the crown.
20. The golf club of claim 19 , wherein the second outer composite layer comprises a fiber areal weight in a range of 50 grams per meter squared to 650 grams per meter squared.