IP Library Granted Patent US 8,617,002
Granted Patent B2
US 8,617,002 · App. 12/490,618 · Granted Dec 31, 2013

Wedge type golf club head with improved performance

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,617,002
App. No.
12/490,618
Granted
Dec 31, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wedge type golf club head with improved performance characteristic is disclosed herein where at least a striking surface of the wedge type golf club head is coated with a polymer coating to decrease the coefficient of friction as well as create a hydrophobic surface to remove dirt and debris. More specifically, the present invention discloses a wedge type golf club head with a hydrophobic polymer coating that creates a contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees as well as decreases the coefficient of friction to be less than about 0.1.

Claims (42)

1. A wedge type golf club head comprising:

a forward portion, and

an aft portion,

wherein said forward portion further comprises,

a striking surface for striking a golf ball,

a plurality of grooves placed horizontally across said striking surface, and

a polymer coating covering at least said striking surface,

wherein said polymer coating has a thickness of from about 300 microns to about 700 microns,

wherein said wedge type golf club head has a loft angle of greater than about 45 degrees,

wherein said polymer coating has a hydrophobic coefficient of friction ratio of less than about 0.001, and

wherein said hydrophobic coefficient of friction ratio is defined as a ratio of a coefficient of friction of said polymer coating divided by a contact angle of said polymer coating.

2. The wedge type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said contact angle is greater than about 90 degrees.

3. The wedge type golf club head of claim 2 , wherein said coefficient of friction is less than about 0.1.

4. The wedge type golf club head of claim 3 , wherein said polymer coating only covers said striking surface.

5. The wedge type golf club head of claim 3 , wherein said polymer coating is further comprised of a plurality of microscopic papillae.

6. The wedge type golf club head of claim 3 , wherein said contact angle is greater than about 120 degrees.

7. The wedge type golf club head of 3 , wherein said coefficient of friction is less than about 0.08.

8. The wedge type golf club head of claim 3 , wherein said hydrophobic coefficient of friction ratio decreases with the increase of said loft angle of said wedge type golf club head.

9. The wedge type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said contact angle increases positively with the increase of said loft angle of said wedge type golf club head.

10. The wedge type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said coefficient of friction increases positively with the increase of said loft angle of said wedge type golf club head.

11. A method of creating a wedge type golf club head with improved performance comprising:

coating at least a striking surface of said wedge type golf club head with a polymer coating,

wherein said wedge type golf club head has a loft angle of greater than about 45 degrees,

wherein said polymer coating has a thickness of from about 300 microns to about 700 microns,

wherein said polymer coating has a hydrophobic coefficient of friction ratio of less than about 0.001, and

wherein said hydrophobic coefficient of friction ratio is defined as a ratio of a coefficient of friction of said polymer coating divided by a contact angle of said polymer coating.

12. The method of creating a wedge type golf club head with improved performance of claim 11 , wherein said contact angle is greater than about 90 degrees.

13. The method of creating a wedge type golf club head with improved performance of claim 12 , wherein said coefficient of friction is less than about 0.1.

14. A wedge type golf club head comprising:

a forward portion, and

an aft portion;

wherein said forward portion further comprises,

a striking surface for striking a golf ball,

a plurality of grooves placed horizontally across said striking surface, and

a polymer coating covering at least said striking surface,

wherein said wedge type golf club head has a loft angle of greater than about 45 degrees,

wherein said polymer coating has a thickness of from about 300 microns to about 700 microns,

wherein said polymer coating modifies said striking surface to have a contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees, and

wherein said polymer coating modifies said striking surface to have a coefficient of friction of less than about 0.1.

15. The wedge type golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said contact angle increases positively with the increase of said loft angle of said wedge type golf club head.

16. The wedge type golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said coefficient of friction increases positively with the increase of said loft angle of said wedge type golf club head.

17. The wedge type golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said polymer coating is further comprised of a plurality of microscopic papillae.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061099/0236 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (ASSIGNS 039506-0030) Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS RESIGNING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061521/0414 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (027346/0222) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039939/0181 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039506/0030 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 8, 2011
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 027346/0222 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2009
From: RICK, HELENE
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 022867/0642 →