IP Library Granted Patent US 12,109,460
Granted Patent B2
US 12,109,460 · App. 18/540,738 · Granted Oct 8, 2024

Laser contrasted golf club head and manufacturing process

Inventors: Uday V. Deshmukh (Carlsbad, CA); Charles E. Golden (Encinitas, CA); Alan Hocknell (Carlsbad, CA); Taylor F. Linkenhelt (San Diego, CA); Stephanie Luttrell (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
A63B53/04C23C14/028A63B53/0441A63B2209/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,109,460
App. No.
18/540,738
Granted
Oct 8, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf club head having a laser-generated features to create contrast on the club face of the golf club head. The club face includes a central region, a toe region, and a heel region. The central region includes a first plurality of laser-generated features that provide a height-intersection coverage of the central region, a width-intersection coverage of the central region, and a surface-area coverage of the central region. The laser-generated features increase the surface roughness value of the external surface of the club face by imparting micro-grooves that have an average groove depths of between about 45 μm and about 60 μm.

Claims (51)

1. A golf club head comprising:

a club face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head, the club head further comprising;

an external surface, having an external surface roughness formed by a plurality of micro-grooves of substantially circular shape, and

wherein the external surface further comprises;

a central region occupying a central third of the club face, measured horizontally,

a toe region occupying a region toeward of the central region, and

a heel region occupying a region heelward of the central region

an internal surface, having an internal surface roughness, and

a body portion located rearward of the club face,

wherein when a plurality of imaginary vertical and horizontal sampling lines are defined within an area measuring about 20 mm×20 mm located in the central region and centered with respect to a geometric center of the club face the central region of the external surface has a Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of greater than about 100 μin, and

wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of the central region of the external surface is greater than a surface roughness value of the internal surface.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of the central region of the external surface is greater than about 2 times the surface roughness value of the internal surface.

3. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of the central region of the external surface is greater than about 3 times the surface roughness value of the internal surface.

4. The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of the central region of the external surface is greater than about 4 times the surface roughness value of the internal surface.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 60 μm.

6. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 57 μm.

7. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 55 μm.

8. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value is greater than about 120 μin.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value is greater than about 140 μin.

10. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein both the toe region and the heel region have an average surface roughness value that is different than the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value.

11. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value is greater than the average surface roughness value of both the toe region and the heel region.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a club face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head, the club head further comprising;

an external surface, having an external surface roughness formed by a plurality of micro-grooves of substantially circular shape, and

wherein the external surface further comprises;

a central region occupying a central third of the club face, measured horizontally,

a toe region occupying a region toeward of the central region, and

a heel region occupying a region heelward of the central region

an internal surface, having an internal surface roughness, and

a body portion located rearward of the club face,

wherein when a plurality of imaginary vertical sampling lines are defined within an area measuring about 20 mm×20 mm located in the central region and centered with respect to a geometric center of the club face the central region of the external surface has a Central Region Average Vertical Surface Roughness Value of greater than about 100 μin, and

wherein the Central Region Average Vertical Surface Roughness Value is greater than a surface roughness value of the internal surface

wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 60 μm.

13. The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 57 μm.

14. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 55 μm.

15. The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein both the toe region and the heel region have an average surface roughness value that is different than the Central Region Average Vertical Surface Roughness Value.

16. The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the Central Region Average Vertical Surface Roughness Value is greater than the average surface roughness value of both the toe region and the heel region.

17. The golf club head of claim 16 , where both the toe region and the heel region have an average surface roughness value of less than about 100 μin.

18. The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein said club face further comprises a coating at an external surface of the club face,

wherein the coating exhibits a different coefficient of friction when exposed to water moisture.

19. A golf club head comprising:

a club face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head, the club head further comprising;

an external surface, having an external surface roughness formed by a plurality of micro-grooves of substantially circular shape, and

wherein the external surface further comprises;

a central region occupying a central third of the club face, measured horizontally,

a toe region occupying a region toeward of the central region, and

a heel region occupying a region heelward of the central region

an internal surface, having an internal surface roughness, and

a body portion located rearward of the club face,

wherein when a plurality of imaginary vertical sampling lines are defined within an area measuring about 20 mm×20 mm located in the central region and centered with respect to a geometric center of the club face the central region of the external surface has a Central Region Average Vertical Surface Roughness Value that is greater than a surface roughness value of the internal surface, and

wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 60 μm.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2025
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073689/0464 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2024
From: DESHMUKH, UDAY V.; GOLDEN, CHARLES E.; HOCKNELL, ALAN; LINKENHELT, TAYLOR; LUTTRELL, STEPHANIE
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067730/0793 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 18055204 · Nov 14, 2022
Continuation 17678779 · Feb 23, 2022
Continuation 17525231 · Nov 12, 2021
Continuation 16901876 · Jun 15, 2020
Related Publication 20240115909A1 · Apr 11, 2024
Cited By (3)
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