Laser surface modified golf club heads

Abstract

Lasers are useful for many types of materials processing, including annealing, texturing, hardening, patterning, cutting, welding, and joining. A method is provided for modifying the surface finish and structure of any material, with said materials being used in the construction of golf clubs. The surface modified materials have properties that lead to increased performance of the golf clubs. A secondary benefit is an improved material structure leading to a better feel for the golfer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf club head comprising: 
 a face member comprising a face plate for striking a golf ball having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the face plate extending from a heel section of the golf club head to a toe section of the golf club head, a face extension extending laterally inward from a perimeter of the face plate, and an interior tubing for receiving a shaft, the interior tubing engaging an upper portion of the face extension and a lower portion of the face extension;    a crown secured to the upper portion of the face extension at a distance ranging from 0.1 inch to 1.2 inch from the perimeter of the face plate; and    a sole plate secured to the lower portion of the face extension at a distance ranging from 0.1 inch to 1.2 inch from the perimeter of the face plate;    
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said face plate is composed of a non heat-treatable metal material, wherein the face plate has been treated with laser radiation with power varying between 1 Watt to 5000 Watts, wherein the heat from the laser has reduced the hardness of the face plate from 5% to 95% of the original surface hardness, and the depth of the reduced hardness material ranges from 0.0001 inch to 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said face plate is composed of a heat-treatable metal material, wherein the face plate has been treated with laser radiation with power varying between 1 Watt to 5000 Watts, and the heat from the laser has increased the hardness of the face plate from 105% to 1000% of the original surface hardness, and the depth of the increased hardness material ranges from 0.0001 inch to 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said face plate is composed of a ceramic material, polymeric material, or metallic material, wherein said face plate has been treated with laser radiation with power varying between 1 Watt to 5000 Watts, wherein the heat from the laser has formed a plurality of features, having projection distances by which the features are projected outwardly of the nominal surface plane, and collectively adapted to impact the surface of the golf ball, wherein said features are rounded and substantially free of sharp edges, wherein the distance of projection of said features ranges from 0.0001 inch to 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         5 . A golf club head comprising: 
 a solid body comprising: 
 a striking face defined by a substantially flat first plane and including a golf ball-striking surface with a center portion, said face having an opposing rear surface;  
 a heel having an upwardly extending hosel for receiving one end of an elongated shaft;  
 a toe opposite and taller in height than the heel, the face being interposed the toe and the heel;  
 a sole interposed the heel and the toe and disposed below the face;  
 a top-line interposed the heel and the toe and superposed the sole and the face;  
 a back defined by a second plane which is inclined relative to the first plane defining the face, the back being opposite the face and having a single open cavity extending toward the face and covering a majority of the back, the cavity having a first larger portion adjacent the toe and a second smaller portion adjacent the heel;  
 a peripheral belt surrounding the cavity of the back and including a toe perimeter portion, a heel perimeter portion, a sole perimeter portion, a top-line perimeter portion and junction perimeter portions interposed adjacent ones of the toe, heel, sole and top-line perimeter portions, wherein a majority of the weight of the club head is disposed within the peripheral belt; and  
   a single bridge member superposed a portion of the cavity, spaced away from said rear surface of said face, the bridge member comprising a first end and a second end attached to the belt in combinations, respectively, selected from a group consisting of the top-line perimeter portion and the toe perimeter portion, the top-line perimeter portion and the heel perimeter portion, the top-line perimeter portion and a junction perimeter portion, the sole perimeter portion and the heel perimeter portion, the sole perimeter portion and a junction perimeter portion, the heel perimeter portion and a junction perimeter portion, the toe perimeter portion and a junction perimeter portion, and a first junction perimeter portion and a second junction perimeter portion so as to place the center of mass of the bridge member in a predetermined location different from the location of the center of mass of the club head absent the bridge member; 
 whereby the trajectory of a ball struck by the center of the golf ball-striking surface of the face is influenced by the location of the center of mass of the bridge member relative to the center of mass of the club head absent the bridge member.  
   
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein said striking face is composed of a non heat-treatable metal alloy, wherein said striking face has been treated with laser radiation with power varying between 1 Watt to 5000 Watts, wherein the heat from the laser has reduced the hardness of the striking face from 5% to 95% of the original surface hardness, and the depth of the reduced hardness material ranges from 0.0001 inch to 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein said striking face is composed of a heat-treatable metal alloy, wherein said striking face has been treated with laser radiation with power varying between 1 Watt to 5000 Watts, wherein the heat from the laser has increased the hardness of the striking face ranging from 105% to 1000% of the original surface hardness, and the depth of the increased hardness material ranges from 0.0001 inch to 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein said striking face is composed of a polymeric material, ceramic material, or metallic material, wherein said striking face has been treated with laser radiation with power varying between 1 Watt to 5000 Watts, wherein the heat from the laser has formed a plurality of features, having projection distances by which the features are projected outwardly of the nominal surface plane, and collectively adapted to impact the surface of the golf ball, wherein said features are rounded and substantially free of sharp edges, wherein the distance of projection of said features ranges from 0.0001 inch to 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         9 . A golf club head having a toe and an opposite heel, a sole portion and an opposite top portion, a forwardly facing exposed strike face and an opposite rearwardly facing exposed back face portion, comprising: 
 a recess defined in the strike face;    an insert located in the recess, forming a first portion of the strike face, and the insert further including a back face; and    an insert material extending continuously from the strike face to the back face portion, the insert material forming a second portion of the strike face.    
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the insert has been treated with laser radiation with power varying between 1 Watt to 5000 Watts, and the heat from the laser has increased the hardness of the face plate ranging from 105% to 1000% of the original surface hardness, and the depth of the increased hardness material ranges from 0.0001 inch to 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the insert material has been treated with laser radiation with power varying between 1 Watt to 5000 Watts, and the heat from the laser has reduced the hardness of the insert from 5% to 95% of the original surface hardness, and the depth of the reduced hardness material ranges from 0.0001 inch to 0.1 inch.  
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the insert material has been treated with laser radiation with power varying between 1 Watt to 5000 Watts, wherein the heat from the laser has formed a plurality of features, having projection distances by which the features are projected outwardly of the nominal surface plane, and collectively adapted to impact the surface of the golf ball, wherein said features are rounded and substantially free of sharp edges, wherein the distance of projection of said features ranges from 0.0001 inch to 0.1 inch.