Apparatus and method for affixing veneer to the crown of a golf club

Abstract

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for affixing a veneer to the crown of a golf club head so as to give the golf club head the appearance of being a classic wood club head when viewed from the ball address position, but having the advantages of technically advanced materials. A veneer inlay is adhered to the recession in the crown of a Wood whereby the recession is filled by the veneer inlay, or a veneer is adhered to the crown of a golf club head.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf club head comprising: 
 a top surface;    a face;    a bottom surface;    a side wall;    the top surface, the face, the bottom surface and side wall defining an interior cavity;    a pre-cut veneer inlay;    a recession in the top surface, defined by a peripheral upstanding edge, the veneer inlay inlaid in the recession and adhered to the top surface, and as adhered, the veneer inlay filling the recession, the veneer inlay bordered by the upstanding edge, the adhered veneer inlay having a thickness substantially the same as or less than the depth of the recession in the top surface.    
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the veneer inlay is a wood veneer.  
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an adhesive layer between the top surface and the veneer; and  
 a protective finish on the top surface of the veneer.  
 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 2  wherein the protective finish encroaches at least partially on the peripheral upstanding edge.  
     
     
         5 . A method of affixing a veneer to the compound curved top surface of a golf club head comprising: 
 providing a veneer having a surface area at least equal to or larger than the surface area of the top surface of the golf club;    treating the veneer to make the veneer pliable;    adhering the veneer to the top surface of the golf club;    trimming the excess veneer such that the edge of the veneer is substantially flush with or inside a periphery defined by the edge of the top surface of the golf club head.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising applying a protective border around the edge of the trimmed veneer and edge of any exposed top surface of the golf club to prevent chipping, dilapidation and to help protect the top surface of the veneer.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising abrading the top surface of the golf club to enhance adhesion of the veneer to the top surface.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the steps of hydrating the top surface of the veneer to make it pliable so the veneer can be formed over the compound curve of the top surface of the golf club without splitting, bubbling, or cracking.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein adhering the veneer to the top surface further comprises: 
 applying adhesive to both the top surface of the golf club and the under surface of the veneer;    placing the veneer on the top surface of the golf club;    applying pressure to the top surface of the veneer to ensure complete adhesion of the veneer to the top surface of the golf club and to eliminate bubbles in the veneer.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein adhering the veneer to the top surface further comprises: 
 applying adhesive to either the top surface of the golf club or to the under surface of the veneer;    placing the veneer on the top surface of the golf club;    smoothing the veneer over the compound curved top surface of the golf club head;    applying pressure to the veneer until the adhesive has cured to the point where the veneer will not raise, delaminate or bubble.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 sanding the top surface of the veneer; and  
 applying a protective finish to the top surface of the veneer.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method of affixing a veneer to the compound curved surface of a golf club comprising: 
 cutting a veneer such that the pre-cut veneer has surface area the same as or less than the surface area of the compound curved top surface of the golf club head;    shaping the veneer to substantially conform to the compound curved shape of the top surface of the golf club; and    adhering the shaped veneer to the top surface of the golf club head such that the edge of said veneer is substantially flush with or inside the periphery defined by the edge of the top surface of the golf club.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein shaping the veneer further comprises: 
 treating the veneer to make it pliable    pressing the veneer into a mold having substantially the same as the shape as the top surface of the golf club; and    maintaining pressure on the veneer until the veneer has lost its pliability and retains the substantially same shape as the top surface of the golf club.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising applying a protective border around the edge of the adhered veneer to prevent chipping, dilapidation and to help protect the top surface of the veneer.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising abrading the top surface of the golf club to enhance adhesion of the veneer to the top surface.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein adhering the veneer to the top surface of the golf club head further comprises: 
 applying adhesive to either the top surface of the golf club head or to the under surface of the shaped veneer;    placing the shaped veneer on the top surface of the golf club head; and    applying pressure to the top surface of the shaped veneer until the adhesive has cured to the point where the shaped veneer will not raise or delaminate from the top surface of the golf club.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein adhering the veneer to the top surface further comprises: 
 applying adhesive to both the top surface of the golf club and the under surface of the shaped veneer;    placing the shaped veneer on the top surface of the golf club; and    applying pressure to the top surface of the shaped veneer to ensure complete adhesion of the veneer to the top surface of the golf club such that the shaped veneer will be free of bubbles and not raise or delaminate from the top surface of the golf club.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 sanding the top surface of the veneer; and  
 applying a protective finish to the top surface of the veneer.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method of affixing a veneer to the compound curved surface of a golf club comprising: 
 cutting a veneer such that the veneer has surface area the same as or less than the surface area of the compound curved top surface of the golf club head;    treating the veneer to make it pliable; and    adhering the veneer to the top surface of the golf club head such that the edge of the veneer is flush with or inside the periphery defined by the edge of the top surface of the golf club head.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of applying a protective border around the edge of the adhered veneer to prevent chipping, cracking, dilapidation and to help protect the top surface of the veneer.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising abrading the top surface of the golf club to enhance adhesion of the veneer to the top surface.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein adhering the veneer to the top surface further comprises: 
 applying adhesive to both the top surface of the golf club and the under surface of the veneer;    placing the veneer on the top surface of the golf club;    applying pressure to the surface of the veneer to ensure complete adhesion of the veneer to the top surface of the golf club.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein adhering the veneer to the top surface further comprises: 
 applying adhesive to either the top surface of the golf club head or to the under surface of the veneer;    placing the veneer on the top surface of the golf club head;    smoothing the veneer over the compound curved top surface of the golf club head;    applying pressure to the veneer until the adhesive has cured to the point where the veneer will not raise, delaminate or bubble.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  where in treating the pre-cut veneer further comprises hydrating the top surface of the veneer to make it pliable so the veneer can be formed over the compound curve of the top surface of the golf club without splitting, bubbling, or cracking.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 sanding the top surface of the veneer; and  
 applying a protective finish to the top surface of the veneer.