Golf clubs prepared with basalt fiber

Abstract

Golf club products include a shaft member and a club head body member engaged with the shaft member. At least some portion of this club head product is made from a basalt material. As some more specific examples, the basalt material may be used in one or more of: one or more layers of the shaft member structure; the entire shaft structure; a grip member; a hosel member; one or more parts of the club head body member, including any of: a crown member, a sole plate or member, a body member, a ribbon member (forming a portion of the body member), a face member, a ball striking face member, a weight member, etc.

1 . A golf club comprising a shaft member and a head member wherein at least one of the shaft member and the head member comprises a basalt material.  
   
   
       2 . A golf club of  claim 1  wherein the basalt material comprises at least basalt fiber.  
   
   
       3 . A golf club of  claim 1  wherein the basalt material comprises at least one of a grid, mesh, woven member, braided member, or lattice network member.  
   
   
       4 . A golf club of  claim 1  wherein the basalt material is present in a resin matrix.  
   
   
       5 . A golf club of  claim 4  wherein the resin includes a thermosetting resin.  
   
   
       6 . A golf club of  claim 5  wherein the thermosetting resin is at least one selected from epoxy resin, phenol resin, polyurethane resin, polyester resin, and vinyl ester resin.  
   
   
       7 . A golf club of  claim 4  wherein the resin includes a thermoplastic resin.  
   
   
       8 . A golf club of  claim 7  wherein the thermoplastic resin is at least one selected from polypropylene resin, polyether ether ketone resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, and nylon resin.  
   
   
       9 . A golf club of  claim 4  wherein the ratio by volume of resin to basalt is 1:1 or less.  
   
   
       10 . A golf club shaft comprising an elongate tube member wherein the elongate tube member comprises a basalt material.  
   
   
       11 . A golf club shaft of  claim 10  wherein the elongate tube member comprises a core and a first layer surrounding at least a portion of the core, wherein at least one of the core and the first layer comprises the basalt material.  
   
   
       12 . A golf club shaft of  claim 11  wherein the first layer comprises the basalt material.  
   
   
       13 . A golf club shaft of  claim 10  wherein the elongate tube member comprises a core, a first layer surrounding at least a portion of the core, and a second layer surrounding at least a portion of the core, the first layer, or both, wherein at least one of the core, the first layer, and the second layer comprises the basalt material.  
   
   
       14 . A golf club head comprising a club head body member, the club head body member comprising a basalt material.  
   
   
       15 . A golf club head according to  claim 14  wherein the basalt material forms a major portion of the club head body member.  
   
   
       16 . A golf club head according to  claim 14  wherein the club head body member forms a putter head structure.  
   
   
       17 . A golf club head according to  claim 14  wherein the club head body member forms an iron golf club head structure.  
   
   
       18 . A golf club head according to  claim 14  wherein the club head body member forms a wood golf club head structure.  
   
   
       19 . A golf club head according to  claim 14  further comprising a ball striking face engaged with the club head body member.  
   
   
       20 . A golf club head according to  claim 19  wherein the ball striking face is integrally formed with the basalt material of the club head body member.  
   
   
       21 . A golf club head according to  claim 14  wherein the club head body member includes at least a first body member including the basalt material and a second body member engaged with the first body member.  
   
   
       22 . A golf club, comprising: 
 a club head body member constructed, at least in part, from a basalt material; and    a shaft member engaged with the club head body member.    
   
   
       23 . A golf club according to  claim 22  further comprising a ball striking face integrally formed with the club head body member.  
   
   
       24 . A golf club according to  claim 22  further comprising: 
 a grip member engaged with the shaft member.    
   
   
       25 . A golf club according to  claim 22  wherein the basalt material forms a major portion of the club head body member.  
   
   
       26 . A golf club according to  claim 22  wherein the club head body member forms a putter head structure.  
   
   
       27 . A golf club according to  claim 22  wherein the club head body member forms an iron golf club structure.  
   
   
       28 . A golf club according to  claim 22  wherein the club head body member forms a wood golf club head structure.  
   
   
       29 . A golf club according to  claim 22  further comprising: 
 a ball striking face including a metal face member engaged with the club head body member.    
   
   
       30 . A golf club according to  claim 22  wherein the club head body member includes at least a first body member including the basalt material and a second body member engaged with the first body member.  
   
   
       31 . A method of forming a golf club head, comprising: forming a club head body member, at least in part, from a basalt material; and providing a ball striking face on the club head body member.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the club head body member is formed as a putter head structure.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the club head body member is formed as an iron golf club head structure.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the club head body member is formed such that a major portion of the club head body member is constructed from the basalt material.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the club head body member is formed as a wood golf club head structure.  
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the ball striking face is provided as a metal face member engaged with the club head body member.  
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the ball striking face is integrally formed with the club head body member.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the club head body member is formed to include at least a first body member including the basalt material and a second body member engaged with the first body member.  
   
   
       39 . A method of forming a golf club, comprising: forming a club head body member, at least in part, from a basalt material; and engaging a shaft member with the club head body member.  
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein the club head body member is formed to include a ball striking face integrally formed with the club head body member.  
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein the club head body member is formed as a putter head structure.  
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein the club head body member is formed as an iron golf club structure.  
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein the club head body member is formed as a wood golf club head structure.  
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 39  further comprising: 
 engaging a ball striking face with the club head body member.    
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein the club head body member is formed so as to include at least a first body member including the basalt material and a second body member engaged with the first body member.  
   
   
       46 . A method of forming a golf club, comprising: 
 forming a shaft member, at least in part, from a basalt material; and    engaging a club head body member with the shaft member.    
   
   
       47 . A method according to  claim 46  wherein the shaft comprises an elongate tube formed from at least two layers, at least one layer comprising the basalt material.  
   
   
       48 . A method according to  claim 46  wherein the shaft is formed from a hollow tube.  
   
   
       49 . A method according to  claim 46  wherein the shaft is formed from a solid tube.