Nanocrystalline plated putter hosel

Abstract

A hosel for a golf club composed of a low-mass material coated with a nano-metal is disclosed herein. Also disclosed herein is a golf club having a hosel composed of a low-mass material coated with a nano-metal. The nano-metal is preferably composed of a nickel-alloy material. The low-mass material is preferably a nylon material.

1 . A hosel for a putter, the hosel comprising:
 a base layer composed of a first material; and   an external layer disposed on the base layer, the external layer composed of a nano-metal material.   
   
   
       2 . The hosel according to  claim 1  wherein the base layer is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon 6, nylon 66, thermoplastic polyurethane, polycarbonate, plies of pre-preg, and glass-fiber reinforced polymers. 
   
   
       3 . The hosel according to  claim 1  wherein the hosel has a density ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter. 
   
   
       4 . The hosel according to  claim 1  wherein the nano-metal is an iron-nickel nano-metal. 
   
   
       5 . The hosel according to  claim 1  wherein the nano-metal is a nickel nanoparticle nano-metal. 
   
   
       6 . The hosel according to  claim 1  wherein the nano-metal is a titanium nano-metal. 
   
   
       7 . The hosel according to  claim 1  wherein the nano-metal is a nanocrystalline nickel nano-metal. 
   
   
       8 . The hosel according to claim wherein the hosel has a density less than 3 g/cc. 
   
   
       9 . The hosel according to  claim 1  wherein the nano-metal is a nanocrystalline steel. 
   
   
       10 . A golf club comprising:
 a golf club head;   a shaft; and   a hosel comprising
 a base layer composed of a first material, and 
 an external layer disposed on the base layer, the external layer composed of a nano-metal material. 
   
   
   
       11 . The golf club according to  claim 10  wherein the base layer is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon 6, nylon 66, thermoplastic polyurethane, polycarbonate, plies of pre-preg, and glass-fiber reinforced polymers. 
   
   
       12 . The golf club according to  claim 10  wherein the hosel has a density ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter. 
   
   
       13 . The golf club according to  claim 10  wherein the hosel has a density less than 3.0 g/cc and the golf club head has a density greater than 4.0 g/cc. 
   
   
       14 . The golf club according to  claim 10  wherein the nano-metal is a nanocrystalline steel. 
   
   
       15 . The golf club according to  claim 10  wherein the hosel comprises a bore for receiving the shaft, the bore of the hosel having an internal surface with a layer of a nano-metal material. 
   
   
       16 . A golf club comprising:
 a golf club head;   a shaft; and   a hosel comprising
 a base layer composed of a first material, and 
 an external layer disposed on the base layer, the external layer composed of a nanocrystalline plating deposited on the base layer, the nanocrystalline plating comprising a nickel or nickel-based alloy material. 
   
   
   
       17 . The golf club head according to  claim 16  wherein the nanocrystalline plating has a thickness ranging from 20 microns to 2000 microns. 
   
   
       18 . The golf club head according to  claim 16  wherein the nanocrystalline plating is composed of a nickel-iron-molybdenum alloy. 
   
   
       19 . The golf club head according to  claim 16  wherein the nanocrystalline plating is composed of a nickel-iron-chromium alloy.