Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having Color Component

Abstract

A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel thereof. At least one component of the head includes a coloring that creates a different visual impression. Such a coloring may be integrally formed as part of the outer surface of component. The head may include a face that is at least partially colored as described herein.

1 . A head for a ball striking device comprising:
 a face having an outer periphery, a striking surface configured for striking a ball, and a rear surface opposite the striking surface, wherein at least a majority of the face is formed of a first material;   a body connected to at least a portion of the outer periphery of the face and extending rearwardly from the face, wherein the head has an outer surface including an exterior surface of the body and the striking surface of the face; and   a second material integrally connected to the outer surface and covering at least a portion of the outer surface, wherein the second material forms a coloring on the outer surface, such that the coloring has a different visual appearance from the first material.   
     
     
         2 . The head of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a metallic material and the second material is an anodized oxide layer, and wherein the coloring is formed by a dye applied to the anodized oxide layer. 
     
     
         3 . The head of  claim 1 , wherein the second material is integrally connected by at least one technique selected from a group consisting of: anodizing, welding, thin film deposition techniques, and surface composition modification. 
     
     
         4 . The head of  claim 1 , wherein the coloring has a different visual appearance than the first material in an un-colored state. 
     
     
         5 . The head of  claim 1 , wherein the second material is at least partially coated with a third material having at least one of a greater durability than the second material and a different surface texture than the second material. 
     
     
         6 . The head of  claim 5 , wherein the third material is a polymer based material and is at least partially transparent. 
     
     
         7 . A golf club comprising the head of  claim 1  and a shaft engaged with the head. 
     
     
         8 . A head for a ball striking device comprising:
 a face having an outer periphery, a striking surface configured for striking a ball, and a rear surface opposite the striking surface;   a body connected to at least a portion of the outer periphery of the face and extending rearwardly from the face;   a coloring material applied to at least a portion of the striking surface and covering at least a portion of the striking surface, wherein the coloring material applies a coloring to the striking surface, such that the coloring has a different visual appearance from the first material; and   a coating material applied to at least a portion of the coloring material and covering the at least a portion of the coloring material, wherein the coating material is a polymer based material and is at least partially transparent so that the coloring can be viewed through the coating material, and wherein the coating material has at least one of a greater durability and a different surface texture than the coloring material.   
     
     
         9 . The head of  claim 8 , wherein the coloring material is selected from a group consisting of: paints, inks, dyes, anodized oxide coatings, color-polarizing layers, and colored polymer films. 
     
     
         10 . The head of  claim 8 , wherein the coating material further comprises a particulate material embedded in the polymer based material. 
     
     
         11 . A golf club comprising the head of  claim 8  and a shaft engaged with the head. 
     
     
         12 . A head for a ball striking device comprising:
 a face having an outer periphery, a striking surface configured for striking a ball, and a rear surface opposite the striking surface;   a body connected to at least a portion of the outer periphery of the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having an exterior surface;   a coloring material applied to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body and covering at least a portion of the exterior surface, wherein the coloring material comprises a cast vinyl film material having a coloring applied thereto, and wherein the coloring material forms the coloring on the exterior surface, such that the coloring has a different visual appearance from the exterior surface; and   a coating material applied to at least a portion of the coloring material and covering the at least a portion of the coloring material, wherein the coating material is a polymer based material and is at least partially transparent so that the coloring can be viewed through the coating material, and wherein the coating material has at least one of a greater durability and a different surface texture than the cast vinyl film material.   
     
     
         13 . The head of  claim 12 , wherein the cast vinyl film material is adhesively connected to the exterior surface of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The head of  claim 12 , wherein the coloring material has a graphic design at least partially forming the different visual appearance from the exterior surface. 
     
     
         15 . A golf club comprising the head of  claim 12  and a shaft engaged with the head. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing a head for a ball striking device comprising a face having an outer periphery, a striking surface configured for striking a ball, and a rear surface opposite the striking surface, wherein at least a majority of the face is formed of a first material, and a body connected to at least a portion of the outer periphery of the face and extending rearwardly from the face, wherein the head has an outer surface including an exterior surface of the body and the striking surface of the face; and   connecting a second material to the outer surface and covering at least a portion of the outer surface, wherein the second material forms a coloring on the outer surface, such that the coloring has a different visual appearance from the first material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second material is integrally connected to the outer surface by at least one technique selected from a group consisting of: anodizing, welding, thin film deposition techniques, and surface composition modification. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second material comprises a cast vinyl film material having the coloring applied thereto, further comprising:
 applying a coating material to at least a portion of the second material and covering the at least a portion of the second material, wherein the coating material is a polymer based material and is at least partially transparent so that the coloring can be viewed through the coating material, and wherein the coating material has at least one of a greater durability and a different surface texture than the cast vinyl film material.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 applying a coating material to at least a portion of the second material and covering the at least a portion of the second material, wherein the coating material is a polymer based material and is at least partially transparent so that the coloring can be viewed through the coating material, and wherein the coating material has at least one of a greater durability and a different surface texture than the cast vinyl film material.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second material comprises a cast vinyl film material having the coloring applied thereto, wherein the cast vinyl film material is adhesively connected to the outer surface.