Golf club heads with protective layer and methods of manufacturing the golf club heads

Abstract

Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture such a golf club heads are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the golf club head may include a ball-striking face and a protective aluminum oxide layer coupled to the ball-striking face of the golf club head. The protective aluminum oxide layer is associated with a hardness that is greater than that of the ball-striking face. In further embodiments, golf club heads may include a top portion and at least one of a plurality of interchangeable alignment indicia coupled thereto, which are configured to guide the golf club head relative to a golf ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a ball-striking face, wherein the ball-striking face is associated with a first hardness; and   a protective aluminum oxide layer coupled to the ball-striking face,   wherein the protective aluminum oxide layer is associated with a second hardness, and wherein the second hardness is greater than the first hardness.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the protective aluminum oxide layer is associated with a thickness of about 10 microns (μm) to about 2 millimeters (mm) and the second hardness is about 100 or more in Brinell scale. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the golf club head is associated with a moment of inertia about an X axis of the golf club head, the moment of inertia ranging from about 800 kg-cm 2  to about 900 kg-cm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the golf club head is associated with a moment of inertia about a Y axis of the golf club head, the moment of inertia ranging from about 1800 kg-cm 2  to about 2000 kg-cm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the golf club head is associated with a moment of inertia about a Z axis of the golf club head, the moment of inertia ranging from about 1100 kg-cm 2  to about 1200 kg-cm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1  further comprising a top portion and at least one of a plurality of interchangeable alignment indicia coupled to the top portion, wherein the interchangeable alignment indicia are configured to guide the golf club head relative to a golf ball. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1  further comprising a top portion, at least one of a plurality of interchangeable alignment indicia coupled to the top portion, the interchangeable alignment indicia being configured to guide the golf club head relative to a golf ball, and an attachment mechanism configured to receive the interchangeable alignment indicia. 
     
     
         8 . A method of coating a golf club head, comprising:
 providing a golf club head including a ball-striking face, wherein the ball-striking face is associated with a first hardness; and   applying a protective ceramic layer to the ball-striking face, wherein the protective ceramic layer is associated with a second hardness, and wherein the second hardness is greater than the first hardness.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the protective ceramic layer is associated with a thickness of about 10 microns (μm) to about 2 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying the protective ceramic layer to the ball-striking face comprises applying a protective ceramic layer by at least one of anodizing the protective ceramic layer, plating the protective ceramic layer, painting protective ceramic layer, cladding the protective ceramic layer, laser cladding protective ceramic layer, or laser surface alloying the protective ceramic layer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying a protective ceramic layer to the ball-striking face of the golf club head comprises applying a protective ceramic layer by anodizing in an electrolyte, and wherein the electrolyte comprises at least one of a sulfuric acid or a chromic acid. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the protective ceramic layer comprises at least one of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, magnesium oxide, or silicon dioxide. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ball-striking face comprises at least one of an aluminum alloy, a stainless steel, a carbon steel, a titanium alloy, a copper alloy, a nickel alloy, a magnesium alloy, an amorphous alloy, or a composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising preparing the golf club head by chemically etching the ball-striking face. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying a protective ceramic layer to the ball-striking face of the golf club head comprises applying a protective ceramic layer at a temperature of about 0° C. to about 4° C. 
     
     
         16 . A golf club comprising:
 a shaft;   a golf club head coupled to the shaft, the golf club head having a ball-striking face, wherein the ball-striking face is associated with a first hardness; and   a protective aluminum oxide layer coupled to the ball-striking face, wherein the protective aluminum oxide layer is associated with a second hardness, and wherein the second hardness is greater than the first hardness.   
     
     
         17 . The golf club of  claim 16 , wherein the golf club head is associated with a moment of inertia about an X axis of the golf club head, the moment of inertia ranging from about 800 kg-cm 2  to about 900 kg-cm 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The golf club of  claim 16 , wherein the golf club head is associated with a moment of inertia about a Y axis of the golf club head, the moment of inertia ranging from about 1800 kg-cm 2  to about 2000 kg-cm 2 . 
     
     
         19 . The golf club of  claim 16 , wherein the golf club head is associated with a moment of inertia about a Z axis of the golf club head, the moment of inertia ranging from about 1100 kg-cm 2  to about 1200 kg-cm 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The golf club of  claim 16 , wherein the golf club further comprises a top portion, at least one of a plurality of interchangeable alignment indicia coupled to the top portion, the interchangeable alignment indicia being configured to guide the golf club head relative to a golf ball, and an attachment mechanism configured to receive the interchangeable alignment indicia.