Golf club

Abstract

Aspects of the invention are directed to golf club having a crown a sole and a face and a primary alignment feature including a paint or masking line which delineates the transition between at least a first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the face. In some embodiments the golf club has a primary alignment feature comprising a paint or masking line which delineates the transition between at least a first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color and the area of shade or color of the face and the club head also includes a secondary alignment feature including a paint or masking line which delineates the transition between the first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the face; and a second portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the first portion.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a golf club body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the golf club body including a heel and a toe portion and having an x, y and z axes which are orthogonal to each other having their origin at USGA center face,   wherein the golf club head has a primary alignment feature comprising a paint or masking line delineating a transition between at least a first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with a shade or color of the face,   wherein the golf club head has a secondary alignment feature comprising a paint or masking line delineating at least one elongate side of the secondary alignment feature.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein an arrangement of the secondary alignment feature is configured to alter a perceived face angle of the golf club head with respect to the x-axis tangent to the angle of the face. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary alignment feature further comprises:
 two or more paint or masking lines delineating at least two additional sides perpendicular to the at least one elongate side; and   one or more paint or masking lines delineating at least one additional elongate side parallel to the at least one elongate side, wherein the at least two additional sides connect the at least one elongate side to the at least one additional elongate side.   
     
     
         4 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary alignment feature further comprises:
 two or more paint or masking lines delineating at least two additional sides perpendicular to the at least one elongate side; and   one or more paint or masking lines delineating at least one additional elongate side oriented at an angle with respect to the at least one elongate side, wherein the at least two additional sides connect the at least one elongate side to the at least one additional elongate side.   
     
     
         5 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary alignment feature further comprises a rear portion extending rearwardly from the at least one elongate side. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary alignment feature further comprises second and third elongate sides extending rearward from and at an angle with respect to the at least one elongate side. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein a reference line extending orthogonally from and bisecting the at least one elongate side intersects the x-axis tangent to the angle of the face at an intersection point that is heelward of a center of the face. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein a reference line extending orthogonally from and bisecting the at least one elongate side intersects the x-axis tangent to the angle of the face at an intersection point that is toeward of a center of the face. 
     
     
         9 . A golf club head comprising:
 a golf club body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the golf club body including a heel and a toe portion and having an x, y and z axes which are orthogonal to each other having their origin at USGA center face,   wherein the golf club head has at least one adjustable alignment feature arranged to alter a perceived face angle of the golf club head with respect to the x-axis tangent to an angle of the face.   
     
     
         10 . The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one adjustable alignment feature comprises a rotatable or otherwise movable portion of the crown. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club of  claim 10 , wherein the rotatable or otherwise movable portion has an edge of contrasting paint or shading of the crown relative to a color or shading of the face. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein the rotatable or otherwise movable portion has an edge of contrasting paint or shading of the crown relative to a color or shading of a second portion of the crown. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein the rotatable or otherwise movable portion is secured with a screw, bolt or fastener to fix the portion to the crown. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one adjustable alignment feature comprises an electronic display, wherein the electronic display comprises an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display for providing active color, and wherein the OLED display is divided into independently operating electronic display zones. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one adjustable alignment feature comprises a portion of the crown covered by a dielectric coating system. 
     
     
         16 . A golf club head comprising:
 a golf club body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the golf club body including a heel and a toe portion and having an x, y and z axes which are orthogonal to each other having their origin at USGA center face,   wherein the golf club head has an alignment feature arranged to alter a perceived face angle with respect to an intended target line,   wherein the perceived face angle is arranged to appear in an open misalignment with respect to the intended target line when an actual face angle is neutral or closed with respect to the intended target line.   
     
     
         17 . The golf club of  claim 16 , wherein the alignment feature comprises a paint or masking line delineating a transition between a first portion of the crown and a second portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with the shade or color of the first portion of the crown. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club of  claim 17 , wherein the paint or masking line comprises:
 a first elongate side; and   second and third elongate sides extending rearward from and at an angle with respect to the at least one elongate side.   
     
     
         19 . The golf club of  claim 18 , wherein the alignment feature comprises a paint or masking line delineating a transition between at least a first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with a shade or color of the face,
 wherein the paint or masking line is more rounded proximate to the toe and less rounded proximate to the heel.   
     
     
         20 . The golf club of  claim 16 , wherein the alignment feature comprises a paint or masking line delineating a transition between at least a first portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with a shade or color of the face,
 wherein the paint or masking line is aligned at an angle with respect to the x-axis tangent to an angle of the face different from the actual alignment of the face.