Golf club head with abrasion resistant striking face

Abstract

A golf club head having a striking face having improved abrasion resistance by applying abrasion resistant material to the striking face. Applying abrasion resistant material to the striking face can include the use of electroplating a metal onto the striking face, such as chromium. The striking face can be co-molded with a conductive veil to improve the electroplating process. A physical vapor deposition layer can be further applied to the striking face. Alternatively, a veil can be applied directly to the striking face without electroplating. The veil can be made from compounds such as carbon, aramid, polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polypropylene, and metals, such as copper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a) a body having a back portion; a topline located at an upper portion of the golf club head; a heel portion located at a proximal end of the golf club head; a hosel adjacent to the heel portion and the topline, the hosel defining a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a shaft; a toe portion located at a distal end of the golf club head opposite the heel portion; a sole located at a lower portion of the golf club head opposite the topline;   b) a striking face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head opposite the back, the striking face having a plurality of scorelines, wherein the striking face is a composite face insert; and   c) an electroplated layer on the composite face insert.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the electroplated layer comprises chromium. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , further comprising a veil co-molded with the striking face. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein the veil has a thickness ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 0.40 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein the veil has an areal weight from about 4 grams per square meter to about 34 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein the veil is selected from the group consisting of a carbon veil and a glass veil. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , further comprising a physical vapor deposition layer on the striking face. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the electroplating layer further covers at least the sole. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein the physical vapor deposition layer further covers at least the sole. 
     
     
         10 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a) a body having a back portion; a topline located at an upper portion of the golf club head; a heel portion located at a proximal end of the golf club head; a hosel adjacent to the heel portion and the topline, the hosel defining a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a shaft; a toe portion located at a distal end of the golf club head opposite the heel portion; a sole located at a lower portion of the golf club head opposite the topline;   b) a striking face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head opposite the back, the striking face having a plurality of scorelines, wherein the striking face comprises a carbon fiber composite; and   c) a veil applied to the striking face.   
     
     
         11 . The golf club of  claim 10 , wherein the veil comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of aramid, polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, and metal. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the striking face is treated with carbon nanotubes, polyetherimide, and polyphenylene sulfide. 
     
     
         13 . A golf club head comprising:
 a) a body having a back portion; a topline located at an upper portion of the golf club head; a heel portion located at a proximal end of the golf club head; a hosel adjacent to the heel portion and the topline, the hosel defining a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a shaft; a toe portion located at a distal end of the golf club head opposite the heel portion; a sole located at a lower portion of the golf club head opposite the topline;   b) a striking face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head opposite the back, the striking face having a plurality of scorelines, wherein the striking face is a composite face insert; and   c) an veil on the composite face insert, wherein the veil layer exhibits a Thickness to Abrasion Count Ratio of less than about 0.4.   
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the veil exhibits the Thickness to Abrasion Count Ratio of less than about 0.1. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the veil exhibits the Thickness to Abrasion Count Ratio of less than about 0.025. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the veil has a thickness of between about 0.05 mm to about 0.40 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein the veil has a thickness of between about 0.12 mm to about 0.20 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein the veil comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of aramid, polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, and metal. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club of  claim 17 , wherein the striking face is treated with carbon nanotubes, polyetherimide, and polyphenylene sulfide.