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  Golf clubs prepared with basalt fiberUSPTO Application #: 20070270237Title: Golf clubs prepared with basalt fiber Abstract: Golf club products include a shaft member and a club head body member engaged with the shaft member. At least some portion of this club head product is made from a basalt material. As some more specific examples, the basalt material may be used in one or more of: one or more layers of the shaft member structure; the entire shaft structure; a grip member; a hosel member; one or more parts of the club head body member, including any of: a crown member, a sole plate or member, a body member, a ribbon member (forming a portion of the body member), a face member, a ball striking face member, a weight member, etc. (end of abstract)
Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, Mark J. Perry USPTO Applicaton #: 20070270237 - Class: 473349000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Club Or Club Support, Head, Particular Material Composition Or Mass Distribution The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070270237. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players--players of different genders and players of dramatically different ages and skill levels. Golf is somewhat unique in the sporting world in that such diverse collections of players can play together in golf events, even in direct competition with one another (e.g., using handicapped scoring, different tee boxes, in team formats, etc.), and still enjoy the golf outing or competition. These factors, together with increased availability of golf programming on television (e.g., golf tournaments, golf news, golf history, and/or other golf programming) and the rise of well known golf superstars, at least in part, have increased golf's popularity in recent years both in the United States and throughout the world. The number of individuals participating in the game and the number of golf courses have increased steadily over recent years. [0002] Golfers at all skill levels seek to improve their performance, lower their golf scores, and reach that next performance "level." Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment have responded to these demands, and recently, the industry has witnessed dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment. For example, a wide range of different golf ball models now are available, with some balls designed to complement specific swing speeds and/or other player characteristics or preferences, e.g., with some balls designed to fly farther and/or straighter, some designed to provide higher or flatter trajectories, some designed to provide more spin, control, and/or feel (particularly around the greens), etc. A host of swing aids and/or teaching aids also are available on the market that promises to help lower one's golf scores. [0003] Being the sole instruments that set golf balls in motion during play, golf clubs also have been the subject of much technological research and advancement in recent years. For example, the market has seen improvements in putter designs, golf club head designs, shafts, and grips in recent years. Additionally, other technological advancements have been made in an effort to better match the various elements and/or characteristics of the golf club and/or characteristics of a golf ball to a particular user's swing features or characteristics (e.g., club fitting technology, ball launch angle measurement technology, ball spin rate characteristics, etc.). [0004] Conventional golf clubs have three basic parts, a grip, a shaft, and a head. As shown by the golf club 100 in FIG. 1, a grip 101 is attached to/around the upper portion of shaft 102. The shaft 102 connects the grip 101 to the head 103. The shaft 102 is held by the golfer and the head 103 is the part that actually strikes the ball. [0005] The golfer holds grip 101 of the golf club 100. With the exception of grips for putters, the grip 101 generally is round and generally without obvious bumps, lumps, or hollows. Grips can be made of any suitable material, generally polymers, rubber or leather, and can contain small holes, grooves, ridges, cord elements, or fabric materials designed to make it easier for the golfer to hold onto the club 100 without making the grip 101 so large that it will violate the Rules of Golf. There are various sizes of grips to accommodate different hand sizes and grip styles. The material and design of the grip are generally a matter of personal preference. [0006] The shaft 102 of the golf club 100 connects between the grip 101 and the head 103 and, like the grip, is basically round in cross section. The shaft 102 may be a straight or generally a tapered tubular member roughly, but not limited to, 1/2 inch in diameter (12 mm) near the grip, and generally between 18 and 48 inches (48-122 cm) (and typically between 35 to 45 inches (89-115 cm) in length. [0007] Most modern golf club shafts typically have been made of steel or fiber-reinforced resin composites utilizing fibers such as fiberglass and carbon or graphite fiber. Carbon fiber composites are lighter than steel, but they tend to be more expensive. Some shafts utilize two or more types of material, such as a graphite composite shaft with a steel tip. [0008] FIG. 2 shows a conventional head 103 of a golf club. The typical head 103 has several parts: the hosel 104, where the head 103 connects to the shaft 102; the face 105, which actually strikes the ball; the sole 106, which is the part closest to the ground; the back (not shown in FIG. 2), which is on the side opposite the face 105, and the top 109. The sides 110 extend between the top 109 and the sole 106 at both the heel side and the toe side of the club head 103. The face 105 may be formed to include a separate face plate, e.g., formed from metal, that is attached to a framework defined by the remainder of the club head. [0009] The head 103 of the golf club is where all the energy of the swing is transferred to the golf ball. There are a variety of different types of golf club heads, including, for example: the heads of woods, irons, wood-type hybrid clubs, iron-type hybrid clubs, and putters. [0010] Woods or drivers have the largest heads of any golf club. Several of these large clubs are designed to propel the ball long distances, e.g., 300 yards or more with a single swing. The large head of a driver or other woods and the materials from which they are made, such as metals (e.g., steel, titanium, aluminum, and bronze), fiberglass reinforced resin composites, or carbon fiber-reinforced resin composites, are balanced to provide stability and light weight. The driver or wood head shape, including wood-type hybrid club heads, allows the weight in the head to move to points that enhance stability. The driver or wood head shape also allows the head to glide over grass and ground rather than digging into the turf. [0011] Irons are designed for a greater variety of shots than woods. Woods or drivers tend to be optimal for long to very long shots, whereas irons are used for shots that range from less than 300 yards down to 40 yards or less. Relatively recent developments with perimeter weighting and cavity back designs have made irons more "forgiving" and easier for the average golfer to hit. [0012] Putters are designed to strike the golf ball with a face that is substantially perpendicular to the intended ball path with a relatively gentle swing that will cause the ball to roll along the ground until it stops or falls into a hole. Putter heads may be found in a wide array of shapes--blocks, blades, short, long, thick, thin, etc., optionally with various patterns of lines found on the faces or even smooth faces. [0013] The "number" or name associated with a club generally is related to the angle at which the face 105 slopes back from vertical when the club is held in its normal position facing the ball. A higher number for the club represents a greater degree of slope away from vertical, generally resulting in a higher, shorter shot as compared with lower numbered clubs. [0014] The slope is important for propelling a golf ball with the desired trajectory through the air and for imparting spin. Typically, the greater the slope, the greater the spin. A rapid spin provides aerodynamic lift, causing a spinning ball to travel higher and farther than one with no spin at all. The spinning ball is also less influenced by small gusts of wind, making for a more predictable shot. Grooves in the face 105 will also help provide spin. [0015] The grooves on the face of a golf head provide a bit of "bite" or friction for the golf ball as it slides up the face, helping it to spin more rapidly. In addition, if grass is trapped between the ball and club at impact, the water in the grass will be squeezed out by the force generated by the average swing. Similar to an automobile tire tread, the grooves on the club face give the water somewhere to go so that the ball does not skid up the club face without spinning. [0016] Ideally, the sole of the golf club will help minimize the twisting of a poor swing. Woods and wood-type hybrid clubs have a relatively broad, flat sole with rounded edges to help the head glide over the surface of the grass without digging into the turf. Irons, on the other hand, tend to be hit so as to produce divots in the turf, so the soles of iron golf clubs (including iron-type hybrid clubs) typically are designed to slice through the turf evenly, without twisting or unexpected tugging to disrupt the golfer's shot. [0017] It is known to use fiber-reinforced resin composites in the construction of golf club shafts. Such reinforcing fibers include carbon fiber, polyamide fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber, alumina fiber, aramid fiber, Tyranno.TM. fiber, and amorphous fiber. The fiber-reinforced resin composite may be used in layered structures, molded structures, and combinations thereof. Examples of the variety of uses of fibers in the construction of golf club shafts include, but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,157,181; 6,354,957; and 6,572,490; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0107182. Each of these documents is entirely incorporated herein by reference. [0018] Carbon fiber composite materials also are known for use in golf club heads, including, for example, as part of the crown or body of a wood-type club head structure. Examples of patents illustrating such carbon composite containing club head structures include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,491,592 and 6,739,982. These patents also are entirely incorporated herein by reference. [0019] Carbon fiber is particularly preferable and used in golf club heads and golf club shaft structures due to its superior strength and modulus, or stiffness. Carbon fiber, however, is expensive and may be cost prohibitive. Fiber glass is a low cost alternative to carbon fiber, but it has physical properties inferior to carbon fiber. Thus, a low cost alternative to carbon fiber would be desirable. SUMMARY [0020] This invention relates to golf clubs having heads and shafts, such as putters, irons (including all types of wedges), hybrid type clubs (both iron-type hybrid clubs and wood-type hybrid clubs), fairway woods, drivers, and the like. One aspect of the invention is the use of basalt material, in particular basalt fiber, in the design of composite golf club shafts and heads. Basalt fiber is superior to fiber glass, approaching the performance of carbon fiber materials, but at a much lower cost. [0021] Golf clubs and golf club heads according to at least some example aspects of this invention may include: (a) a club shaft member constructed, at least in part, from basalt material and/or (b) a club head body member constructed, at least in part, from a basalt material. Optionally, if desired, the club shaft member and/or the club head body member may be of a multi-piece construction, and any one or more of these multiple pieces may be formed from a basalt material without departing from this invention. [0022] Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods of making and/or using golf club shafts and/or golf club heads that include basalt material forming at least a portion of the club shaft and/or club head structure. Continue reading... Full patent description for Golf clubs prepared with basalt fiber Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf clubs prepared with basalt fiber patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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