MXPA99008517A - Method of making etched golf club parts - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf club part (9) including a metal component requiring subsequent finishing steps after initial formation which part has photochemically engraved artwork (8) formed in its surface after completion of the finishing step. The method of fabrication and etching of the metal part includes application of photoresist material to the metal surface (20), use of graphic art film (22), masking of surface areas in which artwork will be created by subsequent photochemical engraving (27), thereafter stripping of the photoresist from the metal surface (28). Creation of customized patterns on graphic art films (10) is accomplished utilizing a programmable computer.

Description

METHOD FOR RECORDING PARTS OF GOLF BAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A prior art for creating letters, numbers, trademark symbols or other recessed details in molded golf club heads having flat or curved surfaces has been to mold the reduced detail in the object during the molding operation. The golf club heads have been manufactured by forging, stamping, machining, welding and combinations thereof and have had artistic surface details added by mechanical engraving or stamping during or after completion of manufacture. As for the manufacture of molded golf club heads made by molding operations, undercut details that have been formed on the heads during the molding operation have several limitations. First, the level of quality that can be obtained in the molded parts is limited; second, the detail that can be obtained is limited; and third, the level of waste can not easily be reduced below certain limits. The ability to mold a superficial artistic detail and mark is also limited in its complexity and requires a high degree of rework to make the artistic detail and brands have a satisfactory quality.

There is also the disadvantage in the formation of details in recesses during the molding of club heads in the sense that subsequent steps of the treatment, including hot isostatic pressing and polishing, can distort and damage the appearance of the detail in recess. The molded objects typically have, to a certain extent, a surface microporosity or "shrinkage". When the / molded object is machined or polished, the porosity then becomes close to the surface. In the case of molding golf club parts, said surface porosity or "holes" must be repaired through welding. Said welding rework can have a significant cost in the production of the finished article. The hot isostatic pressing eliminates the surface porosity obtained in the molded object by subjecting the molded object to a high pressure of inert gas and simultaneously elevated temperature, thus collapsing the surface porosity and joining said porosity by diffusion until it is closed. This technique can not be used successfully in the case of molded objects for the product having molded artistic details because the closure of the surface porosity typically damages or distorts the artistic surface detail. In contrast, in the practice of the present invention, a hot isotactic pressing of the product in the molded state is feasible because the artistic detail is subsequently applied to the hot isotactic pressing. Accordingly, the gravure process of this invention allows the production of a product of a higher quality (without surface porosity) and a product that can be made at a lower cost (reduced welding rework). The printing of patterns on painted golf club heads has also been proposed (U.S. Patent No. 5,337,670). COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In general terms, the present invention comprises a golf club part, such as a head for a wood-headed club, an iron-headed club or a soft-hitting club made at least partially of metal where all the metal surface can be treated using chemical methods such as, for example, gravure to form letters, numbers, symbols and other details in recess (what is known below as "artistic detail"). This invention relates particularly to golf club parts of the type formed by the molding or other manufacture, said parts after said molding or manufacture require subsequent processing steps.

This invention includes the method of manufacturing golf club heads molded or otherwise manufactured where it is desired to form an artistic detail on the surface of the golf club head. Said golf club heads include the crown, face and sole portions. The various portions, after manufacture, are treated with the aim of improving their surfaces and forms, said treatment includes polishing. After said treatment, the surfaces of the parts that must receive the artistic detail are coated - with a layer of photosensitive protective substance. Then a graphic arts film is applied that carries the desired pattern in order to achieve the photogravure recess. The head part is exposed to light, such as for example incandescent light or laser light and after developing the areas exposed to the light of the photosensitive protective substance, the artistic detail is formed by engraving the exposed metal surfaces. For a positively functioning photosensitive protective substance, the area under the clear photographic film is exposed to light and after the development of said areas exposed to the light of the photosensitive protective substance, the artistic detail is formed by etching the surfaces metallic then exposed. In the case of photosensitive protective substances of negative operation, the opposite occurs.

The present invention includes the manufacture of graphic arts films using a computer-controlled plotter or other device for the placement of selected patterns in the graphic arts film. And in the use of computers programmed with storage units you can create a wide variety of films with drawings. Such films can be applied on flat or non-planar surfaces to create in turn various artistic details that can be selectively and economically photo-etched on parts of golf clubs. The products produced by the present invention can have designs of artistic details and marks of greater complexity, greater sophistication, and finer details than what can be achieved through current manufacturing methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a bottom view of a wooden and metal club head showing an artistic detail of its soleplate; Figure 1 (A) is a cross-sectional view through line 1 (A) - 1 (A) of Figure 1; Figure 2 is a front golf club head view of Figure 1 with lines and concentric circular grooves in the golf club face. Figure 3 is a schematic view of the steps in the photochemical etching process of a golf head surface; and I Figure 4 is a plan view of a strip of graphic arts film. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figures 1, 1 (A) and 2 show an artistic detail on the plate, sole 11 of a golf club head 9 that includes the "Ruger" brand and the trademark in the form of stylized bird 8 owned by Sturm, Ruger & Co. , Inc., the beneficiary of the present patent application. Figure 1 (A) shows the curve of the outer head surface S and sole plate 11. In Figure 2, the artistic details on the golf club face 9f includes a plurality of horizontal marks 13; two (2) vertical marks, 12a, 12b and two (2) pairs of concentric circles 15a, 15b. The markings 13, 12a, 12b and the circles 15a, 15b are depressions in the golf club face 9f that serve to adorn the head, help align the golf club and the ball and to engage the golf ball surface with the object of creating a golf ball rotation. It will be noted that the artistic detail may be functional or decorative or both. Turning to Figure 3, the golf club head part 14 is first manufactured by molding a structure (comprising the entire head except the sole plate) and also molding a sole plate. The structure is then welded onto the soleplate. Alternatively, the golf club head 14 or its parts can be manufactured in a station 16 by forging, machining, stamping, or other technique or combinations of these techniques. The part 14 is then further processed, including polishing at station 17, and washed at station 18. After washing, head portion 14 is processed at station 20 by application of a photosensitive protective material 21 on the selected surfaces of part 14, said surfaces must receive the artistic detail, that is, the sole or face plate surface. The photosensitive protective material 21 is applied in the form of a liquid or in the form of a dry film or both. In the preferred embodiment, a photosensitive protective liquid 21 is sprayed on a part 14. The next step is the application of a piece of graphic arts film 10 to the photosensitive protective material 21, said part 10 includes patterns to form artistic details, that is, the "Ruger" brand (see figure 4). The film 10 is translucent to allow the passage of light. For a positively functioning photosensitive protection process, the film 10 is opaque in such a way that the light does not pass through said film except in the case of the light areas where the artistic detail is defined. The artistic detail "Ruger" is clear with a solid dark background. A photosensitive protection liquid 21 is a material and is activated (or alternatively not activated) by exposure to light in order to make such exposed, soluble portions to the developing solution to be applied subsequently. Thus, in the engraving of artistic details on the sole surface of a golf club-14, the sole surface S is coated with a photosensitive protective material and only the artistic detail is exposed to light, (i.e. , the clear area of the graphic arts film). In the case of photosensitive protection of negative operation, the opposite is true. The graphic arts film is clear except in the case of artistic detail that is black. The photosensitive protection liquid is an activated (or alternatively non-activated) material by exposure to light to render such exposed portions insoluble to the revealing solution that is subsequently applied. In the case of a negative photosensitive protection, the graphic arts film has an area of black artistic detail that is subsequently not exposed to light and removed when exposed to the developing solution. A light source_23 (b) at station 23 directs light towards part 14. The photosensitive protection areas that are not exposed to light, including black areas of film 10, remain resistant to the developer to be applied. In the case of a photosensitive protective material of positive I operation, the areas of resistance that are not exposed to light, including the black areas of the film 10 remain resistant to the developer to be applied. The opposite is true in the case of a photosensitive protection of negative operation, that is, the areas not exposed to light are removed by the developer. After exposure to light, the head part 14 is taken to the developing station 24 to be sprayed with a suitable developer liquid 26. In the case of a positively functioning photosensitive protection, the area exposed to the light is removed by a developing liquid 26. In the case of a photosensitive negative operating protection, the area not exposed to the light is removed by the developer liquid 26. Then, the head part 14 is subjected to a etching solution in the engraving station 27. The engraving solution dissolves and erodes the surface areas of the material not protected by the photosensitive protection. The engraving station 27 is preferably an engraving machine having a sump in which the engraving product is held at a selected temperature. The engraving product is pumped into spray nozzles that spray the engraving product on the surfaces of the parts. Subsequently, the photosensitive protective agent is removed from the surface of the head part 14 in station 28. Graphic arts films, which carry letters, symbols, logos or other artistic details can be made using printing or another technique. When several letters are used, or another type of artistic detail in the manufacture of a golf club head, a programmable computer can be used to make films of individualized or specialized artistic details.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for manufacturing a golf club part that comprises the steps of: a. initially form the part that has a surface; b. subsequently treat the foxmada part; and c. photochemically record the artistic detail on a surface of the part after said treatment. 2. A method for placing an artistic detail on one or more surfaces of a molded golf club head, comprising a. molding the golf club head portion except the sole plate; b. molding the sole plate; c. fix the sole plate on the head portion of the golf club; and d. photochemically engraving an artistic detail on the sole plate fixed in this way or on another head surface. 3. The method of claim 2, further having the step of hot isotactically pressing said molded head portion prior to the step of photochemically engraving the artistic detail therein. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface of the part is not planar. 5. A golf club manufacturing method comprising the steps of: a. initially form the part with a surface; b. subsequently treat the formed part; c. Apply a photosensitive protective substance on the surface of the part; d. Place the graphic arts film on the photosensitive protective substance; and. To expose the photosensitive protective substance and the graphic arts film to light; F. Reveal the photosensitive protective substance exposed on a part surface; and g. Burn the surface of the part not protected by the photosensitive protective substance to form an artistic detail there. 6. A golf club part produced by the method of claim 1. 7. A gulf club head produced by the method of claim
2. 2. 8. A golf club part produced by the method of claim
3. 3. A golf club part produced by the method of claim
4. 4. 10. A gulf club part produced by the method of claim
5. 5.