Method of applying decorative layers to a steel shaft

#The present disclosure relates to applying decorative layers to metal shafts, including steel golf club shafts.

#It is sometimes desirable for golf club manufacturers or corporate owners of golf clubs to identify their corporate brand on the golf club shaft. It can also be desirable to apply some other design, identification, information, or coloring on a golf club shaft or other metal shaft for aesthetic or other purposes.

#Prior art methods of applying branding to steel shafts typically involve applying a sticker to the shaft, which may not be aesthetically pleasing. Such stickers include silk screen stickers, which are subject to wear and/or peeling away from the shaft. Additionally, stickers may cheapen the look of a high quality golf club shaft, and are less than desirable to manufacturers and corporate owners. Application of a heat transfer decal to a composite golf shaft is described in Barelmann and Folck, U.S. Patent Application Publ. 2006/0178227, that is incorporated herein by reference.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a method of applying one or more decorative layers to a steel shaft.

#FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a method of applying one or more decorative layers to a steel shaft.

#FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate a dual roller fixture that can be used to apply one or more decorative layers to a steel shaft.

#As used in this application and in the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.” Further, the term “coupled” means physically or mechanically coupled or linked and does not exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupled items.

#Although the operations of embodiments of the disclosed method are described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specific language set forth below. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in which the disclosed system, method, and apparatus can be used in conjunction with other systems, methods, and apparatus. Additionally, the description sometimes uses terms like “produce” and “provide” to describe the disclosed method. These terms may be high-level abstractions of the actual operations that can be performed. The actual operations that correspond to these terms can vary depending on the particular implementation and are discernible by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

#The present disclosure concerns methods of applying one or more decorative layers to steel and other metal shafts, such as steel golf club shafts. Such methods can be useful as, for example, aesthetic ways to brand or decorate steel golf club shafts.