Artificial Feather for Shuttlecock Using Foam Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial shuttlecocks using existing artificial feathers lack durability and flight performance compared to natural shuttlecocks, and natural shuttlecocks are becoming increasingly expensive due to the difficulty in obtaining waterfowl feathers.
Innovation Solution
An artificial feather design featuring a foam layer as the feather portion, with a shaft fixing layer sandwiched between the foam layer and the shaft, enhances rigidity and durability while maintaining flight performance, and a hemispherical base body with annularly arranged artificial feathers provides stable flight characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing artificial feather structures are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and stability of quality is improved, but durability deteriorates due to stress concentration at connection portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a foam layer with a shaft fixing layer to create a feather portion that integrates multiple material properties. The foam layer provides cushioning and stress distribution, while the shaft fixing layer provides structural support and secure shaft attachment, resolving the durability-strength contradiction through material composition rather than single-material design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating different structural zones within the feather portion. The shaft fixing layer is specifically positioned at the connection zone between the shaft and feather, providing localized reinforcement where stress concentration occurs, while the foam layer occupies other regions to provide overall structural integrity and shock absorption
2Stability of the object's composition
If feather portions are made as integrated chemical fiber fabric, then manufacturing is simplified, but shape and flight performance significantly differ from natural shuttlecocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials (foam layer + shaft fixing layer) to achieve shape stability comparable to natural feathers while maintaining manufacturability. The foam layer can be molded into precise shapes that replicate natural feather geometry, and the shaft fixing layer can be bonded using standard adhesive processes, balancing performance requirements with manufacturing simplicity
3Reliability
If natural waterfowl feathers are used, then flight performance and durability are excellent, but manufacturing cost increases and quality stability decreases due to difficulty in obtaining feathers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by replicating the functional structure and performance characteristics of natural waterfowl feathers using synthetic materials. The foam layer mimics the cushioning and aerodynamic properties of natural feathers, while the shaft fixing layer replicates the attachment mechanism, achieving natural-like performance through artificial reproduction rather than direct use of natural materials
Data Source
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AI summary
An artificial feather for a shuttlecock, and a badminton shuttlecock which have flight performance and durability equal to those of a shuttlecock employing waterfowl feathers can be obtained. An artificial feather (3) for a shuttlecock includes a feather portion (5) and a shaft (a fixed shaft portion 10) connected to the feather portion (5). The feather portion (5) includes a foam layer (92) and a shaft fixing layer (91) bonded to the foam layer (92) with the fixed shaft portion (10) sandwiched therebetween. The foam layer (92) and the shaft fixing layer (91) have an identical planar shape. With this configuration, by using the foam layer (92) as the feather portion (5), an increase in the mass of the feather portion (5) is suppressed and rigidity is improved (i.e., deformation due to hitting is suppressed), and thereby a change in the shape of the artificial feather (3) for the shuttlecock can be suppressed.