Composite Shaft Reinforcing Layer for Sporting Goods

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern sporting goods such as arrows and golf clubs made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic lack durability and stiffness, leading to accuracy issues due to weight changes and permanent deformation when using aluminum or hybrid materials.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a reinforcing layer of woven metal mesh, such as stainless steel, with a high wire density (e.g., 150×150 wires per square inch) around a carbon fiber shaft to enhance hoop strength, durability, and dynamic response, while maintaining a lightweight structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If carbon fiber reinforced plastic is used to make shafts, then weight is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but durability and stiffness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft weightVSAvoidshaft stiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines carbon fiber reinforced plastic with a metal reinforcing layer (aluminum, stainless steel, or other metals) to create a hybrid composite structure. The carbon fiber layers provide lightweight properties while the metal layer adds stiffness and durability, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If aluminum or hybrid materials are used to make shafts, then durability is improved, but weight increases and accuracy deteriorates due to permanent deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft durabilityVSAvoidshaft weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hybrid structure uses carbon fiber reinforced plastic as the base material for lightweight properties, with an added metal reinforcing layer that provides durability and resistance to permanent deformation. This composite approach achieves both light weight and high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The metal reinforcing layer is applied specifically to the shaft structure where additional strength and durability are needed, while maintaining the lightweight carbon fiber construction in other areas. This localized reinforcement optimizes the balance between weight and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a reinforcing layer is added to the shaft, then stiffness and durability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft stiffnessVSAvoidshaft structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft is constructed as a multi-layer composite structure with carbon fiber reinforced plastic layers and a metal reinforcing layer. This composite approach achieves enhanced stiffness and durability through material selection rather than complex geometric designs, maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The manufacturing process combines the carbon fiber layers and metal reinforcing layer into a single integrated shaft structure. By merging these materials during fabrication, the patent achieves complex performance properties without requiring complex assembly procedures or multiple separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20210252352A1Shafts with reinforcing layer for sporting goods and methods of manufacture

Publication Date: 2021.08.19 MITSUBISHI CHEM AMERICA INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are composite shafts for sporting goods, such as archery arrows, golf clubs, and rifles, which include a reinforcing layer to improve the performance of the sporting goods.