Golf Club Head Damping Elements for Mass-Efficient Sound Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf club heads with hollow constructions and high coefficients of restitution often produce undesirable sounds and feels when hitting a golf ball, and existing internal damping methods, such as filling with polymers or foams, increase the club head's mass, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
The golf club head incorporates a striking face with a damping element positioned between the support arm and the interior surface, along with constrained damping layers attached to the interior surface, which provide internal damping without increasing the club head's mass, allowing for improved sound and feel without the need for additional mass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If filler material or damping element is added to improve internal damping, then sound and feel are improved, but mass of the golf club head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a thin film damping layer positioned between the striking face and support arm, rather than using bulk filler materials. This thin film configuration provides the necessary damping to improve sound and feel while minimizing the addition of mass to the club head.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping layer is strategically positioned only in the specific region between the striking face and support arm where damping is most needed, rather than filling the entire cavity. This localized approach provides effective damping while minimizing the overall mass increase.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If damping element is positioned between support arm and striking face, then internal damping is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping layer is integrated into the existing cavity structure between the striking face and support arm, merging the damping function with the structural design. This integration approach provides effective damping while avoiding the need for separate, complex damping mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively enhances the sound and feel of the golf club head by providing internal damping while maintaining a reduced mass, offering a more mass-efficient and simpler manufacturing process compared to traditional damping methods.
Implementation Method 1
The damping element and constrained damping layers provide internal damping through material hysteresis and internal friction, converting vibrational energy into heat and reducing unwanted vibrations in the golf club head
Implementation Method 2
The damping elements are positioned to contact and dampen vibrations between the support arm and interior surface of the striking face, reducing vibrational amplitude and improving the sound and feel characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head includes a striking face including an exterior surface having a lower leading edge and an opposite upper topline edge, and an interior surface opposite to the exterior surface; a sole extending from the lower leading edge and having a rearward portion opposite to the lower leading edge; a back portion coupled between the upper topline edge and the rearward portion; a cavity at least partially enclosed by the striking face, the sole, and the back portion; and at least one mass damping element on the interior surface of the striking face.