Golf Club Head Slit Inserts for Local Flexure and Energy Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club heads with viscoelastic inserts in slits dissipate energy, reducing energy transfer and performance due to uniform flexure across the strike face, failing to control flexure locally and maximize energy transfer.
Innovation Solution
A multi-material flexure insert with a spring component is used in the slit, allowing variable stiffness and flexibility to locally reinforce high-stress areas and maximize flexure, enhancing energy transfer by storing and releasing internal energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a viscoelastic insert is used in the slit, then the strike face flexure is increased, but energy is dissipated and energy transfer is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the insert from purely viscoelastic to a composite structure incorporating spring elements. This parameter change transforms the energy dissipation characteristic into energy storage and release, while maintaining the desired strike face flexure. The spring component's elastic properties allow it to store energy during compression and release it during rebound, directly addressing the energy loss issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite insert structure combining viscoelastic material with spring elements. This composite design integrates the flexure-enhancing properties of viscoelastic material with the energy-storing capabilities of spring mechanisms. The combination allows the insert to provide both the necessary strike face deformation and improved energy transfer efficiency.
2Device complexity
If a uniform-material insert is used in the slit, then the slit is simplified, but the flexure cannot be controlled locally across different portions of the slit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning spring elements at specific locations within the insert structure where maximum flexure control is needed. The spring components are strategically placed to provide localized reinforcement and flexure control at high-stress areas, while allowing different portions of the slit to have varying degrees of flexibility. This enables tailored flexure characteristics across different regions of the strike face.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is segmented into multiple functional zones: viscoelastic material regions for general flexure and spring element regions for targeted energy storage and local flexure control. This segmentation allows each portion of the insert to perform its specific function, providing both simplified construction through modular components and advanced local flexure control through strategic placement of different material types.
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
Increases ball speed by 0.5-4.5 mph and internal energy by 3-20 lbf-in, improves strike face deflection, dynamic lofting, and reduces ball spin rate, providing precise control over flexure and energy transfer.
Implementation Method 1
The spring component provides a spring effect that increases the energy transfer between the club head and the golf ball
Implementation Method 2
The lightweight and flexible insert is typically made from a soft, viscoelastic material to not limit the flexure of the slit
Implementation Method 3
Due to the purely viscoelastic construction of the inserts used within the prior art slits, said inserts absorb and dissipate energy under compression
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are embodiments of golf club heads with slits and flexure inserts. The slit comprises an opening through the club head body communicating between the exterior of the club head and the hollow interior cavity. The flexure insert can comprise a spring component and a cap. The spring component creates a spring effect within the flexure insert that increases the internal energy of the club head at impact, leading to improvements in ball speed and other golf ball performance characteristics.