Golf Club Crown Radial Rib Stress Distribution

Solution Overview

Problem

Modern golf club heads with parallel ribs do not efficiently distribute stress across the face due to non-uniform loading during ball impact, as they are designed to be lightweight but still provide sufficient stiffness, which leads to inefficiencies in stress distribution and maximum stress reduction.

Innovation Solution

A golf club head design featuring a hollow body with a crown reinforced by a plurality of ribs arranged in a radial fan pattern, where the ribs intersect at a common point external to the body, providing a more efficient distribution of stress and reducing maximum stress in the crown region by channeling loads radiating outward from the impact point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If parallel ribs are used to reinforce the crown, then the club head can be made lightweight while maintaining sufficient stiffness, but the stress distribution becomes inefficient because the ribs do not align with the non-uniform loading pattern during ball impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclub head weightVSAvoidstress distribution efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from symmetric parallel ribs to asymmetric radial ribs that converge toward the impact point. This asymmetric arrangement aligns the rib structure with the non-uniform stress distribution pattern during ball impact, allowing the ribs to efficiently channel and dissipate stress forces while maintaining the lightweight design goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The radial rib configuration provides localized reinforcement precisely where stress concentration occurs during impact. The ribs are positioned and oriented to match the local stress patterns in the crown region, providing targeted strength enhancement without requiring uniform reinforcement throughout the entire structure, thus maintaining overall lightweight construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If parallel ribs are used uniformly across the crown, then manufacturing is simplified, but the maximum stress reduction is insufficient because the structure cannot efficiently handle point impact loading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverib fabricationVSAvoidmaximum stress resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The radial rib pattern creates an asymmetric stress distribution pathway that converges toward the impact point, enabling the structure to handle point impact loading more effectively. This asymmetric configuration allows for better stress concentration management while still being manufacturable using conventional casting or molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The crown is divided into multiple radial segments by the rib structure, creating a segmented reinforcement pattern that better distributes impact forces from the point of contact throughout the crown region. This segmentation approach improves stress distribution while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Weight of moving object

If the crown is made thinner to reduce weight, then the club head becomes lighter, but the crown lacks sufficient rigidity to provide adequate support for the face during impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrown weightVSAvoidcrown rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The crown is divided into multiple radial segments by the rib structure, creating a segmented reinforcement pattern that better distributes impact forces from the point of contact throughout the crown region. This segmentation approach improves stress distribution while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The radial rib pattern creates an asymmetric stress distribution pathway that converges toward the impact point, enabling the structure to handle point impact loading more effectively. This asymmetric configuration allows for better stress concentration management while still being manufacturable using conventional casting or molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 radial rib pattern reduces maximum stress in the crown region by approximately 36% compared to unreinforced designs, while maintaining a lightweight structure, and allows for better absorption and dissipation of vibrations, enhancing the club's performance and impact characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

A golf club head design featuring a hollow body with a crown reinforced by a plurality of ribs arranged in a radial fan pattern, where the ribs intersect at a common point external to the body, providing a more efficient distribution of stress and reducing maximum stress in the crown region by channeling loads radiating outward from the impact point.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress distribution: