Golf Club Head Faceplate with Variable Hardness Profile

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Solution Overview

Problem

Golf club heads with fixed geometries and material properties struggle to effectively control spin characteristics, such as fade or draw bias, limiting the distance and flight path of golf balls.

Innovation Solution

Designing golf club heads with interchangeable faceplates featuring varying hardness or thickness profiles, allowing for different spin characteristics without altering the club head's center of gravity, achieved through heat treatment methods like laser heat treating to create specific hardness profiles across the faceplate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If golf club heads use fixed geometries and material properties, then manufacturing is simple and consistent, but spin characteristics cannot be effectively controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespin characteristics controlVSAvoidfaceplate geometry and material variation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The faceplate is designed with varying thickness across different regions (e.g., thicker in heel region, thinner in toe region) to create localized differences in spin characteristics. This allows the club head to produce different ball spins depending on where the ball strikes the faceplate, enabling effective control of fade and draw bias without requiring multiple complete club head designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent varies geometric parameters of the faceplate (thickness, curvature radius, angle of attack) and material parameters (hardness, density) across different regions of the faceplate. These parameter changes enable the faceplate to produce varying spin characteristics while maintaining a single integrated structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If golf club heads use varying thickness or hardness profiles, then spin characteristics are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespin characteristicsVSAvoidfaceplate geometry and hardness control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs controlled variations in faceplate parameters (thickness, hardness, curvature) that can be achieved through established manufacturing processes like selective heat treatment and precision machining. These parameter changes are designed to produce the desired spin characteristics while remaining within achievable manufacturing tolerances, thus improving spin control without excessively increasing manufacturing precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If golf club heads alter faceplate properties, then ball direction and distance are improved, but the club head's center of gravity may shift

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball flight controlVSAvoidcenter of gravity stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The varying thickness and hardness profiles are designed to create localized effects on ball spin and direction while maintaining overall balance of the club head. By concentrating the variations in specific regions of the faceplate rather than uniformly across the entire club head, the center of gravity remains stable, allowing improved ball flight control without compromising club head balance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 enables golf club heads to produce varying spin characteristics, altering the ball's direction and distance by up to 25 yards, addressing the limitations of fixed geometries and material properties in existing club heads.

Implementation Method 1

achieved through heat treatment methods like laser heat treating to create specific hardness profiles across the faceplate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser heating: Laser

Implementation Method 2

achieved through heat treatment methods like laser heat treating to create specific hardness profiles across the faceplate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat treatment: Heat Treatment

Data Source

PatentUS11123615B2Golf club heads with variable face geometry and material properties

Publication Date: 2021.09.21 KARSTEN MFG CORP

AI summary

Embodiments of golf club heads with variable face geometry and material properties are described herein. Various embodiments include a golf club head comprising a body configured to receive a faceplate from a set of faceplates. The body comprises a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, and a crown. The faceplate is from the set of faceplates and coupled to the body. The set of faceplates comprises a heel region, a toe region, a top portion, and a bottom portion, and further comprises at least one of a varying hardness profile or a varying thickness profile. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.