Co-Molded Golf Club Head for Dissimilar Face and Body Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf club heads face limitations in design due to the need for compatible materials for welding the face plate and body, restricting the ability to achieve desirable properties such as different material characteristics for the face plate and body, which are essential for improving sound, feel, moment of inertia (MOI), ball speed, and flexibility without sacrificing durability.
Innovation Solution
The face plate and body are co-molded using a bonding material and retainers, eliminating the need for welding, allowing for the use of dissimilar materials with different properties, such as titanium or metal matrix composites, to enhance MOI, durability, and ball speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the face plate and body are welded together using conventional methods, then the structural strength and durability are maintained, but the design flexibility is limited due to the requirement of compatible materials with similar hardness, density, and stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bonding material as an intermediary between the face plate and body, eliminating the need for direct welding. This bonding material allows dissimilar materials to be joined while maintaining structural integrity, thereby enabling design flexibility without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the welding process (thermal-mechanical system) with a bonding material-based joining system. This substitution allows for the use of dissimilar materials that cannot be welded together, while still achieving strong structural connections through the bonding material.
2Weight of moving object
If the face plate is made lighter to increase moment of inertia and provide discretionary mass, then the MOI and flexibility improve, but the durability and structural support may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction where a lighter face plate material is combined with a bonding material that provides structural support. This composite approach allows the face plate to be lighter for improved MOI while the bonding material compensates for the reduced structural support, maintaining durability.
3Strength
If the face plate is made harder to improve wear resistance and reactivity to golf ball impact, then the wear resistance improves, but the compatibility for welding and overall flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding material serves as an intermediary that allows a harder face plate material to be joined to a softer body material. This eliminates the need for material compatibility in welding while maintaining the wear resistance benefits of the harder face plate.
4Ease of operation
If conventional flexible polymer material is introduced between the body and strike plate to improve sound, feel, or flexibility, then the sound and feel improve, but the face plate thickness cannot be reduced further due to limited support capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a bonding material with enhanced structural support properties compared to conventional flexible polymers. This bonding material provides sufficient support to enable thinner face plate construction while still delivering improved sound and feel characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head comprising a face plate, a body, bonding material, and at least one retainer. wherein the bonding material and at least one retainer are the sole medium coupling the face plate and body.