Golf Club Head Crown Structure for Aerodynamic Face Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing golf club heads do not effectively enhance ball catchability and flight distance performance, despite improvements suggested in prior art.

Innovation Solution

A golf club head design with a specific configuration and protruding portion on the crown portion, optimized for air resistance dynamics during the downswing, ensuring balanced projected areas to improve aerodynamic performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the head size is increased to improve ball catchability, then the ball catchability is improved, but the air resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveball catchabilityVSAvoidair resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the head's projected area into two distinct regions: a first region (Afθ) that generates air resistance promoting face rotation, and a second region (Abθ) that generates air resistance opposing face rotation. By segmenting the aerodynamic function across different spatial zones of the head, the design optimizes the balance between ball catchability and controlled air resistance effects during the downswing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If the projected area distribution is optimized to reduce air resistance, then the flight distance is improved, but the ball catchability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight distanceVSAvoidball catchability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different aerodynamic qualities to different local regions of the head. The first region (Afθ) is designed with specific projected area characteristics to generate beneficial air resistance for face rotation, while the second region (Abθ) is designed with different characteristics to provide opposing air resistance. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of ball catchability and flight distance through controlled aerodynamic interactions.

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 design achieves enhanced ball catchability and flight distance by minimizing adverse air resistance effects, resulting in improved overall performance.

Implementation Method 1

optimized for air resistance dynamics during the downswing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir resistance: Drag

Data Source

PatentEP4144422B1Golf club head
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP4144422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4144422B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4144422B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A state of a golf club head placed such that a shaft axis line is vertical to a horizontal plane and a normal line is parallel to a first perpendicular plane on which the shaft axis line lies is defined as a 0-degree state. A direction parallel to the first perpendicular plane and parallel to the horizontal plane is defined as a projection direction. A projected area of the head projected in the projection direction when the head is rotated by θ° about the shaft axis line toward a back side from the 0-degree state is denoted by WAθ. WAθ is divided by the shaft axis line into a first region (having an area denoted by Afθ) and a second region (having an area denoted by Abθ), and a difference (Afθ-Abθ) is denoted by Sθ. S90 is -4500 (mm2) or less. S15 is 4700 (mm2) or less.