Golf Club Head Stiffening Structure for Lower Face Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club heads do not effectively reduce stress in the striking face section during impact with a golf ball while minimizing mass increase.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing a golf club head with stress-reducing stiffening members, such as a plate or solid rods, co-cast with the golf club head body using standard casting and/or wax-welding processes. These stiffening members connect the crown portion with the sole portion via a hollow interior, positioned proximate the striking face section without contacting it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If interior structures are added to reduce stress in the striking face section, then ball speed increases, but mass of the golf club head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a hollow interior structure within the golf club head body that contains stress-reducing members. This hollow configuration reduces the overall mass of the club head while the strategically positioned stiffening members (such as plates or rods) provide the necessary structural support to reduce stress during impact, thereby increasing ball speed without proportionally increasing weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining the hollow interior structure with discrete stress-reducing members made of stiffening materials. This composite approach allows the club head to achieve optimal stress distribution and ball speed performance while maintaining minimal mass, as the stiffening members are positioned only where structurally necessary rather than solidifying the entire interior
2Stress or pressure
If stiffening members are positioned proximate the striking face section, then stress reduction is effective, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the stress-reducing stiffening members directly into the casting process of the golf club head body. By combining the formation of the hollow interior structure and the insertion of stiffening members into a single co-casting operation, the manufacturing complexity is minimized despite the sophisticated interior geometry and strategic member positioning required for effective stress reduction
3Weight of moving object
If hollow interior structure is created, then mass is reduced, but structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically positioning stress-reducing stiffening members at specific locations within the hollow interior structure, particularly proximate to the striking face section where stress concentrations occur during impact. This localized reinforcement provides the necessary structural strength in critical areas while maintaining the hollow configuration for mass reduction in non-critical areas
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of manufacturing a golf club head with one or more stiffening members proximate the face, and particularly solid rods or a plate with one or more cutouts, is disclosed herein. One method includes the steps of preparing a wax mold of a golf club head including a plate stiffening member with excess material, casting the golf club head, and machining away the excess material. Another method includes the steps of casting a golf club body, providing a plate stiffening member, providing a face component such as a face cup, tack welding the plate stiffening member and the face component to the golf club body, and welding these parts together.