Golf Club Heads with Loft-Based Weight Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional golf club heads with fixed weight positions across varying loft angles fail to optimize ball flight distance and height, as loft angle affects spin and flight dynamics, leading to suboptimal performance across different clubs.

Innovation Solution

The golf club heads incorporate loft-based weights positioned at specific distances relative to the front end plane, defined by equations such as ((−0.0024*θ)+1.28)≧x≧((−0.0024*θ)+0.98), where x is the distance in inches and θ is the loft angle in degrees, allowing for adjustable weight placement based on loft angle to optimize spin and distance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If fixed weight positions are used across varying loft angles, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but ball flight distance and height optimization is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight placement simplicityVSAvoidball flight optimization precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by varying the weight position parameter based on the loft angle parameter. Specifically, the distance of the weight from the club face is adjusted according to the loft angle equation, transforming a fixed parameter design into a variable parameter design that optimizes ball flight across different loft angles while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized adjustment procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If uniform weight placement is used for all loft angles, then device complexity is reduced, but spin and flight dynamics optimization is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight placement configurationVSAvoidflight performance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by positioning weights at specific locations within the club head that are tailored to each loft angle. Rather than using a uniform weight placement throughout the club head set, each club receives a customized weight position optimized for its specific loft angle, creating local variations in mass distribution that enhance flight performance consistency across the entire set

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If loft-based weight adjustment is implemented, then ball flight distance and height are optimized, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball flight optimization precisionVSAvoidweight placement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and specifying the exact weight position for each loft angle using the provided equation before manufacturing begins. This allows manufacturers to follow predetermined guidelines rather than performing complex real-time calculations, and enables pre-positioning of weights during the manufacturing process, thereby reducing actual manufacturing complexity while maintaining high precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9278264B2Golf club heads with loft-based weights and methods to manufacture golf club heads

Publication Date: 2016.03.08 KARSTEN MFG CORP

AI summary

Embodiments of golf club heads with loft-based weights and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.