Golf Club Shaft with Tip-End Partial Layers for Impact Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf club shafts lack a balance between impact strength and moderate rigidity, necessitating a new laminated structure that enhances both properties.
Innovation Solution
A golf club shaft design featuring full-length layers with a bias and straight orientation, combined with tip-end partial layers comprising an inner glass fiber reinforced layer and an outer low elastic carbon or glass fiber reinforced layer, optimized to achieve a balance between weight, rigidity, and impact strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a high elastic modulus carbon fiber is used to increase rigidity, then the shaft rigidity is improved, but the impact strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different fiber types in different regions of the shaft. The low elastic modulus carbon fiber (pitch-based) is specifically placed in the tip-end partial layers where impact absorption is most needed, while other regions may use different fiber configurations. This localized material selection optimizes impact strength without compromising overall shaft rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining pitch-based carbon fiber (low elastic modulus, good impact absorption) with other fiber types in different layers. The tip-end partial layers use pitch-based carbon fiber reinforced resin sheets, while the shaft may incorporate other carbon fiber types or glass fibers in different regions, creating a multi-material composite structure that balances rigidity and impact strength.
2Ease of operation
If the shaft weight is reduced to improve swing speed, then the ease of operation is improved, but the impact strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the pitch-based carbon fiber reinforcement specifically in the tip-end partial layers where impact occurs, rather than uniformly throughout the entire shaft. This localized reinforcement provides impact strength where needed while keeping the rest of the shaft lightweight for fast swing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by selecting pitch-based carbon fiber with specific elastic modulus characteristics (lower than conventional PAN-based carbon fiber) for the tip-end regions. This parameter selection allows the material to absorb impact energy more effectively while maintaining overall shaft weight within acceptable ranges for performance.
3Strength
If a reinforced layer is added to enhance impact strength, then the strength is improved, but the shaft weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing the pitch-based carbon fiber reinforced layers only in the tip-end partial layers (approximately the last 10-20% of the shaft length from the tip), rather than reinforcing the entire shaft. This localized reinforcement provides impact strength where it is most needed while minimizing the additional weight throughout the full shaft length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by applying reinforcement only to the specific region where impact occurs (the tip-end partial layers) rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire shaft. This partial reinforcement approach provides sufficient impact protection while keeping the overall shaft weight low for optimal swing performance.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a golf club shaft that can provide a moderate rigidity and enhance an impact strength. A shaft 6 includes full length layers s3, s4, s7, s8 and s9 provided wholly in a longitudinal direction of the shaft, and tip end partial layers s1, s2, s10, s11 and s12 provided on a tip end part of the shaft. The full length layers include bias layers s3 and s4 and straight layers s8 and s9. The tip end partial layer includes an inner glass fiber reinforced layer s1, and an outer low elastic carbon fiber reinforced layer s10 or an outer glass fiber reinforced layer s10 which is disposed outside the inner glass fiber reinforced layer s1. The low elastic carbon fiber has a tensile elastic modulus of 22 ton/mm2 or less. In the shaft 6, a shaft weight in terms of 46 inches is 55 g or less.