Magnesium Golf Clubhead Insert with Tungsten Weighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current golf club designs lack the use of magnesium due to its flammability, preventing the utilization of its strong, lightweight properties for weight distribution and damping characteristics, which are beneficial for improved shot performance and safety.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a magnesium insert between the toe and heel of the clubhead, paired with tungsten weighting material to maintain overall weight and adjust weighting characteristics, while leveraging magnesium's damping properties and tungsten's density for enhanced swing weighting and toe/heel weighting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If magnesium is used as an insert material in golf clubheads, then the clubhead achieves superior lightweight properties and damping characteristics, but the clubhead becomes extremely flammable and dangerous to use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclubhead weightVSAvoidflammability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining magnesium with other materials to create a magnesium-based composite insert. This composite structure maintains the lightweight and damping properties of magnesium while incorporating materials that suppress flammability, thus resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful flammability of magnesium into a beneficial property by treating the magnesium surface or incorporating flame-retardant materials. The harmful characteristic is transformed into a controlled feature where the magnesium's reactivity is managed to enhance performance without creating safety hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Loss of energy

If magnesium insert is added to the clubhead, then vibration transfer is reduced, but the overall clubhead weight changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration transferVSAvoidclubhead weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies counterweight by adding weighting material to specific areas of the clubhead to compensate for the weight reduction caused by the magnesium insert. This maintains the overall clubhead weight while allowing the magnesium insert to provide vibration damping benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by strategically placing the magnesium insert in specific locations within the clubhead where vibration damping is most needed, while using denser materials in other areas to maintain overall weight. This creates different material properties in different locations to optimize both vibration reduction and weight characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Weight of moving object

If traditional insert materials like aluminum are used, then the clubhead maintains adequate weight, but the damping characteristics and shot performance are inferior compared to magnesium

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclubhead weightVSAvoidshot performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials to combine the lightweight properties of magnesium with weighting materials that provide the necessary mass. This composite approach achieves both the superior damping characteristics of magnesium and the adequate weight required for consistent shot performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the density and material composition parameters of the insert. By carefully selecting and combining materials with different densities, the patent optimizes both the damping characteristics (improving shot performance) and the overall weight (maintaining consistency) of the clubhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This configuration allows for improved shot performance by maintaining the club's weight and shape while reducing vibration transfer and enhancing weighting characteristics, without the risks associated with magnesium's flammability.

Implementation Method 1

leveraging magnesium's damping properties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

weighting material of a second density that is more than a first density of a material of the clubhead

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity: Density Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11123614B2Magnesium golf clubhead insert

Publication Date: 2021.09.21 SACKS PARENTE GOLF CO LLC

AI summary

A golf club includes a shaft and a clubhead coupled to the shaft by a hosel. The clubhead includes a face, a toe at a distal end of the clubhead and a heel at an opposite distal end of the clubhead and opposite the toe. The clubhead further includes a magnesium insert disposed on the face of the clubhead between the toe and heel of the clubhead as a striking surface of the clubhead. The clubhead even further includes weighting material of a second density that is more than a first density of a material of the clubhead in place of a portion of the material of the clubhead.