Mixed-Material Golf Club Head for MOI and CG Weight Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club heads face challenges in maximizing discretionary weight to enhance moment of inertia (MOI) and lower/back center of gravity (CG) due to limited design flexibility in structural mass distribution.
Innovation Solution
A mixed material construction comprising a metallic front body and a composite rear body, featuring a fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite resilient layer, a molded thermoplastic structural layer, and a metallic weight pad, allows for significant structural mass reduction and discretionary mass allocation, thereby improving MOI and CG.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional all-metal construction is used, then structural strength is maintained, but structural mass increases limiting discretionary weight allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a metallic front body with a composite rear body. The composite rear body uses fiber-reinforced plastic materials that provide sufficient structural strength while significantly reducing mass compared to traditional all-metal construction. This allows discretionary weight to be allocated to performance-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by using different materials in different regions of the club head. The front body uses metal for durability and impact resistance, while the rear body uses composite materials for weight reduction. This localized material selection optimizes both strength and weight characteristics in their respective functional zones.
2Adaptability or versatility
If discretionary mass is increased to maximize MOI and lower CG, then club head performance is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the club head into distinct front body and rear body portions that can be independently designed and optimized. The composite rear body structure provides a framework that maintains structural integrity while creating defined spaces for discretionary weight placement, allowing performance customization without compromising overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite rear body material provides both structural support and weight reduction simultaneously. The fiber-reinforced plastic construction maintains sufficient strength to support discretionary weight additions while keeping the base mass low, enabling performance optimization without sacrificing structural reliability.
3Weight of moving object
If mixed material construction is used, then discretionary weight allocation is maximized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The club head is divided into separable front body and rear body components that can be manufactured independently using optimized processes for each material type. The composite rear body is manufactured as a separate unit with integrated weight pockets, then assembled to the metallic front body, simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to attempting to create a monolithic mixed-material structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The discretionary weights are nested within the composite rear body structure during the molding process. The weight pockets are formed as integral features of the composite rear body, allowing weights to be embedded or installed in predefined locations without requiring complex post-manufacturing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A hollow golf club head includes a metallic front body coupled with a composite rear body. The front body includes a strike face and a surrounding frame that extends rearward from a perimeter of the strikeface. The rear body includes a crown member coupled with a sole member. The sole member has a structural layer formed from a filled thermoplastic material, while the resilient layer is bonded to the external surface of the structural layer and is formed from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite material. The resilient layer has an opening through which a metallic weight pad at least partially extends. The weight pad is bonded to the structural layer and includes an aperture for attaching a metallic weight. The golf club head can also have one or more structural members that are upright and connect the weight pad to the crown member.