Mixed Material Golf Club Head Weight Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for alternative designs in all-metal golf club heads to maximize discretionary weight and increase the club head moment of inertia while lowering the center of gravity, as existing designs have limited control over mass distribution and resilience.
Innovation Solution
The use of mixed-material golf club heads constructed with polymeric composite structures, specifically thermoplastic composites such as fabric-reinforced and fiber-filled thermoplastics, which allow for weight savings and customizable performance by integrating metallic weights into the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If all-metal golf club heads are used, then structural resilience is maintained, but discretionary weight and moment of inertia are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by integrating metallic components (for structural resilience) with non-metallic components such as polymers or composites (for weight reduction). This allows the club head to maintain the desirable acoustic properties and structural integrity of metal while reducing overall weight to increase discretionary weight for performance optimization.
2Ease of manufacture
If all-metal golf club heads are used, then acoustic properties are maintained, but control over mass distribution is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different materials in different regions of the club head. Metallic portions are strategically placed in areas requiring acoustic properties and structural strength, while non-metallic portions are used in areas where weight reduction is beneficial. This localized material differentiation enables precise control over mass distribution to optimize moment of inertia and center of gravity while preserving acoustic characteristics.
3Weight of moving object
If structural mass is minimized, then discretionary mass increases, but structural resilience may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction allows the club head to use lightweight non-metallic materials for portions of the structure while maintaining overall structural resilience through the strategic placement of metallic components. This enables minimization of structural mass to maximize discretionary mass without compromising the club head's ability to withstand impact forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head includes a rear body having a crown member coupled to a sole member, and a front body coupled to the rear body to define a substantially hollow structure. The front body includes a strike face and a surrounding frame that extends rearward from a perimeter of the strike face. At least a portion of an outer wall of the club head comprises a thermoplastic composite having a plurality of lamina layers. The plurality of lamina layers include at least a fabric reinforced thermoplastic composite layer and a filled thermoplastic layer, and the fabric reinforced thermoplastic composite layer and the filled thermoplastic layer are directly bonded to each other without an intermediate adhesive.