Movable Weight Member with Rail Lock for Golf Club Head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club heads face challenges in maximizing peripheral weight and moment of inertia (MOI) due to the cylindrical shape of movable weights and composite materials being prone to delamination or corrosion, which affects performance and durability.
Innovation Solution
A golf club head design featuring a movable weight member with a multi-piece construction and actuator system that securely attaches to a recessed channel in the club head, utilizing parallel side walls and a rail with lateral undercuts to lock the weight in place, and optionally covered by a weight and port cover for aesthetic and protective purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cylindrical movable weights are used in golf club heads, then the weights can be easily manufactured and installed, but the weights necessarily move a significant portion of the mass toward the center of the club head, which does not maximize peripheral weight or moment of inertia
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional cylindrical weights with a non-cylindrical weight member featuring a low-profile design and an integrated actuator mechanism. This substitution allows the weight to be positioned at the periphery of the club head without requiring protruding cylindrical shapes, thereby maximizing moment of inertia while maintaining ease of installation through the actuator-driven attachment system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the weight member from traditional cylindrical shapes to a low-profile, non-cylindrical configuration. This parameter change enables the weight to achieve optimal peripheral positioning for maximizing moment of inertia while maintaining a compact form factor that does not protrude into the center of the club head.
2Manufacturing precision
If composite multi-material structures are used to selectively locate mass, then mass can be strategically placed throughout the club head, but the materials are subject to delamination or corrosion over time, resulting in decreased performance and potential club head failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the weight system into separate components: a weight member and an actuator mechanism. This segmentation allows the weight to be precisely positioned and secured independently from the club head body, eliminating the need for bonding composite materials together. The separate components are attached through mechanical means (screws or adhesives applied to the actuator), thereby preventing delamination and corrosion issues associated with bonded composite structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator mechanism serves as an intermediary between the weight member and the club head body. Instead of directly bonding the weight to the club head or using composite multi-material structures, the actuator mediates the attachment process, providing a secure mechanical connection that eliminates delamination and corrosion risks while maintaining precise mass placement.
3Reliability
If weights are positioned within a channel formed in the golf club head, then the weights can be securely retained, but the weight must be inserted into an enlarged portion of the channel and then a plug inserted, which complicates the assembly process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the weight member and actuator mechanism into a single integrated assembly. This combination eliminates the need for separate insertion of the weight into an enlarged channel portion and subsequent installation of a plug. The integrated assembly can be installed as one unit, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining secure retention through the actuator's attachment mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the actuator mechanism from the traditional weight design and integrates it with the weight member. This extraction and integration allow the weight assembly to be installed through a standard channel without requiring enlarged portions or separate plug insertion, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining secure weight retention.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member that is slidable in an elongate weight mount including a rail with or without a cover. The weight member is preferably constructed so that it is assembled in the weight mount and is locked by configuring the weight member to pinch the rail. The cover member can cover the weight, the weight mount, or even just an opening on the sole of the golf club head.