Golf Putter Face Insert with Interlocking Hinge Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club face inserts do not effectively optimize performance to improve topspin and provide consistent sound and feel across the face.
Innovation Solution
A putter face design featuring interlocking striking sheets with hinge features and through-holes, where each hinge feature extends over a through-hole, creating a planar striking surface that enhances topspin by compressing and flexing upon impact, and a polymeric backing portion is used to enhance elasticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional solid geometric protrusions or pillar-shaped bodies are used on the club face, then the structural strength is improved, but the topspin performance and elasticity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The club face insert is divided into multiple striking sheets (first striking sheet, second striking sheet, etc.) that are stacked and interconnected through hinge features. This segmentation allows each sheet to flex independently during impact, generating topspin while maintaining overall structural strength through the layered construction and interconnecting hinges.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge features connecting the striking sheets are designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing the sheets to move dynamically during ball impact. This dynamic flexibility enables the sheets to flex and rebound, generating topspin and improving elasticity, while the interconnected structure maintains structural integrity.
2Reliability
If multiple striking sheets with hinge features are used to improve topspin, then the elasticity and topspin performance are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple striking sheets are nested within each other in a stacked configuration, with each sheet containing hinge features that connect to adjacent sheets. This nesting approach allows the complex multi-sheet structure to be compactly organized within the club face insert, managing complexity through hierarchical arrangement rather than scattered components.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional elements are merged into integrated components: the hinge features serve both as structural connectors between sheets and as elastic elements for topspin generation; the striking sheets provide both the striking surface and the flexing mechanism; the backing portion combines support structure with elastic properties. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed.
3Reliability
If the hinge features extend over through-holes to create a planar striking surface, then the topspin generation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge features are segmented into tab portions that extend over through-holes rather than requiring continuous rigid structures. This segmentation allows each tab to be positioned relative to its corresponding through-hole independently, reducing the cumulative alignment precision requirements across the entire multi-sheet assembly while still achieving the planar striking surface needed for topspin generation.
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
The design achieves improved topspin, consistent ball speed, and enhanced feel by reducing the impact ratio and increasing launch angle and spin, as demonstrated in laboratory tests compared to traditional inserts.
Implementation Method 1
each hinge feature including a tab portion suspended over a through-opening... The sides of the tab portions combine to form a striking surface that improves topspin off the face after impact with a golf ball
Implementation Method 2
one or more of the hinge features of one of the striking sheets extending through one or more of the through-openings of the other striking sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A face insert for a golf club head, preferably a putter head, is disclosed herein. The face insert comprises a pair of stacked plates, each with a plurality of hinge features. The hinge features of the lower plate extend through openings in the upper plate so that the plates are locked together, and the edge surfaces of the hinge features combine to create a striking surface that increases topspin of a golf ball.