Segmented Back Cavity Insert for Iron Strikeface Flex
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing iron-type golf club heads with back cavity inserts experience reduced energy transfer due to the inhibition of strikeface flexion by single-piece hard plastic or metallic covers, leading to decreased distance and undesirable ball flight characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A back cavity insert with multiple layers, divided into discrete sections, allowing for expansion and flexing gaps that reduce flexural resistance and enhance energy return to the golf ball.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a single-piece hard plastic or metallic insert cover is used, then the insert provides structural support and durability, but it inhibits strikeface flexion and reduces energy return to the golf ball
Solution Approach 1:
The insert cover is divided into multiple discrete sections rather than being a single continuous piece. These sections are spaced apart to create gaps that allow the strikeface to flex rearward during impact without being restrained by a continuous rigid structure, thereby maintaining structural support while enabling energy return.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert uses thin plastic sections instead of a thick continuous metallic or hard plastic cover. These thin sections provide minimal structural support while allowing greater flexibility and movement during strikeface flexion, reducing the inhibition effect on energy return.
2Speed
If the strikeface is thinned to move more mass to the perimeter and allow greater flexibility, then energy return is improved, but the insert's restraining effect on flexion is amplified
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the insert cover into discrete sections with gaps, the design accommodates the increased flexion of thinned strikefaces without creating excessive restraining tension. The gaps allow the thin strikeface to move freely during impact while the distributed sections maintain adequate structural support.
3Loss of energy
If discrete sections with gaps are used, then insert flexibility and energy return are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insert cover is manufactured as multiple separate discrete sections rather than one continuous piece. This segmentation can be achieved through standard molding processes for each section, followed by assembly using adhesives or mechanical fasteners, balancing manufacturing feasibility with the need for gaps to enable flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Adhesive layers or mechanical fasteners serve as intermediaries to join the discrete insert sections to the strikeface and to each other. These intermediaries allow the sections to be securely attached while maintaining the gaps necessary for flexibility and energy return.
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 insert design improves strikeface flexibility, resulting in higher launch angles, lower ball spin rates, and increased ball speed, thereby enhancing golf ball distance.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive layer, an elastomeric layer and a cap
Implementation Method 2
an elastomeric layer and a cap wherein the plurality of elastomeric layer portions are affixed to the adhesive layer
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention presented herein is directed to a back cavity insert for a cavity-backed iron-type golf club head. The rear perimeter of the iron-type golf club head and the rear surface of a strikeface cooperate to define a back cavity. The rear perimeter can comprise any edge or percentage of the perimeter of the back cavity. An insert may be placed into the back cavity such that the insert covers at least 60 percent to 100 percent of the strikeface rear surface area. When the insert is attached to the iron-type golf club head strikeface rear surface, it will interact with the iron-type golf club head strikeface when the strikeface deforms and rebounds. The insert thickness, composition, and stiffened outer surface may unduly restrain the deformation or flexing of the strikeface and reduce the amount of energy returned to the golf ball.