Sporting Articles With Ridges And Dimples For Drag Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sporting articles such as golf clubs, rackets, bats, and helmets face challenges with aerodynamics, leading to increased drag, reduced swing speed, and potential injury, as well as issues with adaptability and compliance with regulatory standards.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a plurality of ridges on the surface of these items aligned with airflow, defining channels between ridges, and placing dimples within these channels to reduce drag while maintaining the items' shape and functionality, along with adjustable weight mechanisms to compensate for changes in aerodynamic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If cavities (cutouts) are used to break vortices and reduce drag, then wind resistance is reduced, but the shape and visual appeal of the golf club head is significantly changed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing dimples at specific locations on the golf club head surface where vortex generation is most problematic. Rather than using large cavities that fundamentally change the overall shape, the dimples are strategically positioned to locally disrupt vortex formation while preserving the general aesthetic and structural integrity of the club head design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface geometry parameters by introducing dimples with specific dimensions (depth and diameter ratios) and distributions. These parameter modifications create turbulence control effects that reduce drag without requiring the substantial shape changes associated with traditional cavity designs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cavities (cutouts) are positioned to maximize drag reduction, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but compliance with USGA standards is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by carefully controlling the dimensions, depth, distribution, and orientation of dimples to achieve drag reduction that complies with USGA regulations. The dimple parameters are optimized to provide aerodynamic benefits without exceeding the dimensional and structural constraints imposed by golf governing bodies.
3Speed
If drag of the golf club head is significantly reduced, then swing speed is improved, but the club flex characteristics are changed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing dimples only on specific portions of the golf club head where vortex generation occurs, rather than uniformly modifying the entire structure. This localized approach reduces drag to improve swing speed while leaving the overall mass distribution and flex characteristics of the club shaft and head largely unchanged.
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 solution significantly reduces drag, allowing for increased swing speeds and reduced risk of injury while maintaining compliance with regulatory standards, and provides adaptability to changes in user skill and swing characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of ridges on a surface of the sporting item, the ridges aligned with a direction of flow of air across the sporting item when used, the ridges defining channels between adjacent pairs of ridges; and a plurality of dimples located in the channels defined by the ridges
Implementation Method 2
drag acts in a direction opposite to a motion of the golf club head, and ultimately reduces the speed of the swing
Data Source
AI summary
An aerodynamic sporting item, such as a tennis racket, is provided. The item includes a plurality of ridges on a surface of the sporting item. The ridges are aligned with a direction of flow of air across the sporting item when used. The ridges define channels between adjacent pairs of ridges and a plurality of dimples are located in the channels defined by the ridges.