Sporting Grip Composition for Shock Absorption and Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club grips often provide inadequate traction, torsional stiffness, and shock absorption, leading to degraded swing technique, safety concerns, and potential injury from excessive shock transfer.
Innovation Solution
A grip composition comprising a blend of viscoelastic rubbers and non-rubber materials, such as EPDM and polyurethane, with specific weight percentages, offering improved shock absorption, rebound characteristics, and durability, along with a hybrid rubber called Genesis Material for enhanced grip performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rubber materials are used in grip composition, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but shock absorption and vibration dampening performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining butyl rubber (5-40% by weight) with non-rubber viscoelastic materials (10-80% by weight) such as EPDM, polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polypropylene, or cork. This composite approach creates a material that achieves superior shock absorption and vibration dampening properties while maintaining manufacturability through established mixing and molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by precisely controlling the weight percentages of different materials in the composition (5-40% butyl rubber, 10-80% non-rubber viscoelastic material) and adjusting processing parameters such as mixing time, temperature, and molding conditions to optimize both performance and manufacturing efficiency.
2Strength
If grip hardness is increased to improve durability, then abrasion resistance improves, but comfort and shock absorption deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by controlling the durometer hardness within specific ranges (20-80 Shore A) and adjusting the composition ratios of butyl rubber and non-rubber viscoelastic materials to achieve the optimal balance between abrasion resistance and comfort. The cross-linking density is also controlled to fine-tune these properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material system combines materials with different mechanical properties - butyl rubber provides elasticity and shock absorption, while non-rubber viscoelastic materials contribute to abrasion resistance and structural integrity, achieving both durability and comfort simultaneously.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cross-linking is increased to improve durability and heat resistance, then strength and stability improve, but flexibility and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the cross-linking degree within optimal ranges and adjusting cross-linking temperature and time parameters to achieve the desired balance between stability and flexibility. The composition is designed to maintain comfort properties even with moderate cross-linking.
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 composition provides superior vibration dampening, abrasion resistance, and all-weather playability, maintaining a comfortable grip feel and cosmetic appearance, while enhancing safety and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cross-linked composition of from about 5% by weight to about 40% by weight of one or a combination of a viscoelastic rubber selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber and chloroprene rubber, and from about 10% by weight to about 80% by weight of one or a combination of a non-rubber viscoelastic material selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer (EPDM), polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polypropylene and cork
Data Source
AI summary
A composition for use in sporting grips, and the like, is disclosed. The composition may be used, for example, in making a golf club grip. The disclosed grip provides for improved shock absorption and other beneficial properties.