Adaptive Support Structures for Golf Club Heads in Extreme Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857851_0004_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Adaptive Support Structures for Golf Club Heads in Extreme Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857851_0004_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857851_0004_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,851.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept adapts golf club head support structures for specific, narrow markets or unique operational environments, enhancing performance and durability in high-altitude, extreme weather, disaster relief, high-security, and extreme temperature conditions.

Background and Problem Solved

Traditional golf club head designs are limited in their ability to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. The original patent's support structures, while improved, do not address the specific challenges posed by extreme weather, high-altitude, disaster relief, high-security, and extreme temperature conditions. This inventive concept solves the problem by introducing specialized variations and niche solutions for these unique operational environments.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept comprises a range of adaptive support structures for golf club heads, tailored to specific extreme environments. For high-altitude golfing, the support members have a reduced cross-sectional area to minimize air resistance. For extreme weather conditions, a water-resistant coating is deposited on the support members to prevent corrosion. For disaster relief, the support members are designed to withstand high-impact forces and rough terrain. For high-security golfing, the support members contain embedded sensors for detecting unauthorized use. For golfing in extreme temperatures, thermally-resistant materials are used to maintain structural integrity. These adaptations enable golfers to perform optimally in a wide range of challenging conditions.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The inventive concept's novelty lies in its adaptation of support structures for specific, narrow markets or unique operational environments, introducing new features and materials that address the limitations of traditional golf club head designs. The inventive step is the recognition of the need for specialized variations and niche solutions, and the development of corresponding adaptive support structures that enhance performance and durability in extreme conditions.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include adjustable support structures, modular designs for easy customization, or integration with advanced materials and technologies. Variations could target specific industries, such as military or emergency response, or focus on specific environmental challenges, such as saltwater corrosion or extreme humidity.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in the golf industry, particularly among professional golfers, golf courses, and golf equipment manufacturers. The adaptive support structures could also be applied to other sports equipment, such as hockey sticks or tennis rackets, or to industrial applications, such as construction or rescue equipment, where durability and performance in extreme conditions are critical.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A63 A63B53/0487
A A63 A63B53/0408
B B22 B22F10/14
B B22 B22F10/80
B B33 B33Y10/00
A A63 A63B53/0412

Field of Art

Golf club head manufacturing, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and precision sports equipment design, with expertise in binder jet manufacturing, material science, and structural engineering for sporting equipment

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A professional with advanced engineering degree, experience in CAD modeling, materials engineering, and golf equipment design, familiar with advanced manufacturing techniques and performance optimization of sporting equipment

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the disclosed environmental adaptations represent predictable variations of the source patent's core support structure design principles. The fundamental manufacturing method of binder jet production and support member configuration remain consistent, with modifications representing routine design optimization for specific use cases. The technical variations demonstrate incremental improvements that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner seeking to enhance golf club head performance across different environments.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Support members extending at an angle from the sole portion of a golf club head
PTD Variation
High-altitude support members with reduced cross-sectional area to minimize air resistance
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that modifying cross-sectional geometry is a standard design technique for aerodynamic optimization, representing a predictable solution for performance enhancement in specific environmental conditions
Source Patent Element
Binder jet manufacturing method for creating complex support structures
PTD Variation
Depositing water-resistant coating on support members to prevent corrosion
Obviousness Reasoning
Surface treatment and coating techniques are well-known in materials engineering, representing a routine modification to enhance material properties for specific environmental challenges
Source Patent Element
Support members without sharp corners or simple fillets
PTD Variation
Support members designed to withstand high-impact forces with embedded sensors for detecting unauthorized use
Obviousness Reasoning
Integrating sensors and reinforcing structural geometry represents a predictable design evolution, utilizing known techniques of structural modification and electronic integration
Source Patent Element
Complex spline configurations with continuously changing cross-sectional shapes
PTD Variation
Thermally-resistant material selection for support members in extreme temperature environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Material selection for performance optimization is a standard engineering practice, with material substitution representing a routine design choice for addressing specific environmental constraints
Source Patent Element
Manufacturing method involving powdered material deposition and sintering
PTD Variation
Modular support structure designs for easy customization across different operational environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Designing modular manufacturing approaches is a predictable extension of existing additive manufacturing techniques, representing a standard method of increasing design flexibility
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857851 and the disclosed variations, a person of ordinary skill in the art would find the proposed golf club head support structure modifications obvious and lacking inventive step. The incremental environmental adaptations represent predictable design variations achievable through routine engineering practices, thereby rendering potential claims covering such modifications unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. Section 103.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,851
TitleSupport structures for golf club heads and methods of manufacturing improved support structures
Assignee(s)Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.