Higher performance golf club and attachment for golf club, golf ball, athletic shoes, and athletic shin guards using shear-thickening fluids

• US 20110014996A1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Liquidmetal Technologies
• Original Assignee: Liquidmetal Technologies
• Inventors: Shepherd, Robert Foster, Green, Travis
• Application Number:
  US12/460,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20110014996A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/349
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/025 characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1258 for the shin, e.g. shin guards
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1266 for the calf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1283 for the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/081 fluid-filled, e.g. air-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1225 for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A method and system is provided which utilizes shear thickening fluids to enhance athletic performance. A shear thickening fluid composite is used on a golf club face to reduce the amount of side spin imparted onto a golf ball thus reducing the amount of slice or hook on the golf ball'"'"'s flight path. Upon impact between the shear thickening fluid composite and the golf ball, the shear thickening fluid moves laterally away from the direction of the side spin imparted on the ball, thus reducing the amount of side spin imparted onto the golf ball. After this lateral motion, the shear thickening fluid hardens and transfers the remaining energy from the club face to the golf ball. A similar process occurs when the shear thickening fluid composite composes the outside of a golf ball. A shear thickening fluid composite is also used on an athletic shoe so as to transfer more force into a kicked ball thus having the ball travel at higher velocities. When the shoe strikes a ball, the shear thickening fluid within the shoe becomes rigid. This rigidness allows more energy to be transferred to the ball resulting in a ball traveling at a higher velocity. Additionally, a shear thickening fluid composite is incorporated into the sole of the athletic shoe to limit overpronation or underpronation during running. Also, a particulate-based shear thickening fluid incorporated into athletic shin guards improves protection and athletic performance by reducing weight and improving breathability.

Claims

1. A shear thickening fluid enhanced golf club, said golf club including:

a golf club head, wherein said golf club head has a face portion,

wherein said face portion contacts a golf ball during a typical golf swing; and

a shear thickening fluid composite, wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is positioned over said face portion so that said shear thickening fluid composite, rather than said face portion, contacts said golf ball during a golf swing.

2. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is a ribbon that wraps around said golf club head.

3. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is affixed to said golf club head.

4. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said shear thickening fluid composite includes a solid matrix material.

5. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said shear thickening fluid composite contains dilatants that are not polymeric-based.

6. The golf club of claim 4 wherein said solid matrix material is composed of a fabric.

7. The golf club of claim 6 wherein said fabric base material is Kevlar.

8. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is detachable from said golf club head.

9. The golf club of claim 1 further including a shear thickening fluid composite cover, wherein said shear thickening fluid composite cover is positioned over said shear thickening fluid composite so that said shear thickening fluid composite cover, rather than said shear thickening fluid composite, contacts said golf ball during a golf swing.

10. A method for modifying a golf club using shear thickening fluids, said method comprising:

providing a golf club having a golf club head,

wherein said golf club head has a face portion,

wherein said face portion contacts a golf ball during a golf swing; and

positioning a shear thickening fluid composite, over said face portion so that said shear thickening fluid composite, rather than said face portion, contacts said golf ball during a golf swing.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is a ribbon, further including the step of wrapping said shear thickening fluid composite around said golf club head.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is a ribbon, further including the step of inserting said shear thickening fluid composite through said golf club head.

13. The method of claim 10 further including the step of affixing said shear thickening fluid composite to said golf club face.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said shear-thickening fluid composite uses a non polymer based dilatant.

15. The method of claim 10 further including the step of positioning a shear thickening fluid composite cover over said shear thickening fluid composite, wherein said shear thickening fluid composite cover is positioned over said shear thickening fluid composite so that said shear thickening fluid composite cover, rather than said shear thickening fluid composite, contacts said golf ball during a golf swing.

16. A golf ball including an exposed layer, wherein said exposed layer is composed of a shear thickening fluid composite.

17. The golf ball of claim 16 wherein said golf ball contains a core layer.

18. The golf ball of claim 16 wherein said golf ball contains a plurality of layers.

19. The golf ball of claim 16 wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is composed of a non polymer based dilatant.

20. A method for modifying a golf ball using shear thickening fluids, said method comprising:

providing a golf ball; and

providing a layer over said golf ball, wherein said outer layer is composed of a shear thickening fluid composite so that said shear thickening fluid composite contacts a golf club during a golf swing.

21. A shear thickening fluid enhanced athletic shoe, said athletic shoe including a shoe cover, wherein said shoe cover is composed of a shear thickening fluid composite, wherein said shoe cover contacts an athletic ball during a kick.

22. The shoe of claim 21, wherein said shoe further includes a shoe tongue, wherein said shoe cover is an extension of said shoe tongue.

23. The shoe of claim 21, wherein said shoe is composed of a shoe upper, wherein said shoe cover is attached to said shoe upper.

24. The shoe of claim 23, wherein said shoe cover further includes a hook, wherein said hook latches onto said shoe upper.

25. The shoe of claim 23, wherein said shoe cover further includes Velcro, wherein said Velcro attaches onto said shoe upper.

26. The shoe cover of claim 23, wherein said shear thickening fluid composite further includes a solid matrix.

27. The shoe cover of claim 26, wherein said solid matrix is made from a fabric.

28. A method for modifying an athletic shoe using shear thickening fluids, said method comprising:

providing an athletic shoe; and

securing a shoe cover onto said athletic shoe, wherein said shoe cover is composed of a shear thickening fluid composite so that said shoe cover contacts an athletic ball during a kick.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said athletic shoe further includes a shoe tongue, wherein said shoe cover is an extension of said shoe tongue.

30. A shear thickening fluid enhanced athletic shoe, said athletic shoe including a shoe upper, wherein said shoe upper is composed of a shear thickening fluid composite which turns rigid when kicking an athletic ball.

31. The shoe upper of claim 30 further including a tongue, wherein said tongue is composed of a shear thickening fluid composite.

32. The shoe upper of claim 30 wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is made from a solid matrix.

33. The shoe upper of claim 32 wherein said solid matrix is fabric.

34. The shoe upper of claim 33 wherein said fabric material is Kevlar.

35. The shoe upper of claim 30 wherein said shear-thickening fluid composite is composed of a non-polymeric dilatant.

36. The shoe upper of claim 35, wherein said non-polymeric dilatant is silica.

37. A shear thickening fluid enhanced lower leg guard, said lower leg guard including:

at least one piece of shear thickening fluid composite; and

at least one piece of elastic material, wherein said elastic material joins the sides of at least one said shear thickening fluid composite piece.

38. The lower leg guard of claim 37, further consisting of a plurality of shear thickening fluid composite pieces;

and a plurality of elastic material pieces, wherein said shear thickening fluid composite pieces and said elastic material pieces alternate around the circumference of the lower leg guard.

39. The lower leg guard of claim 37, wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is comprised of Kevlar fiber.

40. The lower leg guard of claim 37, wherein said shear thickening fluid composite is comprised of silica particles.

41. The lower leg guard of claim 37, wherein said elastic material is spandex.

42. A shear thickening fluid enhanced shin guard, said shin guard including a shield comprised of a non-polymer based shear thickening fluid composite.

43. The shin guard of claim 42 further including a strap.

44. The shin guard of claim 42 further including a non-shear thickening fluid liner.

45. The shin guard of claim 42 wherein said particle-based shear thickening fluid composite is composed of a Kevlar fabric.

46. The shin guard of claim 42 wherein said particle-based shear thickening fluid composite is composed of silica particles as a dilatant.