Ergonomic Stick Grip with Angled Head for Sloping Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stick grips are limited in their ergonomic design, as they are primarily suited for gripping transversely to the longitudinal axis and do not allow for comfortable application of force from above, which is problematic on sloping terrain.
Innovation Solution
A stick grip with a front grip area pointing in the running direction and a rear grip area oriented oppositely, featuring a central recess and a curved head area with a grip nose that protrudes significantly, allowing for comfortable grip and force application from above.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional stick grip is designed for transverse gripping only, then the grip structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate force application from above which is needed on sloping terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The stick grip is divided into distinct functional zones: a front gripping area with a grip nose for palm contact, a rear gripping area with contours for finger placement, and a central recess for the stick shaft. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while collectively providing multi-orientation grip capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip features asymmetric design elements including an overhanging grip nose that extends beyond the main grip body in the forward direction, and contours that are optimized for one-handed gripping. This asymmetry enables comfortable force application from above while maintaining transverse grip capability, resolving the contradiction between grip orientation flexibility and structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If the grip nose protrudes significantly beyond the gripping area, then force application from above becomes comfortable, but the grip weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grip nose is designed with specific local qualities: it protrudes by more than 50% of the average extent of the gripping area to provide adequate palm contact surface for force application from above. However, the overall grip structure maintains lightness through optimized material distribution and avoiding excessive mass in non-critical areas, thus balancing comfort requirements with weight constraints.
3Ease of operation
If the head area is designed with a significant overhang for ergonomic gripping, then grip comfort improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The head area features a curved, rounded contour that overhangs the gripping area, creating an ergonomic profile that naturally conforms to hand anatomy. This curved design provides comfortable grip contact surfaces while being amenable to common manufacturing processes such as injection molding or rotational shaping, thus achieving ergonomic comfort without excessive manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The stick handle (1) has a stick longitudinal axis (L), a front stick handle area in a travel direction (R) and a rear stick handle area aligned opposite to the travel direction. Encompassing areas (3a,3b) and a corrugated head area (2) adjacent to the encompassing areas are provided. A sectional plane of the head area is angled in an obtuse angle within area of 90 to 135 degrees from the stick longitudinal axis. The head area is transverse to the travel direction and to the stick longitudinal axis.