Breakaway Wrist Strap for Ski Poles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pole grip designs for hiking, trekking, and skiing poles are uncomfortable, cause hand fatigue, and lack effective load transfer mechanisms, often requiring users to apply excessive grip pressure to react axial loads, which can lead to injuries and discomfort, especially for individuals with conditions like arthritis.
Innovation Solution
A pole grip system featuring a conical primary grip that matches the natural anatomical shape of the hand, allowing for axial force transfer without excessive squeezing, combined with a break-away wrist strap that detaches under tension to prevent injuries and enhance user safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If users apply excessive grip pressure to react axial loads on the pole, then load transfer effectiveness is improved, but hand fatigue and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
A wrist strap is introduced as an intermediary element between the user's hand and the pole. The strap transfers axial loads from the hand to the pole through a separate load path, reducing the need for excessive grip pressure and thereby decreasing hand fatigue while maintaining effective load transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The load transfer function is segmented into two independent paths: one through the grip surface (for steering and minor loads) and another through the wrist strap (for major axial loads). This segmentation allows the strap to handle the primary load transfer, freeing the hand from excessive squeezing requirements
2Force
If users tightly wrap their hand around the grip to achieve friction-based load reaction, then axial load resistance is improved, but hand and forearm muscle fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wrist strap serves as a mediator that assumes the primary function of reacting axial loads. By transferring this function to the strap, the hand muscles are relieved from sustained contraction, enabling longer activity durations without fatigue
Solution Approach 2:
The wrist strap automatically engages and reacts loads without requiring active user intervention. Once the hand is positioned through the strap, the load transfer occurs passively through the strap's tension, eliminating the need for continuous muscle engagement
3Force
If a fixed wrist strap is used to apply downward force on the pole, then force application is improved, but hand injury risk increases during falls
Solution Approach 1:
The wrist strap transitions from a static, fixed attachment to a dynamic, break-away coupling mechanism. The coupling remains engaged during normal use to provide force application but automatically releases under excessive load conditions such as falls, thereby preventing hand injuries while maintaining functional performance
4Strength
If grip surfaces are made parallel to the pole axis to enable friction-based load reaction, then axial load transfer is improved, but grasp comfort and ease deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The wrist strap acts as an intermediary that decouples the grip surface geometry from the axial load transfer function. The strap handles the primary load transfer regardless of grip surface orientation, allowing the grip to be optimized for comfort and natural hand positioning without compromising load transfer effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A break-away wrist strap for a ski pole or the like. The wrist strap is comprised of a strap or cord material with a clip for attaching to the pole and a buckle for adjustment. The buckle allows adjustment of the size of a loop portion into which the user's hand is placed, and also allows adjustment of an extension portion which extends from the loop portion to the clip. The clip is configured to attach to a standard size pole below the main hand grip, and is designed to detach from the pole when a tensile force above a threshold amount is applied. The break-away feature improves safety of the wrist strap, allows the wrist strap to be used with existing poles, and allows the wrist strap to be removed when not needed. A storage clip for stowing the wrist strap against the pole is also provided.