Conical Ski Pole Grip Reduces Hand Fatigue
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pole grips for hiking, trekking, and skiing are uncomfortable and cause fatigue due to their cylindrical shape, requiring a tight grasp to transfer axial forces, which is difficult with gloves or for users with arthritis, and often lead to injuries from improper wrist strap use.
Innovation Solution
A conical primary grip with a spiral groove and an optional secondary ascent grip, along with a break-away wrist strap attached at the base, designed to fit the natural hand shape, allowing axial force transfer without a tight grasp and enhancing comfort and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cylindrical grip shape is used, then the grip can be easily manufactured, but it requires a tight grasp to transfer axial forces which causes hand and forearm fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a conical curvature to the grip shape, transitioning from a cylindrical form to a tapered form that matches the natural anatomy of the hand. This conical shape allows the hand to grip more naturally without excessive squeezing force, reducing fatigue while maintaining manufacturability through standard molding processes.
2Force
If a tight grasp is required to transfer axial forces, then force transfer is effective, but it is difficult to achieve when wearing gloves or with arthritis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the local geometry of the grip by implementing a conical shape with specific taper angles. This local geometric change concentrates the force transfer area to match the natural gripping zones of the hand, enabling effective axial force transfer even with reduced grip strength from gloves or arthritis.
3Reliability
If a fixed wrist strap is used, then the strap provides continuous support, but it can trap the hand and cause injury during falls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a break-away wrist strap that can be easily detached from the grip. This allows the strap to provide continuous support during normal use, but can be quickly discarded or released during falls or emergencies to prevent hand trapping and injury.
4Force
If grip stops are used to prevent hand slippage, then axial force reaction is provided, but the reaction forces are concentrated on a small portion of one finger which is not ergonomically efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates traditional grip stops by using the conical shape itself to provide axial force reaction. The tapered surface distributes the reaction forces across a larger area of the hand, improving ergonomic efficiency while maintaining the ability to prevent hand slippage and react axial forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand grip system for a skiing, hiking or trekking pole. The pole grip system includes a primary grip with a conical shape designed to fit the natural anatomical shape of a human hand grasping the grip. An optional secondary ascent grip, also conical in shape and located just below the primary grip, may be used for climbing steep terrain without adjusting pole length. The conical shape of the primary grip and the ascent grip provides a mechanism for axial force to be transferred from the user's hand to the pole without requiring a tight grasp. A grip top located above the primary grip prevents the user's hand from sliding upward, and serves as a gripping surface for alternate grasps such as a palm grip. A break-away wrist strap attached at the lower end of the primary grip is usable with either the primary grip or the ascent grip.