Hockey Stick Handle Ergonomic Spline Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hockey stick designs fail to incorporate ergonomic principles, leading to strained wrist positions and limited freedom of motion for players due to non-linear grip approaches, which hinder performance and increase stress.
Innovation Solution
A hockey stick handle with a unique ergonomic design featuring a lower surface spline that aligns the forearm centerline with the shaft centerline, providing a relaxed wrist grip and reducing wrist rotation, allowing for improved alignment and reduced stress during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional straight shaft design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the wrist is placed in a strained position and freedom of motion is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into multiple surfaces (upper handle surface, lower handle surface, curved stop element) with distinct functional zones. The lower surface spline is segmented into a first portion extending inwards and a second portion extending outwards, creating specific grip zones that align the forearm centerline with the shaft centerline while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle design incorporates three-dimensional surface variations including the lower surface spline that extends inwards and outwards, and the curved stop element that arcs across the handle. These dimensional changes create ergonomic contours that align the user's forearm with the shaft centerline, transforming a simple linear grip into a multi-dimensional ergonomic interface.
2Ease of operation
If a side gripping stance is used, then the grip is traditional and easy to implement, but the shaft does not act as a true extension of the user's arm and stress is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The handle features an asymmetric lower surface spline configuration where the first portion extends inwards from the lower shaft plane and the second portion extends outwards. This asymmetric geometry creates a unique grip profile that aligns the forearm centerline with the shaft centerline, transforming the traditional side-gripping asymmetric stance into a symmetric alignment that reduces stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved stop element arcs across the handle from the upper handle surface towards the lower handle surface, creating a rounded grip contour. This curvature guides the user's hand into the optimal grip position where the forearm centerline aligns with the shaft centerline, eliminating the need for compensatory wrist angles and reducing mechanical stress.
3Productivity
If traditional design modifications are made, then the stick remains close to original simplicity, but performance improvements are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ergonomic handle applies localized geometric modifications to specific zones of the shaft. The lower surface spline with its inwards and outwards extending portions, combined with the curved stop element, creates concentrated ergonomic features at the grip area. These local quality changes provide significant performance improvements in wrist alignment and stress reduction without requiring complete redesign of the entire shaft structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A hockey stick handle is provided for use with a hockey stick shaft including an upper shaft surface having an upper shaft plane, a lower shaft surface having a lower shaft plane, two side shaft surfaces having side surface planes and a shaft centerline. The handle includes a shaft engagement end, a handle termination end opposite thereto, an upper handle surface, a lower handle surface comprising a lower surface spline extending inwards from the lower shaft plane towards the upper shaft plane in a first lower handle surface beginning at the shaft engagement end. The lower surface spline extending outwards in the lower shaft plane direction in a second lower handle surface beginning at the first lower handle surface and extending towards the handle termination end. A curved stop element runs between the upper handle surface towards the lower handle surface at the handle termination end and is sized to fit within a human palm. Two handle side surfaces run generally parallel to the two side shaft surfaces. The lower surface spline is configured to provide a relaxed wrist grip such that the shaft centerline is generally aligned with a user forearm centerline.