Lacrosse Stick Head Mounting With Internal Wedging Against Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lacrosse stick heads become loosened from the handle due to vibration or torsion forces, leading to reduced control and increased risk of injury and breakage.
Innovation Solution
A lacrosse stick head mounting system featuring a protrusion with an angled end that internally mounts to the handle, secured by a screw through a wedged end cap, creating a wedging force to resist rotation and longitudinal motion, with the fastener being internal to the handle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single screw is used to mount the lacrosse stick head to the handle, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the mounting connection deteriorates due to loosening from vibration and torsion forces
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into multiple functional components: a wedge-shaped end cap, a protrusion with angled surface, and a fastening mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function (wedging action, rotational resistance, fastening) that collectively improves reliability without requiring an overly complex assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge-shaped end cap acts as an intermediary element between the stick head and handle. It translates the fastening force into a wedging action that creates friction and mechanical interference, preventing loosening from vibration and torsion forces while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If the screw is positioned through the centerline of the stick head, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to resist rotation and longitudinal motion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge-shaped end cap and protrusion feature asymmetric angled surfaces that are not centered on the stick head's centerline. This asymmetry creates offset contact points that generate rotational resistance and prevent longitudinal motion, while the fastening mechanism remains centrally positioned for ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a purely axial fastening approach to a multi-dimensional solution. The angled wedge surfaces introduce radial and tangential force components that resist rotation and longitudinal motion, adding dimensional complexity to the force distribution while maintaining simple central fastening.
3Strength
If the wedge surfaces are positioned at an oblique angle, then the torsion load resistance is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge surfaces are designed with specific oblique angles (e.g., 30°, 45°) that optimize torsion load resistance. These angle parameters are carefully selected to balance mechanical performance with manufacturability, providing sufficient torsional strength while remaining feasible for standard manufacturing processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the union between the stick head and handle, reducing loosening, increasing torsion load resistance, minimizing repairs, and improving grip strength, thus enhancing control and reducing breakage.
Implementation Method 1
creating a wedging force internal to the lacrosse stick handle or pole creating the union of the lacrosse stick head to the lacrosse stick handle or pole
Implementation Method 2
contact between the first wedge surface and the oblique wedged end cap can be repositioned relative to each other to create an offset relative to an axial position that resists rotation of the lacrosse stick head about the handle longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
A lacrosse stick head has a protrusion at a base of the lacrosse stick head, which internally mounts to the lacrosse stick handle or pole. The protrusion has an angled end, which makes contact with the angled end of the wedged end cap. The protrusion and the wedged end cap are drawn together via a screw through the centerline of the lacrosse stick head and mated to a threaded wedged end cap, creating a wedging force internal to the lacrosse stick handle or pole, and uniting of the lacrosse stick head to the lacrosse stick handle or pole.