Rotatable Sports Stick Shaft for Proper Cradling Training

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sports sticks do not facilitate proper training of cradling skills by forcing players to use their less dominant hand, leading to incorrect mechanics.

Innovation Solution

A sports stick with a freely rotatable bottom portion, comprising a first tubular portion, an insert unit, and a spinning unit, allowing the bottom hand to rotate independently of the top hand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the bottom portion of the sports stick is made freely rotatable, then proper cradling training is enabled by forcing use of the less dominant hand, but the structural complexity of the sports stick increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproper cradling trainingVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sports stick shaft is divided into distinct segments: a first tubular portion, an insert unit, and a spinning unit. This segmentation allows the bottom portion to rotate independently while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the stick, enabling proper cradling training without requiring a completely redesign of the entire stick.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert unit is coupled with the first tubular portion, and the spinning unit is coupled to the insert unit, creating a nested structure. This nested design allows the spinning unit to rotate freely within the insert unit, which itself is integrated into the first tubular portion,从而实现独立旋转功能的同时保持结构紧凑。

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the bottom hand can rotate the stick freely, then correct cradling mechanics are enforced, but control over the stick's rotation becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrect cradling mechanicsVSAvoidcontrol over rotation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The insert unit acts as an intermediary between the first tubular portion and the spinning unit. It provides a controlled interface that allows the spinning unit to rotate freely while maintaining a stable connection to the rest of the stick, thus enabling correct cradling mechanics without compromising overall control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the sports stick has a fixed bottom portion, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but players continue to use incorrect mechanics with their dominant hand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidproper technique training

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom portion of the sports stick is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The spinning unit can rotate freely relative to the first tubular portion, providing the necessary movement to enforce proper cradling mechanics while using relatively simple coupling mechanisms that do not significantly complicate manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20260061281A1Sports Stick with Rotatable Shaft

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 HERLIHY JOHN

AI summary

In one aspect of the disclosure, a sports stick shaft includes a first tubular portion including a first end constructed to couple with a sports stick head, an insert coupled with the first tubular portion on a top end and a spinning unit on a bottom end, and a spinning unit coupled to the insert. In another aspect of the present disclosure, the sports stick shaft comprises an insert unit, comprised of a coupling end constructed to couple with the first tubular portion, and a second tubular portion configured to couple with the spinning unit.