Evaluation of handles in a maximum gripping task

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics
• Human Factors Engineering
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Understanding handle design's impact on user experience is crucial for product development.
• Grip comfort and force exertion are key performance indicators in manual tasks.
• Previous research has explored various handle geometries, but specific force distributions remain under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of hook handle design characteristics on subjective discomfort.
• To measure phalange forces exerted during maximum gripping tasks.
• To correlate handle shape and size with user preference and force application.

Main Methods:

• Thirty participants (15 male, 15 female) performed maximum gripping tasks with various hook handles.
• A force glove system with 12 force sensitive resistor (FSR) sensors quantified phalange forces.
• Subjective discomfort ratings were collected alongside objective force measurements.

Main Results:

• User preference favored 30 mm and 37 mm double frustum handles, and 30 mm oval handles.
• Phalange force was more influenced by handle shape (oval > double frustum) than size.
• Force distribution varied significantly across fingers and phalanges, with the middle finger and distal phalanges exerting the most force.

Conclusions:

• Handle shape is a critical factor in both user preference and force transmission during gripping.
• Double frustum handles offer superior comfort, while oval handles facilitate higher phalange forces.
• Findings provide design guidelines for optimizing hook handles for specific user needs and task requirements.