Abdominal Exercise Plate with Adjustable Leg Bar

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exercise assemblies for abdominal muscles lack an efficient and integrated solution for engaging the user's legs during workouts, limiting the effectiveness of the exercise.

Innovation Solution

A rigid plate is positioned between a mattress and a box spring with a support and bar system that allows the bar to be vertically adjusted, positioning the user's legs for effective engagement during abdominal exercises.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid plate is used to provide stability for abdominal exercises, then stability is improved, but the ability to adjust leg positioning is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidleg positioning adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bar is made vertically adjustable relative to the plate through a support mechanism with openings at different heights. This allows the bar position to be dynamically changed to accommodate different leg positioning needs while maintaining overall system stability during exercise execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device is divided into separable components: a rigid plate for stability, a support structure with multiple positioning options, and an adjustable bar for leg placement. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function while providing overall versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the bar is made vertically adjustable to improve adaptability, then leg positioning flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebar positioning flexibilityVSAvoidsupport and adjustment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bar's vertical adjustability is achieved through a simple support mechanism with predefined openings at different heights. This provides the necessary flexibility for leg positioning while avoiding overly complex adjustment mechanisms, maintaining a balance between adaptability and simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the plate is retained by mattress weight and user weight, then secure retention is improved, but the risk of plate displacement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplate retention securityVSAvoidplate displacement risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to prevent plate displacement through complex locking mechanisms, the design inverts the approach by using the mattress and user weight themselves as the retaining force. The plate is positioned and dimensioned to be held securely by the distributed load of the mattress and user body weight, converting potential displacement forces into retention forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10130838B2Abdominal exercise assembly

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 MURRELL ROBERT

AI summary

An abdominal exercise assembly for exercising abdominal muscles includes a plate that is rigid. The plate has a first end that is configured to insert between a mattress and a box spring of a bed. A second end of the plate is positioned proximate to an edge of the bed. A support is slidably coupled to the second end. The support is configured to position proximate to and parallel to the edge of the bed. A bar, coupled to the support distal from the plate, extends bidirectionally from the support in parallel with the second end of the plate. The bar is configured to be selectively vertically positioned relative to the plate. The plate is retained in a substantially horizontal configuration by a combination of the weight of the mattress and a user positioned on the mattress. The bar is configured to selectively position legs of a user.