Abdominal Exerciser Sled Curved Track Spine Strain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional abdominal exercises often lead to overload and injury, particularly straining the spine, neck, and back, as they fail to effectively isolate and strengthen the abdominal muscles without compromising safety and support for the back, and existing exercise machines provide insufficient resistance or ergonomic alignment.
Innovation Solution
An abdominal exerciser with a sled supported by a track that allows the user to perform upper and lower abdominal crunches in a biometrically neutral position, using a sled that slides or rolls along a curved track, enabling controlled and supported exercises that isolate the abdominal muscles without straining the back or neck, and allowing for dynamic contraction and isometric holds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional abdominal exercises (sit-ups) are performed to strengthen abdominal muscles, then abdominal muscle engagement is achieved, but spine and neck overload occurs causing injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized exercise bench with positioned supports (head support, upper back support, lower back support) that act as intermediaries to distribute and bear the body weight during abdominal exercises. These supports mediate between the user's body and the ground, preventing direct overload on the spine and neck while allowing effective abdominal muscle engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The exercise bench is segmented into multiple functional support zones (head support, upper back support, lower back support) that independently address different body regions. This segmentation allows each support to handle specific portions of body weight, collectively preventing spine and neck strain while maintaining abdominal exercise effectiveness.
2Strength
If abdominal exercises use arm slings and hanging from a bar to strengthen abdominals, then advanced abdominal conditioning is achieved, but hip flexors handle much of the load creating injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The positioned supports on the exercise bench act as intermediaries that directly support the torso and pelvis, preventing hip flexors from compensating by bearing excessive load. The supports mediate the mechanical forces during the exercise, ensuring abdominal muscles perform the primary work without hip flexor involvement.
3Strength
If exercise machines provide high resistance for strength training, then muscle strengthening is improved, but back support and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise machine segments the support function across multiple positioned supports (head support, upper back support, lower back support) that collectively bear the body weight and provide stable back support. This segmentation allows the application of resistance to abdominal muscles while the distributed support system maintains safety and prevents back injury.
4Device complexity
If exercise machines position the upper body low in conjunction with the lower body, then compact design is achieved, but ergonomic alignment is compromised causing discomfort and injury
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise bench utilizes vertical dimensionality by positioning supports at different heights along the vertical axis (head support at top, upper back support in middle, lower back support at bottom). This vertical arrangement achieves compact horizontal footprint while maintaining proper ergonomic alignment of the user's body in the vertical dimension.
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
The exerciser effectively isolates and strengthens both upper and lower abdominal muscles, minimizing back and neck strain, allowing for safe and effective strength conditioning that changes the overall abdomen muscle structure without compromising safety or support.
Implementation Method 1
a sled that is supported by and slides or rolls along at least one track
Data Source
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AI summary
An abdominal exercise device (102) for working the abdominal and oblique muscle groups includes a leg support (550) that can slide or roll along a track (108) and an upper body support (540). The abdominal exercise device (102) is configured to simulate an abdominal exercise "crunch" motion when the knees are brought within proximity of the upper body support (540).