Actuating Footrest with Flexible Frame for Spring-Free Rebound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prolonged sedentary behavior leads to various health issues, including physical inactivity-related diseases, musculoskeletal problems, and mental health issues like stress and anxiety, which are exacerbated by the lack of movement in modern indoor environments.
Innovation Solution
A multi-purpose actuating footrest that allows users to apply downward force with their legs, which is then rebounded back as a therapeutic force-response action, promoting movement and reducing sedentary behavior without the need for spring mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional spring mechanism is used to provide rebound force, then the footrest can return to its initial position, but the device complexity increases and the structure becomes more fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring mechanism entirely from the footrest design. Instead of using a traditional spring-based rebound system, the invention employs a flexible frame structure that naturally returns to its initial position through its inherent flexibility and geometry, eliminating complex mechanical components and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible frame structure serves itself by using its own geometric configuration and material properties to provide the rebound force. The frame's flexibility allows it to deform under load and automatically return to its original shape without requiring external spring mechanisms or additional energy input systems.
2Ease of manufacture
If spring mechanisms are used to achieve the rebound effect, then the footrest can provide therapeutic force-response action, but the manufacturing cost and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the spring mechanism from the design, replacing it with a flexible frame structure that achieves the same therapeutic rebound effect through its geometric configuration and material flexibility, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining power capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters of the frame structure—specifically its flexibility, geometry, and material properties—to achieve the desired rebound force without requiring spring mechanisms. By adjusting these parameters, the flexible frame can provide adequate therapeutic force while being easier to manufacture.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the footrest uses a rigid structure, then it provides stable support, but it cannot provide the rebounding force-response action needed for therapeutic benefit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible frame structure. This dynamic structure can deform under applied force and automatically return to its initial position, providing the rebounding force-response action needed for therapeutic benefit while maintaining structural stability through its geometric configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a flexible frame structure that acts as a flexible shell, allowing controlled deformation under load. This flexibility enables the footrest to provide therapeutic rebound action while the overall geometric configuration maintains structural stability and support capability.
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 actuating footrest encourages physical interaction, reduces stress and anxiety, improves blood circulation, and provides a low-impact leg exercise, helping to manage weight, strengthen muscles, and prevent blood clot formation.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible frame structure comprising strategically angled levers/arms... stores potential energy in a flexed frame structure... removal of the applied force results in an upward recoil effect
Data Source
AI summary
An actuating footrest includes a footboard configured to receive a plurality of forces applied by the user's feet and a flexible frame configured to resist and return at least one of the applied forces. The flexible frame is attached to the footboard and includes a pair of lever arms connected to each other via a central crossbar, a stationary base configured to keep the footrest stationary while operated by a user with each lever arm transitioning to the stationary base at an angle, and bumpers to protect the footboard from damage during pivoting. The stationary base has a pair of base arms that are connected to each other via another central crossbar running parallel and having a substantially similar length to the lever arm crossbar, the stationary base further includes a plurality of floor grips configured to maintain the stationary position of the footrest.