Adjustable Free-Weight Lifting Support System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional free-weight equipment poses safety risks during lifts, particularly the risk of the bar falling and causing injury or death, necessitating a spotter and leading to psychological fear and inefficient lifting experiences, especially when lifting alone.
Innovation Solution
A free-weight lifting and support system with vertically adjustable and removable lifting bars, side supports, and base frames that allow for safe lifting and lowering of weights without a spotter, featuring adjustable and rotatable components for versatility across various exercises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional free-weight equipment is used, then lifting versatility and muscle engagement are improved, but safety risk increases due to bar falling
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the traditional barbell setup into separate components: a stationary support structure and a movable lifting bar. This segmentation allows the bar to be independently controlled and positioned, eliminating the risk of uncontrolled falling while preserving free-weight lifting versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a support structure with adjustable arms as an intermediary between the weight and the lifter. This intermediary mechanism provides controlled movement and positioning, acting as a safety mediator that prevents direct harm from falling bars while allowing legitimate lifting exercises.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a spotter is used, then safety is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service safety through its own design features. The adjustable support structure and lifting bar mechanism automatically provide safety functions without requiring external human intervention, allowing lifters to perform exercises independently without spotters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable parameters including height, angle, and position of the support arms that can be modified based on the specific exercise and lifter needs. This adjustability allows the system to adapt to different lifting scenarios while maintaining safety, eliminating the need for fixed complex spotting arrangements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a spotter is used, then injury prevention is improved, but psychological fear and lifting efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The safety system performs self-service by automatically preventing bar falling through its engineered mechanism, eliminating the need for spotter intervention. This removes the psychological burden on the lifter knowing a spotter is watching, thereby improving lifting efficiency and reducing anxiety while maintaining injury prevention.
4Device complexity
If fixed bar position is used, then structural simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different exercises deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed bar position into a dynamic, adjustable configuration. The support arms can be positioned at various heights and angles, and the lifting bar can be moved along the arms, providing adaptability for different exercises while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure based on basic mechanical joints and adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A free-weight lifting and support system used by a weightlifter. The system includes a left side support and a left free-weight holder. It also includes a right side support and a right free-weight holder. It further includes a lifting bar, the lifting bar located between the left and right side supports and separating the left and right side supports from each other, and the lifting bar is vertically adjustable relative to the left and right side supports at the same time. The left side support is connected with the right side support via at least the lifting bar such that the lifting bar, the left side support and the right side support are together simultaneously liftable from a ground position to a lifted position by the weightlifter and safely back to the ground position by the weightlifter.