Adjustable Overhead Handles for Chin-Dip Exercise Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing assisted chin/dip exercise apparatuses often pose a risk of head injury due to the proximity of overhead handles to the user's head during exercises, particularly when stepping onto the assist bar or performing dip exercises.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features a pair of adjustable overhead handles that can pivot between two positions, providing sufficient clearance for the head during these actions, with handles that are angled inwardly and rearwardly in one position and extend forward and parallel in another, allowing for safe gripping during chin-ups, pull-ups, and dips, and are freely rotatable to avoid head contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fixed overhead handles are used for chin-up exercises, then the handles are positioned close to the user's head, but this causes risk of head injury when stepping onto the assist bar or performing dip exercises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle positioning for chin-up exerciseVSAvoidhead injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The overhead handles are made dynamically adjustable between at least two positions: a first position close to the overhead support for chin-up exercises, and a second position spaced farther away for dip exercises and when stepping onto the assist bar. This dynamic repositioning eliminates the fixed hazard while preserving exercise functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The horizontal spacing parameter of the handles relative to the overhead support is changed between exercises. The handles can be positioned at a first horizontal spacing for chin-ups and a second, greater horizontal spacing for dips, allowing optimization of safety and functionality for each exercise type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If adjustable handles are added to provide head clearance, then head injury risk is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehead injury riskVSAvoidhandle adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handles are made dynamically adjustable between at least two positions: a first position close to the overhead support for chin-up exercises, and a second position spaced farther away for dip exercises and when stepping onto the assist bar. This dynamic repositioning eliminates the fixed hazard while preserving exercise functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The same adjustable handle assembly serves multiple functions: it provides close positioning for chin-up exercises, distant positioning for dip exercises, and intermediate positioning when stepping onto the assist bar. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for different exercise types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3409331B1Assisted chin/dip exercise apparatus with adjustable chin-up/pull-up handles
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 HOIST FITNESS SYSTEMS INC
  • EP3409331B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3409331B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3409331B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

The invention relates to an exercise apparatus, comprising: a stationary frame comprising a base portion, an upright portion, and an overhead portion; a pivotally mounted foot or assist bar comprising a foot platform; and an adjustable overhead handle assembly secured to the overhead support portion of the stationary frame and comprising at least one handle pair, the at least one handle pair comprises a pair of adjustable handles or hand grips, whereby especially each adjustable handle is associated with a pivot portion or a pivot sleeve, that are adjustable between a first position and a second position and an overhead support for use with an exercise machine.