Adjustable Weight Training Device Rail Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for physical therapy and strength training often require separate equipment for different body areas and user needs, lacking versatility and adjustable resistance to accommodate varying user strengths and hand sizes, especially for exercising fingertips.
Innovation Solution
A customizable device featuring a rail with an adjustable weight and multiple handle options, including puck and ball shapes, that can be secured at different positions along the rail to provide progressive resistance and accommodate various hand sizes, with a stop to prevent weight displacement and markings for force indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate devices are used for different body areas and training purposes, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall number of devices required increases and versatility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines multiple handles of different sizes and shapes with an adjustable weight system on a rail, allowing a single device to serve both physical therapy and strength training purposes for various body areas including fingers, hands, arms, and shoulders
2Device complexity
If fixed resistance is provided in the device, then the structure is simpler, but the device cannot accommodate users with varying strength levels or progressive training needs
Solution Approach 1:
The weight can be positioned at different locations along the rail and secured at variable positions, allowing the resistance to be dynamically adjusted based on the user's strength level and training progression while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure
3Force
If the device provides high resistance for strength training, then athletes and strong users can achieve their goals, but physical therapy patients with injuries cannot use the device safely
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance force can be changed by adjusting the weight position along the rail and selecting different weight values, allowing the same device to provide low resistance for physical therapy patients and high resistance for strength training users
4Device complexity
If the device is designed for one hand size, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot accommodate different users with different hand sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The device includes multiple handles of different sizes and shapes that can be interchanged, allowing users with different hand sizes to select the appropriate handle while keeping the main device structure simple and reusable
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable, customizable device for use in physical therapy and/or strength training. The device may have a rail; a handle; a weight, where the weight may be adjustably positioned along the rail and held in place against the rail via an attachment device; and a stop located on the rail adjacent the handle, such that the stop prevents the weight from coming into contact with the handle. When the device is held by the handle, the weight provides increased force the further the weight is located from the handle due to the cantilevered nature of the device. Thus, the amount of force used in various exercises can be adjusted by moving the weight along the rail, either between different types of exercises or as the user's strength increases. Different sizes and shapes of handles may be utilized to accommodate the user's hand size and exercise goals.