Gravity-Driven Ankle Interlocking Device for Blood Circulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exercise devices for promoting blood circulation, such as steppers and bicycle pedals, require significant physical strength and can cause muscle fatigue, are not suitable for long-term use due to noise and wear issues, and are not adaptable for individuals with mobility issues or those who cannot apply excessive force, such as pregnant women or patients with cardiovascular disease.
Innovation Solution
A device that uses gravity to promote blood circulation by interlocking left and right ankle movements without requiring separate power, allowing for gentle, continuous peristaltic motion with adjustable strength, reducing strain on the knee and surrounding muscles, and minimizing noise through a weight-driven mechanism with rotary bars and footplates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional exercise devices (stepper, bicycle pedal) are used to promote blood circulation, then blood circulation is improved, but muscle fatigue increases and long-term use becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses the user's own body weight as the driving force through the weight transfer mechanism. When the user shifts weight between left and right footplates, gravity automatically drives the rotary bars and pulley system, eliminating the need for external power sources or excessive muscle exertion while continuously promoting blood circulation
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs a counterweight mechanism where weights attached to rotary bars balance each other during weight transfer. This creates a smooth, controlled motion that reduces impact and muscle strain while maintaining continuous circulation promotion through the pulley-driven footplate movement
2Duration of action of moving object
If conventional exercise devices are used for long-term blood circulation, then circulation benefit is achieved, but noise and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces complex mechanical exercise mechanisms with a simplified gravity-driven weight transfer system. The pulley and rotary bar mechanism converts simple weight shifting into coordinated footplate motion, reducing mechanical stress and wear while minimizing noise through smooth gravitational movement rather than forced mechanical action
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the operational parameters from high-force, high-impact conventional exercise to low-force, smooth gravitational movement. By utilizing gravity as the driving force rather than muscle power, the system achieves continuous operation with significantly reduced wear on components and minimal noise generation
3Productivity
If conventional exercise devices are used, then muscle exercise is achieved, but they are not suitable for individuals with mobility issues
Solution Approach 1:
The device provides dynamically adjustable resistance through the weight transfer mechanism. Users with limited mobility can perform gentle weight shifts between footplates, while healthier users can apply more force. The gravity-driven system naturally adapts to different user capabilities, making it suitable for pregnant women, patients with cardiovascular disease, and those with mobility issues
Solution Approach 2:
The device serves multiple user groups with varying mobility levels through its gravity-based weight transfer mechanism. The same basic structure accommodates users from those with severe mobility limitations to healthy individuals, providing blood circulation benefits to all without requiring modification or external assistance
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
Enables continuous, long-term blood circulation without fatigue, suitable for individuals with mobility limitations, promoting venous return from the pelvic limb to the upper body, reducing the risk of blood clotting, and allowing use in various settings without noise or physical strain.
Implementation Method 1
uses the gravity action
Implementation Method 2
promote blood circulation from the pelvic limb to the upper body
Data Source
AI summary
A structure including left and right footplates and weight shafts provided at left and right sides in a blood circulation exercise interlocking device, providing a pelvic limb blood circulation ankle interlocking device comprising a vertical supporter configured at the center of a lower plate of a main body in a vertical direction, left and right auxiliary vertical supporters configured to be parallel in a vertical direction at left and right sides of the vertical supporter, rotary shafts configured at the same position as the left and right auxiliary vertical supporters in a horizontal direction of the vertical supporter, left and right rotary bars configured at left and right sides of the rotary shaft to be coupled with a rotating device, weights made of heavy metals at the upper ends of the left and right rotary bars, and left and right footplates configured at left and right rotation lower ends.