Arcuate Exercise Device with Coccyx Cutout for Full Spinal Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise devices primarily work abdominal muscles from a flat position, limiting their range of motion and potentially leading to back and hip problems by not fully engaging the muscles, and cause discomfort due to friction and rubbing.
Innovation Solution
An exercise device with a flat base and arcuate upper surface, featuring varying angles and coccyx cutouts to allow full-range spinal motion, reducing friction points, and incorporating adjustable inclines to suit different muscle strengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If exercise devices use a flat floor position for abdominal exercises, then the exercise program is simple to perform, but the range of motion is limited and muscle engagement is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise device incorporates an arcuate (curved) upper surface instead of a flat surface. This curvature allows the user's spine to follow a natural arc during exercise, enabling the full range of motion from 30° extension back through center to 25° flexion forward, thereby engaging all four segments of the abdominal muscles completely.
2Adaptability or versatility
If exercise devices increase the range of motion to fully engage abdominal muscles, then muscle engagement is improved, but the risk of discomfort and injury from friction and rubbing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a coccyx cutout that removes the problematic contact area between the user's coccyx and the exercise surface. By extracting this harmful contact point, the device eliminates friction and rubbing discomfort that would otherwise occur during full-range spinal motion, allowing complete muscle engagement without injury risk.
3Adaptability or versatility
If exercise devices provide full-range spinal motion from 30° extension to 25° flexion, then abdominal muscle engagement is complete, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arcuate upper surface is formed as a single integrated structural feature of the device body, rather than requiring complex mechanical joints or adjustable components. This curved geometry naturally guides the spine through the full range of motion (30° extension to 25° flexion) while maintaining a simple, lightweight, and easy-to-manufacture device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise device includes a flat base having a first end and an opposing second end. The base is configured to engage a flat exercise surface. The exercise device further includes a pair of opposing sidewalls extending away from the base and an arcuate upper surface extending between the first end and the second end between the pair of opposing sidewalls. A first angle is defined between the base and the upper surface proximate the first end and a second angle is defined between the base and the upper surface proximate the second end. The exercise device also includes a coccyx cutout in the upper surface proximate at least one of the first end and the second end.