Backward Walking Treadmill With Embedded Brake Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional treadmills are not designed for backward walking and lack ergonomic features and resistance control, making them unsuitable for effective backward walking exercises, and they are often large, costly, and difficult to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A compact, foldable treadmill with a static frame and dynamic platform, featuring adjustable support handles and a braking mechanism with flywheels to provide controlled resistance, allowing for safe and effective backward walking exercises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional treadmills are used for backward walking, then resistance control is limited and components may be damaged, but the treadmill structure remains complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the resistance mechanism from the traditional treadmill motor system and places it on the belt itself through embedded brakes. This separates the resistance function from the drive system, allowing independent control of resistance without complicating the overall treadmill structure or risking motor damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt incorporates self-braking capabilities through embedded brake elements that provide resistance directly where needed. The system serves its own resistance control needs without requiring external complex mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while improving ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If traditional treadmills are used for backward walking, then ergonomic support is insufficient, but the treadmill design remains standardized and non-adaptive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces adjustable and movable elements including height-adjustable backrests, movable armrests, and adjustable belt speeds that can operate in reverse. These dynamic components allow the treadmill to adapt to different user positions and backward walking requirements, improving ergonomic support while enhancing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The treadmill incorporates asymmetric design elements such as the backward-facing belt configuration, angled support structures, and non-symmetric control mechanisms that are specifically optimized for backward walking. This asymmetric design provides superior ergonomic support compared to symmetric traditional designs.
3Productivity
If a dedicated backward walking treadmill is designed, then resistance dynamics can be optimized, but the device becomes larger and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a treadmill that serves multiple functions: it can operate in forward mode for traditional exercise, backward mode for sled simulation, and provides adjustable resistance through embedded brakes. This multi-functionality allows a single device to provide optimized resistance dynamics for backward walking without requiring a completely separate dedicated system, reducing overall size and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the resistance mechanism with the belt system itself, combining the drive function and resistance function into a single integrated assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate resistance mechanisms, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining optimized resistance dynamics for backward walking exercise.
4Productivity
If outdoor sled exercise is used, then resistance can be applied, but environmental conditions limit usability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an indoor treadmill with embedded brake resistance as an intermediary system that replicates the outdoor sled exercise experience. This intermediary device provides the necessary resistance and backward walking capability in a controlled indoor environment, eliminating the harmful effects of outdoor conditions such as snow, ice, rain, and heat while maintaining exercise effectiveness.
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
The treadmill provides a stable, ergonomic, and cost-effective solution for backward walking, simulating the resistance of pulling a weighted sled while being easy to maintain and store, with adjustable features to accommodate different user positions and resistance levels.
Implementation Method 1
A brake acts on at least one of the rollers (or flywheels attached to the rollers) to resist movement of the treadmill belt over the deck
Data Source
AI summary
A treadmill for backward walking is disclosed. The treadmill may include a static frame and dynamic platform pivotally mounted to the static frame. A C-shaped support handle includes side portions that may be grasped or otherwise used by a user to stabilize their position, and a cross member against which the user may lean, e.g. with the user's hips or back. A user may press against a treadmill belt with the user's feet, against resistance from a brake, to move the treadmill belt away from the user's body.