Balance Exercise Machine with Elastic Columns and Motion Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current balance exercise machines lack flexibility in the loading board oscillation, limiting their ability to effectively simulate skiing or surfing, and fail to integrate virtual reality games for enhanced entertainment, leading to a suboptimal fitness experience.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional balance exercise machine with a balancing mechanism featuring a spring, elastic columns, and a motion-tracking sensor, combined with an electronic control device that includes a processor unit and display, allowing for adjustable resistance and virtual reality integration through a pivoting center mechanism and guiding pin system, enabling torsional and oscillating movements that mimic skiing or surfing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the spring is fixed on the loading board directly via fixing plate, then the structure is simple, but the space between the spring and loading board is insufficient, decreasing flexibility of the loading board

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidloading board flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the support structure into multiple components: a base plate, multiple elastic columns, and multiple springs arranged in parallel. This segmentation allows each component to contribute independently to the overall flexibility and support, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and loading board flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a nested arrangement where elastic columns are positioned between the base plate and the loading board, with springs arranged around or within the elastic column structure. This nesting creates efficient use of space while maintaining adequate clearance and flexibility for the loading board.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If traditional exercise machines imitate outdoor exercise movements, then the exercise effect is achieved, but the entertainment value and user engagement are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexercise effectivenessVSAvoidentertainment functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges traditional exercise machine functionality with virtual reality gaming elements. The loading board's oscillating and rotating movements are detected and translated into game controls, combining physical exercise with digital entertainment to enhance user engagement while maintaining exercise effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional device that serves both as a traditional exercise machine for balance and coordination training and as an interactive virtual reality gaming platform. The same mechanical movements fulfill both exercise and entertainment functions simultaneously.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If motion-tracking sensor is added to enable virtual reality game integration, then entertainment effect is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual reality integrationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing systems with electronic motion-tracking sensors. Instead of using multiple mechanical switches, encoders, or complex linkages to detect board movements, a single motion-tracking sensor captures the loading board's oscillations and rotations, significantly reducing mechanical complexity while enabling virtual reality game integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 machine provides enhanced flexibility and realism in balance exercises by allowing torsional and oscillating movements, while integrating virtual reality games to enhance user engagement and entertainment.

Implementation Method 1

the user body weight and the stress applied by feet transmit to the elastic column and the spring via the loading board causing the elastic column and the spring compressed or stretched

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a spring arranged on the fixing base

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3628378B1Multifunctional balance exercise machine
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 JIAN LING TECH
  • EP3628378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3628378B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3628378B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A multifunctional balance exercise machine (100) comprises a balancing mechanism (20) including loading board (28), spring (22), elastic column (26), and motion-tracking sensor (27); a first display unit (34) and an electronic control device (30) loaded with motion sensor game program arranged on the exercise equipment (10); whereby when the fitness user (50) stands on the loading board (28), the user body weight and the stress applied by feet transmit to the elastic column (26) and the spring (22) via the loading board (28), cause the elastic column (26) and the spring (22) compressed or stretched, and force the loading board (28) to oscillate, then achieve the effect of balance exercise; furthermore, the motion tracking sensor transmit signal of oscillation data to electronic control device (30), the processor unit (33) operates the data, and present the image of the motion sensor game via the first display unit (34) to achieve entertaining effect of virtual reality game.