Bilateral Retractable Band Handles With Locking Length Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable band/cord devices lack bilateral housing and adjustability, leading to inefficiencies in changing the resting length, loss of handle stability, and reduced portability during exercises, and often result in untethered ends that distract users.
Innovation Solution
A bilateral spool mechanism with retractable housings on both sides, shared band/cord, and locking mechanisms that allow for easy length adjustment and secure winding, maintaining handle functionality and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single housing is used on one end of the band/cord, then the device structure is simplified, but the device is limited in scope and cannot provide bilateral adjustability
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two independent housing units, each containing a spool mechanism, with the band/cord passing through both housings. This segmentation allows each housing to independently control the band length on its side, providing bilateral adjustability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each housing unit serves multiple functions: it contains a spool mechanism for length adjustment, provides a handle for user interaction, and includes a locking mechanism for securing the band at desired lengths. This multi-functionality expands the device's scope beyond single-end designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the band/cord length is adjusted by giving up handles to grasp the band directly, then the resting length can be changed, but the stability of the anchor is decreased and comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The housing acts as an intermediary structure between the user's hand and the band/cord. The handle attached to the housing provides a stable anchor point that maintains its position while still allowing length adjustment through the spool mechanism, eliminating the need to give up the handle for adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing and handle assembly provides a dynamic system where the handle remains stable for anchoring while the band length can be adjusted through the spool mechanism. The locking mechanism allows the system to transition between locked and unlocked states, providing both stability and adjustability as needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the band/cord length is adjusted by attaching to another object, then the resting length can be changed, but control is lost and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be self-adjusting through the spool mechanism within each housing. The user can change the band length by operating the spool or locking mechanism without needing to attach the device to external objects. The band/cord is contained within the housings, allowing all adjustments to be made while the device remains portable and self-contained.
4Adaptability or versatility
If two handles and retractable locking mechanisms are provided on both sides, then adjustability is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two independent housing units, each containing a spool mechanism, with the band/cord passing through both housings. This segmentation allows each housing to independently control the band length on its side, providing bilateral adjustability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanisms on both sides work together to secure the band/cord at desired lengths. The handles on both ends are connected through the band/cord, allowing synchronized operation. This merging of functions across both sides provides bilateral control without requiring completely separate mechanisms for each end.
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 device provides efficient, portable, and adjustable exercises with stable handle anchoring, allowing for versatile uses such as exercise devices, carry assists, and belts, while maintaining comfort and control.
Implementation Method 1
Retraction springs, attached to one end of each of the spool mechanisms, spin the spool to wrap the band/cord to a retracted state around the spool axel within each housing.
Implementation Method 2
Band/cord locking mechanisms rest along the outside of each housing opening slot to secure the band/cord at different lengths once pulled out from the housings by their attached handles.
Data Source
AI summary
A bilateral retractable band/cord device with handles on both ends. Each handle element attaches to a housing member internally consisting of a spring biased retractable spool axel that protracts outwardly or retracts inwardly a shared band/cord element. A locking mechanism on the outside of each housing member locks the shared band/cord element at any length between the handle elements. When the band/cord element is elastic, this embodiment is a self-contained, bilateral, hand-held, multidimensional exercise tool that is adjustable to variable lengths while maintaining the handle elements for comfort, stability, and portability. The ability to change the materials, sizes, shapes, and designs of each element of this device makes it versatile for a plethora of uses, e.g. an exercise device, a carry-assist device and a belt, with the advantages of stability, comfort, compactness, ease of use, and portability.