Cable System Connector with Viewing Window for Visual Engagement Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise equipment connectors, such as cylindrical threaded studs, make it difficult for operators to visually confirm the sufficient engagement of the cable ends with the exercise equipment, leading to potential disengagement and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
An elongated cylindrical connector with an externally threaded cylindrical surface and a viewing window is used to ensure visual confirmation of full engagement, featuring a stud with a spherical free end and a viewing window that indicates when the connector is fully registered with the threaded recess.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical threaded connector is used to connect the cable system to the weight stack, then the connection is secure and reliable, but it is difficult for operators to visually confirm sufficient engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a visual indication mechanism where the connector displays different visual states (such as color changes or visibility of markers) to indicate engagement status. When the connector is fully threaded into the weight stack, a visual marker becomes visible or changes color, providing immediate feedback to the operator that proper engagement has been achieved, thus resolving the difficulty of visual confirmation while maintaining connection reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the connector design is simplified to improve ease of assembly, then assembly becomes faster and easier, but visual verification of proper engagement becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design incorporates a self-verifying feature where the act of proper engagement automatically produces a visible indication. The visual marker is positioned such that it naturally becomes visible only when the connector is fully threaded, eliminating the need for separate verification steps or complex assembly procedures. This maintains assembly simplicity while providing automatic visual confirmation of proper engagement.
Data Source
AI summary
Exercise equipment comprises a resistance weight that is configured to oppose a given exercise motion via a cable system. An elongated cylindrical connector couples the resistance weight to the exercise equipment via the cable system. The elongated cylindrical connector comprises an externally threaded cylindrical surface that is engaged with a threaded recess on one of the exercise equipment and the resistance weight. A viewing window transversely extends into the threaded recess so that an operator can visually determine that the elongated cylindrical connector is fully engaged with the threaded recess when the externally threaded cylindrical surface is visible through said viewing window and so that an operator can visually determine that the elongated cylindrical connector is not fully engaged with the threaded recess when the externally threaded surface is not visible through said viewing window.