Swivel Chair Exercise Retrofit With Stable Resistance and Mobility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prolonged sitting in office settings leads to physical inactivity, increased risk of diseases, and mechanical trauma due to decreased blood circulation and poor posture, with existing exercise devices often compromising mobility and safety.

Innovation Solution

A limb-exercising system that attaches to swivel chairs using a rigid framework, limb-exercising units, force resistors, and cables, allowing for hands-free exercise without interfering with desk work and ensuring minimal impact on chair mobility and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If exercise apparatus is added to office chair, then physical exercise capability is improved, but chair mobility is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise capabilityVSAvoidchair mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The exercise apparatus is divided into separate functional modules (resistance mechanism, cable system, limb-exercising units) that can be independently positioned and adjusted, allowing the chair to maintain mobility while providing exercise functionality through distributed components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The exercise mechanism operates in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the chair's vertical movement, with cables routing through guides and pulleys to provide resistance motion that does not interfere with the chair's forward or rotational mobility on castors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If exercise apparatus is added to office chair, then physical exercise capability is improved, but safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise capabilityVSAvoidoccupational safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus includes pre-positioned footrests and limb-exercising units that guide users into proper exercise positions before resistance is applied, ensuring safe operation from the start of exercise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The resistance mechanism uses a spring-based force resistor that provides inherent safety through mechanical overload protection, where the spring naturally limits maximum force to prevent injury while maintaining exercise effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If rigid connection mechanism is used to secure exercise device, then exercise stability is improved, but chair mobility is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise stabilityVSAvoidchair mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Cable guides and pulleys act as intermediary elements that transmit exercise forces through controlled paths, providing stable resistance motion while the castors serve as intermediaries between the chair and floor to maintain mobility despite the rigid exercise framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The rigid framework is localized to specific regions of the chair (underneath for resistance mechanism, front for limb-exercising units) rather than making the entire chair rigid, allowing exercise stability where needed while preserving overall chair mobility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables concurrent exercise and work performance, reducing the risks associated with prolonged sitting while maintaining chair mobility and safety, promoting muscle exercise without substantial noise or occupational hazards.

Implementation Method 1

The force resistor provides resistance to movement of the limb-exercising unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The cable couples between limb-exercising unit and the force resistor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Data Source

PatentUS9149678B2Exercise apparatus for retrofitting to swivel chairs on castors

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 CHAIR TRAINER LTD

AI summary

According to certain aspects, the invention includes a limb-exercising system for coupling (i.e., attaching, retrofitting) to or manufacturing with the swivel chair. The limb-exercising system includes a rigid framework, at least one limb-exercising unit, a force resistor and a cable. The rigid framework includes at least one chair coupler that couples the rigid framework with the swivel chair (e.g., so that the limb-exercising apparatus is disposed underneath the chair leg base), such that the relative movement between the rigid framework and the swivel chair is minimal. The rigid framework is coupled with the limb-exercising unit and with the force resistor, which in turn is coupled with the limb-exercising unit via the cable. The limb-exercising unit is operative to provide movement exercise for at least one muscle group of the body of a user.