Collapsible Freestanding Exercise Station Hinge Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise equipment solutions lack a compact, freestanding, and easily collapsible design that can support various exercises like pull-ups without requiring external mounting or significant storage space.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible, freestanding exercise station comprising a base, first and second stands, and a pull-up bar, where the stands are hingedly coupled to the base and each other, allowing for easy expansion and collapse without disassembly, and featuring locking mechanisms for stability during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If exercise equipment is designed to be compact and easily collapsible, then storage space and portability are improved, but structural stability and load-bearing capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise station is divided into multiple collapsible stands (first stand, second stand, third stand, fourth stand) that can be independently folded. Each stand is a separate structural unit connected to the base and crossbar, allowing the entire structure to be segmented for compact storage while maintaining strength when assembled. The segmentation enables the stands to be folded flat against the base, reducing storage footprint from a full expansion height of approximately 7 feet to a compact profile of less than 2 inches.
Solution Approach 2:
The stands incorporate hinge joints that enable dynamic transformation between expanded and collapsed states. The hinges allow each stand to pivot and fold, providing mechanical adaptability. When expanded, the stands form rigid vertical supports; when collapsed, they fold flat. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by allowing the structure to be strong and stable during use, then compact for storage through simple hinge-based folding motion.
2Ease of manufacture
If exercise equipment is designed to be freestanding without external mounting, then installation simplicity and versatility are improved, but structural stability and support reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple stands (first, second, third, and fourth stands) are combined to work together as a unified support system. The stands are positioned at different locations around the base, with their upper ends connected to the crossbar. This merging of multiple support elements distributes the load and provides mutual reinforcement, achieving the stability of wall-mounted equipment while maintaining the simplicity of freestanding assembly. The crossbar connects all stands, creating a integrated structure that resists tipping and maintains reliability without requiring external mounting.
3Adaptability or versatility
If exercise equipment is designed to support various exercises and user weights, then versatility and load capacity are improved, but device complexity and structural requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise station is designed with universal functionality to support multiple exercise types (pull-ups, dips, push-ups, squats, lunges) and accommodate users of various weights. The crossbar serves multiple purposes: as a pull-up bar, as a support for dip handles, and as a structural connector. The stands are designed with sufficient load capacity to handle diverse exercises and user weights, yet maintain a relatively simple four-stand configuration. This universality allows one structure to replace multiple specialized pieces of equipment without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise station with a pull-up bar is disclosed. The exercise station is freestanding without engaging external structures, and supports a user in performing an exercise routine, such as pull-ups or dips. The exercise station may be collapsed to a small footprint and a low vertical profile without disassembly of the exercise station's components.