Integrated DAP Treadmill Structure for Low-Height User Unweighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Differential Air Pressure (DAP) systems are expensive, large, non-adjustable, require specialized power sources, and lack user-friendly features, especially for low-height users like children and adolescents, limiting their accessibility and comfort during rehabilitation and fitness training.
Innovation Solution
A DAP system with an integrated treadmill, a rigid shell, and a tensioned orthotic frame that biases the user to a standing position, featuring adjustable vertical supports, sound dampening, and a user-friendly design with a clinician-controlled interface, allowing for precise unweighting and enhanced user comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional DAP systems use a separate chamber encompassing the exercise equipment, then the system provides differential air pressure unweighting, but the system cost, size, shipping bulk, part count, and overall complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the exercise equipment and DAP chamber into a single integrated unit. The treadmill, cycle, or elliptical machine is built within the chamber structure itself, eliminating the need for separate chamber and equipment components. This merging reduces part count, simplifies the system, decreases shipping bulk, and lowers overall cost while maintaining the differential air pressure unweighting function.
2Reliability
If conventional DAP systems use a separate chamber encompassing the exercise equipment, then the system provides differential air pressure unweighting, but the system size and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise equipment is integrated within the chamber structure, allowing the chamber to serve dual purposes as both the pressurized environment and the equipment housing. This eliminates the need for additional space for separate equipment and chamber, significantly reducing the overall footprint and space requirements of the system.
3Reliability
If conventional DAP systems use a shell placed around existing treadmill, then the system provides differential air pressure, but user adjustment of incline or tilt settings is limited as it impacts the pressure differential
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable components within the integrated design that allow users to modify incline, tilt, and other exercise parameters without compromising the chamber's pressure differential integrity. These dynamic adjustments are designed to occur within the sealed environment, maintaining adaptability while preserving the core DAP function.
4Strength
If conventional DAP systems use duplicate framing of combined system, then the system provides structural support, but the cost, size, shipping bulk, part count, and overall complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber structure is designed to serve as the primary structural support for the exercise equipment, eliminating the need for duplicate framing. The integrated design uses the chamber walls and structure as both the pressure-containing vessel and the equipment support framework, reducing part count and simplifying the overall system while maintaining necessary structural strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A Differential Air Pressure (DAP) disguised as an amusement system is provided for motivating user participation in exercise session activities of the DAP system. The DAP system has a support platform with a treadmill integrated therein, and includes an inflatable enclosure secured at a base end to the support platform that extends upward therefrom in an inflated state to a vertical height for the exercise session, which has shape features corresponding with the amusement system disguise. A restraint securely connected to the support platform at a base portion and connected to a top opening defined through an upper region of the inflatable enclosure restrains the top opening at a vertical height in an inflated state. A control computer controls the DAP system to perform operations corresponding with the disguised appearance and further include operations for at least partially unweighting the user for the exercise session.