Dual Action Weightlifting Machine Low Position Horizontal Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual action weightlifting machines face challenges in providing a lightweight and efficient design that allows for simultaneous horizontal and vertical movement while minimizing the complexity and weight of the traveling frame, often requiring bulky overhead guide systems and counterweights.
Innovation Solution
A dual low position horizontal guide system is implemented, with horizontal slides mounted below the vertical travel path of the exercise bar, eliminating overhead guide systems and reducing the weight of the traveling frame by integrating the horizontal guidance system at the lower end, allowing for stable horizontal and vertical movement without the need for additional racking systems or safety bars to travel with the frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If overhead guide systems and counterweights are used to enable simultaneous horizontal and vertical movement, then the machine provides stable dual action exercise motion, but the traveling frame weight and complexity increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the overhead horizontal guide system from the traveling frame, extracting this function to the stationary frame only. The traveling frame retains only vertical guides and slides, dramatically reducing its weight and complexity while maintaining stable exercise motion through the stationary frame's horizontal guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance system is segmented into two independent parts: horizontal guidance provided by the stationary frame and vertical guidance provided by the traveling frame. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized separately, with the stationary frame handling horizontal movement and the traveling frame handling vertical movement, reducing overall complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If overhead guide systems are mounted on the traveling frame to provide horizontal guidance, then dual action movement is enabled, but the machine structure becomes bulky and complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting horizontal guides on the moving traveling frame, the patent inverts the arrangement by mounting horizontal guides on the stationary frame and allowing the traveling frame to move freely horizontally. This inversion simplifies the traveling frame structure while maintaining full horizontal guidance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary frame's horizontal guide system serves multiple functions: it provides horizontal guidance for the traveling frame, supports the entire traveling frame assembly, and eliminates the need for separate overhead horizontal guides on the traveling frame itself, reducing overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual action weightlifting machine has a stationary main frame assembly comprising a right side frame and a left side frame on opposite sides of an exercise area, and a traveling frame movably supported on the stationary frame assembly and having right and left sides and a cross bar connecting the right and left sides above the exercise area, each side of the traveling frame having a vertical guide. A weight bearing exercise bar is movably supported on the traveling frame and has spaced first and second vertical slides slidably mounted on the right and left vertical guides. A horizontal slide assembly has dual horizontal guides on each side frame which engage dual slides on each side of the traveling frame. The horizontal slide assembly is located in a lower portion of the stationary frame assembly completely below the vertical travel path of a user engaging portion of the weight bearing exercise bar.