Dynamic pendula stool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dynamic seats and stools fail to effectively provide isometric contraction of the muscle groups of the lower limbs and abdominal girdle in a seated position, often being cumbersome and unsuitable for office use.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic pendula stool with a telescopic column and a spherical foot, allowing the column to form an angle between 30° and 90° with the horizontal, featuring a ball and socket joint articulation for three degrees of freedom, enabling isometric muscle contraction while being space-saving and suitable for continuous office use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional office chairs are used to support the body in an ideal sitting position, then comfort is improved, but muscle engagement of the lower limbs and back deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stool transforms the static support function into a dynamic exercise function by introducing a telescopic column that can be compressed by leg movements. The column's compression and extension mechanism converts passive sitting into active muscle engagement while maintaining comfort through controlled motion resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The stool enables users to exercise their own muscles through their body weight and movements. The mechanism requires no external power source or complex control systems - the user's own leg movements compress the telescopic column, creating resistance that engages the lower limb and back muscles automatically.
2Productivity
If Pezzi balls are used to engage muscles of the legs and back, then muscle engagement is improved, but ease of use in office environment deteriorates due to cumbersomeness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the exercise device from a large, unstable ball to a compact stool with a telescopic column. This parameter change maintains the muscle engagement function while dramatically improving ease of use and suitability for office environments through reduced size and improved stability.
3Productivity
If gymnastics devices like bicycles and leg presses are used to work muscles, then muscle engagement is improved, but space requirements and mobility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic column is nested within the stool structure, with the column containing movable internal components that compress and extend. This nesting allows the exercise mechanism to be contained within a compact footprint, dramatically reducing space requirements compared to traditional gymnastics devices while maintaining muscle engagement effectiveness.
4Productivity
If electrostimulation devices are used for isometric contraction of muscles, then muscle engagement is improved, but ease of use deteriorates due to complexity and undressing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex electrostimulation systems with a simple mechanical telescopic column mechanism. The column's compression and extension provide isometric resistance through pure mechanical means, eliminating the need for electrodes, power sources, or undressing, thereby dramatically improving ease of use while maintaining isometric contraction effectiveness.
5Stability of the object's composition
If dynamic seats with ball and socket joints and springs are used, then stability is improved, but device complexity and cumbersomeness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary complex components from previous dynamic seat designs. By removing redundant ball and socket joints and spring mechanisms, and retaining only the essential telescopic column for providing resistance and stability, the design achieves the required stability with significantly reduced complexity.
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
The stool effectively engages the muscle groups of the lower limbs and abdominal girdle through isometric contraction, promoting muscle engagement and stability without the bulkiness of previous designs, allowing for both periodic and continuous use in a seated position.
Implementation Method 1
the column forms an angle between 30° and 90° with the horizontal, which allows the isometric contraction of the muscle groups of the lower limbs and of the abdominal girdle in a seated position
Implementation Method 2
an upper part, whose free end has an articulation with three degrees of freedom and is secured to the lower face of the seat
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a dynamic pendula stool possessing a foot, a leg secured to the foot, and a seat secured to the top end of the leg. The leg has a telescopic column that includes a lower part secured to a spherical foot with a diameter of 20-cm or less and an upper part with a free end having an articulation. The articulation has three degrees of freedom and is secured to the underside of the seat so that when a user rests against the seat, the leg forms an angle between 30 and 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal, thereby allowing an isometric contraction of the muscle groups of the lower limbs and of the abdominal girdle in the seated position. The stool is further provided with one or more sensors configured to send data signals to a remote electronic device.