Sports Training Ladder with Elastic Cord Folding Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Athletes require equipment that combines the training benefits of agility ladders and hurdles, but existing equipment is bulky, heavy, and difficult to transport and store, necessitating separate setups for each type.
Innovation Solution
A sports training ladder with adjustable rungs that can be converted between a flat ladder position and a hurdle position, featuring permanently attached tubes and elastic cords for easy folding and unfolding, allowing for compact storage and versatile use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate agility ladder and hurdle equipment are used, then training benefits of both are provided, but equipment becomes bulky and difficult to transport and store
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines an agility ladder and hurdles into a single integrated piece of equipment. The agility ladder structure includes rungs that can be configured to form hurdles when raised, allowing one device to provide both agility ladder training and hurdle training benefits, thereby reducing the volume and number of separate equipment pieces needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The agility ladder is designed with multi-functionality to serve as both a traditional agility ladder and a set of hurdles. The rungs can be positioned in different configurations - flat for agility ladder exercises or raised to form hurdles for jumping exercises - allowing a single device to perform multiple training functions.
2Reliability
If traditional agility ladder and hurdle equipment is used, then training effectiveness is maintained, but setup becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the agility ladder and hurdles into one integrated structure, the patent eliminates the need to separately set up two different pieces of equipment. The unified design allows athletes to transition between agility ladder exercises and hurdle exercises without dismantling and reassembling separate equipment, thereby reducing setup time while maintaining training effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate equipment for agility ladder and hurdles is carried, then training versatility is achieved, but transport becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate heavy equipment pieces (agility ladder and hurdles) into a single integrated structure. This consolidation reduces the total weight that must be transported, as athletes only need to carry one piece of equipment instead of two separate heavy items, while still providing both training options.
4Reliability
If traditional equipment is used, then training functionality is maintained, but storage becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design combines the storage requirements of two separate equipment pieces into one compact unit. When not in use, the agility ladder and hurdle configurations can be collapsed or folded into a compact storage state, reducing the volume of storage space needed compared to storing separate agility ladder and hurdle equipment.
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 efficient and compact storage and transport while providing the training benefits of both agility ladders and hurdles, enhancing athlete performance with improved ease of setup and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
Left and right elastic cords may extend through the left and right tubes
Data Source
AI summary
A sports training agility ladder is usable in a flat ladder position with the ladder rungs on or close to the ground. The ladder may also be moved into and used in a hurdle position where a bridge or center section of each rung is raised up off of the ground. The ladder accordingly provides advantages of an agility ladder and of hurdles. Each rung may have permanently attached left and right tubes forming a frame. Left and right elastic cords may extend through the left and right tubes. The ladder is consequently easily and compactly folded up for storage and transport, and quickly and easily unfolded for use in either the ladder position or the hurdle position.