Elliptical Exercise Apparatus Folding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding elliptical exercise apparatuses require complex and costly telescopic tracks, necessitate separate folding of left and right sides, and often require users to handle the entire machine during the folding process, making it inconvenient and space inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A folding elliptical exercise apparatus design featuring a main frame, crank assembly, guider frame that pivots between use and storage positions, and supporting members that remain connected to the guider frame during folding, allowing for easy operation by lifting the guider frame, which reduces the footprint by half without the need for telescopic tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If telescopic tracks are used to maintain continuous support of supporting members during folding, then the supporting members remain coupled to tracks at both use and storage positions, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The track system is divided into a fixed track portion and a movable rail portion. The fixed track provides continuous support during folding, while the movable rail is detached during storage. This segmentation allows the supporting members to remain supported throughout the folding process without requiring complex telescopic mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail is designed to be dynamically adjustable - it can be moved along the fixed track during operation to maintain support, and detached during storage. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt between operational and storage states without complex telescopic structures.
2Area of stationary object
If the guider frame is pivoted to enable folding, then the footprint is reduced by half, but the crank assembly and supporting members must be repositioned or handled during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The rail is pre-positioned on the fixed track such that when the guider frame is pivoted to the folded position, the supporting members automatically remain engaged with the track system. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for users to manually reposition components during folding.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed track acts as an intermediary element that maintains the connection between the supporting members and the frame during the pivoting motion. This intermediary structure allows the guider frame to be folded while keeping the supporting members properly positioned without requiring user intervention.
3Ease of operation
If the left and right sides are folded separately as in prior art, then each side can be folded independently, but the folding process requires repeated operations and the rear ends of supporting members are not continuously supported
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed track system merges the support function for both left and right supporting members into a single continuous structure. This allows both sides to be folded simultaneously while maintaining continuous support, eliminating the need for separate folding operations and ensuring reliable support throughout the process.
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 quick, convenient, and effort-saving folding and unfolding, reducing the footprint of the elliptical exercise apparatus by half while maintaining structural simplicity and avoiding the complexity and expense of telescopic tracks.
Implementation Method 1
a guider frame which has tracks thereon pivotally coupled to a rear portion of the main frame at a pivot axis positioned at a height relative to the ground surface so that the guider is movable between a use position and a storage position
Data Source
AI summary
This invention discloses an elliptical exercise apparatus that is characterized in having left and right tracks disposed in a guider frame which is pivotally coupled to a rear portion of the elliptical exercise apparatus. When a user uses the elliptical exercise apparatus, the guider frame is at a use position. When the user folds the elliptical exercise apparatus, the guider frame is at a storage position. A user can complete folding procedure merely by operating the guider frame without lifting some heavy components of the elliptical exercise apparatus.