Enclosed Weight Selection Mechanism for Safer Gym Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing weight lifting machines face safety risks, complexity in weight adjustment, and unsuitability for outdoor and unsupervised environments due to loose pins, jamming issues, and the need for supervised use.

Innovation Solution

A weight lifting machine with a rotationally arranged handle and a weight selection mechanism that includes a vertically arranged rod and displaceable trolley, ensuring easy weight adjustment and safety features like a pin stabilization mechanism and safety mechanisms to prevent undesired weight adjustment, housed within a robust enclosure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a removable pin mechanism is used for weight selection, then the mechanism is simple and easy to operate, but the pin can be lost or misplaced causing safety risks and operational failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight selection mechanismVSAvoidweight selection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is extracted from being a free-floating removable component and is instead integrated into a fixed positioning mechanism. The pin is held in a recess within the weight plate, eliminating the risk of loss while maintaining the simplicity of the selection process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A recess in the weight plate serves as an intermediary structure that holds the pin in place. This recess acts as a mediator between the pin and the weight plate, ensuring the pin remains securely positioned while still allowing for easy weight selection through the handle mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pin insertion process requires manual removal and reinsertion, then weight adjustment is possible, but the process becomes complicated and time-consuming especially for lower plates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidweight adjustment process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The weight selection mechanism is designed to be self-servicing through the rotational handle. When the handle is rotated, it automatically moves the pin between different recesses in the weight plates without requiring manual removal or reinsertion of the pin by the user. The mechanism serves itself by using the rotational motion to achieve weight changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The pin remains continuously engaged with the weight plate throughout the operation. Instead of being removed and reinserted, the pin continuously stays in place while the handle rotation mechanism moves it between different positions, ensuring continuous useful action without interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If the mechanism is accessible to users for pin engagement, then weight selection is possible, but safety risks increase due to potential limb entrapment in unsupervised environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight selection accessibilityVSAvoidsafety risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pin and weight plate are nested within the handle assembly structure. The pin is positioned inside a recess of the weight plate which is itself part of the handle assembly, creating a nested configuration that protects the pin from being accessible to external forces or limbs while maintaining operational functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The recess in the weight plate acts as an intermediary protective structure that shields the pin from direct exposure. This recess mediates between the pin's need to be accessible for weight selection and the need to protect against limb entrapment by containing the pin within a defined space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the lifting rod can be freely moved for weight adjustment, then weight selection is flexible, but the mechanism can become jammed when no weights are attached

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight selection flexibilityVSAvoidmechanism functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The recess in the weight plate serves as an intermediary structure that guides and constrains the pin's movement. This recess mediates between the need for flexible weight selection and preventing jamming by providing a defined path and position for the pin, ensuring the mechanism remains functional even when no weights are attached.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12599804B2Weight lifting machine

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 KOMPAN

AI summary

Weight lifting machine includes adjustable weight assembly having a plurality of individual weights, a weight displacement mechanism which displaces one or more of the weights in a direction against a resistive force and a weight selection mechanism arranged to selectively engage one or more of the individual weights with said weight displacement mechanism. A handle applies a force to a horizontal bar connected to the handle which is connected to the weight displacement to move the weight displacement mechanism. The weight assembly further comprises a housing enclosing the individual weights, the weight displacement mechanism and the weight selection mechanism such that a user is prevented from coming into contact with any moving parts arranged in the housing and a displaceable selector handle arranged on an outer portion of the housing and arranged to operate the weight selection mechanism. Furthermore, the horizontal bar is arranged outside the housing.