Portable Exercise Ball Structure for Balance and Resistance Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Access to high-quality training equipment is limited due to economic and logistical constraints, and existing exercise equipment like medicine balls and resistance bands are costly and limited in functionality, making it difficult for the general population and athletes to achieve fitness and rehabilitation goals.
Innovation Solution
A multi-modal portable exercise equipment that combines the functionalities of balance balls and resistance bands, comprising matable hemispheric half bodies with a zippered skin and attachment members for weights or cables, allowing for various exercises and configurations to enhance core strength, balance, and stability, and is designed for easy storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional exercise equipment like medicine balls and resistance bands are used, then exercise functionality is provided, but cost and limited versatility worsen access for general population
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple exercise equipment functions into a single integrated device. The exercise ball incorporates attachment members for resistance bands, creating a merged system that provides both balance training and resistance training capabilities in one piece of equipment, thereby reducing the need for multiple separate expensive items
Solution Approach 2:
The exercise ball is designed with universal applicability through multiple exercise modes. It can be used for balance exercises, resistance training, core strengthening, and rehabilitation exercises. The attachment members and various configurations allow one piece of equipment to replace multiple specialized devices, improving accessibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional exercise equipment is used, then exercise benefits are achieved, but portability and storage convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise ball is divided into two hemispherical halves that can be separated for storage and transport. When not in use, the halves can be nested within each other, significantly reducing the space required for storage and making it easy to pack in a gym bag, while still providing full functionality when assembled
Solution Approach 2:
The hemispherical halves are designed to nest within each other when separated, creating a compact storage configuration. This nesting arrangement minimizes the volume required for storage and transport while maintaining the complete exercise functionality when the halves are reassembled into a full ball
3Adaptability or versatility
If exercise equipment is designed for multiple functions, then versatility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise ball achieves multiple exercise modes through a universal base design. The attachment members can be configured in various ways (different anchor points, resistance band arrangements) to provide different exercise types without requiring fundamentally different structural components, thereby managing complexity while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The exercise equipment incorporates dynamic adjustability through movable attachment members and configurable resistance band setups. Users can change exercise modes by repositioning attachment points and adjusting band configurations rather than switching between fixed-structure devices, allowing versatility through dynamic reconfiguration rather than static complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention includes matable first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies that in mated condition provide a generally spherical exercise ball that in one exercise modality of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention is attached to external exercise equipment such as the cable of an exercise machine or resistance band and can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and that in another exercise modality thereof the first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies in unmated condition each provide a freestanding generally hemispheric exercise half body and can be used by a subject for balance and other allied training exercises. The first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies in unmated condition are each constituted of a plurality of spherical caps in nested relation that may be unpacked and used by a subject for balance and other allied training exercises of low, medium and high use difficulty.