Exercise ball chair
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Exercise balls lack stability when used as seating, leading to instability and difficulty in performing seated exercises or converting them for other purposes.
Innovation Solution
An exercise ball chair design featuring left and right supports, a pivoting ball retainer, and adjustment knobs that capture and stabilize the exercise ball for seating while allowing easy removal and adjustment for various uses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the exercise ball is placed directly on the floor without a chair structure, then the ball can be easily removed and used for other purposes, but the ball lacks stability and cannot be used for seated exercises
Solution Approach 1:
The chair is divided into separate components: a base structure with left and right supports, and a ball retainer mechanism that can pivot between retention and release positions. This segmentation allows the ball to be securely held when needed while maintaining ease of removal for other uses.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball retainer is designed to pivot between a ball retention position and a ball release position, providing dynamic adaptability. The adjustment knobs allow the retainer to be locked in the retention position for stability during seated exercises, or released to allow easy removal of the ball for other purposes.
2Reliability
If the ball retainer is fixed in place, then the ball is securely retained for seated exercises, but the ball cannot be easily removed for other uses
Solution Approach 1:
The ball retainer mechanism incorporates pivoting motion and adjustable locking via knobs. When the knobs are tightened, the retainer is locked in position providing secure retention. When the knobs are loosened, the retainer can pivot to the release position, allowing easy ball removal. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between secure retention and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment knobs change the friction or mechanical constraint parameter of the ball retainer. By adjusting the knob tension, the user can transition the retainer between a locked state (high friction/constraint) for secure retention and an unlocked state (low friction/constraint) for easy removal, thus adapting the retention parameter to different usage needs.
3Reliability
If adjustment knobs are added to lock the ball retainer, then the ball is secured for seated exercises, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into simple, modular components (knobs on the ball retainer) that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation keeps each component simple while providing the necessary locking function, minimizing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment knobs are designed to be manually operated by the user without requiring additional tools or complex mechanisms. The user can easily tighten or loosen the knobs to lock or release the ball retainer, making the system self-sufficient and avoiding the need for motorized or complex mechanical locking systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The exercise ball chair stabilizes an exercise ball so that it can be used as a comfortable chair. While seated in the exercise ball chair, a user may perform seated-workout exercises. The exercise ball chair comprises a left support, a right support, and a ball retainer. The ball retainer pivots between a ball retention position and a ball release position. An exercise ball is placed in the chair such that the left support, the right support, and the ball retainer, in the ball retention position, capture the exercise ball and prevent it from rolling. A user may then sit on the exercise ball. A left adjustment knob and a right adjustment knob allow the ball retainer to be locked to prevent it from pivoting. With the adjustment knobs loosened, the ball retainer may be pivoted to the ball release position and the exercise ball may be removed.