Exercise Grip With Selective Locking Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grip elements for exercise machines experience relative sliding between the grip and cable during complex movements, leading to discontinuity and loss of fluidity in exercise performance, compromising the correct execution of exercises.
Innovation Solution
A grip element with selective locking means, featuring a tubular handgrip with a longitudinal through-channel and contact surfaces that adhere to the cable by friction, preventing sliding relative to the cable during user movements while allowing free sliding when inactive, ensuring smooth and effective weight lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the grip element is designed to slide freely along the cable, then the cable can move without resistance when the grip is inactive, but relative sliding occurs during complex movements causing discontinuity and loss of fluidity
Solution Approach 1:
The grip element incorporates selective locking means that dynamically change its state between locked and unlocked positions. During active exercise, the locking means engage to prevent sliding and ensure fluid force transmission. During inactive periods, the locking means disengage to allow free cable movement, thus adapting the grip's mechanical properties to operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction coefficient between the grip element and cable is changed based on operational state. When locked, high friction prevents sliding. When unlocked, low friction allows free movement. This parameter change enables the system to switch between providing rigid support during exercise and allowing free movement during inactive periods.
2Reliability
If selective locking means are added to prevent sliding, then movement fluidity is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The selective locking means are designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the operational state of the grip element. The locking mechanism responds autonomously to movement conditions, engaging when the grip is stationary and disengaging when movement occurs, eliminating the need for external control systems or complex actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The selective locking means act as an intermediary element between the grip element and the cable. This intermediate mechanism translates the operational state into appropriate mechanical interaction, providing locking when needed and freedom of movement when appropriate, without requiring direct complex control of the grip element itself.
3Reliability
If the grip element locks to the cable, then sliding is prevented during exercise, but the cable cannot slide freely when the grip is inactive
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means dynamically transition between engaged and disengaged states based on whether the grip element is being actively used. During active exercise, the locking means engage to prevent sliding and ensure force transmission. During inactive periods, the locking means disengage to allow the cable to slide freely through the grip element.
Solution Approach 2:
The selective locking means are pre-configured to automatically engage or disengage based on the operational context. The system is designed to anticipate and respond to the transition between active and inactive states, ensuring the appropriate locking state is established before exercise begins and automatically adjusted when exercise ends.
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 the user to perform exercises with continuous, fluid movements by locking the grip element to the cable in any direction without sliding, while allowing the cable to freely slide when the grip element is inactive, enhancing exercise performance and safety.
Implementation Method 1
contact surfaces that adhere to the cable by friction, preventing sliding relative to the cable during user movements
Implementation Method 2
allows the cable to slide freely in its axial cavity without applying any resistant action
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A grip element for an exercise machine, comprising at least a substantially tubular handgrip (2), forming at least one outer surface (3) to be gripped by the user's hand while performing exercises to develop muscles or the like, and having at least one substantially longitudinal through-channel (4) in which there will engage at least one flexible cable (5) connected to at least one resistant load of at least one exercise machine, the grip element being characterised in that said handgrip (2) comprises means (6) for selective locking of the grip element in any position along the cable (5), the locking means being designed to prevent the handgrip (2) from sliding relative to the cable (5) when the grip element is manually translated and/or rotated in any direction in space.