Exercise Handle With Rotating Pulleys For Smooth Cord Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise devices lack effective handles that provide smooth, continuous resistance for muscle strengthening, stretching, and joint exercise, often resulting in friction and binding issues with cords.
Innovation Solution
The handles feature an elongated body with top and bottom pulleys that allow a cord to move smoothly through a central bore, reducing friction and enabling smooth motion in various directions, anchored to fixed objects or loads, and can be used for fitness, physical therapy, and lifting applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cord is used to provide resistance in exercise devices, then muscle strengthening and joint exercise can be achieved, but friction and binding issues occur that reduce smooth motion
Solution Approach 1:
A pulley system is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the cord and the handle. The pulley rotates around an axis perpendicular to the handle's long axis, allowing the cord to move smoothly through the handle body without direct frictional contact with the handle structure. This mediator converts the linear cord movement into rotational pulley motion, eliminating binding issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces a direct friction-based cord-handle connection with a pulley-based mechanical system. The pulley mechanism substitutes the problematic direct contact friction with a controlled rotational interface, where the cord wraps around the pulley circumference and moves through the central bore, significantly reducing friction and enabling smooth continuous motion in multiple directions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional handles are used without pulleys, then the structure is simpler, but the cord cannot move smoothly in various directions
Solution Approach 1:
The pulley is designed to rotate dynamically around an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the handle body. This rotational freedom allows the cord to be pulled in various directions while the pulley automatically orients itself to maintain smooth cord passage. The dynamic rotation capability enables the handle to adapt to different exercise motions and directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new rotational dimension by allowing the pulley to rotate around an axis perpendicular to the handle's long axis. This adds a rotational degree of freedom that enables the cord to move in multiple directions (not just linearly through the handle), providing versatility for various exercise motions while maintaining a relatively simple overall handle structure.
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
The handles provide a smooth and efficient way for users to work against resistance, reducing friction and allowing for a range of motions, enhancing muscle strengthening, stretching, and joint exercises while facilitating the use of the device as a lifting aid.
Implementation Method 1
The top head comprises a top pulley or set of pulleys that rotates around a top axis that is substantially perpendicular to the long axis, and a bottom head comprising a bottom pulley or set of pulleys that rotates around a bottom axis that is substantially perpendicular to the long axis. The cord is engaged with the top and bottom pulleys, resulting in smooth motion of the handle relative to the cord.
Data Source
AI summary
Handles for use in exercise apparatus and in lifting apparatus are provided. The handles have an elongated handle body with a top head, a bottom head, and a central bore extending along a longitudinal axis. A top pulley is coupled to the top head and is rotatable around a top axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A bottom pulley is coupled to the bottom head and is rotatable around a bottom axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. At least one secondary pulley is associated with at least one of the top pulley and the bottom pulley. A cord is disposed on a circumferential surface of the top pulley, the cord passing through the central bore and being disposed on a circumferential surface of the bottom pulley, so that when the handle body is moved, the top and bottom pulleys rotate to allow the cord to travel smoothly through the central bore.