Exercise Pivot Assembly With Annular Bumper Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise equipment lacks effective dampening mechanisms to smooth the pivoting movement of pedal members relative to rocker arms, leading to jerky and uncomfortable striding motions during exercise.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a pivot device with a resilient dampener, specifically an annular-shaped bumper, that compresses and deforms to absorb the pivoting motion between the pedal member and rocker arm, providing a controlled dampening force to stabilize the movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pivot device without dampening is used to couple the pedal member to the rocker arm, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the pivoting movement becomes jerky and uncomfortable during exercise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating a resilient bumper into the pivot device that compresses during pivoting motion to dampen jerky movements. The bumper is positioned to engage and compress as the pedal member pivots relative to the rocker arm, providing advance cushioning that smooths the striding motion before the jerky movement occurs. This resolves the contradiction by adding a simple cushioning element that improves motion smoothness without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a resilient dampener is added to the pivot device to dampen pivoting movement, then the striding motion becomes smoother and more comfortable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a resilient bumper that functions as a flexible element to dampen pivoting motion. The bumper is a simple flexible component that compresses during operation, providing dampening without requiring complex mechanical structures. This approach improves comfort by smoothing the striding motion while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as the bumper can be integrated into the existing pivot device geometry.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the resilient bumper is designed with an annular shape, then the dampening force is distributed more evenly across the pivot range, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by designing the resilient bumper with specific geometric parameters (such as annular shape, thickness, and material properties) that optimize dampening force distribution. By carefully selecting and adjusting these parameters, the bumper provides consistent dampening across the pivot range. This resolves the contradiction by establishing optimal parameter values that achieve stable dampening characteristics while maintaining reasonable manufacturing precision requirements.
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 pivot device with a resilient dampener significantly reduces the jerky motion, enhancing user comfort and exercise efficiency by maintaining a consistent and natural striding path across varying inclines.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient bumper which dampens said pivoting movement at a first end of said pivot range. The resilient bumper may have an annular shape which is compressed when the pedal member is pivoted towards the first end of said pivot range.
Implementation Method 2
a dampener configured to dampen pivoting movement of the pedal member relative to the rocker arm
Data Source
AI summary
A pivot device for exercise equipment. The pivot device has a first hub for a first movable member of the exercise equipment, and a second hub for a second movable member of the exercise equipment. The first hub and the second hub are pivotable relative to each other about a pivot axis through a pivot range. A dampener is configured to dampen said pivoting movement, wherein the dampener has a resilient bumper having an annular shape which is compressed at the first end of said pivot range.