Fabric Exercise Weight with Segmented Handle Sleeves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional exercise weights, such as kettlebells, weight vests, and sandbags, often restrict user motion, lead to injuries, and limit exercise variety due to design constraints, and are not cost-effective, portable, or durable.

Innovation Solution

A fabric-based exercise weight with a central housing filled with weighted material like iron sand, featuring multiple handle sleeves and a handle component made from a continuous rope segment covered with thermoplastic for rigidity, allowing for various grip options and secure attachment methods like stitching or Velcro, enabling a range of exercises.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If kettlebells are designed with a single narrow handle, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to constrained lifting ways and increased injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandle structureVSAvoidrange of motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handle structure is segmented into multiple handles (first handle and second handle) extending from the weight housing, allowing users to perform exercises with different grip configurations (one-handed, two-handed, varied hand positions) without increasing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The weight housing with multiple handles serves multiple functions: it can be held by one hand or two hands, allows various grip positions, and enables different exercise types (swings, curls, presses, carries) with a single device, improving versatility without adding complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If sandbags are used to increase range of motion, then the ease of operation improves, but the reliability deteriorates due to lack of rigidity limiting exercise types

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of motionVSAvoidstructural rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The handle sleeves are made of rigid material to provide structural support and maintain shape where needed (local rigidity), while the fabric weight housing remains flexible elsewhere, allowing the device to maintain structural integrity for reliable exercise execution while preserving flexibility for range of motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The device combines fabric material for the weight housing (providing flexibility and portability) with rigid material for the handle sleeves (providing structural support and rigidity), creating a composite structure that achieves both range of motion and exercise reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional exercise weights are manufactured using traditional methods, then the manufacturing precision is maintained, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to high production costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight consistencyVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The weight can be adjusted by adding or removing weight plates from the weight housing, allowing customization of weight parameters without requiring precision manufacturing of multiple fixed-weight units, reducing production costs while maintaining weight consistency through standardized plate designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable weight system allows the device to dynamically adapt to different user needs and exercise requirements, enabling a single manufactured unit to serve multiple weight requirements, thereby reducing the need for manufacturing multiple precision-weighted variants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 exercise weight provides enhanced user motion range, reduces injury risk, and allows for novel exercises, while being cost-effective, portable, and durable, overcoming the limitations of traditional weights.

Implementation Method 1

the one continuous segment of rope can be covered by a thermoplastic layer to provide rigidity or stiffness to the handle component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermoplastic:

Data Source

PatentUS10434358B2Exercise weights and methods of making exercise weights

Publication Date: 2019.10.08 JENKINS ASIA TECH SHANGHAI LTD

AI summary

Exercise weights and methods of making exercise weights are disclosed. In one embodiment, the exercise weight comprises a weight housing comprising a central portion and a plurality of handle sleeves extending from a periphery of the central portion. The central portion is fillable by a weighted filling material. A handle component surrounds the central portion and portions of the handle component extend through the plurality of handle sleeves. The exercise weight can also comprise void spaces located in between segments of the handle component and the central portion radially inward from the handle component.