Fish-Like Swimming Device Side-to-Side Spinal Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swimming devices primarily utilize up-and-down motion, which is easier for humans but less effective for stimulating side-to-side movement along the sagittal plane, crucial for spinal health and organ function, and do not adequately address the need for a motion that mimics fish-like locomotion for physical therapy and competitive sports.
Innovation Solution
A swimming device with a single fin mounted to both feet, allowing a side-to-side motion parallel to the coronal plane, utilizing the muscles of the spine and pelvic region to create a driving force similar to a fish's caudal fin, thereby enhancing spinal movement and innervating organs for normal physiology and disease prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional swimming devices use up-and-down motion, then ease of operation is improved, but spinal health benefits and fish-like locomotion effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional swimming motion direction. Instead of up-and-down movement parallel to the median plane, the device enables side-to-side motion parallel to the coronal plane, mimicking fish caudal fin movement. This inversion transforms the motion paradigm to simultaneously achieve ease of operation through natural spinal flexion and significant spinal health benefits through enhanced sagittal plane movement.
2Device complexity
If a single large fin is used for both feet, then device complexity is reduced, but motion effectiveness for spinal stimulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the foot mounting system while maintaining a unified fin structure. Two separate foot mounts are provided, each attachable to one foot, allowing independent positioning and adjustment. This segmentation enables each foot to contribute effectively to side-to-side motion, enhancing spinal stimulation effectiveness while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple through the use of a single fin.
3Productivity
If fins extend parallel to the coronal plane, then traditional swimming efficiency is maintained, but fish-like locomotion and spinal exercise effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation dimension of the fin extension. Instead of extending parallel to the coronal plane (traditional orientation), the fin extends parallel to the median plane, creating a vertical orientation between the feet. This dimensional change enables side-to-side motion that mimics fish caudal fin movement, achieving both fish-like locomotion capability and effective spinal exercise while maintaining swimming efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An example swimming device is provided. The swimming device includes a fin defining a first side and a second side opposing the first side. The swimming device includes a first mounting bracket coupling a first foot mount to the first side of the fin, and a second mounting bracket coupling a second foot mount to the second side of the fin. The first and second foot mounts are configured to receive respective feet of a user. When the feet of the user are received in the first and second foot mounts, the fin extends along or parallel to a median plane between the feet of the user.