Flexible Abdominal Exercise Device with Curved Substrate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing abdominal exercise devices often lead to muscle strain and injury due to difficulty in maintaining proper form, are expensive, and bulky, making them undesirable for home use.
Innovation Solution
A flexible exercise device with a curved substrate and elastic resistance members that allows for movement of its ends, providing a comfortable and adjustable way to exercise abdominal muscles with reduced risk of injury, and is compact and cost-effective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional abdominal exercise devices are used, then abdominal muscle exercise is provided, but muscle strain and injury risk increase due to difficulty in maintaining proper form
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise device employs a flexible substrate that dynamically adapts to the user's body movements, allowing the ends to move relative to each other during exercise. This dynamic flexibility enables the device to maintain proper form guidance while accommodating natural movement variations, reducing injury risk without compromising exercise effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes its physical parameters by flexing and deforming the curved substrate in response to applied forces. The substrate's flexibility allows it to transform from a rigid form-guide to a adaptive cushion that follows user movement, maintaining proper exercise form while reducing strain on the user's body
2Reliability
If traditional abdominal exercise devices are used, then abdominal muscle exercise is provided, but the devices are expensive and bulky, making them undesirable for home use
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise device uses a flexible substrate that can be formed into a curved shape and returned to its original form. This flexible film approach replaces bulky rigid structures with a lightweight, collapsible design that can be easily stored and transported, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining exercise effectiveness through the substrate's ability to provide form guidance
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a simple, single-piece flexible substrate without complex mechanical components. The curved portion is formed by folding or shaping the substrate rather than using rigid structural elements, segmenting the design into basic functional zones (curved exercise area, end portions) that can be manufactured inexpensively and stored compactly
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 device enables effective and comfortable abdominal muscle exercise with reduced risk of strain or injury, is affordable, and can be easily stored in small spaces, offering a more appealing alternative to traditional exercises.
Implementation Method 1
a curved portion between the first end and the second end, the curved portion being configured to flex upon application of a force to the flexible substrate
Data Source
AI summary
An abdominal exercise device is disclosed. The exercise device can include a flexible substrate having a first end and a second end. At least one of the first end and the second end can be configured to move with respect to each other. The exercise device can also include a curved portion between the first end and the second end. The curved portion can be configured to flex upon application of a force to the flexible substrate.