Exercise Apparatus with Flexible Crank Coupling for Variable Stride
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exercise machines, such as elliptical and reciprocal stair climbers, often fail to accommodate users of varying heights due to fixed stride lengths and constrained motion paths, which do not accurately simulate real-world activities like walking, jogging, or climbing.
Innovation Solution
An exercise apparatus featuring a translating support assembly with flexible elements and guide members that allow for adjustable stride length and motion paths, enabling users to apply alternating forces to simulate walking, striding, and climbing motions by rotating a crank shaft and tracing substantially closed paths with foot support members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rigid coupling to a crank is used, then the elliptic path length is fixed, but this constrains the exercise machine to accommodate only specific user heights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed rigid coupling with a flexible element that allows the crank coupling location to move dynamically. The flexible element enables the distance between the crank coupling location and the foot support member to vary, allowing the same machine to accommodate different user heights and stride lengths without requiring complex variable mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the flexible element to change its effective length and configuration based on user requirements. This enables the stride length and elliptic path dimensions to be adjusted to match different user anthropometry, transforming a fixed-parameter system into a variable-parameter system that adapts to individual users.
2Ease of operation
If fixed elliptic path is used, then the mechanism is simple, but the path length does not match running stride for typical elliptical machine dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible element creates a dynamic connection between the crank and foot support member, allowing the elliptic path to adjust its dimensions during operation. This dynamic adjustment enables the path length to better match running stride characteristics without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, as the flexibility itself provides the necessary adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pendulum motion machine is used, then variable stride length is allowed, but the user's feet follow the same arcuate path in both forward and rearward motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the motion control by separating the forward and rearward motion paths through the use of guide elements and flexible element configuration. This segmentation allows the foot support member to follow different paths during forward and rearward motion, accurately simulating natural walking or running gait patterns where the foot trajectory differs between strides, while still maintaining variable stride length capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If reciprocal stair climber is used, then stepping motion is simulated, but the motion is constrained to a vertically oriented arcuate path
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible element enables the crank coupling location to move dynamically, transforming the fixed vertically oriented arcuate path of traditional stair climbers into a variable path that can simulate different climbing activities. This dynamic capability allows the machine to accommodate various climbing motions (stairs, sloped terrain, etc.) without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, as the flexibility provides inherent adaptability.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An exercise apparatus comprises: a frame; a crank system comprising first and second crank coupling locations, the crank system being supported by the frame; a right foot support member comprising a first right guide element; a left foot support member comprising a first left guide element; a right movable member comprising a second right guide element; a left movable member comprising a second left guide element; a first flexible support system comprising a first flexible element, the first flexible element coupled to the frame and the first and second right guide elements and operative to move the first crank coupling location when the right foot support member moves; and a second flexible support system comprising a second flexible element, the second flexible element coupled to the frame and the first and second left guide elements and operative to move the second crank coupling location when the left foot support member moves.