Foldable Elliptical Machine Lever Nesting and Counterweight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable elliptical machines have a significant longitudinal footprint in closed configuration, requiring excessive energy and force to transition, and lack sufficient safety measures, posing a risk of injury during use.
Innovation Solution
A foldable elliptical machine with a supporting structure that includes a front and rear portion, featuring a safety lock mechanism and a lock/unlock mechanism for the levers, allowing for compact storage and safe transition between open and closed configurations, utilizing an electromagnetic brake for resistance and a gas spring for ease of lifting the rear portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the machine is designed to be foldable to reduce footprint, then the longitudinal dimensions are reduced in closed configuration, but the machine requires complex locking and unlocking mechanisms that increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The second pair of levers for the feet is nested within the supporting structure when folded, with the levers storing inside a compartment formed by the front and rear portions. This nesting approach minimizes longitudinal footprint while keeping the locking mechanism relatively simple, as the levers are contained within the folded structure rather than requiring complex external locking apparatus.
2Reliability
If the machine uses heavy-duty locking mechanisms to ensure safety during configuration transitions, then user safety is improved, but the energy and force required to operate the machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterweight mechanism that balances the weight of the supporting structure and levers during folding and unfolding operations. This counterbalancing reduces the force and energy users must exert to transition between configurations while maintaining safe, controlled movement throughout the transition process.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking and unlocking mechanisms are designed to engage and disengage automatically at predetermined points during the folding and unfolding sequence. This preliminary action ensures safety critical functions are performed in advance, reducing the manual effort required while maintaining reliable safety protection throughout the configuration transition.
3Reliability
If the machine is designed with sufficient safety measures to protect users during configuration transitions, then user safety is improved, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety locking mechanism is merged with the folding mechanism itself, such that the same structural components that enable folding also provide safety locking. The locking pins and engagement features are integrated into the hinge and lever assemblies rather than being separate safety devices, thereby providing sufficient safety measures without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 machine achieves reduced longitudinal dimensions in closed configuration, facilitates easy and non-tiring transitions between configurations, and incorporates safety features to protect the user during operation and storage.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing an electromagnetic brake for resistance and a gas spring for ease of lifting the rear portion
Implementation Method 2
utilizing an electromagnetic brake for resistance
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The object of the present invention is a foldable gymnastic machine (M) comprising a supporting structure (1) to rest said gymnastic machine (M) on a resting surface, comprising a front portion (11), comprising in turn a resistance member, and a rear portion (12), an exercise device (2), through which a user performs a gymnastic exercise, coupled to said supporting structure (1) and to said resistance member, capable of resisting during the execution of a gymnastic exercise, said exercise device (2) comprising a second pair of levers (22) for the feet, in turn comprising a first (221) and a second (222) lever, each provided with a first end (221a; 222a), coupled to said supporting structure (1), and a free second end (221b; 222b), capable of fitting said user's feet during the execution of the gymnastic exercise, said gymnastic machine (M) being characterized in that said first (221) and second (221) lever of said second pair of levers (22) for the feet are capable of passing from an open position, in which the user can perform the gymnastic exercise, to a closed position, when the gymnastic machine (M) is not in use.