Foot Exercise Apparatus with Adjustable Spring Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foot therapy devices fail to adequately address the biomechanical needs of foot strengthening by lacking customizable resistance and proper plantar and toe flexion, leading to incomplete muscle and tendon strengthening.
Innovation Solution
A foot power apparatus with a support frame and expansion springs allows for customizable resistance and proper biomechanical motion by suspending a pedal above a base, enabling individualized plantar flexion and toe movement through adjustable springs or tension elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rocker device with rounded bottom surface is used, then the arch of the foot can be stretched, but the device fails to provide proper plantar and toe flexion and largely consists of rotational movement along the ankle bone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the pedal movable along the longitudinal axis of the base through spring suspension. This allows the pedal to move dynamically in response to user pressure, enabling proper plantar flexion motion rather than fixed rotational movement. The pedal's position is not fixed but adjusts based on the springs' compression, creating adaptable biomechanical motion that strengthens foot muscles effectively.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a foot corrector with permanently affixed compression springs is used, then the arch can be stretched, but the resistance cannot be adjusted to individual needs and force must be precisely controlled to avoid collapsing the coils
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of resistance by allowing users to interchange springs with different stiffness characteristics. The pedal remains suspended and movable, but the spring constant can be changed based on individual user needs, providing customizable resistance without requiring precise force control during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing substitution of springs with varying stiffness parameters. This enables the resistance level to be adjusted to match individual user capabilities and rehabilitation stages, transforming a fixed-parameter device into a variable-parameter system that adapts to different therapeutic needs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the pedal is affixed to permanently mounted springs, then the structure is stable, but the device cannot shorten the foot during the flexion process and provide proper flexion biomechanics on an individual basis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by suspending the pedal from springs rather than rigidly affixing it. This creates a dynamically stable system where the pedal can move vertically along the longitudinal axis while maintaining overall structural integrity. The spring suspension provides both stability and the necessary freedom of motion for individualized biomechanical exercise.
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 apparatus effectively strengthens foot muscles and tendons by providing adjustable resistance and accurate biomechanical motion, addressing the limitations of prior devices by allowing tailored therapy for each user's needs.
Implementation Method 1
an expansion spring mounted pedal suspended within a support frame assembly
Implementation Method 2
the front of the foot applies downward pressure to expand the springs
Data Source
AI summary
The device is a foot power apparatus which provides a means for therapeutically strengthening the foot using an expansion spring mounted pedal suspended within a support frame assembly. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises which base, which generally resembles the sole of a shoe, and a support frame assembly which is attached at the front end and along the sides of said base. Suspended above the base within the frame assembly by a pair of opposing springs is a pedal transversely positioned to the base. With the user's foot positioned on the base, the front of the foot applies downward pressure to expand the springs while the heel of the foot remains stationary. Removable and interchangeable expansion springs provide customized and more accurate biomechanical motion for the needs of the particular patient. This system allows for the proper flexion biomechanics on an individual basis because of its ability to shorten the foot during the flexion process.