Front-Resisting Elliptical Machine with Magnetic Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elliptical exercise machines face issues with noise, maintenance requirements due to friction, and inconvenient user access, as well as bulkiness and limited adjustability of the elliptical motion.
Innovation Solution
The elliptical exercise machine incorporates a frame unit with a front-mounted resisting unit, linking units that include pivotably connected handle and pedal rods, and an adjusting unit allowing for variable elliptical motion and pedal span, reducing noise, maintenance needs, and improving user accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a front-mounted roller type elliptical exercise machine uses a track seat with rollers, then the elliptical motion is achieved, but friction and noise increase requiring lubricant maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical roller-on-track system with a magnetic resistance system. The resisting member uses magnetic fields to provide resistance force without physical contact, eliminating friction between moving parts and the track seat, thereby reducing noise and maintenance requirements while maintaining elliptical motion capability
2Device complexity
If the resisting unit and console are positioned at the rear, then the machine structure is simplified, but the machine becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the spatial arrangement by positioning the resisting unit at the front and the console above it, utilizing vertical space rather than horizontal extension. This compact configuration reduces the machine's footprint and overall size while maintaining structural simplicity and functional integration
3Device complexity
If the foot pedals are positioned only on lateral sides, then the structure is simple, but user access becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the foot pedal position adjustable through a height adjustment mechanism that allows users to modify the pedal position between lateral and rear positions. This dynamic adaptability enables users with different body dimensions to access the pedals conveniently while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
4Device complexity
If the elliptical route is fixed, then the mechanism is simple, but adaptability to different users is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows users to modify the elliptical route parameters, such as the amplitude and resistance level. This enables the same machine to adapt to different user needs and fitness levels without requiring complex multiple mechanisms for each configuration
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
This design reduces noise and maintenance, enhances user convenience by allowing horizontal foot pedal positioning, and adjusts the elliptical route to suit different users, while minimizing the machine's size and space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the resisting member and a transmitting mechanism connected between a respective one of the cranks and the resisting member to permit synchronous rotation of the cranks and the resisting member to provide a resistance to the cranks
Data Source
AI summary
An elliptical exercise machine includes a resisting unit disposed at a front of a frame unit and having two cranks and a resisting member rotatable synchronously, two linking units each having a handle rod, an adjusting rod, a pedal rod, a swing rod, a first linking rod, a second linking rod and a third linking rod such that the pedal rod is suspended by the handle rod and the third linking rod to move along an elliptical route, and an adjusting unit having an adjusting tube which is pivotably connected to the adjusting rod and which is shiftable to adjust the position of the adjusting rod so as to adjust the elliptical route and the span between foot pedals on the pedal rods.