Glute Press Machine Four-Bar Linkage Hip Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glute press exercise machines provide inadequate support to the user's lower back and hips during the exercise, leading to discomfort and poor form, and often require the user to rotate an exercise arm to lift weights, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A glute press exercise machine featuring a stationary frame with a four-bar linkage, a rotatable back support that extends below the hips to support at least 10% of the user's body weight, a seat that rotates to contact the user's bottom between repetitions, and an abdomen restraint to prevent slipping, allowing for a stable and comfortable glute press exercise without relying on user rotation of an exercise arm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating arm is used to lift weights during glute press exercise, then weight lifting is achieved, but the exercise becomes inefficient and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The four-bar linkage mechanism automatically rotates the exercise arm through the user's hip movement, eliminating the need for the user to manually rotate the arm. The mechanism converts the user's natural pressing motion into the required arm rotation, making the system self-serving and improving exercise efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The four-bar linkage provides dynamic motion transformation, converting the user's vertical pressing motion into the rotational motion needed to lift the weights. This dynamic conversion eliminates the inefficiency of manual arm rotation while maintaining user comfort
2Device complexity
If support is provided only to the upper back and feet, then the exercise structure is simple, but the lower back and hips receive inadequate support
Solution Approach 1:
The back support is segmented into upper and lower portions, with the lower portion extending below the hips to provide dedicated support to the lower back and hip area. This segmentation allows targeted support without significantly increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The lower portion of the back support extends in a new spatial dimension (below the hips) to provide support to previously unsupported areas. This dimensional extension improves user comfort without requiring a complete redesign of the support structure
3Device complexity
If the seat remains stationary, then the structure is simple, but the user experiences discomfort during repeated exercises
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is made dynamic by connecting it to the four-bar linkage, allowing it to rotate downward between repetitions and upward to contact the user's bottom. This dynamic motion provides comfort during repeated exercises without requiring a complex multi-component mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A glute press exercise machine including: a four-bar linkage connected to a stationary frame; a rotatable back support connected to the four-bar linkage; a seat connected to the four-bar linkage; and a foot support connected to the stationary frame. A lower portion of the back support extends below the user's hips to support the users hips during a glute press exercise. This lower portion supports at least 10% of the user's weight. In operation, the seat rotates downwardly away from the user's hips during a glute press exercise and then rotates upwardly again to contact the user's bottom between every repetition of the glute press exercise. The four-bar linkage is pivotally connected to the stationary frame at a location near ground level. The foot support is positioned below 25 cm from the ground and extends forwardly beyond the front of the stationary frame.