Gyroscopic Exerciser with Electric Motor Start and Ring Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gyroscopic exercisers are limited in their ability to simultaneously exercise multiple large muscle groups, such as back muscles, deltoids, pectorals, biceps, and triceps, and often require complex or underpowered starting mechanisms, which can be difficult for users to operate effectively.
Innovation Solution
A gyroscopic total exerciser with a pair of handles that includes a power supply for starting the gyroscopic movement, featuring a precession rotor and a dynamic electrical connection for motor initialization, allowing for easy starting and operation with either an electrical motor or manual force, and a ring-shaped frame assembly for reduced weight and smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional gyroscopic exercisers use a compact rotor design for hand exercise, then the device is portable and easy to hold, but it cannot exercise multiple large muscle groups simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the rotor inside a spherical housing that contains additional exercise components. The rotor (328) is nested within the sphere (12), and the sphere itself is contained within the handle assembly. This nested structure allows multiple functional elements to coexist in a compact volume, enabling the device to exercise multiple muscle groups while remaining portable and holdable.
2Force
If the gyroscopic exerciser uses a heavy rotor for effective exercise resistance, then exercise effectiveness increases, but the device becomes difficult to start and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical hand-cranking starting mechanism with an electric motor (56) that automatically spins the rotor (328) when power is applied. This substitution eliminates the need for users to manually overcome the heavy rotor's inertia, making the device easy to start while maintaining the heavy rotor for effective exercise resistance during operation.
3Ease of operation
If the exerciser uses an electric motor to spin the rotor, then starting becomes easier, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the electric motor (56) to serve dual functions: it acts as a starting motor to spin the rotor initially, and then functions as a generator during exercise operation to convert the rotor's kinetic energy back into electrical energy for charging the battery. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by eliminating separate starting and power recovery systems.
4Reliability
If the gyroscopic exerciser uses a complex starting mechanism to achieve rotor speed, then reliable operation is possible, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical starting mechanisms with a simple electrical switching system. A momentary switch or push-button activates the electric motor (56) which reliably spins the rotor without requiring users to understand or manipulate complex mechanical components. This substitution maintains operational reliability while dramatically improving ease of starting.
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
Enables simultaneous exercise of multiple muscle groups with increased resistance and cardiovascular benefits, while being easy to start and maintain, with an extended product life and reduced maintenance requirements.
Implementation Method 1
A user holds and rotates the handles along a cone-like path causing precession of a rotor, which is rotating about its spin axis, to provide resistance to the user.
Implementation Method 2
The gyroscopic effect, or precession, of a rapidly spinning mass is capable of producing a strong torque if the user attempts to move the mass in a way which rotates its spin axis.
Data Source
AI summary
A gyroscopic exercise device has a pair of handles attached to a housing. A user holds and rotates the handles along cone-like paths causing precession of a rotor, which is rotating about its spin axis, to provide resistance to the user. The device has an axle disc that holds ends of an axle of the rotor. The periphery of the axle disc and the ends of the rotor axle are within a circular race in the housing. A motor attached to the axle disc has a wheel for rotating the rotor about a spin axis by a temporary supply of power from included batteries in one of the handles. The batteries are in between two opposite springs in one of the handles and normally biased away from an electrical contact until the user pushes them through an end pin to overcome the bias.