Hand Exercise Adapter with Piston Cylinder Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand exercise devices are limited by their inability to accommodate users of varying hand sizes and can only perform isometric exercises, failing to adapt to different muscle groups such as those in the fingers and thumbs.
Innovation Solution
The development of adapter devices that include a frame and slider system with a piston and cylinder, displacement sensors, and actuators to allow for isometric, isotonic, and isodynamic exercises, along with adjustable cam mechanisms to accommodate different hand sizes and exercise protocols tailored to individual users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hand grasping portion is made with a fixed width, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate users of varying hand sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The hand grasping portion is made adjustable in width through a mechanism that allows dynamic reconfiguration. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion that can be positioned at different relative distances from each other, enabling the device to adapt to various hand sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device is designed for isometric exercises only, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot perform isotonic or isokinetic exercises
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to perform multiple types of exercises including isometric, isotonic, and isokinetic exercises through a unified structure. The housing configuration allows the same basic device to support different exercise protocols and muscle group engagements, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements that enable transitions between different exercise types. By adjusting the relative positions of the housing portions and modifying the engagement mechanism, the device can adapt its mechanical characteristics to support isometric holding, isotonic movement, and isokinetic controlled motion exercises.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device is designed for hand grip exercises only, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate exercises for other muscle groups such as fingers and thumbs
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with universal applicability across different muscle groups. The housing structure and engagement mechanism can be configured to accommodate various gripping patterns, allowing exercises for hand grip, finger flexion, thumb opposition, and other hand muscle groups using the same basic device architecture.
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 users to perform a variety of hand exercises beyond isometric regimens, accommodating different hand sizes and muscle groups, providing enhanced health benefits through customizable force and velocity profiles.
Implementation Method 1
a piston and cylinder positioned between the slider and the second handgrip surface of the hand exercise device and movable relative to each other in a range of motion
Implementation Method 2
a displacement sensor that measures a position of the piston and cylinder relative to each other
Implementation Method 3
an actuator that applies a force between the piston and cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
Adapter devices that adapt hand exercise devices to permit the use thereof by persons of widely variable hand size, and permit the use thereof in exercises or tests other than the isometric exercises and tests for which they are known. The adapters provide replacement grips and couple force applied to those replacement grips to the handgrip surfaces of the hand exercise device. One version of the adapter includes a piston and cylinder connected to the replacement grips that move in a range of motion during a hand exercise or test, to allow for isotonic, isokinetic or isodynamic hand exercises. Other versions of the adapter use removable cams, screw cams, rotary cams, and sliding cams to adjust the distance between the grips for the size of the user's hand. A further adapter provides replacement grip surfaces sized for a user's finger and thumb for performing a pinch exercise or test.