Height-Adjustable Support Block for Progressive Squat Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals, especially beginners or intermediates, find flat-footed or primal squats challenging due to the difficulty of maintaining proper form, necessitating a gradual progression from raised heels to a flat position during exercises like squats.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustable support block on an exercise platform, comprising a base with removable risers, allows users to customize the heel height by stacking and unstacking planks, enabling progressive depth adjustments from raised heels to a flat position, facilitating the transition to a flat-footed squat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a flat-footed squat is performed, then the exercise intensity and difficulty are increased, but it becomes harder for beginners and intermediates to maintain proper form
Solution Approach 1:
The support block height is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing users to dynamically change the heel elevation based on their current ability level. This enables progression from easier (higher block) to more difficult (lower or no block) positions while maintaining proper form throughout the learning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The key parameter being changed is the height of the support block, which directly controls the degree of heel elevation. By varying this parameter, users can adjust the exercise difficulty and accommodate different skill levels, transitioning smoothly from beginner to advanced positions.
2Ease of operation
If the heel is raised higher during squats, then the exercise becomes easier for beginners, but it limits progression to deeper squats and flat-footed positions
Solution Approach 1:
The support block is designed with adjustable height capability, transforming it from a static to a dynamic element. Users can progressively lower the block height as they improve, enabling continuous adaptation and progression from beginner to advanced squat variations including flat-footed positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The support block is constructed from multiple removable risers that can be individually stacked or removed. This segmentation allows for fine-grained adjustment of height in incremental steps, facilitating progressive overload and systematic skill development.
3Device complexity
If fixed-height support blocks are used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate progressive depth adjustments for different skill levels
Solution Approach 1:
The support block is divided into multiple discrete riser segments that can be independently arranged. This segmentation provides adjustability and progression capability while maintaining relatively simple individual component designs and assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable riser system serves multiple functions: it provides initial heel elevation for beginners, enables progressive depth adjustment for intermediates, and eventually allows complete removal for advanced flat-footed squats. This single mechanism accommodates the full spectrum of user skill levels.
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise assembly for assisting a user in performing squats and other exercise maneuvers is presented herein. The exercise assembly includes a substantially planar base platform, at least one riser bracket fixed to a top surface of the base platform, and a plurality of risers each selectively and removably disposable in a vertically stacked orientation within a channel of the at least one riser bracket to define a height-adjustable support block. Selective removal of one or more of the risers from the vertically stacked orientation within the channel will serve to lower the height-adjustable support block for the performance of more challenging squat exercises.