Exercise Machine Lift Assistance for Heavy-Weight Start Phase
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Exercise machines provide constant resistance with weights that users struggle to lift at the beginning of a lift, especially when heavier weights are used, making it difficult to develop fast twitch muscles.
Innovation Solution
A force assistance system that provides an assistance force during the initial portion of a lift, reducing the user's effort by combining a resilient member, upper and lower members, and a connecting member to assist in lifting heavier weights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If users lift heavier weights to develop fast twitch muscles, then muscle development effectiveness is improved, but the difficulty of completing the lift increases because users struggle during the first part of the lift
Solution Approach 1:
The force assistance system performs preliminary action by providing assistance force during the first portion of the lift (when the movable arm moves from the compressed position toward the contact position) to help users overcome the initial struggle phase. This preliminary assistance enables users to successfully initiate lifts with heavier weights that they would otherwise be unable to complete, thereby improving muscle development effectiveness while maintaining ease of operation.
2Reliability
If users exert constant force from the beginning of a lift, then they can complete the lift with constant weight, but they cannot effectively develop fast twitch muscles which require higher weights
Solution Approach 1:
The force assistance system applies dynamics by providing time-varying assistance force that is active during the first portion of the lift and then disengages. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt the level of assistance based on the lift phase, enabling users to handle heavier weights with assistance during the difficult initial phase while maintaining constant weight throughout the entire lift for reliable completion.
3Strength
If the weight is increased for fast twitch muscle development, then muscle strengthening effectiveness is improved, but users struggle or fail during the first part of the lift
Solution Approach 1:
The force assistance system acts as an intermediary by introducing an additional force component that mediates between the user's limited initial force capability and the heavier weight required for fast twitch muscle development. The assistance force fills the gap during the critical first portion of the lift, allowing users to successfully initiate and complete lifts with weights that would otherwise be too heavy, thereby achieving muscle strengthening effectiveness while improving ease of initiating the lift.
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 lift heavier weights by reducing the initial force required, allowing for effective muscle development and completion of the lift without assistance.
Implementation Method 1
at least one resilient member (50) positioned between the upper member (20) and the lower member (30)... the at least one resilient member (50) applies an assistance force (106) to the movable arm (12)
Data Source
AI summary
A force assistance system for an exercise machine assists a user during a first portion of a lift. The force assistance system provides an assistance force at the beginning of a lift to help the user perform the lift. The assistance force reduces the amount of force the user must provide to start the lift. The assistance force helps the user exercise using higher weights for better muscle development. The force assistance system for the exercise machine generally includes an upper member, a lower member and at least one resilient member positioned between the upper member and the lower member. The upper member, the lower member and the at least one resilient member are adapted to be positioned between a frame and a movable arm of the exercise machine. The at least one resilient member applies the assistance force in an upward direction to the movable arm to help the user move the movable arm during a first portion of a lift.