Neck Support Exercise Bar With Adjustable Grips for Strain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional abdominal exercises, such as sit-ups and torso-twisting exercises, cause strain and discomfort in the neck, shoulders, and back due to improper hand and neck positioning, and are often cumbersome and difficult to use in supine or seated positions.
Innovation Solution
A compact, hand-held exercise device with adjustable hand grips and a contoured middle portion that fits around the neck, maintaining shoulder-width hand positioning and reducing strain by supporting the neck and keeping hands in proper alignment during exercises, allowing for various exercises like sit-ups and rowing motions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional sit-ups are performed with hands clasped behind the head, then abdominal muscle engagement is improved, but strain on neck and shoulder muscles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a neck support bar as an intermediary device that mediates between the user's neck and the exercise movement. The bar provides structural support to the neck area, allowing the user to perform sit-ups without clasping hands behind the head, thereby maintaining abdominal engagement while eliminating strain on neck and shoulder muscles.
2Productivity
If a shaft-like device is placed behind the neck for twisting exercises, then abdominal muscle tension is improved, but comfort and ease of use deteriorate due to muscle soreness and strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing targeted support specifically where needed - the neck support bar is positioned to support the neck area locally, while the hand grips are positioned to maintain proper arm alignment. This localized support system maintains abdominal muscle tension during twisting exercises while improving overall comfort by addressing specific pain points without requiring full-body muscle engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements through adjustable components and flexible positioning capabilities. The neck support bar can be adjusted to fit different neck sizes and positions, and the hand grips can be positioned at different locations along the bar. This dynamic adjustability allows the device to adapt to different users and exercise variations, maintaining effectiveness while improving comfort and ease of use.
3Productivity
If hands are placed in a wide hand position with full arm spread, then exercise intensity is improved, but stress on auxiliary and secondary muscle groups increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hand positioning function from the broader arm movement. By providing fixed hand grips at specific locations on the neck support bar, the device isolates the hand position to the optimal location for abdominal engagement, while the bar itself supports the arm weight and positioning. This extraction allows the user to maintain proper hand position for intensity without the need for wide arm spread that would stress auxiliary muscle groups.
4Productivity
If conventional sit-ups are performed, then abdominal muscle strengthening is improved, but risk of back injury increases due to back pain and arching
Solution Approach 1:
The neck support bar acts as an intermediary that redistributes the mechanical loads during sit-ups. By supporting the neck and providing a stable platform for hand placement, the bar reduces the arching and strain on the lower back that occurs during conventional sit-ups. This allows users to perform abdominal strengthening exercises with reduced risk of back injury.
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise device for performing sit-ups and other exercises in a supine or seated position includes a middle portion contoured to fit around the back of the user's neck, and end portions serving as hand grips to hold the user's hands at shoulder width slightly forward and above the user's shoulders when in use. The device is construed of three detachable tubular segments of similar shape and substantially equal length telescopically joined together and locked in place by retractable locking pins. The hand grips can be selectively connected to the middle portion in two different operative positions, one generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device and one generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. The device can be disassembled for compact storage and is less than 30 inches long and about 5 inches to 6 inches wide.