Opposed Jumping Platforms with Fulcrum Base for Portable Exercise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing playground equipment is largely passive, offering little health benefit or exercise value, is often limited to two users, and is bulky and difficult to transport or store.
Innovation Solution
An opposed jumping platform apparatus with a fulcrum base and channel-shaped platforms that allow users to jump and pivot, providing a sturdy, durable, and foldable structure that can accommodate multiple users and does not require anchoring to the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional playground equipment is designed to be large and anchored to the ground for stability, then stability and safety are improved, but transportability and storage ease deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The playground apparatus is divided into separate modular components including a base unit and one or more platform units that can be independently handled. The base contains a fulcrum mechanism while platforms can be detached and stored separately, allowing the structure to be assembled and disassembled for transport while maintaining operational stability when configured.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus transitions from a static anchored structure to a dynamic portable system. The base remains stationary on the ground during use providing stability, while the platforms are designed to be movable for transport. The fulcrum mechanism allows dynamic motion during gameplay, and the entire structure can be dynamically reconfigured or folded for storage.
2Device complexity
If playground equipment is designed to accommodate only two users simultaneously, then device complexity is reduced, but user capacity and entertainment value deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The base unit serves multiple functions: it provides the fulcrum mechanism for platform motion, acts as a support structure, and can accommodate multiple different platform configurations. The modular design allows the same base to work with various platform types and numbers, enabling the system to adapt to different user capacities without requiring completely different equipment for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system expands from a single-plane two-user design to multi-dimensional configurations. Platforms can be arranged in different spatial arrangements around the central fulcrum, allowing multiple users to engage simultaneously in different directions or planes, effectively increasing user capacity while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized modular components.
3Device complexity
If playground equipment is designed to be passive with minimal movement, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but health benefits and exercise value deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The jumping platforms create controlled mechanical vibrations and impacts when users jump and land. This dynamic motion generates beneficial G-forces and vibrations that transmit through the platform to the user's body, providing exercise value and health benefits while maintaining relatively simple mechanical construction through the fulcrum-based oscillating mechanism.
4Productivity
If jumping platforms are designed with hard surfaces for bone strengthening, then health benefits are improved, but safety and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The platform design incorporates cushioning elements or shock-absorbing features that are built into the structure before use. This allows the platform to provide the necessary hard surface impact for bone strengthening while simultaneously cushioning the impact to prevent injury, addressing both health benefits and safety concerns through pre-integrated protective design.
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
The apparatus provides vigorous exercise, strengthens bones, and is compact and easy to transport, accommodating multiple users while being sturdy and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
an opposed platforms member having an opposed platforms member center pivotally mounted on the fulcrum base... causing his or her jumping platform to pivot downwardly and the opposing jumping platform to pivot upwardly
Data Source
AI summary
An opposed jumping platform apparatus includes a fulcrum base; and an opposed platforms member having an opposed platforms member center pivotally mounted on the fulcrum base and dividing the opposed platforms member into a first jumping platform and an opposing second jumping platform, the first jumping platform having a first user support spaced from the opposed platforms member center extending at least one and one half feet above said first jumping platform, and the second jumping platform having a second user support spaced from the opposed platforms member center extending at least one and one half feet above said second jumping platform.