Oro-Facial Exerciser With Replaceable Springs for Adjustable Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oro-facial exercisers lack adaptability, provide limited resistance adjustment, and are prone to breakage, making them unsuitable for diverse user needs and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A pivotally connected pair of legs with a demountable resilient biasing means, such as a compression coil spring, providing adjustable resistance for exercising the lips and cheeks, with ergonomic mouth-mounting formations for comfort and versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If simple elastomeric mouth bungs are used, then cost is reduced, but functionality and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The exerciser is divided into separate modular components: adjustable legs, replaceable resilient biasing means, and mouth mounting formations. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables adaptability through reconfiguration without increasing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The legs are made adjustable in angle and position, allowing the device to adapt to different mouth sizes and user needs. The resilient biasing means can be replaced to change resistance levels, providing dynamic adaptability rather than a fixed structure
2Force
If resiliently-biased linear-reciprocating oral trainers are used, then resistance is provided, but the devices are awkward to use and maintain and liable to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient biasing means is made as a separate, replaceable component rather than an integrated part. This allows easy replacement if damaged without replacing the entire device, improving reliability and reducing waste
Solution Approach 2:
The resistance force can be adjusted by changing the resilient biasing means (different springs or coils) rather than having a fixed mechanism. This provides progressive resistance training capability while using reliable, simple spring components that are less prone to breakage than complex reciprocating mechanisms
3Device complexity
If fixed resistance exercisers are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but progressive training and individual customization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from fixed to dynamic resistance through the replaceable resilient biasing means. Users can select different springs or coils to achieve progressive resistance training, and the adjustable legs provide customization for individual needs while maintaining a simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The same basic device structure with adjustable legs and replaceable biasing means can serve multiple functions: different resistance levels, different mouth sizes, and progressive training programs. This multi-functionality is achieved without requiring multiple different device types
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 solution offers ergonomic comfort, adaptability to various mouth sizes, and progressive training options by allowing easy replacement of biasing means, enhancing user experience and effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient biasing means between the legs to bias them towards the second, splayed, state and thereby provide a resistance force against which the user's lips or cheeks press in use for exercising and training the muscles
Data Source
AI summary
An oro-facial exerciser apparatus for exercising and training the muscles of the lips and cheeks of a user's face, utilizes a pair of legs that are pivotally connected together to pivot between a substantially closed together state and a splayed apart state. The legs each have a proximal end proximate the pivot and a distal end remote from the pivot having a mouth mounting formation to mount the distal end to a respective opposing location of the user's mouth and the exerciser further has a resilient biasing means between the legs to bias them towards a splayed state and thereby provide a resistance force against which the user's lips and/or cheeks press in use for exercising and training the muscles. The resilient biasing means are demountably mounted on the legs, enabling them to be replaced with an alternative biasing means for altering the resistance.