Parallel Belt Exercise Device With Frictional Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with limited mobility or a demanding schedule face challenges in exercising their lower extremities, leading to inadequate circulation and potential health issues due to lack of physical activity.
Innovation Solution
An exercise device featuring a base frame with parallel belt members, front and rear rollers, and an endless belt with a frictional member that provides resistance, allowing users to apply an external force to overcome the frictional force, thereby exercising the lower extremities effectively while seated or standing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frictional members are added to provide resistance, then exercise effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frictional members act as an intermediary element between the user's motion and the resistance force. Instead of directly coupling the user's movement to a complex mechanical resistance system, the frictional members provide resistance through friction contact with the rollers, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining exercise effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The frictional members are designed to be self-adjusting through the user's own motion. As the user moves the belts, the frictional contact between the frictional members and rollers automatically provides resistance without requiring external control mechanisms or complex regulation systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple belt members are arranged in parallel, then exercise versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise device is segmented into multiple independent belt members arranged in parallel, each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows different muscle groups to be targeted simultaneously or separately, providing exercise versatility while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel arrangement of multiple belt members creates a universal exercise system that can accommodate various exercise routines and target different muscle groups. The same basic structure supports multiple functions through the parallel configuration, eliminating the need for separate devices for different exercise 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 device provides passive resistance for exercising the thigh muscles, calves, and ankles, promoting circulation and allowing for effective exercise with minimal motion transfer to the chair or sitting device, suitable for various physical limitations and requiring minimal maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
at least one frictional member disposed in frictional contact with, and forcibly biased against a surface of at least one front roller, rear roller, or a combination thereof such that an external force directed perpendicular to the front central axis applied to at least one of the endless belts is opposed by a frictional force provided by the frictional contact between the frictional member and the at least one surface of the front roller, the rear roller, or a combination thereof
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an exercise device comprising a plurality of belt members attached to, and arranged in parallel on a base frame, the exercise device further comprising at least one frictional member disposed in frictional contact with, and forcibly biased against a surface of at least roller in communication with the belt such that an external force applied to at least one of the belts is opposed by a frictional force provided by the frictional contact between the frictional member and the roller. A method of exercising using the exercise device is also disclosed.