Pedal Pivot Dampening for Smoother Striding Exercise Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise equipment lacks effective damping mechanisms to smooth the pivoting movement of pedal members relative to rocker arms, leading to jerky and uncomfortable striding motions during exercise.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pivot device with a resilient bumper dampener that compresses and deforms to resist pivoting movement, providing a smooth and stable exercise experience by engaging and compressing at specific points within the pivot range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a pivot device without damping is used to couple the pedal member to the rocker arm, then the device complexity is reduced, but the smoothness and stability of the striding motion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient bumper is pre-installed on the pedal member positioned to engage with the rocker arm at specific points within the pivot range. This beforehand cushioning absorbs and dampens the pivoting motion before it can cause jerky movements, ensuring smooth striding motion while maintaining a relatively simple pivot device structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a resilient bumper dampener is added to the pivot device, then the smoothness of striding motion is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex damping mechanisms throughout the entire pivot device, the resilient bumper is applied locally at specific engagement points on the pedal member. This localized approach provides the necessary damping to improve smoothness while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the resilient bumper engages at multiple points within the pivot range, then the stability of motion is improved, but the loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient bumper is configured to engage at selected points within the pivot range rather than continuously throughout the entire range. This partial action provides sufficient damping to stabilize the motion at critical moments while avoiding excessive energy dissipation that would occur with continuous engagement.
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 pivot device with a resilient bumper dampener enhances the smoothness and stability of the striding motion, reducing the likelihood of injury and improving user comfort by effectively dampening the pivoting movement of the pedal members relative to the rocker arms.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient bumper may have an annular shape which is compressed when the pedal member is pivoted towards the first end of said pivot range
Implementation Method 2
a dampener configured to dampen pivoting movement of the pedal member relative to the rocker arm
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed exercise equipment for performing a striding exercise motion, the exercise equipment comprising: a frame, a rocker arm which is pivotably coupled to the frame, a pedal member which pivots with the rocker arm relative to the frame, and a pivot device which pivotably couples the pedal member to the rocker arm, wherein the pivot device comprises a dampener configured to dampen pivoting movement of the pedal member relative to the rocker arm.