Pelvic Muscle Actuator with Adjustable Spring Slider
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for exercising pelvic muscles, such as sphincter muscles, lack simplicity and effectiveness in lengthwise and widthwise adjustability, making it difficult to control and strengthen these muscles efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a top and bottom housing, a slider, and a specially shaped flat spring that allows for controlled movement of the housing parts relative to the muscles, where the slider's displacement along the spring adjusts the spring's length, increasing the required muscle force to close the housings, facilitating controlled muscle exercise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the spring is compressed to increase muscle exercise resistance, then the muscle strengthening effect is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for slider and spring mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The spring compression distance is changed as a variable parameter to control the resistance force. By adjusting how far the slider compresses the spring, the user can vary the muscle exercise intensity without changing the physical structure of the device
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one where the spring compression distance can be adjusted during use. This allows the resistance to adapt based on user needs while maintaining a simple overall device structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If the housing parts are made movable to enable muscle exercise, then the functionality is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for precise slider control
Solution Approach 1:
The spring automatically provides the resistance force once the slider is positioned, eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms. The device serves itself by using the spring's inherent elastic properties to generate the necessary counterforce for muscle exercise
3Force
If the spring effective length is reduced to increase resistance, then the muscle exercise intensity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the slider mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The effective length of the spring is changed as an adjustable parameter rather than a fixed dimension. This allows the resistance force to be varied by changing the compression distance, maintaining a simple device structure while achieving variable intensity exercise
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 enables controllable and progressive strengthening of sphincter muscles by requiring greater muscle force to close the housings as the slider moves closer to the body, effectively aiding in muscle development and awareness of strength.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (17) and slider (18) combination operatively connected with the housing, and relatively movable to control positioning of the two housing parts (11, 12)
Implementation Method 2
As the slider is pressing against the spring, it changes the effective length of the spring as it moves closer to the body making it harder and harder to close the two housings
Data Source
AI summary
A muscle exercising apparatus including an elongated housing having two interrelated longitudinally elongated parts movable relatively away from one another to push laterally against body muscle, and a spring and slider combination operatively connected with the housing and relatively movable to control spread positioning of two housing parts, as the slider is displaced lengthwise of the housing parts.