Pendulum Striding Exercise Apparatus with Adjustable Pivot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise devices, such as cross country ski machines, elliptical machines, and pendulum motion machines, often constrain foot movement to unnatural paths, failing to accurately simulate walking, striding, or jogging motions, and do not accommodate users of varying heights effectively.
Innovation Solution
An exercise apparatus featuring a pivotal linkage pendulum system with a crank system and a brake/inertia device, allowing for a more natural foot path with adjustable stride length and vertical amplitude, accommodating users of different heights by positioning the upper pivot point of the link members in a path that moves in a closed or back-and-forth motion, and utilizing a brake/inertia system to assist in lifting the foot over steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed pendulum length is used in exercise apparatus, then the structure is simple and stable, but the foot cannot be lifted vertically and natural foot motion is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the pendulum length adjustable rather than fixed. The pendulum system allows the length to be changed to accommodate different user heights and exercise requirements, enabling vertical foot lift while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. This resolves the contradiction by introducing controlled variability where needed.
2Ease of operation
If elliptical machines provide inertia to assist direction changes, then the exercise is smoother and more comfortable, but the foot is constrained to a fixed elliptical path that may not suit all users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a movable upper pivot point that can change position along an arcuate path, making the foot path dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. This allows the apparatus to adapt to different user heights and preferences while maintaining the smooth motion characteristics of inertia-assisted exercise. The pendulum length can be varied to accommodate different stride lengths and user requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of foot path geometry by allowing the upper pivot point to move along an arcuate path and the pendulum length to be adjustable. This enables the same apparatus to provide different elliptical or arcuate paths suitable for various user heights and exercise types, resolving the contradiction between smooth motion and user adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pendulum motion apparatus constrains feet to the same arcuate path in both forward and rearward motion, then the mechanism is simple, but it does not accurately simulate walking, striding, or jogging motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable upper pivot point that changes position during the exercise cycle, creating different arcuate paths for forward and rearward foot motion. This dynamic adjustment allows more accurate simulation of natural walking, striding, or jogging motions while keeping the linkage system relatively simple through the use of a single movable pivot point rather than complex multi-link mechanisms.
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 a smoother, more comfortable, and accommodating motion by allowing a natural foot path with adjustable stride length, accommodating users of different heights and simulating walking, striding, or jogging motions more effectively than traditional devices.
Implementation Method 1
a brake/inertia system to assist in lifting the foot over steps
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise apparatus may include a frame. A crank system may be coupled to the frame. A brake/inertia device may be coupled to the crank system. A pivotal linkage pendulum system may be coupled to the crank system. The pivotal linkage pendulum system may include one or more link members. An upper pivot point of at least one of the link members may be coupled to the crank system. In some embodiments, the upper pivot point of the at least one of the link members may be coupled to the crank system through a movable member. The upper pivot point may move in a back and forth path of motion or in a closed path motion. A foot member may be coupled to one or more of the link members. The foot member may include a footpad.