Pivoting Buttocks Support for Controlled Squatting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise apparatuses for targeting the gluteus muscle group often require users to maintain balance and strength while lifting weights, which can be uncomfortable and may not ensure proper form, and lack compact and collapsible designs for easy storage and mobility.
Innovation Solution
A manually operated exercise apparatus with a pivoting arm and compressible linkage system that supports the buttocks and provides controlled squatting and returning movements, ensuring proper form and focusing on deep muscle tissue, featuring a compact and collapsible design with adjustable components for user comfort and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional barbell squats are used, then gluteus muscles can be targeted, but user balance and form control become difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus divides the squatting motion into controlled segments: the pivoting arm guides the downward motion while the compressible linkage system controls the upward return, ensuring proper form throughout the exercise range without requiring user balance maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting arm and compressible linkage system act as intermediaries between the user and gravity, mediating the squatting motion to ensure proper form while reducing the balance control burden on the user
2Reliability
If fixed exercise apparatus are used, then proper exercise form can be ensured, but storage and mobility become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic, collapsible design where the pivoting arm and uprights can be folded together, maintaining exercise form guidance functionality while enabling compact storage and mobility when not in use
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is divided into collapsible segments (uprights and pivoting arm) that can be folded together into a compact configuration for storage, while maintaining the structural integrity needed to guide proper exercise form during use
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 ensures proper form and effective exercise of the gluteus muscles with controlled movements, allowing for efficient targeting of deep muscle tissue while being compact, easily movable, and collapsible for storage, enhancing user experience and exercise efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
the linkage system, acting against the dropping of the pad and arm, provides for a controlled squatting movement by the user... From a lowered position the linkage system, returning to its initial position, assists the user in slowly returning to an initial upper position
Data Source
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AI summary
An exercise apparatus for the exercise of a user's gluteus muscles through a supported seated squat downward from an upper starting position and a upward return movement has a base, a pair of user foot support ramps mounted to the base for supporting the toe portions of the feet with the heels on the floor, a pair of spaced fixed uprights mounted to the base and located forward of the foot supports terminating in a pair of hand grips. A buttocks support assembly with an angled buttocks support pad is pivotally mounted to the uprights, and a compressible linkage connects the pad assembly to the base. The linkage provides an opposing force to the downward travel of the support assembly and a boost restoring force to the support assembly for returning the support pad to an upper starting position. The user provides a controlled descent from an initial upper position to a squat and a controlled return from the squat to the upper position. The angled orientation of the support pad and the foot support ramps assist in positioning the user to operate the apparatus such that the weight of the user is not fully supported by the pad and remains directed through the heels during a full range of exercise motion.