Portable Lower Body Exercise Device With Wheeled Carriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise devices for lower body exercise from a seated position are either cumbersome, lack portability, or do not effectively engage the large muscles of the legs, leading to limited cardiovascular benefits and potential joint issues due to constrained movement and friction.
Innovation Solution
A portable exercise device featuring a foot carriage with wheels and tracks that allows forward and backward motion, with adjustable resistance provided by elastic or magnetic elements, allowing for easy use under a desk or sofa, engaging the legs and promoting cardiovascular health without joint impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a portable exercise device uses foot pedals constrained to pivot about ankles, then the device can be compact and portable, but it does not provide exercise to the whole leg
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from static ankle-pivoting pedals to dynamic knee-extension movement. The foot carriage moves along tracks to simulate the natural biomechanics of knee extension, allowing the entire leg to be engaged while maintaining portability. This dynamic movement pattern resolves the contradiction by enabling comprehensive leg exercise without requiring complex multi-joint mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the movement parameter from ankle rotation to knee extension along a guided track. By modifying the degree of freedom and movement trajectory, the device engages larger muscle groups (quadriceps, hamstrings) while keeping the mechanical structure simple through fixed guides and carriages.
2Reliability
If exercise devices use fixed tracks with physical connections between them, then structural stability is improved, but portability and ease of setup are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components: separate foot carriages, individual track sections, and independent resistance units. This segmentation allows the structure to be assembled and disassembled easily for portability while maintaining structural stability during use. The modular design resolves the contradiction by enabling both stability and ease of setup.
Solution Approach 2:
Components are designed to nest within each other when not in use, with foot carriages that can be stored within the track structure and resistance elements that fold or compress. This nesting approach maintains structural integrity during operation while minimizing storage space and facilitating portability.
3Ease of operation
If foot pads use rollers mounted within cavities to roll along tracks, then movement smoothness is improved, but roller misalignments and wear can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the roller-based mechanical system with a wheeled carriage system that rolls along the surface of the tracks rather than within cavities. This substitution eliminates the alignment and skidding problems associated with cavity-mounted rollers while maintaining smooth movement. The wheels are externally mounted and naturally self-align with the track surface, resolving the contradiction between smoothness and reliability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the device is placed under a desk for portability, then space utilization is improved, but knee movement can interfere with the desk
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to operate in the vertical dimension by allowing the user to lift the foot carriage upward during knee extension movements, clearing the desk surface. The tracks are positioned and oriented such that the primary movement occurs vertically rather than horizontally, enabling desk placement without interference. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by separating the exercise motion from the horizontal desk space.
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 effective cardiovascular exercise for the lower body, promoting muscle engagement and reducing joint stress through smooth, adjustable resistance, enhancing user convenience and portability.
Implementation Method 1
adjustable resistance provided by elastic or magnetic elements
Implementation Method 2
adjustable resistance provided by elastic or magnetic elements
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise device comprising a foot carriage slideably mounted on tracks, the tracks are held together parallel to one another and resistance elements provide opposition against the relative motion of the foot carriage. The foot carriage can be a frame carrying wheels and a foot support.