Prone Exerciser Elliptical Motion Reduces Joint Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horizontal motion exercisers, such as those mimicking crawling or swimming, often result in unsmooth and uncoordinated linear reciprocating motions, leading to increased impact and injury risks due to gravity's negative effects on the body during upright motions.
Innovation Solution
An elliptical prone exerciser with a frame, front and rear drive mechanisms, and a damping wheel, featuring movable hand and knee support members that move in an elliptical path, reducing impact and improving motion coordination through a crank swinging-rod mechanism and synchronous transmission pairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If linear reciprocating motion is used to mimic crawling or swimming, then the exercise device can enable horizontal motion, but the motion becomes unsmooth and uncoordinated causing impact and injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies elliptical motion paths instead of linear reciprocating motion. The hand support members and knee support members move along elliptical trajectories, which better mimic natural crawling and swimming motions. This curved elliptical path eliminates the abrupt start-stop characteristics of linear motion, providing smooth continuous movement that reduces impact on joints and muscles while maintaining coordinated full-body engagement.
2Force
If upright position exercise is performed, then gravity provides resistance for muscle engagement, but negative effects occur on lumbar vertebra, cervical vertebra, knee joint, and cardiovascular system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional upright exercise position by placing the user in a horizontal prone position on the exercise device. This inversion removes the adverse effects of gravity on the spine and joints while still allowing gravity to provide resistance for muscle engagement. The horizontal positioning eliminates compression on lumbar and cervical vertebrae, prevents knee joint injury, and reduces risk of visceroptosis and cardiovascular diseases, while the resistance mechanism maintains effective muscle workout.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If horizontal motion exercisers are designed, then gravity's negative effects are reduced, but the motion remains linear and uncoordinated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple support members (hand support members and knee support members) into a coordinated system that moves together along synchronized elliptical paths. The front drive mechanism and rear drive mechanism are connected through a synchronous transmission system, ensuring that all support members move in a coordinated manner. This integration maintains the stability and coordination of the motion pattern while benefiting from the reduced gravity effects of horizontal positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
An elliptical prone exerciser is disclosed, which comprises a frame (1), a front drive mechanism (3), a rear drive mechanism (4) and a damping wheel (2) arranged on the frame (1). The front drive mechanism (3) and the rear drive mechanism (4) are respectively arranged at a front end and a rear end of the frame (1). An output end of the front drive mechanism (3) and an output end of the rear drive mechanism (4) are respectively connected with the damping wheel (2). The front drive mechanism (3) is provided with a pair of movable hand support members (30), and the rear drive mechanism (4) is provided with a pair of movable knee support members (40). The pair of movable hand support members (30) and the pair of movable knee support members (40) move in an elliptical path. The elliptical prone exerciser is characterized by natural and coordinated motion, low impact and high safety.