Resistive exercise harness, rack and cart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise devices fail to provide a comfortable and efficient way to increase resistive loads while promoting biomechanics that reduce mechanical stresses and injury risks, particularly in the knees and lower back, and lack diversity in simulating occupational and recreational movements across various environments with easy portability.
Innovation Solution
A resistive exercise harness system comprising an upper and lower portion with adjustable shoulder supports, grip handles, back supports, and weight mounts, along with a rack and cart for easy assembly, disassembly, and transportation, which allows for customizable fit and use in diverse settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If shoulder straps are used to carry loads, then portability is improved, but pressure against the front of the shoulder region increases causing discomfort and potential injury to muscle, nerves, and blood supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional shoulder strap configuration by moving the load-bearing contact points from the front of the shoulders to the back of the shoulders and upper back. The harness uses rear shoulder straps and a back panel that distributes weight across the scapulae and thoracic spine, eliminating anterior shoulder compression while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional strap system to a three-dimensional distributed support structure. The harness incorporates a back panel, side straps, and rear shoulder straps that create a volumetric load distribution across the upper back, shoulders, and torso, reducing pressure concentration at any single point while improving portability.
2Productivity
If barbell squats are used for resistive exercise, then strength training effectiveness is improved, but mechanical stresses and incidence of injury increase due to increased torque and axial loads on the spine and load demand on knees and lower back
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterbalancing mechanism where the harness system provides upward support forces through the back panel and shoulder straps to offset a portion of the external load. This reduces the net compressive force on the spine and axial load on the knees during squatting movements, allowing for effective strength training with reduced mechanical stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The harness acts as an intermediary between the external load and the user's body. Instead of the spine and knees directly bearing the full axial load of the barbell, the harness distributes the load through the upper back musculature and skeletal structure, mediating the force transmission and reducing peak stresses on vulnerable joints and spinal segments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If exercise equipment is designed for diverse functional movements and occupational simulations, then versatility is improved, but device complexity and portability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the harness as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple exercise modalities and occupational simulation scenarios. The adjustable strap system, modular attachment points, and flexible back panel allow the same device to support squats, deadlifts, carrying movements, and various occupational simulations, achieving versatility without requiring multiple specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The harness is segmented into modular components including adjustable shoulder straps, side straps, a back panel, and attachment points for various loads. This segmentation allows the device to be configured for different exercises and movements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be easily adjusted rather than requiring complex specialized mechanisms for each function.
4Adaptability or versatility
If exercise equipment is designed for diverse functional movements and occupational simulations, then versatility is improved, but ease of transportation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The harness is designed as a universal piece of equipment that can be used for multiple exercise types and occupational simulations, eliminating the need to transport multiple specialized devices. The same harness supports squats, deadlifts, carrying movements, and various functional exercises, improving portability while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The harness incorporates dynamic, adjustable elements including removable and reconfigurable straps, adjustable attachment points, and flexible support structures. This allows the device to be adapted for different exercises and easily packed or configured for transport, maintaining versatility while improving ease of transportation compared to fixed, specialized equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a resistive exercise harness, a rack for use with the harness, and a cart for transporting one or more of the harness, the rack, or weights. The resistive exercise harness can be used to perform various functional movements/exercises and simulate loaded carries/movements relevant to certain occupations/sports/recreations. The resistive exercise harness can promote efficient biomechanics and decrease mechanical stresses on a user's knees and/or lower back relative to other resistive exercises such as a barbell squat. The rack can be assembled in a variety of indoor/outdoor environments for harness usage and disassembled for convenient storage and/or transportation. The cart can interface with the harness and disassembled rack for convenient storage and/or transportation in a variety of indoor/outdoor environments.