Retractable Massage Roller Segmented Connecting Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable yoga columns are prone to jamming, instability, and deformation during stretching and contraction, making them difficult to use safely and store efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A retractable massage roller design featuring two end caps, ring-shaped unit bodies connected by independent connecting rods with limiting mechanisms to ensure smooth stretching and contraction, reducing jamming and deformation by allowing each unit body to slide independently and be positionally limited.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If every two adjacent unit bodies are connected through plug-in posts and holes, then the structure is simplified and ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to jamming and instability during stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting structure is divided into independent connecting rods that connect every three adjacent unit bodies, rather than directly connecting every two unit bodies. This segmentation distributes the connection load and reduces interference between adjacent connections, preventing jamming while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting rod acts as an intermediary component between unit bodies, providing a stable connection medium. The limiting mechanisms on the connecting rods serve as mediators to control the movement of unit bodies, ensuring reliable stretching and contraction without direct unit body-to-unit body contact that causes jamming
2Device complexity
If every two unit bodies are connected in an interpenetrating manner, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability worsens causing deformation and distortion during use
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into multiple independent connecting rods, each responsible for connecting specific groups of three unit bodies. This segmentation provides stable geometric constraints while keeping each connecting rod's structure simple, preventing overall system deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The limiting mechanisms are pre-configured on the connecting rods to establish stable positional constraints before stretching occurs. This preliminary positioning prevents unpredictable deformation during use, maintaining stability without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms
3Volume of moving object
If the massage roller is designed to be retractable for compact storage, then the volume is reduced for easier storage, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in stretching and potential injury from deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable structure is divided into discrete unit bodies connected by independent rods, allowing smooth sequential expansion and contraction. This segmentation enables compact storage while maintaining operational smoothness, as each unit can move independently without causing jams that would hinder ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting rods with limiting mechanisms serve as intermediaries that guide and control the movement of unit bodies during stretching and contraction. This mediation ensures predictable, safe operation while enabling the compact retractable design, preventing the kind of deformation that would cause injury
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable massage roller includes two end caps and multiple ring-shaped unit bodies arranged along an axial direction, the two end caps being respectively connected to outermost two unit bodies of the multiple unit bodies. Every three adjacent unit bodies are connected through multiple connecting rods, the multiple connecting rods are independent of the three adjacent unit bodies, each connecting rods is movably disposed on and passes through the three adjacent unit bodies and the three adjacent unit bodies are capable of sliding on the multiple connecting rods. Outermost two unit bodies of the three adjacent unit bodies are respectively positionally-limited at two ends of each connecting rod through first limiting mechanisms, when the retractable massage roller is in a stretched state. Every two adjacent unit bodies of the multiple unit bodies are positionally-limited through second limiting mechanisms, when the retractable massage roller is in a contracted state.