Rocking Torso Support Glute Machine Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional glute exercise machines restrict the upper torso's movement, leading to stress on the back muscles and suboptimal contraction of gluteus muscles due to a fixed user position during exercise.
Innovation Solution
A glute exercise machine with a movably mounted upper torso support and a connecting linkage that translates the exercise arm's movement into a rocking motion of the upper torso support, allowing for dynamic user positioning and reduced back muscle stress, featuring a pivotally mounted knee support and exercise arm with resistance provided by a selectorized weight stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the upper torso support is made stationary, then the machine structure is simpler and more stable, but the user's back muscles experience stress and glute muscle contraction is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The upper torso support is transformed from a stationary structure to a dynamic one by mounting it on a rocking mechanism. The support can now rock forward and backward in coordination with the exercise arm movement, allowing the user's torso to naturally follow the leg motion and reducing stress on back muscles while maintaining structural stability through controlled motion.
2Device complexity
If the upper torso support is made stationary, then the machine structure is simpler, but the exercise does not produce optimum contraction of the gluteus muscles
Solution Approach 1:
The rocking mechanism enables the upper torso support to move dynamically during exercise, creating a more natural and effective glute activation pattern. The coordinated motion between the exercise arm and torso support enhances gluteus muscle contraction by allowing the pelvis and torso to move in sync with the leg kick, improving exercise reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting linkage acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates the linear motion of the exercise arm into rocking motion of the upper torso support. This intermediary system coordinates the movement between different parts of the machine, ensuring that the torso support moves in a way that optimizes glute muscle engagement while maintaining structural integrity.
3Device complexity
If the knee support is fixed in position, then the machine structure is simpler, but the user cannot adjust for different exercise variations
Solution Approach 1:
The knee support is changed from a fixed position to a pivotally mounted configuration that allows rotation between left and right supporting positions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables users to switch between different exercise variations and accommodate different anatomical needs, enhancing versatility without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A glute exercise machine (10) has a stationary main frame (12), a pivotally mounted upper torso support (14), a knee support (15), and an exercise arm (16) having a foot support (91) for engaging a user's foot and configured for rotation from a start position by user engaging the knee support (15) with one leg and the exercise arm (16) with the other leg. A connecting linkage (18) translates movement of the exercise arms (16) into rocking movement of the upper torso support (14). A load (22) is linked to one of the moving parts to provide exercise resistance.