Glute Press Machine With Rotatable Hip-Supporting Backrest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glute press weight lifting machines provide inadequate support to the user's back and hips during the exercise, and many non-equipment-based methods lack sufficient support, leading to discomfort and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A glute press exercise machine with a rotatable back support that extends below the hips to support at least 10% of the user's body weight, a four-bar linkage system for bars rotating at non-vertical angles, and a cable mechanism connecting to a weight stack, along with a foot support positioned close to the ground and a stabilizing arm, ensuring stable and effective weight lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard lifting bench is used to support the upper back or shoulders, then the equipment is simple and widely available, but the support to the user's back is very poor and inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The back support is divided into multiple segments: an upper back support portion and a lower back support portion that extends below the hips. This segmentation allows each portion to provide targeted support to different regions of the back, improving overall back support quality while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower back support portion extends in a new spatial dimension by reaching below the user's hips, rather than simply extending horizontally. This dimensional extension provides additional support to the lower back and hip region, significantly improving back support quality without adding complex mechanical systems.
2Ease of operation
If a rotating arm mechanism is used to lift the weight stack, then the exercise machine provides mechanical advantage, but the machine becomes more complex and requires the user to rotate the exercise arm during the exercise
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional rotating arm mechanism is extracted and replaced with a more direct cable-pulley system. The cable is attached to the back support and runs over a pulley to the weight stack, eliminating the need for a complex rotating arm while maintaining the mechanical advantage needed to lift heavy weights.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a rotating arm that moves in an arc, the invention inverts the approach by using a cable system that translates the linear movement of the back support directly into weight lifting. This inversion simplifies the mechanism while improving ease of operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the foot support is positioned higher off the ground, then the user has more clearance and comfort, but the machine becomes less stable during the exercise
Solution Approach 1:
The foot support is positioned low to the ground (below 25cm) to maximize machine stability during the exercise. The local quality of the foot support area is optimized for stability rather than comfort, while other areas of the machine (such as the back support padding) are optimized for user comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot support extends forwardly beyond the front of the stationary frame, creating an asymmetric configuration that enhances stability. This asymmetric extension provides a wider base of support in the forward direction, improving machine stability during the glute press exercise.
4Reliability
If the lower portion of the back support extends below the hips, then comprehensive support to the lower back and hips is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lower portion of the back support serves multiple functions: it supports the user's hips, provides lower back support, and acts as an anchor point for the cable mechanism. This multi-functionality allows comprehensive support to be provided without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower back support portion is merged with the hip support function, creating a continuous support surface that extends from the upper back down below the hips. This merging of support functions into a single integrated structure provides comprehensive support while avoiding the complexity of separate support mechanisms.
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 machine provides comprehensive support to the user's lower back and hips throughout the exercise, maintaining stability and efficiency while lifting weights without requiring the user to rotate an exercise arm, enhancing comfort and effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a four-bar linkage system for bars rotating at non-vertical angles
Implementation Method 2
a cable mechanism connecting to a weight stack
Data Source
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AI summary
A glute press exercise machine including: a four-bar linkage connected to a stationary frame; a rotatable back support connected to the four-bar linkage; a seat connected to the four-bar linkage; and a foot support connected to the stationary frame. A lower portion of the back support extends below the user's hips to support the users hips during a glute press exercise. This lower portion supports at least 10% of the user's weight. In operation, the seat rotates downwardly away from the user's hips during a glute press exercise and then rotates upwardly again to contact the user's bottom between every repetition of the glute press exercise. The four-bar linkage is pivotally connected to the stationary frame at a location near ground level. The foot support is positioned below 25cm from the ground and extends forwardly beyond the front of the stationary frame.