Rotating Foot Support Assembly for Safer Plank Progression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current planking exercises are difficult to master and pose a high risk of injury due to the need for balance and advanced movements, particularly when variations require feet and/or leg positions to be changed while balancing on hands or forearms.

Innovation Solution

A plank training device with a base and a rotatable foot support assembly that allows for adjustable foot well dimensions and height, enabling users to perform planking exercises with varying angles and resistance levels, reducing the risk of injury through secure foot placement and controlled movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If advanced plank variations requiring movement of feet and legs while balancing on hands or forearms are performed, then exercise difficulty and muscle engagement are increased, but the risk of injury and loss of balance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise difficulty and muscle engagementVSAvoidrisk of injury and loss of balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The foot support assembly acts as an intermediary between the user's feet and the ground, providing a stable, adjustable platform that enables advanced plank variations while reducing balance requirements and injury risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable foot support assembly allows dynamic adjustment of foot position and orientation during exercise, enabling users to progress through different difficulty levels while maintaining stability through the supported platform

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If fixed foot support position is used in plank exercises, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different foot sizes and exercise variations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to different foot sizes and exercise variations

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable foot support assembly provides dynamic adjustability of foot position and orientation while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through a single rotational degree of freedom

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable foot support assembly serves multiple functions: supporting different foot sizes, enabling various plank variations, and providing progressive difficulty adjustment, all within a unified device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12616870B2Method of performing a plank style exercise and device for use therewith

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 PLANKCORE ASSIST LLC

AI summary

A plank training device having a base with a first length and a foot support assembly rotatably engaged with the base. The foot support assembly defines a foot well and is rotatable about an axis relative to the base. The foot well is adapted to receive at least a portion of a human's feet. The foot support assembly has a base plate adapted to support the portion of the human's feet. The plank training device also includes at least one riser removably connected to a bottom of the base which allows the plank training device to have a greater length.