Seated Elliptical Exercise Apparatus with Foldable Pedals and Handles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seated exercise apparatuses, such as sit-down exercise cycles, require extensive time to achieve significant benefits and often fail to effectively engage the entire body, particularly lacking in coordinating elliptical foot and arm exercises for efficient muscle tone and longevity.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features elliptically moving foot pedals with adjustable resistance and coordinated arm handles that follow an oblong path, allowing for dorsi-flexion and plantar flexion without heel or toe lift, and can be folded for easy access and storage, with a security system to secure chairs or wheelchairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional sit-down exercise cycles are used, then leg muscles can be exercised, but extensive time is required to achieve significant benefits and additional muscles are not engaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines foot pedals and arm handles into a single integrated exercise apparatus, allowing simultaneous engagement of both upper and lower body muscles. The foot pedals are connected to a crank mechanism that also drives the arm handles, enabling coordinated full-body exercise in one motion cycle, thereby doubling the muscle groups engaged per unit time.
Solution Approach 2:
The exercise apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides leg exercise through foot pedals, arm exercise through handles, and core exercise through the coordinated motion required. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace multiple separate exercise equipment, increasing overall exercise efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If foot pedals are fixed in position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but dorsi-flexion and plantar flexion foot exercise cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The foot pedals are designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, incorporating articulation that allows dorsi-flexion and plantar flexion movements. The pedals are connected to the crank mechanism through a linkage system that enables the pedal surface to tilt and rotate, providing comprehensive foot exercise while maintaining coordination with the overall elliptical motion.
3Ease of operation
If arm handles and foot pedals are fixed in extended positions, then exercise functionality is maximized, but easy ingress and egress is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The arm handles and foot pedals are designed as dynamic, movable components that can be folded or repositioned. The handles are connected to the crank mechanism through linkages that allow them to be folded back toward the frame, and the pedals can be rotated or folded to clear the seating area, enabling easy user access while maintaining full exercise functionality when extended.
4Reliability
If chair or wheelchair is not secured to the apparatus, then ease of positioning is maintained, but secure operation during exercise is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A security strap or belt is introduced as an intermediary element between the user's chair/wheelchair and the exercise apparatus frame. This strap can be easily attached and detached, providing secure anchoring of the chair to prevent movement during exercise, while not permanently complicating the apparatus structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sit down exercise apparatus operated in a chair position where foot operated pedals and arm operated handles follow oblong paths. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with motion of the feet. The foot pedals fold away from the operator to allow easy ingress and egress as well as arm exercise only. The handles for arm exercise fold away from the operator for foot only exercise and easy stowage. The exercise apparatus is wheelchair friendly and has a security connector to prevent tipback during operation. Arm exercise can passively exercise the feet or foot exercise can passively exercise the arms.