Side Plank Device with Shoe Recesses for Oblique Muscle Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side plank exercises put less pressure on oblique abdominal muscles, do not effectively engage both feet and legs, and can be stressful on the feet and ankles, limiting muscle engagement and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A portable side plank exercise device with recesses for shoes or feet that provide a gripping surface, allowing for increased muscle engagement by distributing weight and enabling rotation, thus targeting more muscles and reducing stress on the feet and ankles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional side plank exercise is performed with one foot on the floor, then the exercise can be performed, but the pressure on oblique abdominal muscles is reduced and the exercise efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the exercise apparatus with recesses) between the user's feet and the floor. This mediator allows both feet to be elevated off the ground while providing stable support through the recesses, thereby increasing the leverage and pressure on the oblique abdominal muscles without compromising exercise stability or safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions the exercise from a two-dimensional floor-based position to a three-dimensional suspended position. By elevating both feet into recesses that can be oriented at various angles, the exercise creates additional spatial dimensions for muscle engagement, increasing the effectiveness of the oblique abdominal workout.
2Strength
If one foot is placed on the floor to support the body, then the lower body is supported, but the other foot and leg remain completely relaxed and do not engage muscles
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise apparatus is designed with universal functionality to accommodate both feet simultaneously. The recesses can be positioned and oriented to engage both legs and feet in the exercise, allowing each leg to actively support body weight and engage muscles rather than remaining relaxed. The device serves multiple functions: supporting both feet, enabling muscle engagement, and maintaining position stability.
3Strength
If the foot touching the floor is kept completely still, then the position is stable, but the performer loses the ability to strengthen additional muscles through movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic capability to the previously static foot position. The recesses can be rotated and repositioned, allowing the user to dynamically adjust foot placement and create movement throughout the exercise. This dynamic element enables strengthening of additional muscles through controlled motion while the recesses maintain overall position stability through their secure engagement with the feet.
4Force
If feet are stacked or both feet are placed on the ground, then body weight is supported, but stress is placed on the feet and ankles and focus is taken off the primary exercise
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses serve as intermediaries that redistribute the body weight force away from the feet and ankles. By providing a structured interface between the feet and the support structure, the recesses reduce the harmful stress concentrations on the feet and ankles that occur when feet are stacked or directly on the ground, allowing users to focus on the primary oblique muscle exercise without distraction from foot pain or discomfort.
Data Source
AI summary
A new method of performing a side plank exercise uses a side plank exercise device in the shape of a spherical cap or a cone. The side plank exercise device includes a front end that is circular or oval. The side plank exercise device also includes a rear end tapered from the front end. The rear end is a spherical cap. The front end has a flat or a cavitary surface. The front end also includes two recesses for receiving a left shoe and a right shoe. The two recesses are two inches deep and also uneven in depth. Each recess further incorporates a grip at its bottom. The grip includes protruding lines or spherical caps. The device further includes an edge at the front end that extends outwardly from the front end. The edge includes an attachment point with a crossbar and an attachment cavity receiving the crossbar.