Sitting Exercise Machine with Dual Driving Units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steppers impose heavy loading on the knees and only train leg muscles, failing to provide a whole-body workout due to the need to sustain body weight on legs during exercise, and balance issues.
Innovation Solution
A sitting-type exercise machine with a unique design featuring two driving units and two driven units, each with a tube, extending member, and pedals, allowing independent movement to reduce knee loading, incorporating a flywheel and handles for synchronized motion, enabling users to exercise in a seated position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users stand on pedals and step in a conventional stepper, then leg muscles are trained, but heavy loading is imposed on the knees and body weight must be sustained by legs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional standing exercise posture into a seated posture. Users sit on a seat and move pedals with their feet while holding handles, reversing the weight-bearing arrangement from standing on pedals to sitting with pedals moving beneath the user, thereby eliminating knee loading while maintaining leg muscle training
Solution Approach 2:
The exercise machine segments the body engagement into distinct components: leg muscles are trained through pedal movement while arm muscles are trained through handle movement. The connecting shaft mechanism segments the transmission of motion, allowing independent movement of pedals and handles while coordinating them through the flywheel system
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional stepper design is used, then leg muscles are trained, but whole-body training is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise machine achieves multi-functionality by enabling simultaneous engagement of multiple muscle groups. The pedals train leg muscles while the handles train arm and upper body muscles, and the core muscles are engaged to coordinate the movements. This universal design allows the single device to provide comprehensive whole-body training
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the leg exercise mechanism (pedals) and arm exercise mechanism (handles) into a single integrated system. Both mechanisms are connected through the flywheel and connecting shaft, allowing coordinated full-body exercise in a unified device structure
3Ease of operation
If extending members are allowed to move independently, then smooth exercise is achieved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The extending members are nested within the tubes of the opposing driving units. The first extending member is received within the second tube, and the second extending member is received within the first tube, allowing independent movement while minimizing the space required and reducing overall device volume
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 design reduces knee loading and provides a whole-body workout by allowing users to exercise in a seated position, reducing strain on knees while engaging multiple muscle groups through synchronized pedal and handle movement.
Implementation Method 1
The flywheel is provided on the frame for rotation, and has two eccentric pivoting portions
Data Source
AI summary
A sitting type exercise machine has a frame, a flywheel, and an alternative driving device. The alternative driving device includes a base two driving units, and two driven units. The driving units and two driven units are provided on the base for rotation. A space is left between the driving units to let the driving units move independently. Therefore, the driving units respectively drive the driven units to move in the same direction. The frame is provided with a seat to let the user do exercise in a sitting posture which may reduce the loading on the knees during exercise.