Slidable Handle Assembly for Trunk Rotation Exercise
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise apparatuses fail to effectively develop muscles used during trunk rotation motions, such as swinging a golf club or throwing a baseball, as they often cause a reduction in torque around the spine due to the pull cable wrapping around the user's trunk.
Innovation Solution
A slidable handle assembly with a pair of opposing pulleys interconnected by a pull cable, allowing the user to maintain a constant torque about the spine during trunk rotation exercises by sliding the pulley along an elongated rod, avoiding the cable wrapping issue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pull cable is used in prior art exercise apparatuses, then the user can perform trunk rotation exercises, but the cable wraps around the user's trunk causing significant reduction in torque around the spine
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise apparatus divides the cable system into two separate cables, each connected to a independent pulley assembly. This segmentation prevents the cables from wrapping around the user's trunk by assigning each cable to a specific side, allowing independent movement without interference with the other side.
Solution Approach 2:
Pulley assemblies serve as intermediary components between the cables and the user's hands. These pulleys guide the cables over the user's back in a controlled manner, preventing direct wrapping around the trunk while maintaining the necessary tension and torque application during the exercise motion.
2Device complexity
If a fixed cable system is used, then the apparatus structure is simple, but it cannot maintain constant torque during dynamic trunk rotation motion
Solution Approach 1:
The pulley assemblies are designed to slide along the cable paths, allowing dynamic adjustment of the cable angle relative to the user's trunk during movement. This dynamic configuration enables the system to maintain optimal torque application throughout the range of motion while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
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
This design effectively develops the muscles used in trunk rotation while maintaining consistent torque around the spine, providing a more effective and safe exercise experience compared to prior art.
Implementation Method 1
The pulleys are interconnected by a pull cable having a hand grip at each end wherein a user grasps a respective one of the hand grips causing the associated pulley to slide along a length of the rod
Implementation Method 2
maintaining the moving pulley in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod... maintaining a substantially constant torque about the user's spine during the exercise
Data Source
AI summary
Exercise apparatus and method including a slidable handle assembly. In one embodiment, a support arm structure, pivotally mounted on an upright frame, enables alternatively fixed positioning of a rod at various vertical distances above a ground plane, in a generally horizontal orientation. A pair of left and right handle bracket assemblies are sildably mounted on the rod, and can be engaged by a user for moving the slidable handle bracket assembly across the rod while overcoming a resistance established by an adjustable resistance mechanism (e.g., weight stack). In one embodiment, the apparatus and method are used for developing muscles used during trunk rotation of a user in a standing position.