Adjustable Slide Board Bumpers for Low-Impact Gliding Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slide boards cause injuries due to rigid bumpers that exert impact pressures and stresses on the user's foot, ankle, and knee, and limit motion to lateral side-to-side movements, restricting their use to specific exercises and failing to accommodate individual anatomical variations.
Innovation Solution
An exercise apparatus with adjustable bumpers and a counterforce and guiding system that allows for variable push-off angles and user-selected paths, simulating natural body dynamics to minimize injuries and expand training activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid vertical bumpers are used, then the slide board provides structural support and defined motion path, but it causes impact pressures and stresses on the user's foot, ankle, and knee
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning the inclined plane adjacent to the bumper before impact occurs. The inclined plane allows the ball of the foot to contact first and gradually redirect the force, cushioning the impact before it reaches the vulnerable metatarsal bones and reducing stress on the ankle and knee joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces another dimension by adding the inclined plane element that changes the impact geometry from a vertical straight-line contact to an angled progressive contact. This dimensional change allows force distribution across a larger area and through different tissue planes, reducing concentrated stress on specific anatomical structures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If inclined plane is added to reduce foot impact, then bruising and lateral stresses are reduced, but it causes poor body position and decreased exercise effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the inclined plane's angle and dimensions to achieve the right balance. The inclined plane is designed with specific angular parameters that allow it to reduce foot impact while maintaining a comfortable and effective body position for exercise, addressing both the harmful factors and operational ease simultaneously.
3Device complexity
If parallel bumpers are used, then the slide board is simple in structure, but it limits motion to lateral side-to-side movements only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the bumper configuration adjustable rather than fixed. The bumpers can be positioned at different angles and locations to accommodate various exercise types and motion paths, allowing the device to adapt from simple lateral movements to more complex patterns while maintaining structural simplicity when not adjusted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the bumper system to perform multiple functions through adjustment. The same bumper structure can be configured for lateral skating motions, forward propulsion, diagonal movements, and rehabilitation exercises, making a single device suitable for diverse training activities without requiring multiple specialized components.
4Ease of manufacture
If fixed bumper positions are used, then manufacturing and setup are simple, but the slide board cannot accommodate individual anatomical variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing adjustable bumper positioning systems that allow users to customize the configuration according to their individual anatomical needs. This adjustability enables accommodation of varying leg lengths, hip widths, and motion preferences while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through modular or repositionable components.
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 apparatus reduces the likelihood of repetitive injuries by accommodating individual anatomical variations and enabling a range of exercises, including forward propulsion, thereby enhancing training effectiveness and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
bumpers with shock-absorbing systems adjustably attached to locations on the top sliding surface
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise apparatus, system, and method includes a board with adjustable bumpers having shock-absorbing systems and user-adjustable bumper push-off angles. A counterforce and guiding system provides an amount of counterbalance force corresponding to an amount of force by an amount of a user lean during a sliding motion, while simultaneously providing an amount of a guiding force from a harness not affixed statically to a user. This allows for a gliding motion along a path, with a guideline to guide an amount of a user motion corresponding to a user-selected path of motion on a top sliding surface as the user slides. This results in the user simulating a dynamic of a naturally occurring posture and motion of a human body optimized for performing the gliding motion corresponding to the user-selected path of motion.