Spring Ring Retainer for Pilates Chair Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing anchor structures in exercise equipment, such as Pilates-style combo chairs, experience wear issues due to metal rings interacting with anchor plate arms during repeated use, leading to potential ring failure and a need for a snugging and retaining device to minimize this wear while ensuring secure positioning.
Innovation Solution
A spring ring retainer device with an elongated unitary body, featuring a central semi-cylindrical portion and curved end portions with semi-cylindrical connectors, is designed to be fastened to the anchor, providing a groove structure that captures and retains the spring ring, eliminating metal-to-metal contact and distributing the force over a wider arc to reduce wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the metal ring is allowed to move freely on the anchor plate arm, then the device is simple and easy to install, but the metal ring wears against the anchor plate arm during repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a retainer device as an intermediary component between the metal ring and the anchor plate arm. This retainer device includes a body with a groove that receives the metal ring, and a protrusion that engages with the anchor plate arm. The intermediary retainer device eliminates direct metal-to-metal contact between the ring and arm, thereby reducing wear while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the metal ring loosely fits onto the anchor plate arm, then installation is easy, but there is no secure retention and the ring may become dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer device serves as an intermediary that provides secure retention through its groove-and-protrusion mechanism. The groove in the retainer body securely holds the metal ring, preventing dislodgement, while the protrusion engages with the anchor plate arm for stable mounting. This intermediary structure maintains ease of installation while ensuring secure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer device incorporates curved surfaces and grooves that conform to the metal ring's geometry. The curved groove in the retainer body provides snug engagement with the circular metal ring, ensuring secure retention while allowing for easy installation through natural alignment of the curved surfaces.
3Reliability
If a retainer device is added to eliminate metal-to-metal contact, then wear is minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single retainer device component. The retainer device simultaneously provides wear protection by eliminating metal-to-metal contact, secures the metal ring through its groove, and attaches to the anchor plate arm via its protrusion. This consolidation of functions into one component minimizes the increase in device complexity while achieving wear reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer device is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple roles: it acts as a wear protection element by preventing direct contact between the metal ring and anchor plate arm, serves as a retention mechanism through its groove, and provides mounting functionality via its protrusion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A spring ring retainer device is described for retaining a spring ring on a spring anchor in an exercise apparatus such as a Pilates chair. The retainer device eliminates metal to metal contact between the spring ring and the anchor to minimize wear and also provide tactile feedback to a user of proper spring position on the anchor. The device is preferably an elongated unitary body having a central semi-cylindrical portion having a first radius, a first curved end portion, and a semi-cylindrical connector portion joining the first curved end portion to one end of the central semi-cylindrical portion, a second curved end portion and a second semi-cylindrical connector portion joining the second curved end portion with the central semi-cylindrical portion.