Stabilized Ball Mobilization Device with Motorized Tilting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing body mobilization equipment, such as inflatable balls, are inherently unstable, making them difficult or dangerous for individuals with reduced mobility or fragility to use, and they lack control over movement characteristics like amplitude and speed.
Innovation Solution
A body mobilization device that stabilizes a ball relative to the ground using a stabilizing member, allowing the ball to rotate freely on itself, and is driven by a motorized mobile support member to perform controlled tilting or rotational movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an inflatable ball is used for body mobilization, then the equipment is simple and comfortable, but the stability is poor and it is difficult to control movement characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
A stabilizing member is introduced as an intermediary between the ball and the ground. This stabilizing member contacts the ground and prevents the ball from rolling away, while allowing the ball to rotate on itself. The stabilizing member acts as a mediator that provides external stability while preserving the ball's rotational freedom for exercise movements.
2Device complexity
If an inflatable ball is used for body mobilization, then the equipment is simple, but control over movement amplitude and speed is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The manual control mechanism is replaced with a motorized mobile support member that drives the ball's rotation. The motor can be controlled to provide specific rotation speeds and amplitudes, enabling precise control over movement characteristics while the ball itself remains a simple inflatable structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ball is allowed to rotate freely for exercise, then mobility is improved, but safety is reduced for users with fragility
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing member acts as a counterbalancing element that opposes the ball's tendency to roll away from the user. By providing this counteracting force through ground contact, the stabilizing member prevents excessive or uncontrolled movements that could endanger fragile users, while still allowing controlled rotation for exercise.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) which comprises a frame (20) suitable for resting fixedly on the ground and a ball (10) suitable, while a user (U) keeps at least one of their feet on the ground, for supporting the weight of a part of the user's body that is resting on an upper portion (412) of the ball. The apparatus also includes a stabilising member (30), carried by the frame and designed to retain the balloon by contact so as to keep a centre of the balloon stationary relative to the frame, while allowing the balloon to be freely movable with respect to the frame at least following a tilting movement (B) about a horizontal axis (X40) passing through the centre of the balloon. The apparatus also includes a movable support member (40) which is motorised and suitable for supporting a lower portion (14) of the balloon that is pressed downwards against the movable support member by the user pressing on the upper portion of the balloon, and for driving this lower portion at least following the tilting movement.