Synchronous Crank Exercise Machine for Natural Gait
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise devices, such as treadmills and elliptical machines, are large, noisy, and have high maintenance costs, and they do not provide a natural walking or running motion with variable stride length, which limits their effectiveness for low-impact, efficient cardiovascular exercise.
Innovation Solution
A compact exercise machine with a frame that includes first and second crank systems, allowing for synchronous rotation and adjustable stride length through movable crank links and force resistance devices, mimicking a natural walking motion while minimizing noise and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If treadmills are used to simulate walking, then users can exercise indoors, but the device becomes large, noisy, and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential walking motion function from complex treadmill systems by eliminating the belt and deck friction mechanism. It retains only the necessary crank and pedal components to simulate natural walking gait, thereby reducing device size and maintenance needs while preserving indoor exercise capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified mechanical copy of natural walking motion using crank assemblies and pedal arms that replicate the bipedal gait cycle. This copying approach achieves the exercise function without requiring the full complexity of a treadmill, resulting in a more compact and maintainable device
2Object-affected harmful factors
If elliptical machines are used to provide low-impact exercise, then joint stress is reduced, but the gait motion becomes non-natural and stride length is fixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustability in the crank link mechanisms, allowing the stride length and pedal path to be modified during operation. This dynamic capability enables the device to adapt to different user preferences and exercise intensities while maintaining smooth, low-impact motion throughout the gait cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The walking motion is segmented into distinct phases (stance and swing) represented by separate crank assemblies on each side. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each phase while maintaining natural coordination, achieving both low-impact motion and gait naturalness
3Duration of action of moving object
If friction-based treadmill belts are used for walking simulation, then continuous motion is achieved, but noise and wear increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the friction-based belt mechanism with a direct mechanical linkage system using cranks, connecting rods, and pedals. This substitution eliminates the sliding friction between belt and deck, thereby removing the primary sources of noise and wear while maintaining continuous motion capability through the rotational mechanics of the crank assemblies
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise machine with a more natural gait which, in some embodiments, further allows for a variable stride length while in use. In one configuration, each side of the exercise machine has a first crank assembly connected at an upper location on a pedal arm and a second crank connected at a middle location on the pedal arm, and a pedal is attached to a lower location of the pedal arm. The first crank assembly is connected to the pedal arm by a crank arm. The second crank assembly is connected to the pedal arm via a crank arm pivotally attached to a crank link. The path of each pedal is determined by the lengths of crank arms and crank links of the first and second crank assemblies rotating in synchronous motion.