Teeter-Totter Linkage Suspension for Weight-Insensitive Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional teeter-totters are unstable for users of different weights, requiring heavier individuals to exert more effort and strain their leg muscles to create motion, as they act like a balance, whereas gliders are not affected by weight differences but lack the up-and-down motion.
Innovation Solution
A teeter-totter design featuring a pair of seats on a longitudinal support member suspended by linkage arms, providing a stable and balancing motion that combines up-and-down arcuate motion with back-and-forth gliding motion, eliminating the need for counterbalance features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional teeter-totter uses a simple pivot assembly with a beam supported off the ground, then the structure is simple and durable, but the teeter-totter acts like a balance causing heavier persons to settle in the lower position and strain their leg muscles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies counterbalance springs connected to the beam that provide an upward force to counteract the weight of users. When a heavier person sits on one end, the spring on that side compresses and provides additional upward force to balance the beam, preventing the heavier person from settling in the lower position and reducing the strain on their leg muscles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements (springs) to the previously static pivot assembly. The springs allow the system to adapt dynamically to different weight combinations by compressing and expanding as needed, providing continuous balance adjustment rather than a fixed balance point.
2Ease of operation
If counterbalance springs or weights are added to counteract the weight of heavier persons, then ease of operation for users of different weights is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counterbalance springs are designed to be self-regulating. As users of different weights sit on the beam, the springs automatically compress or expand to the appropriate degree to maintain balance, without requiring external adjustment or control mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the weight of the users to drive the balancing action.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a teeter-totter uses a stable pivotal support like a glider, then stability and balance are improved making it less sensitive to users of different weights, but the characteristic up-and-down arcuate motion is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two previously separate concepts: the stable pivotal support of a glider and the up-and-down arcuate motion of a conventional teeter-totter. By combining the glider's stable pivot mechanism with counterbalance springs, the system achieves both stability (reducing sensitivity to weight differences) and the characteristic teeter-totter motion that users expect.
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 design offers a more stable and enjoyable experience for users of varying weights by incorporating horizontal motion, reducing the bump at the bottom and allowing users to operate without additional counterbalance features.
Implementation Method 1
The seat support member is suspended from support frame 20 by a pair of linkage arms 22. The linkage arms are independently pivotally connected to longitudinal pivot support member 24 at pivot points 26.
Implementation Method 2
Two counterbalance springs 34 are provided, with one end of each spring bearing against one of the leg members 30 and the other end bearing against the seat support member 12.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved teeter-totter has a pair of seats mounted at opposite ends of a longitudinal seat support member. The seat support member is suspended from overhead pivots by a pair of linkage arms to provide riders with a motion that combines the up-and-down arcuate motion of a conventional teeter-totter with a back-and-forth gliding motion, thus creating a more stable and balancing effect allowing users of different weights, to use the teeter-totter without other counter balance features.