Torso Harness for Hands-Free Balance Training

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing training devices with a movable center of mass, such as Aquaball and Aquabag, are limited by the need to constantly hold a heavy balance body, restricting user movement and freedom during exercises.

Innovation Solution

A harness system that attaches to the user's torso, allowing the balance body to be connected and disconnected easily, providing hands-free exercise and increased stability with a customizable and removable balance body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user holds the balance body directly with hands, then the device provides effective resistance training with movable center of mass, but the user's movement freedom and range of exercises are restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement freedomVSAvoidrange of exercises
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The training device is divided into separate components: a harness system that attaches to the user's torso and a balance body that can be independently attached and detached from the harness. This segmentation allows the balance body to be released from hand-holding and integrated into the harness system, enabling hands-free operation and greater movement freedom while maintaining training effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harness acts as an intermediary between the user and the balance body. Instead of direct hand-holding, the harness carries the balance body and distributes its weight across the user's torso, serving as a mediator that enables hands-free operation while maintaining control and stability during exercise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the balance body is permanently fixed to the harness, then stability is maximized, but adaptability for different training needs is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidcustomizability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the harness and balance body is made dynamic rather than static. The balance body can be attached and detached from the harness as needed, allowing the system to transition between stable (attached) and adaptable (detached) states. This dynamic design enables users to switch between stability for current exercise and adaptability for different training needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Force

If the balance body is made heavy to provide sufficient resistance, then training effectiveness is improved, but ease of movement and handling is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveresistanceVSAvoidease of movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The harness system distributes the weight of the heavy balance body across the user's torso and shoulders, counteracting the localized burden that would otherwise make movement difficult. By spreading the weight distribution, the system maintains sufficient resistance for effective training while improving ease of movement and reducing strain on any single body part

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentEP3512613B1Training device balance body and holder means
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 ULTIMATEINSTABILITY BV
  • EP3512613B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3512613B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3512613B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A training device for the human or animal body comprises a balance body (40) with a movable centre of mass and holder means with which the balance body can be carried. The holder means comprise a harness (10,20,30) with connecting means (11, 12, 13) for connecting to a torso of the body and with a cavity (35) in which the balance body is at least partially received and fixed. The harness particularly comprises a first part (10) with the attaching means (1 1, 12) for attaching to a back of the user and a second part (20,30) connected releasably to the first part. The first part and the second part adjoin each other so as to form a cavity which is open on both sides and in which the balance part (40) is at least partially received in substantially fitting manner.