Counter-force Spring Mechanism for Weight Training Machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weight training machines experience issues with weights popping up at the uppermost point during the transition from upward to downward movement, leading to abrupt muscle relaxation and reduced load sensitivity during downward movements, causing mental stress and ineffective muscle development.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a counter-force exerting means, such as coil springs and movement stoppers, to provide a returning force on the movable member at the timing of weight assembly transition from upward to downward movement, ensuring consistent muscle tension and load throughout the exercise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the weights are lifted up with a force greater than their gravity to move the movable member, then the movable member can be driven to the target position, but the weights may pop up at the uppermost point interrupting the training action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a counter-force exerting means (spring mechanism) that exerts a returning force on the movable member at the timing of weight assembly transition from upward to downward movement. This counter-force prevents the weights from popping up by providing a balancing force during the critical transition phase, thereby maintaining continuous training action without interrupting the muscle stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-based counter-force exerting means is pre-configured to activate at the precise moment when the weight assembly transitions from upward to downward movement. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the harmful pop-up effect before it can disrupt the training action, ensuring smooth and continuous muscle engagement throughout the exercise cycle.
2Productivity
If the weights are lifted down quickly to maintain training intensity, then the exercise can be completed efficiently, but the muscles become less susceptible to load reducing development effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The counter-force exerting means provides a feedback mechanism that automatically adjusts the load during the downward movement of the weight assembly. The spring-based system senses the motion and exerts a returning force that maintains appropriate muscle tension throughout the movement, ensuring that the muscles remain sensitive to the load regardless of movement speed, thereby maintaining training effectiveness while allowing efficient exercise completion.
3Reliability
If the exerciser controls the speed of movement carefully to prevent weight pop-up, then the training action remains continuous, but the exerciser experiences mental stress and concentration difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The counter-force exerting means is designed to automatically regulate the weight assembly movement without requiring user intervention or concentration. The spring-based system self-adjusts the returning force during the transition from upward to downward movement, eliminating the need for the exerciser to mentally control the speed and preventing pop-up effects. This transforms the exercise from a mentally demanding task requiring constant speed control into a more relaxed and easier-to-perform exercise while maintaining continuous training action.
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 counter-force exerting means prevents weights from popping up and maintains muscle tension during both upward and downward movements, enhancing muscle stimulation and development without requiring precise speed control.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a counter-force exerting means, such as coil springs and movement stoppers, to provide a returning force on the movable member at the timing of weight assembly transition from upward to downward movement
Implementation Method 2
a load exerting means for exerting a load to control the movement of the movable member is characterized in that the load exerting means has a weight assembly thereof arranged to be lifted vertically by the movement of the movable member as resisting the gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A training machine is provided comprising a base (6) arranged for placement on the floor (4), a movable member (32) provided on the base (6) to be moved by the training action, and a load exerting means (8) for exerting a load to control the movement of the movable member (32). The load exerting means (8) has a weight assembly (22) thereof arranged to be lifted vertically by the movement of the movable member (32) as resisting the gravity and particular is accompanied with a counter-force exerting means (70) arranged at the weight assembly (22) and/or the movable member (32) for exerting a returning force on the movable member (32) at the timing of shift from the upward movement to the downward movement of the weight assembly (22). The counter-force exerting means (70) comprises, for example, coil springs (72, 74) and movement stoppers (76, 78) for restricting the movement of the coil springs (72, 74).