Treadmill Elastic Resistance System for Knee Strain Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treadmills face challenges in providing higher intensity workouts without requiring high speeds or inclines, which can be detrimental to users, especially for motorized treadmills, and manual treadmills struggle to generate sufficient resistance without increasing incline.
Innovation Solution
A novel elastic resistance system using elastic bands connected to the treadmill and user's body, with pulleys to maintain consistent pull force during exercise, allowing for adjustable resistance levels by varying the number and strength of bands attached to the feet or waist.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If speed or incline is increased to gain higher intensity exercise, then exercise intensity is improved, but knee injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies counterweight principle by using elastic bands to provide an opposing force that resists the user's forward motion on the treadmill. This elastic resistance creates a pulling force against the user's feet, enabling high-intensity exercise without requiring high speed or incline settings, thereby reducing knee stress and injury risk while maintaining exercise effectiveness
2Force
If incline is increased to overcome frictional resistance on manual treadmill, then resistance force is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces elastic bands as an intermediary element between the treadmill and the user. These bands provide the necessary resistance force through their elastic properties, eliminating the need to increase treadmill incline. The elastic bands act as a mediator that delivers resistance directly to the user's feet, simplifying the overall treadmill structure while achieving the desired resistance effect
3Force
If elastic band is stretched to generate resistance force, then resistance effectiveness is improved, but band rolling up occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces pulleys as intermediary devices to manage the elastic bands. The pulleys guide the bands through proper routing and prevent them from rolling up or tangling during stretching. This intermediary mechanism maintains the structural stability of the band system while allowing the bands to generate the necessary resistance force through elongation
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
Enables users to achieve high-intensity workouts at lower speeds and with reduced knee strain by providing a consistent and adjustable resistance force, enhancing exercise efficiency on both motorized and manual treadmills.
Implementation Method 1
a novel treadmill elastic resistance system generally consisting of at least one elastic band with one end connected to treadmill and the other end connected to the user's body
Implementation Method 2
Pulley needs to be used at the turning point of the elastic band
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a novel treadmill with elastic band aided system to drive the tread belt. The elastic band aided system includes at least one of the foot attachment, hand attachment, and waist attachment. This elastic band aided system can be used in manual treadmills and motorized treadmills.