Non-Electric Treadmill Waist Restricting Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional treadmills, both electric and non-electric, fail to allow users to sprint or adjust speed easily, leading to inconvenience and safety issues, and lack the ability to seamlessly transition between aerobic exercises and weight training with adjustable resistance.
Innovation Solution
A non-electric treadmill with a restricting device that allows users to run naturally by abutting against their waist, enabling speed adjustment and easy transition between aerobic exercises and weight training, featuring a V-shaped retaining portion and adjustable resistance through an eddy current and friction resistance system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a non-electric treadmill is used to allow natural speed adjustment, then users can speed up or slow down freely, but users cannot maintain proper position on the belt during sprint due to forward motion exceeding belt backward speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using a restricting device that proactively prevents the user from moving forward off the belt. The device includes a restraining member positioned at the front end of the belt that makes contact with the user's body when they move forward, providing a counteracting force before the user can reach the front end and fall off. This predictive restraint mechanism solves the position stability problem while maintaining speed adjustment freedom.
2Reliability
If a wearing member with rope is used to restrict forward motion, then users can sprint safely, but the device occupies more space and requires additional setup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential restraining function from the complex wearing member and rope system and integrates it directly into the treadmill structure. The restricting device is built-in with the treadmill frame, eliminating the need for separate wearable components and external rope attachments. This integration maintains the forward motion restriction capability while significantly simplifying the overall device structure and reducing space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the restricting function with the treadmill's existing structure by positioning the restraining member as part of the frame assembly. The restricting device combines structural support and safety restraint functions into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate wearing members and external anchoring systems required by prior art solutions.
3Speed
If electric treadmill is used for high-speed sprint, then belt speed can reach 24-27 km/h, but users experience additional loading when unable to keep up with belt speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional treadmill operating principle by making the user the power source instead of the motor. In this non-electric design, the user's running motion directly drives the belt through friction contact, eliminating the speed mismatch problem. The belt speed automatically matches the user's running speed, preventing the harmful additional loading that occurs when users cannot keep up with motor-driven high speeds.
4Force
If friction resistance device is used for weight training, then high resistance can be provided, but resistance adjustment is not easy especially for low resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using an eddy current resistance device that provides continuous, smooth resistance adjustment through electromagnetic field control. Unlike friction-based mechanical systems with discrete adjustment levels, the eddy current mechanism allows dynamic and precise control of resistance force by varying the magnetic field strength, enabling easy adjustment across the entire resistance range including low resistance settings.
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 sprint at maximum capacity without wearing additional devices, allows seamless transition between exercises, and provides adjustable resistance for effective training, occupying less space compared to prior solutions.
Implementation Method 1
an eddy current resistance device disposed beside the flywheel for allowing the user to manually control the rotation resistance of the flywheel and the front roller
Implementation Method 2
a friction resistance device disposed beside the flywheel for allowing the user to manually control the rotation resistance of the flywheel and the front roller
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus. The exercise apparatus includes a platform with an endless belt. The endless belt defines an exercising space above it. A restricting device has a retaining portion, a left restricting portion and a right restricting portion. The two restricting portions are elongated and flexible, such as stapes. The left restricting portion is connected to a left end of the retaining portion from the left rear of the exercising space. The right restricting portion is connected to a right end of the retaining portion from the right rear of the exercising space. The restricting device maintains the retaining portion at an appropriate position to make the retaining portion naturally abut against the waist of the user for resisting forward movement of the user toward the front side of the exercising space and allowing the user to sprint or quick run on the platform.