Upper Body Attachment for Whole Body Vibration Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing whole body vibration exercise equipment fails to provide targeted vibration to the upper body, limiting the effectiveness of the workout and not offering a meaningful WBV experience that targets both the lower and upper body simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An attachment for whole body vibration exercise equipment that includes a base, uprights, a crossbar, lower handles, and an upper handlebar, allowing for adjustable and interchangeable devices to provide targeted vibration to the upper body, enabling exercises like pull-ups, dips, and isometric exercises, and can be integrated with existing WBV machines to enhance muscle stimulation and rehabilitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional WBV machines use only a vibrating platform, then the structure remains simple, but the vibration cannot be targeted to specific upper body muscle groups
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is divided into multiple independent segments: a base that attaches to the WBV platform, vertical uprights, horizontal crossbars, and handlebars. Each segment can independently transmit vibration to different body parts, allowing targeted upper body exercise while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment extends the vibration transmission from the horizontal platform into the vertical dimension through uprights and crossbars, creating a three-dimensional vibration network that can reach upper body muscle groups that were previously inaccessible with platform-only WBV equipment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If climbing machines vibrate steps and handles, then some upper body vibration is achieved, but the user's weight supported by legs prevents meaningful vibration transmission to upper torso
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure serves as an intermediary between the vibrating platform and the user's upper body. The base attaches to the platform, uprights transmit vibration vertically, and handlebars deliver targeted vibration to arms, shoulders, and upper torso, effectively mediating the vibration transmission path to overcome the limitation of weight-supported-by-legs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If WBV machines provide general unfocused vibration from the platform, then the equipment remains simple, but specific muscle groups cannot be targeted
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the attachment structure are optimized for different functions: the base provides stable platform attachment, uprights provide vertical vibration transmission, crossbars provide horizontal support, and handlebars provide localized contact points for upper body muscle targeting. This local optimization enables specific muscle group targeting without requiring excessive complexity throughout the entire structure.
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 attachment allows for specific and targeted muscle stimulation, improving muscle tissue, bone density, and rehabilitative therapy by imparting vibrations to the upper body, enhancing the overall WBV experience and addressing the limitations of existing equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The attachment is intended to utilize whole body vibration (WBV) technology to enable users of the equipment to exercise, stretch, or massage their upper bodies
Data Source
AI summary
An upper body attachment, which may be used with a piece of exercising, stretching, or massaging equipment that incorporates whole body vibration (WBV) technology, and provides a user with a way to apply WBV technology to the upper body. The attachment may include a pair of uprights and a crossbar to which a variety of types of handles may be slidably attached. The attachment may have a base that both supports the uprights and connects the uprights with the equipment incorporating the WBV technology. Accordingly, the attachment transfers vibrations from the vibrating equipment to the handles that a user grips. Several exemplary WBV upper body exercises that the attachment facilitates include push-ups, pull-ups, and dips.