Variable Resistance Beam Footwear Suspension Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sporting and fitness equipment lacks adjustability in stiffness and flexibility, limiting user performance as they cannot dynamically change these characteristics during use to adapt to changing conditions or personal needs, such as fatigue or specific tasks.
Innovation Solution
The development of a variable resistance beam (VRB) technology that allows for real-time adjustment of stiffness and flexibility in equipment by using resilient rods or beams with selectable resistance, which can be oriented in various planes and rotated to provide different resistance levels, integrated into devices like footwear, sports gear, and medical braces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If equipment is designed with fixed stiffness and flexibility characteristics, then manufacturing is simplified and cost is reduced, but the equipment cannot be adjusted to match user's changing needs or conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by implementing adjustable and rotatable resilient rods that can change their resistance characteristics during use. The rods can be rotated to different orientations (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°) to dynamically adjust the stiffness and flexibility of the equipment, allowing it to adapt to changing user needs and conditions rather than being fixed at a single stiffness level
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a single resilient rod mechanism that can provide multiple resistance levels and stiffness characteristics through rotation. Instead of requiring multiple different equipment pieces with fixed characteristics, one piece of equipment with a rotatable resilient rod can universally provide various stiffness and flexibility levels, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pieces of equipment with different stiffness characteristics are provided, then user can switch between them, but availability and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a single resilient rod mechanism that can provide multiple resistance levels and stiffness characteristics through rotation. Instead of requiring multiple different equipment pieces with fixed characteristics, one piece of equipment with a rotatable resilient rod can universally provide various stiffness and flexibility levels, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by placing the resilient rod inside the equipment structure, with the rod nested within a housing or frame. The resilient rod can be rotated within this nested structure to change its orientation and resistance characteristics, allowing multiple functionality to be contained within a single compact device rather than requiring separate equipment pieces
3Power
If equipment stiffness is increased for better performance, then power transmission is improved, but flexibility and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by implementing adjustable and rotatable resilient rods that can change their resistance characteristics during use. The rods can be rotated to different orientations (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°) to dynamically adjust the stiffness and flexibility of the equipment, allowing it to adapt to changing user needs and conditions rather than being fixed at a single stiffness level
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the parameter changes principle by altering the orientation parameter of the resilient rod to change the equipment's mechanical properties. By rotating the rod to different angles, the effective stiffness and flexibility parameters of the equipment are changed, allowing optimization between power transmission and comfort based on the specific task or user preference
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 customize equipment resistance on the fly, enhancing performance and comfort by allowing for dynamic adjustments in stiffness and flexibility, improving athletic performance and recovery by matching the equipment's properties to the user's needs and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient rods, beams or shafts of solid, semi-solid or hollow construction produce resistance and variable resistances
Data Source
AI summary
An active footwear suspension system is disclosed. The footwear system provides dynamic suspension using at least one or more variable resistance beams. At least one or more VRB extends from a heel section and/or a front section to a force plate or platform section of the footwear, thus providing selectable suspension to the wearer. The selected rotation of the VRBs from a first position to a second position provides customized suspension between a minimum resistance to a maximum resistance per zone.