Vertical Plank Exerciser with Angled Support Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional plank exercises are limited in muscle activation and efficiency, particularly in engaging the core musculature, as they are typically performed in a horizontal position, which may not maximize muscle engagement and can put unnecessary stress on the lower back.
Innovation Solution
A device and system that facilitates a vertical plank position by using a lower base and upper support with a plank positioner to suspend the user at an acute angle, allowing for greater muscle activation and reduced stress on the lower back, with the angle ranging from 60 to 89 degrees.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional horizontal plank exercise is performed, then the exercise can be done without equipment, but muscle activation and force production are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise device is divided into separate functional components: a support frame structure, an upper platform for hand placement, and a lower platform for foot placement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system effectiveness for enhancing muscle activation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional horizontal plank exercise to a vertical plank position by introducing a vertical support frame with platforms at different heights. This dimensional change from horizontal to vertical orientation fundamentally alters the gravitational load distribution, significantly increasing core muscle activation and force production requirements
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional horizontal plank exercise is performed, then the exercise is simple to perform, but stress on the lower back may be excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional plank position from horizontal to vertical orientation. By standing the body upright on the lower platform with hands on the upper platform, the gravitational force acts differently on the spine, reducing compressive stress on the lower back while maintaining core engagement through the vertical alignment of the body
3Power
If vertical plank position is adopted, then muscle activation and force production increase, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame structure is designed to be self-supporting, using its own geometric configuration and structural integrity to maintain the vertical plank position without requiring additional active stabilization mechanisms. The frame's rigid construction and proper angle configuration allow it to bear the user's weight naturally, reducing the need for complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The support frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the vertical configuration, positions the upper and lower platforms at the correct angles and heights, and stabilizes the entire exercise system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity while achieving enhanced force production
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise device includes a lower base and an upper platform with a support frame extending angularly therebetween. The angularly extending support frame extends between the lower base and the upper platform at an angle sufficient to allow for a user to position their body in a generally vertical plank position and hold their body in a straight line, angled relative to the floor between approximately 85 degrees to approximately 75 degrees. An exercise system may include a discrete upper platform and a discrete lower plank positioning platform, each of which are removably mountable to a support frame. The support frame, for example, may be a part of another exercise device or may be a discrete stand-alone support frame specifically configured for exercise system.