Vertical Plate Exercise Device Reducing Torque
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional weightlifting devices like barbells and dumbbells often cause torque on the user's body, leading to injuries due to uneven weight distribution and imbalance, particularly affecting the shoulders, elbows, and spine, and are not suitable for new weightlifters who may struggle with proper technique.
Innovation Solution
A sports-specific exercise device with a frame, parallel handles, a central sleeve for weight support, and assist handles designed to center the weight relative to the user's body, reducing torque and allowing for safer lifting by distributing the weight over the midline, thus minimizing injury risk and enhancing sport-specific performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional barbells and dumbbells are used for weightlifting, then the weight can be supported and lifted, but torque is placed on the user's body leading to injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the weight distribution from a horizontal bar configuration to a vertical plate configuration. Instead of weights being placed at the ends of a horizontal bar (creating torque arms), the weights are stacked vertically on plates, eliminating the horizontal torque arm and thus reducing torque on the user's body while maintaining weight support capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical plate structure as an intermediary between the weight and the user's body. The plates serve as a mediator that transfers the weight force directly downward through the user's body's center of mass, rather than creating rotational force through horizontal bar placement. This intermediary structure eliminates the harmful torque while maintaining the ability to support and lift weights.
2Ease of operation
If weight is not placed near the center of mass of the user, then lifting can be performed, but torque on the user's spine and extremities increases leading to injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the plate structure to be positioned directly over the user's center of mass, creating a balanced configuration where the weight force acts through the body's natural center. This equipotential positioning eliminates rotational imbalance and torque on the spine and extremities, while still allowing the user to perform lifting movements effectively.
3Force
If a barbell has significant weight by itself, then weightlifting can be performed, but new users are more likely to experience injury due to inability to lift minimum weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the weight system into modular components: a lightweight vertical plate structure that can be easily handled, combined with separate weight plates that can be added in small increments. This segmentation allows new users to start with minimal weight on the plates themselves, reducing the overall starting weight barrier while maintaining the ability to progressive overload and build strength over time.
4Force
If weight is distributed distally on a barbell, then weight can be lifted, but torque is magnified exponentially increasing injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal distribution of weight along a bar (one-dimensional linear distribution) to a vertical stacking of weight on plates (one-dimensional vertical distribution). This dimensional change eliminates the horizontal lever arm that causes torque magnification, as the weight is now positioned directly over the body's center of mass rather than at the distal ends of a horizontal bar.
Data Source
AI summary
A sports specific and injury preventing exercise device for exercising a user. The sports specific and injury preventing exercise device includes a frame and a pair of handles on the frame. The pair of handles are parallel to one another, configured to be parallel to a trunk of the user, offset relative to the frame, and on opposite sides of the frame. The sports specific and injury preventing exercise device also includes a flat support area in a middle of the frame, wherein the flat support area is configured to support one or more weight plates, and a sleeve attached to the flat support area. The sleeve is perpendicular to each of the pair of handles, perpendicular to the flat support area and located at a center point of the frame. The sports specific and injury preventing exercise device additionally includes one or more assist handles.