Safe Spot ME 4182 Problem Statement, Design Partition, Conceptual Designs Drew Bartlett J.J. Couvillion Elisha Mellitz Manish Patel Nick Roberts

Objectives Review the problem statement Review of the design partition for the project Present conceptual solutions for each component of the overall design.

Problem Statement To design and construct a Safe Spot system to provide a spot for someone working out on a bench press. Customer and Market Needed in physical fitness facilities Home/Personal use Independent physical therapy

Design Partition Weight Bar/Weights Olympic standard 45 pound bar and weight set Activation/Trigger System Allows user to engage the safe spot system Activated using hands or feet

Design Partition (cont.) Weight-Assist System Provides actual support when needed Lifts load to safe location Weight Bench Standard Olympic flat weight bench

Conceptual Designs Weight Bar/Weights Activation/Trigger System Weight Assist System Weight Bench

Conceptual Designs Weight Bar/Weights Notched weights –Weights with notches Suspended Weights –Hanging Weights/Sand Bags Hooked Bar –Adjusting shape of bar Breaker Bar –End of bar can release to drop off weights

Conceptual Designs Weight Bar/Weights-Notched weights Pros (+): Easier Fabrication Cons (-): Requires Catching Mechanism and Trigger Redistribution of weight

Conceptual Designs Weight Bar/Weights-Hanging Weights/Sand Bags Pros (+): Simpler Release Mechanism Easier Fabrication Multiple Trigger options Cons (-): Needs Catching mechanism Loading Difficulties

Conceptual Designs Weight Bar/Weights-Hooked bar Pros (+): Easy Fabrication Simple design Cons (-): Could be difficult to utilize/rotate Could rotate unintentionally Catching mechanism required

Conceptual Designs Weight Bar/Weights-Breaker Bar Pros (+): Multiple trigger options Easy Fabrication Cons (-): Catching mechanism required

Conceptual Designs Activation/Trigger System NOS –Button located on the bar Pedal Trigger –Activated by a pedal with feet Head Bob –Trigger located next to head The Squeeze –Knee-activated by closing legs together

Conceptual Designs Activation/Trigger System-NOS Pros (+): Easily accessible Cons (-): Hard to design Hands already in use with exercise

Conceptual Designs Activation/Trigger System-Pedal Trigger Pros (+): Easily activated Safe design Cons (-): Small range of motion

Conceptual Designs Activation/Trigger System-Head Bob Pros (+): Handicap accessible Does not require use of legs Cons (-): Requires directing focus off of lifting Limited force Could cause injury

Conceptual Designs Activation/Trigger System-The Squeeze Pros (+): Utilizes strength of legs Cons (-): Size requirement Awkward motion

Conceptual Designs Weight Assist System Swinger Design –Swinging catch mechanism Weight Supports –Weight arms come up to support bar Pulley Design –Pedal activated pulleys

Conceptual Designs Weight Assist-Swinger Design Pros (+): Provides spot and safety catch Simple design Cons (-): Requires external force Limited range of motion Limited catch range

Conceptual Designs Weight Assist- Weight Supports

Conceptual Designs Weight Assist- Weight Supports Pros (+): Can provide wide range of force to lift most weights Can be independent of bench and bar Adjustable design Cons (-): Expensive Requires external power/force May require maintenance

Conceptual Designs Weight Assist- Pulley Design Pros (+): Uses strength of legs User can control degree of assist Cons (-): May not accommodate all users Multiple moving parts

Conceptual Designs Weight Bench Acrophobia –Bench that drops down Lay-Z-Bench –Bench that tilts back Slider Design –Sliding bench to move bar onto catches Damper Design –Uses damper to lower bench gradually Motor Design –Uses an electrical motor to lower bench slowly

Conceptual Designs Weight Bench-Acrophobia Pros (+): One dimensional motion Allows catching weight on hooks Cons (-): Must stabilize weight while in motion Difficulty in design drop speed

Conceptual Designs Weight Bench-Lay-Z-Bench Pros (+): Keeps lower body stationary Allows catching weight on hooks Cons (-): Limited user size range Angular motion adds difficulty to design Difficulty in design drop speed

Conceptual Designs Weight Bench-Slider Design Pros (+): Easy to exit Bench can slide/move along tracks Cons (-): Requires stabilization of weight during motion Necessitates motor power Weight bar would have to be able to catch onto hooks

Conceptual Designs Weight Bench-Damper Design Pros (+): Resists Change in motion Slows decline of bench Cons (-): Little control of position

Conceptual Designs Weight Bench-Motor Pros (+): Better control of position Cons (-): External power Difficulty in design for proper motor speed

Conclusion Presented the problem statement Reviewed the design partitions Reviewed the various design solutions for each component Reviewed Pros and Cons for each solution Questions/Comments?