Safe Spot

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

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

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

7. 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

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

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

10. 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

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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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

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

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

18. 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

19. Conceptual Designs Weight Assist- Weight Supports

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

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

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

28. 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?