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INVENTING FITNESS EQUIPMENT
What types of resistance technology to expect in the future?
by John Destacamento, January 19th, 2021.
Image by a_roesler from Pixabay

FITNESS INVENTIONS

During my college years somewhere in the early 90's, I had a hobby working on cars in which triggered an idea on developing new fitness equipment. I sketched out a few drawings but never pursued the project. After approximately 30 years, I still haven’t seen a fitness product similar to my original idea. Although I misplaced the original drafts, I still can visualize the concept in my head.

THE 2021 FITNESS MARKET

Fitness products continue to have a prime space within the consumer market. People are still lured into trends and each year there has been a steady increase of exercising among the population. Gym attendance boomed the past decade however COVID 19 has created a paradigm shift as more people exercise from home more than ever before. Compact resistance training equipment market could be the next boom in the fitness industry.

EMPHASIS TOWARD RESISTANCE TRAINING AT HOME

It is fairly easy to move your coffee table and jump around in front of a TV screen but lifting weights in your living room may make most people feel a bit uneasy. Not to mention big weight stack units, barbells and dumbbells are bulky and may alienate that aesthetics of your living space. Many companies acknowledge this issue and are attemping to bring compact resistance training equipment into your home. Also, more studies and media sources are now supporting the emphasis of resistance training.

The emerging development of compact home equipment could be the newest fitness trend of 2021 and the years to come. A new race has begun to capture most of this upcoming market. I personally love using barbells but I'm similar to the majority, we just don't want to make the space for it in our homes. When the opportunity arrives, my intentions is to return to the gym environment but evidentially exercising at home may happen more frequently.

CURRENT METHODS OF CREATING RESISTANCE TRAINING

  1. Free Weights
    Most common: barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, medicine balls, includes own body weight etc.

  2. Cable Machines with Stacked Weights
    Machines found in gyms, weight stacks connected to cables

  3. Elastic Bands
    Rubber tubes and bands

  4. Bending
    Examples is the older BowFlex, others?

  5. Resistance from Magnetic Torque or Friction or Other.
    Examples: Fusion CST , Tonal , MaxPro


gym Image by Andre Mcenroe from Pixabay
My prediction is that free weights will be around for many more decades as they are required by many strength sports such as Olympic Weightlifting, Powerlifting, Crossfit and Strongman. Yet, the general recreational athlete may look into alternatives for strength training. As a previous gym owner, it seems much more logical to purchase compact resistance training to reduce square footage, the heavy assembly and shipping costs. But will these compact units be good enough to satisfy their most feisty users?

Resistance Torque whether it is magnetic, friction or mechanical, may be the answer. This technology already exists with the Fusion CST made by NordicTrack and Tonal. Both are using magnetism to create resistance. For portable training, MaxPro has an innovative unit. They claim to use a type of 'clutch' technology but we won't really know what that actually is until someone decides to take one apart. All and all, not only these companies are trying to get in the race and I am sure there are several engineers brainstorming their new ideas at this moment.

In fact, we intend to participate in this innovation.


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TWO DESIGN CONCEPTS

The following content, designs and sketches reveals only partial mock-ups from actual real content. Only NDA's signed and confirmed partners will be entitled to view intellectual property.

FIT PULL 21 – code name

First concept design would compete against the MaxPro product but incorporating several variations. Our product is a cable resistance unit with spinning hardware. The outer body of the unit can be designed so it looks attractive and unique. Currently MaxPro only offers one product in their product line priced from $649 to $849 (listed).

example comparison
This sketch is only one of the several designed cylinders to house various resistance tension.

CYLINDER TENSION TYPE

(no image shown) We are currently developing the prototype cylinder to house the resistance tension. Just this component itself will need to be custom fabricated and may require a patent. The cylinder won't need to be excessively large to configure up to 75 pounds of torque.

LOCKING MECHANISM

(no image shown) Another component to be patented will be a custom fabricated spindle/flywheel lock. This component will be designed to be ergonomical for users. Some of the mechanical aspects are similar to particular automotive parts.

KINETIC TRAINER 21 - code name

This second product is a fully compact home unit capable of training the entire body. The placement of moving arms utilize a more kinetic approach. This unibody design can be equipped for commercial use with the purpose to replace large machine units. Or it can be developed as a compact home unit for consumer use. The three unique selling points will be:
  • Kinetic Friendly Movement
  • Compact Design/ Weight/ Ergonomics
  • Price

TECHNOLOGY

Scientific break-through? Not really. Innovation, most definitely. Some components to be used already exist but are currently designed for different mechanical purpose. I have FOUR TO FIVE different methods that have potential to deliver the resistance needed to support this product line above. For each of the five methods, there are planned variations in our development list. We are only looking to come out with two types of resistance technologies. Working prototypes could be exchangeable components to make several different versions.

SKILL SETS NEEDED

Machine shop: (drills, saws,) Welding, some CAD, May need: Electronic testing, mechanical engineering, physics

TOOLS NEEDED

Drills, electric saws, hand tools,

RAW MATERIALS

[cannot disclose main components here] [special fabricated hardware] Bolts, screws, fasteners Metal , cables, handles

MANUFACTURING

Although manufacturing can be outsourced, I have extensive background as a buyer planner and quality assurance and production control analyst. Some of the components may need custom fabrication where my knowledge and experience working at Applied Materials and Motorola may become useful. I know how to find resources such as hardware vendors and powder coating services.

SOFTWARE INTEGRATION

With minor iterations, the EfitX can be integrated into any of our products making it even more competitive in the market. Bluetooth connectivity will be available along with the implementation of sensors. When you learn more about EfitX, you may notice we've taken an advance approach on delivering more scientific analytics than our competitors and this product is already available today.

PROJECTED DEV-OPS

  1. DEVELOP THE PROTOTYPES
  2. PATENT SPECIFICS
  3. PREPARE PRESENTATION MATERIAL AND FEASIBLE STUDIES
  4. SHOP INVESTORS
  5. KICKSTARTER ALTERNATIVE
  6. ??
If I attempt to self-fund this project it may take a long time. I am seeking seed investors to support the Research and Development of the prototypes and about a dozen of pre-production units. Costs may run from $1000 to $5000 just to start. If a patent is shared between investors, that may cost even more. Silent investment partners may expect up to 30% ownership of the patent and net profit margin. The remaining 70% is negotiated between the development partners. To discuss details of this project please contact john@webwizzy.com soon before the opportunity door closes.
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