Hi everyone,

My name is Michael Leung. I'm a product designer in Netherlands. I've recently designed a home exercise bench and would like some feedback on it.

Please view it on my website - www.studioleung.com/homebench.pdf

I also have a specialist question on pg. 6. I hope you can help.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Michael

Michael,
I can think of 5 manufacturers that make that here in the US. Looks unconventional as it doesn't look like gym equipment--more like furniture. I guess you may get some buyers--higher end of society.

Dear John,

Thank you for your reply.

Could you give me the names of the 5 manufacturers? I'm interested in what they've done.

The market are professionals who want to exercise at home but not have the un-homely equipment that has been designed for gyms.

Please could you advise me on my question on pg. 6?

Thanks.

Michael



Michael,
I can think of 5 manufacturers that make that here in the US. Looks unconventional as it doesn't look like gym equipment--more like furniture. I guess you may get some buyers--higher end of society

I don't get it... It's a bench made from wood... I bet that's going to last when you load it up with 400 some pounds of flesh and steel. The idea of making weights out of weird (glass inspired) shapes, is a very bad idea. Not only will they strain your wrists, but how the hell do you hold them? You know those small weights can be hid in drawers!

Obviously this is not designed to be used by any serious lifter. So what ever your niche market is, I hope they'll enjoy it.

you couldnt work out on that! you'd be polishing it every set.

without bar supports it wouldnt be used for any majorly heavy lifting, so dont see why not. just make sure legs and the lifting join are strong enough

Thank you for your comments.

The market for the Home Bench are for people who have very little time for exercise. They want to exercise at home but not have any gaudy exercise equipment. But rightly so, the dumbbells could be hidden in drawers. But why should we hide these objects? Objects for the home should seamlessly integrate into the home environment.

I understand the injury-risk with the dumbbells. I am currently working on ergonomics and the weight balance. I will update the pdf soon.

Hopefully, beech wood and dowel joints will be strong enough to take the weight of a person and the 5 kg dumbbell (x2), or the weight of 3 people - such as any other bench.

Thank you very much for your comments.

Please could you advise me on my question on pg.6 of the PDF - www.studioleung.com/homebench.pdf

Thanks again.

I like it. I wouldn't buy one, because I workout hard and have a gym area.

But, I can see the market for gimicky upper-middleclass. I think it would be more of a show piece.

Question on page 6: I definitely think that the seat needs to raise in the front for a 30 incline if you were using big weights. But, for your light dumbbells, I do not think it would be necessary. Normally, you start slipping out of the incline bench under the duress of extreme weight load (above your own body weight). You might however, want to work up a disclaimer that states that this bench is not designed to be used with conventional weights in large poundage. And, include in said disclaimer that it is possible to slip off the bench when it is in the 30 degree incline position.

Great idea! And, I think it is COo.oOL that (unlike so many of us), you put your idea into reality! Kudos!

Good luck selling them,
Rip

I'd buy it but I just want to see the final product

Hi Rip and SpiderX1016,

Thanks for you comments.

I understand that the Home Bench is for a selected market. However, the dumbbells could easily be mass produced objects.

Thank you for the disclaimer advice regarding the tilting seat.

The Home Bench is an idea. Hopefully the company that I'm working for will take it on.

The design has been modified - www.studioleung.com/homebench.pdf

Thanks again

it's interesting though not sure about the market...

though good luck and much success.. you can sell any thing if you market it right