Walking assistant device deformable based on thigh shape

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11638674-B2
Application number	US-202016884601-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2020
Priority date	Nov 1, 2019
Publication date	May 2, 2023
Grant date	May 2, 2023

Abstract

A walking assistance device deformable based on a thigh shape includes a hip joint actuator, an upper thigh frame connected to the hip joint actuator and configured to receive power from the hip joint actuator and rotate about a first axis and rotate about a second axis intersecting the first axis, a motion frame connected to the upper thigh frame, the motion frame including a plurality of segment frames configured to rotate relative to each other, and a lower thigh frame connected to the motion frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable device comprising:
an upper thigh frame;
a lower thigh frame; and
a motion frame connected between at least the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame, the motion frame including a plurality of segment frames, the plurality of segment frames configured to allow an angle between the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame to be adjusted, each of the segment frames configured to rotate relative to at least a neighboring one of the plurality of segment frames to adjust a relative angle with respect to the neighboring one of the plurality of segment frames.

2. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the motion frame is configured to adjust a set distance between the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame.

3. The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hip joint actuator rotatably connected to the upper thigh frame;
a waist wearable portion coupled to the hip joint actuator and having a length adjustable based on a waist circumference of the user; and
a thigh wearable portion having a length adjustable based on a thigh circumference of the user, wherein the lower thigh frame is connected to the thigh wearable portion.

4. The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein the hip joint actuator is supported by and positioned against the waist wearable portion.

5. The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein the upper thigh frame is configured to rotate about a first axis of the hip joint actuator in response to receiving torque generated by the hip joint actuator.

6. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein said motion frame comprises first, second, and third segment frames, the second segment frame being located between and connected to the first and third segment frames, and wherein the second segment frame is configured to rotate about a first axis relative to the first segment frame, and to rotate about a second axis relative to the third segment frame.

7. The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the second segment frame is hinged to each of the first and third segment frames.

8. A walking assistance device comprising:
a waist wearable portion configured to be wearable on a waist of a user;
a thigh wearable portion configured to be wearable on a thigh of the user;
a hip joint actuator supported by the waist wearable portion and configured to generate torque;
an upper thigh frame coupled to the hip joint actuator and configured to rotate about a first axis based on the torque from the hip joint actuator;
a lower thigh frame coupled to the thigh wearable portion; and
a motion frame provided between at least the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame, the motion frame comprising first, second, and third segment frames, the second segment frame being located between and coupled to the first and third segment frames, and wherein the second segment frame is configured to rotate about a second axis relative to the first segment frame, and to rotate about a third axis relative to the third segment frame, so as to allow an angle between the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame to be adjusted.

9. The walking assistance device of claim 8 , wherein
the first segment frame is coupled to the upper thigh frame; and
the third segment frame is coupled to the lower thigh frame.

10. The walking assistance device of claim 9 , wherein
the first segment frame is integrally formed with the upper thigh frame, and
the third segment frame is integrally formed with the lower thigh frame.

11. The walking assistance device of claim 9 , wherein
the first segment frame is detachably connectable to the upper thigh frame, and
the third segment frame is detachably connectable to the lower thigh frame.

12. The walking assistance device of claim 9 , wherein the motion frame further comprises an elastic body including a first end portion fixed to the first segment frame and a second end portion fixed to the third segment frame.

13. The walking assistance device of claim 12 , wherein the motion frame further comprises a rotary shaft configured to define the second axis and connect the first segment frame and the second segment frame, and wherein the elastic body is configured to enclose the rotary shaft.

14. The walking assistance device of claim 12 , wherein the motion frame further comprises a stopper configured to restrict an angle of rotation of the first segment frame with respect the second segment frame.

15. The walking assistance device of claim 14 , wherein the stopper extends from a first one of the first segment frame and the second segment frame toward the other one of the first segment frame and the second segment frame.

16. The walking assistance device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of segment frames further comprise fourth and fifth segment frames.

17. The walking assistance device of claim 8 , wherein the motion frame further comprises an elastic body including a first end fixed to the upper thigh frame and a second end fixed to the first segment frame.

18. The walking assistance device of claim 16 , wherein:
the first segment frame is detachably connectable to the upper thigh frame, and
the fifth segment frame is detachably connectable to the lower thigh frame.

19. The walking assistance device of claim 8 , wherein the first, second and third segment frames are configured to connect to each other in series.

20. The walking assistance device of claim 19 , wherein each of the first, second and third segment frames comprise at least one magnet.

21. The walking assistance device of claim 20 , wherein each of the first and second segment frames include rounded end portions facing each other.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Byungjune
• Shim Youngbo
• Lee Minhyung
• Lee Younbaek
• Lee Jongwon
• Roh Segon

Classifications

• A61H2201/1647

  the anatomy of a particular individual · CPC title

• A61H2201/163

  holding means therefor · CPC title

• A61H2230/855

  used as a control parameter for the apparatus · CPC title

• A61H2201/1642

  Holding means therefor · CPC title

• A61H2205/108

  for the upper legs · CPC title