Leg brace and garment covering leg brace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11911331-B2
Application number	US-202017069311-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2020
Priority date	Nov 28, 2019
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A leg brace configured to be attached to a leg of a user, includes a rear thigh link extending along a thigh of the user, and a lower-leg link rotatably connected to the rear thigh link and extending along a lower leg of the user. A handle is provided in the thigh link, the handle being configured to project forward when the user is in the sitting position. The rear thigh link and the lower-leg link are connected to each other near the knee joint of the user. Specifically, the rear thigh link and the lower-leg link are connected to each other at a rear connection part disposed near the knee joint. Further, the rear thigh link and the handle are also connected to each other near the knee joint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A leg brace configured to be attached to a leg of a user, comprising:
a thigh link configured to extend along a thigh of the user;
a lower-leg link rotatably connected to the thigh link and extending along a lower leg of the user;
a buttock support part configured to support a buttock of the user, the buttock support part configured to face a hipbone of the user when the user is sitting, an upper end of the thigh link being rotatably connected to the buttock support part; and
a handle directly projecting from the thigh link, directly fixed to the thigh link such that the handle does not move relative to the thigh link, and extending in an anterior and oblique direction when the user is in the sitting position, the handle being configured to generate a moment to lift the buttock support part upward in the thigh link when the user stands from the sitting position and the user grasps the handle to apply a load to the handle.

2. The leg brace according to claim 1 , wherein
the thigh link and the lower-leg link are connected to each other near a knee joint of the user, and
the thigh link and the handle are also connected to each other near the knee joint.

3. The leg brace according to claim 1 , wherein the handle is disposed in the thigh link in a cantilevered manner.

4. The leg brace according to claim 1 , further comprising two thigh links arranged so as to sandwich a thigh of the user therebetween in a left/right direction of the user, wherein
the handle is disposed so as to connect the two thigh links to each other.

5. The leg brace according to claim 1 , wherein the handle is detachably disposed in the thigh link.

6. The leg brace according to claim 5 , wherein an attaching/detaching part is formed in the thigh link, the attaching/detaching part being configured to attach/detach the handle to/from the thigh link.

7. The leg brace according to claim 1 , wherein the handle can extend and contract in a longitudinal direction.

8. The leg brace according to claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured to be switchable between a first posture in which the handle projects forward when the user is in the sitting position and a second posture in which the handle extends along the thigh link when the user is in the sitting position.

9. A garment with an opening formed therein, the garment being configured to be put on a leg of a user, to which the leg brace according to claim 6 is attached, so as to cover the leg brace, the opening conforming to the attaching/detaching part.

10. The garment according to claim 9 , comprising an opening cover configured to cover the opening.

11. The leg brace according to claim 1 , wherein the handle being non-rotatably fixed to the thigh link is configured to move relative to the lower-leg link via a rear connection part.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Aoki Eisuke
• Ikeda Tomio

Classifications

• A61H1/0237 Primary

  for the lower limbs · CPC title

• A61H3/00 Primary

  Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about (apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 {; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003}) · CPC title

• A61H2201/165

  Wearable interfaces · CPC title

• A61H2201/1642

  Holding means therefor · CPC title

• A41D1/06

  Trousers · CPC title