Walking assistant device deformable based on thigh shape

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12478538-B2
Application number	US-202318129207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2023
Priority date	Nov 1, 2019
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

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 configured to be worn by a user, comprising:
an upper thigh frame; a lower thigh frame; 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, each of the segment frames being pivotal relative to at least one other segment frame, the plurality of segment frames including a upper segment frame and a lower segment frame; a rotary shaft connecting the upper segment frame and the lower segment frame; an elastic body enclosing the rotary shaft; and a stopper configured to restrict an angle of rotation of the upper segment frame with respect to the lower segment frame, wherein the motion frame is configured to allow an angle between the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame to be adjusted using the rotary shaft, wherein the motion frame is configured, using the rotary shaft, to pivot relative to each of the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame, wherein one end portion of the elastic body is configured to be fixed to the upper segment frame, and the other end portion the elastic body is configured to be fixed to the lower segment frame, wherein the stopper extends from the lower segment frame toward the upper segment frame, and wherein the upper segment frame includes a first upper hollow for simultaneously accommodating the stopper and the one end portion of the elastic body.

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 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 pivot about a first axis relative to the first segment frame, and to pivot about a second axis relative to the third segment frame.

6 . A wearable device configured to be worn by a user, 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; a rotary shaft; an elastic body enclosing the rotary shaft; the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame are configured so as to allow an angle between the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame to be adjusted via rotation about the rotary shaft, wherein a motion frame is provided between the lower thigh frame and the upper thigh frame, the motion frame comprising a plurality of segment frames, each of the segment frames being pivotal relative to at least one other segment frame, the plurality of segment frames including a upper segment frame and a lower segment frame, and wherein the motion frame is configured to allow an angle between the upper thigh frame and the lower thigh frame to be adjusted using the rotary shaft, wherein the rotary shaft connects the upper segment frame and the lower segment frame, and wherein one end portion of the elastic body is configured to be fixed to the upper segment frame, and the other end portion the elastic body is configured to be fixed to the lower segment frame, and a stopper configured to restrict an angle of rotation of the upper segment frame with respect to the lower segment frame, wherein the stopper extends from the lower segment frame toward the upper segment frame, and wherein the upper segment frame includes a first upper hollow for simultaneously accommodating the stopper and the one end portion of the elastic body.

7 . The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the hip joint actuator is supported by and positioned against the waist wearable portion.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61H2205/108

  for the upper legs · CPC title

• A61H2201/1671

  rotational · CPC title

• A61H2201/165

  Wearable interfaces · CPC title

• A61H2205/088

  Hip · CPC title

• A61H2201/1207

  with electric or magnetic drive · CPC title