Wearable assistance devices and methods of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025367016-A1
Application number	US-202519237305-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 13, 2025
Priority date	May 28, 2019
Publication date	Dec 4, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Wearable assistance devices and methods of operating and using the same are provided. A wearable assistance device includes a first body interface and a second body interface. The assistance device also includes one or more elastic members operatively coupling the first body interface to the second body interface and extending along a body segment (e.g., back, elbow, knee, etc.) of the user so as to provide an assistive force to or assistive torque about the body segment or another body segment. The assistance device further includes a clutch mechanism operatively connected to at least one of the one or more elastic members, the clutch mechanism configured to selectively adjust the assistive force or assistive torque provided by the one or more elastic members to/about the body segment or the another body segment.

First claim

1 . A wearable assistance device configured to be worn by a user, the wearable assistance device comprising:
a fall protection harness comprising:
a first body interface and a second body interface;
one or more elastic members operatively coupling the first body interface to the second body interface and extending along a back of the user to provide an assistive torque, wherein the one or more elastic members are configured to curve about a portion of a user's buttocks when the user bends forward; at least one clutch mechanism operatively connected to at least one of the one or more elastic members, the at least one clutch mechanism being configured to selectively adjust the assistive torque provided by the one or more elastic members about the back of the user by changing a load path between the first body interface and the second body interface through the one or more elastic members when the at least one clutch mechanism changes between disengaged and engaged; and wherein the one or more elastic members are configured to provide the assistive torque about the back of the user when the clutch mechanism is engaged and the user bends forward.

2 . The wearable assistance device of claim 1 , wherein the first body interface is an upper body interface comprising straps that cover at least a portion of the shoulders of the user, and the second body interface is a lower body interface configured to connect to one or more legs of the user.

3 . The wearable assistance device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more control mechanisms for adjusting an operation of the at least one clutch mechanism.

4 . The wearable assistance device of claim 3 , the one or more control mechanisms is located on a front of the first body interface.

5 . The wearable assistance device of claim 3 , wherein a mechanical connection extends between the one or more control mechanisms and the at least one clutch mechanism.

6 . The wearable assistance device of claim 3 , wherein the one or more control mechanisms is an electric motor or other powered actuator that is controlled by a processor to adjust the operation of the at least one clutch mechanism.

7 . The wearable assistance device of claim 3 , wherein the one or more control mechanisms is a button or other mechanism that is triggered manually to adjust the operation of the clutch mechanism.

8 . The wearable assistance device of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more elastic members comprises a first portion and a second portion connected in series, wherein the at least one clutch mechanism is mechanically connected to either the first body or second body interface, and wherein the at least one clutch mechanism is configured to selectively adjust the assistive torque provided by the one or more elastic members by selectively engaging and disengaging with at least one of the one or more elastic members at a point between the first portion and the second portion.

9 . The wearable assistance device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one clutch mechanism is configured to engage the one or more elastic members such that when the user bends forward the first portion of the one or more elastic members does not stretch and the second portion of the one or more elastic members stretches, thereby providing the assistive torque about the back of the user, and the at least one clutch mechanism is configured to disengage the one or more elastic members such that when the user bends forward, the first portion and second portion of the one or more elastic members move relative to the at least one clutch mechanism and the one or more elastic members provide minimal or no assistive torque about the back of the user.

10 . The wearable assistance device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more elastic members comprise: a first elastic member extending from a right side of the first body interface to a left side of the second body interface; and a second elastic member extending from a left side of the first body interface to a right side of the second body interface.

11 . The wearable assistance device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one clutch mechanism comprises a rotating element that fixates or clamps the one or more elastic members when the at least one clutch mechanism is engaged.

12 . The wearable assistance device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one clutch mechanism comprises a spring-loaded cam mechanism.

13 . A fall protection harness assistance device configured to be worn by a user, the device comprising:
an upper body interface; a lower body interface; one or more fall arrest attachments coupled to the upper body interface; one or more elastic members operatively coupling the upper body interface to the lower body interface and extending along a back of the user to provide an assistive torque, wherein the one or more elastic members are configured to curve about a portion of a user's buttocks when the user bends forward; at least one clutch mechanism operatively connected to at least one of the one or more elastic members, the at least one clutch mechanism being configured to selectively adjust the assistive torque provided by the one or more elastic members to/about the back of the user, wherein the one or more elastic members are configured to provide a torque about the back of the user when the clutch mechanism is engaged and the user bends forward.

14 . The fall protection harness assistance device of claim 13 , further comprising one or more control mechanisms for adjusting an operation of the at least one clutch mechanism.

15 . The fall protection harness assistance device of claim 13 , wherein each of the elastic members comprises a first portion and a second portion connected in series, wherein the at least one clutch mechanism is mechanically connected to either the upper body or lower body interface, and wherein at least one clutch mechanism is configured to selectively adjust the assistive torque provided by the one or more elastic members by selectively engaging and disengaging with at least one of the one or more elastic members at a point between the first portion and the second portion.

16 . The fall protection harness assistance device of claim 15 , wherein the at least one clutch mechanism is configured to engage the one or more elastic members such that when the user bends forward the first portion of the one or more elastic members does not stretch and the second portion of the one or more elastic members stretches, thereby providing the assistive torque about the back of the user, and the at least one clutch mechanism is configured to disengage the one or more elastic members such that when the user bends forward, the first portion and second portion of the one or more elastic members move relative to the at least one clutch mechanism and the one or more elastic members provide minimal or no assistive force to the back of the user.

17 . The fall protection harness assistance device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more control mechanisms is an electric motor or other powered actuator that is controlled by a processor to adjust the operation of the clutch mechanism.

18 . The fall protection harness assistance device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more control mechanisms is a button or other mechanism that is triggered manually to adjust the operation of the clutch mechanism.

19 . The fall protection harness assistance device of claim 14 , wherein at least one mechanical connection extends between the one or more control mechanisms and the at least one clutch mechanism.

Assignees

• Univ Vanderbilt

Inventors

• Zelik Karl
• Lamers Erik
• Yandell Matthew
• Howser Dustin

Classifications

• F16D13/58

  Details {(tools for assembling or disassembling clutches B25B27/0064)} · CPC title

• A61F2005/0197

  with spring means · CPC title

• A61F5/026

  Back straightening devices with shoulder braces to force back the shoulder to obtain a correct curvature of the spine (for clavicle fractures A61F5/05808; restraining devices A61F5/37) · CPC title

• A61B5/389

  Electromyography [EMG] · CPC title

• A61F5/0104

  without articulation · CPC title