System for docking with an operator's body for a functional unit

Abstract

A system for docking with an operator's body for a functional unit, comprising: - a frame, which is intended to be positioned on the rear side of the operator's torso, - a plurality of contact units, which are connected to the frame and are intended to contact the operator's torso and hips in the worn state of the system, wherein the plurality of contact units comprises: - a first contact unit, which is configured to be positioned on the front side of the operator's chest area; - a second contact unit, which is configured to be positioned on the rear side of the operator's chest area; - a third contact unit, which is designed to be positioned on the operator's hips; each contact unit comprises a first support member and a second support member and at least one elastic body clamped between the first and second support members, the elastic body being deformable to allow a change in position and / or orientation between the first and second support members; the first support member is intended to contact the operator's body; - a plurality of flexible elements for connecting the first contact unit to the frame.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for docking with an operator's body for a functional unit. Background Art

[0002] These systems are designed to be coupled to a general functional unit (e.g., a piece of equipment, a transport unit, etc.) and worn by an operator to perform the following functions: releasing the forces generated by the unit on the operator's body, thus generally relieving a part of the effort of the operator's arm.

[0003] With the trend of increasingly stringent requirements for the working conditions of workers, this type of interface system has become increasingly common in various work fields (e.g., in industry, construction sites, the agricultural sector, etc.), and this trend has existed for some time.

[0004] However, known interface systems have various drawbacks. Listing the main drawbacks of interest for this discussion, including the fact that, on average, they are not comfortable; they cause discomfort or even pain after long-term use; they make the operator sweat; and they are not suitable for use by multiple people.

[0005] In this context, the present invention aims to provide an improved interface system relative to known systems, in particular, an interface system that overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This object is achieved by an interface system having the features recited in claim 1.

[0007] The claims form part of the technical disclosure provided herein regarding the present invention. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] From the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent, the drawings being provided only by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

[0009] - Figure 1A and Figure 1B respectively represent a preferred embodiment of the interface system described herein according to the front view and the rear view;

[0010] - Figure 2 represents a side view of the interface system of FIG. 1;

[0011] - Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3C represent components of the interface system of FIG. 1 according to three-quarter views from above, from below, and from the side, respectively.

[0012] - Figure 4A and Figure 4B represent Figure 3A 、 Figure 3B and Figure 3C variants of the components;

[0013] - Figure 5 show details of the interface system of FIG. 1 in a partially disassembled state;

[0014] - Figure 5A show variants of the system of FIG. 1;

[0015] - Figure 6 show details of the system of FIG. 1;

[0016] - FIGS. 7 illustrate a series of examples in which the systems described herein are worn by operators having different postures and body shapes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In the following description, various specific details are illustrated, which are intended to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be implemented without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments.

[0018] The references used herein are for convenience only and thus do not limit the scope or range of protection of the embodiments.

[0019] The solutions described herein relate to a system for docking a functional unit with an operator's body. Here, the term refers to any unit arranged to perform a given function or operation. For example, it can be a tool, a piece of equipment, a device, an apparatus, etc. The function or operation can be of any type and for any field of activity, such as industry, construction sites, the agricultural sector, trade, etc.

[0020] In particular, the interface system under discussion is intended for those applications in which the functional unit is arranged to be carried by an operator and performs the function of releasing the forces generated by the unit onto the operator's body.

[0021] Generally speaking, the interface system (designated by reference numeral 10 in the figures) described herein includes:

[0022] - A frame 2, which is intended to be positioned on the rear side of the operator's torso and defines a main extension direction K, which is oriented parallel to the operator's longitudinal axis in the worn state of the system;

[0023] - A plurality of contact units 4, which are connected to the frame 2 and are intended to be brought into contact with the operator's torso and hips, wherein this plurality of contact units includes:

[0024] - A first series of contact units 4I, which are configured to position themselves on the front side of the operator's chest area;

[0025] - A second series of contact units 4II, which are configured to position themselves on the rear side of the operator's chest area; and - A third series of contact units 4III, which are configured to position themselves on the operator's hips;

[0026] Wherein each contact unit 4 includes a first support member 41 and a second support member 42, and at least one elastic body 43, which is clamped between the first support member and the second support member, and the elastic body is deformable to allow a change in position and / or orientation between the first support member 41 and the second support member; the first support member 41 is intended to be brought into contact with the operator's body in the worn state of the interface system;

[0027] - A plurality of flexible elements 6, which are used to connect the contact units 4I to the frame 2.

[0028] The frame 2 constitutes the following component of the system: the functional unit is connected to this component, and the force generated by the functional unit is transmitted to this component; while the contact units 4 constitute the following components of the system: the force transmitted from the functional unit to the frame 2 is released to the operator's body through these components.

[0029] These contact units are designed to: be positioned on the front and rear sides of the operator's chest cavity to mainly release the angular momentum transmitted to the frame 2; and be positioned on the hips to mainly release the vertical force transmitted to the frame 2.

[0030] Generally speaking, the force generated by the functional unit is completely or almost completely transmitted to the operator's body through the contact units 4.

[0031] Therefore, the areas of the operator's body that do not come into contact with the unit 4 do not participate (at least not directly) in supporting the loads and forces generated by the functional unit.

[0032] As indicated above, each contact unit is formed by at least two support members that can move relative to each other and are elastically connected, so that on the one hand it can adapt to the body shapes of different operators, and on the other hand it can follow the movements of the operator's body and elastically counteract the force transmitted by the frame 2.

[0033] Due to the features indicated above, the interface system 10 is generally comfortable to wear and is capable of reducing the load on the operator's neck, trapezius region, shoulders, and abdominal region, which are parts that are extremely sensitive to long-term application.

[0034] Now referring to the preferred embodiment of the system described herein, the frame 2 includes: an upper portion 21, which is intended to be positioned at the scapular region of the operator; and a lower portion 22, which is intended to be positioned at the lumbar or lumbosacral region of the operator.

[0035] In the preferred embodiment, as in one of the illustrated embodiments, the frame 2 further includes two side portions 23, which extend parallel to the main direction K and connect the upper portion 21 and the lower portion 22 to each other.

[0036] These two portions 23 are spaced apart along a direction transverse to the direction K so as to be arranged on opposite sides of the operator's spine, thus leaving this region of the body free.

[0037] The frame 2 has a rigid structure and can be made of metal (e.g., aluminum), or of a rigid plastic material (e.g., PLA (polylactic acid)), optionally loaded with carbon, or even of wood.

[0038] Reference Figure 3A - Figure 3B , the two supports 41, 42 of the contact unit 4 can be made of a plastic material, such as nylon, PET, or PLA.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, the support 41, which is intended to be in contact with the operator's body, is formed by a semi-rigid and perforated plate over the prevalent region of its extension. The holes obtained therein have the following functions: strengthening the elastic behavior of the plate and, on the other hand, allowing the part of the operator's body in contact with the plate to breathe.

[0040] The support 42 of the contact unit 4 is also formed by a plate, and the structure of this plate can be rigid or semi-rigid. One or more attachment points 42A are arranged on this plate 42 for connecting the unit 4 to the frame 2 or to the flexible element 6.

[0041] The attachment points discussed can be of various types. For example, as Figure 3A - Figure 3C illustrated in, in order to connect to the flexible element 6, the plate 42 can have one or more slots 42A for fastening these elements.

[0042] In order to connect to the frame 2, the plate 42 can instead have one or more holes (not shown) for fixing to the frame 2 by means of screws or other fastening members of an equivalent type.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, the resilient body 43 consists of a substantially tubular body (preferably made of rubber), the tubular body being arranged with its axis transverse to the orientation of the supports 41 and 42. These bodies are designed to be compressed due to a change in position and / or orientation between the two supports 41 and 42 and, by elastic action, act on these two supports to return to their extended state. The number and distribution of these bodies between the two supports 41 and 42 are chosen such that the load transmitted to the support 42 is released onto the extended area of the support 41 and thus onto an equal extended area of the operator's body.

[0044] In some embodiments, the body 43 may also contain gas under pressure to enhance its elastic behavior.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, on the other hand, the contact unit 4 may include one or more resilient bodies consisting of closed-cell foam or a flexible mesh structure. In this regard, Figure 4A and Figure 4B two examples are illustrated in which the contact unit 4 includes a single resilient body in the shape of a parallelepiped, the single resilient body consisting of closed-cell foam in the Figure 4A example and of a flexible mesh structure in the Figure 4B example. The materials used can be polymeric materials such as rubber, polyurethane, polyamide, etc.

[0046] Now referring to Figure 5 , in a preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, the contact unit 4III constitutes a belt that is configured to wrap around the operator's hip and thus has a chain-like structure. In particular, the different units 4III are connected to each other by respective plates 42 so as to be able to rotate and change their orientation relative to adjacent units. In a preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, this connection can be made by a flexible element 52 (such as, for example, a tape).

[0047] Alternatively, each contact unit 4III can be connected to an adjacent unit by means of a hinge that rotatably connects the relevant plates 42 of the two contact units.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, the contact units 4III differ from each other according to the part of the hip with which the contact unit is intended to come into contact.

[0049] In particular, a series of contact units 4III includes two contact units 4III(1), which are intended to be positioned on the posterior side of the hip, positioned symmetrically with respect to the spine, and preferably positioned at the level of the iliac-lumbar region.

[0050] The series in question also includes two contact units 4III(2), which are instead intended to be positioned on the anterior side of the hip, always positioned symmetrically with respect to the spine, and positioned at the level of the lower abdomen.

[0051] The contact units 4III(2) differ from the contact units 4III(1) in that the contact units 4III(2) each provide a single support 42, which is common to two supports 41; each of the two supports 41 is connected to the support 42 by means of a respective elastic body 43. The support 42 has a longitudinal extension which is intended to orient itself along the perimeter of the operator's hip and is equipped with a semi-rigid structure such that it can bend so as to adapt to the shape of the operator's body.

[0052] Preferably, on each side of the spine, the corresponding contact units 4III(1) and 4III(2) are arranged on the ilium of the pelvis.

[0053] As illustrated in the Figure 5A variant, with respect to both the contact units 4III(1) and the contact units 4III(2), the dimensions and number of the supports 41 carried by the single support 42 can vary according to the requirements of the specific application.

[0054] In an alternative embodiment, the contact units 4III instead all have the same structure, where each support 42 carries a single support 41. In this case, preferably, the individual contact units have small dimensions to engage a limited area of the operator's body. On the other hand, the series of contact units has a significantly higher number than the illustrated embodiment, such that all the units together still cover a widespread portion of the perimeter of the operator's hip in a discretized manner.

[0055] Generally speaking, a series of contact units 4IδII is designed to adapt to the shape of the hips of different operators so as to always remain wrapped around and attached to the hips, and to distribute the load along the extension and widespread portion of the perimeter of the hips.

[0056] Preferably, a series of flexible elements 52 of the support 42 connecting the different contact units 4III(1) and 4III(2) also includes releasable connection members 53 (e.g., clip fasteners of the type used for backpacks) to close the system 10 on the operator's hip.

[0057] Return to Figure 1A and Figure 1B In a preferred embodiment, and in one illustrated embodiment, a series of contact units 4I includes only two contact units, which are arranged to be positioned on the front side of the operator's chest, preferably in symmetric positions relative to the spine.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment, and in one illustrated embodiment, a series of contact units 4II includes only two contact units, which are fixed to the frame 2 and arranged to be positioned on the operator's scapular region, always in symmetric positions relative to the spine.

[0059] In alternative embodiments, depending on the requirements of the specific application, the contact units 4I and 4II can be made single or consist of a number greater than two.

[0060] It should be noted that the worn system 10 is designed to keep the area along the spine free on the rear side of the operator's torso, since as can be seen, the contact units 4II and 4III(1) as well as the side portions 23 of the frame 2 are all symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of this area.

[0061] The flexible element 6 connects the contact unit 4I to the frame 2 and is generally arranged to produce a fastening of the system 10 as a whole to the operator's body.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, and in one illustrated embodiment, a series of elements 6 includes a first element 6I that connects the two contact units 4I to the upper part 21 of the frame 2 and two second elements 6II that connect the same contact units to the lower part 22 of the frame. Generally speaking, the first element 6I and the second elements 6II constitute a shoulder strap.

[0063] The first element 6I and the second elements 6II can be connected to the contact unit 4I and the frame 2, where it is possible to vary their length between these units and the upper part 21 and the lower part 22 of the frame 2 in order to provide an adjustment of the system so as to adapt it to the operator's body shape. Optionally, the second element 6II can include a releasable connection member 54 to enable it to be opened in order to facilitate putting on or taking off the system.

[0064] Two additional elements 6III are each connected to a respective contact unit 4I and are provided with releasable connection members 55 (e.g., clip fasteners, hooks, Velcro, etc. of the type used for backpacks) to connect the two additional elements 6III and in this way close the system 10 on the operator's torso.

[0065] The flexible first element 6I, second element 6II and additional element 6III can be formed by a belt or strip, such as made of fabric or non-woven fabric.

[0066] In a preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, the system 10 includes two spacer elements 30, which are attached to the upper part 21 of the frame 2 and extend beyond the upper part in opposite directions relative to the side parts 23 in such a way that in the worn state of the system, these elements rise above the regions of the trapezius and clavicular muscles, and their ends 30' are positioned at a distance from these regions.

[0067] The flexible first element 6I is connected to the end 30' of the element 30, rather than directly to the upper part 21 of the frame 2.

[0068] In this way, they do not press on the trapezius or the collarbone, making the system particularly comfortable to wear.

[0069] Like the frame 2, the spacer elements 30 can be made of metal or plastic material.

[0070] In an alternative embodiment, the spacer elements 30 can be formed by attachments of the same frame 2.

[0071] A series of contact units 4III are connected to the lower part 22 of the frame 2 such that the vertical force transmitted by the frame is released onto the operator's hips.

[0072] Preferably, the connection is made between the rear part 22 and two contact units 4III(1), which are arranged to be positioned on the iliolumbar region.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, two units 4III(1) are connected to the part 22 by a hinge 70, which defines a rotation axis I, which is intended to be horizontally positioned in the sagittal plane of the operator in the worn state of the system 10 to allow the contact units to change their orientation according to the orientation of the operator's hips. In this regard, FIG. 7 schematically illustrates how the two contact units 4III(1) are positioned differently around the rotation axis I depending on the different postures of the operator's pelvis. In particular, the figure shows the change in the angle δ defined between the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the operator and the direction in which the bracket 72 carrying the two contact units 4III(1) is arranged.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, two units 4III(1) are carried by a bracket 72 having a central portion 72A which is connected by a hinge 70 to a portion 22 of the frame 2, and side tabs 72B project from the central portion (on opposite sides with respect to the direction K), and supports 42 of the contact units 4III(1) are fixed to said side tabs, for example by means of screws.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, the hinge 70 is equipped with a system which is designed to prevent the movement of the hinge and thus fix the two contact units 4III(1) in an orientation selected by the operator after the operator has worn the interface system and made adjustments to fit his body size. Preferably, the system includes an adjustment member, for example a screw 75 as in the illustrated embodiment, to facilitate adjustment of the position of the hinge by the operator.

[0076] In an alternative embodiment, even when the operator is wearing the system and is working, the hinge 70 remains movable so that the two units 4III(1) can follow the movement of his hips.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, the two contact units 4III(1) are also adjustable in position along the direction K of the frame 2 to provide the possibility of adjusting the distance between a series of contact units 4III and a series of contact units 4II according to the height of the operator.

[0078] In particular, in a preferred embodiment, and in one of the illustrated embodiments, the bracket 72 is in turn carried by a support 74 which can be fixed to the lower portion 22 in different positions along the direction K by a position adjustment system. The system can be of various types and, in particular, can be arranged for continuous or discrete position adjustment. For example, the system can provide: two toothed portions 74A, 22A which can be coupled in different relative positions along the direction K; and a clamping rod 76 or any other locking member of an equivalent type by means of which the two portions can be fixed in a relative position selected by the operator.

[0079] In view of the above, it is now clear how the interface system described herein has a simple and necessary structure, wherein, on the one hand, the frame 2 which is present only on the rear side of the operator's chest provides the necessary rigidity to resist the stresses transmitted to the system by the functional units, and on the other hand, the contact units 4 provide several points (the only several points) through which the system relieves the forces on the operator's body.

[0080] As can be seen, the unit under discussion consists of two supports that are elastically connected together and, instead of being completely without a filler material (such as sponge, rubber, etc.), which is very common in the prior art, conversely, the filler material is completely absent.

[0081] In addition to the advantages already discussed above, this structure of the contact unit 4 that is completely without absorbent material provides a series of additional advantages, such as not absorbing the operator's sweat, being easy to clean, and the system being suitable for outdoor use.

[0082] Furthermore, the contact unit thus made is more durable than the filled elements, which tend to permanently deform over time. Additionally, if needed, the supports 41 of the contact unit 4 can in any case be covered with caps made of a soft material (such as a disposable type).

[0083] Overall, the interface system described herein is also extremely lightweight.

[0084] As mentioned above, the interface system 10 can be used in combination with any functional unit.

[0085] A specific application (wherein the system described herein can be particularly advantageous) relates to the field of systems for assisting the application of pneumatic force (also known as "exoskeletons"). In this regard, the interface system described herein can be advantageously used in a system for assisting the application of pneumatic force of the type described in application PCTWO2019016629.

[0086] Of course, without departing from the principles of the present invention, details of the construction and embodiments can be changed and even significantly changed relative to what is purely illustrated herein by way of non-limiting examples, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for docking with an operator's body for a functional unit, the system comprising: - A frame (2) which is intended to be positioned on the rear side of the operator's torso and defines a main extension direction (K), said main extension direction being oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the operator in the worn state of the system, - A plurality of contact units (4) which are connected to the frame (2) and are intended to be brought into contact with the operator's torso and hips in the worn state of the system, wherein the plurality of contact units comprises: - A first contact unit or a first series of contact units (4I) which is configured to position itself on the front side of the operator's chest region; - A second contact unit or a second series of contact units (4II) which is configured to position itself on the rear side of the operator's chest region; - A third contact unit or a third series of contact units (4III) which is configured to position itself on the operator's hips; wherein each contact unit comprises a first support (41) and a second support (42), and at least one elastic body (43) which is clamped between the first support (41) and the second support (42), and the elastic body is deformable so as to allow a change in position and / or orientation between the first support (41) and the second support (42), the first support (41) being intended to be brought into contact with the operator's body in the worn state of the system; - A plurality of flexible elements (6) for connecting the first contact unit or the first series of contact units (4I) to the frame (2).

2. The system according to claim 1, the system having such an arrangement of the flexible element (6) and the contact unit (4) that in the worn state, the forces generated by the functional unit are transmitted completely or almost completely to the operator's body through the contact unit (4).

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The frame (2) comprises: an upper part (21) which is intended to be positioned at the level of the operator's scapular region; and a lower part (22) which is intended to be positioned at the level of the operator's lumbar or lumbosacral region, wherein the second contact unit or the second series of contact units is mounted on the upper part of the frame, and wherein the third contact unit or the third series of contact units is mounted on the lower part of the frame.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein, The third contact unit or the third series of contact units is connected to the lower part (22) in a rotatable manner about a rotation axis (I), said rotation axis being intended to be positioned horizontally in the sagittal plane of the operator and at the level of the operator's lumbar or lumbosacral region in the worn state of the system.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein, Furthermore, the third contact unit or the third series of contact units is adjustable in position along the main extension direction (K) so as to enable the distance between the third contact unit or the third series of contact units (4III) and the second contact unit or the second series of contact units (4II) to be adjusted.

6. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The third series of contact units (4III) form a band which is intended to wrap around the operator's hips in the worn state of the system (10), wherein each contact unit (4III) of the third series of contact units is rotatably connected to an adjacent contact unit so as to change its own orientation relative to these contact units.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein, The third series of contact units includes two rear contact units which are symmetrically positioned relative to the main extension direction (K) of the frame (2) and are configured to be positioned on the lumbosacral region of the operator's body while leaving the lumbosacral region free.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein, The third series of contact units includes two front contact units which are symmetrically positioned relative to the main extension direction (K) of the frame (2) and are configured to be positioned at the height of the lower abdominal region.

9. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, In each contact unit (4), the first support (41) and the second support (42) are made of plastic. wherein the first support (41) consists of a semi-rigid plate, and wherein the second support (42) consists of a rigid or semi-rigid plate provided with one or more attachment points (42A) for attaching the contact unit (4) to either the frame (2) or the flexible element (6).

10. The system according to claim 3, wherein, Furthermore, the frame (2) includes two side portions (23) which extend parallel to the main extension direction (K) and join the upper portion (21) and the lower portion (22) together, wherein the side portions (23) are arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a distance in a direction transverse to the main extension direction (K) so as to position themselves on opposite sides of the operator's spine in the worn state of the system while leaving this region of the body free.

11. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The first series of contact units (4I) includes only two contact units which are configured to position themselves on the front side of the operator's chest.

12. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The second series of contact units (4II) includes only two contact units which are configured to position themselves on the operator's scapular region.

13. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The frame (2) is made of metal or of a rigid plastic material.

14. The system according to claim 3, wherein,The plurality of flexible elements (6) includes: one or more first elements (6I) which connect the first contact unit or the first series of contact units (4I) to the upper portion (21) of the frame (2); and one or more second elements (6II) which connect the first contact unit or the first series of contact units (4I) to the lower portion (22) of the frame (2).

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the system comprises one or more additional elements (6III), and the additional elements connect the contact units in the first series of contact units to each other by means of releasable connection members for locking the system (10) to the operator's torso.

16. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The flexible element consists of a strap or a strip.

17. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The frame (2) comprises: an upper part (21) intended to be positioned at the height of the scapular region of the operator; and a lower part (22) intended to be positioned at the height of the lumbar or lumbosacral region of the operator, and wherein the system comprises one or more spacer elements (30) arranged on the frame (2) and connected to the corresponding flexible element among the plurality of flexible elements, the corresponding flexible element extending at least partially along the main extension direction (K), such that, in the worn state of the system, the flexible element connected to the spacer element rises above the trapezius and clavicle regions of the operator and maintains itself at a distance from said regions.

18. The system according to claim 9, wherein The semi-rigid plate is perforated over the main area of its extension.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein The two contact units are positioned in symmetric positions relative to the spine.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein The two contact units are positioned in symmetric positions relative to the spine.

21. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The frame is made of aluminum or of a carbon-loaded material.

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