A walking aid protection device

Abstract

The present invention proposes a walking aid protection device, comprising: a thigh support member; a calf support member, one end of which is rotatably connected to one end of the thigh support member; a knee joint angle limiting device, comprising a locking member and a fixing member, the fixing member being fixedly mounted on one end of the thigh support member rotatably connected to the calf support member, and the locking member being slidably connected to the calf support member to cooperate with or separate from the fixing member; and a foot support member, which is rotatably connected to the locking member via a connecting rod. The present invention, when used in conjunction with the knee joint, the foot support member, and the connecting rod, locks the movement of the knee and ankle joints. When the ankle dorsiflexion angle decreases, the locking state is released, and the knee and ankle joints resume their normal movement state, thereby preventing falls caused by excessive knee flexion angles and ankle dorsiflexion. The device can support the lower limbs and inhibit hyperextension of the knee joint and foot drop.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of walking aid equipment, and in particular relates to a walking aid protection device. Background Art

[0002] For the elderly, falls can lead to a series of problems, such as disability, impaired body function, and limited physical activity duration, which can seriously affect their health and quality of life. In addition, with age, lower limb strength decreases, increasing the risk of falls while sitting, standing, and walking. The increased risk of falls also exists in people with hemiplegia and those who have undergone surgery. Currently, wearable assistive devices are commonly used on the market to improve conditions. Some devices use external power sources to drive the joints, resulting in complex structures and large devices. The users are generally people who have lost the ability to move their lower limbs, and their applicability is limited. Other assistive devices provide a certain amount of support to the lower limbs, reducing the joint torque of the knee joint, thereby preventing falls when the user is sitting, standing, or walking. However, these products provide weak support for the user's lower limbs. When the weaker side of the lower limb serves as the support side during walking, they cannot reduce the torque at the knee joint, causing the knee joint to bend, which in turn leads to falls. These products also lack necessary safety measures. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above shortcomings of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a walking aid protection device to improve the problem of limb imbalance and falls caused by users using the lower limb assistive mechanical device.

[0004] To achieve the above and other related objectives, the present invention provides a walking aid protection device, comprising:

[0005] a thigh support assembly comprising a thigh support member;

[0006] A calf support assembly includes a calf support member, one end of the calf support member being rotatably connected to one end of the thigh support member;

[0007] A knee joint angle limiting device, comprising a locking member and a fixing member, wherein the fixing member is fixedly mounted on one end of the thigh support member and the calf support member being rotatably connected, and the locking member is vertically slidably connected to the calf support member to cooperate with or separate from the fixing member;

[0008] The foot supporting component is rotatably connected to the locking component via a connecting rod.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the thigh support assembly further includes a thigh binding component, and the thigh support components are provided on both sides of the thigh binding component.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the calf support assembly further includes a calf binding component, and the calf support members are provided on both sides of the calf binding component.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotation axis between the thigh support member and the calf support member coincides with or is close to the rotation axis of the knee joint.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, a sliding groove is provided on the calf support member, and the locking member is slidably connected to the calf support member through the sliding groove.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member is provided with a first contact surface, and the locking member is provided with a second contact surface adapted to the first contact surface, and the first contact surface cooperates with the second contact surface to achieve locking.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, an arc groove is formed on one end of the thigh supporting member on which the fixing member is provided.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, a limiting pin is provided on one end of the calf support member rotatably connected to the thigh support member, and the limiting pin is located in the arc groove.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the foot support component includes a shoe and a support portion fixed to the shoe.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, one end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to the support portion fixed to the shoe via a joint bearing, and the other end is rotatably connected to the locking member via a joint bearing.

[0018] The present invention proposes a walking aid protection device, which, through the coordinated use of a knee joint angle limiter, a foot support component and a connecting rod, locks the movement of the knee joint and ankle joint when the knee joint flexion angle and the ankle joint dorsiflexion angle reach a set angle. When the ankle joint dorsiflexion angle decreases, the locking state is released, and the knee and ankle joints resume normal movement states. The user can unlock the device by himself, and the operation is simple.

[0019] The present invention proposes a walking aid protection device, which limits the angles of the knee and ankle joints, thereby restricting the angles of movement of the lower limb joints to a certain extent, preventing falls caused by excessive knee flexion angles and ankle dorsiflexion; in addition, it also provides a certain supporting effect on the lower limbs.

[0020] The present invention provides a walking aid protection device, which can not only prevent the user from falling but also provide a certain amount of assistance to the user.

[0021] The present invention provides a walking aid protection device, which has a certain inhibitory effect on the hyperextension of the knee joint, and at the same time limits the angle of the ankle plantar flexion, and also has a certain inhibitory effect on foot drop. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for describing the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a walking aid protection device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the explosion structure of a walking aid protection device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the enlarged structure at point A in the middle.

[0026] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a walking aid protection device in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Description of labels:

[0028] Thigh support assembly 10; calf support assembly 20; thigh binding component 11; thigh support component 12; calf binding component 21; calf support component 22; knee joint angle limiter 30; foot support component 40; rigid connecting rod 50; pneumatic spring 50'; fixing member 301; locking member 302; first tooth structure 3011; second tooth structure 3021; slide groove 201; arc groove 101; limiting pin 202; foot cover 401; strap 402; joint bearing 501. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The following describes the embodiments of the present invention through specific examples. Those skilled in the art will readily understand the other advantages and benefits of the present invention from the disclosure herein. The present invention may also be implemented or applied through various other specific embodiments, and the details in this specification may be modified or altered based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0030] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in this embodiment are only used to schematically illustrate the basic concept of the present invention. Therefore, the illustrations only show components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the number, shape and size of components in actual implementation. In actual implementation, the type, quantity and proportion of each component can be changed at will, and the component layout type may also be more complicated.

[0031] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the present invention proposes a walking aid protection device to improve the problem of limb imbalance and falling caused by the user when using the lower limb assistive mechanical device. Specifically, in this embodiment, the walking aid protection device includes a thigh support assembly 10, a calf support assembly 20, a knee joint angle limiting device 30 and a foot support component 40, wherein the thigh support assembly 10 and the calf support assembly 20 are rotatably connected together, the knee joint angle limiting device 30 is arranged on the thigh support assembly 10 and the calf support assembly 20, and the foot support component 40 is connected to the knee joint angle limiting device 30 through a rigid connecting rod 50. Under the cooperation of the knee joint angle limiting device 30, the foot support component 40 and the rigid connecting rod 50, the user's knee joint flexion angle and ankle joint dorsiflexion angle are limited, so as to play a certain limiting role on the lower limb joint activity angle, prevent the problem of falling caused by excessive knee joint flexion angle and ankle joint dorsiflexion, and also play a certain supporting role for the lower limb.

[0032] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the thigh support assembly includes a thigh binding part 11 and a thigh support part 12, and the calf support assembly 20 includes a calf binding part 21 and a calf support part 22. The thigh binding part 11 is installed on the thigh support part 12, and the thigh support part 12 is provided on both sides of the thigh binding part 11. The thigh binding part 11 is used to bind the user's thigh, and the calf binding part 21 is installed on the calf support part 22, and the calf support part 22 is provided on both sides of the calf binding part 21. The calf binding part 21 is used to bind the user's calf. The thigh support part 12 and the calf support part 22 are rotatably connected together. The knee joint angle limiting device 30 is provided on the thigh support part 12 and the calf support part 22. The foot support part 40 is connected to the knee joint angle limiting device 30 through a rigid connecting rod 50.

[0033] See also Figures 1 to 3As shown, in this embodiment, the knee joint angle limiting device 30 is provided between the thigh support part 12 and the calf support part 22 on both sides of the thigh binding part 11 and the calf binding part 21, and the two sides of the foot support part 40 are respectively connected to the knee joint angle limiting device 30 on both sides through a rigid connecting rod 50 to ensure its stability during movement.

[0034] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, one end of the thigh support member 12 is rotatably connected to one end of the calf support member 22, and the rotation axis between the thigh support member 12 and the calf support member 22 coincides with or is close to the rotation axis of the knee joint.

[0035] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the knee joint angle limiting device 30 is provided on one end where the thigh support 12 and the calf support 20 are rotatably connected to each other, and the knee joint angle limiting device 30 includes a fixing member 301 and a locking member 302. The fixing member 301 is fixedly installed on one end where the thigh support 12 and the calf support 22 are rotatably connected, and the locking member 302 is slidably installed on the calf support 22.

[0036] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, a sliding groove 201 is provided on the calf support member 22, and the sliding groove 201 is provided on the calf support member 22. The locking member 302 is slidably installed in the sliding groove 201, so that the locking member 302 can move along the sliding groove 201 in a direction away from the fixing member 301 or close to the fixing member 301, so that the locking member 302 and the fixing member 301 are matched and connected to achieve limiting or the locking member 302 and the fixing member 301 are separated from each other and the limiting is released.

[0037] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the fixing member 301 is provided with a first contact surface, and correspondingly, the locking member 302 is provided with a second contact surface, so that the first contact surface and the second contact surface cooperate to achieve locking. In this embodiment, the first contact surface and the second contact surface are, for example, tooth-like structures, that is, the first contact surface is shown as a first tooth structure 3011, and the second contact surface is shown as a second tooth structure 3021. The first tooth structure 3011 is adapted to the second tooth structure 3021, so that the first tooth structure 3011 and the second tooth structure 3021 engage to achieve locking.

[0038] See also Figures 1 to 3As shown, in this embodiment, when the user's knee joint is flexed and / or the ankle joint is dorsiflexed, the rigid connecting rod 50 drives the locking member 302 to move up and down along its sliding groove 201 on the calf support member 22 to cooperate with the fixing member 301 to achieve limiting or release the limiting after the locking member 302 and the fixing member 301 are separated from each other. Specifically, when the locking member 302 moves along the sliding groove 201 in the direction close to the fixing member 301 until the first tooth structure 3011 and the second tooth structure 3021 are engaged, the movement of the knee joint is locked to prevent the problem of falling caused by excessive knee flexion angle and ankle dorsiflexion angle; when the locking member 302 moves along the sliding groove 201 in the direction away from the fixing member 301 until the first tooth structure 3011 and the second tooth structure 3021 are separated from each other, the locking state is released, and the knee and ankle joints resume normal movement.

[0039] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, an arcuate groove 101 is formed on the end of the thigh support member 12 where the fixing member 301 is provided, and a limit pin 202 is provided on the end of the calf support member 22 that is rotatably connected to the thigh support member 12. The limit pin 202 is located within the arcuate groove 101. When the thigh support member 12 and the calf support member 22 rotate relative to each other, the limit pin 202 slides within the arcuate groove 101 to limit the rotational angle between the thigh support member 12 and the calf support member 22. It should be noted that the arcuate direction of the arcuate groove 101 is consistent with the rotational direction of the thigh support member 12. In some embodiments, the arcuate groove is also provided on the fixing member 301 and corresponds to the arcuate groove 101 on the thigh support member 12.

[0040] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the foot support component 40 is rotatably connected to the knee joint angle limiter 30 via a rigid connecting rod 50. Specifically, the foot support component 40 is rotatably connected to the locking member 302 via the rigid connecting rod 50. This allows the foot support component 40 to be rotatably connected to the locking member 302 via the rigid connecting rod 50. This allows the foot support component 40, when the knee joint angle limiter 30, the foot support component 40, and the rigid connecting rod 50 cooperate to lock the knee and ankle joints when the knee flexion angle and ankle dorsiflexion angle reach a set angle. When the ankle dorsiflexion angle decreases, the locking state is released, and the knee and ankle joints resume normal movement. In this embodiment, the length of the rigid connecting rod 50 is adjustable. By modifying the length of the rigid connecting rod 50 while other parameters remain unchanged, the locking angle can be modified. Furthermore, the foot support component 40 is suitable for use by people of a wider range of heights.

[0041] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the foot support component 40 includes a shoe and a support portion fixed to the shoe, specifically, the support portion includes a foot cover 401 and a strap 402, which is fixed to the user's shoe through the foot cover 401 and the strap 402, the foot cover 401 is rotatably connected to one end of the rigid connecting rod 50, and the strap 402 is provided at the rear side of the foot cover 401, and the strap 402 is used to be fixed to the rear of the user's foot, so that when the knee joint angle limiting device 30, the foot support component 40 and the rigid connecting rod 50 are used in conjunction with each other, the ankle joint movement is locked, so that the ankle plantar flexion angle can be limited and foot drop can be inhibited to a certain extent; by modifying the terminal position of the locking member 302 away from the fixing member end, the ankle plantar flexion angle can be limited to different degrees while ensuring that the length of the rigid connecting rod remains unchanged. In this embodiment, the foot cover 401 is, for example, a U-shaped foot cover.

[0042] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, one end of the rigid connecting rod 50 is rotatably connected to the foot cover 401 via a joint bearing 501, and the other end is also rotatably connected to the locking member 402 via a joint bearing 501, thereby providing a larger space for movement for the user's feet and legs.

[0043] See also Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the connecting rod shown can be in the form of a pneumatic spring 50'. At this time, the first contact surface and the second contact surface are made of a material with a large friction coefficient. In this embodiment, the pneumatic spring 50' is compressed by increasing the ankle dorsiflexion angle, and the pressure between the contact surface of the fixing member 301 and the locking member 302 increases. The rotational resistance of the thigh support member 12 and the calf support member 22 increases, thereby locking the knee joint angle. At this time, the ankle joint angle plays a locking role in the cooperation with the pneumatic spring 50', thereby supporting the lower limbs and preventing falls due to excessive knee flexion angles and ankle dorsiflexion angles. The pneumatic spring 50' also plays a certain role in assisting the user in the process of returning to its original state.

[0044] The present invention proposes a walking aid protection device, which, when used in conjunction with the knee joint, a foot support component and a rigid connecting rod, locks the movement of the knee joint and ankle joint when the knee joint flexion angle and the ankle joint dorsiflexion angle reach a set angle. When the ankle joint dorsiflexion angle decreases, the locking state is released, and the knee and ankle joints resume normal activity states. The user can unlock the device by himself, and the operation is simple.

[0045] The present invention proposes a walking aid protection device, which limits the angles of the knee and ankle joints, thereby restricting the angles of movement of the lower limb joints to a certain extent, preventing falls caused by excessive knee flexion angles and ankle dorsiflexion; in addition, it also provides a certain supporting effect on the lower limbs.

[0046] The present invention provides a walking aid protection device, which can not only prevent the user from falling but also provide a certain amount of assistance to the user.

[0047] The present invention provides a walking aid protection device, which has a certain inhibitory effect on the hyperextension of the knee joint, and at the same time limits the angle of the ankle plantar flexion, and also has a certain inhibitory effect on foot drop.

[0048] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and an explanation of the technical principles used. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope involved in the present application is not limited to the technical solutions formed by a specific combination of the above-mentioned technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by any combination of the above-mentioned technical features or their equivalent features without departing from the inventive concept, such as the technical solutions formed by replacing the above-mentioned features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions disclosed in this application.

[0049] Except for the technical features described in the specification, the remaining technical features are known technologies to those skilled in the art. In order to highlight the innovative features of the present invention, the remaining technical features will not be described here in detail.

Claims

1. A walking aid protection device, characterized in that: include: a thigh support assembly comprising a thigh support member; A calf support assembly includes a calf support member, one end of the calf support member being rotatably connected to one end of the thigh support member; A knee joint angle limiting device, comprising a locking member and a fixing member, wherein the fixing member is fixedly mounted on one end of the thigh support member and the calf support member being rotatably connected, and the locking member is slidably connected to the calf support member to cooperate with or separate from the fixing member; The foot support component is rotatably connected to the locking component via a connecting rod. Wherein, a first contact surface is provided on the fixing member, and correspondingly, a second contact surface is provided on the locking member, so that the first contact surface cooperates with the second contact surface to achieve locking.

2. The walking aid protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thigh support assembly further includes a thigh binding component, and the thigh support members are provided on both sides of the thigh binding component.

3. The walking aid protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The calf support assembly further includes a calf binding component, and the calf support pieces are provided on both sides of the calf binding component.

4. The walking aid protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotation axis between the thigh support component and the calf support component coincides with or is close to the rotation axis of the knee joint.

5. The walking aid protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The calf support member is provided with a sliding groove, and the locking member is slidably connected to the calf support member through the sliding groove.

6. The walking aid protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An arc groove is formed on one end of the thigh supporting member on which the fixing member is provided.

7. The walking aid protection device according to claim 6, characterized in that: A limiting pin is provided on one end of the calf support member that is rotatably connected to the thigh support member, and the limiting pin is located in the arc groove.

8. The walking aid protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The foot supporting component includes a shoe and a supporting portion fixed on the shoe.

9. The walking aid protection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: One end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to the support portion fixed on the shoe via a joint bearing, and the other end is rotatably connected to the locking member via a joint bearing.

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