Joint assistive device

Abstract

The present application belongs to the field of sports auxiliary machines, and particularly relates to a joint power assist device, which comprises a first mounting part for being attached to one side of a joint, a second mounting part for being attached to the other side of the joint, a rotating device, a rotating part of which is rotatably connected with the first mounting part, a directional rotating mechanism arranged between the rotating part and the second mounting part, the directional rotating mechanism being assembled to be able to cooperate with the rotating part to make the second mounting part directionally rotate relative to the rotating part, and a brake device movably arranged on the first mounting part, the brake device being assembled to be able to switch between the following two working conditions: working condition one, in which the brake device restricts the rotating part to make the second mounting part directionally rotate relative to the first mounting part; and working condition two, in which the brake device releases the rotating part to make the second mounting part freely rotate relative to the first mounting part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of sports assistive devices, and specifically relates to a joint assist device. Background Technology

[0002] Walking is an essential basic movement in daily life. For people with weak lower limb strength, the supporting leg is prone to bending during walking, leading to falls. Walking downhill, especially on steep slopes, places a heavy load on the knee joint, increasing the risk of knee weakness, injury, and falls. When transitioning from standing to sitting, weak lower limb strength and insufficient muscle strength make it difficult to control the speed of sitting, requiring external support. Furthermore, carrying objects sometimes requires bending the arms, demanding significant arm strength and maintaining a specific posture, which can easily lead to fatigue over time. Existing knee-assisting mechanisms mostly use active assistance, which suffers from system complexity, weight, and low practicality. Others use springs for assistance, which significantly restrict knee joint movement, puts significant pressure on muscles, or may provide insufficient support when the spring force is weak. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art described above, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a shutdown assist device that, through the cooperation of a braking part and a directional rotation mechanism, can realize the directional rotation of the joint, so that the joint movement is directional within a certain range.

[0004] To achieve the above and other related objectives, the present invention provides a joint assist device, comprising: a first mounting portion for fitting and attaching to one side of a joint; a second mounting portion for fitting and attaching to the other side of the joint; a rotating device, comprising: a rotating member rotatably connected to the first mounting portion; a directional rotating mechanism disposed between the rotating member and the second mounting portion, the directional rotating mechanism being assembled to cooperate with the rotating member to cause the second mounting portion to rotate directionally relative to the rotating member; and a braking device movably disposed on the first mounting portion, the braking device being assembled to switch between two operating positions: operating condition one, the braking device restricts the rotating member to cause the second mounting portion to rotate directionally relative to the first mounting portion; operating condition two, the braking device releases the rotating member to allow the second mounting portion to rotate freely relative to the first mounting portion.

[0005] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the braking device includes: a braking component configured to restrict or release the rotating member; and a driving component configured to drive the braking component to move in order to restrict or release the rotating device.

[0006] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the directional rotation mechanism includes: a ratchet, fixedly mounted on the second mounting portion; a pawl, rotatably mounted on the rotating member, and the pawl engaging with the ratchet; and an elastic unit, disposed between the pawl and the rotating member, and assembled such that its elastic force can drive the pawl to engage with the ratchet.

[0007] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the directional rotation mechanism further includes a directional bearing, comprising: a rotating outer ring disposed on the rotating member and fixedly connected thereto; a rotating inner ring fixedly connected to the second mounting portion; and an intermediate member disposed between the rotating outer ring and the rotating inner ring, wherein the intermediate member is assembled to enable the rotating inner ring and the rotating outer ring to rotate synchronously or relative to each other.

[0008] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the driving component includes: a fluid actuator for converting fluid pressure into energy to drive the braking component; a fluid power source for pressurizing the fluid actuator to drive it to function; and a pipeline for connecting the fluid actuator and the fluid power source.

[0009] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the rotating member is provided with a first contact surface, and the braking member is provided with a second contact surface adapted to the first contact surface, wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface cooperate to achieve locking.

[0010] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the second mounting part is provided with an arc-shaped sliding groove, and the first mounting part is provided with a limiting pin that cooperates with the arc-shaped sliding groove; or the first mounting part is provided with an arc-shaped sliding groove, and the second mounting part is provided with a limiting pin that cooperates with the arc-shaped sliding groove.

[0011] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, both the first mounting part and the second mounting part are provided with straps.

[0012] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the first mounting part includes a first mounting member and a first binding member; the first mounting member is connected to the first binding member by a flexible member or a ball joint.

[0013] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the second mounting part includes a second mounting member and a second binding member; the second mounting member is connected to the second binding member by a flexible member or a ball joint.

[0014] The technical advantage of this invention lies in that the joint assist device acts on the desired joint, and the driving component controls the braking component to achieve joint movement control. When the braking component restricts the rotating component, the joint moves within a certain range; when the braking component releases the rotating component, the joint rotates freely.

[0015] Acting on the knee joint, during walking, the driving components control the braking components, thus restricting knee joint movement. When acting on the supporting leg, it allows the knee joint on that side to move within a certain range, or keeps the lower limb in an upright position, reducing the load on the knee joint and preventing knee bending. It also helps limit knee hyperextension. During the transition from standing to sitting, it provides resistance to knee joint movement, reducing torque at the knee joint and ensuring a smooth transition.

[0016] It acts on the elbow joint, limiting the movement of the elbow joint when the arm is bent. When carrying objects, the arm is bent and the elbow joint angle is within a certain range of motion, and can only perform directional movements. At this time, it can effectively reduce the burden on the elbow joint. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a joint assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a joint booster rotation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is another schematic diagram of the internal structure of the joint booster rotation mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of another directional rotation mechanism structure of a joint booster provided by the present invention; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a directional bearing structure for a joint booster provided by the present invention; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of another directional bearing structure for a joint booster provided by the present invention; Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a joint assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is another three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a joint assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a knee joint assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features described therein can be combined with each other.

[0020] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. Therefore, the illustrations only show the components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components in the actual implementation. In the actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0021] Example 1 Please see Figure 1-9 As shown, a joint assist device includes: a first mounting part 10 for fixing to the outer side of the human thigh; a second mounting part 20 for fixing to the outer side of the human calf; a rotating device 30 is provided between the first mounting part 10 and the second mounting part 20, which can be adjusted to rotate freely or in a directional manner according to the user's needs, so as to provide the user with leg support without affecting normal physiological activities; wherein, the rotation axis of the first mounting part 10 and the second mounting part 20 is close to or coincides with the joint rotation axis. The rotating device 30 includes: a rotating member 31 rotatably connected to the first mounting portion 10; a directional rotating mechanism 32 disposed inside the rotating member 31 and connected to the second mounting portion 20, so that the second mounting portion 20 can rotate directionally relative to the rotating member 31, the directional rotating mechanism 32 being assembled to cooperate with the rotating member 31, and under the action of the braking device 33, the second mounting portion 20 can rotate freely or directionally; the braking device 33 being disposed on the first mounting portion 10 and being movable relative to it, the braking device 33 being assembled to switch between the following two working positions: working condition one, the braking device 33 restricts the rotating member 31, so that the second mounting portion 20 rotates directionally relative to the first mounting portion 10; working condition two, the braking device 33 releases the rotating member 31, so that the second mounting portion 20 rotates freely relative to the first mounting portion 10; thereby driving the rotating member 31 and the directional rotating mechanism 32 to cooperate to achieve the two working conditions of free rotation or directional rotation of the first mounting portion 10 and the second mounting portion 20 relative to each other.

[0022] In one specific embodiment, the rotating member 31 is rotatably disposed with the first mounting part 10. When the braking device 33 locks the rotating member 31, the directional rotation mechanism 32 is activated, and the second mounting part 20 can only rotate directionally along the bending direction of the leg joint under the action of the directional rotation mechanism 32. When the braking device 33 releases the rotating member 31, the rotating member 31 is activated, and the directional rotation mechanism 32 can rotate synchronously with the rotating member 31. The second mounting part 20 can rotate freely under the action of the rotating member 31, allowing the leg to be straightened or bent.

[0023] In one specific embodiment, the braking device 33 includes: a braking component 331 for restricting or releasing the rotating component 31; and a driving component 332 fixedly connected to the braking component 331 and capable of driving the braking component 331 to restrict or release the rotating component 31.

[0024] In one specific embodiment, the directional rotation mechanism 32 includes: a ratchet 321, fixedly mounted on the second mounting portion 20, the second mounting portion 20 rotating synchronously with the ratchet 321; a pawl 322, rotatably mounted on the inner wall of the rotating member 31, and a second elastic unit 323 is provided between the pawl 322 and the inner wall of the rotating member 31 to drive the pawl 322 and the ratchet 321 to engage, thereby achieving directional rotation; the second elastic unit 323 can be, for example, a pawl return spring.

[0025] When the rotating member 31 is locked, it cannot rotate, and the pawl 322 is also relatively fixed. At this time, the ratchet 321 begins to function, so the second mounting part 20 can only rotate in one direction. When the rotating member 31 is not locked, it can rotate freely. Since the pawl 322 is located inside the rotating member 31, and the ratchet 321 and the pawl 322 are engaged, the ratchet 321 and the rotating member 31 can rotate synchronously. Furthermore, the second mounting part 20 is fixedly connected to the ratchet 321, so the second mounting part 20 can rotate freely.

[0026] In one specific embodiment, the directional rotation mechanism 32' further includes: a pawl wheel 321', fixedly mounted on the second mounting portion 20, the second mounting portion 20 rotating synchronously with the pawl wheel 321'; a rolling element 322', distributed between adjacent pawl teeth of the pawl wheel 321', and the rolling element 322' frictionally engaging with the inner wall of the rotating element 31; and a spring push rod 323', mounted on each pawl tooth of the pawl wheel 321', and assembled to cooperate with the rolling element 322' to drive the pawl wheel 321' to rotate in a directional manner.

[0027] When the rotating member 31 is locked, it cannot rotate relative to the first mounting part 10. Since the rolling member 322' is set in the wedge-shaped space, the pawl wheel 321' is only allowed to move relative to the rotating member 31 towards the larger end of the wedge-shaped space. At this time, the pawl wheel 321' is only allowed to rotate in a directional manner relative to the rotating member 31. When the rotating member 31 is not locked, the first mounting part 10 and the second mounting part 20 can rotate freely.

[0028] In one specific embodiment, the directional rotation mechanism may also be configured as a directional bearing 32'', comprising: a rotating outer ring 321'', disposed inside the rotating member 31 and fixedly connected thereto, which may be a single component; and a rotating inner ring 322'', fixedly connected to the second mounting portion 20.

[0029] When the rotating member 31 is locked, the outer rotating ring 321'' is fixedly connected to the rotating member 31, and the outer rotating ring 321'' cannot rotate relative to the first mounting part 10. A roller 323'' and a spring 324'' that cooperates with the outer rotating ring 321'' are provided between the outer rotating ring 321'' and the inner rotating ring 322''. Since the roller 323'' is set in the wedge-shaped space, the inner rotating ring 322'' is only allowed to move towards the larger end of the wedge-shaped space relative to the outer rotating ring 321''. At this time, the inner rotating ring 322'' is only allowed to rotate in a directional manner relative to the outer rotating ring 321''. At this time, the first mounting part 10 and the second mounting part 20 can rotate in a directional manner. When the rotating member 31 is not locked, the first mounting part 10 and the second mounting part 20 can rotate freely.

[0030] Another type of directional bearing has multiple wedges 325'' positioned between the outer rotating ring 321'' and the inner rotating ring 322''. Each wedge 325'' has two different diameters: the major diameter is larger than the distance between the inner rotating ring 322'' and the outer rotating ring 321'', while the minor diameter is smaller than the distance between them. A cylindrical wound spring, connected end-to-end to form a ring spring 326'', is positioned at the fulcrum of each wedge 325''. The ring spring 326'' allows the wedges 325'' to return to their original position.

[0031] In one specific embodiment, the driving component 332 includes: a fluid actuator 3321 for converting fluid pressure into energy to drive the braking component 331; a fluid power source 3323 for pressurizing the fluid actuator 3321 to drive it to function; and a pipeline 3322 for connecting the fluid actuator 3321 and the fluid power source 3323.

[0032] In this embodiment, the fluid actuator 3321 is a pneumatic actuator, and the fluid power source 3323 is an air filling device.

[0033] In one specific embodiment, the rotating member 31 is provided with a first contact surface, and the braking member 331 is provided with a second contact surface adapted to the first contact surface. The first contact surface and the second contact surface cooperate to achieve locking. The outer ring of the rotating member 31 is wrapped with a high-friction material, such as a rubber ring, so that the braking device 33 can quickly lock the rotating member 31 to avoid slippage and other unexpected situations.

[0034] In one specific embodiment, the second mounting part 20 is provided with an arc-shaped sliding groove, and the first mounting part 10 is provided with a limiting pin that cooperates with it; or the first mounting part 10 is provided with an arc-shaped sliding groove, and the second mounting part 20 is provided with a limiting pin that cooperates with the arc-shaped sliding groove, so as to limit the rotation range of the second mounting part 20 and avoid injury to the user due to excessive rotation range caused by accident.

[0035] In one specific embodiment, both the first mounting portion 10 and the second mounting portion 20 are provided with straps, allowing the user to secure the device to their leg. The first and second mounting portions 10 are also covered with a flexible, skin-friendly material, such as latex or silicone, to avoid causing any unusual contact sensation to the user's body. The first mounting portion 10 includes a first mounting member and a first binding member; the first mounting member is fixed, or connected to the first binding member via a flexible member or a ball joint. The second mounting portion 20 includes a second mounting member and a second binding member; the second mounting member is fixed, or connected to the second binding member via a flexible member or a ball joint.

[0036] Example 2 This device can also be worn on the arm, with the first mounting part 10 fixed to the upper arm and the second mounting part 20 fixed to the forearm. The inflation device can be an air pump, thereby achieving directional rotation. When the user needs to carry goods, they need to maintain a certain posture and exert considerable arm strength for a long time. The device can only rotate in one direction, which can limit the fall of heavy objects, thereby reducing the burden on the user's arm and achieving the effect of assisting arm strength.

[0037] In summary, the technical advantage of this invention lies in that the joint assist device acts on the desired joint, and the driving component controls the braking component to achieve joint movement control. When the braking component restricts the rotating component, the joint moves within a certain range; when the braking component releases the rotating component, the joint rotates freely.

[0038] Acting on the knee joint, during walking, the driving components control the braking components, thus restricting knee joint movement. When acting on the supporting leg, it allows the knee joint on that side to move within a certain range, or keeps the lower limb in an upright position, reducing the load on the knee joint and preventing knee bending. It also helps limit knee hyperextension. During the transition from standing to sitting, it provides resistance to knee joint movement, reducing torque at the knee joint and ensuring a smooth transition.

[0039] It acts on the elbow joint, limiting the movement of the elbow joint when the arm is bent. When carrying objects, the arm is bent and the elbow joint angle is within a certain range of motion, and can only perform directional movements. At this time, it can effectively reduce the burden on the elbow joint.

[0040] It should be noted that in the embodiments described herein, the free rotation and directional rotation between components are relative, and the installation method of the components is not limited to the embodiments provided by the present invention. Their relative installation positions can be changed without affecting the effect and principle of the device.

[0041] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

[0042] Throughout this description, numerous specific details, such as examples of components and / or methods, are provided to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without one or more of these specific details or by other devices, systems, components, methods, parts, materials, components, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations have not been specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the invention.

[0043] Throughout this specification, the terms "an embodiment," "embodiment," or "specific embodiment" refer to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment that is included in at least one embodiment of the invention, but not necessarily in all embodiments. Therefore, the various representations of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," or "in a specific embodiment" in different places throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic of any specific embodiment of the invention can be combined with one or more other embodiments in any suitable manner. It should be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the invention described and illustrated herein may be based on the teachings herein and will be considered part of the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0044] It should also be understood that one or more of the elements shown in the figures may be implemented in a more separate or more integrated manner, or may even be removed because they are inoperable in certain circumstances or provided because they may be useful for a particular application.

[0045] Furthermore, unless otherwise expressly stated, any arrows in the accompanying drawings should be considered illustrative only and not limiting. Additionally, unless otherwise stated, the term "or" as used herein is generally intended to mean "and / or". Where a term is anticipated to provide a separation or combination capability that is unclear, a combination of components or steps will also be considered as indicated.

[0046] As used herein and throughout the claims below, unless otherwise specified, “a” and “the” include the plural references. Similarly, as used herein and throughout the claims below, unless otherwise specified, “in” means “in” and “on”.

[0047] The above description of the embodiments shown in this invention (including the content set forth in the abstract of the specification) is not intended to be an exhaustive enumeration or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. Although specific embodiments and examples of the invention have been described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be recognized and understood by those skilled in the art. As indicated, these modifications can be made to the invention in accordance with the above description of the embodiments described herein, and such modifications will be within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0048] This document has generally described the systems and methods in detail to aid in understanding the invention. Furthermore, various specific details have been set forth to provide a general understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more specific details, or using other means, systems, accessories, methods, components, materials, parts, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, and / or operations have not been specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the invention.

[0049] Therefore, although the invention has been described herein with reference to specific embodiments thereof, freedom of modification, various changes and substitutions are also within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, and it should be understood that in some cases, certain features of the invention may be adopted without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and without corresponding use of other features. Thus, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular environment or material to the essential scope and spirit of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology used in the following claims and / or the specific embodiments disclosed as the best mode for carrying out the invention, but the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention will be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A joint assist device, characterized in that, include: The first mounting part is used to fit and attach to one side of the joint; The second mounting part is used to fit and attach to the other side of the joint; The rotating device includes: A rotating component is rotatably connected to the first mounting portion; A directional rotation mechanism is disposed between the rotating member and the second mounting part. The directional rotation mechanism is assembled to cooperate with the rotating member so that the second mounting part rotates directionally relative to the rotating member. A braking device is movably mounted on the first mounting portion, and the braking device is configured to switch between two workstations: In operating condition one, the braking device restricts the rotating member, fixing the rotating member relative to the first mounting part, and the directional rotation mechanism allows the second mounting part to rotate directionally relative to the rotating member, so that the second mounting part rotates directionally relative to the first mounting part; In the second operating condition, the braking device releases the rotating member, allowing the rotating member to rotate freely relative to the first mounting part, thereby allowing the second mounting part to rotate freely relative to the first mounting part. The rotating component has a first contact surface, and the braking device has a second contact surface that is adapted to the first contact surface. The first contact surface and the second contact surface cooperate to achieve locking.

2. The joint assist device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The braking device includes: The braking component is configured to limit or release the rotating member; The drive component is configured to drive the braking component to move in order to limit or release the rotation device.

3. The joint assist device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The directional rotation mechanism includes: The ratchet is fixedly mounted on the second mounting part; A pawl is rotatably mounted on the rotating component, and the pawl meshes with the ratchet. An elastic unit, disposed between the pawl and the rotating member, is assembled such that its elastic force can drive the pawl to engage with the ratchet.

4. The joint assist device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The directional rotation mechanism further includes a directional bearing, comprising: The outer ring is rotated, mounted on the rotating component, and fixedly connected thereto; Rotate the inner ring to fix it to the second mounting part; An intermediate component is disposed between the outer rotating ring and the inner rotating ring, and the intermediate component is assembled to enable the inner rotating ring and the outer rotating ring to rotate synchronously or relative to each other.

5. The joint assist device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The driving component includes: A fluid actuator for converting fluid pressure into energy that drives the braking component; A fluid power source is used to pressurize fluid actuators to drive them to function. Piping is used to connect the fluid actuator and the fluid power source.

6. The joint assist device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second mounting part is provided with an arc-shaped sliding groove, and the first mounting part is provided with a limiting pin that cooperates with the arc-shaped sliding groove; or the first mounting part is provided with an arc-shaped sliding groove, and the second mounting part is provided with a limiting pin that cooperates with the arc-shaped sliding groove.

7. The joint assist device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the first mounting part and the second mounting part are equipped with straps.

8. The joint assist device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first mounting part includes a first mounting component and a first binding component; the first mounting component is connected to the first binding component by a flexible component or a ball joint.

9. The joint assist device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second mounting part includes a second mounting member and a second binding member; the second mounting member is connected to the second binding member by a flexible member or a ball joint.

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