Wearable device and wearable device waistband

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of power-assisted equipment, more particularly to a waistband for a wearable device that assists human walking, comprising: a waistband band for wearing on the waist of a human body, which has: a back waist part that covers the back waist when worn; the back waist part has: two back support arms that extend upward; the two back support arms are arranged at intervals, thereby defining a space for the spine to avoid when the waistband band is worn on the waist; a back support pad is arranged on each back support arm, and the two back support pads are configured to: when the waistband band is worn on the waist, abut and support the waist of the waist above, thereby forming a positioning structure that limits the displacement of the waistband band in the front-back direction. The wearable device with the waistband can provide more sustained and stable support or assistance for the walking action of the wearer, thereby reducing safety hazards and improving the safety of wearing and using.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of assistive device technology, and more specifically to a device that assists the human body in walking. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, there are various wearable devices on the market that provide support or assistance to the human body during walking, such as the non-powered walking aid with publication number CN107242959B and the walking aid with publication number CN104856838B. These devices typically include a waist belt and a leg-assisting structure connected to the waist belt (such as the assist component fixing part, base, and assist component as described in CN107242959B); the leg-assisting structure has a strap portion for fixing to the legs, designed to provide support or assistance to the legs during walking.

[0003] However, in actual use, such devices often experience problems such as unstable positioning or structural jamming, which makes it impossible to provide effective support or assistance to the user's walking movements continuously and reliably. Instead, it may interfere with normal gait and pose certain safety risks. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a waist belt for wearable devices that can improve positioning stability during wear. Wearable devices using this waist belt can provide more continuous and stable support or assistance for the wearer's walking movements, thereby reducing safety hazards and improving the safety of wearing and using the device.

[0005] The overall technical solution of this utility model is as follows:

[0006] This utility model is based on the problems of unstable positioning or structural jamming in existing wearable assistive devices. Specifically:

[0007] Human walking is a complex dynamic process involving multiple joints, rather than a simple mechanical swaying motion. During this process, the waist and hips undergo multi-dimensional displacement and deformation. Existing devices use a waist belt as the core support base and force transmission hub of the entire assistive system. However, when the user walks, the waist belt is prone to shifting from its ideal force-bearing position due to body swaying, muscle contraction, and clothing friction (especially in the forward and backward directions when combined with walking movements). This shift at the base of the body is prone to problems, directly causing incorrect postural changes in the leg assistive structure, which is rigidly or flexibly connected to the waist belt, and preventing it from synchronizing with the actual movement trajectory of the legs.

[0008] Specifically, when the waist belt shifts, the leg assist structure is no longer in its designed optimal mechanical position. This leads to two problems: First, to adapt to the incorrect force transmission path, the leg straps exert unexpected lateral tension or shear force on the legs, causing the straps to loosen or become overly tight, resulting in overall slippage and loss of effective fixation. Second, because the kinematic chain of the entire mechanism is disrupted, normally smoothly designed joints (such as the telescopic and rotating mechanisms of springs or elastic elements used to provide assistance) operate at incorrect angles, generating additional friction and interference, leading to uneven movement or even complete jamming. The main factor causing these problems is the insufficient positioning stability of the "waist belt," which is the cornerstone of the system.

[0009] Based on this, the present invention proposes a novel waist belt for wearable devices that can significantly improve wearing stability.

[0010] The belt of this utility model is used for mounting a leg-assisting structure, and includes:

[0011] A belt for wearing on the waist, which covers the lower back when worn;

[0012] The lower back features two upward-extending back support arms;

[0013] The two back support arms are spaced apart to define a clearance space between them, which is used to provide clearance for the spine when the waist belt is worn around the waist.

[0014] Each back support arm is equipped with a back support pad. The two back support pads are configured to provide abutment and support to the lower back above the waist when the waist belt is worn on the waist, thereby forming a positioning structure that restricts the displacement of the waist belt in the front-back direction.

[0015] The core contribution of this solution lies in its identification and successful resolution of the shortcomings of traditional waist belts used to support and connect leg-assisting structures. Specifically, by setting up back support arms and back support pads, the support points of the waist belt when worn are optimized to the lower back, establishing a multi-point stable structure, which greatly improves the positioning stability of the waist belt as the base of the entire assistive system. When this waist belt is used to install the leg-assisting structure to form a wearable device, the stable base allows the leg-assisting structure to maintain precise synchronization with the human leg movement trajectory more stably, reducing the possibility of mechanical interference or angular deviation jamming caused by relative displacement. This provides more continuous and stable support or assistance for the wearer's walking movements, reduces safety hazards, and improves the safety of wearing and using the device.

[0016] Furthermore, by providing clearance, the two back support arms and their supporting pads are positioned on the muscle groups (such as the erector spinae) on both sides of the spine. These muscle groups are better able to bear and distribute pressure. This allows for effective application of support while avoiding the vulnerable midline of the spine, greatly improving wearing comfort and safety.

[0017] In some implementations, the back support pad is configured to be elastic, allowing it to deform elastically upon contact with the lower back. Constructing the back support pad to be elastic, enabling it to deform elastically upon contact with the lower back, allows it to better conform to the curves of the lower back, increasing the contact area, evenly distributing pressure, significantly improving wearing comfort, and providing cushioning to accommodate minor body deformations during dynamic movement without sacrificing support stability.

[0018] In some embodiments, the back support pad has a portion that aligns with the lower back, and this portion is covered with a cushioning pad made of a flexible material.

[0019] The back support pad is pressed against the lower back through a soft pad.

[0020] A soft-touch pad made of flexible material is used to cover the contact area of ​​the back support pad. This further optimizes the human-machine interface, enhances comfort and safety, and protects the main structure of the back support pad, extending its service life.

[0021] In some embodiments, the inner surface of the belt band has:

[0022] When the belt is worn on the waist, a left waist support pad is provided on the left side of the waist to provide abutment and support to the left side of the waist.

[0023] When the belt is worn around the waist, a right waist support pad is provided on the right side of the waist to provide abutment and support to the right side of the waist.

[0024] The left and right waist support pads together constitute a positioning structure that restricts the waist belt from shifting in the left and right directions when the waist belt is worn on the waist.

[0025] A left waist support pad and a right waist support pad are respectively installed on the left and right sides of the waist belt. The three support pads (left, right, and back) together form a three-point support system. This structure can effectively limit the displacement of the waist belt in the lateral direction, and works in conjunction with the front and back positioning structure to achieve omnidirectional positioning and stability of the waist belt in the horizontal plane, greatly enhancing the overall rigidity as a force transmission base.

[0026] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the lower back has a mating surface facing the lower back when the belt is worn on the waist.

[0027] A lumbar support pad is provided on the mating surface, which is configured to provide abutment and support to the lower back when the belt is worn on the waist.

[0028] A lumbar support pad is added to the joint surface of the lower back. This pad can directly provide large-area support and cushioning for the soft tissue of the lower back. It works together with the back support pad and the left and right lumbar support pads to achieve uniform and comfortable support for the entire waist area, further "anchoring" the belt to the human body, eliminating local pressure points, and improving the feasibility of wearing it for a long time.

[0029] In some implementations, the back support pad is configured to be detachably attached to the back support arm. This allows users to easily replace, clean, or upgrade the back support pad as needed, improving the product's hygiene, ease of maintenance, and user adaptability.

[0030] In some embodiments, the belt includes:

[0031] The inner belt is designed to be detachably fastened around the waist.

[0032] A support chain composed of several rigid components is connected to the outer side of the inner belt bundle and extends around the inner belt bundle.

[0033] The back support arm is mounted on the support chain.

[0034] The inner strap is responsible for tightening and fixing the body and adapting to the human body shape, while the outer support chain provides the necessary structural rigidity and force transmission path, ensuring that the back support arm and its auxiliary structure will not fail due to the soft collapse of the base during operation, thus achieving a unity of comfort and functionality.

[0035] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the support chain includes:

[0036] A rigid support plate is fixed to the inner belt, and both back support arms are mounted on the support plate.

[0037] Several rigid chain blocks are connected by rotation between any two adjacent chain blocks to form a chain segment;

[0038] A chain segment is provided on both sides of the support plate. For each chain segment, one end is fixed to the support plate and the other end is fixed to the inner belt.

[0039] Specifically, the support chain is defined as a rigid support plate fixed to the back support arm and support chains on both sides consisting of chain blocks. This structure optimizes the rationality of mechanics: the support plate provides a stable mounting platform for the back support arm; the chain block structure on both sides allows the belt to remain flexible in non-assisted directions (such as lateral flexion), but provides rigid support in directions that require assistance (such as the sagittal plane), thereby maximizing functional stability while ensuring freedom of movement.

[0040] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the inner band bundle includes:

[0041] Bundles made of flexible materials;

[0042] Connectors and mating parts are respectively installed at both ends of the bundle strip;

[0043] The docking piece is detachably connected to the connector, so that the inner belt forms a ring structure that can be tightly wrapped around the waist of the human body.

[0044] The inner belt is specifically described as consisting of a strap, connectors, and mating parts, with the mating parts detachably connected to the connectors to form a ring structure. This provides a reliable, practical, and easy-to-use fastening solution, ensuring convenient wearing and removal of the belt while guaranteeing adjustable tightening force. Furthermore, the flexible material of the strap allows for better tightening and adaptation to the human body shape.

[0045] This utility model also proposes a wearable device having the above-mentioned waist belt, which includes: the waist belt in any of the above-mentioned embodiments, and a leg assist structure;

[0046] One end of the leg support structure is connected to the waist belt, and the other end has a strap for binding the legs.

[0047] By using a highly stable waist belt as a base, this wearable device can effectively mitigate all the drawbacks mentioned in the background technology caused by waist belt displacement (such as incorrect force transmission, mechanism jamming, and belt slippage), thereby ensuring accurate, efficient, smooth, and safe assistance.

[0048] The main beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows:

[0049] It provides a waist belt that significantly improves positioning stability when worn. Wearable devices using this waist belt can fundamentally alleviate problems such as incorrect leg assist structure positioning and force transmission path deviation caused by waist belt misalignment, thereby effectively preventing belt slippage, mechanism interference and jamming, and asynchronous movement, ensuring accurate, smooth and safe assistance. Attached Figure Description

[0050] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the figures:

[0051] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the wearable device.

[0052] Figure 2 This is a front view of the belt.

[0053] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a connection structure for installing a back support pad.

[0054] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the back of the belt. Detailed Implementation

[0055] The present invention will be illustrated with specific examples below:

[0056] Example 1:

[0057] Belt a, used for Figure 1 The wearable device shown is used to install the leg-assist structure b.

[0058] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the waist belt a in this embodiment includes a waist belt a1 for wrapping around and wearing on the waist of a person. In this embodiment, the waist belt a1 includes an inner belt a1.1 for detachably securing on the waist of a person, and a support chain a1.2 connected to the outer ring of the inner belt a1.1.

[0059] The inner belt a1.1 includes a belt strip a1.11 and a locking structure for connecting the two ends of the belt strip a1.11. The belt strip a1.11 is a long strip made of a flexible material such as knitted fabric, with a connector a1.12 at one end and a mating member a1.13 at the other end. The mating member a1.13 is detachably connected to the connector a1.12, so that the inner belt a1.1 forms a ring structure that can be tightly wrapped around the waist of the human body.

[0060] The mating part a1.13 and the connecting part a1.12 together form a locking structure, which can be a commonly used snap-fit ​​structure or other commonly used detachable connection structure. For example, the mating part a1.13 can be a female snap, and the connecting part a1.12 can be a male snap, together forming a snap-fit ​​structure. By disassembling the mating part a1.13 and the connecting part a1.12, the belt a1.11 can be removed from the waist; and when the belt a1.11 is wrapped around the waist and tightened, the mating part a1.13 and the connecting part a1.12 are then inserted, thus securing the inner belt a1.1 to the waist.

[0061] The support chain a1.2 is composed of several rigid components, which are connected to the outer side of the inner belt bundle a1.1 and extend around the inner belt bundle a1.1.

[0062] In this embodiment, the support chain a1.2 includes: a rigid support plate a1.21 fixed to the inner belt a1.1, and chain segments placed on both sides of the support plate a1.21.

[0063] The chain segment is composed of several rigid chain blocks a1.22 connected end to end. Specifically, any two adjacent chain blocks a1.22 are pivotally connected by a vertically extending pivot a1.23, so that any two adjacent chain blocks a1.22 can rotate relative to each other, thereby forming a chain segment together with several rigid chain blocks a1.22.

[0064] A chain segment is provided on both sides of the support plate a1.21. For each chain segment, one end is fixed to the support plate a1.21, and the other end is fixed to the inner belt bundle a1.1. Figure 2 or Figure 4 As shown, for each chain segment, one end is fixed to the support plate a1.21; the other end is fixed to the outer side of the bundle a1.11.

[0065] The waist belt a1 has a lower back section that covers the lower back (the lumbar region located at the back of the body) when worn. This lower back section has two upward-extending back support arms a2, for example... Figure 2 As shown, one back support arm a2 extends obliquely to the upper left, and the other back support arm a2 extends obliquely to the upper right.

[0066] The two back support arms a2 are spaced apart, thus defining a clearance space between them (i.e., the space between the two back support arms a2). When the waist belt a1 is worn on the waist, this clearance space is positioned opposite the spine to provide clearance for the spine.

[0067] Each back support arm a2 is provided with a back support pad a3. The two back support pads a3 are configured to provide abutment support to the lower back above the waist when the waist belt a1 is worn on the waist, thereby forming a positioning structure that restricts the displacement of the waist belt a1 in the front-back direction.

[0068] The back support arm a2 can be set in the inner belt a1.1 or in the support chain a1.2.

[0069] In this embodiment, the support plate a1.21 has a rear waist section, and two back support arms a2 are both mounted on the support plate a1.21 to provide rigid support for the back support arms a2.

[0070] The back support pad a3 can be fixed to the back support arm a2 in a non-detachable manner.

[0071] Alternatively, the back support pad a3 can be configured to be detachably fixed to the back support arm a2; for example... Figure 3As shown, the back support pad a3 is detachably fixed to the back support arm a2 by a screw a7. At this time, the threaded end of the screw a7 can pass through the back support arm a2 and be screwed to the back support pad a3 to achieve a detachable connection of the back support pad a3; or, the threaded end of the screw a7 can pass through the back support pad a3 and be screwed to the back support arm a2 to achieve a detachable connection of the back support pad a3.

[0072] In this embodiment, the back support pad a3 is configured to be elastic, allowing it to deform elastically when in contact with the lower back. That is, the back support pad a3 may include portions made of, for example, silicone, rubber, or similar elastic materials, so that the back support pad a3 can be compressed and deform elastically when in contact with the lower back.

[0073] Furthermore, the back support pad a3 has a portion that aligns with the lower back, and this portion is covered with a cushioning pad made of a flexible material. For example, the back support pad a3 is covered with a sleeve made of a flexible material such as knitted fabric, and this sleeve forms a cushioning pad, through which the back support pad a3 contacts and abuts against the lower back.

[0074] When the belt a1 is worn on the waist, the inner side of the belt a1 has: a left waist located on the left side of the waist and a right waist located on the right side of the waist.

[0075] like Figure 2 As shown, a left lumbar support pad a5 can be provided on the left side of the waist to provide abutment and support. A right lumbar support pad a6 can be provided on the right side of the waist to provide abutment and support.

[0076] The left lumbar support pad a5 and the right lumbar support pad a6 together constitute a positioning structure that restricts the displacement of the waist belt a1 in the left and right directions when it is worn on the waist. At this time, when the waist belt a1 is worn on the waist, the back support pad a3, the left lumbar support pad a5, and the right lumbar support pad a6 abut against the human lumbar and back structure from three different directions to stably lock the waist belt a1 in place on the waist.

[0077] The left lumbar support pad a5 and the right lumbar support pad a6 can be set with reference to the back support pad a3. They can also be detachably fixed to the waist belt a1 using, for example, screws.

[0078] In this embodiment, both the left waist support pad a5 and the right waist support pad a6 are connected to the inner side of the strap a1.11.

[0079] like Figure 2 As shown, the lower back has: a mating surface facing the lower back when the waist belt a1 is worn on the waist; a lower back support pad a4 is provided on the mating surface, which is configured to: provide abutment support to the lower back when the waist belt a1 is worn on the waist.

[0080] The lumbar support pad a4 can be set up with reference to the back support pad a3. It can also be detachably fixed to the waist belt a1 using, for example, screws.

[0081] In this embodiment, the lumbar support pad a4 is connected to the inner side of the strap a1.11 that aligns with the lumbar region.

[0082] When using belt a:

[0083] By disassembling the docking piece a1.13 and the connecting piece a1.12, the harness a1.11 can be removed from the waist.

[0084] When the belt a1.11 is wrapped around the waist and tightened, the connecting piece a1.13 and the connector a1.12 are then inserted, thus binding the inner belt a1.1 around the waist. After the inner belt a1.1 is bound around the waist, the back support pad a3, the back waist support pad a4, the left waist support pad a5, and the right waist support pad a6 provide support to the waist and back area from different directions, so that the belt a is stably positioned and worn around the waist.

[0085] Example 2:

[0086] Wearable devices, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a waist belt a as described in any of the embodiments in Example 1, and a leg assist structure b; one end of the leg assist structure b is connected to the waist belt a, and the other end has a strap portion b3 for binding the legs.

[0087] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the leg assist structure b includes a fixed seat b1 connected to the waist belt a, and an assist arm b2 is movably connected to the fixed seat b1 by, for example, a hinge structure. The lower end of the assist arm b2 has a strap portion b3 for binding to the leg.

[0088] When the belt a is worn around the waist and the strap b3 is tied around the legs, the assist arm b2 swings back and forth relative to the fixed seat b1 as the legs are raised.

[0089] Furthermore, the leg assist structure b also includes an assist module, which is configured to provide a thrust to the assist arm b2 to push the leg upward as the assist arm b2 is raised.

[0090] The assist module can be an active assist structure, such as the electric joint used to drive the leg support movement in a walking assist device disclosed in CN104856838B. The assist component formed by the electric joint provides a thrust to the assist arm b2 to lift the leg upwards when the assist arm b2 is raised along with the leg. Alternatively, it can be a simple push rod motor; its motor body is connected to the fixed base b1, and the piston rod of the push rod motor, which performs telescopic movements, is connected to the assist arm b2 and configured to provide a thrust to lift the leg upwards by retracting the piston rod when the person is walking and the assist arm b2 is raised along with the leg.

[0091] Alternatively, the assist module can be a passive assist structure, such as the assist component in the unpowered walking assist device disclosed in CN107242959B. It can also be a simple spring, with one end connected to the fixed base b1 and the other end connected to the assist arm b2. When the wearable device is worn on the body and the body is standing, the spring is compressed or stretched to accumulate elastic energy. When the legs are raised and the assist arm b2 swings, the spring tends to recover its deformation, providing upward assistance to the assist arm b2 during this process.

[0092] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model. Furthermore, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "front," and "rear," etc., mentioned in the embodiments of the present utility model, indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the figures, or the orientation or positional relationships commonly used when the product is in use. They are only for the convenience of describing the present utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present utility model. It should be further noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" in the description should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0093] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A belt (a) for mounting a leg-assisting structure (b), the belt (a) comprising: A waist belt (a1) for wearing on the waist of a person, which has the following features: covering the lower back when worn; Its features are: The lower back has two upwardly extending back support arms (a2). The two back support arms (a2) are spaced apart to define a clearance space between them, which is used to provide clearance for the spine when the waist belt (a1) is worn on the waist. Each of the back support arms (a2) is provided with a back support pad (a3), and the two back support pads (a3) ​​are configured to provide abutment support to the lower back above the waist when the waist belt (a1) is worn on the waist, thereby forming a positioning structure that restricts the displacement of the waist belt (a1) in the front-back direction.

2. The belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The back support pad (a3) ​​is configured to be elastic so that it can elastically deform when it comes into contact with the lower back.

3. The belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The back support pad (a3) ​​has a portion that aligns with the lower back, and this portion is covered with a cushioning pad made of a flexible material. The back support pad (a3) ​​abuts against the lower back through the buffer pad.

4. The belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner surface of the belt band (a1) has: When the waist belt (a1) is worn on the waist, a left waist support pad (a5) is provided on the left waist, which is located on the left side of the waist to provide abutment support to the left side of the waist. When the waist belt (a1) is worn on the waist, a right waist support pad (a6) is provided on the right waist, which is located on the right side of the waist, to provide abutment support for the right side of the waist. The left waist support pad (a5) and the right waist support pad (a6) together constitute a positioning structure that restricts the displacement of the waist belt (a1) in the left and right directions when the waist belt (a1) is worn on the waist.

5. The belt according to claim 4, characterized in that: The lower back portion has a mating surface facing the lower back when the waist belt (a1) is worn on the waist; A back waist support pad (a4) is provided on the mating surface, which is configured to provide abutment support to the back waist when the waist belt (a1) is worn on the waist.

6. The belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The back support pad (a3) ​​is configured to be detachably fixed to the back support arm (a2).

7. The belt according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The belt (a1) includes: The inner belt (a1.1) is configured to be detachably fastened around the waist. A support chain (a1.2) composed of several rigid components is connected to the outer side of the inner belt (a1.1) and extends around the inner belt (a1.1) on the outer periphery of the inner belt (a1.1). The back support arm (a2) is mounted on the support chain (a1.2).

8. The belt according to claim 7, characterized in that: The support chain (a1.2) includes: A rigid support plate (a1.21) is fixed to the inner belt (a1.1), and both back support arms (a2) are disposed on the support plate (a1.21); A plurality of rigid chain blocks (a1.22) are configured to rotate between any two adjacent chain blocks (a1.22) to form a chain segment together; A chain segment is provided on both sides of the support plate (a1.21). For each chain segment, one end is fixed to the support plate (a1.21) and the other end is fixed to the inner belt (a1.1).

9. The belt according to claim 7, characterized in that: The inner band (a1.1) includes: Bundles made of flexible material (a1.11); Connectors (a1.12) and mating parts (a1.13) are respectively disposed at both ends of the bundle (a1.11); The docking member (a1.13) is detachably connected to the connector (a1.12), so that the inner belt (a1.1) forms a ring structure that can be tightly wrapped around the waist of the human body.

10. A wearable device, characterized in that: It includes a waist belt (a) as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, and a leg assist structure (b). One end of the leg support structure (b) is connected to the waist belt (a), and the other end has a strap (b3) for binding the legs.

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