Exotendon grip aid device

Abstract

The present invention provides a biocompatible external grip strength assist device that can efficiently assist grip strength by having a structure that replicates finger flexor muscles and pulleys, and is also excellent in terms of wearing comfort as it is in close contact with the palm. The device comprises a plurality of bending traction members provided in close contact with the palm and the inner side of each finger, a driving device connected to one end of the bending traction members and selectively pulling the bending traction members to cause the fingers to bend, and a wrist band provided on the driving device and securing the driving device to the user's wrist.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an external grip strength assist device, and more specifically, to an external grip strength assist device in which a bending traction member that adheres to the palm and the inner side of the fingers mimics a flexor muscle tendon, and a driving device that pulls the bending traction member mimics the belly of the flexor muscle, thereby enabling the fingers to curl to more easily and physiologically mimic the action of clenching a fist. Background Technology

[0003] Generally, in cases of tendinitis of the finger flexor muscles, the treatment method is to avoid clenching your fist tightly during daily activities.

[0004] However, there were far too many instances where I had to clench my fist tightly in daily life, hobbies, or work.

[0005] Finger flexor muscles can generate grip strength efficiently because they are in contact with the bones of the hand and fingers, which is possible because there are structures called pulleys in several places across the hand and fingers.

[0006] Conventional hand grip aids are typically in the form of gloves and generally apply force from the back of the hand to bend the fingers; however, since this method does not mimic the action of the finger flexor muscles, it was inevitably inefficient.

[0007] Furthermore, it may be uncomfortable to wear because it takes up a large amount of space.

[0008] For prior art, refer to Registered Utility Model No. 20-0328509 (September 22, 2003). The problem to be solved

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a human-friendly external grip strength assist device that is structured to replicate finger flexor muscles and pulleys, thereby efficiently assisting grip strength, and is also excellent in terms of comfort as it adheres closely to the palm. means of solving the problem

[0012] An external grip strength assist device according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of bending traction members provided in close contact with the palm of a user and the inner side of each finger; and a driving device connected to one end of the bending traction members and selectively pulling the bending traction members to cause the fingers to bend. The device further includes a wristband provided on the driving device and securing the driving device to the user's wrist, and a plurality of fixing members provided on the palm and the inner side of each finger to which the bending traction member is in contact, thereby maintaining the state in which each of the bending traction members is in contact with the palm and each finger. The fixing members are formed in a 'C' shape that is curved to the circumference of the palm and fingers so as to be provided between the finger joints and on the palmar side, and are fitted onto the palm and fingers. The inner diameter can be varied by changing the degree of curvature of the left and right ends, allowing the mounting position to be selectively varied according to the finger joint position. Additionally, the fixing members further include a roller on the surface facing the palm and fingers, which, when the bending traction member is pulled, changes the pulling direction applied to the bending traction member and induces bending of the finger with a relatively large force compared to the small force applied.

[0013] At this time, the bending traction member according to the present invention is preferably made of one of rubber or silicone, which is harmless to the human body and has elasticity.

[0014] And, it is preferable that the bending traction member according to the present invention has a width corresponding to the thickness of each finger.

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[0017] In addition, the driving device according to the present invention comprises an electric motor that selectively generates a clockwise or counterclockwise rotational force, a control unit electrically connected to the electric motor and controlling the driving of the electric motor by a signal input from the outside, a gearbox mechanically connected to the rotation shaft of the electric motor and outputting a reduced rotational force of the electric motor, and a winding roll on which one end of the bending traction members, which are provided in close contact with the palm and the inner side of each finger, is wound around the circumference and which is connected to the gearbox by an axle and rotates by the rotational force transmitted through the gearbox to selectively pull or release the wound bending traction members. Effects of the invention

[0019] The effects produced by the external grip strength assist device according to the present invention are as follows.

[0020] It is designed with a structure that replicates finger flexor muscles and pulleys, allowing it to efficiently assist grip strength, and is biocompatible as it fits snugly against the palm, providing excellent comfort.

[0021] A flexion traction member that adheres to the palm and the inner side of the fingers mimics the flexor tendon, and a driving device that pulls the flexion traction member mimics the belly of the flexor muscle, thereby allowing the movement of the fingers closing to clench a fist to be more easily and physiologically mimicked. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0023] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing the palm of a hand equipped with an external grip strength assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing the back of a hand equipped with an external grip strength assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a simplified example diagram showing the driving device of an external grip strength assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an example diagram showing the state in which fingers are closed to perform the action of clenching a fist by means of an external grip strength assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0024] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0025] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention; thus, it should be understood that there may be equivalent variations that can replace them at the time of filing this application.

[0026] The present invention relates to an external grip strength assist device that can more easily and physiologically mimic the motion of closing the fingers to form a fist by using a bending traction member that adheres to the palm and the inner side of the fingers to mimic the tendon of a flexor muscle and a driving device that pulls the bending traction member to mimic the belly of the flexor muscle. Referring to the drawings, the invention is as follows.

[0027] An external grip assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 is mounted on the palm and causes the fingers to curl up to form a fist, and includes a bending traction member (100), a driving device (200), and a wristband (300).

[0028] First, looking at the bending traction member (100), the bending traction member (100) is provided in multiple numbers (at least 5 are provided to correspond to each finger), and is provided on the palm and each finger to mimic the flexor tendon of the corresponding finger.

[0029] At this time, the bending traction member (100) is made of a material that is harmless to the human body and has elasticity, such as rubber or silicone, and is formed in the shape of a thin sheet so as to adhere to the palm and fingers, with one end located on the inner side of the wrist of the user wearing the external grip strength assist device, and the other end located on the inner side of the fingertip along the length of the fingers through the palm.

[0030] Accordingly, the above-mentioned bending traction member (100) is in close contact with the palm and fingers and can mimic the corresponding flexor digitorum profunds of the fingers.

[0031] Here, each of the bending traction members (100) may be provided with an adhesive layer (not shown) so as not to detach from the position in contact, and the adhesive layer is formed on the surface of the bending traction member (100) that is in close contact with the inner side of the finger, so that the bending traction member (100) can be attached to the inner side of the finger by the adhesive force of the adhesive layer.

[0032] At this time, the adhesive layer may be formed on the entire surface of the bending traction member (100) that is in close contact with the inner side of the finger, but is not limited thereto. The adhesive layer may be formed only on the other side of the bending traction member (100), which is the part that is in close contact with the inner side of the fingertip of the bending traction member (100), so that only the other side of the bending traction member (100) is in close contact with the fingertip.

[0033] Additionally, a fixing member (110) is provided to maintain each of the bending traction members (100) in a state of close contact with the palm and each finger, wherein the fixing member (110) is provided on the inner side of the palm and fingers to which the bending traction members (100) are in close contact, thereby enabling the bending traction members (100) to maintain a state of close contact with the palm and fingers.

[0034] At this time, the above-mentioned fixing member (110) is preferably provided in the form of a rod having lengths in the left and right directions, between the joints of the fingers and in the palmar portion, and can be provided by forming a 'C' shape that is bent to the circumference of the palm and fingers and fitted onto the palm and fingers.

[0035] Meanwhile, the fixed member (110) can arbitrarily change the degree of curvature of the left and right ends of the fixed member (110) so as to correspond to the circumference of the palm and fingers of various thicknesses, thereby allowing the inner diameter of the fixed member (110) to be selectively varied, and thus the position of the fixed member (110) can be varied according to the position of the finger joint.

[0036] And the fixing member (110) located at the fingertip among the fixing members (110) is rotatably connected to the other end of the bending traction members (100) so that the fingertip is curled in the direction in which the bending traction members (100) are pulled.

[0037] On the other hand, the fixing member (110) located in the middle of the finger and on the palm presses from the outside of the bending traction members (100) toward the palm and finger side, thereby allowing the bending traction members (100) to maintain a state of close contact with the palm and finger.

[0038] At this time, the fixed members (110) located in the middle of the finger and on the palm function as pulleys when the bending traction members (100) are pulled. When the bending traction members (100) are pulled, the fixed members (110) function as pulleys due to their rounded circumferences, so that the pulling direction acting on the bending traction members (100) can be changed, and the bending of the finger can be induced with a relatively large force compared to the small force acting.

[0039] Therefore, when the bending traction members (100) are pulled, the direction of the force is changed by the fixing members (110) located in the middle of the fingers and on the palm, so that the fingers can be closed and perform the action (movement) of clenching a fist.

[0040] In addition, the fixed members (110) are provided with a roller (111) that is rotatably provided at the point where the bending traction member (100) is located, so that the roller (111) can function as a pulley.

[0041] Therefore, when the bending traction members (100) are pulled, the rollers (111) of the fixed members (110) function as a pulley, so that the pulling direction acting on the bending traction members (100) can be changed, allowing the fingers to close up and perform the action (movement) of clenching a fist.

[0042] And the bending traction members (100) are connected to the driving device (200), and the driving device (200) optionally winds the bending traction members (100) to cause the fingers to bend.

[0043] At this time, looking more closely at the driving device (200), the driving device (200) includes an electric motor (210), a control unit (220), a gearbox (230), and a winding roll (240). The electric motor (210) is selectively driven according to a control signal applied from the control unit (220) to rotate the rotation axis in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

[0044] Here, the control unit (220) applies a control signal corresponding to a preset selected mode to the electric motor (220). For example, in manual mode, a switch button (221) formed on the outside of the driving device (200) can be operated one by one to apply a clockwise rotation or counterclockwise rotation control signal to the electric motor (220), or in active mode, a clockwise rotation or counterclockwise rotation control signal can be applied to the electric motor (220) at preset intervals.

[0045] And the rotation shaft of the electric motor (210) is connected to a gearbox (230), and the gearbox (230) transmits the rotational force generated by the electric motor (210) to a winding roll (240), so that the winding roll (240) can be selectively rotated clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0046] At this time, the gearbox (230) increases the rotational torque while decelerating the speed of the rotational force generated by the electric motor (210), thereby allowing the winding roll (240) to rotate easily.

[0047] And one end of the bending traction members (100), which are fixed in close contact with the palm and the inner side of each finger, is wound on the winding roll (240), and the bending traction members (100) are pulled or relaxed by the rotation of the winding roll (240).

[0048] Accordingly, the driving device (200) optionally winds the bending traction members (100) to cause the fingers to bend.

[0049] Additionally, a single bending traction member (100) may be connected to the driving device (200). In this case, the driving device (200) may be provided in multiple units corresponding to the number of bending traction members (100) corresponding to each finger (five fingers), so that each finger may perform a bending movement individually.

[0050] Additionally, two or three bending traction members (100) may form a group, and the bending traction members (100) forming the group may each be connected to a corresponding driving device (200), and as the bending traction members (100) forming the group are pulled by the driving of the corresponding driving device (200), the bending movements of the fingers may be performed by group.

[0051] In addition, the above-described driving device (200) is equipped with a wristband (300), which secures the driving device (200) to the wrist. The wristband (300) has elasticity and extends in the circumferential direction of the wrist on the left and right sides of the driving device (200) relative to the driving device (200), and the left and right sides are connected to each other by Velcro.

[0052] Accordingly, the wristband (300) described above can vary the circumference diameter of the wristband (300) depending on the fastening position on the left or right side, so it can accommodate various wrist thicknesses.

[0053] The present invention has been described with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, but this is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent alternative embodiments are possible therefrom. Accordingly, the true technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0055] 100: Bending traction member 110: Fixing member 200: Drive unit 210: Electric motor 220: Control unit 230: Gearbox 240: Rolling Roll 300: Wristband

Claims

Claim 1 An external grip strength assist device mounted on the palm of a user to enable the fingers to curl and perform a fist-clenching motion, comprising: a plurality of bending traction members provided in close contact with the palm of the user and the inner side of each finger; and a driving device connected to one end of the bending traction members and pulling the bending traction members to cause the fingers to perform a bending motion. The external grip strength assist device comprises: a wristband provided on the driving device and securing the driving device to the user's wrist; and further comprises a plurality of fixing members provided on the palm and the inner side of each finger to which the bending traction member is in contact, thereby maintaining the state in which each of the bending traction members is in contact with the palm and each finger, wherein the fixing members are formed in a 'C' shape that is bent to the circumference of the palm and fingers so as to be provided between the finger joints and on the palmar side, and are fitted onto the palm and fingers, and the inner diameter can be varied by changing the degree of curvature of both the left and right ends so that the mounting position can be selectively varied according to the finger joint position, and further comprises a roller on the surface of the fixing member facing the palm and fingers that, when the bending traction member is pulled, changes the pulling direction applied to the bending traction member and induces bending of the finger with a relatively large force compared to the small force applied. Claim 2 An external grip strength assist device according to claim 1, wherein the bending traction member is made of a material that is harmless to the human body and has elasticity, such as rubber or silicone. Claim 3 In claim 2, the bending traction member is an external grip assist device having a width corresponding to the thickness of each finger. Claim 4 delete Claim 5 delete Claim 6 delete Claim 7 The external grip strength assist device according to claim 1, wherein the driving device comprises: an electric motor that selectively generates clockwise or counterclockwise rotational force; a control unit electrically connected to the electric motor and controlling the driving of the electric motor with a signal input from the outside; a gearbox mechanically connected to the rotation shaft of the electric motor and outputting the rotational force of the electric motor by reducing it; and a winding roll on which one end of the bending traction members, which are provided in close contact with the palm and the inner side of each finger, is wound around the circumference and which is connected to the gearbox by an axis and rotates with the rotational force transmitted through the gearbox to selectively pull or release the wound bending traction members. Claim 8 An external grip strength assist device according to claim 7, wherein the driving device is connected to a single bending traction member and is provided in a plurality corresponding to the number of bending traction members corresponding to each finger, so that each finger individually performs a bending movement. Claim 9 An external grip strength assist device according to claim 7, characterized in that a plurality of bending traction members form a set, and a plurality of driving devices are provided corresponding to the number of sets, thereby causing the fingers to bend in groups. Claim 10 An external grip strength assist device according to claim 1, wherein the wristband has a length in the circumferential direction of the wrist on the left and right sides of the driving device relative to the driving device, and the circumferential diameter of the wristband varies according to the binding position.

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