792 results about "Hand arm" patented technology

The invention relates to an arm exoskeleton comprising a moving system of joints placed in parallel with the joints of the human arm, the exoskeleton comprising a shoulder exoskeleton, an elbow exoskeleton, and a wrist exoskeleton. In all, the exoskeleton has sixteen joints providing sixteen degrees of freedom. A support worn on the torso of a human operator comprises a rigid front plate and a rigid back plate. The shoulder exoskeleton has its proximal end fixed to the front plate, whereby the front plate provides a fixed reference for all movements of the exoskeleton, and the wrist exoskeleton is fixed to a rigid glove worn on the hand of the operator. Active joints are controlled by flexible cable tendons bridging the exoskeleton, said tendons themselves being actuated by control units disposed on the rigid back plate. Inflatable cushions prevent the wrist exoskeleton and the shoulder exoskeleton from moving relative to the arm of the operator. The invention is applicable in particular to remotely controlling a robot in space.

The present invention relates to an exoskeleton interface apparatus that parallels human arm motion and is comprised of a serial assemblage of five powered linkages and joints based at a rigid support structure worn on the torso of the human subject. Such apparatus generates shoulder rotation using three orthogonal revolute joints mounted on serial linkages encompassing and intersecting at the anatomical glenohumeral joint. Elevation of the shoulder joint is articulated using a link member driven by a single revolute joint mounted in the torso structure. Passive adjustable linkages are used to match variation in anatomical forearm length, upper arm length, and scapula-to-glenohumeral radius. A plurality of integrated dc motor / harmonic drive transmission modules is co-located on adjoining linkages to power the joints. Force is exchanged with the human at the handgrip and elbow brace, and reacted to the torso structure via the base attachment. The present invention is applicable in particular to rehabilitation of the shoulder.

A sign language recognition apparatus and method is provided for translating hand gestures into speech or written text. The apparatus includes a number of sensors on the hand, arm and shoulder to measure dynamic and static gestures. The sensors are connected to a microprocessor to search a library of gestures and generate output signals that can then be used to produce a synthesized voice or written text. The apparatus includes sensors such as accelerometers on the fingers and thumb and two accelerometers on the back of the hand to detect motion and orientation of the hand. Sensors are also provided on the back of the hand or wrist to detect forearm rotation, an angle sensor to detect flexing of the elbow, two sensors on the upper arm to detect arm elevation and rotation, and a sensor on the upper arm to detect arm twist. The sensors transmit the data to the microprocessor to determine the shape, position and orientation of the hand relative to the body of the user.

Abstract of the Disclosure Exercise apparatus for exercising the upper body simultaneously with lower body exercise, comprising a lower body exercise machine and at least one upper body exercise module positioned for use in conjunction with the lower body exercise machine. The upper body exercise module comprises an elongated connector having first and second ends; a user engagement connected to the elongated connector first end for engaging or being engaged by a body appendage of a user; and a resistance mechanism for resisting a force applied to the first end of the elongated connector. Each upper body exercise module is adapted to provide resistance to a full, natural arm swing of at least one arm of the user. Various types of lower body exercise machines, resistance devices, user engagements, relationships between the upper body exercise module and the lower body exercise machine, and exercise methods using the apparatus are disclosed.

The present invention relates to an exoskeleton interface apparatus that parallels human arm motion and is comprised of a serial assemblage of five powered linkages and joints based at a rigid support structure worn on the torso of the human subject. Such apparatus generates shoulder rotation using three orthogonal revolute joints mounted on serial linkages encompassing and intersecting at the anatomical glenohumeral joint. Elevation of the shoulder joint is articulated using a link member driven by a single revolute joint mounted in the torso structure. Passive adjustable linkages are used to match variation in anatomical forearm length, upper arm length, and scapula-to-glenohumeral radius. A plurality of integrated dc motor / harmonic drive transmission modules is co-located on adjoining linkages to power the joints. Force is exchanged with the human at the handgrip and elbow brace, and reacted to the torso structure via the base attachment. The present invention is applicable in particular to rehabilitation of the shoulder.

An exercise apparatus comprising a lower body exercise machine, at least one upper body exercise module positioned for engagement by a user of the machine, each module adapted to provide resistance to the user's full natural arm swing. Each module comprises an elongated connector, a user engagement connected to one end of the elongated connector for engaging or being engaged by a body appendage of a user, and a resistance mechanism for resisting a tensile force applied to the end of the elongated connector. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for adjusting the incline of the user platform of the lower body exercise machine and / or a mechanism for adjusting an attached railing between a close position suitable for gripping by the user and a far position sufficiently distant from the close position to prevent interference with the full natural arm swing of the user.

The invention discloses a multi-freedom wearable robot for hand function recovery. The robot comprises mechanical arms and mechanical fingers; the mechanical fingers consist of a mechanical thumb, a forefinger, a middle finger, a ring finger and a little finger, wherein the forefinger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger have the same structure as that of the thumb; the mechanical forefinger mainly comprises air muscle, a finger end bracket, a first middle connecting piece, a finger front end bracket and a second middle connecting piece which are connected in turn through a connecting rod; the air muscle drives the second middle connecting piece to move through a rigid string so that the finger of a patient makes lituate and adduction exercises; the inside of each connecting piece is provided with a pressure spring; and inside walls of the two connecting pieces are distributed with rolling beads to reduce friction between the connecting rod and the connecting pieces. The invention also provides a control system and an integrated electricity stimulation system of the robot to assist a patient to rebuild muscle function. The robot provides an assisted exercise mechanism for the fingers, has multiple freedom degrees and dimension adjustable movement mechanism, and can effectively assist the patient to finish repeated training of composite exercise for fingers and complicated finger dividing exercise.

A body limb movement limiter restrains the movement of a person's arm so as to protect the person's shoulder or restrains the movement of a person's lower leg with respect to the upper leg so as to protect the person's knee. The device uses a housing having a reel disposed therein with a tether attached thereto and a shear thickening non-Newtonian fluid disposed within the housing so that the fluid acts on the reel during a payout procedure of the tether. The housing is attached to a strap secured about the torso of the person while the free end of the tether is secured about the person's arm. Alternately, a pair of arms are pivotally secured to each other within a housing having the non-Newtonian fluid therein for limiting movement of one arm with respect to the other.

A multi-functional exercise apparatus for exercising arms, shoulders and trunk of a user. This exercise apparatus may include a stationary bicycle support platform and includes an upper body assembly which is movably engaged to and extended about the bicycle's seat mount. An arm-shoulder device is movably engaged to the upper body assembly. By providing such exercise apparatus, a user can move the upper body assembly with respect to the bicycle's seat mount to exercise the user's trunk while moving the arm-shoulder device to exercise the arms and shoulders. The user can independently or simultaneously rotate the bicycle's foot pedals with the user's legs to exercise the same for a more complete workout.

The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates walking, jogging and climbing with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet. Elliptical cross trainers guide the feet along a generally elliptical shaped curve to simulate the motions of jogging and climbing. Existing elliptical cross trainers often use excessive pedal articulation which can overwork the ankle to achieve a longer stride. The present invention is an improved elliptical exercise machine capable of extended exercise with less pedal articulation that is more ankle friendly. One end of a foot support member has a pedal which follows elliptical motion while the other end is guided by a non-aligned drive link to drive an alternator and flywheel. The resulting pedal motion is foot friendly. Handles are coordinated with the foot support members for arm exercise. Adjustment is provided for the elliptical path.

The office gym exercise kit is a portable exercise kit that provides for a number of exercises to be performed by a user, including arm, leg and back exercises. The kit components are capable of attaching about a chair post and a chair back support to provide the exercises for the user. A flexible body is wrapped around the post and under the base of the chair then secured such that the flexible body remains in place around the chair post. A flexible band is wrapped around the chair back support. Both the flexible body and flexible band have retainers attached thereon. Several elastic straps are included in the kit. The elastic straps may be fastened to the flexible body and flexible band by latching onto the retainers. The user then exercises by extending the elastic straps with arms, legs or the like.

An exercise apparatus comprising a lower body exercise machine, at least one upper body exercise module positioned for engagement by a user of the machine, each module adapted to provide resistance to the user's full natural arm swing. Each module comprises an elongated connector, a user engagement connected to one end of the elongated connector for engaging or being engaged by a body appendage of a user, and a resistance mechanism for resisting a tensile force applied to the end of the elongated connector. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for adjusting the incline of the user platform of the lower body exercise machine and / or a mechanism for adjusting an attached railing between a close position suitable for gripping by the user and a far position sufficiently distant from the close position to prevent interference with the full natural arm swing of the user.

A chest press exercise machine has a self-aligning pivoting user support on a main frame and an exercise arm which is linked to the pivoting user support to translate movement of the exercise arm into movement of the user support. A user support pivot pivotally connects the user support to the main frame. A connecting link is movably associated with the user engagement device or exercise arm and at least one of the main frame, user support, or user support pivot. A user-activated positioning device controls positioning of the exercise arm in an exercise ready position at the start of an exercise. The user support pivot is positioned so that part of the combined weight of the user and user support is positioned on both sides of the gravitational centerline throughout the exercise movement and a portion of the combined weight passes through the centerline to redistribute the weight as the exercise arm is moved.

The rotatable push-up exercise device provides device for aiding a user in performing push-up type exercises. The device has a platform rotatably mounted on a base. The platform may selectively be held stationary or may be free to rotate when performing push-up exercises. The device includes a gripping bar mounted on the platform. The base is adapted to rest on a support surface, such as the floor. A pair of exercise devices are normally utilized together. In use the user grasps the gripping bar of each device with one hand and performs push-up exercises. Due to the rotation of the support surface with respect to the base, the user is forced to exercise the shoulders and other muscle groups in the user's body, in addition to the arm and chest muscles, in order to maintain a stable position.

An apparatus for training a runner a proper arm-swing technique includes a body harness, and first and second engagement members for engaging the wrists or hands of the user. In one embodiment, the engagement members are grips that the user grasps while running. The apparatus further includes first and second upper straps configured to attach to the body harness and to the wrist coverings. The apparatus also includes first and second lower straps configured to attach to the body harness and to the wrist coverings. The body harness may be configured as a vest or formed from a plurality of straps. The arm-swing apparatus may further include first and second back springs configured to attach to the body harness and to a belt configured to fit around the waist of the runner. A method of using the arm-swing training apparatus is also disclosed.

A chest press exercise machine has a self-aligning pivoting user support on a main frame and an exercise arm which is linked to the pivoting user support to translate movement of the exercise arm into movement of the user support. A user support pivot which may be a single pivot, floating pivot link, or four-bar pivot linkage arrangement pivotally connects the user support to the main frame. A connecting link is movably associated with the user engagement device or exercise arm and at least one of the main frame, user support, or user support pivot. The user support pivot is positioned so that part of the combined weight of the user and user support is positioned on both sides of the gravitational centerline throughout the exercise movement and a portion of the combined weight passes through the centerline to redistribute the weight as the exercise arm is moved.

An exercise machine for performing lat pull down exercises has a main frame having a user support pivot mount, a user support pivotally mounted on the user support pivot mount for supporting a user in a seated position, and an exercise arm having handles for gripping by a user movably mounted on the frame for movement between a start position located above the head of a user in a seated position on the user support and an end position lower than the start position and generally below the user's chin. A connecting linkage connects movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support. A load resists movement of at least one of the moving parts of the machine. The combined motion of the user support frame and exercise arm substantially replicates the natural movement of the human body when performing a free bar chin up exercise.

The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates walking, jogging and climbing with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet. Elliptical cross trainers guide the feet along a generally elliptical shaped curve to simulate the motions of jogging and climbing. Existing elliptical cross trainers often use excessive pedal articulation which can overwork the ankle to achieve a longer stride. The present invention is an improved elliptical exercise machine capable of extended exercise with less pedal articulation that is more ankle friendly. One end of a foot support member has a pedal which follows elliptical motion while the other end is guided by a drive link to drive an alternator and flywheel. The resulting pedal motion is foot friendly. Handles are coordinated with the foot support members for arm exercise. Both the stride length and orientation of the pedal ellipse are adjustable.

A chest press exercise machine has a self-aligning pivoting user support on a main frame and an exercise arm which is linked to the pivoting user support to translate movement of the exercise arm into movement of the user support. A user support pivot pivotally connects the user support to the main frame. A connecting link is movably associated with the user engagement device or exercise arm and at least one of the main frame, user support, or user support pivot. A user-activated positioning device controls positioning of the exercise arm in an exercise ready position at the start of an exercise. The user support pivot is positioned so that part of the combined weight of the user and user support is positioned on both sides of the gravitational centerline throughout the exercise movement and a portion of the combined weight passes through the centerline to redistribute the weight as the exercise arm is moved.

A multipurpose personal training device with a pair of press arms that can be set to numerous different lateral angles. Each press arm can be equipped with a functional trainer handle coupled by cable and pulleys to an adjustable weight engine. The final pulley at the end of each arm is free to rotate to any angle. In addition to exercises involving the arms, the device can supply a full complement of most standard training exercises.

This invention relates generally to a unique arm support device in which the shoulder straps are designed to evenly distribute the weight of the person's arm evenly across both shoulders and not put a side or forward stress on the wearer's neck. This device also allows a patient, such as a stroke victim who has the use of only one arm and hand, to put this sling on and remove it without assistance.

An orthotic device including a forearm support section configured to be releasably attached to a user's arm, a hand support section configured to be releasably attached to the user's hand, and an adjustable joint coupled to the forearm support section and the hand support section. At least one electromyography sensor is coupled to the forearm support section and positioned to sense activity of muscles in the user's arm, at least one electrode is coupled to the forearm support section and configured to provide electrical stimulation to muscles in the user's arm, and a controller is operatively coupled to the at least one electrode, the controller being configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the at least one electrode.

An aerobic exercise garment is in the form of a vest having a resistance member attached at the lower portion of the vest on each side of a midline extending from the front to the back of the vest. Each resistance member has a hand engagement member. In use the resistance members would crisscross each other and the user would place the user's hand in an open condition into each hand engagement member so that the user could swing the arms in a natural swing.

The forearm handle for the disabled is a device that allows a user to do many tasks with one arm that normally require two arms, such as raking, sweeping, or shoveling, while at the same time greatly reducing the stress placed on the wrist. The forearm handle is a frame that fits over either the right or left forearm of a user. The frame has two brackets extending along the sides of a user's forearm. At the elbow end of the frame the brackets are connected by a first pivoting U-shaped member. At the hand end of the frame the brackets are connected by a D-shaped handle having a grip and a socket. A second pivoting U-shaped member, an elastic strap, and a hook and loop fastener strap are further placed between the brackets to provide additional support. The socket on the D-shaped handle is adapted for the attachment of brooms, sporting accessories, a crutch, or the like.

A portable gym using gravitational forces of the present invention includes a gravity gym assembly and a belt harness. The gravity gym assembly includes a door anchor that is attachable to any doorway having a door, and an adjustable strap that leads to a pulley through which a cable passes. The cable is equipped with detachable handles on each end and may be advanced back and forth through the pulley when forces are applied to the handles. A series of exercises may be accomplished by varying body position, and exercises the entire body by using the person's body weight for resistance. In an alternative embodiment, the portable gym using gravitational forces may include attachment of the cable ends to the belt harness worn around the waist of the athlete and provides for the stabilization and application of resistance on the body while exercising. Exercises that are primarily performed in the gym, including, strengthening shoulder, arm, chest, back, leg, and abdominal core muscle groups, and performing cardiovascular and plyometric movements, can be performed virtually anywhere using the portable gym using gravitational forces of the present invention.

A portable exercise device having a base member and a plurality of handle grips. At least two of the handle grips are adjustable on the base member. The handle grips permit a user to exercise the chest muscles, shoulders, back, arms, and triceps of the user. The base preferably has a non-slip bottom creating a unit that will not tip over or slip.