Armpit Support Assist Device for Low Arm Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional assist devices struggle to effectively provide assist force to workers when their upper extremity is positioned relatively low, forming an angle less than a predetermined angle (e.g., 45 degrees) with the trunk.
Innovation Solution
The assist device includes a supporting portion capable of supporting the armpit of the worker, allowing for the generation of an assist force even when the upper extremity is positioned relatively low. This design avoids the need to follow the motion of the upper extremity, reducing the change in the supporting portion's direction and enabling effective force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the upper extremity is supported by the supporting portion, then the assist force can be provided to the worker, but it becomes difficult to provide assist force when the upper extremity is positioned relatively low (angle less than 45 degrees with the trunk)
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting portion is divided into two distinct components: an armpit supporting portion that supports the worker's armpit, and an upper extremity supporting portion that supports the upper extremity. This segmentation allows each portion to independently adapt to different positions, enabling the device to provide assist force effectively whether the upper extremity is positioned high or low.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a new dimension of support by introducing armpit support in addition to traditional upper extremity support. This dimensional addition creates a new support vector that remains effective regardless of upper extremity position, solving the limitation of position-dependent assist force provision.
2Ease of operation
If the supporting portion follows the motion of the upper extremity, then it can maintain contact with the worker, but the direction of the supporting portion changes frequently, reducing force transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the supporting portion into armpit support and upper extremity support components, the invention allows the upper extremity supporting portion to follow motion while the armpit supporting portion maintains a stable orientation. This segmentation enables contact maintenance without compromising force transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The armpit supporting portion acts as an intermediary that provides a stable reference point and force transmission path. While the upper extremity supporting portion moves with the worker's motion, the armpit support maintains a consistent orientation, serving as a mediator that preserves force transmission efficiency despite positional changes.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an assist device capable of suitably providing an assist force to a worker even when an upper extremity is positioned relatively low, an assist device capable of generating an assist force for a worker includes a supporting portion capable of supporting an armpit of the worker, wherein the supporting portion is arranged to be independent of a motion of an upper extremity of the worker, and wherein the supporting portion is a reaction force receiving portion against a load force of a grasped object by the worker.