Assistance Apparatus Buffer Mechanism for Pinching Risk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assistance apparatuses face a trade-off between reducing size and weight, which can lead to an unexpected physical load on care receivers and compromised comfort, as increasing the size to avoid pinching risks contradicts the requirement for size and weight reduction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a buffer mechanism in the assistance apparatus that absorbs part of the driving force of the actuator, reducing the physical burden on care receivers during stand-up and seating operations, while maintaining a reduced size and weight design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the size of the assistance apparatus is reduced, then the weight and cost are reduced, but the gap between the human body support section and the traveling portion becomes small, creating a risk of pinching the care receiver's leg
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a cushioning member (pad) between the human body support section and the traveling portion. This cushioning element is installed in advance to prevent direct contact and potential pinching of the care receiver's leg, while still allowing the apparatus to maintain a compact size with reduced gap.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the size of the assistance apparatus is increased to increase the gap, then the pinching risk is eliminated, but the weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a cushioning member as a mediator between the human body support section and the traveling portion. This intermediary element provides safety protection against pinching without requiring an increased gap or larger apparatus dimensions, thus maintaining weight reduction while eliminating the harmful effect.
3Volume of moving object
If efforts are made to reduce size and weight, then the apparatus becomes more compact, but an unexpected physical load is imposed on the care receiver and comfortable use is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning member is installed beforehand to prevent direct force transmission from the support section to the care receiver's body. This beforehand cushioning ensures that even when the apparatus is compact with reduced size, the care receiver's comfort is maintained by absorbing and distributing physical loads during transfer operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The buffer mechanism ensures comfortable use by distributing the driving force, preventing excessive physical burden on care receivers and maintaining the apparatus's compact design, thereby enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a buffer mechanism installed in at least one member among a plurality of members from the base to the support arm section connected via the actuator or installed between the members connected to each other from the base to the support arm section via the actuator and configured to absorb at least a part of a driving force of the actuator
Data Source
AI summary
An assistance apparatus (1) includes: a base (2); a support arm section (3) that can support a part of the body of the care receiver and that is provided to the base and can perform motion with respect to the standing direction for causing the care receiver to stand or the seating direction for causing the care receiver to be seated; an actuator (5) that is connected to the base and the support arm section; and a buffer mechanism (7) that is disposed at one of members from the base to the support arm section coupled via the actuator or is disposed between members connected to each other and that absorbs at least a part of a drive force of the actuator when an external force in the standing direction is applied by drive of the actuator to the support arm section performing motion toward the seating direction.