Assisting Apparatus Underarm Support Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assisting apparatuses require care receivers to raise their shoulders and elbows high to use the underarm support members, making it difficult for them to board and necessitating significant caregiver assistance, especially for those needing intensive care.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a vertically movable elevator with a planar trunk support member and underarm support members that include an underarm insertion portion extending rearward from the trunk support member, allowing easy boarding in a sitting posture and safe transition to a standing posture by tilting forward, preventing falls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the underarm support members have a U shape opening upwardly with portions facing front and rear surfaces of the shoulder, then the underarm support members can support the underarms and shoulders, but the care receiver needs to raise shoulders and elbows high making it difficult to board
Solution Approach 1:
The underarm support member is designed to rotate about a rotation axis, changing its orientation from a boarding orientation (extending rearward) to a standing-posture orientation (extending upward and rearward). This dynamic adjustment allows the support member to adapt to different postures, making boarding easy while maintaining support reliability during standing transition
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation parameter of the underarm support member is changed by rotating it about the rotation axis. In the boarding position, the underarm insertion portion extends rearward at a lower angle, and when the trunk support member tilts forward, the underarm support member rotates to extend upward and rearward, matching the care receiver's posture transition
2Device complexity
If the underarm support members require high shoulder and elbow position, then the support structure can be simplified, but significant caregiver assistance is required especially for intensive care recipients
Solution Approach 1:
The underarm support member automatically adjusts its orientation through rotation about the rotation axis when the trunk support member tilts forward. This self-adjusting mechanism eliminates the need for caregivers to manually position the underarm support members, allowing intensive care recipients to board independently while maintaining proper support alignment
3Reliability
If the underarm insertion portion extends upward and rearward in standing posture, then the care receiver is supported from below and behind preventing falls, but the care receiver cannot easily insert underarms when boarding in sitting posture
Solution Approach 1:
The underarm support member dynamically changes its orientation angle relative to the trunk support member. When boarding, it extends rearward allowing easy underarm insertion; when the trunk support member tilts forward to assist standing, it rotates to extend upward and rearward, providing support from below and behind to prevent falls
Data Source
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AI summary
An assisting apparatus is provided that a care receiver can easily board. When the trunk support member (51) is in the boarding position with respect to the care receiver (M) in the sitting posture, the underarm insertion portion (522a) of the underarm support member (52) is extended from the trunk support member (51) toward the rear of the care receiver (M) so as to be in the boarding orientation. When the trunk support member (51) is tilted forward to shift the care receiver (M) to the standing posture, the underarm insertion portion (522a) is extended upward and rearward from the trunk support member (51) toward the care receiver (M) so as to be in the standing-posture orientation.