External Brace Apparatus for Semi-Standing Posture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exoskeleton technologies fail to provide effective, portable, and affordable support for the upper, middle, and lower back without compressive loading on the user's skeletal structure, often exacerbating back injuries due to their design, which either transfers load to the back or lacks independent stiffness to carry weight.
Innovation Solution
A portable external structural brace apparatus with adjustable stiffness, comprising first and second support extension beams, a channel, and a saddle seat, designed to attach to a surface, providing semi-standing support that relieves shoulder, armpit, hand, foot, and wrist loads without compressive loading on the user's back.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If existing exoskeleton technologies are used to provide back support, then structural support is offered, but compressive loading is applied on the user's skeletal structure exacerbating back injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The exoskeleton uses spring elements positioned at the rear of the backrest that extend when the user leans forward, generating a counteracting force through the seat pan to push the user back to upright position. This counterweight mechanism provides support without applying compressive load to the user's back, instead using the seat structure to deliver the corrective force.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring elements act as intermediary components between the user's leaning action and the corrective force. Rather than directly pushing against the user's back, the springs store energy during forward lean and release it through the seat pan, mediating the support force to avoid direct compressive loading on the skeletal structure.
2Force
If existing exoskeleton technologies transfer load to the back, then support is provided, but back injuries are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates counteracting force through springs positioned at the rear of the backrest, which extend during forward leaning and push the user back to upright through the seat pan. This transfers load away from the back to the seat structure, preventing injury exacerbation while maintaining support function.
3Weight of moving object
If existing exoskeleton technologies lack independent stiffness, then portability is improved, but weight carrying capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The exoskeleton employs spring elements with adjustable stiffness characteristics that can be configured to provide appropriate support for different weight carrying requirements. The springs undergo controlled deformation within specific ranges to deliver force, allowing the device to maintain portability while adapting its weight carrying capability through parameter adjustment rather than requiring heavy rigid structures.
Data Source
AI summary
An external structural brace apparatus for supporting a user in a semi standing position on a surface includes first and second support extension beams that to attach to the surface, also included is a channel having a base with first and second legs, wherein the first and second legs extend in the same direction from opposing sides of the base, the first leg is affixed to the first support structure and the second leg is affixed to the second support structure, the channel can be lockably positioned along the first and second beams. In addition, a saddle seat with a midpoint extension portion, the saddle is attached between the first and second legs and positioned such that the midpoint extension extends opposite of the base, wherein operationally the user partially rests their buttocks on the saddle and leans their back against the base to assume a semi supported standing posture.