Single-Motor Foot Stretching Device with Coupling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foot stretching devices require separate motors for each joint, increasing component count and manufacturing costs, and lack disease diagnosis functionality.
Innovation Solution
A foot stretching and diagnosis device using a single motor with a coupling mechanism to simultaneously stretch two joints and incorporate sensors to measure joint stiffness for disease diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate motors are used for each joint, then each joint can be stretched independently, but the number of components and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple stretching functions into a single motor system. The motor unit is connected to both the lower footrest (for ankle joint) and upper footrest (for metatarsal joint) through a shared transmission mechanism, allowing one motor to drive both joints simultaneously or independently, thereby reducing component count while maintaining stretching functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The single motor unit is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling different footrests. The motor can independently control the lower footrest for ankle stretching and the upper footrest for metatarsal stretching, or both simultaneously, making the motor a multi-functional component that replaces what would traditionally require separate motors
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional stretching devices are used, then joint stretching is achieved, but disease diagnosis functionality is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The foot stretching device is enhanced with multiple sensors that enable it to perform both stretching and diagnostic functions. The sensor unit detects foot posture, pressure distribution, and movement characteristics during stretching, allowing the device to diagnose foot diseases while maintaining its primary stretching function
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates sensors that provide real-time feedback during the stretching process. These sensors monitor foot position, applied force, and joint movement, enabling the system to not only stretch the foot but also analyze the data for disease diagnosis, creating a closed-loop system that combines therapy and diagnostics
Data Source
AI summary
A foot stretching/checkup device includes: a motor unit; a footrest unit including a lower footrest configured to be rotated about a first rotation axis, an upper footrest configured to be rotated about a second rotation axis and a connecting member connecting the upper footrest and the lower footrest; and a coupling unit including an arm portion rotated by the motor unit and a rotary coupler coupled to the upper footrest. The upper footrest is configured to be rotated by a predetermined angle about the second rotation axis by the rotation of the arm portion. The lower footrest is configured not to be rotated about the first rotation axis by rotation of the arm portion until the upper footrest is rotated by the predetermined angle.