Magnetic Sliding Pad Alignment for Low-Friction Motion Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an assisting device that reduces noise and friction when used by individuals with joint problems, improving wearability and usability, particularly for those with femoral region discomfort during movement.
Innovation Solution
A sliding device utilizing a magnetic force to align a slider pad with the femoral region, incorporating a base frame, slider pad with a core body and main housing, and mounting member, which includes rollers and sliding rails to minimize friction and noise, and a motion assisting device with an auxiliary arm, actuator, and main belt for user support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a slider pad is used to touch and move along the femoral region, then the device can assist movement, but it causes noise and friction during alignment and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical sliding contact system with a magnetic field-based alignment system. Fixed magnets are embedded in the slider pad while pairing magnets are embedded in the femoral belt, creating magnetic attraction forces that guide alignment without physical friction. This substitution eliminates the harmful friction and noise while maintaining the movement assistance function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the slider pad and the femoral belt. Instead of direct mechanical contact causing friction, the magnetic fields act as a mediator to achieve alignment and positioning. The magnetic attraction forces guide the slider pad into proper alignment with the femoral region without the harmful effects of direct frictional contact.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the slider pad is allowed to move freely to align with the femoral region, then positioning flexibility is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a magnetic feedback mechanism where the interaction between fixed magnets in the slider pad and pairing magnets in the femoral belt creates attractive forces that guide the slider pad toward precise alignment. As the slider pad approaches the correct position, the magnetic attraction increases, providing natural feedback that pulls the components into precise alignment while maintaining positioning flexibility throughout the movement range.
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 solution effectively reduces noise and friction during alignment, enhancing user experience and comfort by utilizing magnetic forces for precise alignment and distributing pressure through rollers and sliding rails, thus improving the usability of the device.
Implementation Method 1
the slider pad may include a core body providing a fixed magnet and connected, directly or indirectly, and fixed to the mounting member and a main housing providing a pairing magnet to be attracted by the fixed magnet
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable motion assisting device (e.g., exercise assisting device) may include an auxiliary arm, which is wearable around a femoral region of a user, including a sliding device including a base frame, a slider pad of which at least a portion of is configured to slide in a predetermined direction with respect to the base frame and return to a predetermined position with respect to the base frame via a magnetic force, and a mounting member configured to connect the base frame and the slider pad, an actuator connected to the auxiliary arm and configured to control the auxiliary arm to be driven, a main belt configured to enclose a waist of the user, and a main frame connected to the main belt and provided with the actuator mounted/supported thereon.