Wearable Support Structure with Multi-Pivot Leg Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable support structures for relieving the human body during walking with a load require accurate alignment with the user's hip, which can lead to misalignment and discomfort due to the limited mobility of the support structure, especially in the ankle region.
Innovation Solution
The wearable support structure incorporates a system of pivotally connected rigid members and pivot arrangements that allow for increased mobility and flexibility, eliminating the need for precise alignment with the user's hip. This design includes a first rigid member that moves between positions to vary the distance between pivot arrangements and the load support during a gait cycle, enhancing comfort and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the wearable support structure uses a fixed rigid structure, then it provides stable load support, but it requires accurate alignment with the user's hip and cannot adapt to natural body movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing fixed rigid connections with a system of pivot arrangements that enable dynamic movement. The leg structures include multiple pivot arrangements (first, second, third, and fourth pivot arrangements) that allow the structure to adapt to natural body movements during walking and bending, eliminating the need for precise initial alignment while maintaining load support stability
2Reliability
If the wearable support structure requires accurate alignment with the hip, then it can provide optimal support, but it reduces ease of use and increases complexity of adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through the self-adjusting pivot mechanism. The first rigid member automatically varies the minimum distance between the second pivot arrangement and the load support during the gait cycle, allowing the structure to adapt to the user's body movements without requiring manual adjustment or precise initial alignment, thereby maintaining support effectiveness while improving ease of use
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wearable support structure uses multiple pivot arrangements, then it increases mobility and reduces misalignment risk, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the leg structure into multiple rigid members (first, second, and third rigid members) connected by pivot arrangements. This segmentation allows each segment to move independently, providing the necessary mobility to adapt to body movements while distributing the complexity across manageable components rather than a single complex mechanism
Data Source
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AI summary
A wearable support structure (1) for at least partly relieving a human body (3) during walking and while said human body (3) is carrying a load at the back or the hip of said human body (3), said wearable support structure (1) comprising two foot attachments (5), a load support (7) and two leg structures (9), each of said two leg structures comprising: - a first rigid member (11) arranged for supporting said load support and pivotally connected, via a first pivot arrangement (13), to said load support, wherein a pivot axis (15) of a first pivot (17) of said first pivot arrangement, during use, is extending in a virtual plane that is parallel to a transverse plane of said human body and, preferably, at least substantially horizontal, preferably, wherein said first pivot arrangement is provided below said load support; - a second rigid member (19) arranged for supporting said load support, via said first rigid member, and pivotally connected, via a second pivot arrangement (21), to said first rigid member; - a third rigid member (23) arranged for supporting said load support via said first rigid member and said second rigid member, and pivotally connected, via a third pivot arrangement (25), to said second rigid member and pivotally connected, via a fourth pivot arrangement (27), to a respective one of said two foot attachments.