Wearable Support Structure with Pivoting Chest Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable support structures restrict user movement, particularly in the upper body, when bending or leaning, and are counterproductive for lateral movements, causing discomfort and hindrance.
Innovation Solution
A wearable support structure with a chest support featuring two spatially separated pivoting means, allowing each stay to pivot in a plane parallel to the chest, combined with resilient stays that bias back to a stretched state, enabling greater freedom of movement, including lateral and twisting motions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wearable support structure uses a fixed rigid frame, then it provides stable support during bending over, but it restricts freedom of movement in other directions such as lateral movement and twisting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the fixed rigid frame with a dynamic structure featuring pivoting arrangements at the chest support and lumbar support. These pivoting mechanisms allow the frame to adapt its configuration based on the direction and type of movement, enabling stable support during bending while permitting freedom of movement in lateral and twisting directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is segmented into multiple independently movable components including the chest support, lumbar support, and resilient stays connected through pivoting arrangements. This segmentation allows each component to move independently in response to different body movements, providing both support stability when needed and freedom of movement when required.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the wearable support structure restricts movement to provide support during bending over, then it reduces back strain, but it causes discomfort and hindrance during lateral movements and other activities
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic pivoting arrangements allow the support structure to actively respond to the direction of applied forces. When the user bends over, the pivots configure to provide support and reduce back strain. When the user moves laterally or twists, the pivots allow smooth movement without resistance, maintaining comfort while preventing back strain only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient stays incorporate spring elements that change their mechanical properties based on the configuration of the pivoting arrangements. The stiffness and support force are dynamically adjusted according to the body's position and movement direction, providing firm support during bending while remaining compliant during lateral and twisting movements.
3Ease of operation
If the wearable support structure uses resilient stays biased to return to stretched state, then it facilitates bending over movement, but it may create unpleasant twisting sensations for the user
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting arrangements dynamically adjust the mechanical advantage and resistance provided by the resilient stays. During bending movements, the pivots are configured to allow smooth motion while the resilient stays provide appropriate resistance. During twisting movements, the pivots reconfigure to minimize resistance and prevent the resilient stays from creating unpleasant sensations, allowing the user to twist freely without discomfort.
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 design enhances user mobility by allowing unhindered lateral movement and reducing back strain during bending and twisting, providing relief and support in various directions without sliding or rotating uncomfortably against the body.
Implementation Method 1
the stays are resilient stays arranged such that they are in a stretched state corresponding with an upright position of said human body when being unloaded, and arranged to be biased back to said stretched state when being bent into a bent state
Data Source
AI summary
Wearable support structure assists in at least partly relieving a human body during leaning or bending over includes a frame. The frame has a chest support for bearing upon a chest of the human body, pivoting arrangements for pivoting the support structure in correspondence with the leaning or bending or the human body, and two elongated stays connected to the chest support. The stays extend substantially alongside opposite sides of the human body and connect to the pivoting arrangements. stays are resilient stays arranged such that they are in a stretched state corresponding with an upright position of the human body when being unloaded, and arranged to be biased back to the stretched state when being bent into a bent state corresponding with a leaning or bending position of the human body. The structure further includes a lumbar support and a thigh support.