Wearable Support Structure with Pivoting Resilient Stays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable support structures are uncomfortable during walking due to unwanted biasing forces caused by elongated resilient stays that are biased back to an upright position, restricting movement and causing discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A movement arrangement that maintains elongated resilient stays in a first state during upright positions, allowing them to pivot only when the body is leaning or bending, using a combination of pivot structures and omnidirectional couplings to accommodate out-of-phase movements and reduce biasing forces, ensuring comfort during walking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elongated resilient stays are used to provide support during leaning or bending, then support function is improved, but discomfort and restriction during walking occurs due to unwanted biasing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting arrangement allows the elongated resilient stay to dynamically change its orientation relative to the thigh support, enabling it to adapt between providing support during leaning/bending and avoiding biasing forces during upright walking. The pivot mechanism transforms the stay from a fixed biasing element to a dynamic component that only exerts force when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the elongated resilient stay by introducing a pivot joint, allowing the stay to change its angular position and effective length relative to the body. This parameter change enables the stay to provide support when bent (leaning position) while minimizing biasing force when aligned with the body (upright walking position).
2Stability of the object's composition
If elongated resilient stays are biased back to upright position, then posture correction is improved, but movement freedom is reduced during walking
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting arrangement creates a dynamic system where the elongated resilient stay can adjust its position based on body movement. During walking, the pivot allows the stay to move with the body without creating restrictive biasing forces, while during leaning or bending, the stay engages to provide posture correction, thus achieving both movement freedom and posture stability.
3Reliability
If chest support applies biasing force to maintain upright position, then posture support is improved, but comfort during walking deteriorates due to continuous pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting arrangement creates a periodic action where the elongated resilient stay only exerts biasing force when the body is in a leaning or bending position, and remains neutral during upright walking. This periodic engagement provides posture support when needed while avoiding continuous pressing that would cause discomfort during normal walking.
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 provides a wearable support structure that allows users to walk comfortably without significant biasing forces, as the elongated resilient stays remain in a neutral position during upright walking, reducing discomfort and hindrance.
Implementation Method 1
two elongated resilient stays, connected to said torso support, arranged to extend substantially alongside said human body and arranged for being in a first state when being unloaded, and arranged to be biased back to said first state when being into a second state corresponding with a leaning or bending position of said human body
Implementation Method 2
two pivoting arrangements, each connecting a respective elongated resilient stay of said two elongated resilient stays to a respective thigh support of said two thigh supports and allowing said respective elongated resilient stay and said respective thigh support to pivot about a main axis
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Wearable support structure (1, 101, 201, 301) for at least partly relieving a human body (3) during leaning or bending over, said wearable support structure (1, 101, 201, 301) comprising: - a torso support (5) arranged for bearing upon a chest and/or a back of said human body (3); - two elongated resilient stays (7), connected to said torso support (5), arranged to extend substantially alongside said human body (3) and arranged for being in a first state when being unloaded, and arranged to be biased back to said first state when being into a second state corresponding with a leaning or bending position of said human body (3); - a lumbar support (9) arranged for bearing upon a lumbar area of said human body (3); - two thigh supports (11), each arranged for bearing upon a respective thigh area of said human body (3); - two pivoting arrangements (13), each connecting a respective elongated resilient stay (7) of said two elongated resilient stays (7) to a respective thigh support (11) of said two thigh supports (11) and allowing said respective elongated resilient stay (7) and said respective thigh support (11) to pivot about a main axis (15), - a movement arrangement (17) arranged for maintaining said two elongated resilient stays (7) in said first state when said human body (3) is in said upright position.