摘要:
In order to provide a walking assistance device that can avoid hampering the motion of the muscles of the user and will not move out of place inadvertently when worn by the user, principal engagement points of a support member for securely mounting an assisting force generator, which is disposed on a side of at least one joint of a lower limb to provide an assisting force to a movement of the lower limb, are provided at portions where a relatively small amount of movement of skin occurs when a trunk or joint is moved. In this way, the support member can be fastened firmly to the portions where an amount of movement of the skin is small and therefore it is possible to reduce the uncomfortable pressure caused during motion while preventing the support member from inadvertently moving out of place.
摘要:
In order to provide a walking assistance device that can avoid hampering the motion of the muscles of the user and will not move out of place inadvertently when worn by the user, principal engagement points of a support member (hip support member 1 and/or lower leg support member 2) for securely mounting an assisting force generator (hip joint actuator 10 and/or knee joint actuator 26), which is disposed on a side of at least one joint of a lower limb to provide an assisting force to a movement of the lower limb, are provided at portions where a relatively small amount of movement of skin occurs when a trunk or joint is moved. In this way, the support member can be fastened firmly to the portions where an amount of movement of the skin is small, i.e., portions where the circumferential length change due to expansion/contraction of the muscles is small, and therefore it is possible to reduce the uncomfortable pressure caused during motion while preventing the support member from inadvertently moving out of place.
摘要:
There is provided a walking assistance device equipped with an assisting force generator disposed on a side of each of a hip joint and a knee joint, comprising: a hip support member (1) having an attachment means (hip drive source mount 9) capable of repeatedly attaching and detaching a hip joint assisting force generator (hip joint actuator 10); a lower leg support member (2) having an attachment means (knee drive source mount 27) capable of repeatedly attaching and detaching a knee joint assisting force generator (knee joint actuator 26); and a drive unit (3) formed by integrally joining the hip joint assisting force generator and the knee joint assisting force generator via a link bar (25), wherein after the hip support member and the lower leg support member are fitted on a user's body, the assisting force generators of the drive unit are connected to the corresponding attachment means.
摘要:
In order to provide a walking assistance device capable of favorably providing an assisting force for maintaining the upright posture while reducing the sense of pressure when worn by the user, a hip support member (1) of the walking assisting device, which comprises an assisting force generator (hip joint actuator 10) disposed at least on a side of a hip joint to provide an assisting force to a movement of a lower limb, is provided with: a back support (4) equipped with pads (18, 19, 20) for respectively abutting an intermediate portion between right and left erector spinae muscles, lateral outer sides of the spinae muscles and right and left iliac crests; and a belt (5) connected to the back support for tightening a lower part of the rectus abdominis muscle. In this way, a supporting force can be provided to the lumbar vertebrae to steadily keep the upright posture while reducing a resistance to a bending movement of the waist caused by the support member. Further, the drive torque from the assisting force generator can be supported by the whole hip portion and this can contribute to preventing inadvertent move of the support member.
摘要:
In order to provide a walking assistance device capable of favorably providing an assisting force for maintaining the upright posture while reducing the sense of pressure when worn by the user, a hip support member (1) of the walking assisting device, which comprises an assisting force generator (hip joint actuator 10) disposed at least on a side of a hip joint to provide an assisting force to a movement of a lower limb, is provided with: a back support (4) equipped with pads (18, 19, 20) for respectively abutting an intermediate portion between right and left erector spinae muscles, lateral outer sides of the spinae muscles and right and left iliac crests; and a belt (5) connected to the back support for tightening a lower part of the rectus abdominis muscle. In this way, a supporting force can be provided to the lumbar vertebrae to steadily keep the upright posture while reducing a resistance to a bending movement of the waist caused by the support member. Further, the drive torque from the assisting force generator can be supported by the whole hip portion and this can contribute to preventing inadvertent move of the support member.
摘要:
There is provided a walking assistance device equipped with an assisting force generator disposed on a side of each of a hip joint and a knee joint, comprising: a hip support member (1) having an attachment means (hip drive source mount 9) capable of repeatedly attaching and detaching a hip joint assisting force generator (hip joint actuator 10); a lower leg support member (2) having an attachment means (knee drive source mount 27) capable of repeatedly attaching and detaching a knee joint assisting force generator (knee joint actuator 26); and a drive unit (3) formed by integrally joining the hip joint assisting force generator and the knee joint assisting force generator via a link bar (25), wherein after the hip support member and the lower leg support member are fitted on a user's body, the assisting force generators of the drive unit are connected to the corresponding attachment means.
摘要:
In a wheel for use in an omni-directional vehicle, gravel and other foreign matters are prevented from being trapped between free rollers forming the wheel, and traveling vibrations and noises are minimized at the same time. The wheel includes an annular member and a plurality of free rollers each rotatably supported by the annular member around a corresponding tangential line of the annular member, and a gap member is placed between each adjacent pair of the free rollers to fill a gap defined between the free rollers.
摘要:
In a walking assistance device (10) including a main frame (22) supporting a power generator (26, 28) and worn on a pelvic part of a user, the main frame is provided with an opening (23) in a middle part thereof, and an electronic unit (25) is received in the opening. As the electronic unit is placed in the middle part of the main frame which is relatively free from deformation, the electronic unit is protected from deformation or stress that could impair the reliability of the electronic unit. To achieve both an easy access to the electronic unit, and an attractive appearance, the opening may be provided with a lid (24) that selectively closes the opening from a side adjacent to the user, and the lid may be formed as a back support member for supporting a back part of the user. As the lid serves the dual purposes, the weight and cost of the device can be minimized. For the convenience of the handling of the lid, the lid may be supported by the main frame via a hinge (121) provided adjacent to an upper or lower part of the opening.
摘要:
In a walking assistance device for providing a walking assistance force to a femoral part of a user, the walking assistance force generated by a power generator is effectively transmitted to the femoral part of the user while avoiding the user from experiencing any undue pressure or discomfort. The walking assistance device comprises a rigid femoral support frame (30L, 30R) having a base end (31) connected to an output end of an electric motor unit (14L, 14R) and a free end (32) extending from the base end to a position opposite to a front part of the femoral part of the user, and a flexible belt (50L, 50R) attached to the free end of the femoral support frame to be releasably worn around a circumference of the femoral part of the user at a height corresponding to the free end of the femoral support frame.
摘要:
In an inverted pendulum type vehicle configured to travel on a ground surface while maintaining an upright posture under an inverted pendulum control, comprising a base frame supporting a propulsion unit, the propulsion unit including a main wheel configured to roll on the ground surface, and a seat unit provided on the base frame for supporting hips of a rider, the seat unit includes a saddle having at least a center located ahead of an axial line extending between a rotational center line of the main wheel and a gravitational center of the inverted pendulum type vehicle. Thereby, even when there is an obstacle on the ground surface behind the vehicle, the main wheel rolling on the ground surface is prevented from coming into contact with the obstacle, and the boarding of the rider on the vehicle is facilitated.