阅读说明：本技术 用于支持用户的至少一个手臂的装置 (Device for supporting at least one arm of a user ) 是由 O·克罗尔-奥里瓦尔 A·哈尔特 于 2019-07-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于支持用户的至少一个手臂的装置,其中,所述装置具有：a.至少一个手臂支撑元件,所述手臂支撑元件分别具有用于安置在相应的手臂上的手臂护套；b.至少一个被动的执行器,i.所述执行器设置用于将力施加给所述手臂支撑元件的至少一个手臂支撑元件；和c.用于要施加的力的至少一个支架,i.所述支架具有至少一个力传递元件和支架元件；其中,所述装置具有至少一个力作用杠杆,所述力作用杠杆与所述手臂支撑元件中的一个手臂支撑元件或力传递元件无相对转动地连接并且与该手臂支撑元件或所述力传递元件围成一角度并且作用于至少一个被动的执行器,其中,所述角度能够被调节。(The invention relates to a device for supporting at least one arm of a user, wherein the device comprises: a. at least one arm support element, each having an arm cuff for placement on a respective arm; b. at least one passive actuator, i.e. the actuator is provided for applying a force to at least one of the arm support elements; at least one holder for a force to be applied, i. the holder having at least one force transmission element and a holder element; the device has at least one force application lever which is connected to one of the arm support elements or a force transmission element in a rotationally fixed manner and encloses an angle with the arm support element or the force transmission element and acts on at least one passive actuator, wherein the angle can be adjusted.)

1. An apparatus for supporting at least one arm of a user, wherein the apparatus has:

a. at least one arm support element (2, 4) having an arm protector (6) for placing on the respective arm;

b. at least one passive actuator (14),

i. the actuator is provided for applying a force to at least one of the arm support elements (2, 4); and

c. at least one support (8) for the force to be applied,

i. the support comprises at least one force transmission element (10) and a support element (8);

wherein the device comprises at least one force application lever (18) which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to one of the arm support elements (2, 4) or the force transmission element (10) and encloses an angle with said arm support element or said force transmission element, and wherein the at least one passive actuator (14) acts on the force application lever, characterized in that the angle can be adjusted.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the force application lever (18) can be brought into a first state, in which it can be pivoted relative to the arm support element (2, 4) and the force transmission element (10), and a second state, in which it is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the arm support element (2, 4) or the force transmission element (10).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has two arm support elements (2, 4) each having an arm protector (6) for resting on a respective arm of a user.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the force transmission element (10) and/or the arm support element (2, 4) has two members (30, 32) which are connected by a swing joint (28) so that the angle between the members (30, 32) can be adjusted.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the swing joint (26) can be released and fixed.

6. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator (14) acts on the force action lever (18) at a force action point, the force action point (20) being movable.

7. The device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the first component (30) and/or the second component (32) are configured to change in length, in particular telescopic rods.

8. The device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the first member (30) and/or the second member (32) are connected with the articulation so that the respective member (30, 32) can move about its longitudinal axis relative to the articulation.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the force transmission element (10) is arranged rotatably and/or swingably on the carrier element (12).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for supporting at least one arm of a user, wherein the device comprises: at least one arm support element, each having an arm cuff for placement on a respective arm; at least one passive actuator configured to apply a force to at least one of the arm support elements; and at least one carrier for the force to be applied, which carrier has at least one force transmission element and carrier elements, wherein the device has at least one force application lever, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to one of the arm support elements or the force transmission element and encloses an angle, on which force application lever at least one passive actuator acts.

Background

Such a device is known, for example, from the unpublished DE 102017112436.

Devices capable of supporting the arm are known from different documents. The device described in US 2016/0081871 a1 has, for example, a support element which is constructed in the form of a belt which surrounds the torso of the user. Two struts extending along the back to the shoulders are located on the carrier element, which struts are connected by corresponding joints above and adjacent to the sides of the user's shoulders, so that the arm can be lifted. This relates to a force transmission element. Spring elements are arranged on the respective joints, by means of which upwardly directed forces can be applied to the arm protector, so that the arm can be supported, for example, when lifting a heavy object or when working above the head. If the arm should be lowered, a pressure must be applied to the arm casing by the arm, which is greater than the force applied by the spring element, to lower the arm.

A similar device is known from WO 2014/0093804 a1 and US 9,427,865B 2, in which a spring, in particular a tension spring, is provided as a mechanical energy store, which serves as a passive actuator, and is connected to a bowden cable. The bowden cable is guided by the guide wheel so that when the arm swings, which means that the arm support element moves relative to the carrier element, the spring is stretched and the mechanical energy accumulator is charged with energy.

An active device is known from EP 3156193 a1, which supports the arm during overhead operation. The arm wraps are connected to each other by a plurality of different joints and connecting frame elements. As much movement as possible of the shoulder joint should thereby also be possible with the device installed. However, these devices are extremely complex and expensive due to the large number of components. Other support devices for supporting, in particular when lifting weights or when working above the head, are known from WO 2014/195373 a1 and US 2016/339583 a 1.

In the case of all the devices mentioned, it is disadvantageous that the force profile is determined by the design of the respective device, although the force that can be applied to the arm support element by the at least one passive actuator is optionally dependent on the angle between the arm support element and the force transmission element and the magnitude of said force can be adjusted if necessary.

This is disadvantageous, for example, when the device is intended to be used by two users of different heights one after the other. A user with a low height must raise his arm completely above his head in order to work on a certain workpiece, whereas a user with a high height must only partially raise his arm. Furthermore, the arrangements from the prior art are disadvantageous when a single user should perform different actions at different heights or the user of the device is different in his or her degree of robustness, so that the user requires support of different strengths. The object of the invention is therefore to eliminate or at least reduce the disadvantages mentioned.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is achieved by a device for supporting at least one arm of a user according to the preamble of claim 1, whereby the device is characterized in that the angle between the force application lever and the arm support element or between the force application lever and the force transmission element can be adjusted.

A force can be applied to the arm support element by means of at least one passive actuator, wherein the force acts on the force application lever. In the first configuration, the force application lever is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to one of the arm support elements to which the force that can be applied by the actuator is to be applied. In this case, the actuator, one end of which is arranged, for example, on the support, may be, for example, a spring or an elastic element. The other end acts on the force application lever. Advantageously, the arm support element is arranged pivotably on the force transmission element. Since, in the first configuration, the force transmission lever is arranged on the arm element in a rotationally fixed manner, the force transmission lever is also pivotably fastened to the force transmission element. Thus, a torque and thus a supporting force are applied to the arm support element by the force acting on the force transmission lever by the passive actuator. The torque is at a maximum when the force transmission lever is perpendicular to the direction of the force.

If the user of such a device lifts his arm, the arm support element and thus the force application lever connected thereto in a rotationally fixed manner also pivots about the force transmission element. The angle between the force application lever and the force transmission element changes. The angle between the force application lever and the direction of application of the force that can be applied by the at least one passive actuator is also simultaneously changed. In a defined position of the arm, the force action lever is perpendicular to the direction of the force action. The torque applied by the actuator to the force application lever and thus to the arm support element is then at a maximum, and thus the supporting force for the arm and the arm support element is at a maximum.

According to the invention, the angle between the arm support element and the force application lever can be adjusted. The angle can thus be varied and can be fixed at least in two stages, preferably in multiple stages, in particular preferably in a stepless manner, so that a rotationally fixed connection between the force application lever and the arm support element is achieved. By adjusting the angle, the position of the arm of the user can be changed, in which the force application lever is perpendicular to the force that can be applied by the at least one actuator.

In a further embodiment, the force application lever is fixed to the force transmission element in a rotationally fixed manner. In this case too, the actuator can be, for example, a spring or an elastic element, but one end of the actuator is not arranged on the force transmission element or on the carrier, but is connected to the arm support element. The other end of the actuator is connected to the force application lever. In this case too, a torque can be applied to the force application lever by means of at least one passive actuator, so that a supporting force can be applied to the arm support element. In this case too, it is advantageous if the arm support element is arranged so as to be rotatable on the force transmission element.

In this configuration too, the torque generated by the at least one passive actuator and thus the force which can be applied to the arm support element is at a maximum when the angle between the force application lever and the force which can be applied by the actuator is 90 °. If the angle between the force application lever and the force transmission element can be adjusted in this case, it is also possible in this configuration to change the position in which the torque and thus the supporting force are at a maximum.

If reference is made in this document to the direction of the force application lever or to the angle between the component and the force application lever, this direction is always understood to be the direction from the force application point, i.e. the point at which the force that can be applied by the actuator acts on the force application lever, to the rotation point about which the arm support element can be pivoted relative to the force transmission element.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the force application lever can be in a first state, in which it can be pivoted relative to the arm support element and the force transmission element, and in a second state, in which it is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the arm support element or the force transmission element. During the first state of the force application lever, the angle between the force application lever and the arm support element or the angle between the force application lever and the force transmission element can be adjusted. The angle can be changed by pivoting the force application lever. If the desired angle is set, the force application lever is switched into the second state, so that it can no longer be pivoted relative to the arm support element and the force transmission element.

Preferably, the device has two arm support elements each having an arm socket for placement on a respective arm of a user.

In a preferred embodiment, the force transmission element and/or the arm support element has two components which are connected to one another by a pivot joint, so that the angle between the two components can be adjusted. Advantageously, the pendulum joint can be loosened and fixed. The direction of the force transmission element can be changed by the described configuration of the pivot joint. The orientation of the force transmission element, which is the direction between the rotation point about which the arm support element can be pivoted relative to the force transmission element and the bearing point at which the force transmission element is arranged on the carrier element, is used, for example, to determine the angle between the force transmission element and the force application lever.

In a preferred configuration, the support element of the support is, for example, a hip belt, which is worn around the hip or abdomen by the user of the device. The force transmission element is, for example, a lever made up of one or more components, wherein one or more pivot joints can be arranged between several components of the lever, by means of which the angle between the individual components can be adjusted, but can also be fixed. The force transmission element is fixed with one end on the carrier element. The arm support element, which may be, for example, a spacer element in the form of a rod, which is, for example, of telescopic or non-telescopic design, is arranged at the other end so as to be pivotable about a pivot joint. All directions for determining the angle that can be adjusted according to the invention are directed in the direction of the respective rotation point of the pivot joint. If the force application lever is connected to the arm support element in a rotationally fixed manner, an angle is formed between, on the one hand, the direction between the force application point on the force application lever and the pivot point of the pivot joint and, on the other hand, the direction of the force transmission element, which is formed by the connecting line between, on the one hand, the pivot point of the pivot joint and, on the other hand, the bearing point at which the force transmission element is positioned on the support.

However, if the force application lever is connected to the force transmission element in a rotationally fixed manner, the angle is determined between, on the one hand, the direction of the force application lever, i.e. the direction between the force application point and the pivot point of the pivot joint, and the direction of the arm support element, i.e. the direction between the arm socket of the arm that can be inserted into the arm and the pivot point of the pivot joint between the arm support element and the force transmission element.

Preferably, the force transmission element has at least one first and one second component, which are connected to one another by a joint. Particularly advantageously, the first component and/or the second component are rods or bars which are connected to one another by means of a hinge or a pivot joint having a single pivot axis. The pressure can advantageously be transmitted by means of force transmission elements, i.e. parts of the carrier. The arm support element should be supported by a force acting from below. The force transmission element should transmit a corresponding reaction force into the carrier element, so that a pressure force must be transmittable. If this is ensured, an optimal configuration of the force transmission element as a function of the movement and/or position of the user is achieved by the two components of the force transmission element being arranged hingedly on one another. The two components of the force transmission element can be newly oriented relative to each other in such a way that one of the components is pivoted about a pivot joint relative to the other of the components. Thereby, the spacing between the carrier element and the support element can be varied and adapted to the respective position and/or movement of the user.

Particularly preferably, the first component and/or the second component can be configured with a variable length. The component, the length of which can be varied accordingly, can be designed as a telescopic rod. The device can be adapted particularly easily to users of different heights in this way in that the overall length of the force transmission element can also be adjusted by the scalability or length variability of at least one of the components. In particular, the first length-adjustable component and/or the second length-adjustable component can be varied in their length at different positions, preferably steplessly, but can also be locked so that the desired length can be set in a single operation and can then no longer be varied without releasing the respective fixing mechanism.

Advantageously, the joint is a swing joint having a swing axis.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first component and/or the second component is connected to the joint in such a way that the respective component can be moved about its longitudinal axis relative to the joint. Advantageously, the arm support element is located on an upper end of one of the two members facing away from the carrier element. The arm support element and in particular the spacer element of the arm support element are advantageously arranged pivotably on the respective component of the force transmission element. If the component on which the arm support element is located is configured to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the component relative to the joint between the first and second components, the arm support element may also be configured to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the respective component. This allows a continuous movement, so that the position of the arm support element and in particular the extension and, if appropriate, the shape of the respective force transmission element can be adapted to the position and/or movement of the user of the device.

Advantageously, the force transmission element is arranged on the carrier element so as to be rotatable and/or pivotable. For this purpose, the force transmission element can be fastened to the carrier element, for example by means of a hinge, a ball and socket joint or other joint, or can be inserted or plugged into a pocket or a holding device provided for this purpose on the carrier element, for example with one end of the force transmission element. In a particularly preferred embodiment, one of the components of the force transmission element is thus arranged on the carrier element so as to be rotatable and/or pivotable, and the respective component is arranged so as to be rotatable about its own longitudinal axis relative to a joint via which it is connected to the respective other component of the force transmission element. Particularly preferably, the further component is also secured in rotation about its own longitudinal axis on the joint between the two components. The components of the force transmission element can thereby be moved over the entire surface relative to one another, relative to the carrier element and preferably also relative to the arm support element. The arm support element has an arm splint into which the arm is placed. The multi-sided positionable and pivotable design of the force transmission element allows the arm brace to be placed in a plurality of different positions, so that not only the actual movement of the shoulder joint, i.e., the ball joint, but also other movements that lead to the entire shoulder movement can be realized.

Preferably, the support element is an abutment element for resting on the torso of the user. The contact element can be a belt, a bandage or a sheathing element and can advantageously be integrated into an item of clothing, for example a pair of trousers or a waistcoat. Alternatively or in addition, the carrier element has a shoulder element for resting on the shoulder of the user.

The force transmission element preferably has a plurality of preferably planar sub-elements which are configured to be movable relative to one another. The subelements are preferably curved and particularly preferably have at least partially the same radius of curvature. The partial elements may be embodied, for example, in the form of circular arcs. The subelement has a first direction of extension which is greater than a second direction of extension perpendicular to its extension. The sub-elements are configured to be movable relative to each other along said first extension direction, so that the length and the total bending angle of the force transmitting element can be adjusted by moving at least two sub-elements. If the force transmission element is formed from more than two, for example three, four or five partial elements, which are each arranged in pairs so as to be movable on one another, the total bending angle of the force transmission element can be adjusted at least partially, but preferably completely, independently of the length of the force transmission element. It is advantageous for the moving partial elements to have the same bending radius in the regions which are arranged on one another and can be moved relative to one another, but in addition to have different bending radii.

The subelement is preferably composed of metal, for example steel or plastic or fiber-reinforced plastic, in particular carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.

Drawings

Some embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with the aid of the figures. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention,

figure 2 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the invention,

figure 3 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment,

figure 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention in the mounted state,

figure 5 shows a further schematic view of an embodiment,

figure 6 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the invention,

figure 7 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7, an

Fig. 9 and 10 show a schematic representation of a force transmission element composed of three subelements.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a device for supporting an arm of a user, having an arm support element 2 with a distance element 4 and an arm sleeve 6, and a carrier 8, which in the exemplary embodiment shown has a force transmission element 10 and a carrier element 12. The device also has a passive actuator 14 in the form of a resilient element.

The arm support element 2 is pivotably fastened to the force transmission element 10 of the support 8 about a pivot axis 16, which can also be referred to as a pivot axis. Furthermore, a force application lever 18 is arranged on the arm support element 2 in a rotationally fixed manner, on which a force application point 20 is located, on which a force application point can be applied by the passive actuator 14.

The force application lever 18 can be in two states. In the illustrated embodiment, the force application lever is in the first state in that it is arranged on the arm support element 2 and in particular on the distance element 4 in a rotationally fixed manner. The force application lever can however be in the second state in that it is pivotably arranged relative to the spacer element 4 of the arm support element 2. In this way the angle between the force application lever 18 and the arm support element 2 can be adjusted. The angle is formed here between two directions. One direction is the direction of the force application lever 18, which is the direction between the force application point 20 and the pivot axis 16. The second direction required for determining the angle is the direction of the arm support member 2. This direction is the direction between the arm socket 6, into which the arm is placed, and the swing axis 16.

The force transmission element 10 is positioned with the lower end 22, which in the illustrated embodiment forms a bearing point, in a pocket 24, which is arranged in the carrier element 12. The lower end of the passive actuator 14 is arranged on the carrier element 12 via a tension element 26. The force transmitted by the passive actuator 14 to the force application lever 18 is transmitted in the manner described to the body of the user via the support 8. The lower end 22 can be pivoted and pivoted in the pocket 24, so that an optimum positioning of the support 8 for each position of the arm can be achieved.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative configuration. This configuration also has an arm support element 2 with a distance element 4 and an arm sleeve 6, and a support 8 with a force transmission element 10 and a support element 12, and a passive actuator 14. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 1, a further pivot joint 28 is arranged between the distance element 4 of the arm support element 2 and the force application lever 18, which is of a pivotable but fixable design. By changing the angle of the pivot joint, the angle between the force application lever 18 and the distance element 4 can be adjusted, so that the position of the arm and thus of the arm protector 6, in which the force transmitted by the passive actuator 14 to the force application lever 18 and thus the supporting force is also at a maximum, is also designed to be adjustable.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the force application lever 18 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the force transmission element 10. The passive actuator 14 is arranged in the form of a spring element between the force application lever 18 and an element of the arm support element 2. The distance element 4 of the arm support element 2 can in turn be arranged on the force transmission element 10 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 16. The lower end 22 of the force transmission element is in turn positioned in a pocket 24 of the carrier element 12.

The angle between the force application lever 18 and the force transmission element 10 is configured in the exemplary embodiment shown to be adjustable and fixable. In this way, it is possible in particular to adjust the position of the arm and thus of the arm support element 2 in which the force exerted by the passive actuator 14 is at its maximum.

Fig. 4 shows a configuration of the invention in the installed state, which is similar to the embodiment from fig. 3. The carrier element 12 is arranged around the hip of the wearer. The distance element 4 of the arm support element 2 is arranged on the force transmission element 10 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 16. The passive actuator 14 is configured as in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows the configuration from fig. 3 in the wobble state. It can be seen that the angle between the distance element 4 of the arm support element 2 and the force transmission element 10 is changed about the pivot axis 16. By means of the angle adjustability according to the invention, the force application lever 18, which in the illustrated embodiment is connected to the force transmission element 10 in a rotationally fixed manner, can be brought into the illustrated position, in which it is also pivoted about the pivot axis 16 relative to the force transmission element 10. It is advantageous for the force application lever 18 to be able to assume a first position, in which it can be pivoted relative to the force transmission element 10 and relative to the distance element 4, and a second position.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative configuration. The force transmission element 10 has a first component 30 and a second component 32, which are arranged on one another so as to be pivotable about a pivot joint 34. In this case, the angle between the first component 30 and the second component 32 can be adjusted and fixed by means of the pivot joint 34, so that the position achieved in one go can be locked by means of the pivot joint 34. The spacer element 4 of the arm support element 2 is arranged movably about the pivot axis 16 relative to the second component 32.

Since the force application lever 18 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the second component 32, the angle between the force application lever 18 and the first component 30 can also be adjusted by pivoting the second component 32 relative to the first component 30 about the pivot joint 34.

An alternative embodiment is shown in fig. 7. The spacer element 4 of the arm support element 2 can in this case be pivoted about the pivot axis 16 relative to the force transmission element 10. The force application lever 18 is connected to the force transmission element 10 in a rotationally fixed but nevertheless adjustable manner. For this purpose, a pivot joint 34 is provided, so that the angle can be adjusted. The passive actuator 14 extends from the force application point 20 to an element in the region of the arm cuff 6. Fig. 8 shows an enlarged region. A passive actuator 14 can be seen, which is arranged on a slidable roller 36. The roller can be moved in the elongated hole 38 by changing the cable element 40. The first end of the cable element 40 is arranged on a disc element 42, which is part of the arm support element 2. The cable element 40 extends around the roller 36 and the disc element 42 and is secured in the illustrated embodiment by a latch 44 that is inserted into a hole 46.

If the latch 44 is released from the state shown in fig. 8 and inserted into one of the other holes 46 arranged on the left, this results in the roller 36 being moved to the right in the illustrated embodiment in the elongated hole 38. This tensions the passive actuator 14 and thereby increases the force acting on the force action lever 18.

Fig. 9 and 10 each show a force transmission element 10, which is formed from three partial elements 48. The three subelements 48 are correspondingly coupled to one another in pairs by two connecting elements and have the same bending radius in this region. The sub-elements can thus be moved relative to each other. The different bending radii shown in fig. 9 and 10 can thus be achieved between two directions, the force transmission element extending in both directions at its ends. In particular, the length of the force transmission element can be adjusted by displacing the lower two subelements 48, which are designed straight in the region lying on top of one another.

List of reference numerals

2 arm support element

4-pitch element

6 arm sheath

8 support

10 force transmission element

12 Stent element

14 Passive actuator

16 oscillating axle

18 force action lever

20 point of force application

22 lower end part

24 pocket groove

26 pulling element

28 swing joint

30 first component

32 second component

34 swing joint

36 roller

38 elongated hole

40 cord element

42 disc element

44 bolt

46 holes

48 subelements.