Apparatus for human arm supporting exoskeleton
First Claim
1. An arm supporting exoskeleton comprising:
- an arm link mechanism, configured to be coupled to an upper arm of a person, the arm link mechanism comprising;
a proximal link;
a distal link, configured to rotate relative to the proximal link around a first rotational axis;
at least one arm-coupler, attached to the distal link and adapted to couple the upper arm of the person to the distal link; and
at least one torque generator, comprising a first end and a second end,the first end coupled to the proximal link,the second end coupled to the distal link,the at least one torque generator configured to generate a torque between the proximal link and the distal link,the least one torque generator comprising an upper bracket, coupling the proximal link to the least one torque generator,a location of the upper bracket being adjustable along the proximal link to adjust the torque provided by the at least one torque generator.
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Abstract
An arm supporting exoskeleton comprises a shoulder base coupled to an arm link mechanism. The arm link mechanism comprises a proximal link and a distal link configured to rotate relative to each other about a rotating joint; at least one arm-coupler adapted to couple a user'"'"'s arm to the distal link; a tensile force generator coupled to the proximal link and the distal link, and providing a torque to flex the distal link relative to the proximal link; and a protrusion located substantially at the rotating joint. When the distal link extends past a toggle angle, the protrusion constrains the tensile force generator, and the torque provided by the tensile force generator remains substantially small. When the protrusion does not constrain the tensile force generator, the torque tends to flex the distal link relative to the proximal link, thereby reducing human shoulder forces and torques required to raise the arm.
11 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An arm supporting exoskeleton comprising:
an arm link mechanism, configured to be coupled to an upper arm of a person, the arm link mechanism comprising; a proximal link; a distal link, configured to rotate relative to the proximal link around a first rotational axis; at least one arm-coupler, attached to the distal link and adapted to couple the upper arm of the person to the distal link; and at least one torque generator, comprising a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the proximal link, the second end coupled to the distal link, the at least one torque generator configured to generate a torque between the proximal link and the distal link, the least one torque generator comprising an upper bracket, coupling the proximal link to the least one torque generator, a location of the upper bracket being adjustable along the proximal link to adjust the torque provided by the at least one torque generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An arm supporting exoskeleton comprising,
an arm link mechanism, configured to be coupled to an upper arm of a person, the arm link mechanism comprising: -
a proximal link; a distal link, configured to rotate relative to the proximal link around a first rotational axis; at least one arm-coupler, attached to the distal link and adapted to couple the upper arm of the person to the distal link; and at least one torque generator, comprising a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the proximal link, the second end coupled to the distal link, the at least one torque generator configured to generate a torque between the proximal link and the distal link, the at least one torque generator comprising; a lower bracket coupling the distal link to the torque generator, wherein a location of the lower bracket is adjustable along the distal link to adjust the torque provided by the torque generator.
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Specification