US 10,442,078 B2 · Exoskeleton and method of using the same · patentgrep

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Abstract

An exoskeleton designed to be worn by a user is generally configured to support and transfer the load supported by the head, the neck and/or the torso (shoulders, chest and/or back) of the user down to the ground. The exoskeleton is generally passive and includes at least three interconnected sections: torso, hip, and leg sections. Each of the sections generally includes of a plurality of interconnected rigid members which form the load-bearing structure of the exoskeleton. When a user wears the exoskeleton, load normally carried by the head, neck and/or torso of the user is at least partially supported and transferred to the ground by the exoskeleton, thereby reducing the load effectively supported by the user itself. The leg sections of the exoskeleton are designed to ensure that the load is entirely transferred to the inner side of the feet, in accordance with human biomechanics.

Claims79

Dependent claims

An exoskeleton configured to be worn by a user to support and transfer a load carried by the user across a ground surface;

the exoskeleton comprising a torso section connected to a leg section via a hip section so as to transfer the load carried by the torso section down to the ground surface via the hip section and then the leg section;
wherein the leg section comprises two symmetrical articulated leg assemblies, each leg assembly being adapted to be maintained on each user's leg and to follow the leg's movements when the exoskeleton is in use, each leg assembly having an upper end operatively connected to an outer side of the hip section and a bottom end adapted to be in contact with the ground surface, each leg assembly being configured to entirely transfer the load from the outer side of the hip section to an inner side of the user's leg before connecting to the ground, wherein each leg assembly comprises:
an upper leg member extending downwardly from the hip section and having an end pivotally connected to the hip section to allow the upper leg member to move with respect to the hip section when the user moves;
and
a lower leg member extending downwardly from the upper leg member and pivotally connected to the upper leg member, the pivotal connection between the upper and lower leg members configured to be located at a knee level of the user to allow the lower leg member to follow the movements of the lower leg of the user with respect to the upper leg;
the upper and lower leg members configured to extend downwardly and toward the inner side of the user's leg so as to entirely transfer the load from the outside of the leg toward the inside of the leg and down on the inner side of the foot of the user;
and
a hip joint assembly for operatively connecting the upper leg member to the hip section, the hip joint assembly being articulated for transferring the user's movement between the hip and leg sections, the hip joint assembly also comprising an adjusting system for adjusting a length of the leg assembly with a length of the user's leg.

5 more elements

An exoskeleton configured to be worn by a user to support and transfer a load carried by the user across a ground surface;

the exoskeleton comprising a torso section connected to a leg section via a hip section so as to transfer the load carried by the torso section down to the ground surface via the hip section and then the leg section;
wherein the leg section comprises two symmetrical articulated leg assemblies, each leg assembly being adapted to be maintained on each user's leg and to follow the leg's movements when the exoskeleton is in use, each leg assembly having an upper end operatively connected to an outer side of the hip section and a bottom end adapted to be in contact with the ground surface, each leg assembly being configured to entirely transfer the load from the outer side of the hip section to an inner side of the user's leg before connecting to the ground, wherein the exoskeleton further comprises a neck section configured to assist in supporting the load carried by the head of the user, the neck section being removably connected to the torso section so as to transfer the load from the head and neck of the user toward the torso section which will further transfer the load down to the ground via the hip and leg sections.

An exoskeleton configured to be worn by a user to support and transfer a load carried by the user across a ground surface;

the exoskeleton comprising a torso section connected to a leg section via a hip section so as to transfer the load carried by the torso section down to the ground surface via the hip section and then the leg section;
wherein the leg section comprises two symmetrical articulated leg assemblies, each leg assembly being adapted to be maintained on each user's leg and to follow the leg's movements when the exoskeleton is in use, each leg assembly having an upper end operatively connected to an outer side of the hip section and a bottom end adapted to be in contact with the ground surface, each leg assembly being configured to entirely transfer the load from the outer side of the hip section to an inner side of the user's leg before connecting to the ground, wherein the exoskeleton further comprises one or more resilient pads affixed between the exoskeleton and the user for adding comfort when the user is wearing the exoskeleton.

An exoskeleton configured to be worn by a user to support and transfer a load carried by the user across a ground surface;

the exoskeleton comprising a torso section connected to a leg section via a hip section so as to transfer the load carried by the torso section down to the ground surface via the hip section and then the leg section;
wherein the leg section comprises two symmetrical articulated leg assemblies, each leg assembly being adapted to be maintained on each user's leg and to follow the leg's movements when the exoskeleton is in use, each leg assembly having an upper end operatively connected to an outer side of the hip section and a bottom end adapted to be in contact with the ground surface, each leg assembly being configured to entirely transfer the load from the outer side of the hip section to an inner side of the user's leg before connecting to the ground;
and a vest adaptable to a size of the user's torso for securing the torso section to the user's torso.

An exoskeleton configured to be worn by a user to support and transfer a load carried by the user across a ground surface;

the exoskeleton comprising a torso section connected to a leg section via a hip section so as to transfer the load carried by the torso section down to the ground surface via the hip section and then the leg section;
wherein the leg section comprises two symmetrical articulated leg assemblies, each leg assembly being adapted to be maintained on each user's leg and to follow the leg's movements when the exoskeleton is in use, each leg assembly having an upper end operatively connected to an outer side of the hip section and a bottom end adapted to be in contact with the ground surface, each leg assembly being configured to entirely transfer the load from the outer side of the hip section to an inner side of the user's leg before connecting to the ground, wherein the hip section comprises a lower back member connected to the torso section and left and right hip members extending from each side of the lower back member all the way to the front of the user, the left and right hip members having extremities provided with complementary fasteners so as to be attachable together to form a belt.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/349,602Filed 11 Nov 2016 · continuation
Priority: 18 Jun 2014
Published: US 2017/0087716 A130 Mar 2017
Granted: 15 Oct 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B25J 9/0006
Program-controlled manipulators: exoskeletons, i.e. resembling a human figure
A61F 5/0102
Orthopaedic devices, e.g. long-term immobilising or pressure directing devices for treating broken or deformed bones such as splints, casts or…
A61F 5/028
Orthopaedic corsets: braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports
A61F 2005/0155
Additional features of the articulation: with actuating means

Family

Application62/013,722Us provisional application · filed 18 Jun 2014
Application14/743,102Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Jun 2015
US 9,492,300 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Nov 2016
US 2017/0087716 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Mar 2017
US 10,384,339 B2Related patent
US 2015/0366694 A1Published application
US 10,442,078 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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