# US 10,870,198 B1 · Back exoskeleton to assist lifting

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- Number: US 10,870,198 B1
- Document ID: US10870198B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/464,616
- Filed: 2017-03-21
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-21
- Assignees: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
- Applicants: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
- Inventors: Alan Asbeck; Sarah E. Chang; Jack Geissinger; Taylor Pesek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870198B1

## CPC

- B25J 9/0006: {Exoskeletons, i.e. resembling a human figure}
- A61H 1/02: Stretching or bending {or torsioning} apparatus for exercising
- A61H 1/0237: {for the lower limbs}
- A61H 1/0274: {for the upper limbs}
- A61H 3/00: Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about (apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 {; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003})
- A61H 2003/007: {secured to the patient, e.g. with belts}
- A61H 2201/0192: Specific means for adjusting dimensions
- A61H 2201/1616: Holding means therefor
- A61H 2201/1621: Holding means therefor
- A61H 2201/163: holding means therefor
- A61H 2201/1638: Holding means therefor
- A61H 2201/1642: Holding means therefor
- A61H 2201/165: Wearable interfaces
- B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50})
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

An exoskeleton to assist a user in moving as object comprising an upper body harness, a mid-body harness, and a lower body harness. First and second sets of elongated energy return members are located between the harnesses and are used to assist a user in moving an object.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An exoskeleton to assist a user in moving as object comprising:
an upper body harness, a mid-body harness, and a lower body harness;
a first set and second set of elongated energy return members, said first set of energy return members extend between and are affixed to said upper body harness and mid-body harness, said second set of energy return members extend between and are affixed to said lower body harness and mid-body harness;
said energy return members are formed from carbon fibers; and
wherein said energy return members are adapted to provide energy to assist a user in moving an object.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The exoskeleton of claim 1 wherein said exoskeleton is adapted to enable a user to pick up objects up to around 25-30% of their body weight.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The exoskeleton of claim 1 wherein said exoskeleton is adapted to offset the weight of a user's torso when the user bends forward at the waist.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The exoskeleton of claim 1 wherein said exoskeleton is adapted to assist a user to stand straight after squatting.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The exoskeleton of claim 1 wherein said exoskeleton is adapted to assist a user to stand straight after squatting.