# US 11,826,298 B2 · Preloaded personal augmentation suit and method for assisted human motion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,826,298 B2 - Document ID: US11826298B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/655,221 - Filed: 2019-10-16 - Published: 2021-04-22 - Granted: 2023-11-28 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-16 - Assignees: SpringActive, Inc. - Applicants: SpringActive, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew A Holgate; Jeffrey A. Ward; Chase Wheeler; Dustin Vehon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11826298B2 ## CPC - A61H 1/0255: {Both knee and hip of a patient, e.g. in supine or sitting position, the feet being moved together in a plane substantially parallel to the body-symmetrical plane (A61H1/0214 takes precedence)} - A61H 1/00: Apparatus for passive exercising (A61H5/00 takes precedence); Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones - A61H 2201/0173: Means for preventing injuries - A61H 2201/1269: Passive exercise driven by movement of healthy limbs - A61H 2201/165: Wearable interfaces - A61H 2201/1652: Harness - A61H 2203/0406: Standing on the feet - A61H 2203/0418: Squatting, i.e. sitting on the heels - A61H 2205/102: Knee - A61H 2205/108: for the upper legs - 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 A human motion assistance device has an upper torso harness and a preloaded leg strap arrangement affixed to the upper torso harness. The preloaded leg strap arrangement has an X-bracket connected to the upper torso harness. The preloaded leg strap arrangement further uses a plurality of blocks and a preloaded strap routed through the blocks and connected to the X-bracket. The preloaded leg strap arrangement further uses a knee pad with a split seam. The preloaded strap is under tension, even when the human motion assistance device is in a relaxed state. The preloading provides an immediate force which increases under a loaded state. The potential energy stored during the loaded state is released when transitioning from a standing position to a crouched, squatting, or seated position. The configuration allows for maximizing the energy storage without putting excess shoulder pressure on the user when standing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A human motion assistance device, comprising: an upper torso harness configured to attach to an upper torso of a user and including a first backside attachment point and a second backside attachment point; a leg strap arrangement configured to attach to a leg of the user and including a first backside attachment point and a second backside attachment point; and a preloaded strap arrangement including, (a) a first elastic strap configured to extend behind the user and be coupled between the first backside attachment point on the upper torso harness and the first backside attachment point on the leg strap arrangement, (b) a second elastic strap configured to extend behind the user and be coupled between the second backside attachment point on the upper torso harness and the second backside attachment point on the leg strap arrangement and further coupled to a midpoint of the first elastic strap, (c) a plurality of first blocks serially arranged along the first elastic strap with the first elastic strap extending through an opening in each of the plurality of first blocks, and (d) a plurality of second blocks serially arranged along the second elastic strap with the second elastic strap extending through an opening in each of the plurality of second blocks, wherein the preloaded strap arrangement is passively preloaded under tension with the plurality of first blocks along the first elastic strap in contact with each other and the plurality of second blocks along the second elastic strap in contact with each other setting a minimum preload while the upper torso harness remains in a relaxed state and configured to avoid stress on the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The human motion assistance device of claim 1, wherein the first elastic strap extending through the opening in each of the plurality of first blocks provides for the plurality of first blocks to move freely along the first elastic strap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The human motion assistance device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first blocks includes a curved end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The human motion assistance device of claim 1, wherein the leg strap arrangement includes a knee pad. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The human motion assistance device of claim 4, wherein the knee pad includes a split seam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The human motion assistance device of claim 5, wherein the split seam includes a magnetic connection or buckle. ### Claim 7 A human motion assistance device, comprising: an upper torso harness; a leg strap arrangement; and a preloaded strap arrangement including, (a) a first elastic strap configured to extend behind a user to couple between a first attachment point on the upper torso harness and a first attachment point on the leg strap arrangement, (b) a second elastic strap configured to extend behind the user to couple between a second attachment point on the upper torso harness and a second attachment point on the leg strap arrangement, (c) a plurality of first blocks serially arranged along the first elastic strap with the first elastic strap extending through an opening in each of the plurality of first blocks, and (d) a plurality of second blocks serially arranged along the second elastic strap with the second elastic strap extending through an opening in each of the plurality of second blocks, wherein the preloaded strap arrangement is passively preloaded under tension by the plurality of first blocks and the plurality of second blocks while the upper torso harness remains in a relaxed state and configured to avoid stress on the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The human motion assistance device of claim 7, wherein the preloaded strap arrangement includes an X-bracket connected to the upper torso harness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The human motion assistance device of claim 7, wherein the first elastic strap extending through the opening in each of the plurality of first blocks provides for the plurality of first blocks to move freely along the first elastic strap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The human motion assistance device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of first blocks includes a curved end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The human motion assistance device of claim 7, wherein the leg strap arrangement includes a knee pad. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The human motion assistance device of claim 11, wherein the knee pad includes a split seam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The human motion assistance device of claim 12, wherein the split seam includes a magnetic connection or buckle. ### Claim 14 A method of making a human motion assistance device, comprising the steps of: providing an upper torso harness; and providing a leg strap arrangement; and providing a preloaded strap arrangement including, (a) a first elastic strap configured to extend behind a user to couple between a first attachment point on the upper torso harness and a first attachment point on the leg strap arrangement, (b) a second elastic strap configured to extend behind the user to couple between a second attachment point on the upper torso harness and a second attachment point on the leg strap arrangement, (c) a plurality of first blocks serially arranged along the first elastic strap with the first elastic strap extending through an opening in each of the plurality of first blocks, and (d) a plurality of second blocks serially arranged along the second elastic strap with the second elastic strap extending through an opening in each of the plurality of second blocks, wherein the preloaded strap arrangement is passively preloaded under tension by the plurality of first blocks and the plurality of second blocks while the upper torso harness remains in a relaxed state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein providing the preloaded strap arrangement includes providing an X-bracket connected to the upper torso harness. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first elastic strap extending through the opening in each of the plurality of first blocks provides for the plurality of first blocks to move freely along the first elastic strap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of first blocks includes a curved end. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein providing the leg strap arrangement includes providing a knee pad. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the knee pad includes a split seam. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the split seam includes a magnetic connection or buckle.