# US 11,992,068 B2 · Elastic unit with adjustable elasticity and elastic modulus and operation method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,068 B2 - Document ID: US11992068B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/576,401 - Filed: 2022-01-14 - Published: 2023-03-02 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-02 - Assignees: Chung Ang University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation - Applicants: Chung Ang University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation - Inventors: Giuk Lee; Jae Wook Ryu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992068B2 ## CPC - A41D 13/0506: {Hip} - A61H 1/0244: {Hip (A61H1/0255 takes precedence)} - A63B 21/4025: {Resistance devices worn on the user's body (A63B21/065 takes precedence)} - A61H 2201/1253: driven by a human being, e.g. hand driven - A61H 2201/1642: Holding means therefor - A61H 2201/1652: Harness - A63B 21/00076: {on the fly, i.e. varying the resistance during exercise} - A63B 21/0555: {Details of the rope or band, e.g. shape or colour coding} - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - 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) - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to an elastic unit with adjustable elasticity and elastic modulus and to an operation method thereof. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an elastic unit with adjustable elasticity and elastic modulus, which comprises: an elastic element having a plurality of division areas longitudinally; and elasticity adjustment modules that are laid out in each of the division areas of the elastic element and activate or inactivate the elastic element partially depending on the division areas to adjust an elasticity and an elastic modulus of the elastic element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elastic unit with adjustable elasticity and elastic modulus, the elastic unit comprising: an elastic element having a plurality of division areas longitudinally; and elasticity adjustment modules that are each laid out in a respective one of the division areas of the elastic element and that each activate or inactivate a respective portion of the elastic element within the respective one of the division areas to adjust the elasticity and the elastic modulus of the unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elastic unit of claim 1, wherein the elastic element is made of an elastic band, each of the elasticity adjustment modules includes: an inelastic band of a respective elasticity adjustment module, of which one side end of the inelastic band of the respective elasticity adjustment module is fixed to one side end of the respective one of the division areas of the elastic band of the elastic element; and a length adjuster of the respective elasticity adjustment module that is installed to another side end of the respective one of the division areas to adjust an exposure length of the inelastic band of the respective elasticity adjustment module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The elastic unit of claim 2, wherein an elasticity of the elastic band of the elastic element in the respective one of the division areas is activated when applying no tension to the inelastic band of the respective elasticity adjustment module, and inactivated when decreasing the exposure length of the inelastic band of the respective elasticity adjustment module by the length adjuster of the respective elasticity adjustment module to create tension in the inelastic band of the respective elasticity adjustment module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The elastic unit of claim 3, wherein the inelastic band of the respective elasticity adjustment module is made of a nylon webbing, the length adjuster of the respective elasticity adjustment module includes a spool that winds one side of the nylon webbing and a motor that rotatably drives the spool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The elastic unit of claim 4, further comprising: a control part that controls driving of the motor of the length adjuster of the respective elasticity adjustment module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The elastic unit of claim 4, wherein the elasticity of the elastic unit is configured to be varied and adjusted through a change in the number of inactivated division areas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The elastic unit of claim 6, wherein when a division area is activated, the elastic modulus of the elastic unit is varied and adjusted depending on the exposure length of the inelastic band of the respective elasticity adjustment module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An operation method of the elastic unit with adjustable elasticity and elastic modulus as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising: storing and discharging the elasticity in and to the elastic unit depending on a variation in forces applied to the elastic element longitudinally; and adjusting the elasticity and the elastic modulus of the elastic unit by activating and inactivating one or more of the respective portions of the elastic element that are each within the respective one of the division areas with the elasticity adjustment modules that are each laid out in the respective one of the division areas of the elastic element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The operation method of claim 8, wherein the elasticity of the elastic unit is varied and adjusted through a change in the number of inactivated division areas, when a division area is activated, the elastic modulus of the elastic unit is varied and adjusted depending on an exposure length of an inelastic band of a respective elasticity adjustment module laid out in the activated division area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A hip assistive elastic suit comprising the elastic unit as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The elastic suit of claim 10, further comprising: an assistive force measurement portion that measures an assistive force resulting from the elastic unit in real time in a state of wearing the suit; and a control part that controls the assistive force by adjusting the elasticity and the elastic modulus of the elastic unit by controlling the elasticity adjustment modules based on a measured assistive force.