# US 12,600,027 B2 · Apparatus for assisting muscular strength

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- Number: US 12,600,027 B2
- Document ID: US12600027B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/889,247
- Filed: 2022-08-16
- Published: 2023-06-29
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2021-12-27
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Inventors: Ki Hyeon Bae; Sang In Park; Ju Young Yoon; Kyu Jung Kim; Min Woong Jeung; Hyo Joong Kim; Seong Taek Hwang; Ho Jun Kim; Hyun Seop Lim; Beom Su Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600027B2

## CPC

- B25J 9/0006: {Exoskeletons, i.e. resembling a human figure}
- A61H 2201/0157: portable
- A61H 2201/1621: Holding means therefor
- A61H 2201/164: Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
- A61H 2201/1652: Harness
- 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

Provided is an apparatus for assisting muscular strength, including an upper frame; a lower frame configured to be rotatable relative to the upper frame; and a force generating unit configured to provide the lower frame with a force applied in a second rotational direction D2 opposite to a first rotational direction D1 when the lower frame rotates in the first rotational direction D1 relative to the upper frame. The force generating unit includes a frame member configured to define a body of the force generating unit; a first spring accommodated in the frame member; a pressing part disposed at one side of the first spring and configured to press the first spring; and a link part disposed at the other side of the first spring and configured to press the first spring and move in conjunction with a relative rotational motion between the upper frame and the lower frame.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for assisting muscular strength, the apparatus comprising:
an upper frame configured to be fixed to a user's upper body;
a lower frame disposed below the upper frame and configured to be fixed to the user's lower body and rotatable relative to the upper frame; and
a force generating unit coupled to one side of the upper frame and configured to provide the lower frame with a force applied in a second rotational direction opposite to a first rotational direction when the lower frame rotates in the first rotational direction relative to the upper frame,
wherein the force generating unit comprises:
a frame member configured to define a body of the force generating unit;
a first spring accommodated in the frame member;
a pressing part disposed at one side of the first spring and configured to press the first spring; and
a link part disposed at the other side of the first spring and configured to press the first spring and move in conjunction with a relative rotational motion between the upper frame and the lower frame;
wherein the pressing part comprises a block member coupled to be rotatable about a first rotary shaft fixed to the frame member;
wherein the pressing part further comprises a support member disposed at one side of the block member, provided separately from the block member, and configured to come into contact with the first spring;
wherein the force generating unit further comprises a second spring disposed between the pressing part and the link part and having one end facing the pressing part and the other end facing the link part;
wherein the link part comprises:
a first link having one side rotatably coupled to a second rotary shaft fixed to the frame member and the other side connected to the lower frame; and
a second link having one side rotatably coupled to the first link through a third rotary shaft and the other side provided to be movable in an upward/downward direction, and
wherein the frame member has a groove region extending in the upward/downward direction, and the other side of the second link is disposed in the frame member, inserted into the groove region, and rotatably coupled to a fourth rotary shaft provided to be movable in a the upward/downward direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the block member is shaped such that a distance between the first rotary shaft and a region in which the pressing part is in close contact with the first spring varies depending on a rotation angle of the block member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2,
wherein a distance between the support member and the first rotary shaft varies depending on the rotation angle of the block member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a geometric center of the block member is spaced apart from a rotation center of the first rotary shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the block member and the support member are disposed above the first spring, and the link part is disposed below the first spring.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5,
wherein an elastic modulus of the first spring is larger than an elastic modulus of the second spring.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second spring is inserted into the first spring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6,
wherein the first and second springs are contracted or expanded as the other side of the second link moves in the upward/downward direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper frame comprises:
a right extension member extending in an upward/downward direction and configured to come into contact with a right region of the user's body;
a left extension member extending in the upward/downward direction and configured to come into contact with a left region of the user's body; and
a chest pad member coupled to the right and left extension members and configured to come into contact with the user's chest region,
wherein the chest pad member is coupled to be movable in the upward/downward direction relative to the right extension member and to be rotatable about an axis extending in a direction in which the right extension member extends, and
wherein the chest pad member is coupled to be movable in the upward/downward direction relative to the left extension member and to be rotatable about an axis extending in a direction in which the left extension member extends.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper frame further comprises bearing members respectively disposed in a region in which the right extension member and the chest pad member are coupled and a region in which the left extension member and the chest pad member are coupled, and the bearing members are configured to reduce a frictional force between the right extension member and the chest pad member and a frictional force between the left extension member and the chest pad member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:
a waist surrounding unit configured to surround the user's waist,
wherein the frame member is fixedly coupled to the waist surrounding unit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the force generating unit is disposed within a leftward/rightward width of the waist surrounding unit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lower frame comprises:
lower extension members extending along the user's lower body; and
thigh pad members disposed at lower ends of the lower extension members and configured to come into close contact with the user's thighs,
wherein the force generating unit is provided in plural, and the plurality of force generating units is disposed in left and right regions of the waist surrounding unit, respectively, and
wherein a region in which the right extension member and the chest pad member are coupled to each other, a region in which the force generating unit disposed in the right region of the waist surrounding unit is coupled to the waist surrounding unit, and a region in which the lower extension member and the thigh pad member, which are disposed on the user's right lower body, are coupled to each other are disposed on one straight line.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a region in which the left extension member and the chest pad member are coupled to each other, a region in which the force generating unit disposed in the left region of the waist surrounding unit is coupled to the waist surrounding unit, and a region in which the lower extension member and the thigh pad member, which are disposed on the user's left lower body, are coupled to each other are disposed on one straight line.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the lower extension member comprises:
a first lower extension member connected to a lower end of the link part; and
a second lower extension member having one side rotatably coupled to a lower end of the first lower extension member and the other side coupled to the thigh pad member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first lower extension member is coupled to be rotatable relative to the link part about an axis extending in a first direction, and the second lower extension member is coupled to be rotatable relative to the first lower extension member about an axis extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction.