Leg augmentation systems and methods for use
AssigneeLevitate Technologies, Inc.
InventorMark C. Doyle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for supporting one or both legs of a user using a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user; and a leg support coupled to the harness configured to support a leg of the user, the leg support configured to accommodate movement of the leg while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm. One or more compensation elements may be coupled to the leg support to apply an offset force to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the leg as the user moves and the leg support follows the movement of the user's leg, the one or more compensation elements providing a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the leg support.
Claims21
A system for supporting a leg of a user, comprising:
- a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user;
- a leg support coupled to the harness configured to support a leg of the user, the leg support configured to accommodate movement of the leg while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the leg;
- and
- one or more compensation elements coupled to the leg support to apply an offset force to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the leg as the user moves and the leg support follows the movement of the leg.
A system for supporting a leg of a user, comprising:
- a harness comprising an attachment band configured to be worn on around a waist or hops of a user;
- a hip strut comprising a first end coupled to the attachment band and a second end configured to be disposed adjacent the user's hip or thigh;
- a leg support comprising a leg bracket pivotally coupled to the second end of the hip strut such that the leg bracket is pivotable about to accommodate movement of the user's leg while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's leg;
- and
- one or more compensation elements mounted on the leg bracket to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the user's leg as the user moves and the leg bracket follows the movement of the user's leg.
A system for supporting a leg of a user, comprising:
- a harness comprising an attachment band configured to be worn on around a waist or hops of a user;
- a hip strut comprising a first end coupled to the attachment band and a second end configured to be disposed adjacent the user's hip or thigh;
- a first leg support comprising a first leg bracket pivotally coupled to the second end of the hip strut and a first leg strap for securing the first leg bracket to a user's thigh such that the first leg bracket is pivotable about to accommodate movement of the user's leg while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's leg;
- a lower leg strut comprising a first end coupled to the first leg bracket and a second end configured to be disposed adjacent the user's thigh or knee;
- a second leg support comprising a second leg bracket pivotally coupled to the second end of the hip strut and a second leg strap for securing the first leg bracket to a user's calf such that the second leg bracket is pivotable about to accommodate movement of the user's leg while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's leg;
- and
- one or more compensation elements mounted on the first and second leg brackets to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the user's leg as the user moves and the first and second leg brackets follow the movement of the user's leg.
A method for supporting a leg of a user during one or more tasks,
- comprising:
- placing a harness on the user;
- supporting a portion of the user's leg using a leg support such that the leg support subsequently follows movement of the user's leg;
- and
- performing one or more tasks involving movement of the user's leg, the leg support comprising one or more compensation elements that apply an offset force to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the leg as the user moves without substantially interfering in the movement.
21-25. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.