Spring Engagement and Disengagement During Gait Cycle
AssigneeThe Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorNathan Sharpes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments that pertain to a joint-based spring configuration. The joint-based spring configuration can be employed during a gait cycle. A gait cycle can comprise a driven phase and a resetting phase. The driven phase can be when a foot is on the ground and the resetting phase can be when the foot is off the ground and moving to the next time the foot is on the ground. While the foot is on the ground a spring can be engaged such that it winds and unwinds. Conversely, when the foot is off the ground, the spring can be disengaged to allow a more natural movement for a wearer. The effects and timing of the winding/unwinding and disengagement of the spring combine to reduce a wear's energy expenditure over a gait cycle, reducing metabolic rate and fatigue.
Claims20
A wearable energy system, comprising:
- a spring;
- and
- a coupling mechanism configured to couple the spring to a wearer of the spring such that the spring moves with a joint of the wearer,
- where the spring is engaged during a stance phase of a gait cycle of the wearer and
- where the spring is disengaged during a swing phase of the gait cycle of the wearer.
A system, comprising:
- a housing with a spring configured to be worn by a user;
- and
- a foot component configured to sense when a foot of the user is on a ground during a gait cycle of the user and when the foot of the user is not on the ground during the gait cycle.
A method, comprising:
- winding a spring associated with a joint of a wearer during a dorsiflection/flexion portion of a stance phase of a gait cycle;
- and
- unwinding the spring associated with the joint of the wearer during a plantarflection/extension portion of the plant phase of the gait cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.