Tensile force generating device and bending and stretching motion assist device provided with same

Abstract

To allow the elastic member to smoothly expand and contract while suppressing increase in size and preventing curving of the elastic member, a tensile force generating device (60) includes: a base member (23); a guide pipe (29) having a base end (29a) fixed to the base member and a free end (29b), the guide pipe being provided with a first slot (29c) extending in a longitudinal direction; a tubular elastic member (30) fitted over the guide pipe 29 and having a base end (33) supported by the base member on a side of the base end (29a) of the guide pipe (29); a flexible wire (41) passed into the guide pipe (29) from a side of the base end (29a) of the guide pipe (29); an end member (44) slidably mounted on the guide pipe (29) and supporting a free end (34) of the elastic member (30); and a slider (50) slidably received in the guide pipe (29), joined to a tip of the wire (41), and joined to the end member (44) through the first slot (29c).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.