Device for human upper arm assistance

A device for assisting an upper arm of a user, comprising:

• a support mechanism configured for supporting the device on a torso of the user;
• an arm link member connectable to the upper arm;
• a joint member coupled with the arm link member and the support mechanism, wherein the device, in use, transfers a load from the upper arm, through the joint member to the torso;
• and
• a force generating member arranged on the support mechanism and configured for providing a resisting torque between the arm link member and support mechanism, and wherein the force generating member is mechanically configured to apply a relatively larger resisting torque at a predetermined range of motion of the upper arm and to apply a relatively lesser resisting torque outside the predetermined range.

A device for assisting at least one upper arm of a user, comprising:

• a support mechanism configured for supporting the device on a torso of the user, and comprising:
• a base bracket;
• and
• two support link members coupled to the base bracket, respectively;
• and
• two arm link members connectable to the upper arm;
• two joint members coupled with the two arm link members and the two support link members, respectively, wherein the device, in use, transfers a load from the upper arm, through the two joint members to the torso;
• and
• at least one force generating member arranged on the base bracket and configured for providing a resisting torque between each arm link member and the support mechanism, wherein the at least one force generating member is mechanically configured to apply a relatively larger resisting torque at a predetermined range of motion of the upper arm and to apply a relatively lesser resisting torque outside the predetermined range.

A device for assisting at least one upper arm of a user, comprising:

• at least one arm link member connectable to the upper arm of the user;
• a base bracket attachable to a torso of the user;
• at least one support link member coupled to the base bracket;
• at least one joint member rotatably coupled with the at least one arm link member and the at least one support link member, respectively, wherein the device, in use, transfers load from the upper arm, through the at least one joint member to the torso of the user;
• and
• at least one force generating member arranged on the base bracket and configured to provide a resisting torque between the at least one arm link member and the at least one support link member, respectively, wherein the at least one force generating member is mechanically configured to apply a relatively larger resisting torque at a predetermined range of motion of the upper arm and to apply a relatively lesser resisting torque outside the predetermined range, and wherein the at least one force generating member is configured to provide largest resisting torque when the upper arm is raised perpendicular to the torso, and provide substantially no torque when the upper arm is in a natural drooping position.