Joint support unit and walking support apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US11426299B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Joint support unit and walking support apparatus",
  "abstract": "To provide a joint support unit, etc. capable of being worn on both left and right joints. A joint support unit includes a first link worn on one end side of a joint portion, a second link worn on the other end side of the joint portion, and rotatably coupled to the first link, a driving unit configured to perform rotation driving of the second link, and a rotation regulating unit configured to regulate a rotation direction and a rotation range of the second link. The rotation regulating unit includes an engagement body provided in one of the links, and an engagement part provided in the other one of the links, and engaging with the engagement body, the engagement part includes two guiding paths and that guide the engagement body moving according to the rotation direction of the second link in different directions, and a communication path.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A joint support unit worn around a joint portion of a user, the joint support unit comprising: a first link worn on one end side of the joint portion; a second link worn on the other end side of the joint portion, and rotatably coupled to the first link; a driving unit configured to perform rotation driving of the second link; and a rotation regulating unit configured to regulate a rotation direction and a rotation range of the second link, the rotation regulating unit including: an engagement body provided in one of the links; and an engagement part provided in the other one of the links, and engaging with the engagement body, the engagement part including: two guiding paths that guide the engagement body moving according to the rotation direction of the second link in different directions; and a communication path that communicates the two guiding paths to each other, and the engagement body being movable between the two guiding paths via the communication path.",
    "2. The joint support unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the guiding paths includes a regulating portion configured to regulate a moving range of the engagement body.",
    "3. The joint support unit according to claim 2, comprising a moving unit configured to move the engagement body to one or the other of the guiding paths.",
    "4. The joint support unit according to claim 3, comprising a switching device configured to mechanically switch a rotation direction of the driving unit, when the engagement body is moved from one of the guiding paths to the other of the guiding paths.",
    "5. The joint support unit according to claim 2, comprising a switching device configured to mechanically switch a rotation direction of the driving unit, when the engagement body is moved from one of the guiding paths to the other of the guiding paths.",
    "6. The joint support unit according to claim 1, comprising a moving unit configured to move the engagement body to one or the other of the guiding paths.",
    "7. The joint support unit according to claim 6, comprising a switching device configured to mechanically switch a rotation direction of the driving unit, when the engagement body is moved from one of the guiding paths to the other of the guiding paths.",
    "8. The joint support unit according to claim 1, comprising a switching device configured to mechanically switch a rotation direction of the driving unit, when the engagement body is moved from one of the guiding paths to the other of the guiding paths.",
    "9. A walking support apparatus comprising: an upper leg wearing unit for a knee joint of a leg to an upper leg portion; a lower leg wearing unit for the knee joint to a lower leg portion; and a joint support unit for the knee joint, the joint support unit including: a first link coupled to the upper leg wearing unit; a second link coupled to the lower leg wearing unit, and rotatably coupled to the first link; a driving unit configured to perform rotation driving of the second link; and a rotation regulating unit configured to regulate a rotation direction and a rotation range of the second link, the rotation regulating unit including: an engagement body provided in one of the links; and an engagement part provided in the other one of the links, and engaging with the engagement body, the engagement part including: two guiding paths that guide the engagement body moving according to the rotation direction of the second link in different directions, and a communication path that communicates the two guiding paths to each other, and the engagement body being movable between the two guiding paths via the communication path."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a joint support unit, etc. for supporting the movement of a joint of a user.\n\nWalking support apparatuses used for supporting walking exercise, bending and stretching motion, rehabilitation, etc. of a patient with knee osteoarthritis have been conventionally known. There are a plurality of walking support apparatuses of this kind (for example, see Patent Literature 1), for example, the walking support apparatus illustrated in Patent Literature 1 is provided with a joint support unit that is worn on a knee joint of a user, and that includes a leg link for oscillating around the knee joint and its vicinity in the front and back directions by using an actuator. The leg link includes a pair of links capable of being bent and stretched by rotation driving, is equipped with a driving source for driving a rotation axis of the links, and supports footsteps of the user with rotation driving of the links by the driving source.\n\nPatent Literature Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 4092322\n\nTechnical Problem Since the driving directions are different when leg links are worn on left and right legs, it is necessary to separately manufacture exclusive apparatuses for left and right legs, which has been a factor for increasing the cost. Also, generally, a walking support apparatus is manufactured and sold as a pair of left and right walking support units, and it has been necessary for a purchaser to purchase both left and right walking support units, even if only one side of the walking support units is required.",
  "cpc": [
    "A61F 5/0123",
    "A61F 2005/0137",
    "A61F 2005/0167",
    "A61F 5/0125",
    "A61F 5/37",
    "A61H 1/024",
    "A61H 1/0255",
    "A61H 2003/007",
    "A61H 2201/14",
    "A61H 2201/1418",
    "A61H 2201/1676",
    "A61H 3/00",
    "B25J 11/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61F 5/01",
    "A61H 1/02",
    "A61H 3/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "SUNCALL CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "TAKAHASHI REI"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-12-27",
  "publication_date": "2022-08-30",
  "grant_date": "2022-08-30",
  "priority_date": "2018-01-15",
  "application_number": "US-201816961716-A",
  "family_id": "67219728",
  "citations": [
    "EP1579829A1",
    "GB2326098A",
    "JP4092322B2",
    "US4982732A",
    "US5938629A"
  ]
}