Abstract
A device for supporting and relieving a load on an arm of a user includes an upper subregion, a lower subregion, and a joint that has a horizontal axis of rotation where the upper subregion and the lower subregion are connected by the joint such that the upper subregion is pivotable in an upper spatial direction and a lower spatial direction about the horizontal axis of rotation of the joint. The joint is pivotable in the upper spatial direction and the lower spatial direction in a first state and is pivotable only in the upper spatial direction in a second state.
Claims
1.-6. (canceled)
7. A device for supporting and relieving a load on an arm of a user, comprising: an upper subregion, wherein the upper subregion includes an arm strut and an armrest; a lower subregion; and a joint that has a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein the upper subregion and the lower subregion are connected by the joint such that the upper subregion is pivotable in an upper spatial direction and a lower spatial direction about the horizontal axis of rotation of the joint; wherein the joint is pivotable in the upper spatial direction and the lower spatial direction in a first state and is pivotable only in the upper spatial direction in a second state.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the upper subregion is disposable beneath an upper part of the arm of the user and the lower subregion is restable against a side of a torso of the user.
9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the horizontal axis of rotation is disposable in a vicinity of a crook of the arm of the user or in a region of an armpit of the user.
10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the joint is configured to switch between the first state and the second state.
11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the upper subregion is fastened to the lower subregion via a coupling rod with a partial gear.
12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the lower subregion includes a plain bearing for vertical adjustability of the upper subregion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a preferred configuration of the invention, in particular an illustration of the deactivated and the activated state;
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a preferred configuration of the supporting device;
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a detail illustration of a preferred embodiment of the ratchet;
[0026] and
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a further schematic side view of a preferred configuration of the supporting device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 shows, in the left-hand half of the image, the deactivated state and, in the right-hand half of the image, the activated state of a preferred configuration of the provided supporting device (1). Illustrated in each case is a user, who wishes to carry out for example overhead work with a power tool using their arms (2). Shown in the schematic illustration in FIG. 1 is in particular the upper subregion (3) and the lower subregion (4) of the supporting device (1). The upper subregion (3) is present preferably on an inner side of the user's upper arm (2), wherein the expression “inner side” preferably relates to the fact that, with the arms (2) not raised, one side of the arm faces the torso. This side of the arm (2) facing the torso is preferably referred to, for the purposes of the invention, as the inner side, while the side of the torso facing the upper arm is referred to as the side of the torso. Preferably, the lower subregion (4) of the supporting device (1) is present against this side of the user's torso. In other words, the lower subregion of the supporting device (1) is designed to be worn by a user in the region of the torso, in particular at chest height.
[0029] The upper region (3) of the supporting device (1) comprises preferably an arm strut (5) and an armrest (6) (illustrated in FIG. 2). When the supporting device (1) is used, the user's arms (2) can rest on the armrests (6). The upper subregion (3) and the lower subregion (4) of the supporting device (1) are preferably connected together via a joint (7). The joint (7) is arranged preferably in an axis of rotation (8), allowing horizontal pivotability of the upper subregion (3) with respect to the lower subregion (4) of the supporting device (1). Preferably, a horizontal axis of rotation extends through a pivot point (8) or the pivot point (8) is preferably part of this horizontal axis of rotation. The pivotability in particular of the upper subregion (3) of the supporting device (1) preferably has the effect that in particular the upper subregion (3) can move in an upper spatial direction (9) and a lower spatial direction (10). For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred for the upper subregion (3) of the supporting device (1) to be able to rotate about the horizontal axis (8) or the corresponding pivot point (8). For the purposes of the invention, it may furthermore be preferred for the upper subregion (3) and the lower subregion (4) of the supporting device (1) to additionally be able to rotate about a vertical axis, which extends preferably substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body.
[0030] The pivotability is indicated in FIG. 1 in particular by the arrows in the region of the user's arms (2). In this case, the upward arrow stands for an upward movement of the upper subregion (3) of the supporting device (1) and the downward arrow stands for a downward movement of the upper subregion (3) of the supporting device (1). In the deactivated state of the exoskeleton (1), both directions of movement (9, 10) are allowed by the joint (7), i.e., both spatial directions (9, 10) are allowed directions of rotation (11) in the deactivated state.
[0031] In the right-hand half of the image in FIG. 1, the activated state of the supporting device (1) is shown. In the activated state, an upward movement of the user's arms (2), i.e., in the upper spatial direction (9), continues to be possible. Thus, the upper direction of rotation (9) of the upper subregion (3) of the supporting device (1) represents an allowed direction of rotation (11) in the activated state. The joint (7) blocks in a lower direction of rotation (10) in the activated state. Therefore, in the activated state, the lower direction of rotation (10) represents a blocked direction of rotation (12). The allowed direction of rotation (11) and the blocked direction of rotation (12) are indicated by arrows in FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a preferred configuration of the supporting device (1). In particular the structure of the subregion (3, 4) of the supporting device (1) is illustrated. The arm strut (5) and the armrest (6) are illustrated, which form the upper subregion (3) of the supporting device (1). Also visible are the further constituents of the lower subregion (4) and of the joint (7), which connects the subregions (3, 4) together. The joint (7) can comprise in particular a ratchet (17), which can preferably be in the form of a fine tooth ratchet. The lower subregion (4) comprises in particular a rack (19), which extends preferably substantially parallel to an attachment plate (18) and a coupling rod (13). The coupling rod (13) is preferably connected to the arm strut (5) of the upper subregion (3) of the supporting device (1). The attachment plate (18) can preferably be connected to the rack (19) by plain bearings (15). Furthermore, a sleeve (16) is arranged on the rack (19), the sleeve (16) being able to be connected to a partial gear (14).
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a detail illustration of a preferred embodiment of the ratchet. In the state illustrated in FIG. 3, the joint (7) or the ratchet is in the activated state.
[0034] For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred for the joint (7) or the ratchet (17), in the activated state, to absorb forces in the one direction, while it slips through with minimum forces in the other direction. The force absorption in the one direction corresponds preferably to the blocking of the corresponding spatial direction. In particular, the joint (7) blocks the downward direction of rotation (10) in the activated state, so as to prevent the upper subregion (3) of the supporting device (1) from moving downward in the activated state. As a result, the lower direction of rotation or of movement (10) corresponds to the blocked direction of rotation (12) in the activated state of the supporting device (1). The slipping through of the joint (7) corresponds preferably to the free or allowed direction of movement (11). In the deactivated state, both the upper direction of rotation (9) and the lower direction of rotation (10) are allowed directions of rotation (11). In particular, in the deactivated state, no teeth are engaged within the ratchet (17), and so the joint (7) can slip through in both directions of rotation (9, 10) in the deactivated state. The allowed directions of rotation (11) are preferably also referred to as free-running for the purposes of the invention.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows a further schematic side view of a preferred configuration of the supporting device (1).
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS:
[0036] 1 Device/supporting device [0037] 2 Arms of a user [0038] 3 Upper subregion [0039] 4 Lower subregion [0040] 5 Arm strut [0041] 6 Armrest [0042] 7 Joint [0043] 8 Horizontal pivot point or horizontal axis of rotation [0044] 9 Upper spatial direction [0045] 10 Lower spatial direction [0046] 11 Allowed direction of rotation [0047] 12 Blocked direction of rotation [0048] 13 Coupling rod [0049] 14 Partial gear [0050] 15 Plain bearing [0051] 16 Sleeve [0052] 17 Ratchet [0053] 18 Attachment plate [0054] 19 Rack
