DYNAMICALLY DEPENDENT MOVEMENT BLOCKING SYSTEM

Abstract

A dynamically dependent blocking system for orthoses or protectors for limiting relative movements of at least two body segments consisting of at least one blocking unit having a blocking element, an extending element and the body attachment structures, and worn on the body. The central element of the blocking unit is the blocking element.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. Limiting physiological movements of body segments, wherein the body segments are connected together by an extending element and a blocking element such that the extending element is wound onto a winding mechanism in the blocking element, driving a coupled blocking mechanism upon extending which completely or partially blocks further rotation upon a specific speed being exceeded.

24. A blocking system according to claim 23, wherein the blocking system consists of at least one blocking unit worn on a body by way of at least two fixed connection points on variably connected ones of the body segments.

25. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein the blocking system is movable below a speed threshold.

26. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein the blocking system initiates blockage below a speed threshold via the blocking mechanism.

27. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein the blocking system comprises a resetting winding mechanism which allows a change in a length in a specific range and is coupled to the blocking mechanism to transmit a force which blocks the winding mechanism by positive locking or friction and prevents the change in the length and thus absorbs the force that occurs.

28. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein different ones of the body segments connected to each other individually or in combination via different joints such as swivel joints, hinge joints, saddle joints, planar joint connections, condylar or ball joints can be fit with the blocking system.

29. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein oppositely disposed parts of the blocking system can be connected to a body attachment structure by sewing, riveting, tying, gluing, welding, screwing, or wiring.

30. The blocking system according to claim 27, wherein the change in the length is realized by a coil or a reel onto which a flexible tension element in the form of a cord, a wire, a cable, a strap, a belt or a chain is rolled or looped around.

31. The blocking system according to claim 27, wherein the resetting winding mechanism is powered by an energy store situated in a linear voltage range.

32. The blocking system according to claim 30, wherein the flexible tension element is fixed thermally, mechanically or chemically in the resetting winding mechanism.

33. The blocking system according to claim 32, wherein the mechanical connection between the winding mechanism and the blocking mechanism is realized by V-belts, toothed belts, guide rollers, gears, friction or a shaft.

34. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein the blocking system comprises a mechanical coupling in a form of a mounted receiving disk in which at least one contact element is rotatably mounted.

35. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein the blocking mechanism can be activated by tension or pressure and is in mathematical relation to a cited threshold value.

36. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein contact elements are mounted by means of pins or positive locking.

37. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein contact elements form a bonding surface by way of a positive connection with a surrounding housing upon a threshold value being exceeded and thus effect blockage.

38. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein the blocking mechanism triggers mechanically, electrically, electromagnetically, viscously, by centrifugal force or a combination thereof depending on a threshold value.

39. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein the at least one blocking unit can either be triggered mechanically, electronically or by a combination thereof as well as in a blocking system in which the at least one blocking unit is connected wirelessly or via control lines to a central control and triggering device.

40. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein the at least one blocking unit can be coupled to oppositely disposed parts and itself via deflection.

41. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein two tension elements are wound on a coil body atop each other in one winding chamber or in two separate winding chambers in a same directionality such that the two tension elements exit the coil body in an opposite direction and lead to body attachment structures, whereby the blocking element positions between the body attachment structures.

42. The blocking system according to claim 41, wherein the two separate winding chambers of the coil body can have different diameters, whereby asymmetrical extension length results.

43. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein one or more sensors are used to measure revolutions of a rotor of the blocking element which measure a position of a contact element either optically with reflected light sensors, magnetically with a detector coil, or a Hall sensor or with an ultrasonic sensor and are positioned in a stator housing on a circumference facing an interior or laterally in height facing the interior.

44. The blocking system according to claim 24, wherein a rotation is used to generate energy by a permanent magnet being positioned in a rotating part on the circumference or on one of end faces near the circumference, a moving magnetic field inducing a voltage in a coil in the stator.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a person in motion outfitted with a blocking system according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing two body segments.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a human skeleton with different body segments.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing two hands respectively pulling apart or pressing together a blocking element and a tension element.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a blocking mechanism of a blocking element.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a resetting winding mechanism powered by an energy store.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing three variants of the blocking element in which the winding mechanism as well as the blocking mechanism are arranged to transmit force radially and axially to each other.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a motion sequence of accidents in two three-part sequences.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment in which the energy store for tightening the extending element and for rewinding onto the coil body is affixed externally.

[0035] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing embodiments in which contact elements can be embedded via a concentric positive fit or via a bearing bolt.

[0036] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing embodiments of the blocking mechanism.

[0037] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing embodiments of an electromagnetically controlled blocking unit.

[0038] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing two body attachment structures in which the blocking unit with tension element is coupled to itself by a deflection mechanism.

[0039] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an abstracted hinge joint of the human body.

[0040] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a blocking system having two tension elements which lead from two opposite outlets in opposite directions along a line of force to the two body attachment structures.

[0041] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing use of reflected light sensors which are implemented in the housing and detect when the contact elements pass the sensor during rotation.

[0042] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of how electrical energy can be obtained from the movement of body segments relative to each other using a blocking system.

[0043] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment using an eccentric to variably pretension a leaf spring.

[0044] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a positive locking structure able to extend in an axial direction.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a person in motion outfitted with the blocking system consisting of several blocking units (1.0). The blocking units (1.0) are comprised of blocking elements (1.1) and tension elements (1.4) which are affixed to the body attachment structures (2.1). The blocking elements (1.1) consist of a housing (1.1.1, 1.1.4), a winding mechanism (1.1.2) and a blocking mechanism (1.1.3).

[0046] The individual blocking elements (1.1) can be connected to a central control and triggering device (1.5) via control lines (1.3).

[0047] FIG. 2 shows two body segments (2.2), connected by a hinge joint (3.6), to which a body attachment structure (2.1) is affixed and on which a blocking element (1.1) is affixed and connected by means of a tension element (1.4). The blocking element can be connected to the body attachment structure (2.1) by tying (2.3), riveting (2.4), sewing (2.5), gluing (2.6), welding (2.7), screwing (2.8) and wiring (2.9). The blocking element (1.1) can also be used on only one side of the joint, whereby the load cable is connected to the corresponding attachment structure (2.1) via the tension connection (1.2).

[0048] FIG. 3 depicts a human skeleton (3.7) with different body segments (2.2) connected by swivel joints (3.1), ball joints (3.2), condylar joints (3.3), planar joint connections (3.4), saddle joints (3.5), hinge joints (3.6).

[0049] FIG. 4 shows two hands respectively pulling apart (4.1) or pressing together (4.2) a blocking element (1.1) and the other end of a tension element (1.4). It can be seen here that the blocking element is freely movable below a defined speed threshold but blocked above a defined speed threshold.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a blocking mechanism (1.1.3) of a blocking element (1.1) from above, which is actuated by the tension element (1.4). Detail (5.1) shows the state below a defined speed threshold where the return spring (5.7) is stronger than the centrifugal force on the contact elements (5.6) and thus the blocking mechanism (1.1.3) is freely movable. The mounted receiving disk (5.4) with the spring-returned contact elements (5.6) situated therein can freely move around the spindle (5.5).

[0051] Detail (5.2) shows the state after a defined speed threshold has been exceeded, with the blocking mechanism (1.1.3) being positively blocked by the surrounding positive locking structure (5.3). The extending element (1.4) is deflected in the tangential direction of the winding mechanism (1.1.2) either during or after entering the blocking element (1.1).

[0052] The direction of the extending element (1.4) runs to the center and is deflected at the housing tangentially to the winding mechanism (1.1.2). No torque is thereby generated between the housing and the attachment structure (2.1) during blocking. When allowed, the extending element (1.4) can also exit the housing eccentrically, tangential to the winding mechanism (1.1.2).

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a resetting winding mechanism powered by an energy store such as a spiral spring (6.1). The tension element (1.4) is thereby variably extendable and can be connected to the coil thermally (e.g. welding) (2.7), mechanically (e.g. tying) (2.3), by screwing (2.8) or chemically (e.g. gluing).

[0054] FIG. 7 shows three variants of the blocking element (1.1) in which the winding mechanism (1.1.2) as well as the blocking mechanism (1.1.3) are arranged to transmit force radially and axially to each other. Detail 7.1 shows a radial arrangement of the winding mechanism (1.1.2) and the blocking mechanism (1.1.3) which are frictionally connected by a belt (7.1.1).

[0055] Detail 7.2 shows a radial arrangement of the winding and blocking mechanism (1.1.3), (1.1.2) which are frictionally connected to each other by gearing (7.2.1).

[0056] (7.3) shows a sectional view through the blocking unit (1.1) in which the winding mechanism (1.1.2) and the blocking mechanism (1.1.3) are frictionally connected via a spindle (5.5) and encased in a housing (1.1.1/1.1.4).

[0057] Detail 7.1 and detail 7.2 have the advantage of the arrangement becoming flatter.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows the motion sequence of accidents in two three-part sequences.

[0059] Detail 8.1 shows the unrestricted freedom of movement at a defined speed. Detail 8.2 shows an accident in which the blocking units (1.1) block and thus protect the joints from excessive physiological stress.

[0060] FIG. 9 shows one embodiment variant in which the energy store (6.1) for tightening the extending element (4.1) and for rewinding onto the coil body (6.2) is affixed externally. Transmission of power ensues via a deflection mechanism (9.4) affixed to the blocking element (1.1.3). The tension element (1.4) can be designed as a cable (1.4), chain (9.2), belt (9.3) or strap (9.1).

[0061] FIG. 10 shows two embodiment variants in which the contact elements (5.6) can be embedded via a concentric positive fit (10.1) or via a bearing bolt (10.2). Both illustrations constitute a cylindrical bearing with radial and axial fixation, with rotational freedom restricted by limit stops. Also illustrated are the curved leaf springs (5.7) which act against the centrifugal force and centripetally return the contact elements (5.6) below a specific rotational speed.

[0062] FIG. 11 shows three embodiment variants of the blocking mechanism (1.1.3). Detail (11.1) shows the blocking rotor (11.1.1) in a blade structure arrangement embedded in a preferably viscous liquid (11.1.2). This provides less resistance at low speed than at high speed. Moreover, at abruptly increasing speed, the liquid (11.1.2) cannot be deflected quickly enough and there is therefore more forceful blocking of the rotor of the blocking mechanism (1.1.3). The effect is heightened when the rotor blades are of, for example, strut-like structure (11.1.1) or have radial slits into which the rigid rake-shaped fins fixed to the stator engage.

[0063] Detail (11.2) shows an electromagnetic coupling with a respective speed sensor (11.2.2, 11.2.3) as well as an electromagnetic coil (11.2.1) which magnetically locks the blocking mechanism (1.1.3) at a defined speed.

[0064] Detail 11.3 shows a blocking mechanism (1.1.3) which allows the locking of the contact elements (5.6) by centrifugal force.

[0065] Detail (11.4) shows an exemplary embodiment of the blocking element (1.1) in which the blocking mechanism (1.1.3) is mounted axially with the winding mechanism (1.1.2) and mounted as a unit over a defined pivot point (11.4.1). This unit is held in a defined position below a load threshold via a spring return (11.4.2). Should the energy exceed the load threshold, the blocking unit with the mounting mechanism is positively pressed against the housing (1.1.1) via the defined pivot point and thus locked.

[0066] FIG. 12 shows two exemplary designs of an electromagnetically controlled blocking unit. One variant with two axially arranged locking plates (12.4), (12.5) can be seen in detail 12.1, or in the detail 12.3 enlargement respectively, wherein (12.5) has axial displaceability yet torque can be transmitted to the spindle, for example via tongue and groove. (12.4) is rigidly connected to the stator. Without electromagnetic activation, the two plates are kept apart by a spring (12.6).

[0067] 12.3. shows a detail view of (12.1) and (12.2) from a different angle with the two locking plates (12.4), (12.5) having complementary profiles for form-fit locking.

[0068] Blockage is realized in that the lower plate (12.5) engages positively in the upper plate (12.4), thereby achieving the generating of a magnetic field by an energized electric coil (12.2.1) enclosed by the housing part (12.2.7), the fixed plate (12.4), the rotating plate (12.5) and the annular yoke (12.8) and the exertion of attractive forces on the plates in the air gap between the plates (12.4) and (12.5). A frictional coupling can also be realized without a form-fit profile.

[0069] Detail 12.2 shows a further exemplary embodiment in which the housing (1.1.4, 1.1.1) encloses the electromagnetic coil (11.2.1).

[0070] FIG. 13 shows two body attachment structures (2.1) in which the blocking unit (1.1) with tension element (1.4) is coupled to itself by a deflection mechanism (13.1, 13.2). This means that one side of the tension element (1.4) leads to the drum of the blocking system as previously described, whereby the other end of (1.4) leads to a fixed point on, for example, the housing of the blocking unit or the body attachment (2.1) itself via the deflection (13.1/13.2). The maximum load is thus doubled through the pulley principle. This is achieved using sliding surfaces (13.1) or supported cylindrical bodies (13.2).

[0071] At the same time the blocking force is doubled, the length of the cable drawn out of the coil is doubled, which leads to a doubling of the rotational speed in the same unit of time and consequently increases the centrifugal forces or viscous effects and thus the blocking or respectively braking function.

[0072] FIG. 14 depicts an abstracted hinge joint of the human body, in which can be seen that a bend in the neutral fiber line (14.2) does not cause an offset in length. If the offset surfaces (14.3) are then offset parallel to the neutral fiber line (14.2), the change in length becomes significant with the distance from the pivot point.

[0073] FIG. 15 shows a further variant of a blocking system (1.1) having two tension elements (1.4a, 1.4.b) which lead from two opposite outlets in opposite directions along the line of force to the two body attachment structures (2.1). The two tension elements (1.4a, 1.4.b) are wound on the coil body (5.4) in the same directionality and can rest on top of (15.4) or adjacent each other in two separate winding chambers (15.3). The advantage here being that the blocking system (1.1) itself does not need to have any connectivity (sewing, gluing, riveting, etc.) to a body attachment structure (2.1) and that the housing can be of smaller design. There is also often little space in the body attachment structure such that a blocking system (1.1) would be disruptive there. When making use of two winding chambers (15.3) on the coil body, they can have different diameters (15.5), wherein the position of the blocking system (1.1) is not symmetrically located between the suspension points but rather shifts more towards one attachment point, whereby different types of joints and outfit designs can be considered.

[0074] (15.a) shows the basic principle of double winding in a vertical section, whereby (15.b.) shows the principle of a practical implementation containing two bolts (15.1) (15.1) in the housing which on the one hand deflect the tension elements (4.1a, 4.1b) into the tangent (15.1) of the winding mechanism (1.1.2) and at the same time constitute at least one bolt of the anchoring for the spiral spring. 15.c and 15.d show coil variants.

[0075] FIG. 16 shows the use of reflected light sensors (16.1) which are implemented in the housing (16.7) and detect when the contact elements (5.6), (16.6) pass the sensor during rotation. In position (16.a), a contact element (5.6) (16.6) is in front of the sensor, whereby the emitted light (16.2) is strongly reflected (16.3a). In position (16.b), the distance is greater and the emitted light (16.2) is less strongly reflected (16.3b). One or also multiple sensors can be used. Two sensors are depicted here. This makes it possible to also detect the rotational direction if the two sensors are at <90 positioning, e.g. 45, or both catches have different light/dark surface coding (16.4) and (16.5). Preferably, a threshold is defined for catch/no catch and the signal is further processed digitally (time measurement).

[0076] The direction of rotation can also be measured with only one sensor if the reflected signal is recorded in analog. Due to the profile of the contact elements (5.6) (16.6), the measured curve of the reflected light indeed appears dependent on the rotational direction.

[0077] Instead of a reflected light sensor (16.1), a magnetic sensor in the form of a detector coil or a Hall sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor or a microphone capsule can also be used.

[0078] FIG. 17 shows one option of how electrical energy can be obtained from the movement of body segments relative to each other using a blocking system. To that end, a permanent magnet (17.2) is positioned in the rotating part (17.8) on the circumference or on one of the end faces near the circumference which induces a voltage in a fixed coil (17.1) via its magnetic field (17.3). The orientation of the magnet can be in the radial direction as depicted in detail 17.b or in the tangential direction (17.c). A coil core (17.4), e.g. of iron or ferrite, can be used to intensify the magnetic flux. If the coil is not integrated directly into the housing, the coil (17.1a) can also be positioned externally of the housing and the magnetic flux directed outward with a longer iron core (17.5). The braking effect during the rewinding of the extending element can be prevented if the load is disconnected in this phase using electronics.

[0079] FIG. 18 shows the option of using an eccentric (18.1) to variably pretension the leaf spring (5.7) and thus regulate the return force.

[0080] FIG. 19 shows the positive locking structure (5.3) able to extend in the axial direction and thus the blocking function able to be deactivated. Depicted is the retracted state which enables the blocking.

[0081] (19.1) shows a conical positive locking structure (5.3) in vertical section, (19.2) shows this structure through section AA (19.1) in plan view, and (19.3) shows the rotor with the contact elements (5.6) in plan view. When the positive locking structure (19.1) is axially displaced, the air gap changes and the contact elements (5.6) have to extend out to different distances, whereby the speed required thereto is different.

[0082] (5.3) can also be designed without a positive locking structure (also for (19.1)), whereby the rotation is decelerated as in the case of a drum brake.