Legged mobility exoskeleton device with enhanced adjustment mechanisms

1. An adjustable leg component for a legged mobility device, the leg component comprising:

a central carrier; and

first and second housings that are located on opposite sides of the central carrier and mechanically connected to the central carrier; and

an adjustment mechanism configured to implement movement of the first housing either closer to or farther from the second housing to adjust a length of the leg component;

the adjustment mechanism includes a drive shaft that extends through the central carrier; and a plurality of driven shafts that extend through the central carrier and are connected at a first end to the first housing and connected at a second end opposite from the first end to the second housing; and

the drive shaft rotates to drive the plurality of driven shafts to implement translational movement of the plurality of driven shafts to move the first housing closer to or farther from the second housing to adjust the length of the leg component;

wherein the plurality of driven shafts extend through the central carrier in a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal axis of the leg component, and the drive shaft extends through the central carrier in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and

wherein each of the plurality of driven shafts has a worm gear, and the drive shaft has a plurality of worms corresponding to each of the worm gears, and rotation of the drive shaft drives the plurality of driven shafts by interaction of the worms and worm gears.

2. The leg component of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the plurality of driven shafts has a first screw thread and a second screw thread on opposite sides of the worm gear; and

the first and second housings define bores for receiving the plurality of driven shafts, and the bores include internal threading for interfacing with the first and second screw threads of the plurality of driven shafts.

3. The leg component of claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft has an end socket that is configured to cooperate with an external tool to drive rotation of the drive shaft.

4. The leg component of claim 1 , wherein the leg component includes an internal motor that is controlled to drive rotation of the drive shaft.

5. The leg component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of driven shafts consists of two driven shafts that have an identical configuration.

6. The leg component of claim 1 , wherein:

the first and second housings are mechanically connected to the central carrier using a plurality of rails; and

the plurality of rails each extend through the central carrier and are anchored at a first end in the first housing and anchored at a second end opposite from the first end in the second housing.

7. A legged mobility device comprising:

a hip component; and

at least one leg component according to claim 1 that is attached to the hip component.

8. An adjustable leg component for a legged mobility device, the leg component comprising:

a central carrier; and

first and second housings that are located on opposite sides of the central carrier and mechanically connected to the central carrier; and

an adjustment mechanism configured to implement movement of the first housing either closer to or farther from the second housing to adjust a length of the leg component;

the adjustment mechanism includes a drive shaft that extends through the central carrier; and a plurality of driven shafts that extend through the central carrier and are connected at a first end to the first housing and connected at a second end opposite from the first end to the second housing; and

the drive shaft rotates to drive the plurality of driven shafts to implement translational movement of the plurality of driven shafts to move the first housing closer to or farther from the second housing to adjust the length of the leg component;

wherein the plurality of driven shafts extend through the central carrier in a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal axis of the leg component, and the drive shaft extends through the central carrier in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and

wherein the drive shaft has an end socket that is configured to cooperate with an external tool to drive rotation of the drive shaft.

9. A legged mobility device comprising:

a hip component; and

at least one leg component according to claim 8 that is attached to the hip component.

10. An adjustable leg component for a legged mobility device, the leg component comprising:

a central carrier; and

first and second housings that are located on opposite sides of the central carrier and mechanically connected to the central carrier; and

an adjustment mechanism configured to implement movement of the first housing either closer to or farther from the second housing to adjust a length of the leg component;

the adjustment mechanism includes a drive shaft that extends through the central carrier; and a plurality of driven shafts that extend through the central carrier and are connected at a first end to the first housing and connected at a second end opposite from the first end to the second housing; and

the drive shaft rotates to drive the plurality of driven shafts to implement translational movement of the plurality of driven shafts to move the first housing closer to or farther from the second housing to adjust the length of the leg component;

wherein the plurality of driven shafts extend through the central carrier in a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal axis of the leg component, and the drive shaft extends through the central carrier in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;

the first and second housings are mechanically connected to the central carrier using a plurality of rails; and

the plurality of rails each extend through the central carrier and are anchored at a first end in the first housing and anchored at a second end opposite from the first end in the second housing.

11. A legged mobility device comprising:

a hip component; and

at least one leg component according to claim 10 that is attached to the hip component.