Device for supporting at least one arm
A device for supporting at least one arm of a user, wherein: the device has at least one arm-supporting element comprising an arm shell for placing on the arm, at least one passive actuator which is configured to apply a force to the at least one arm-supporting element, and at least one counter bearing for the force to be applied, with at least one force transmission element and a counter bearing element; the arm-supporting element is connected to the force transmission element via an articulation so as to be pivotable about at least one pivot axis; the device additionally has at least one restraining element which limits a movement of the arm shell along the arm towards the hand when the device is worn, but does not affect a movement of the arm shell in the opposite direction; and the at least one restraining element is designed to be flexible but inelastic, and/or has at least one portion which extends in an axillary manner.
1 . A device for supporting at least one arm of a user, wherein the device has
at least one arm support element with an arm shell for placing on the arm,
at least one passive actuator, which is configured to apply a force to the at least one arm support element, and
at least one counter bearing for the force to be applied, which comprises at least one force transmission element and a counter bearing element,
wherein the at least one arm support element is connected to the force transmission element via a joint such that the at least one arm support element can be swivelled about at least one swivel axis,
wherein application of the force to the at least one arm support element by the at least one passive actuator when the at least one arm of the user is raised such that an elbow of the user is above a shoulder of the user causes displacement of the arm shell along the at least one arm of the user toward a hand of the user,
characterized in that the device also comprises at least one restraining element that restricts the displacement of the arm shell along the arm towards the hand when the device is mounted and the at least one passive actuator applies the force to the at least one arm support element, but does not influence a displacement of the arm shell in the opposite direction, wherein the at least one restraining element is designed to be flexible yet inelastic.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one restraining element comprises at least one section that extends in an axillary manner and the at least one axillary section of the at least one restraining element in combination with at least one further section of the device forms a loop on a torso of the user when the device is mounted.
3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one restraining element further comprises a second axillary section and the second axillary section, the at least one axillary section, and the at least one further section of the device forms the loop.
4 . The device according to claim 3 , characterized in that the device has a second arm support element with a second arm shell for placing on a second arm of the user and the at least one restraining element restricts a displacement of the second arm shell along the second arm towards a second hand when the device is mounted, but does not influence a displacement of the second arm shell in the opposite direction.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the restraining element extends from the arm shell or the at least one arm support element to the counter bearing element.
6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one restraining element comprises at least one section that extends in an axillary manner and the at least one axillary section of the at least one restraining element extends from top to bottom, within a sagittal plane, when the device is in the mounted state.
7 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the restraining element is an item of clothing or part of an item of clothing, the item of clothing being a t-shirt, a shirt, a vest or a jacket.
8 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the arm shell and/or the counter bearing element is detachably arranged on the restraining element.
9 . The device according to claim 7 , characterized in that the item of clothing features a reinforcement.
10 . The device according to claim 9 , characterized in that the reinforcement is a coating, an additional layer of fabric, or a reinforcement element.
11 . The device according to claim 9 , characterized in that the reinforcement extends across at least one section of a path from the arm shell to the counter bearing element.
12 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the restraining element has at least one strap that is arranged on the arm shell and an attachment element which is arranged on the user's upper body when the device is mounted.
13 . A device for supporting the arms of a user, the device comprising:
a first arm support element with a first arm shell for placing on a first arm;
a second arm support element with a second arm shell for placing on a second arm;
at least one passive actuator configured to apply a force to at least one of the first and second arm support elements;
at least one counter bearing which comprises at least one force transmission element and a counter bearing element, wherein the first and second arm support elements are each connected to the at least one force transmission element via a first joint such that the first and second arm support elements can be swivelled about at least one swivel axis, wherein the at least one force transmission element is connected to the counter bearing element via a second joint such that the at least one force transmission element can be swivelled;
wherein application of the force to at least one of the first and second arm support elements by the at least one passive actuator when at least one of the first and second arms of the user is raised such that an elbow of the user is above a shoulder of the user causes displacement of at least one of the first and second arm shells along the at least one of the first and second arms of the user toward at least one of a first and second hand of the user,
wherein the device also comprises at least one restraining element to restrict the displacement of at least one of the first and second arm shells along at least one of the first and second arms towards at least one of the first and second hands of the user when the device is mounted and the at least one passive actuator applies the force to the at least one of the first and second arm support elements, but which does not influence a displacement of the first and second arm shells in the opposite direction;
wherein the at least one restraining element is designed to be flexible yet inelastic and forms a loop with at least one further section of the device, wherein the loop is formed on a torso of a user when the device is mounted on the user.
14 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein the restraining element extends from the first and second arm shells or the first and second arm support elements to the counter bearing element.
15 . The device according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one restraining element comprises at least one section that extends in an axillary manner and the at least one axillary section of the at least one restraining element extends from top to bottom, within a sagittal plane, when the device is in the mounted state.
16 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein the restraining element is an item of clothing or part of an item of clothing, the item of clothing being a t-shirt, a shirt, a vest or a jacket.
17 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein the arm shell and/or the counter bearing element is detachably arranged on the restraining element.
18 . The device according to claim 16 , wherein the item of clothing features a reinforcement.
19 . The device according to claim 18 , wherein the reinforcement is a coating, an additional layer of fabric, or a reinforcement element.
20 . A device for supporting the arms of a user, the device comprising:
a first arm support element with a first detachable arm shell for placing on a first arm;
a second arm support element with a second detachable arm shell for placing on a second arm;
at least one passive actuator configured to apply a force to at least one of the first and second arm support elements;
at least one counter bearing which comprises at least one force transmission element and a counter bearing element, wherein the first and second arm support elements are each connected to the at least one force transmission element via a first joint such that the first and second arm support elements can be swivelled about at least one swivel axis, wherein the at least one force transmission element is connected to the counter bearing element via a second joint such that the at least one force transmission element can be swivelled;
wherein application of the force to at least one of the first and second arm support elements by the at least one passive actuator when at least one of the first and second arms of the user is raised such that an elbow of the user is above a shoulder of the user causes displacement of at least one of the first and second arm shells along the at least one of the first and second arms of the user toward at least one of a first and second hand of the user,
wherein the device also comprises at least one restraining element in the form of an item of clothing or part of an item of clothing, the item of clothing being a t-shirt, a shirt, a vest or a jacket, the restraining element being adapted to restrict the displacement of at least one of the first and second arm shells along at least one of the first and second arms towards at least one of the first and second hands of the user when the device is mounted and the at least one passive actuator applies the force to at least one of the first and second arm support elements in a direction of the first and second hands of the user, but which does not influence a displacement of the first and second arm shells in the opposite direction;
wherein the at least one restraining element features a reinforcement and is designed to be flexible yet inelastic.