IP Library Granted Patent US 10,449,666
Granted Patent B2
US 10,449,666 · App. 14/594,380 · Granted Oct 22, 2019

Supporting modules and motion assistance apparatuses including the same

Inventors: Hyun Do Choi (Yongin-si, KR); Jeong Hun Kim (Hwaseong-si, KR); Se-Gon Roh (Suwon-si, KR); Min Hyung Lee (Anyang-si, KR); Youn Baek Lee (Yongin-si, KR); Jong Won Lee (Uiwang-si, KR); Byung June Choi (Gunpo-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
B25J9/0006A61H1/0244A61H3/00A61H2201/0192A61H2201/1207A61H2201/1238A61H2201/164A61H2201/165A61H2201/1628A61H2201/5007A61H2201/5064A61H2201/5069
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,449,666
App. No.
14/594,380
Granted
Oct 22, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A supporting module may include: a supporting frame configured to support an action part of an object; a pressure member connected to the supporting frame and configured to push the action part to rotate when the supporting frame rotates in a first direction; a supporting member configured to pull the action part to rotate when the supporting frame rotates in a second direction; and/or a dispersion member, between the pressure member and the supporting member, configured to disperse force transmitted from the pressure member in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the transmitted force and configured to transmit the dispersed force to the supporting member.

Claims (32)

1. A supporting module, comprising:

a supporting frame configured to support an action part of an object;

a pressure member connected to the supporting frame and configured to push the action part to rotate when the supporting frame rotates in a first direction;

a supporting member configured to pull the action part to rotate when the supporting frame rotates in a second direction; and

a dispersion member between the pressure member and the supporting member, the dispersion member configured to disperse force transmitted from the pressure member in a third direction perpendicular to a fourth direction of the transmitted force and transmit the dispersed force to the supporting member, the dispersion member being a combination of a plurality of dispersion parts and a plurality of connection parts, the plurality of connection parts including a first connection part and two second connection parts, the plurality of dispersion parts including a first dispersion part, the first connection part connected to the supporting frame or the pressure member, the first dispersion part connected to the first connection part at a central region thereof, the two second connection parts connected to two opposite longitudinal ends of the first dispersion part, respectively, and connected to at least two second dispersion points thereby configured to transmit the dispersed force to different points of the supporting member, each of the plurality of dispersion parts having a higher rigidity than corresponding one or more of the plurality of connection parts.

2. The supporting module of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of dispersion members including the dispersion member and another dispersion member,

wherein the dispersion member is on a first side of the supporting frame, and the another dispersion member is on a second side of the supporting frame, the first and second sides of the supporting frame being opposite sides of the supporting frame.

3. The supporting module of claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of dispersion parts further includes two second dispersion parts connected to the two second connection parts, respectively, and

the plurality of connection parts further includes four third connection parts, two of which are connected to two opposite longitudinal ends of one of the two second dispersion parts, respectively, and the other two of which are connected to two opposite longitudinal ends of the other one of the two second dispersion parts, respectively, to transmit the dispersed force to different points of the supporting member.

4. The supporting module of claim 1 , wherein the first dispersion part comprises material having a higher rigidity than the first connection part, and

wherein the first dispersion part is freely rotatable and movable, relative to the first connection part, with respect to the supporting frame or the pressure member.

5. The supporting module of claim 1 , wherein the pressure member is configured to be along a perimeter of the action part to cover at least a portion of a front surface of the action part.

6. The supporting module of claim 1 , wherein the supporting member is configured to be disposed along a perimeter of the action part of the object.

7. The supporting module of claim 1 , wherein the first dispersion part is configured to be between the pressure member and the action part.

8. The supporting module of claim 1 , wherein the pressure member is configured to be pressurized by the supporting frame.

9. The supporting module of claim 8 , wherein the pressure member extends to both sides with respect to the supporting frame.

10. A motion assistance apparatus, comprising:

an actuator module configured to provide power;

a driving module configured to receive the power from the actuator module; and

a supporting module including,

a supporting frame configured to support an action part of an object,

a pressure member connected to the supporting frame and configured to press a first side of the action part,

a dispersion member configured to disperse force transmitted from the supporting frame or the pressure member in a longitudinal direction of the action part,

the dispersion member connected to the supporting frame or the pressure member, the dispersion member including a plurality of dispersion parts and a plurality of connection parts connected to the plurality of dispersion parts, the plurality of connection parts including a first connection part and two second connection parts, the plurality of dispersion parts including a first dispersion part, the first connection part connected to the supporting frame or the pressure member, the first dispersion part connected to the first connection part at a central region thereof, the two second connection parts connected to two opposite longitudinal ends of the first dispersion part, respectively, and connected to at least two second dispersion points thereby configured to transmit the dispersed force to different points of a supporting member, and

the supporting member connected to the dispersion member to pull a second side of the action part.

11. The motion assistance apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the pressure member and the supporting member are configured to be perpendicular to a rotation direction of the action part.

12. The motion assistance apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the driving module comprises a rotation member configured to be on one side of a hip joint of the object, and

wherein the supporting frame is connected to the rotation member and is configured to be bent from a side surface of a lower body of the object toward a front surface of the object to cover at least a portion of the action part.

13. The supporting module of claim 10 , wherein the pressure member is configured to be pressurized by the supporting frame.

14. The supporting module of claim 13 , wherein the pressure member extends to both sides with respect to the supporting frame.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2015
From: CHOI, HYUN DO; KIM, JEONG HUN; ROH, SE-GON; LEE, MIN HYUNG; LEE, YOUN BAEK; LEE, JONG WON; CHOI, BYUNG JUNE
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034693/0022 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2014-0062278 · May 23, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150336265A1 · Nov 26, 2015