JP6738699B2 - Upper arm assist device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an upper arm assisting device that can hold a user's upper arm at a desired height.

When cultivating fruit trees such as grapes and pears and working on pipes or wiring installed above, workers work with their forearms facing upward with their upper arms positioned at the required height. There is a case where it is necessary to perform (hereinafter referred to as “upward work”), and at this time, the worker receives a large load on the upper arm.

Various upper arm assist devices have been proposed in order to reduce the load on the upper arm of the operator during such upward work.

For example, in the following Patent Document 1, a body fixing belt attached to a body of an operator, a column attached to the body fixing belt, an elastic support arm attached to an upper portion of the column, and the elastic support arm. An arm receiving portion that is disposed at the tip end of the worker and that supports the upper arm of the operator from below, and an arm holding portion that rotates the elastic support arm with respect to the support column in the vertical direction and positions the elastic support arm at an arbitrary position. An upper arm assist device (hereinafter referred to as conventional configuration 1) is disclosed.

In the conventional configuration 1, the arm holding portion has a ratchet, and the ratchet is configured to prohibit downward rotation of the elastic support arm, so that the elastic support arm is attached to the elastic support arm. The upper arm portion is held via the arm receiving portion.

However, in the conventional configuration 1, the holding position of the elastic support arm is defined by the meshing position of the ratchet, and therefore, the holding position of the elastic support arm can be set only stepwise.

Further, in the conventional configuration 1, there is also a problem that it is very troublesome to change the holding position of the elastic support arm downward.
That is, it is assumed that the elastic support arm is held at the first height and the work is performed at the second height higher than that, and then the work is performed again at the first height. ..
In this case, the conventional configuration 1 raises the elastic support arm from the first height to the second height in conjunction with the ascending operation of the upper arm of the worker, but the elastic support arm is operated by the one-way clutch function of the ratchet. The arm cannot be lowered from the second height to the first height.
Therefore, when lowering the holding height of the elastic holding arm set to the second height to the first height, it is necessary to disassemble the device and remove the ratchet.

On the other hand, Patent Document 2 below discloses an upper arm assist device (hereinafter, referred to as conventional configuration 2) that can solve the problems of the conventional configuration 1 described above.

The conventional configuration 2 includes a main body mounted on a user's torso, an arm body that is rotatably connected to the main body around a rotation axis line along the user width direction, and supports an upper arm portion of the user, and the arm body. And a support mechanism capable of switching the operating state of.

The support mechanism is a disc-shaped support member that is fixed to a base end portion of the arm body that is rotatably connected to the main body around a rotation axis so as to rotate around the rotation axis together with the arm body. And a support arm rotatably provided on the main body so as to be rotatable about a swing axis parallel to the rotation axis, a stopper screwed to the support arm, and a solenoid provided on the main body.

The supporting member is provided with a tongue-shaped convex portion that can come into contact with the free end portion of the stopper from below, and the convex portion comes into contact with the free end portion of the stopper from below. The downward rotation of the arm body about the rotation axis is prohibited.

That is, in the conventional configuration 2, by changing the position of the stopper, the moving end of the arm body in the downward direction around the rotation axis, that is, the holding height of the upper arm portion supported by the arm body is substantially. It can be changed steplessly.

It should be noted that the pivotal movement of the arm body upward about the pivot axis is allowed because the convex portion is separated from the stopper.

The solenoid is connected to the support arm via a link, and when the solenoid is not electrically connected, the support arm is positioned at an operating position where the protrusion can abut the free end of the stopper. Thus, in the electrically conductive state, the support arm is arranged in the avoidance position where the convex portion does not contact the free end portion of the stopper.

According to the conventional configuration 2 of such a configuration, the solenoid is brought into a non-conductive state to expose a holding state in which the arm body is held at a holding height defined by a lower end position of the stopper, and the solenoid is provided. Is brought into an electrically conductive state, a released state in which the arm body is allowed to freely rotate both upward and downward around the rotation axis appears.

Further, in the conventional configuration 2, when the arm body is held at the holding height (the solenoid is in the non-conducting state), the arm body is rotated above the holding height set at that time. The holding height of the arm body, which is defined by the lower end position of the stopper, changes even if the arm body is rotated above the holding height set at that time. do not do.

However, in the conventional configuration 2, the switching between the supporting state and the releasing state is performed by switching between the non-conducting state and the conducting state of the solenoid, which requires the solenoid, a battery as a power source of the solenoid, and the like. There is a problem in that it causes an increase in size and an increase in size and weight.

JP, 2014-172129, A JP, 2014-113666, A

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional technique, and an object of the present invention is to provide an upper arm assist device that can set the holding height of an arm body that supports an upper arm infinitely without providing an electric actuator such as a solenoid. And

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention comprises a main body mounted on a user's torso, a pivot provided on the main body so as to extend in the user width direction, and a support portion for supporting a user's upper arm portion. An arm body rotatably connected to the main body about a rotation axis demarcated by the axis of the pivot shaft, and a rotation side shaft portion, and a rotation about the rotation axis line of the arm body. It has a rotation side support shaft provided on the arm body so that the rotation side shaft portion rotates about an axis according to a dynamic operation, and a fixed side shaft portion, and the fixed side shaft portion rotates A fixed side support shaft supported by the pivot shaft so as to coaxially face the side shaft part, one end side surrounding the rotating side shaft part and the other end side surrounding the fixed side shaft part. A coil spring externally fitted to both shaft portions, wherein the coil spring is rotated by a frictional force between the coil spring and the rotation-side shaft portion in an initial state in which a load is not applied to the arm body. The rotation of the shaft portion in the downward direction around the axis is prevented, the arm body is held at the initial setting position around the rotation axis line, and the rotation is performed when the pushing force in the upward direction acts on the arm body. When the load of the user's upper arm portion is applied to the arm body while allowing the arm body to move up by rotating the side shaft portion in the ascending direction about the axis line, the space between the side body portion and the rotating side shaft portion One end side of the coil spring is contracted by the frictional force to prevent the rotation-side shaft portion from rotating in the downward direction around the axis, and an upper arm assisting device that prohibits the lowering operation of the arm body is provided.

Preferably, the rotation side shaft portion and the fixed side shaft portion have the same outer diameter.

By locking the other end of the coil spring to the fixed side support shaft, the axial position of the other end of the coil spring can be fixed.

Instead of or in addition to this, the other end side of the coil spring becomes non-rotatable relative to the fixed side shaft portion due to the frictional force between the other end side of the coil spring and the fixed side shaft portion. Can be configured as.

The arm body has an arm-side overlapping region that overlaps with the main body when viewed along the rotation axis, and the main body overlaps with the arm body when viewed along the rotation axis. It has a polymerization region.
Preferably, one of the facing surfaces of the arm-side overlapping area and the body-side overlapping area is provided with an engaging groove extending around the rotation axis, and the facing surface of the arm-side overlapping area and the An engagement protrusion that is engaged with the engagement groove is provided on the other of the facing surfaces of the main body side overlapping region.

The upper arm assist device according to the present invention is further movable between an initial position and an operation position in accordance with a manual operation, and a ring-shaped releasing member externally inserted around the rotation-side shaft portion so as to be relatively rotatable about its axis. And an operating member set to

The releasing member is operatively connected to one end of the coil spring so that the coil spring expands in diameter by rotating in the releasing direction around the axis.
The operation member is operatively connected to the release member such that the release member rotates about the axis in the release direction in response to a manual operation from the initial position to the operation position.

The main body has a rear frame extending in the user width direction on the rear side of the user, and a pair of left and right front and rear frames extending in the user front-rear direction from both sides of the rear frame in the user width direction.
In this case, the arm body has a pair of arm frames rotatably connected to the front and rear frames, respectively, so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis.

Preferably, the arm frame and the front and rear frames are spaced apart in the user width direction with a gap, and the release member is arranged in the gap.
In this case, the operation member is disposed above the arm frame and the front and rear frames, a position immediately above the arm frame and the front and rear frames is the initial position, and a position separated upward from the initial position is provided. The operation position is set.

In various configurations, preferably, the arm frame has a rotating frame that is rotatably connected to the front and rear frames around a rotating axis, and a supporting frame that has the supporting portion and is connected to the rotating frame. And the connection position of the support frame to the rotating frame is changeable in the longitudinal direction of the rotating frame.

According to the upper arm assist device of the present invention, the rotation-side spindle provided on the arm body so that the rotation-side shaft portion rotates about the rotation axis line of the arm body around the rotation axis line. And a fixed side support shaft supported by a pivot shaft defining a rotation axis so that the fixed side shaft part is coaxially opposed to the rotation side shaft part, and one end side and the other end side are respectively rotated. A coil spring externally inserted into the shaft portions so as to surround the side shaft portion and the fixed shaft portion, and the coil spring is rotated in an initial state in which a load is not applied to the arm body. The rotation of the rotating side shaft portion in the downward direction around the axis is prevented by the frictional force with the side shaft portion, and the arm body is held at the initial setting position around the rotating axis line and is raised to the arm body. When a pushing force in the direction is applied, the load of the user's upper arm is applied to the arm while allowing the arm on the rotating side to rotate in the ascending direction around the axis and move upward. When this is done, the one end side of the coil spring is reduced in diameter by the frictional force with the rotation-side shaft portion to prevent the rotation-side shaft portion from rotating in the downward direction around the axis line to prevent the arm body from rotating. Since the lowering operation is prohibited, the holding height of the arm body supporting the upper arm portion can be set steplessly without providing an electric actuator such as a solenoid.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an upper arm assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the upper arm assist device. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a main part of the upper arm assisting device, showing a part of constituent members in an exploded state. FIG. 4 is a front view of a main part of the upper arm assisting device. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of the upper arm assisting device. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the front and rear frames on the left side and the vicinity of the arm frame in the upper arm assisting device, showing a state as viewed from the front and the inside in the user width direction. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the exploded perspective view of FIG. 6 is viewed from the front and the outside in the user width direction. FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 9 taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the upper arm assisting device and an upper assisting device according to a comparative example.

An embodiment of an upper arm assist device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 and 2 show front and rear perspective views of an upper arm assist device 1 according to the present embodiment, respectively.
3 to 5 show a front perspective view, a front view, and a plan view of a main part of the upper arm assisting device 1, respectively.
Note that, in FIG. 3, some of the constituent members are shown in a disassembled state.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the upper arm assist device 1 includes a main body 10 mounted on a user's body 500, a pivot 30 provided on the main body 10 along the user width direction, and a user. It has a support portion 65 for supporting the upper arm portion 510, and is provided with an arm body 50 rotatably connected to the main body about a rotation axis X defined by the axis of the pivot shaft 30.

In the present embodiment, the main body 10 includes a rear frame 11 extending in the user width direction on the rear side of the user and a pair of left and right front and rear frames 15L, 15R extending forward from both sides of the rear frame 11 in the user width direction. Have

The front and rear frames 15 are rotatably connected to both ends of the rear frame 11 in the user width direction so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis Y that extends substantially vertically.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 10 further has a base end portion directly or indirectly connected to the rear frame 11 and a tip end portion on the left and right shoulder portions of the user. A pair of left and right shoulder-hanging members 17L and 17R that reach the front side of the user and abdomen attachment member 19 wound around the abdomen of the worker in a state of being directly or indirectly connected to the rear frame 11. doing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear frame 11 is arranged along the user width direction in a state of being positioned near the scapula in the vertical direction.
The abdomen attachment member 19 is connected to the back frame 11 via a vertical frame 13 that extends vertically on the back side of the user.

In the illustrated embodiment, the main body 10 further has a base end portion connected to the upper and lower frames 13 and a tip end portion that passes through the left and right armpits of the user to the tip end portions of the pair of left and right shoulder hanging members 17, respectively. A pair of left and right auxiliary connecting members 18 connected to each other are provided.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the arm body 50 is connected to each of the pair of front and rear frames 15L and 15R so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis X. 55L, 55R, and the left and right upper arm portions 510L, 510R of the user can be supported by the pair of arm frames 55L, 55R.

6 and 7 show exploded perspective views of the vicinity of the left and right front frames 15L and the left arm frame 55L as viewed from the front.
6 and 7 are exploded perspective views seen from the inside and the outside of the user width direction, respectively.
In the present embodiment, left and right mean directions based on the user.

Further, FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the left front frame 15L and the left arm frame 55L taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG.
Further, FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG.

The arm body 50 (the arm frame 55 in the present embodiment) overlaps with the main body 10 (the front and rear frames 15 in the present embodiment) when viewed along the rotation axis X. There is a region 51, and an arm side opening 53 through which the pivot shaft 30 is inserted is provided in the arm side overlapping region 51.

Specifically, the front and rear frame 15 has a main body side overlapping region 10C which overlaps with the arm side overlapping region 51 when viewed along the rotation axis X.
A main body side opening 20 through which the pivot shaft 30 is inserted is provided in the main body side overlapping region 10C.

Furthermore, a cap is provided on the back surface (outer surface facing outward in the user width direction in the present embodiment) of the main body side overlapping region 10C that faces away from the arm frame 55 in the direction along the rotation axis X. The member 70 is detachably connected via a fastening member (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cap member 70 surrounds the rotation axis X and extends from the back surface of the main body side overlapping region 10C to the side opposite to the arm frame 55 along the rotation axis X. The extending peripheral wall 73 and the peripheral wall 73 extend radially outward from one end side in the axial direction of the peripheral wall 73, and are detachably connected to each other via a fastening member (not shown) in a state of abutting against the back surface of the main body side overlapping region 10C. It has a flange portion 71 and an end wall 75 that closes the other end of the peripheral wall 73 in the axial direction.
A cap side opening 77 through which the pivot shaft 30 is inserted is formed in the end wall 75.

In such a configuration, the pivot shaft 30 has one end side extending inward in the user width direction from the arm frame 55 through the arm side opening 53, and an intermediate portion between the one end side and the other end side is the main body. The main body 10 is provided so as to be inserted into the side opening 20 and to extend from the other end side to the user width direction outer side from the cap member 70 through the cap side opening 77.

The pivot shaft 30 has a shaft portion 31 and a head portion 33 whose diameter is expanded from the user width direction outer side of the shaft portion 31 via a step portion 32.
The end wall 75 is provided with an engaging portion that engages with the step portion 32 to prevent the pivot shaft 30 from moving inward relative to the main body 10 in the user width direction. There is.

In the present embodiment, the cap-side opening 77 has a small-diameter hole 77a that opens to the inner surface side of the end wall 75, and the diameter of the small-diameter hole 77a is increased from the outside in the user width direction through a step portion. It has a large diameter hole 77b that opens to the outer surface side of the end wall 75, and the step portion between the small diameter hole 77a and the large diameter hole 77b forms the engaging portion.

At least a part of the head portion 33 of the pivot shaft 30 extends outward from the end wall 75 of the cap member 70 in the user width direction, and the end wall 75 extends toward the head portion 33. A stop member 80 that surrounds the portion and that prevents the pivot shaft 30 from detaching outward in the user width direction is detachably mounted via a fastening member (not shown).

In addition, in this Embodiment, the said stop member 80 has the some division body 81 which can be isolate|separated in the radial direction on the basis of the axis line of the said pivot 30, and the said division body 81 is the said. The pivoting shaft 30 is fastened to each other via a fastening member (not shown) in a state of sandwiching the extending portion of the head portion 33.

As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the arm-side opening 53 is provided in a portion of the shaft portion 31 of the pivot shaft 30 that extends inward in the user width direction from the arm frame 55 via the arm-side opening 53. A retaining ring 85 having a diameter larger than that of the arm frame 55 is detachably attached, and the retaining ring 85 prevents the arm frame 55 from being detached inward in the user width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the upper arm assist device 1 further includes a rotation side support shaft 100, a fixed side support shaft 120, and a coil spring 150.

The rotation side support shaft 100 has a rotation side shaft portion 105.
The rotation side support shaft 100 is provided on the arm frame 55 so that the rotation side shaft portion 105 rotates about the axis line according to the rotation operation of the arm frame 55 about the rotation axis line X. There is.

In the present embodiment, the rotation-side support shaft 100 has a flange portion 110 that extends radially outward from one end side of the rotation-side shaft portion 105, and the flange portion 110 is on the arm side. The overlapping region 50C is detachably connected to the arm frame 55 via a fastening member (not shown) in a state of being in contact with the surface facing the main body 10 (the front and rear frames 15 in the present embodiment). ..

The rotation-side shaft portion 105 has a cylindrical shape having an axis hole, and is externally inserted into the shaft portion 31 of the pivot shaft 30 to be arranged coaxially with the rotation axis line X of the arm frame 55. ing.
In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rotation-side shaft portion 105 is provided with the pivot shaft 30 through the small-diameter shaft portion 130 of the fixed-side support shaft 120 described below. It is extrapolated to the shaft portion 31.

The fixed side support shaft 120 has a fixed side shaft portion 125.
The fixed side support shaft 120 is supported by the pivot support shaft 30 so that the fixed side shaft portion 125 is coaxially opposed to the rotating side shaft portion 105.

Specifically, the fixed-side shaft portion 125 has a cylindrical shape having an axial hole, and the fixed-side shaft portion 125 is rotated by inserting the shaft portion 31 of the pivot shaft 30 into the axial hole. It is coaxially opposed to the moving side shaft portion 105.

In the present embodiment, the fixed-side support shaft 120 includes the fixed-side shaft portion 125 disposed opposite to the fixed-side shaft portion 105, and the fixed-side shaft portion 125 including the fixed-side shaft portion 125. A small-diameter shaft portion 130 that extends inward in the user width direction in a state of being reduced in diameter from an end portion facing 105 is integrally provided.
In this case, the step portion between the fixed-side shaft portion 125 and the small-diameter shaft portion 130 acts as a facing surface that faces the rotating-side shaft portion 105.

The small diameter shaft portion 130 also has an axial hole through which the shaft portion 31 of the pivot shaft 30 is inserted.
The small-diameter shaft portion 130 can be inserted into the axial hole of the rotating-side shaft portion 105, and the rotating-side shaft portion 105 is externally rotatably inserted into the small-diameter shaft portion 130 of the fixed-side support shaft 120. By being supported, it is indirectly attached to the shaft portion 31 of the pivot shaft 30.

The fixed side support shaft 120 is held by the arm side overlapping region 50C and the end wall 75 of the cap member 70 in a rotationally axial direction so as not to rotate about the axis line.

That is, in the fixed side support shaft 120, one end side (the free end side of the small diameter shaft portion 130) is in contact with the arm side overlapping region 50C and the other end side (the outer side of the fixed side shaft portion 125 in the user width direction). The side) is sized so as to abut against the end wall 75 of the cap member 70. By mounting the cap member 70 on the front and rear frames 15, the fixed side support shaft 130 moves in the rotation axis direction. With respect to the arm side overlapping region 50C and the end wall 75, the fixed side support shaft 130 is fixed around the axis.

Further, in the present embodiment, the fixed side support shaft 130 is also not rotatable around the axis by the pivot support shaft 30.

That is, as described above, the stop member 80 includes a plurality of split bodies 81 that are radially separable with respect to the axis of the pivot shaft 30, and the split bodies 81 are heads of the pivot shaft 30. The portion 33 can be squeezed inward in the radial direction, and the rotation of the pivot shaft 30 around the axis is prevented by the tightening by the divided body 81.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the shaft portion 31 of the pivot shaft 30 has a non-circular cross-section, and the shaft holes of the fixed-side shaft portion 125 and the small-diameter shaft portion 130 have the above-mentioned pivot holes. The cross-section is non-circular corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion 31 of the support shaft 30.

Therefore, by inserting the shaft portion of the pivot shaft 30 into the axial holes of the fixed-side shaft portion 125 and the small-diameter shaft portion 130, the rotation of the fixed-side support shaft 120 around the axis line can be more reliably prevented. ing.

The coil spring 150 is externally attached to the shaft portions 105, 125 so that one end side surrounds the rotating side shaft portion 105 and the other end side surrounds the fixed side shaft portion 125.

The coil spring 150 rotates in the downward direction around the axis of the turning side shaft portion 105 due to a frictional force between the coil spring 150 and the turning side shaft portion 105 in an initial state where no load is applied to the arm frame 55. This prevents the arm frame 55 from being held at the initial setting position around the rotation axis X, and when the pushing force in the ascending direction acts on the arm frame 55, the rotation side shaft portion 105 rises around the axis line. When the load of the upper arm part 510 is applied to the arm frame 55 while allowing the arm frame 55 to rotate and move upward, the frictional force between the arm frame 55 and the rotating side shaft part 105 causes One end side of the coil spring 150 is reduced in diameter so as to prevent the rotation-side shaft portion 105 from rotating in the downward direction around the axis and prohibit the downward movement of the arm frame 55.

According to the upper arm assisting device 1 having such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained.
That is, when the user places the upper arm portion 510 on the support portion 65, a pushing force is applied to the arm frame 55 in the downward direction around the rotation axis line X due to the load of the upper arm portion 510, and the rotation side shaft portion. 105 tries to rotate in the downward direction around the axis.

At this time, the one end side of the coil spring 105 is contracted by the frictional force between the coil spring 150 and the rotating side shaft portion 105, and the rotating side shaft portion 105 is tightened. Rotation of the side shaft portion 105 in the downward direction around the axis is prevented.
Therefore, the arm frame 55 is held at the initial setting position around the rotation axis X, and the user can perform work while the upper arm 510 is supported at the height of the initial setting position.

On the other hand, when the user performs an operation above the initial setting position and raises the upper arm 510, pushing force is applied to the arm frame 55 in the upward direction about the rotation axis X, The rotation-side shaft portion 105 rotates around the axis in a rising direction.

At this time, since the frictional force between the coil spring 105 and the turning side shaft portion 105 acts in a direction of expanding the one end side of the coil spring 105, the turning side shaft portion 105 moves up about the axis. When the arm frame 55 is rotated, the arm frame 55 is allowed to move upward.
Therefore, the user can freely raise the upper arm 510.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the turning side shaft portion 105 and the fixed side shaft portion 125 have the same outer diameter.
According to such a configuration, the operation of adjusting the frictional force between the coil spring 105 and the rotating side shaft portion 105 and the fixed side shaft portion 125, and the rotating side shaft portion 105 of the coil spring 150. Also, the mounting work on the fixed side shaft portion 125 can be facilitated.

The coil spring 150 cannot rotate relative to the fixed-side shaft portion 125 due to the frictional force between them.
The term "relatively unrotatable" used herein means a state in which the user is relatively unrotatable in a normal use state, that is, a state in which the user places the upper arm portion 510 on the arm frame to perform work. When a force that exceeds the frictional force between the two acts, they rotate relative to each other.

Instead of, or in addition to making the coil spring 150 and the fixed side shaft portion 125 in a relative non-rotatable state by a frictional force between them, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. It is also possible to prevent the relative rotation between the other end side of the coil spring 150 and the fixed side shaft portion 125 by locking the other end portion 152 of the fixed side support shaft 120. ..

The upper arm assist device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with the following configuration to stabilize and support the arm frame 55.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, one of the facing surface of the arm side overlapping area 50C and the facing surface of the main body side overlapping area 10C (in the present embodiment, the facing surface of the main body side overlapping area 10C). Is provided with an engaging groove 90 along the rotation axis X, and the other of the facing surfaces of the arm side overlapping region 50C and the main body side overlapping region 10C (in the present embodiment, the arm side). Engaging projections 92 that are engaged with the engaging grooves 90 are provided on the facing surface of the overlapping region 50C).

According to such a configuration, the load applied to the pivot shaft 30 can be reduced, and the arm frame 55 can be stably supported by the main body 10 in a state of being rotatable about the rotation axis X.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, in the present embodiment, the arm frame 55 is attached to the front and rear frames 15 with a gap S between the front and rear frames 15 in the user width direction. It is connected so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis X.

In the present embodiment, the gap S is provided between the facing surface of the arm side overlapping region 50C and the facing surface of the main body side overlapping region 10C in a state where the engaging protrusion 92 is engaged with the engaging groove 90. The height of the engaging projection 92 is set so that

Further, one of the facing surfaces of the arm side overlapping area 50C and the main body side overlapping area 10C may be provided with a spacer protrusion 95 that is in contact with the other facing surface while leaving the gap S.

According to such a configuration, when the arm frame 55 is rotated about the rotation axis X, the parallel state between the arm frame 55 and the front and rear frames 15 can be stably maintained, whereby the It is possible to stabilize the rotation operation of the arm frame 55 around the rotation axis line X.

In the present embodiment, the spacer projection 95 is provided on the facing surface (the facing surface of the arm side overlapping region 50C) on which the engaging projection 92 is provided, and the engaging projection 92 is the spacer projection 95. It projects from the tip end surface in the direction of the engaging groove 90 along with a step.
In this case, the stepped portion between the spacer protrusion 95 and the engagement protrusion 92 is brought into contact with the other facing surface (in the present embodiment, the facing surface of the main body side overlapping region 10C).

As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the upper arm assist device 1 according to the present embodiment has a spacer member 99 that integrally has the spacer protrusion 95 and the engagement protrusion 92, and the spacer member 99. Is detachably connected to the facing surface of the arm side overlapping region 50C via a fastening member (not shown).

The spacer member 99 has an opening surrounding the flange portion 110 of the rotation-side support shaft 100, and the flange portion 110 of the rotation-side support shaft 100 is located inside the opening of the spacer member 99 on the arm side. It is connected to the facing surface of the overlapping region 50C.

The upper arm assisting device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration so that the initial setting position of the arm frame 55 around the rotation axis X can be easily changed.

That is, in the present embodiment, the one end 151 of the coil spring 150 is located in the gap S.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, etc., the upper arm assisting device 1 according to the present embodiment further has a ring shape that is inserted into the rotation side shaft portion 105 in the gap S so as to be relatively rotatable around the axis line. The release member 170 and the operation member 180 that is movable between the initial position and the operation position according to a manual operation.

The release member 170 is operatively connected to the one end 151 of the coil spring 150 so that the coil spring 150 expands and contracts in diameter by rotation in the axial release direction and the tightening direction.

The operation member 180 is operatively connected to the release member 170 so as to rotate the release member 170 around the axis in the release direction in response to a manual operation from the initial position to the operation position.

By providing such a configuration, it is possible to selectively allow the arm frame 55 to rotate about the rotation axis X in the downward direction, and to disassemble the arm frame 55 without disassembling the upper arm assist device 1. The initial setting position can be easily changed.

That is, by operating the operating member 180 from the initial position to the operating position, the one end side of the coil spring 150 is expanded.
As a result, the frictional force between the coil spring 150 and the rotation-side shaft portion 105 is eliminated, and the rotation-side shaft portion 105 is in a state of being freely rotatable around the axis line in the downward direction.

Therefore, the user positions the operation member 180 at the operation position, positions the upper arm portion 510 supported by the arm frame 55 at a desired height, and then moves the operation member 180 from the operation position. By returning to the initial position, the initial setting position can be freely changed.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the operating member 180 and the releasing member 170 are wires whose one end is connected to the operating member 180 and the other end is locked to the releasing member 170. Are operatively connected via a long member 185 or the like.

In the present embodiment, the arm frame 55 is configured so that the distance between the rotation axis X and the support portion 65 can be changed.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the arm frame 55 includes a rotating frame 56 that is rotatably connected to the corresponding front and rear frames 15 about a rotating axis X, and the supporting portion 65. It has a supporting frame 60 connected to the rotating frame 56.

The rotating frame 56 has a rotating portion 56a including the arm-side overlapping region 50C, and an extending portion 56b extending outward in the radial direction from the rotating portion 56a with the rotation axis X as a reference. There is.

The support frame 60 has a connecting portion 61 connected to the extending portion 56b so that the connecting position in the longitudinal direction can be changed, and a supporting portion 65 connected to the connecting portion 61.

In the present embodiment, an elongated hole 57 extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the extending portion 56b, and the connecting portion 61 is fixed in the longitudinal direction of the extending portion 56b within the range of the elongated hole 57. The position is changeably connected to the extending portion 56b.

The extending portion 56b has a plate shape whose plate surface extends in the vertical direction.
The connecting portion 61 includes a contact area 61a that is in contact with the plate-shaped extending portion 56b on one side in the user width direction (outer side in the user width direction in the illustrated embodiment), and the extending portion 56b. An upper rail region 61b connected to the contact region 61a so as to straddle the upper end and a lower rail region 61c connected to the contact region 61a so as to straddle the lower end of the extending portion 56b are provided. ..

A through hole 62 is formed in the contact area 61a at the same position as the elongated hole 57 in the vertical direction.
The free ends of the upper rail region 61b and the lower rail region 61c form the elongated holes 57 on the other side in the user width direction of the extending portion 56b (in the user width direction inward in the illustrated embodiment). They are arranged facing each other with a gap between them.

Further, the arm frame 55 has a shaft portion 66a inserted into the through hole 62 and the elongated hole 57, and a head portion 66b connected to a base end portion of the shaft portion 66a, and a tip end of the shaft portion 66a. And a screw hole into which the male screw of the male screw member 66 is screwed, the connecting member 56b is movable in the longitudinal direction and is not rotatable about the axis. And a female screw member 67 disposed inside.

With such a configuration, the fixed position of the connecting portion 61 with respect to the extending portion 56b can be changed in the longitudinal direction of the extending portion 56b within the range of the elongated hole 57, and the rotation axis of the support portion 65 can be changed. The distance from X can be easily changed to suit the user.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the support portion 65 has a mounting area 65a that supports the upper arm portion 510 from the lower side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support portion 65 may further include an upper cover area 65b that covers the upper arm portion 510 from above with the upper arm portion 510 placed on the placement area 65a.

By providing the upper cover region 65b, it is possible to rotate the arm frame 55 in the upward direction around the rotation axis X in association with the upward movement of the upper arm 510 by the user.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 5, the front and rear arms 15 are connected to the rear frame 11 by a base end portion 15a rotatably connected to the rear frame 11 about a rotation axis Y. A front end portion 15c having the main body side overlapping region 10C and to which the arm frame 55 is rotatably connected about a rotation axis X, and an intermediate portion connecting the base end portion 15a and the front end portion 15c. 15b, and the distal end portion 15c is located outward of the base end portion 15a in the user width direction.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate portion 15b is positioned outward in the user width direction from the base end side connected to the base end portion 15a to the tip end side connected to the tip end portion 15c. Is formed in.

With such a configuration, the arm frame 55 can be rotatably connected to the front and rear frames 15 about the rotation axis X without unnecessarily increasing the length of the back frame 11 in the user width direction. ..

That is, for example, if a front and rear frame 16 that is linear in a plan view is used instead of the front and rear frame 15 as shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 10, the back frame 11 is extended by W on both sides in the user width direction. The necessity arises and the size of the entire apparatus is increased.

On the other hand, according to the front and rear frames 15, while the length of the rear frame 11 in the user width direction is adjusted to the width of the user's body 500 as much as possible, the position of the support frame 60 in the user width direction is set on the user's upper arm portion. The arm frame 55 can be connected to the front and rear frames 15 so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis X in a state of being aligned with the position of 510.

1 Upper Arm Auxiliary Device 10 Main Body 10C Main Body Side Overlapping Area 11 Back Frame 15 Front and Back Frame 30 Pivot Shaft 50 Arm Body 50C Arm Side Overlapping Area 55 Arm Frame 56 Rotating Frame 60 Support Frame 65 Support Part 90 Engagement Groove 92 Engagement Protrusion 100 Rotation-side support shaft 105 Rotation-side shaft part 120 Fixed-side support shaft 125 Fixed-side shaft part 150 Coil spring 170 Release member 180 Operation member 500 Body 510 Upper arm part X Rotation axis S Gap

Claims (9)

A body to be attached to the user's torso,
A pivot shaft provided on the main body so as to be along the user width direction,
An arm body that has a support portion that supports the user's upper arm portion, and that is rotatably connected to the main body around a rotation axis defined by the axis of the pivot shaft;
A rotation-side support shaft that has a rotation-side shaft portion and is provided on the arm body so that the rotation-side shaft portion rotates about the axis line in accordance with the rotation operation of the arm body about the rotation axis line. When,
A fixed side shaft having a fixed side shaft part, the fixed side shaft part being supported by the pivot shaft so that the fixed side shaft part is coaxially opposed to the rotating side shaft part;
A coil spring externally inserted to both shaft parts so that one end side surrounds the rotation side shaft part and the other end side surrounds the fixed side shaft part,
The coil spring prevents the rotation-side shaft portion from rotating in the downward direction around the axis by a frictional force between the coil spring and the rotation-side shaft portion in an initial state in which a load is not applied to the arm body. When the arm body is held at the initial setting position around the rotation axis and the pushing force in the upward direction acts on the arm body, the rotation side shaft portion rotates around the axis line in the upward direction and the arm body is rotated. When a load of the user's upper arm portion is applied to the arm body while allowing the ascending movement of the arm body, one end side of the coil spring is contracted by the frictional force between the arm body and the rotation side shaft portion. An upper arm assisting device, characterized in that the rotation side shaft portion is prevented from rotating in a downward direction around an axis to prohibit the lowering operation of the arm body. The upper arm assist device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation-side shaft portion and the fixed-side shaft portion have the same outer diameter. The upper arm assist device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the other end of the coil spring is fixed to the fixed side support shaft to fix the position around the axis. The upper arm assist device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the other end of the coil spring and the fixed shaft portion are relatively unrotatable due to a frictional force therebetween. The arm body has an arm-side overlapping region that overlaps with the main body when viewed along a rotation axis.
The main body has a main body side overlapping region which overlaps with the arm body when viewed along the rotation axis,
An engagement groove is provided along one of the facing surfaces of the arm side overlapping area and the main body side overlapping area along the rotation axis.
The upper arm according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an engagement protrusion that is engaged with the engagement groove is provided on the other of the facing surfaces of the arm side overlapping region and the main body side overlapping region. Auxiliary device. A ring-shaped release member that is externally inserted into the rotation-side shaft portion so as to be rotatable relative to the axis line,
An operation member that is movable between an initial position and an operation position in accordance with a human operation,
The release member is operatively connected to one end of the coil spring so that the coil spring expands in diameter in a release direction around the axis.
2. The operating member is operatively connected to the releasing member so that the releasing member rotates in the releasing direction around the axis in response to a manual operation from the initial position to the operating position. The upper arm assisting device according to any one of 5 above. The main body has a rear frame extending in the user width direction on the rear side of the user, and a pair of left and right front and rear frames extending in the user front and rear direction from both sides of the rear frame in the user width direction,
The upper arm assist device according to claim 6, wherein the arm body includes a pair of arm frames that are rotatably connected to the pair of front and rear frames around a rotation axis. The arm frame and the front and rear frames are spaced apart in the user width direction with a gap,
The release member is disposed in the gap,
The operation member is disposed above the arm frame and the front and rear frames, a position immediately above the arm frame and the front and rear frames is the initial position, and a position separated upward from the initial position is the position. The upper arm assisting device according to claim 7, wherein the upper arm assisting device is in an operating position. The arm frame includes a rotating frame that is rotatably connected to the front and rear frames around a rotating axis, a supporting frame that includes the supporting portion, and a supporting frame that is connected to the rotating frame.
9. The upper arm assist device according to claim 7, wherein a connecting position of the support frame with respect to the rotating frame is changeable in a longitudinal direction of the rotating frame.

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