NL2028450B1

NL2028450B1 - a wearable support structure

Info

Publication number: NL2028450B1
Application number: NL2028450A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Willem Jan Greidanus Coen; Van De Wijdeven Trebsijg
Original assignee: Intespring B V
Priority date: 2021-06-14
Filing date: 2021-06-14
Publication date: 2022-12-21

Abstract

A wearable support structure (1) for at least partly relieving a human body (3) during walking and while said human body (3) is carrying a load at the back or the hip of said human body (3), said wearable support structure (1) comprising: - two foot attachments (5); - a load support (7) arranged to support said load while said human body is carrying said load; and - two leg structures (9), wherein each of said leg structures is connected to said load support and to a respective one of said two foot attachments, each of said two leg structures comprising: - a first pivot arrangement (11) that is attached to said one of said two foot attachments such that, during use, said first pivot arrangement is positioned behind the back of a foot of said human body and/or wherein a pivot axis (17) of a first pivot (19) of said first pivot arrangement (11) extends in a forward direction of said foot; - a second pivot arrangement (13) that is arranged for being provided, during use, at a side of a foot of said human body that is opposite said other foot of said human body and/or wherein said pivot axis (17) of said first pivot (19) of said first pivot arrangement (11) is parallel, preferably coinciding, to a bending axis of an ankle joint of said corresponding leg of said human body (3); - a rigid member (15) connecting said first pivot arrangement to said second pivot arrangement.

Description

Title: a wearable support structure Description: The present disclosure relates to a wearable support structure for at least partly relieving a human body during walking and while said human body is carrying a load at the back or the hip of said human body.

The wearable support structure according to the present disclosure comprises two foot attachments, wherein one of said two foot attachments is arranged to be connected to a left foot of said human body and wherein the other of said two foot attachments is arranged to be connected to a right foot of said human body, a load support arranged to support said load while said human body is carrying said load and two leg structures.

NL2017521 discloses a wearable support structure comprising two foot attachments, a load support and leg structures. Although this support structure functions well, it may be improved as regards ease of use while realising a relative large relief of a use and being relative comfortable to the user.

An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a wearable support structure that is relatively easy to use while realising a relative large relieve to a user and being relative comfortable to the user.

The objective is achieved by the wearable support structure according to the present disclosure in that each of said leg structures is connected to said load support and to a respective one of said two foot attachments, each of said two leg structures comprising: - a first pivot arrangement that is attached to said one of said two foot attachments such that, during use, said first pivot arrangement is positioned behind the back of a foot of said human body and/or wherein a pivot axis of a first pivot of said first pivot arrangement extends in a forward direction of said foot; - a second pivot arrangement wherein, during a stance phase of a corresponding leg of said human body, a pivot axis of a first pivot of said second pivot arrangement is parallel, preferably coinciding, to a bending axis of an ankle joint of said corresponding leg of said human body and/or that is arranged for being provided, during use, at a side of a foot of said human body that is opposite said other foot of said human body;

- a rigid member connecting said first pivot arrangement to said second pivot arrangement. By providing the first rigid member, the first pivot arrangement and the second pivot arrangement the mobility of the wearable support structure may correspond to a relative large extent to the mobility of the ankle of the user. This is beneficial for providing a wearable support structure that is relatively easy to use while realising a relative large relieve to a user and being relative comfortable to the user. The present disclosure relies at least partly on the insight the known wearable support structure has a relative low mobility, during use, in the region of the ankle of the user.

Because of this limited mobility of the wearable support structure, the mobility of the foot of the user is limited due to attachment of the foot attachments to the body of the user. The wearable support structure according to the present disclosure allows the user to move a foot relative to the lower leg without being hindered by the wearable support structure thereby allowing a more natural movement of the foot during walking.

Since the second pivot arrangement according to the present disclosure is provided, during use, at a side of a foot of said human body that is opposite said other foot of said human body, the user may place his feet close to each other without being hindered by the wearable support structure. This is beneficial for allowing a relative comfortable experience to the user.

Providing a pivot axis of a first pivot of said first pivot arrangement extends in a forward direction of said foot allows for an inversion movement and an eversion movement of the foot. This is beneficial for allowing a relative comfortable experience to the user.

In this regard, it is beneficial if said pivot axis of said first pivot of said first pivot arrangement is parallel, preferably coinciding, to a bending axis of an ankle joint of said corresponding leg of said human body. This is beneficial for allowing the user to incline his foot in a relative natural way similar to a situation wherein the user is not wearing the wearable support structure.

It is advantageous, if, during a stance phase of a corresponding leg of said human body, a pivot axis of a first pivot of said second pivot arrangement is parallel, preferably coinciding, to a bending axis of an ankle joint of said corresponding leg of said human body. This allows for a relative natural dorsiflexion and planta flexion of the foot at the ankle. This is beneficial for allowing the user to move is foot at the ankle in a relative natural way similar to a situation wherein the user is not wearing the wearable support structure for instance during walking. Preferably, said second pivot arrangement comprises a second pivot, wherein a pivot axis of said second pivot is perpendicular to said pivot axis of said first pivot of said second pivot arrangement. This allows for a relative natural inversion movement and eversion movement of the foot at the ankle. This is beneficial for allowing the user to move is foot at the ankle in a relative natural way similar to a situation wherein the user is not wearing the wearable support structure for instance during walking.

It is beneficial if, said wearable support structure comprises a fastening arrangement arranged for removably fastening one of said two leg structures to one of said two foot attachments. This allows a user to decouple a part of the wearable support structure from a corresponding foot for instance when the user decides that the relieve provided by the wearable support structure is no longer required.

In a practical embodiment of the wearable support structure, at least one of said two foot attachments is formed as a shoe. This is beneficial for realising a relative comfortable experience to the user. The present disclosure relies at least partly on the insight that the known wearable support structure requires the user to place his shoes in a part of the wearable support structure. In other words, the known wearable support structure comprises a shoe that is placed of over the shoes worn by the user. This not only adds weight, but also is rather awkward during complex motions or during a long march.

Preferably, said fastening arrangement is arranged for fastening said one of said two leg structures to a sole of said shoe. This is beneficial for allowing the user to decouple a part of the wearable support structure from a shoe for instance when the user decides that the relieve provided by the wearable support structure is no longer required but desires to keep wearing his shoes.

It is advantageous, if said rigid member comprises an elongate element, preferably a tube-shaped element, that is bent at an angle of 90 degrees. This allows for a relative compact wearable support structure that maintains relative close to the foot of the user. This is beneficial for realising a wearable support structure that is relative low weight and avoiding, or at least significantly reducing the risk, that the wearable support gets stuck near the foot of the user behind an obstacle during such as a tree root.

Preferably, said first pivot arrangement is arranged for pivoting said foot attachment solely about said pivot axis of said first pivot of said first pivot arrangement relative to said rigid member.

In an embodiment of the wearable support structure according to the present disclosure, each of said two leg structures comprises: - a first rigid member arranged for supporting said load support and pivotally connected, via a third pivot arrangement, to said load support, - a second rigid member arranged for supporting said load support, via said first rigid member, and pivotally connected, via a fourth pivot arrangement, to said first rigid member and via said second pivot arrangement to said foot attachment.

In this regard, it is beneficial if each of said two leg structures further comprises a third rigid member arranged for supporting said load support and pivotally connected, via a fifth pivot arrangement, to said load support, wherein said first rigid member is connected, via said third pivot arrangement and said third rigid member to said load support, wherein said third rigid member is movable between a first position and a second position such that a minimum distance between said third pivot arrangement and said load support varies during a gait cycle of said human body.

By providing the third rigid member in addition to the rigid member, the first and second rigid member in combination with the first, second, third, fourth and fifth pivot arrangement the need for aligning the wearable support structure with a hip of the user is no longer required. The present disclosure relies at least partly on the insight that for the known wearable support structure a relative accurate alignment between the wearable support structure and the hip of the user is required for realising a relative comfortable experience to the user. A misalignment may cause the leg structure of the wearable support structure to be longer or shorter than the corresponding leg of the user. It was found that even in situations wherein the wearable support structure was aligned with the hip of the user, during use of the wearable support structure, such as during walking, a misalignment may occur due to the fact that the human body is more mobile than the wearable support structure.

The provision of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth pivot arrangement increases the mobility of the wearable support structure and thereby avoiding, or at least significantly reducing the risk, of misalignment during use of the wearable support structure.

It is to be understood that the first, second, third, fourth 5 and fifth pivot arrangement allow the wearable support structure to provide a comfortable experience to the user while relieving the user even if the wearable support structure is not exactly following the human body during for instance walking or bending.

In addition, it is pointed out that for realising a relative comfortable experience to the user, using the wearable support structure according to the present disclosure, there is no longer the need, or at least a lesser need, for aligning the wearable support structure to the dimensions of the body of the user.

Preferably, a pivot axis of said third pivot arrangement is arranged such that, during use of the wearable support structure, said pivot axis of said third pivot arrangement is substantially parallel to a thigh of a corresponding leg of said user.

This is beneficial for realising a wearable support structure that is relatively easy to use while realising a relative large relieve to a user and being relative comfortable to the user.

In this regard, it is beneficial if said wearable support structure, preferably said third pivot arrangement, comprises a biasing device for biasing said first rigid member and said second rigid member relative to said third rigid member about said pivot axis of said third pivot arrangement.

Preferably, said biasing device is arranged for biasing, during use, said leg of said user towards a predetermined orientation for walking.

The predetermined orientation may correspond to a position of the leg and the foot wherein the front side of the foot is biased into a walking direction.

Preferably, said biasing device comprises a spring element.

In an embodiment, said first pivot arrangement is releasably connected, preferably releasably connected via a bolt, to a respective one of said foot attachments.

Preferably, each of said two leg structures comprises a first dampening arrangement for dampening said leg structure during a stance phase of said corresponding leg of said user.

In this regard, it is beneficial if said first dampening arrangement dampens pivoting of said pivot of said fourth pivot arrangement during said stance phase.

Preferably, said first dampening arrangement comprises a first damper that at a first side thereof is connected to said second rigid member and a second side thereof, opposite of said first side, is connected to said first rigid member.

Preferably, said fourth pivot arrangement and/or said first dampening arrangement is arranged for allowing said first rigid member to pivot relative to second rigid member during a swing phase of said corresponding leg of said human body and to lock said first rigid member in a position relative to said second rigid member during said stance phase of said corresponding leg of said human body.

Preferably, said wearable support structure comprises a second dampening element arranged for dampening a movement of said third pivot arrangement relative to said fifth pivot arrangement. This is beneficial for generating an upward force onto the load support during a stance phase and/or dampening a movement of the hip of the user relative to the load support.

According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a wearable support structure for at least partly relieving a human body, preferably during walking, while said human body is carrying a load at the back or the hip of said human body, said wearable support structure comprising: - a foot attachment, wherein said foot attachment is arranged to be connected to a left foot of said human body or to a right foot of said human body; - a load support arranged to support said load while said human body is carrying said load; and - a leg structure, wherein said leg structure is connected to said load support and to said foot attachment, said leg structure comprising: - a first pivot arrangement that is attached to foot attachment, wherein a pivot axis of a first pivot of said first pivot arrangement extends in a forward direction of said foot and/or said first pivot arrangement is attached to said foot attachment such that, during use, said first pivot arrangement is positioned behind the back of a foot of said human body; - a second pivot arrangement, wherein, during a stance phase of a corresponding leg of said human body, a pivot axis of a first pivot of said second pivot arrangement is parallel, preferably coinciding, to a bending axis of an ankle joint of said corresponding leg of said human body and/or said second pivot arrangement is arranged for being provided, during use, at a side of a foot of said human body that is opposite said other foot of said human body; - a rigid member connecting said first pivot arrangement to said second pivot arrangement.

Embodiments of the wearable support structure according to the second aspect correspond to embodiments of the wearable support structure according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. The advantages of the wearable support structure according to the second aspect correspond to advantages of the wearable support structure according to first aspect of the present disclosure presented previously.

By providing the wearable support structure according to the second aspect with only one foot attachment and one leg structure a relative lightweight structure may be realised while allowing to provide support the a human body.

In addition, the wearable support structure according to the second aspect may for instance be beneficial for support a disabled person having one relative strong leg and one relative weak or injured leg, wherein the leg structure and the foot attachment correspond to the relative weak or injured leg of the human body.

Preferably, said second pivot arrangement comprises a second pivot, wherein a pivot axis of said second pivot is perpendicular to said pivot axis of said first pivot of said second pivot arrangement. This allows for a relative natural inversion movement and eversion movement of the foot at the ankle. This is beneficial for allowing the user to move is foot at the ankle in a relative natural way similar to a situation wherein the user is not wearing the wearable support structure for instance during walking.

It is beneficial if, said wearable support structure comprises a fastening arrangement arranged for removably fastening said leg structure to said foot attachment. This allows a user to decouple a part of the wearable support structure from a corresponding foot for instance when the user decides that the relieve provided by the wearable support structure is no longer required.

In a practical embodiment of the wearable support structure, said two foot attachment is formed as a shoe. This is beneficial for realising a relative comfortable experience to the user. The present disclosure relies at least partly on the insight that the known wearable support structure requires the user to place his shoes in a part of the wearable support structure. In other words, the known wearable support structure comprises a shoe that is placed of over the shoes worn by the user. This not only adds weight, but also is rather awkward during complex motions or during a long march.

Preferably, said fastening arrangement is arranged for fastening said leg structure to a sole of said shoe. This is beneficial for allowing the user to decouple a part of the wearable support structure from a shoe for instance when the user decides that the relieve provided by the wearable support structure is no longer required but desires to keep wearing his shoes.

In an embodiment of the wearable support structure according to the present disclosure, said two leg structure comprises: - a first rigid member arranged for supporting said load support and pivotally connected, via a third pivot arrangement, to said load support, - a second rigid member arranged for supporting said load support, via said first rigid member, and pivotally connected, via a fourth pivot arrangement, to said first rigid member and via said second pivot arrangement to said foot attachment.

In this regard, it is beneficial if said two leg structure further comprises a third rigid member arranged for supporting said load support and pivotally connected, via a fifth pivot arrangement, to said load support, wherein said first rigid member is connected, via said third pivot arrangement and said third rigid member to said load support, wherein said third rigid member is movable between a first position and a second position such that a minimum distance between said third pivot arrangement and said load support varies during a gait cycle of said human body.

By providing the third rigid member in addition to the rigid member, the first and second rigid member in combination with the first, second, third, fourth and fifth pivot arrangement the need for aligning the wearable support structure with a hip of the user is no longer required.

The provision of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth pivot arrangement increases the mobility of the wearable support structure and thereby avoiding, or at least significantly reducing the risk, of misalignment during use of the wearable support structure. It is to be understood that the first, second, third, fourth and fifth pivot arrangement allow the wearable support structure to provide a comfortable experience to the user while relieving the user even if the wearable support structure is not exactly following the human body during for instance walking or bending.

Preferably, a pivot axis of said third pivot arrangement is arranged such that, during use of the wearable support structure, said pivot axis of said third pivot arrangement is substantially parallel to a thigh of a corresponding leg of said user. This is beneficial for realising a wearable support structure that is relatively easy to use while realising a relative large relieve to a user and being relative comfortable to the user.

Preferably, said biasing device is arranged for biasing, during use, said leg of said user towards a predetermined orientation for walking. This is beneficial for realising a wearable support structure that is relatively easy to use while realising a relative large relieve to a user and being relative comfortable to the user. The predetermined orientation may correspond to a position of the leg and the foot wherein the front side of the foot is biased into a walking direction. Preferably, said biasing device comprises a spring element.

In an embodiment, said first pivot arrangement is releasably connected, preferably releasably connected via a bolt, to said foot attachment.

Preferably, said two structure comprises a first dampening arrangement for dampening said leg structure during a stance phase of said corresponding leg of said user.

Preferably, said wearable support structure comprises two of said foot attachments, wherein one of said two foot attachments is arranged to be connected to a left foot of said human body and wherein the other of said two foot attachments is arranged to be connected to a right foot of said human body.

Preferably, said wearable support structure comprises two of said leg structures.

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the disclosure will be best understood from the following description referring to the attached schematic drawings.

In the drawings, like reference numerals denote identical parts or parts performing an identical or comparable function or operation.

Fig. 1 shows a back view of a wearable support structure according to the present disclosure; Fig. 2 shows an isometric view of the wearable support structure of Fig. 71; Fig. 3 shows a side view of the wearable support structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows schematically, a gait cycle of a part of a human body with attached thereon the wearable support structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows in more detail a back view of a wearable support structure according to the present disclosure; Fig. 6 shows an isometric view of the wearable support structure of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a side view of the wearable support structure of Fig. 5; The wearable support structure 1 is arranged for relieving a human body 3 during walking, while the human body 3 is carrying a load at the back of the human body 3. In figures 1 to 4, the parts of the wearable support structure 1 to be attached to a right foot of a user are shown.

In figures 5 to 7, parts of the wearable support structure 1 to be attached to a left foot of a user are shown.

The respective parts of the wearable support structure 1 to be attached to the other foot of a user, are composed mutatis mutandis in a symmetrical way.

The wearable support structure 1 is connected to the human body 3 via a load support 7 and two foot attachments 5. The two foot attachments 5 may be formed as a shoe and are removably fastened to the leg structures 9 by a fastening arrangement that is arranged for fastening the corresponding leg structure 9 to a sole of the shoe.

One of the foot attachments 5 is arranged to be connected to a left foot of the human body 3 the other foot attachments 5 is arranged to be connected to a right foot the human body 3. The load support 7 is provided to support the load while the human body 3 is carrying the load, and the wearable support structure 1 furthermore comprises two leg structures

9.

Each leg structures 9 is connected to the load support 7 and to the corresponding foot attachments 5, each leg structures 9 is composed of a rigid member 15, a first rigid member 29, a second rigid member 33, and a third rigid member 37.

The rigid member 15 is a tube-shaped element, that is bent at an angle of 90 degrees, and connects a first pivot arrangement 11 to a second pivot arrangement 13. The first pivot arrangement 11 is releasably connected to the foot attachment 5 and is attached to the foot attachment 5 such that the first pivot arrangement 11 is positioned behind the back of a foot of the human body 3. A pivot axis 17 of a first pivot 19 of the first pivot arrangement 11 extends in a forward direction of the foot, and coincides to a bending axis of the ankle joint of the corresponding leg of the human body 3. The first pivot arrangement 11 is arranged for pivoting the foot attachment 5 solely about the pivot axis 17 relative to the rigid member 15. The second pivot arrangement 13 is provided at a side of a foot of the human body 3 that is opposite to the other foot of the human body 3. The second pivot arrangement 13 comprises a first pivot 23 and a second pivot 25. During a stance phase of the corresponding leg of the human body 3, a pivot axis 21 of a first pivot 23 of the second pivot arrangement 13 coincides to a bending axis of the ankle joint of the corresponding leg of the human body 3. A pivot axis 27 of the second pivot 23 is perpendicular to the pivot axis 21 of the first pivot 23.

The first rigid member 29 supports the load support 7 and is pivotally connected to the load support 7 via a third pivot arrangement 31.

The second rigid member 33 supports the load support 7 via the first rigid member 29 and is pivotally connected to the first rigid member 29 via a fourth pivot arrangement 35, and to the foot attachment via the second pivot arrangement

13. During use of the wearable support structure 1, the pivot axis 41 of the pivot 43 of the fourth pivot arrangement 35 is substantially parallel to a bending axis of a knee joint of the corresponding leg of the user.

The third rigid member 37 supports the load support 7 and is pivotally connected to the load support 7 via a fifth pivot arrangement 39. The first rigid member

29 is connected to the load support 7 via the third pivot arrangement 31 and the third rigid member 37. The wearable support structure 1 is easy to use and provides a comfortable experience to the user while realising a relative large relieve to the user during walking or bending. Several steps during a gait cycle of the human body are show schematically in figure 4, wherein the wearable support structure 1 is attached to the right leg of the human body 3. The third rigid member 37 is movable between a first position and a second position such that a minimum distance between the third pivot arrangement 31 and the load support 7 varies during the gait cycle of said human body 3.

The third pivot arrangement 31 is provided with a spring element 61 for biasing the first rigid member 29 and the second rigid member 33 relative to the third rigid member 37 about a pivot axis 42 of the third pivot arrangement 31. During use of the wearable support structure 1 when attached to a corresponding leg of the human body 3, the spring element 61 biases the corresponding leg of the user towards a predetermined orientation for walking. The predetermined orientation corresponds to a position of the corresponding leg and the foot wherein the front side of the foot is biased into the walking direction.

For providing the appropriate support, the wearable support structure 1 is provided with a first dampening arrangement 63 and a second dampening arrangement 65.

The first dampening arrangement 63 damps the leg structure 9 during a stance phase of the corresponding leg of the user by damping the pivoting of the pivot 43 of the fourth pivot arrangement 35. A first side of the first dampening arrangement B83 is connected to the first rigid member 29 and a second side thereof is connected to the second rigid member 33.The fourth pivot arrangement 35 and the first dampening arrangement 63 allow the second rigid member 33 to pivot relative to the first rigid member 29 during the swing phase of the corresponding leg of the human body 3 and to lock the second rigid member 33 in a position relative to the first rigid member 29 during the stance phase of the corresponding leg of the human body 3.

The second dampening element 65 damps a movement of the third pivot arrangement 31 relative to the fifth pivot arrangement 39. This generates an upward force onto the load support 7 during a stance phase and damps a movement of the hip of the user relative to the load support 7. The wearable support structure according to the second aspect differs mainly from the wearable support structure according to the first aspect in that the wearable support structure according to the second aspect is provided with one leg structure and one foot attachment.

Elements of the wearable support structure according to the second aspect of the present disclosure are identical, or at least similar, to elements of the wearable support structure according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

1. A portable support structure (1) for at least partially relieving a human body (3) while walking and while the human body (3) bears a load at the back or at the hip of the human body (3), wherein the portable support structure (1) comprises: - two foot attachments (5), one of the two foot attachments (5) being adapted to be connected to a left foot of the human body (3) and the other of the two foot attachments (3) being 5) is adapted to be connected to a right foot of the human body (3); - a load support (7) arranged to support the load while the human body (3) carries the load; and - two leg structures (9), each of the leg structures (9) being connected to the load support (7) and to a respective one of the two foot attachments (5), each of the two leg structures (2) comprising: - a first hinge arrangement (11) attached to one of the two foot mounts (5) such that in use the first hinge arrangement (11) is positioned behind the back of a foot of the human body (3) and/or with a hinge axis ( 17) of a first hinge (19) of the first hinge arrangement (11) extending in a forward direction of the foot; - a second hinge arrangement (13) in which, during a stance phase of a corresponding leg of the human body (3), a hinge axis (21) of a first hinge (23) of the second hinge arrangement (13) is parallel to, preferably coincident with having, a bending axis of an ankle joint of the corresponding leg of the human body (3) and/or adapted to be applied during use on a side of a foot of the human body (3) opposite the other foot of the human body (3); - a rigid element (15) connecting the first hinge arrangement (11) to the second hinge arrangement (13).

The portable support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hinge axis (17) of the first hinge (19) of the first hinge arrangement (11) is parallel to, preferably coincident with, a bending axis of an ankle joint of the corresponding leg of the human body (3).

The portable support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second hinge arrangement (13) comprises a second hinge (25), a hinge axis (27) of the second hinge (13) being perpendicular to the hinge axis (21). ) of the first hinge (23) of the second hinge arrangement (13).

The portable support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the portable support structure (1) comprises a mounting arrangement adapted to removably attach one of the two leg structures (9) to one of the two foot mountings (5).

The portable support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the two foot attachments (5) is shaped like a shoe.

The portable support structure (1) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the mounting arrangement is arranged for mounting the one of the two leg structures (9) to a sole of the shoe.

The portable support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid element (15) comprises an elongate element, preferably a tubular element, bent at an angle of 90 degrees.

The portable support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first hinge arrangement (11) is arranged to pivot the foot mount (5) only about the hinge axis (17) of the first hinge (19) of the first hinge arrangement (11) in relation to the rigid element (15).

The portable support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the two leg structures (9) comprises: - a first rigid element (29) adapted to support the load support (7) and via a third hinge arrangement ( 31) pivotally connected to the load support (7), - a second rigid element (33) adapted to support the load support (7), via the first rigid element (29), and via a fourth hinge arrangement (35) pivotally connected to the first rigid element (29) and via the second hinge arrangement (13) with the foot attachment (5).

The portable support structure (1) according to claim 9, wherein each of the two leg structures (9) further comprises a third rigid member (37) adapted to support the load support (7) and through a fifth hinge arrangement (39 ) is pivotally connected to the load support (7)

the first rigid element (29) being connected to the load support (7) via the third hinge arrangement (31) and the third rigid element (37), the third rigid element (37) being movable between a first position and a second position such that a minimum distance between the third hinge arrangement (31) and the load support (7) varies during a walking cycle of the human body (3).