TWI747370B - Lower limb support - Google Patents

Abstract

A lower limb support is provided, including: an upper frame, having a first gear teeth; a lower frame, having a second gear teeth, the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth movably meshed with each other; and a connection member , connected between the upper frame and the lower frame; wherein, the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth are respectively extended along an non-circular path.

Description

Leg protector

The invention relates to a protective device for lower limbs.

The protective gear can be worn on the thighs and calves. It is divided into preventive, functional and rehabilitation types, which can protect the knee joint from external impact and cause damage to the knee joint from varus or valgus, and prevent excessive knee joint extension. , And the pivot device is used to control the bending angle of the knee joint to protect the knee joint from injury.

The conventional technology, such as Taiwan Patent No. M252394 "Joint Structure of Knee Joint Assist Device", uses a four-axis rod to make the femoral positioning plate and tibia positioning plate move in an arc, providing the movement of the normal knee joint of the human body. However, in the joint structure of the knee joint assistive device of the prior art, the femur positioning plate and tibia positioning plate rotate relative to a fixed axis point, that is, the axis distance between the femur positioning plate and the tibia positioning plate is fixed, resulting in The strength and range of knee joint support during activities are limited.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a novel and progressive lower limb protector to solve the above-mentioned problems.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a leg protector that can change the wheelbase to provide high support strength.

In order to achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a protective device for lower limbs, which includes: an upper bracket with a first tooth row structure; a lower bracket with a second tooth row structure, the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure The tooth row structures are movably meshed with each other; and a connecting piece is connected between the upper bracket and the lower bracket; wherein, the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure respectively extend a non-circular path ; Wherein, the upper bracket includes a first shaft portion, the lower bracket includes a second shaft portion, a wheelbase is defined between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, when the upper bracket and the lower bracket pivot When rotating, the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion can move relatively to change the wheelbase.

1: Leg protector

2: thigh

3: calf

4: knee joint

5: Long axis

6: short axis

7: Arc length

8: Ellipse path

9: Reference line

10: Upper bracket

11: The first tooth row structure

111: tooth

12: The first shaft

13: The first central axis

20: Lower bracket

21: The second gear row structure

22: The second shaft

23: second central axis

30: connecting piece

31: Linear Orbit

32: The first rail

33: second rail

40: limit piece

41, 42, 43: limit part

44: The first outer side

45: second outer side

46: head

47: tail

471: Outer Curved Surface

472: I'm here

50: Lid

51: Arc groove

60: control

70: Tolerance

71: The first container

72: The second container

721: Inner Curved Surface

722: Shield

80: Linear imaginary rack knife

81: top surface

82: Straight edge knife face

90: Oval gear

D1: Wheelbase

D2: Center distance

L1: The first reference line

L2: Second reference line

L3: Connect the heart line

L4: Distance reference line

P: fixed point

M: The first point

N: second point

I: Instantaneous point

O1: Rotation center

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is another exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 4 to 6 are diagrams of the operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the use state of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the relationship between ellipse nodal lines in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a linear imaginary rack cutter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a schematic diagram of the creation relationship between a linear imaginary rack knife and a created elliptical gear in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The following examples are only used to illustrate the possible implementation aspects of the present invention, but they are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention, and are described first.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 10, which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The lower limb protector 1 of the present invention includes an upper bracket 10, a lower bracket 20 and a connecting member 30.

The upper support 10 can be worn on a thigh 2, and the lower support 20 can be worn on a lower leg 3. The upper bracket 10 is provided with a first tooth row structure 11; the lower bracket 20 is provided with a second tooth row structure 21, the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 can movably mesh with each other; and the connection The member 30 is connected between the upper bracket 10 and the lower bracket 20; wherein, the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 respectively extend along a non-circular path; preferably, the non-circular path Is a part of an elliptical path 8 or a part of an oval path; therefore, when the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 are relatively engaged, their wheelbases are constantly changing, so that the upper bracket The structure of the lower bracket 10 and the lower bracket 20 can provide high supporting force (switch between standing up or bending the knee) when relative movement to any angle, disperse the force of the knee joint 4 to the upper bracket 10 to support the knee joint 4, and reach It has a decompression effect on the cartilage support of the knee joint. The gear parameters of the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 are the same, and the instant center point of the same position can be found when they mesh with each other. The ellipse of the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 With the same pitch line, the two contact positions can be restricted to achieve the effect of support and transmission. In this embodiment, the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 are involute gears. In detail, the meshing position of the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 corresponds to the knee joint 4. In this embodiment, there may be two first tooth row structures 11 arranged in pairs and two second tooth row structures 21 arranged in pairs.

The upper bracket 10 includes a first shaft portion 12, and the lower bracket 20 includes a second shaft portion 22. A wheelbase D1 is defined between the first shaft portion 12 and the second shaft portion 22. When the upper bracket 10 and The lower bracket 20 When relatively pivoting, the first shaft portion 12 and the second shaft portion 22 can move relatively to change the wheelbase D1. Preferably, when a first reference line L1 passes the first shaft portion 12, the second shaft portion 22, the first gear row structure 11 and the second gear row structure 21, the wheelbase D1 is Maximum value, the first reference line L1 extends along a straight path, so when the knee joint 4 is in an upright state, the supporting force is dispersed along the upper support 10 and the lower support 20, and the strong support force can effectively disperse the knee joint 4 The effect of stable support is achieved by force.

The connecting member 30 includes a linear rail 31, one of the first shaft portion 12 and the second shaft portion 22 is movably disposed on the linear rail 31, and the other is rotatably disposed on one of the connecting members 30 The fixed point P. In this embodiment, the first shaft portion 12 is provided on the linear rail 31, and the second shaft portion 22 is provided on the fixed point P (such as a shaft hole). The upper bracket 10 and the lower bracket 20 can be It is stably worn on the thigh 2 and the calf 3 and is not easy to move relative to the thigh 2 and the calf 3, so as to provide a stable supporting force.

The upper support 10 includes a first central shaft 13, the lower support 20 includes a second central shaft 23, the connecting member 30 includes a first guide 32 and a second guide 33, the first central shaft 13 is movably Is provided on the first guide rail 32, the second central shaft 23 is movably provided on the second guide rail 33, a center distance D2 is defined between the first central shaft 13 and the second central shaft 23; when the first The reference line L1 passes the first shaft portion 12, the second shaft portion 22, the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 where the upper bracket 10 and the lower bracket 20 are in the first state. , The first reference line L1 extends along a straight line; when a second reference line L2 passes through the first shaft portion 12, the second shaft portion 22, and the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 mesh with each other When the second reference line L2 extends a U-shaped path, the upper support 10 and the lower support 20 are in the second state; when the upper support 10 and the lower support 20 are pivoted from the first state to the second state When time, the center distance D2 becomes larger. In this embodiment, the first guide rail 32 and the second guide rail 33 are not symmetrical to each other. The first reference line L1 passes through the first central axis 13 and the second central axis 22; the first guide rail 32 and the second guide rail 33 are divided into arc-shaped grooves, and the first guide rail 32 and the second guide rail 33 face Curved on the same side. With this, the first row of teeth The structure 11 and the second gear row structure 21 will not interfere with each other when they are relatively moved (rotated), and can move relatively smoothly.

The lower limb protector 1 further includes a limiting member 40, which is movably disposed on the connecting member 30 relative to the first shaft portion 12, and the first shaft portion 12 can move in a moving path to change the Wheelbase D1, the limiting member 40 includes at least three limiting portions 41, 42, 43, the limiting member 40 can adjustably select one of the limiting portions 41, 42, 43 to correspond to the movement path A shaft portion 12 is mutually restricted; wherein, the at least three restriction portions 41, 42, 43 can correspond to different positions on the movement path. In detail, the limiting member 40 rotates relative to the first shaft portion 12, the limiting member 40 is provided with a first outer side 44 and a second outer side 45, the first outer side 44 and the second outer side 45 are connected to each other and non-linearly extending, the first outer side 44 is provided with the limiting portion 41, the second outer side 45 is provided with two limiting portions 42, 43, each of the limiting portions 41, 42, 43 A groove can also be a stopper, and the groove is open to the outside. Specifically, the lower limb protector 1 further includes a cover 50 and a control member 60. A receiving groove 70 is defined between the cover 50 and the connecting member 30, and the limiting member 40 is movably provided in the receiving member. The groove 70 includes a first accommodating portion 71 and a second accommodating portion 72 communicating with the first accommodating portion 71. The second accommodating portion 72 is provided with an inner arc surface 721 and an inner arc The retaining surface 722 of the curved surface 721, the limiting member 40 includes a head 46 and a tail 47 connected to the head 46. The head 46 is provided with the limiting parts 41, 42, 43, and the tail 47 An outer arc surface 471 facing the inner arc surface 721 and an abutment surface 472 transverse to the outer arc surface 471 are provided. The tail portion 47 is movably received in the second accommodating portion 72, and the abutment surface 472 It is detachably abutted on the blocking surface 722 to achieve the effect of limiting and supporting; the cover 50 is provided with an arc groove 51, and the control member 60 is movably arranged in the arc groove 51 and is connected to the head 46 The control member 60 can be adjusted to drive the limiting member 40 to rotate relative to the first shaft portion 12 so that one of the limiting portions 41, 42, 43 corresponds to the first shaft portion 12, so that the first shaft portion 12 It can be directly inserted into one of the limiting parts 41, 42, 43. In detail, since any one of the limiting portions 41, 42, 43 corresponds to the first shaft portion 12, the distance between the two is different, so that the upper bracket 10 can be opposite to the lower The bracket 20 is pivotally limited at a specified angle. For example, when the limiting portion 41 and the first shaft portion 12 are mutually engaged, the upper bracket 10 and the lower bracket 20 are upright (180 degrees, as shown in FIG. 4, the knee joint 4 is upright), when the limiting portion 43 and the first shaft portion 12 are interlocked in a first curved shape (90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 6, the knee joint 4 is curved and vertical), or when the limiting portion 42 It engages with the first shaft portion 12 to form a second curved shape (45 degrees, as shown in FIG. 5, the knee joint 4 is slightly curved), but it is not limited to the above-mentioned angle. Therefore, the structure is simple and facilitates rapid processing completion.

The elliptical gear design of the first tooth row structure 11 of the upper bracket 10 and the second tooth row structure 21 of the lower bracket 20 is referenced from the literature (SLChang and CBTsay, "MATHEMATICAL MODEL AND UNDERCUTTING ANALYSIS OF ELLIPTICAL GEARS GENERATED BY RACK CUTTERS,"Mech.Mach.Theory Vol.31 No.7,1996), the non-circular path is an elliptical path 8, the elliptical path 8 defines a rotation center O1, the first tooth row structure 11 around the The rotation center O1 extends. Please refer to FIG. 8. The elliptical path 8 defines a major axis 5 and a minor axis 6 transverse to the major axis 5, the major axis 5 is transverse to the minor axis 6, and the elliptical path 8 defines a passing The connecting center line L3 of the center of the ellipse path 8 and the rotation center O1 and the distance reference line L4 passing through the center of rotation O1 and the one line of the ellipse path 8, the connecting center line L3 and the distance reference line L4 An included angle is defined between Ø ₁ , the rotation center O1 is located at a focal point of the elliptical path 8, and the distance from the rotation center O1 to the nodal line of the elliptical path 8 is expressed as a polar coordinate:

，該長軸5為2a，該短軸6為2b；其中，該距離參考線L4與該橢圓路徑8相交於一第一點M；該第一點M的卡氏座標為：

in,

, The long axis 5 is 2a, and the short axis 6 is 2b; wherein, the distance reference line L4 intersects the elliptical path 8 at a first point M; the Cartesian coordinates of the first point M are:

Among them, all line vectors of the first point M are:

Where τ=cosγ i ₁ + sinγ j ₁ , the ellipse path 8 defines a reference line 9 parallel to the major axis 5, the reference line 9 passes through the first point M and defines an outer angle with the tangent vector , The outer included angle is γ, the connecting line L3 and the elliptical path 8 intersect at a second point N, the first point M is M, the second point N is N, the elliptical path 8 is formed by the first point M The length of an arc 7 from the second point N to the second point N is S _MN , which is obtained by the relationship of Pythagorean theorem:

The tooth profiles of the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 are respectively obtained from the relative movement relationship between a linear imaginary rack cutter 80 and a created elliptical gear 90. Please refer to FIGS. 9 and 10. The cross-section of the linear imaginary rack cutter 80 is shown in Figure 9. The equation of the linear imaginary rack cutter 80 _{can be expressed in the S C} (X _C , Y _C ) coordinate system as: x _c =- a _c +l cos α

y _c = ± b _c ± a _c tan α ∓l sin α

The creation relationship between the linear imaginary rack knife 80 and the created elliptical gear 90 is shown in Figure 10. The linear imaginary rack knife 80 equation is expressed in the coordinate system S ₁ (X ₁ ,Y ₁ ) is: x ₁ =(- a _c +l cos α )sin γ _n +(± b _c ± a _c tan α ∓l sin α )cos γ _n +r ₁ cos Ø ₁ + S cos γ _n

y ₁ =-(- a _c +l cos α )cos γ _n +(± b _c ± a _c tan α ∓l sin α )sin γ _n - r ₁ cos Ø ₁ + S sin γ _n

The elliptical pitch curve of the elliptical gear 90 is r ₁ , and the parameter γ _{n is} the angle between the Yc axis of the elliptical gear 90 and the Xc axis of the elliptical gear 90 at the instantaneous center point I. When the created elliptical gear 90 is The linear imaginary rack cutter 80 translates along the Yc axis, and Ø ₁ is a function of the parameter γ _n.

The equation of the linear imaginary rack knife 80 is differentiated, and the normal vector of the knife surface of the linear imaginary rack knife 80 can be obtained: n _cx =∓sin α

n _cy =-cos α

According to the gear principle, the point where the pitch line of the linear imaginary rack cutter 80 and the pitch circle of the created elliptical gear 90 intersect is the instant center position, and its relative speed is 0. The instant center point has the following relational conditions :

The meshing equations of the first tooth row structure 11 (elliptical gear) and the second tooth row structure 21 (elliptical gear) are calculated from the relationship of the above formula:

Wherein, the pressure angle of one of the nodes of the linear imaginary rack knife 80 is α , and the linear imaginary rack knife 80 includes a top surface 81 and two straight-edged knife surfaces 82 transversely arranged on opposite sides of the top surface 81 , The parameters of the starting position of each straight-edge blade 82 are defined as a _c and b _c , and the length of an elliptical arc of the elliptical gear 90 is S. Thereby, the first tooth row structure 11 and the second tooth row structure 21 can smoothly engage in relative motion and are not easy to collapse.

In summary, the lower limb protector of the present invention extends through a non-circular path through the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure, respectively, and the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure 21 are in relative meshing motion. When the wheelbase is constantly changing, the upper support and the lower support structure can move to any angle relative to each other. Both can provide high supporting force, disperse the force of the knee joint to the upper bracket to support the knee joint, and achieve the effect of supporting and decompressing the cartilage of the knee joint.

1: Leg protector

10: Upper bracket

20: Lower bracket

50: Lid

60: control

Claims (11)

A protective device for lower limbs, comprising: an upper bracket with a first tooth row structure; a lower bracket with a second tooth row structure, the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure movably meshing with each other; and A connecting piece connected between the upper bracket and the lower bracket; wherein the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure respectively extend along a non-circular path; wherein, the upper bracket includes a first shaft The lower bracket includes a second shaft portion, and a wheelbase is defined between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion. When the upper bracket and the lower bracket pivot relative to each other, the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion The two shaft parts can be moved relatively to change the wheelbase. The leg protector according to claim 1, wherein the non-circular path is part of an elliptical path or part of an oval path. The lower limb protector according to claim 1, wherein when a first reference line passes through the first shaft portion, the second shaft portion, and where the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure mesh with each other, the shaft The distance is the maximum value, and the first reference line extends along a straight path. The lower limb protector according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member includes a linear track, one of the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion is movably arranged on the linear track, and the other is rotatably arranged At a fixed point of the connecting piece. The lower limb protector according to claim 1, wherein the upper support includes a first central shaft, the lower support includes a second central shaft, the connecting member includes a first guide rail and a second guide rail, the first center A shaft is movably provided on the first guide rail, the second central shaft is movably provided on the second guide rail, a center distance is defined between the first central axis and the second central axis; a first reference line passes through The first axis Part, the second shaft part, the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure are mutually meshed, when the first reference line straightness path extends, the upper bracket and the lower bracket are in the first state; When the first reference line extends along a U-shaped path, the upper support and the lower support are in the second state; when the upper support and the lower support are pivoted from the first state to the second state, the center distance Getting bigger. The leg protector according to claim 5, wherein the first guide rail and the second guide rail are not symmetrical to each other. The lower limb protector according to claim 1, further comprising a limiting member, the limiting member is movably disposed on the connecting member relative to the first shaft portion, and the first shaft portion can move along a moving path to change The wheelbase, the limiting member includes at least three limiting portions, and the limiting member can adjustably select one of the limiting portions corresponding to the moving path to limit each other with the first shaft portion; wherein, the at least three limiting portions The limit part may correspond to a different position on the moving path. The lower limb protector according to claim 7, wherein the limiting member rotates relative to the first shaft portion, the limiting member is provided with a first outer side surface and a second outer side surface, the first outer side surface and the second outer side surface The outer side surfaces are connected with each other and non-linearly extending, the first outer side surface is provided with at least one limiting portion, the second outer side surface is provided with at least two limiting portions, each of the limiting portions is a groove, and the concave The groove is open to the outside. The lower limb protector according to claim 6, wherein the non-circular path is a part of an elliptical path; when the first reference line passes through the first shaft portion, the second shaft portion, the first tooth row structure and the Where the second tooth row structures are engaged with each other, the wheelbase is at the maximum value, and the first reference line extends along a linear path; the connecting member includes a linear track, and one of the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion is movable The ground is set on the linear track, and the other is rotatably set on a fixed point of the connecting member; the first reference line passes through the first central axis and the second central axis; the first guide rail and the second guide rail Divided into arc-shaped grooves, the first guide rail and the second guide rail are curved toward the same side; The first shaft portion is movably disposed on the connecting piece, the first shaft portion can move on a moving path to change the wheelbase, the limiting member includes at least three limiting portions, and the limiting member can adjustably select one of them The limiting portion corresponds to the movable path and is mutually limited with the first shaft portion; wherein the at least three limiting portions may correspond to different positions on the movable path; the limiting member is relative to the first shaft portion Rotating, the limiting member is provided with a first outer side surface and a second outer side surface, the first outer side surface and the second outer side surface are connected to each other in a non-linear extension, and the first outer side surface is provided with at least one limiting position Part, the second outer side surface is provided with at least two limiting parts, each of the limiting parts is a groove, the groove is open to the outside; A accommodating groove is defined between the connecting member, the limiting member is movably disposed in the accommodating groove, and the accommodating groove includes a first accommodating portion and a second accommodating portion communicating with the first accommodating portion. The second accommodating portion is provided with an inner arc surface and a blocking surface transverse to the inner arc surface. The limiting member includes a head and a tail connected to the head. The head is provided with the limiting portions, The tail portion is provided with an outer arc surface facing the inner arc surface and an abutment surface transverse to the outer arc surface. The blocking surface; the cover is provided with an arc groove, the control member is movably arranged in the arc groove and connected with the head. The lower limb protector according to claim 1, wherein the non-circular path is an elliptical path, the elliptical path defines a center of rotation, the first tooth row structure extends around the center of rotation, and the elliptical path defines a major axis and a Transverse to the minor axis of the major axis, the elliptical path defines a connecting center line passing through a center of the elliptical path and the center of rotation, and a distance reference line passing through the center of rotation and a segment of the elliptical path, the connecting center An included angle is defined between the line and the distance reference line, the included angle is Ø ₁ , the center of rotation is located at a focal point of the elliptical path, and the distance from the center of rotation to the nodal line of the elliptical path is expressed as a polar coordinate:

in,

, The long axis is 2a, and the short axis is 2b; wherein, the distance reference line intersects the elliptical path at a first point; the Karnofsky coordinates of the first point are:

Among them, the tangent vector of the first point is:

Among them, τ=cosγ i ₁ + sinγ j ₁ , the ellipse path defines a reference line parallel to the long axis, the reference line passes through the first point and defines an outer included angle with the tangent vector, the outer included angle is γ, the reference line intersects the elliptical path at a second point, the first point is M, the second point is N, and the length of an arc from the first point to the second point of the elliptical path is S _MN , obtained by Pythagorean theorem relation:

The lower limb protector according to claim 1, wherein the non-circular path is the elliptical path, and the tooth shapes of the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure are respectively created by a linear imaginary rack knife The relative motion relationship of the elliptical gear is obtained, and the meshing equations of the first tooth row structure and the second tooth row structure are:

Wherein, one of the nodes of the linear imaginary rack knife has a pressure angle of α , and the linear imaginary rack knife includes a top surface and two straight edged blade surfaces transversely arranged on two opposite sides of the top surface, each of the straight edges The parameters of the starting position of the blade are defined as a _c and b _{c respectively} , and the length of one of the elliptical arcs of the elliptical gear is S.

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