The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2024
Filed:
Jul. 24, 2020
Empower Robotics Corporation, Lexington, MA (US);
Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Kosuke Takeuchi, Waltham, MA (US);
Kazumasa Shudo, Kanagawa, JP;
Juyoung Kim, Newton, MA (US);
Sheng Liu, Cambridge, MA (US);
Haruhiko Harry Asada, Lincoln, MA (US);
Empower Robotics Corporation, Lexington, MA (US);
Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Wearable systems to partially support the weight of a human user engaged in task performance in a crouched position at or near ground level are presented herein. In one aspect, the wearable systems employ passive mechanisms and the configuration of the support mechanisms is changed by movements of the body of the human user while transitioning from a standing position to a crouched position, and vice-versa. In a further aspect, each passive lower body support assembly includes an auxiliary body support structure to enhance the support of the human user in a crouched position. In another further aspect, each auxiliary body support structure is deployed in coordination with the movement of the seat support structure that supports the human user. In some embodiments, one or more body support structures are constructed from an elastic material that conforms to the ground surface when loaded by the weight of the human user.