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:
Sep. 20, 2016
Filed:
Sep. 14, 2012
Masayuki Imaida, Ichinomiya, JP;
Koji Osawa, Okazaki, JP;
Masayuki Imaida, Ichinomiya, JP;
Koji Osawa, Okazaki, JP;
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota-Shi, JP;
Abstract
A walking assist device having a safety mechanism that mitigates an impact upon falling is provided. A walking assist device has an upper and lower leg links, a motor, and a controller. The controller controls the motor to apply torque to the lower leg link. The walking assist device also has a one-way damper which generates a resisting force against rotation of the lower leg link in the knee bending direction, and does not generate a resisting force against rotation of the lower leg link in the knee straightening direction. The controller engages the one-way damper while controlling the motor to apply torque to the lower leg link in the knee straightening direction, and disengages the one-way damper while controlling the motor to apply torque to the lower leg link in the knee bending direction.