AUTOMATED UTILITY DEVICE FOR MOBILITY

DISPOSITIF UTILITAIRE AUTOMATISE POUR LA MOBILITE

English Abstract

Automated Utility Device for Mobility "AUD-M" initiates the move of the
elderly/disabled person using
it, and forces the correct posture of the human body, having full control of
the body movement for the
intended user.
The present invention relates to an automated mobility assistance device for
supporting a user in sitting,
standing and walking, the device comprising: a frame comprising metal bars
configured to engage the
user's torso, upper arms, forearms, legs and feet, using supporting curved
slabs and belts for securing
the metal bars to the user; actuated joints with associated power banks
providing relative rotation
between the metal bars near the user's ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows
and wrists; handles
configured to engage the user's hands, said handles being connected to the
metal bars engaging the
user's forearms, said handles including a user interface for controlling the
device; walking crutches
integrated with the handles, said crutches extending substantially
perpendicularly to the metal bars
engaging the user's forearms, said crutches being automatically adjustable in
length in coordination with
the actuated joints movement to provide balance for the device; an intelligent
control unit configured to
enable standing, sitting and walking motion of the device and a remote
controller for controlling the
device remotely.

French Abstract

Un dispositif utilitaire automatisé pour la mobilité amorce le mouvement d'une personne âgée/handicapée qui l'utilise et force la posture correcte du corps en ayant le plein contrôle du mouvement corporel de l'utilisateur visé. La présente invention porte sur un dispositif automatisé d'aide à la mobilité servant à aider un utilisateur qui s'assoit, se lève et marche; le dispositif comprend un cadre comportant des barres métalliques configurées pour engager le torse, le haut des bras, les avant-bras, les jambes et les pieds de l'utilisateur à l'aide de bandes de support courbées et de courroies servant à fixer les barres métalliques à l'utilisateur; des joints mobiles ayant des réserves d'énergie associées établissant une rotation relative entre les barres métalliques à proximité des chevilles, genoux, épaules, coudes et poignets de l'utilisateur; des poignées configurées pour engager les mains de l'utilisateur, lesdites poignées étant connectées aux barres métalliques engageant les avant-bras de l'utilisateur, lesdites poignées comprenant une interface utilisateur servant à commander le dispositif; des béquilles de marche intégrées aux poignées, lesdites béquilles s'étendant substantiellement perpendiculairement aux barres métalliques engageant les avant-bras de l'utilisateur, lesdites béquilles étant automatiquement ajustables en longueur en coordination avec le mouvement des joints articulés pour fournir l'équilibre au dispositif; un module de commande intelligent configuré pour permettre la position debout, la position assise et le mouvement de marche du dispositif et une télécommande servant à commander le dispositif à distance.

Claims

Page 1
CALIMS
Claim 1: An automated mobility assistance device for supporting a user in
sitting, standing and walking,
the device comprising:
.cndot. A frame comprising metal bars configured to engage the user's
torso, upper arms, forearms, legs
and feet, using supporting curved slabs and belts for securing the metal bars
to the user,
.cndot. Actuated joints with associated power banks providing relative
rotation between the metal bars
near the user's ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and wrists,
.cndot. Handles configured to engage the user's hands, said handles being
connected to the metal bars
engaging the user's forearms, said handles including a user interface for
controlling the device,
.cndot. Walking crutches integrated with the handles, said crutches
extending substantially
perpendicularly to the metal bars engaging the user's forearms, said crutches
being
automatically adjustable in length in coordination with the actuated joints
movement to provide
balance for the device,
.cndot. An intelligent control unit configured to enable standing, sitting
and walking motion of the
device,
.cndot. A remote controlling for controlling the device remotely.

Description

CA 02805534 2014-12-12
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Date: 12 Dec 2014
Automated Utility Device for Mobility
Technical Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to an Automated Utility Device for Mobility "AUD-
M", the AUD-M meant
to support and help the mobility of elderly people without depending on a care
giver or the presence of
another person at all times; to gain their freedom of movement back. It is
focused on elderly people
whom they are still capable of moving but they lack the strength and need an
extra support for their
body weight and the control of their movements, mainly when they attempt to
stand or sit, and while
they walk.
Background of the invention:
As most of the available mobility support tools like walkers are based on the
elderly or the disabled
person using them to initiate the move, and they usually need to be attended
by a care giver or another
person if they (the users) are not fully capable of doing so by themselves.
Also, neither the mobility
support devices, be it a mobile electric chairs or so, which are serving other
purposes; nor the robotic
suits or devices available are solving the problems of the simple body moves
that need to have full
physical strength and control of the body, supported by the energy that the
normal healthy human body
has (supported by the full strength of bone and muscle mass).
Summary of the invention:
This inventive concept focuses instead to empower the elderly and provide them
with a mean to
conquer major and common problems that most people go through as they age;
like lack of strength,
power, energy, memory and the general physical movement capabilities of the
human body. It is to
force the correct posture and move of the intended user (be it
elderly/disabled); other than the simple
cane or walker could provide, as and where they (the users) usually tend to
lose their balance and fall
for different reasons like lack of overall strength, or loss of memory that
lead to failure in remembering
the right moves ("the how") to form a correct and balanced step that puts the
body into motion or
stationery mode. Though intended users would still need the help of another
person, especially at the
time when they have to get on/off the AUD-M.
This device, aim to provide the elderly people with the needed support to
their skeleton and joints,
where most people usually experience problems as they grow older. The muscle
mass of the body gets
weaker, fail to hold the body and support its weight. Also, the brain cells do
not receive the right signals
as the nerves fade out and age as we grow older, which results in failure in
translating the attempted
moves. Therefore, the device is programmed to accommodate three main moves:
standing, sitting and
walking.
In such cases, AUD-M will give them back their freedom that they have lost
along the years and relief
them from their psychological pain, dealing with their old age illnesses and
being dependent on other
people for all their activities. Specially, when people have been very active
in their life and a sudden
physical deterioration force the capabilities of their body to limited
movements.

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According to one embodiment, the present invention pertains to an automated
mobility assistance
device for supporting a user in sitting, standing and walking, the device
comprising:
= a frame comprising metal bars configured to engage the user's torso,
upper arms, forearms, legs
and feet, using supporting curved slabs and belts for securing the metal bars
to the user,
= actuated joints with associated power banks providing relative rotation
between the metal bars
near the user's ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and wrists,
= handles configured to engage the user's hands, said handles being
connected to the metal bars
engaging the user's forearms, said handles including a user interface for
controlling the device,
= walking crutches integrated with the handles, said crutches extending
substantially
perpendicularly to the metal bars engaging the user's forearms, said crutches
being
automatically adjustable in length in coordination with the actuated joints
movement to provide
balance for the device,
= an intelligent control unit configured to enable standing, sitting and
walking motion of the
device,
= a remote controller for controlling the device remotely
Brief Description of the drawings:
Drawing 1A, illustrates an outer side view of the AUD-M.
Drawing 1B, illustrates an enlarged detailed outer view of the slabs of the
AUD-M.
Drawing 2A, illustrates an inner side view of the AUD-M.
Drawing 2B, illustrates an enlarged detailed inner view of the slabs of the
AUD-M.
Drawing 3A, illustrates an enlarged detailed view of the left handle of the
AUD-M.
Drawing 3B, illustrates an enlarged detailed view of the right handle of the
AUD-M.
Drawing 4, illustrates the left and right sides view of the AUD-M.
Drawing 5, illustrates the left and right sides with flexible curved
stripes/plates view of the AUD-M.
Drawing 6, illustrates the left and right sides in sitting position view of
the AUD-M.
Drawing 7A, illustrates an enlarged detailed view of the human torso left and
right sides with flexible
curved stripes/plates and safety belts of the AUD-M.
Drawing 7B, illustrates an enlarged detailed view of the hand held remote
control of the AUD-M.
Drawing 8, illustrates the outer structure of the standalone engine/remote
controlling unit view of the
AUD-M.
Drawing 9, illustrates the inner structure of the standalone engine/remote
controlling unit view of the
AUD-M.

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Detailed Description
I have divided the detailed description into three Sections, for easier and
better explaining.
1st Section
The General Design:
The general design of the Automated Utility Device for Mobility "AUD-M"; the
concept and size;
The AUD-M will be mainly made of metal and rubber that will be used for main
parts of the device. It
will not have any sharp edges or corners and if any, it will be covered by
rubber for full protection and
safe use of the device by the elderly person. And, to prevent any injury that
might be caused by a wrong
move by the elderly person using the device. As most of the people when they
age, they usually have
faint and sensitive skin, thus any hit or wrong move attempted might cause a
bleeding as they usually
suffer from different diseases (like diabetes, blood pressure...etc.) that
might contribute to possible
injury.
The design of the device will vary in size from one person to another, depends
on their height and
weight, though the main design will consider the average size, height and
weight of elderly women and
men. Then, special orders could be made for different sizes, be it for heavier
weight or taller person..etc.
to accommodate different people needs.
The suggested materials, in general, are aluminum, stainless steel or titanium
for the main bars and
sticks that will form the main part of the device skeleton. And fiber or
plastic that is soft and durable for
the slabs; it should be strong enough to hold and support the body parts.
These materials might vary to
achieve best production results and functionalities. There will be different
joints (internal; inside the
slabs and underarm) and (external; between the main bars that will support the
main body parts).
Mechanism of the joints will imitate and support the body joints' movements
and they will differ
depending on the moves needed to be carried-out.
It will mainly be made of metal bars that formulate the base of the device and
support the body weight,
the bars stand on the back outer edge of the body line and hold slabs (curved
comfortable boards to
embrace the body main parts, human-torso, legs, arms); these slabs allows side-
way shifting and they
are also equipped with belts to safely hold the body parts and securely
fastened to fully support the
intended move.
Joints are regulated providing linkage between the main metal bars and
designed to imitate the needed
moves of the body joints to support sitting, standing and walking. There is
also a different joint and arm
connected to the end of the lower leg bar for the foot to provide the needed
move to make a step
(forward/backward).

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2nd Section
The Detailed Design:
The detailed design and mechanism of the Automated Utility Device for Mobility
"AUD-M"; shape and
functionality;
AUD-M concept is the support of the whole body, starting from the main part of
the body (human torso)
to arms and hands as well as legs and feet. It is motorized and programmed to
help the elderly to sit,
stand and walk; move their legs and feet with the support provided by the main
body construction of
the device and the arms that are also connected to nested, extendable sticks
to help balance the
distribution of the body weight. Refer to Drawings No. 1-7 (including the sub-
images).
The design of the AUD-M consists mainly of metal bars that are connected
together using hinges at each
joint of the human body; these hinges in the AUD-M are to imitate and support
the natural basic move
of the joints in the human body.
The bars of the upper arms are connected to the bars of the human-torso using
different type of joint
that provides needed support and comfort underarm along with multidirectional
movement. The hinge
between the bar of the main body (human-torso) and the upper arm bar will take
the shape of the boat
under the arm to provide comfort and extra support for the human body weight;
it has two-directional
hinge (back-front) and (side moves).
The bars of the front arms in their turn are connected at their end with
handles for the hands to hold
onto that are also connected to nested/extended sticks that would be
lengthened or shortened in
coordination with the joints movement to provide the needed balance for the
intended posture.
Each one of the bars is provided with two connectors/hinges that help the move
of a soft, yet strong
slab that should move/shift sideways to the back of each of the body parts,
working as a cushion
supporting and protecting the body limbs and provide the needed help for the
move while walking or
standing and when seated also. Each slab is provided with a safety belt to
lock the intended body part.
Refer to Drawings No. 1 and 2 respectively (including the sub-images).
The metal bars (Left and Right sides) for the main body part (human-torso) are
connected together with
two flexible curved metal based stripes/plates to support connectivity and
needed integrity for the AUD-
,
M. The third and lower curved metal based stripe/plate is fixed (not
flexible); while it still serve to
support connectivity and needed integrity for the AUD-M, it is also the place
where the intelligent unit,
which is responsible to translate the signals into commands, will be
installed. These Stripes/Plates are
metal based coated with soft cushion -especially from the inside- will also
provide needed protection for
the back that is usually hunchbacked, as well as providing comfort while
sitting as the back will not be in
direct contact with the seat provided; hence it relieves the pressure on the
spine. Refer to Drawings No.
5-7A.
Standing and Sitting positions are performed mainly by the Hips and Knee
joints, supported by the arms
joints moves and the lengthening or the shortening of the nested extendable
sticks, as needed. Refer to
Drawings No. 5 and 6.

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3rd Section
The Motor/Remote Controlling Unit or Engine:
A stand-alone motor/remote controlling unit; provided with mobile base and
rechargeable batteries;
The AUD-M will operate with a stand-alone motor/remote controlling unit, to
support all its intended
moves; from standing, sitting, walking...etc. Refer to Drawings No. 8 and 9.
The intention is to make the motor/remote controlling unit separate from the
body and the skeleton of
the device in order to maintain the light weight of the device and make it
easier for the elderly person
using the AUD-M to move with it; as the motor/remote controlling unit will add
an extra unneeded
weight on the disabled person to handle.
As the motor/remote controlling unit will be designed to be separate from the
device; it will then be
operated through a remote control using RF (Radio Frequency) to overcome the
distance/range and
other barriers for transmitting the signal like walls, floors and around the
corners..etc. It will send the
signal to an intelligent unit, which is provided with receiver, teleoperation
component, HPMD (High
Power Motor Driver) and all it needs, to translate the commands of the device
into mechanical moves
including joint actuators with associated power banks. This unit will be
installed on the third fixed (not
flexible) curved stripe/plate that is attached to the main bars of body (human
torso) connecting the two
sides (left and right). Refer to Drawing No. 7A.
The functions could be operated, mounted and distributed on the handles of the
nested/extendable
sticks attached to the device (if needed receiving units will be fixed inside
the handles), so the user (if
he/she is capable) could maintain control of his/her moves and command it as
he/she wish. Refer to
Drawing No. 3A and 38.
The same functions could be controlled from a separate control tool/apparatus,
so the care-giver could
maintain the control of the elderly disabled person if the later is incapable
(the controls on the handles
will be provided with covers if the user is in such case) of having the
responsibility of such activities due
memory problems or physical strength..etc. Refer to Drawing No. 78.
Although the motor/remote controlling unit is intended to be separate from the
skeleton of the AUD-M
but it will be portable and provided with wheels, so it could be moved with
the elderly disabled person,
moving it from one place to another. It is intended to be supplied with
rechargeable batteries that could
be charged through normal electricity power source (110v/230v) that should
last for good few hours
(depends on the batteries manufacturer). Refer to Drawing No. 8.
The inner space of the motor/remote controlling unit is divided into two
chambers, the lower chamber
= is dedicated for the rechargeable batteries fixed on a sliding tray for
the ease of use and replacement
(when it needs to be) and the upper chamber is dedicated to the motor/remote
controlling unit that is
also fixed on a sliding tray for the ease of troubleshooting (if so needed),
which has access to ventilation
surface that is necessary for heat discharge. There is also the ON/OFF switch
and two leds; one indicates
the battery charging and one for the power ON and the electric cord to be used
to connect to the
electric socket and generate power (110v/230v). Refer to Drawings No. 8 and 9.
The motor/remote controlling unit, works with normal electricity power source
that operate with
110v/230v, providing the needed electric power and mechanical motion (main
three motions: standing,
sitting and walking) is to be designed and operated as a stand-alone unit
controlled remotely by a

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remote control tool/apparatus, and that is to guarantee the light weight of
the device and the flexibility
of operating control. The motor/remote controlling unit will be designed to
provide portability and offer
the ease of transportability, and for that reason it will be supplied with
rechargeable batteries that could
last for few hours.
The Engine or Motor/remote controlling unit will be provided with Trans-
Receiver to transmit and
receive RF signals to and from the AUD-M remote control unit fixed on the
device and the remote
control tool/apparatus.