MOTOR-DRIVEN AUXILIARY DEVICE FOR WALKING STAIRCASE OR THE LIKE

摘要

PURPOSE:To provide a motor-driven auxiliary device used for helping muscular strength (power assist), particularly for walking up a staircase, while being fitted to a user's legs. CONSTITUTION:This device is constituted of a thigh mounting section 1 fitted to a user's thigh, a shin mounting section 2 fitted to his/her shin, each of power transmission arms 4 and 5 with one end fixed to the sections 1 and 2 and the other end connected to a knee joint so as to be capable of knee bending motion, a drive section actuated with an electric motor 8 for applying power to the arms 4 and 5 for knee bending motion, and a power supply and control section 11 for the motor 8 and the drive section. The power supply and control section 11 is mounted on the user's body. According to this construction, a person having weak leg muscle, a person having a handicap or the like in legs, and an aged person can be assisted at the time of their walking up a staircase. Thus, an assistant's help can be eliminated, or their sphere of action can be expanded, thereby contributing to their enjoyment of life.