U.S. patent application number 11/115731 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for human lower limb performance enhancement outfit.
Invention is credited to Mohsen Shahinpoor.
Application Number | 20060240953 11/115731 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37187667 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060240953 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shahinpoor; Mohsen |
October 26, 2006 |
Human lower limb performance enhancement outfit
Abstract
The present invention comprises a user-friendly, soft and
resilient, biomimetic (mimicking biological entities) lower limb
support outfits that can be worn externally by people to improve
and enhance lower limb, legs and knees performance in sports, daily
dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an outfit,
which allows a portion of the upper limb's quasi-static weight and
dynamic weight due to impact forces to be excluded from being
transmitted to the lower limb, legs, quadriceps and hamstrings
muscles and knees by directly transmitting them to the ankles,
footwear and/or the ground, through soft elastic columnar
quasi-legs that are equipped with smart biomimetic materials such
as shape memory materials and artificial muscles such as synthetic
and/or ionic polymeric muscles and provide lower limb support
function by buckling and bending in accordance with the dynamic
maneuvering of the user. The said lower limb performance enhancing
outfit is encapsulated by user-friendly fabric means for easy wear.
The upper portion of the outfit can be in the form of a sports
short worn by the user and encapsulating the buttocks support
plates.
Inventors: |
Shahinpoor; Mohsen;
(Albuquerque, NM) |
Correspondence
Address: |
V. Gerald Grafe, esq.
P.O. Box 2689
Corrales
NM
87048
US
|
Family ID: |
37187667 |
Appl. No.: |
11/115731 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/77 ;
482/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0059 20130101;
A63B 21/4015 20151001; A63B 71/12 20130101; A63B 21/4013 20151001;
A63B 69/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/077 ;
482/121 |
International
Class: |
A63B 25/08 20060101
A63B025/08; A63B 21/02 20060101 A63B021/02 |
Claims
1) A human performance enhancement apparatus, comprising a
biomimetic quasi-leg, having first and second ends and extending
along an path therebetween, wherein the quasi-leg is bendable along
a direction transverse to the path, wherein the first end:
comprises a structure that mounts with an ankle or foot of a human,
which mounting provides a firm attachment with the ankle or foot
both when the ankle or foot is at rest and when the ankle or foot
is in motion, and wherein the second end comprises a structure that
mounts with the buttocks of a human, which mounting provides load
transference from the buttocks to the structure both when the human
is at rest and when the human is in motion.
2) An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first end comprises a
binding strap suitable for attachment to a human ankle or to a
human foot.
3) An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first end comprises
footwear suitable for wear by a human.
4) An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the second end comprises a
buttocks support plate.
5) An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the quasi-leg comprises a
resilient column.
6) An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the resilient column
comprises a shape memory alloy.
7) An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the resilient column
comprises a synthetic polymeric muscle, an ionic polymeric muscle,
or a combination thereof.
8) An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising fabric
encapsulating at least a portion of the apparatus.
9) An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a second
biomimetic quasi-leg, having first and second ends, and extending
along an path therebetween, wherein the second quasi-leg is
bendable along a direction transverse to the path, wherein the
first end comprises a structure that mounts with an ankle or foot
of a human, which mounting provides a firm attachment with the
ankle or foot both when the ankle or foot is at rest and when the
ankle or foot is in motion, and wherein the second end comprises a
structure that mounts with the buttocks of a human, which mounting
provides load transference from the buttocks to the structure both
when the human is at rest and when the human is in motion.
10) A human performance enhancement apparatus, comprising a
biomimetic quasi-leg, having first and second ends, and extending
along an path therebetween, wherein the guasi-leg is bendable along
a direction transverse to the path, wherein the second end
comprises a second structure that mounts with a portion of the
human body above the knee, which mounting provides a firm
attachment of the second structure to the portion of the human body
both when the body is at rest and when the body is in motion, and
wherein the first end comprises a first structure that mounts with
a portion of the human body below the knee, which mounting provides
a firm attachment of the first structure to the portion of the
human body both when the body is at rest and when the body is in
motion.
11) An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the first structure
provides a firm attachment with a human foot or ankle.
12) An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the second structure
provides a firm attachment with a human waist.
13) An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the second end structure
provides a firm attachment with a human torso.
14) An apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising a second
biomimetic quasi-leg, having first and second ends, and extending
along an path therebetween, wherein the second quasi-leg is
bendable along a direction transverse to the path, wherein the
second end comprises a second structure that mounts with a portion
of the human body above the knee, which mounting provides a firm
attachment of the second structure to the portion of the human body
both when the body is at rest and when the body is in motion, and
wherein the first end comprises a first structure that mounts with
a portion of the human body below the knee, which mounting provides
a firm attachment of the first structure to the portion of the
human body both when the body is at rest and when the body is in
motion.
15) A human performance enhancement apparatus, comprising a
biomimetic quasi-leg, having first and second ends, and extending
along an path therebetween, wherein the second quasi-leg is
bendable along a direction transverse to the path, wherein the
second end comprises a second structure that mounts with a portion
of the human body above the knee, which mounting provides a firm
attachment of the second structure to the portion of the human body
both when the body is at rest and when the body is in motion, and
wherein the first end comprises a first structure that mounts in a
substantially fixed relationship with a portion of the human body
below the knee, which mounting provides a firm attachment of the
first structure to the portion of the human body both when the body
is at rest and when the body is in motion.
16) An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the first structure
provides for mounting with a ski boot, ski binding, or ski.
17) An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the second structure
comprises a vest.
18) An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the first structure
comprises a foot mountable with a floor or support stand on which a
user of the apparatus stands.
19) An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the biomimetic quasi-leg
comprises a bendable resilient column.
20) An apparatus as in claim 19, wherein the column comprises a
material chosen from the group consisting of (a) synthetic
polymeric artificial muscle, and (b) ionic polymeric artificial
muscle.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to lower limb performance
enhancement and augmentation outfits that can be worn by people to
improve and enhance lower limb, as well as hip and waist, legs and
knees performance in sports, daily dynamic activities and medical
rehabilitation/physical therapy.
[0002] General everyday life activities, athletics and sports
activities such as skiing and snowboarding and medical
rehabilitation and physical therapy, exercise or training
activities or the like excessively load the muscles of the leg
(quadriceps, hamstrings and musculus glutaeus maximus or the
buttocks muscles), the bones of the leg such as femur, tibia and
fibula and the knee anatomical parts such as the patella,
quadriceps tendons and ligaments and often cause disorders in the
lower limbs. Thus, a lower limb support and/or assist outfit having
a structure for supporting the leg muscles and the knees has always
been desirable and needed. The leg and knee support outfits must be
biomimetic (mimicking biology or biological lower limbs),
user-friendly and easily wearable by ordinary people to provide a
comfortable fit without posing any danger to a user or having any
medical restrictions. Furthermore, they should augment the power of
the lower limbs by storing dynamic impact energy and using it to
effectively reduce muscle fatigue and knee injury during such
activities. Aside from medical and rehabilitation applications,
lower limb and in particular legs and knees support and power
augmentation have been extremely important in skiing. Skiers' legs
are normally subject to a tremendous amount of strain and pressure.
Even the professional downhill racers experience this strain and
fatigue and are in search of ways to enhance their skiing
performance. Furthermore, the older or less conditioned the skier,
the greater the amount of stress and strain on their lower
limbs.
[0003] Snowboarders also experience lower limb (leg and knee)
strain and fatigue, which of course limits their jumping, turning
and acrobatics. Accordingly, snowboarders as well as skiers have a
dire need for a user-friendly outfit, which could enhance their
performance by lessening the strain on their lower limbs.
[0004] There have been previous attempts to provide suitable
supports. Willi in U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,053 entitled "Device
providing improved support of the lower leg of a skier", issued May
3, 1977 teaches a support for the lower leg of a skier comprises an
arm pivotally connected at one end to the upper part of the lower
leg and at the other end to the ski through jaws gripping the
ski-boot and firmly connected with the ski by the pressure of the
boot sole thereon. Pivoting of the arm is controlled by a double
acting resilient device, which is adjustable to vary the force on
the arm and to vary the neutral position of the arm.
[0005] Willi in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,462 entitled "Support device
for skiers" issued May 5, 1981, teaches support devices for the
shanks of skier's legs wherein levers on opposite sides of and
parallel to the shank are pivoted about an axis at ankle height and
secured to the shank just beneath the knee by a flexible strap. Two
rods are pivoted to the lever arrangement on each side. In the case
of a single lever the rods are pivoted above and below the lever
axis. For parallel levers one rod is pivoted above the axis of one
lever and the other rod below the axis of the other lever. In each
case the rods pass through a resilient compressible block. When the
shank swings forward a stop on one rod compresses the block, while
the other rod moves freely in the opposite direction. When the
shank swings backward the roles of the rods are reversed.
[0006] Davis in U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,600 entitled "Leg aid device
and method", issued Oct. 11, 1983, discusses a leg aid device and
method for increasing the stamina of a body-supporting user's leg
for repeated flexure and extension at the knee. The device
comprises elongated flexibly resilient biasing means for placement
in approximate alignment with a user's leg from a level near the
ankle area up to at least the level of the mid-thigh area. The
biasing means is adapted to bias a user's leg toward a straightened
condition without significant torsion or twisting of the leg.
Holding means maintains the biasing means approximately aligned
upon a user's leg for bending yieldingly therewith into an overall
actuate form during flexure of the leg at the knee. The biasing
means, when held by the holding means upon a body-supporting user's
leg, functions to support a portion of the user's body weight
during times the biasing means is in bent condition with the user's
leg in flexed condition, and functions to aid the user's leg
muscles in causing extension of the user's leg from flexed
condition as the biasing means resiliently returns toward a
straightened condition with the extension of the user's leg.
[0007] A performance enhancement assembly is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,759,570 to Walter Dandy, III, entitled "ski assembly" and
issued Jul. 26, 1988. The Dandy assembly makes use of a rigid pole
and spring assembly combination, which transfers the weight of the
upper body of a skier from the skiers' legs to the skis during
crouching movement of a skier. Dandy further refined his invention
along with Tony Nespor in a series of patents.
[0008] Dandy, et al. in their U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,970 entitled
"Performance enhancement assembly for skiers or the like" issued
Dec. 17, 1991, teaches an apparatus for shifting the body weight of
a skier from a skier's legs to the skis for enhancing the skier's
performance and minimizing leg strain comprises a spring assembly
including a loop of elastic rod-shaped material stretchable during
crouching movement of a skier's legs between a standing position
and a fully crouched position of the skier. A housing defining an
elongated channel for enclosing a portion of the loop supports the
stretchable material and parallel rod-shaped branches terminating
in a base bend. The base bend is secured within one end of the
housing. The housing also includes a socket for receiving rigid
poles therein and supporting the poles in vertical positions above
the skis. The top ends of the poles have pulleys therein over which
a cord is fed extending from a top bend of the loop or elastic
material to straps disposed about the thigh or thighs of the
skier's legs. The housing is secured to the back of the boots of
the skier so that the skier's weight transferred to the rigid poles
is in turn transferred to the skis.
[0009] Dandy et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,684 entitled
"Performance enhancement assembly for skiers or the like including
ski pants", issued Jul. 21, 1992, presents an apparatus for
shifting the body weight of a skier from a skier's legs to the skis
for enhancing the skier's performance and minimizing leg strain
comprises a spring assembly including a loop of elastic rod-shaped
material stretchable during crouching movement of a skier's legs
between a standing position and a fully crouched position of the
skier. A housing defining an elongated channel for enclosing a
portion of the loop supports the stretchable material and parallel
rod-shaped branches terminating in a base bend. The base bend is
secured within one end of the housing. The housing also includes a
socket for receiving rigid poles therein and supporting the poles
in vertical positions above the skis. The top ends of the poles
have pulleys therein over which a cord is fed extending from a top
bend of the loop of elastic material through grommets located in a
skier's pants to straps disposed about the thigh or thighs of the
skier's legs. The housing is secured to the back of the boots of
the skier so that the skier's weight transferred to the rigid poles
is in turn transferred to the skis.
[0010] Dandy et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,685 entitled
"Performance enhancement assembly for skiers or the like including
ski poles with storage compartment", issued Jul. 21, 1992, teaches
an apparatus for shifting the body weight of a skier from a skier's
legs to the skis for enhancing the skier's performance and
minimizing leg strain comprises a spring assembly including a loop
of elastic rod-shaped material stretchable during crouching
movement of a skier's legs between a standing position and a fully
crouched position of the skier. A housing defining an elongated
channel for enclosing a portion of the loop supports the
stretchable material and parallel rod-shaped branches terminating
in a base bend. The base bend is secured within one end of the
housing. The housing also includes a socket for receiving rigid
poles therein and supporting the poles in vertical positions above
the skis. The top ends of the poles have pulleys therein over which
a cord is fed extending from a top bend of the loop of elastic
material to straps disposed about the thigh or thighs of the
skier's legs. The housing is secured to the back of the boots of
the skier so that the skier's weight transferred to the rigid poles
is in turn transferred to the skis. Hollow tubular ski poles
provide a convenient storage location for the rigid poles when not
in use.
[0011] Dandy et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,825 entitled
"Performance enhancement assembly for skiers or the like including
swivel plate assembly" and issued Nov. 10, 1992, discloses an
apparatus for shifting the body weight of a skier from a skier's
legs to the skis for enhancing the skier's performance and
minimizing leg strain comprises a spring assembly including a loop
of elastic rod-shaped material stretchable during crouching
movement of a skier's legs between a standing position and a fully
crouched position of the skier. A housing defining an elongated
channel for enclosing a portion of the loop supports the
stretchable material and parallel rod-shaped branches terminating
in a base bend. The base bend is secured within one end of the
housing. The housing also includes a socket for receiving rigid
poles therein and supporting the poles in vertical positions above
the skis. The top ends of the poles have pulleys therein over which
a cord is fed extending from a top bend of the loop of elastic
material to straps disposed about the thigh or thighs of the
skier's legs. The housing is pivotally secured to the back of the
boots of the skier so that the skier's weight transferred to the
rigid poles is in turn transferred to the skis.
[0012] Fuji et al. in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,970 entitled
"Protective clothing for regions of lower limb", issued Feb. 13,
2001, presents a leg protection garment that is effective for
mainly supporting the hamstrings, the muscle of the posterior side
of the femoral region among the leg portion. The leg protection
garment having a lower half of the body part which has a leg
portion of length capable of covering at least the patella region
and formed of stretchable fabric, the garment having a portion
having a partially strong straining force, the portion having a
strong straining force comprising at least a portion having a
strong straining force 101 (A) which ranges from an area above the
trochanter major to the vicinity 5 of the upper end of the tibia by
way of the trochanter major and further the vicinity over the
boundary between the musculus biceps femoris and the tractus
iliotibialis so as to support the musculus biceps femoris, wherein
the portion obliquely crosses the vicinity 4 of the tendon region
located below the muscle belly of the musculus biceps femoris
without crossing the muscle belly of the musculus biceps
femoris.
[0013] Many of the previous attempts involve hard mechanical parts,
and have not been able to really address the problems with lower
limb support and power augmentation. Fuji et al. is a garment that
is effective for mainly supporting the hamstrings. Thus, there is a
need for a user-friendly, soft and resilient, biomimetic (mimicking
biological entities) lower limb, as well as hip and waist, support
outfits that can be worn externally by people to improve and
enhance lower limb, legs and knees performance in sports, daily
dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention provides a user-friendly, soft and
resilient, biomimetic (mimicking biological entities) lower limb,
as well as hip and waist, support outfits that can be worn
externally by people to improve and enhance lower limb, legs and
knees performance in sports, daily dynamic activities and medical
rehabilitation/physical therapy. The present invention provides an
outfit, which allows a portion of the upper limb's quasi-static
weight and dynamic weight due to impact forces to be excluded from
being transmitted to the lower limb, hip and waist, legs,
quadriceps and hamstrings muscles and knees by directly
transmitting them to the ankles, footwear and/or the ground,
through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equipped with
smart biomimetic materials such as shape memory materials and
artificial muscles such as synthetic and/or ionic polymeric muscles
and provide lower limb support function by buckling and bending in
accordance with the maneuvering of the user. The said lower limb
performance-enhancing outfit is encapsulated by user-friendly
fabric means for easy wear. The upper portion of the outfit is in
the form of a sports short worn by the user and encapsulating the
buttocks support plates.
[0015] The present invention provides a system for enhancing the
lower limb performance of an individual involved in sports or other
dynamic activities involving the use of lower limbs,
rehabilitating, involved in physical therapy and orthopedic
recovery, running, jumping, turning, hopping, skiing or
snowboarding which has a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs equipped
with soft resilient elastic biomimetic smart materials such as
shape memory materials and artificial muscles such as synthetic and
ionic polymeric muscles as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,852 to
Shahinpoor, et al. entitled "Soft Actuators and Artificial
Muscles", issued Aug. 29, 2000 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,639 to
Shahinpoor, et al., entitled "Ionic Polymer Sensors and Actuators",
issued Nov. 5, 2002.
[0016] The present invention can also provide a more user friendly
and soft and elastic pair of biomimetic quasi-legs that are capable
of biomimetically buckling and bending to maintain a controllable
force and thus providing an additional smart and elastically
compliant support in a lower limb and hip and waist performance
enhancement outfit. The present invention can also provide a less
cumbersome and more non-mechanical and biomimetic system, compared
to the systems proposed in US patents described in the previous
section for use in an individual's dynamic lower limb performance
enhancement. The present invention can also provide a lower limb
performance outfit that drastically differs from Dandy, et al.,
teachings in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,161,825 and 5,131,685 and 5,131,684
and 5,072,970 by replacing the rigid rods an stretchable rubber
loops and all other cumbersome mechanical parts by a simple pair of
compliant biomimetic bending rather than stretching legs to enhance
the lower limb performance.
[0017] The present invention can provide soft, compliant,
biomimetic and unique coupling and enhancement means arching
between the upper limb through musculus glutaeus maximus (the
buttocks muscles) and the lower limb, as well as hip and waist, of
an individual involved in dynamic activities involving the use of
lower limb and placing dynamic loads on the lower limb muscles and
the knees. The present invention can provide a unique performance
enhancement outfit which is worn by the user in a comfortable
fashion, and with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The present
invention can comprise lower limb assist and/or support outfits
that can be worn by people to improve and enhance lower limb, as
well as hip and waist, legs and knees performance in sports, daily
dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy,
which allows a portion of the upper limb's quasi-static weight and
dynamic weight due to impact forces to be excluded from being
transmitted to the lower limb, as well as hip and waist, legs,
quadriceps and hamstrings muscles and knees by directly
transmitting them to the ankles, footwear and/or the ground,
through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equipped with
biomimetic smart materials and artificial muscles and provide lower
limb support function by columnar buckling and bending in
accordance with the dynamics movement and maneuvering of the
user.
[0018] The present invention can provide a one piece, user-friendly
non-cumbersome means, biomimetic, compliant, bendable pair of
quasi-legs to enhance lower limb performance in dynamic activities.
The present invention can provide a one piece outfit wearable in a
user-friendly manner with bendable biomimetic quasi-legs equipped
with biomimetic smart materials and artificial muscles to enhance
lower limb performance in dynamic activities. The present invention
can be very simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0019] The invention is explained by using embodiment examples and
corresponding drawings, which are incorporated into and form part
of the specification.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a side view of an individual wearing the lower
limb performance enhancement outfit of the present invention in an
upright position.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side view of an individual wearing the lower
limb performance enhancement outfit of the present invention in a
tuck position with bent knees.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a back view of an individual wearing the lower
limb performance enhancement outfit of the present invention in
either an upright or a tuck position.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a comparative side view of an individual wearing
the lower limb performance enhancement outfit of the present
invention in two consecutive positions of upright and tuck or
bent.
[0024] FIG. 5 is three-dimensional view of the biomimetic quasi-leg
with buttocks support plate equipped with smart materials and/or
artificial muscles in an initial upright position.
[0025] FIG. 6 is three-dimensional view of the biomimetic quasi-leg
with buttocks support plate equipped with smart materials and/or
artificial muscles in a buckled/bent position.
[0026] FIG. 7 is three-dimensional view of the pair of biomimetic
quasi-legs with buttocks support plates equipped with smart
materials and/or artificial muscles in an initial upright
position.
[0027] FIG. 8 is three-dimensional view of the pair of biomimetic
quasi-legs with buttocks support plates equipped with smart
materials and/or artificial muscles in a buckled/bent position.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a side view of an individual wearing multiple
lower limb performance enhancement outfits of the present invention
in a tuck position with bent knees.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a side view of a skier wearing the lower limb
performance enhancement outfit of the present invention in a tuck
position with bent knees.
[0030] FIG. 11 is an illustration of another embodiment of the
present invention in which the lower limb and hip and waist
performance enhancing outfit is worn like a under arm support vest
on the torso of an individual with under arms support in an
upright.
[0031] FIG. 12 is an illustration of another embodiment of the
present invention in which the lower limb and hip and waist
performance enhancing outfit is worn like a under arm support vest
on the torso of an individual with under arms support in an upright
position with the bottom of the quasi legs on the ground.
[0032] FIG. 13 is an illustration of another embodiment of the
present invention in which the lower limb and hip and waist
performance enhancing outfit is worn like an outfit supported
between the buttocks plates and bottom plates on the ground.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] The present invention provides a user-friendly, soft and
resilient, biomimetic (mimicking biological entities) lower limb,
as well as hip and waist, support outfits that can be worn
externally by people to improve and enhance lower limb, legs and
knees performance in sports, daily dynamic activities and medical
rehabilitation/physical therapy. The present invention provides an
outfit, which allows a portion of the upper limb's quasi-static
weight and dynamic weight due to impact forces to be excluded from
being transmitted to the lower limb, hip and waist, legs,
quadriceps and hamstrings muscles and knees by directly
transmitting them to the ankles, footwear and/or the ground,
through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equipped with
smart biomimetic materials such as shape memory materials and
artificial muscles such as synthetic and/or ionic polymeric muscles
and provide lower limb support function by buckling and bending in
accordance with the maneuvering of the user. The said lower limb
performance-enhancing outfit is encapsulated by user-friendly
fabric means for easy wear. The upper portion of the outfit is in
the form of a sports short worn by the user and encapsulating the
buttocks support plates.
[0034] The present invention provides a system for enhancing the
lower limb performance of an individual involved in sports or other
dynamic activities involving the use of lower limbs,
rehabilitating, involved in physical therapy and orthopedic
recovery, running, jumping, turning, hopping, skiing or
snowboarding which has a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs equipped
with soft resilient elastic biomimetic smart materials such as
shape memory materials and artificial muscles such as synthetic and
ionic polymeric muscles as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,852 to
Shahinpoor, et al. entitled "Soft Actuators and Artificial
Muscles", issued Aug. 29, 2000 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,639 to
Shahinpoor, et al., entitled "Ionic Polymer Sensors and Actuators",
issued Nov. 5, 2002.
[0035] The present invention can also provide a more user friendly
and soft and elastic pair of biomimetic quasi-legs that are capable
of biomimetically buckling and bending to maintain a controllable
force and thus providing an additional smart and elastically
compliant support in a lower limb and hip and waist performance
enhancement outfit. The present invention can also provide a less
cumbersome and more non-mechanical and biomimetic system, compared
to the systems proposed in US patents described in the previous
section for use in an individual's dynamic lower limb performance
enhancement. The present invention can also provide a lower limb
performance outfit that drastically differs from Dandy, et al.
teachings in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,161,825 and 5,131,685 and 5,131,684
and 5,072,970 by replacing the rigid rods an stretchable rubber
loops and all other cumbersome mechanical parts by a simple pair of
compliant biomimetic bending rather than stretching legs to enhance
the lower limb performance.
[0036] The present invention can provide soft, compliant,
biomimetic and unique coupling and enhancement means arching
between the upper limb through musculus glutaeus maximus (the
buttocks muscles) and the lower limb, as well as hip and waist, of
an individual involved in dynamic activities involving the use of
lower limb and placing dynamic loads on the lower limb muscles and
the knees. The present invention can provide a unique performance
enhancement outfit which is worn by the user in a comfortable
fashion, and with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The present
invention can comprise lower limb assist and/or support outfits
that can be worn by people to improve and enhance lower limb, as
well as hip and waist, legs and knees performance in sports, daily
dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy,
which allows a portion of the upper limb's quasi-static weight and
dynamic weight due to impact forces to be excluded from being
transmitted to the lower limb, as well as hip and waist, legs,
quadriceps and hamstrings muscles and knees by directly
transmitting them to the ankles, footwear and/or the ground,
through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equipped with
biomimetic smart materials and artificial muscles and provide lower
limb support function by columnar buckling and bending in
accordance with the dynamics movement and maneuvering of the
user.
[0037] The present invention can provide a one piece, user-friendly
non-cumbersome means, biomimetic, compliant, bendable pair of
quasi-legs to enhance lower limb performance in dynamic activities.
The present invention can provide a one piece outfit wearable in a
user-friendly manner with bendable biomimetic quasi-legs equipped
with biomimetic smart materials and artificial muscles to enhance
lower limb performance in dynamic activities. The present invention
can be very simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, note that the individual 1' is in a
standing upright position in a dynamic activities setting while
wearing the lower limb performance enhancing outfit 1, whose upper
portion is a short to be worn by an individual with embedded
buttocks support plates 6 with its quasi-legs 2 behind the lower
limb 4 and footwear straps 3 securely attaching the lower part of
the quasi-legs part of the outfit to footwear 5 on the ground 6.
The lower limb performance enhancement outfit of the present
invention operates such that when there is dynamic activities or
impact or other means causing or forcing the lower limb to bend
such as shown in FIG. 2, the quasi-legs 2 buckle and bend between
the embedded buttocks support plates 6 and securely tightened
straps 3 and footwear 5 to transfer part of the dynamic force or
upper body weight directly to the footwear 5 and subsequently to
the ground 6. Note that because of the aspect ratio of the
quasi-legs, the bending/flexing is only on the plane of the legs,
namely, backward from the human body, as shown in FIG. 1, rather
than sideways from the human body. In fact, considering the Euler's
critical buckling load (see J. E. Shigley, and R. Mischke,
Mechanical Engineering Design, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill Co, New York
1989), namely: P cr .apprxeq. .pi. 2 .times. EI l eff 2 ( 1 )
##EQU1##
[0039] where E is the Young's modulus of elasticity of the
quasi-legs 2, I is its moment of inertia in the plane of bending
and I.sub.eff is its effective length from the point of attachment
to the buttocks support plates 6 to the point of attachment of the
straps 3 to the footwear 5. If the end conditions of the quasi-legs
are clamped-clamped, then I.sub.eff=0.65 I, where I is the actual
length between the point of attachment of quasi-legs to the
buttocks support plates 6 and the point of attachment of the straps
3 to the footwear 5. Thus, if the width of the quasi-legs is w and
its thickness is t, the moment of inertia for bending is:
I=wt.sup.3/12 (2)
[0040] Taking, for example, w=6 cm, t=2 cm, the I=[6.times.8/12]=4
cm.sup.4. Assuming the quasi-leg material to be, say, porous
rubber-like material like porous Neoprene of length I=1 m, then the
Young's modulus of Elasticity E is about 0.1 GPa and thus the
critical buckling load will be: P.sub.cr=.pi..sup.2.times.10.sup.8
N/m.sup.2.times.4.times.10.sup.-8 m.sup.4/(0.65).sup.2
m.sup.2=93.345 N=9.525 Kg=21 Lbs. (3)
[0041] This will be the initial load taken and shifted to the
ground by each quasi-leg for a total load carrying of almost 42 Lbs
by the pair of quasi-legs, which is quite significant for enhancing
the performance of lower limbs.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 3 which depicts the outfit from the back
side of the user, note again that the individual 1' is in a
standing upright position in a dynamic activities setting while
wearing the lower limb performance enhancing outfit 1, whose upper
portion is a short to be worn by an individual with embedded
buttocks support plates 6 with its quasi-legs 2 behind the lower
limb 4 and footwear straps 3 securely attaching the lower part of
the quasi-legs part of the outfit to footwear 5 on the ground 6.
The lower limb performance enhancement outfit of the present
invention operates such that when there is dynamic activities or
impact or other means causing or forcing the lower limb to bend
such as shown in FIG. 2, the quasi-legs 2 buckle and bend between
the embedded buttocks support plates 6 and securely tightened
straps 3 and footwear 5 to transfer part of the dynamic force or
upper body weight directly to the footwear 5 and subsequently to
the ground 6. Note that because of the aspect ratio of the
quasi-legs, the bending/flexing is only in the plane of the legs
and knees, namely, backward from the human body, as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 rather than sideways from the human body.
[0043] FIG. 4 depicts the outfits in a user in both the upright and
the bent positions for comparison. This is a comparative side view
of an individual wearing the lower limb performance enhancement
outfit of the present invention in two consecutive positions of
upright and tuck. Note again that the individual 1' is in both a
standing upright position, as well as in a tuck position, in a
dynamic activities setting while wearing the lower limb performance
enhancing outfit 1, whose upper portion is a short to be worn by an
individual with embedded buttocks support plates 6 with its
quasi-legs 2 behind the lower limb 4 and footwear straps 3 securely
attaching the lower part of the quasi-legs part of the outfit to
footwear 5 on the ground 6. The lower limb performance enhancement
outfit of the present invention operates such that when there is
dynamic activities or impact or other means causing or forcing the
lower limb to bend such as shown in FIG. 2, The quasi-legs 2 buckle
and bend between the embedded buttocks support plates 6 and
securely tightened straps 3 and footwear 5 to transfer part of the
dynamic force or upper body weight directly to the footwear 5 and
subsequently to the ground 6. Note that because of the aspect ratio
of the quasi-legs, the bending/flexing is only in the plane of the
legs and knees, namely, backward from the human body, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 rather than sideways from the human body.
[0044] FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a single biomimetic
quasi-leg 2 with buttocks support plate 6 and binding straps 3
equipped with embedded smart materials and/or artificial muscles 9
in an initial upright position. These quasi-legs can be
manufactured in one piece by molding techniques such as injection
molding, compression molding, thermoforming, urethane casting, and
dip molding, and then may be encapsulated in a user friendly fabric
and be embedded in a tight, short or underarm support vest to be
worn by the user.
[0045] FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view of a single biomimetic
quasi-leg 2 with buttocks support plate 6 and binding straps 3
equipped with embedded smart materials and/or artificial muscles 9
in a buckled/bent position.
[0046] FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of a pair of biomimetic
quasi-legs 2 with buttocks support plate 6 and binding straps 3
equipped with embedded smart materials and/or artificial muscles 9
in an initial upright position.
[0047] FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of a pair of biomimetic
quasi-legs 2 with buttocks support plate 6 and binding straps 3
equipped with embedded smart materials and/or artificial muscles 9
in a buckled/bent position.
[0048] FIG. 9 is a side view of an individual 1 involved in sports,
daily dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical
therapy wearing multiple lower limb performance enhancement outfits
of the present invention in a tuck position with bent knees on
support platform or ground 7. Here the quasi legs 2 with buttocks
support plate 6 embedded in the wearable short 1 and supported
between the support plates 6 and footwear 5 by binding straps 3 and
quasi legs 2' and 2'' with upper and lower leg support straps 3'
and 3''.
[0049] FIG. 10 is a side view of a skier I wearing the lower limb
performance enhancement outfit 1 of the present invention in a tuck
position with bent knees. Here again the quasi legs 2 are supported
between the buttocks support plates 6 embedded in ski outfit 1 and
the binding straps 3 attached to footwear 5. All dynamic impacts
imparted to the lower limb of the skier are partially transmitted
to the ski boots 5 and excluded from the lower limb muscles and
knee of the skier, thus enhancing the skiers' performance.
[0050] FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the present invention
worn by a user 1 involved in sports, daily dynamic activities and
medical rehabilitation/physical therapy. Note that the lower limb
and hip and waist performance enhancing outfit 6' is worn like an
under arm support vest on the torso of an individual with under
arms support to act like a pair of biomimetic crouches or quasi
legs 2 supported between the under arm support vest 6' and the
binding straps 3 attached to the footwear 5 in an upright
position.
[0051] FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the present invention
worn by a user 1 involved in daily dynamic activities requiring a
person to stand for long hours like flight attendants and the like,
and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy. Note that the lower
limb and hip and waist performance enhancing outfit 6' is worn like
an under arm support vest on the torso of an individual with under
arms support to act like a pair of biomimetic crouches or quasi
legs 2 supported between the under arm support vest 6' and the
bottom support plates 5' on the ground 7. in an upright
position.
[0052] FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the present invention
worn by a user 1 involved in daily dynamic activities requiring a
person to stand for long hours like flight attendants and the like,
and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy. Note that the lower
limb and hip and waist performance enhancing outfit 6' is worn on
the hip with buttocks support plates 6 with the quasi legs 2 serve
like a pair of biomimetic crouches or quasi legs 2 supported
between the buttocks support plates 6 and the bottom support plates
5' on the ground 7 in an upright position.
[0053] The present invention can comprise various embodiments. Some
examples include:
[0054] A wearable outfit for enhancing the performance of human
lower limb, as well as hip and waist, by transferring a portion of
the static and dynamic weight or impact load imparted to an
individual to his or her footwear, thus partially bypassing the
individual's lower limb, the outfit comprising a short, a single
biomimetic quasi-leg or a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs with
embedded buttocks support plates, resilient buckling/bending column
embedded with elastic, resilient smart materials and artificial
muscles, and footwear binding strap means disposable about the
ankle or the footwear of an individual. The outfit can also
comprise fabric encapsulation. The outfit can also comprise
synthetic rubbers such as Neoprene or polychloroprene embedded in
the quasi-legs and buttocks support plates. The outfit can also
comprise natural rubbers such as Latex or polymer of isoprene from
rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) embedded in the quasi-legs and
buttocks support plates. The outfit can also comprise smart
materials such as shape memory materials embedded in the quasi-legs
and buttocks support plates. The outfit can also comprise
artificial muscles such as synthetic muscles and ionic polymeric
muscles embedded in the quasi-legs and buttocks support plates.
[0055] An outfit for dynamic activities of the human body in
sports, every day activities, medical rehabilitation and physical
therapy and the like to lessen the effect of the body static and
dynamic weights and dynamic impacts to the lower limb, as well as
hip and waist, of an individual by transferring part of such body
static and dynamic weights and dynamic impacts from the upper body
to the ankle or footwear of an individual.
[0056] Any of the examples can comprise multiple biomimetic
quasi-legs or a pairs of biomimetic quasi-legs with embedded
buttocks support plates, binding straps, resilient buckling/bending
columns embedded with elastic, resilient smart materials and
artificial muscles, and footwear binding strap means disposable
about the ankle or the footwear of an individual.
[0057] Any of the examples can be applied to a skier for enhancing
the performance of the skiers' lower limb, by transferring a
portion of the static and dynamic weight or impact load imparted to
the skier to his or her ski boots, thus partially bypassing the
skiers' lower limb.
[0058] Any of the examples can comprise an under arm support vest,
a single biomimetic quasi-leg or a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs
with embedded under arm support vest, resilient buckling/bending
column embedded with elastic, resilient smart materials and
artificial muscles, and footwear binding strap means disposable
about the ankle or the footwear of an individual.
[0059] Any of the examples can be worn on the torso of an
individual for enhancing dynamic activities in sports, every day
activities, medical rehabilitation and physical therapy and the
like to lessen the effect of the body static and dynamic weights
and dynamic impacts to the lower limb, as well as hip and waist, of
an individual by transferring part of such body static and dynamic
weights and dynamic impacts from the upper body to the ankle or
footwear of an individual, and comprise an under arm support vest,
a single biomimetic quasi-leg or a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs
with embedded under arm support vest, resilient buckling/bending
column embedded with elastic, resilient smart materials and
artificial muscles, and footwear binding strap means disposable
about the ankle or the footwear of an individual.
[0060] Any of the examples can be worn like an under arm support
vest on the torso of an individual with under arms support to act
like a pair of biomimetic crouches or quasi legs supported between
the under arm support vest and the bottom support plates on the
ground, in an upright position with quasi-legs supported on the
ground a user stands and walks on to be worn by the user involved
in daily dynamic activities requiring a person to stand for long
hours like flight attendants and the like.
[0061] Any of the examples can be worn like short on the waist and
hip of an individual with buttock's support plates to act like a
pair of biomimetic quasi legs supported between the buttocks
support plates the bottom support plates on the ground, in an
upright position with quasi-legs supported on the ground a user
stands and walks on to be worn by the user involved in daily
dynamic activities requiring a person to stand for long hours like
flight attendants and the like.
[0062] The particular sizes and equipment discussed above are cited
merely to illustrate particular embodiments of the invention. It is
contemplated that the use of the invention may involve components
having different sizes and characteristics. It is intended that the
scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended
hereto.
* * * * *