Patent Application
20220015934
The present disclosure relates to a device for stabilizing body joints or for supporting items of sports equipment, which device comprises a receptacle which is filled with a filling medium, a first body for interacting with the filling medium, the first body being arranged displaceably in the receptacle, and a means for transmitting an external force to the first body.
The practice of stabilizing body joints, muscles and tendons by means of devices which allow an adaptive movement restriction is known. The provision of items of sports equipment which may be exposed to backward movements with adaptive movement restricting devices is also known.
The adaptive behavior of such devices is achieved, inter alia, by virtue of two bodies moving relative to one another, with a filling medium being located between the bodies. In this respect, a body of the device can form a receptacle which is filled with the filling medium. The other body may form a pull-out body, which is arranged movably in the receptacle. The filling medium can flow in the region between the receptacle and the pull-out body when the two bodies move relative to one another. The flow velocity of the filling medium significantly depends on the cross-sectional area perpendicular to a relative displacement direction of the receptacle and of the pull-out body. This cross-sectional area, which is available for the flow of the filling medium, is also referred to as the hydraulic diameter and is ultimately crucial for the reactive behavior of the device in the event of an external action of force. In this way, the selection of the hydraulic diameter makes it possible to establish the resistance with which the device counteracts external forces. The devices can be fixed between two locations on the body of a user or two elements of an item of sports equipment that can be moved relative to one another.
If physiological forces, that is to say forces which are not critical for the body part or component correspondingly to be stabilized, are introduced into the device via the two locations on the body of the user, a corresponding relative movement of the receptacle and of the pull-out body and thus a movement of the body part to be stabilized is permitted in accordance with the hydraulic diameter in the device.
If, by contrast, unphysiological forces, that is to say forces which are critical for the body part or component correspondingly to be stabilized, are introduced into the device, a relative movement between the pull-out body and the receptacle is only possible with a very high expenditure of force on account of the hydraulic diameter.
EP 3 238 670 A1 discloses a device for stabilizing body joints that allows an adaptive behavior depending on the intensity of an acting force.
The device comprises a receptacle which is filled with a filling medium, a first body for interacting with the filling medium, the first body being arranged displaceably in the receptacle, and a force transferring means for transferring an external force to the first body. A second body for interacting with the filling medium is arranged displaceably in the receptacle, the second body being elastically coupled to the first body by way of a coupling element. The second body also has a passage opening, through which the filling medium can flow. The passage opening in the second body provides a hydraulic diameter for the filling medium, through which the filling medium can flow provided that the first body and the second body are spaced apart from one another.
In this case, the first body forms a valve body and the second body forms a valve seat, with the result that a flow of the medium through the passage opening can be permitted or prevented depending on the valve position.
External forces which act on the first body can be transferred to the second body by way of the coupling element. Correspondingly, the first body is able to push and/or pull the second body through the filling medium by means of the coupling element for this purpose.
In this respect, the coupling element is configured in such a way that, when an external force acts on the first body, in the region of a physiological velocity, it transfers a force to the second body, with the result that said second body can be moved through the filling medium together with the first body.
If the force acting on the second body by way of the first body and the coupling element leads to critical relative displacement velocities in the device, that is to say to unphysiological velocities, the coupling element yields, as a result of which the first body moves toward the second body. As a result, the hydraulic diameter is reduced until the valve formed by the two bodies is closed.
If a hydraulic diameter through which the filling medium can flow is no longer available, the first body and the second body cannot be moved further through the filling medium. The device becomes blocked.
It has been found that there is a need for comparatively still shorter reaction times until the complete blockage of a movement, in the case of which blockage the device described above reaches its limits.
It has also been found that the device described above cannot always guarantee that the passage opening is closed in a satisfactory manner. This can lead to irregularities in the behavior of the device.
The present disclosure provides an device for stabilizing body joints or for supporting items of sports equipment.
Described is a device for stabilizing body joints or for supporting items of sports equipment, said device comprising a receptacle, the receptacle being filled with a filling medium, a first body for interacting with the filling medium, the first body being arranged displaceably in the receptacle, a force transferring body for transferring an external force to the first body, a second body for interacting with the filling medium that is arranged displaceably in the receptacle, the second body being elastically coupled to the first body by way of a coupling element, the second body and/or the first body having at least one passage opening, through which the filling medium can flow, and the first body forming a valve body and the second body forming a valve seat, with the result that a flow of the filling medium through the passage opening can be permitted or prevented depending on the valve position. According to the disclosure, the second body overlaps the first body in a relative displacement direction with respect thereto.
An overlap of the first body and the second body in a relative displacement direction makes it possible to guide the two bodies when they are moved relative to one another on account of an external action of force. As a result, the likelihood may be increased that a contacting of the two bodies, which results in the passage opening becoming blocked, the passage opening is completely closed. This contributes to a uniform behavior of the device.
The relative displacement direction denotes the direction in which the first body and the second body can be moved relative to one another owing to an external action of force and/or the coupling element.
In an implementation, the second body comprises at least one projection in the relative displacement direction, the projection overlapping the first body with respect to the relative displacement direction independently of a relative displacement of the first body and of the second body with respect to one another.
As a result, it is possible to always provide a contact, i.e. a guide of the first body on the second body. Consequently, there is an overlap of the projection of the second body with the first body both when the device is located in a starting position, in which no external force acts on the device and in particular on the first and the second body, and when the device is located in a blocking position, in which the first body rests on the second body and in the process closes the passage opening.
In another embodiment, the second body has at least one surface extending in the relative displacement direction, in order to guide the first body in the relative displacement direction. The guide surface may butt against the first body and make contact therewith along a complete displacement travel, i.e. between the starting position and the blocked position of the device.
In one refinement, the first body and/or the second body have/has at least one undercut with respect to the respective other body, in order to delimit a relative displacement distance between the two bodies. The relative displacement distance between the first body and the second body directly influences the reaction time of the device. The selection of a suitable relative displacement distance provides a further possible setting of the reaction time of the device in addition to the coupling element.
An undercut contributes to the fact that the first body and the second body not only overlap, but at least partially back-engage. The undercut of the two bodies may be provided in a different form. An undercut may be arranged at a point of an overlapping portion of the second body that is outermost with respect to the relative displacement direction, for example. As an alternative, both the first body and the second body may each have an undercut, the undercuts defining a starting position of the first body and of the second body in the starting position of the device.
In an implementation, the projection of the second body defines a receiving space, in which the first body is at least partially received, the receiving space delimiting a relative displacement distance of the first body and of the second body in relation to one another in the relative displacement direction. The receiving space makes it possible to provide both a guided relative movement between the first body and the second body and a delimitation of the maximum relative displacement distance between the first body and the second body.
The receiving space may have one or more openings. The first body may thus protrude in part from the receiving space, for example. In the latter case, only part of the first body is permanently received in the receiving space, while another part of the first body protrudes from the receiving space depending on a relative displacement position of the two bodies in relation to one another. As a result, it is possible to provide a guidance of the first body and of the second body in relation to one another.
In another embodiment, the projection comprises one or more recesses, which are fluidically connected to the passage opening, in order to allow a flow of the filling medium relative to the second body, preferably through the second body, in an open valve position. As a result, the possibility that the filling medium can flow inside the receptacle relative to the first body and in particular the second body can be maintained until the first body blocks the passage opening in the second body.
The at least one recess may also perform a mounting function. For this, the recess may be configured in such a way that the first body can be inserted through the recess into the receiving space of the second body.
According to an implementation, the second body and/or the first body subdivide(s) a cavity of the receptacle into a first chamber and a second chamber. If the first body and the second body move through the receptacle on account of the action of an external force when the valve position is open, the filling medium may flow through the passage opening in the second body from the first chamber into the second chamber.
In a configuration, the coupling element is preloaded between the first body and the second body in a starting position of the device, the first body being in contact with the second body.
In the devices known according to the prior art, which are designed without preloading of the coupling element, for example of a spring, coupling elements with comparatively high resistance properties, such as a high spring strength, lead to comparatively long closing distances. The latter can adversely affect the reproducibility of the behavior of the device.
The lack of preloading of the coupling element also leads to the first body being moved toward the second body already when comparatively low forces are acting, as a result of which the potential flow path of the operative medium toward the passage opening is also already reduced. This can lead to an imprecise, non-reproducible behavior of the device when comparatively low external forces are acting on the first and/or the second body.
The preloading of the coupling element makes it possible to use a coupling element with low forces of resistance. In that case, the preloading of the coupling element may be selected such that the coupling element does not yet react when comparatively low external forces are acting and there is no relative movement between the first and the second body. Overall, the preloading of the coupling element makes it possible to increase a reaction threshold with respect to the external forces acting on the device.
In addition, the preloading of the coupling element makes it possible to realize shorter relative displacement distances between the first body and the second body. In other words, the maximum travel between the first body and the second body can be reduced by preloading of the coupling element. A shorter maximum relative displacement distance between the first body and the second body makes it possible to significantly reduce the reaction distance and thus the reaction time until a sufficiently high force of resistance of the device has built up. Finally, the preloading of the coupling element also influences the component dimension of the device, and in this way the overall length of the device can be reduced by the shortening of the relative displacement distance.
Further embodiments of the disclosure will be explained in more detail by the following description of the figures, in which:
In the following text, exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the figures. In the figures, elements which are the same, similar or have the same effect are provided with identical reference signs in the different figures, and a repeated description of these elements is in part omitted to avoid redundancies.
Various embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments by which the innovations described herein can be practiced. The embodiments can, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the embodiments to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “herein” refers to the specification, claims, and drawings associated with the current application. The phrase “in an embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it can. Furthermore, the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it can. Thus, as described below, various embodiments can be readily combined, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
In addition, as used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or” operator and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”
The function of the present device is described below with reference to use in the sports sector. In this respect, the device for damping the movement of two points on a body that can move relative to one another is used. Such a body may be a sports shoe, for example, which coupled with the present device can counteract a bending-over movement. The present device is not limited to the areas of use described in this document, however. Thus, it can also be arranged between two body parts of a living being, in order to damp a corresponding body movement. As an alternative, the device can also be used in other everyday articles, in which the intention is to damp abruptly increasing forces between a body or an article.
The receptacle 20 of the device 1 is manufactured from stainless steel. As an alternative, the receptacle may also be manufactured from plastic. Fiber-reinforced plastics, inter alia, may also be used. As an alternative, the receptacle may also be manufactured from other metals, such as aluminum or magnesium. In addition, the receptacle may also be manufactured from ceramic. The force transferring means 50 is formed by a cable made of wire and extends from a first body 40 through a passage opening 64 in a second body 60 and finally through the opening 22 in the receptacle 20. As an alternative, the force transferring means 50 may be designed in the form of a rod element made of plastic. Further, the force transferring means may also be designed in the form of a fiber. Furthermore, the force transferring means may also be manufactured from metal, such as aluminum, magnesium or stainless steel.
An interior space 24 of the device 20 is filled with a filling medium 30. The filling medium 30 is a Newtonian fluid, such as silicone oil. As an alternative, dilatant fluids may also be used as filling medium. In addition, a shear-thickening plastic may also be used. In this case, the plastic is present in powder form. Furthermore, sand may also be used as filling medium.
In addition, arranged in the interior space 24 of the device 20 is a first body 40, which can be moved through the filling medium 30 in the movement direction B relative to the receptacle 20. In the present embodiment, the first body 40 is connected to the force transferring means 50 in one piece. As an alternative, the first body may be coupled to the force transferring means in a force transferring region, with the result that a force starting from the force transferring means can be transferred to the first body.
The cross section of the first body 40 is smaller than the cross section of the receptacle 20, with the result that the filling medium 30 can flow in the movement direction B relative to the first body 40. The distance between the first body and the receptacle 20 forms a hydraulic diameter.
The first body 40 is manufactured from plastic. As an alternative, the first body may also be manufactured from a metal such as aluminum, magnesium or steel.
In addition, arranged in the interior space 24 of the receptacle 20 is a second body 60, which can be moved relative to the receptacle 20 in the movement direction B.
The second body 60 is manufactured from plastic. As an alternative, the second body may also be manufactured from a metal, such as aluminum. The second body has a peripheral groove 63 for receiving an O-ring 65. The second body 60 subdivides the interior space 24 of the receptacle 20 into a first chamber 25 and a second chamber 27. The O-ring 65 prevents the filling medium 30 from being able to flow along an external peripheral surface of the second body 60 between the first chamber 25 and the second chamber 27.
The first body 40 is coupled to the second body 60 by way of an elastic coupling element 70. The elastic coupling element shown in
In a further alternative, the first body, the second body and the elastic coupling element are injection molded in one piece.
The second body 60 also comprises a passage opening 64, through which the filling medium 30 can flow. If the second body 60 moves relative to the receptacle 20 in accordance with a force starting from the coupling element, the filling medium 30 can flow through the passage opening 64 in the second body 60 between the first chamber 25 and the second chamber 27. The passage opening 64 correspondingly defines a hydraulic diameter for the filling medium 30 in the region of the second body 60.
The device 1 shown in
According to the present embodiment, the first body 40 has a stepped construction. Thus, the first body 40 has a first portion 43, which is received displaceably in the receiving space 67 of the second body 60, and a second portion 44, the diameter of which tapers with respect to the first portion 43 and which extends out of the receiving space in the direction of the movement direction B. The projection 61 is configured in such a way that it engages behind the first portion 43 of the first body 40 and forms a guide in the movement direction B for the second portion 44. In this way, the first body can be centered with respect to the second body, with the result that a closing of the passage opening 64 can be ensured when the first body 40 and the second body 60 assume a closed valve position.
With respect to the longitudinal axis A of the second body 60, the projection 61 has a plurality of lateral interruptions, as can also be seen in
In the starting position of the device 1 shown in
In addition, the preloading of the spring makes it possible to realize shorter relative displacement distances between the first body 40 and the second body 60. In other words, the maximum travel between the first body 40 and the second body 60 can be reduced by preloading of the spring 72. A shorter maximum relative displacement distance between the first body 40 and the second body 60 makes it possible to significantly reduce the reaction distance and thus the reaction time until a sufficiently high force of resistance of the device 1 has built up.
In the following text, the function of the device is described with reference to
The strength of the spring 72 is selected in such a way that the preloaded spring 72 is compressed when a threshold value, of the force of resistance acting on the second body 60, has been reached. At a force of resistance below the threshold value, there is no relative movement between the first body and the second body. At a force of resistance above the threshold value, the spring begins to compress, as a result of which the first body 40 moves toward the second body until the passage opening 64 is completely closed, as shown in
The selection of comparatively low spring strengths makes it possible, in combination with the preloading of the spring, to realize a comparatively quick reaction time of the device, i.e. a quick closing of the passage opening 64. A flow of the filling medium from the first chamber into the second chamber is no longer possible, and therefore the two pull-out bodies 40, 60 can no longer be moved relative to the receptacle 20. In this state, the device 1 permits no further movement between two points on the body to be supported/damped.
For example, the threshold value may be 4.5 N and the system may immediately completely close when a force of resistance jumps from 4.5 N to 5 N.
The functional principle of the embodiments according to
If applicable, all individual features illustrated in the exemplary embodiments may be combined with one another and/or interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2018 131 457.4 | Dec 2018 | DE | national |
This application is a national stage U.S. patent application of International Application No. PCT/EP2019/083856, filed on Dec. 5, 2019, and claims foreign priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2018 131 457, filed on Dec. 7, 2018 the entirety of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/083856 | 12/5/2019 | WO | 00 |
