Patent Application
20220322777
The present invention relates generally to head mounted devices and body worn devices, more particularly to a helmet support exoskeleton (or linkage) and harness therefor that allow offloading the weight of head mounted equipment such as helmets and other equipment related to helmets in order to prevent and reduce neck fatigue, strain, and injuries without causing discomfort or impeding mobility of an operator, and/or to allow the operator to wear additional and heavier equipment on his/her helmet without causing discomforts and reduces the risk of neck injuries.
Headgear is used in many fields. The most common type of headgear, a helmet is used in construction, sports, and military applications for various safety reasons. In many professions, helmets are used in conjunction with other headgear such as night vision googles (NVGs), communications equipment, and helmet mounted cameras. The additional head borne mass increases muscle exertion and neck strain and may lead to the development of chronic neck pain or injury if extension is consistent over time. This problem is compounded by devices such as NVGs where most of the weight is in front of the head center of mass, creating an unbalanced moment that the user must constantly balance. Headgear is essential in these professions; therefore, a solution is needed to prevent neck injuries.
One current solution to this problem is mounting counterbalancing weights on the back of the helmet and exercise routines to strengthen the neck muscles; however, counterweights only solve the moment issue but increase the total head borne mass and increase the head borne inertia.
Various attempts were previously made to reduce chronic neck pain or injuries caused by the head borne mass increases and/or head borne inertia. For example, Canadian patent application No. 2960415 (Fischer et al.) attempted to solve, at least, the inertia and moment issue by using a helmet-back mounted pulley system. U.S. Pat. No. 7,765,623 (Ashline) also attempted to solve, at least, the inertia and moment issue by providing a head restraint device that has a rigid spacer positioned along the back of the driver, and tethering the helmet to the vehicle's seatbelt through an anchor strap; however, Fischer et al. and Ashline are both silent about any solution to address issues related to the head-borne mass.
US Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0049177 (Margetis et al.) proposed a system and method for head and spine immobilization and protection; however, the system proposed by Margetis et al. is restrictive, and, once activated, does not allow various movement of the head in relation to the spine, thus the solution proposed by Margetis et al. would not be suitable for construction, sports or military applications.
Accordingly, there is a long-felt needs for a solution that would address at least one of the existing short-comings and problems as identified above.
An object of the present invention is to provide means for counterbalancing any headgear induced movement, offloading head-borne mass to the torso.
Another object of the present invention is to provide means for allowing an operator to wear additional and heavier equipment on his/her helmet without causing discomforts and reduces the risk of neck injuries.
According to one aspect of the present invention, it provides devices and methods for offsetting weight from a user's helmet to the torso are disclosed herein.
According to another aspect of the present invention, it provides a device that comprises: a linkage assembly, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a helmet mount, wherein the helmet mount is associated with a wearer's helmet and a vertical arm, wherein the vertical arm is engaged with a horizontal arm, a horizontal arm associated with (iii) a lower arm, wherein the lower arm is engaged with (c) a harness designed to be secured to the user's torso.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, it provides a helmet support exoskeleton, comprising a first linkage having first and second distal ends; a second linkage; a third linkage configured to be mounted on a harness; a first revolute joint disposed at the first distal end of the first linkage for rotatably coupling the first linkage with a helmet, and an axis of the first revolute joint is aligned with an axis of neck twist of an user; a second revolute joint for rotatably coupling the second distal end of the first linkage with the second linkage, and an axis of the second revolute joint is aligned with an axis of neck lateral bend of the user; and at least one third revolute joint for rotatably coupling the second linkage with the third linkage, and an axis of the third revolute joint is aligned with an axis of neck flexion of the user.
The third revolute joint may further comprise a torsion spring for counterbalancing a moment communicated through the first linkage to the second linkage from the helmet.
The first linkage may further comprise a first telescopic member, retractably extends from the first distal end of the first linkage; a first fastener for releasably or non-releasably locking the first telescopic member to the first linkage; a second telescopic member, retractably extends from the second distal end of the first linkage; and a second fastener for releasably or non-releasably locking the second telescopic member to the first linkage.
The helmet support exoskeleton may further comprise a mounting plate configured to be attached to the helmet and receives the first revolute joint.
The mounting plate may comprise a sliding rail for slidably receiving the first revolute joint and a fastener for releasably or non-releasably locking the first revolute joint to the sliding rail.
The third linkage may yet further comprise at least one third telescopic member coupled with the at least one third revolute joint, retractably extends from the third linkage; and a third fastener for releasably or non-releasably locking the third telescopic member to the third linkage.
The third linkage may define a slot for releasably receiving a mounting plate disposed on the harness.
The third linkage may further define a female receiver and the mounting plate on the harness further defines a corresponding female receiver for releasably receiving a pin.
The first, second and third linkages may be made of a light-weight composite.
According to further aspect of the present invention, it provides a harness for a helmet support exoskeleton, comprising a structural member interface with back of a neck and shoulder of a user and extends along the lower back of the user for receiving the helmet support exoskeleton at behind a lower portion of a cervical spine, a upper portion of a thoracic spine, or therebetween of the user; shoulder straps; abdominal straps; and waist straps; wherein the structural member defines first slots for receiving shoulder straps, second slots for receiving abdominal straps, and third slots for receiving waist straps; and wherein the shoulder straps are configured to wrap around shoulders of the user be coupled with the abdominal straps; and, the waist straps are configured to wrap around waist of the user and to be couple with each other.
The structural member may interface with a lower portion of a cervical spine and wraps around a portion of the neck and shoulder area of the user.
The lower portion of the cervical spine may be from about C5 (or fifth cervical vertebra) to C7 (or seventh cervical vertebra) of the cervical spine.
A lower portion of the structural member may terminate at a top portion of a lumbar spine of the user.
The top portion of the lumbar spine may be from L1 (or first lumbar vertebrae) to about L3 (or third lumbar vertebrae).
The harness may further comprise chest straps that is configured to wrapped over an upper chest or collarbone of the user for coupling the shoulder straps.
The harness may further comprise a mounting plate base; a mounting plate configured to be coupled with the mounting plate base for receiving the helmet support exoskeleton.
The mounting plate base may define an array of index holes for adjusting the mounting location of the mounting plate and receiving one or more fasteners for coupling the mounting plate with the mounting plate base.
The structural member may comprise a first member that interface with the lower portion of the cervical spine and wraps around the portion of the neck and shoulder area of the user and extends to the upper back in between the shoulder blades of the user; and, a second member that is connected to a lower portion of the first member and extends to the top portion of a lumbar spine of the user.
The present invention will be apparent from the description herein and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not to scale.
As shown in
Each revolute joint is aligned with a corresponding axial movement of the cervical spine. Axis A 126 of the revolute joint A 125 is aligned with an axis of neck twist (Z-axis) of the user 4; axis B 133 of the revolute joint B 132 is aligned with an axis of neck lateral bend (X-axis) of the user 4; and, an axis of each of revolute joints C 144R, 144L is aligned with an axis of neck flexion/extension (Y-axis) of the user 4. The revolute joints shown in
Each prismatic joint function as a point of adjustability and is locked in a certain position during use. One embodiment of the prismatic joints is depicted in
Referring to
Helmet mount 11 consists of a mounting plate 111. The mounting plate 111 may be secured to the helmet 3 with adhesive or fasteners, and has the sliding rail 114 for receiving the prismatic joint A 112/revolute joint A 125. Preferably, the mounting plate 111 would be secured to the helmet 3 and be oriented in such a way that the sliding rail 114 intersects with an axis of neck twist (Z-axis) of the user 4, and extends to the front and to the back of the helmet 3, and preferably, extends along on the planes defined by X-axis and Z-axis. The prismatic joint A 112 may be fastened at an arbitrary point along the sliding rail 114 for a position adjustment. Optionally, the mounting plate 111 may be integrally formed with or embedded within the helmet 3.
Linkage A 12 is composed of a body member 121 and the prismatic joint B 122 disposed at a first distal end thereof, which includes the telescopic member 128T that retractably extends from the body member 121; and the prismatic joint C 123 disposed at a second distal end thereof, which includes the telescopic member 128B that retractably extends from the body member 121. The revolute joint A 125 is disposed at the distal end of the prismatic joint B 122 for rotatably coupling the linkage A with the helmet mount 111, while the revolute joint B 132 is disposed at the distal end of the prismatic joint C 123 for rotatably coupling the linkage A 12 with the linkage B 13. The body member 121 is preferably a lightweight and rigid material such as carbon fiber composite.
Linkage B 13 is of similar composition to linkage A 12. A body member 131 of the linkage B 13 extends laterally from the revolute joint B 132 where the linkage A 12 is rotatably coupled therewith. The body member 131 uses the same materials and construction as the body member 121 of the linkage A 12.
Linkage base 14 comprises the body member 141. Prismatic joints D 142R, 142L are disposed at the distal ends of the linkage base 14, including extendible/telescopic members 150R, 150L that retractably extend from the distal ends of the body member 141 of the linkage base 14. Revolute joints C 144R, 144L are disposed at its distal ends of the telescopic members 150R, 150L, respectively, and rotatably couple the distal ends of the linkage base 14 with the corresponding distal ends of the body member 131 of the linkage B 13.
As the moment of the helmet 3 is carried/propagated through the linkage A 12 to the linkage B 13, torsion springs 146R, 146L are provided between the linkage B 13 and the linkage base 14 and function to counterbalance the moment created by any helmet mounted object such as night vision goggles or a helmet camera. The preferred embodiment of the torsion springs 146R, 146L is shown in
With reference to
The structural back 21 has a narrow and thin profile to minimize interference with the shoulder blades and may be assembled from a rigid material such as metal or plastic, preferably a thermoplastic material, that further preferably is durable, lightweight and flexible which allows to adapt to various body movements. It may also consist of a combination of materials that vary in durometer. the structural back 21 may be padded along all or a portion of its length. As shown in
With reference to
The structural back 21 includes several slots. For example, slots 219TR and 219TL for receiving/coupling shoulder straps 221R and 221L, respectively; slots 219MR and 219ML for receiving/coupling waist straps 222R and 222L, respectively; and, slots 219BR and 219BL for receiving/coupling abdominal straps 223R and 223L, respectively.
As particularly shown in
As particularly shown in
The strap assembly 22 comprises shoulder straps 221R, 221L, waist straps 222R, 222L, chest straps 224R, 224L and abdominal straps 223R, 223L which may be made from any suitable fabric, preferably some portions or their entire length are elasticated. Examples of suitable strap materials include, but are not limited to, synthetic textiles.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, any of the shoulder straps 221R, 221L, waist straps 222R, 222L, chest straps 224R, 224L and abdominal straps 223R, 223L, some portions thereof or their entire lengths, may optionally be provided with additional padding to increase comfort during operation 4. The strap assembly 22 may be removably or permanently connected to a structural back 21. In order to configure the strap assembly 22 to the size of the user 4, the straps including shoulder straps 221R, 221L, waist straps 222R, 222L, chest straps 224R, 224L and abdominal straps 223R, 223L may include length adjusters such as a VELCRO® fastener (not shown) or any other device or means providing a length-adjustment capability. Such a length-adjusting capability may be provided at the strap fasteners 226T, 226B and/or strap connectors 225R, 225L, which structures are well understood and known among ordinary skilled in the art. Strap connectors 225R, 225L link the waist straps 222R, 222L, shoulder straps 221R, 221L and chest straps 224R, 224L, respectively. Chest straps 224R, 224L and abdominal straps 223R, 223L use strap fasteners 226T, 226B, respectively, which may be any suitable fastener capable of allowing adjustment of the straps, such as buckles, side release or cam buckles.
With reference to
When worn by a user 4, the waist straps 222R, 222L can be adjusted by pulling the ends near the strap connectors 225R, 225L and fasten it at any point on the waist straps 222R, 222L. The waist straps 222R, 222L can also be completely detached from the strap connectors 225R, 225L when the harness 2 is taken on or off by the user 4.
It is to be understood that a person of ordinary skilled in the art would realize and understand that there are variations or various modifications that can be applied to the presently described exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings should not be considered as restrictive, but rather be regarded as illustrative.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/881,697, filed on Aug. 1, 2019, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CA2020/051043 | 7/29/2020 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62881697 | Aug 2019 | US |
