Patent Application
20240099922
The presently disclosed subject matter is in the field of falls prevention, in particular a device and method for balancing/stabilizing a person to help prevent falls.
People may experience imbalance and consequently instability and falls for several reasons, such as obstacles, dizziness, weakness, muscle atrophy/sarcopenia, involuntary weight loss, impaired vision or hearing, medicinal side effects, and the like. Falls are most common in elderly population and can result in serious injuries.
When falling or losing balance, one's body may lean to one side (most commonly left or right), with most of one's body weight on one side of the foot. Fear of falling is in itself a risk factor for falling, aside from being unpleasant.
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a shoe balancing device and method, configured to mitigate falling, in particular falling to the left or right sides, and optionally rear falling.
According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter there is provided a shoe balancing device comprising:
In one or more embodiments, the device comprises straps to attach the housing to the shoe.
In one or more embodiments, the device further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) module to provide location information of the wearer.
In one or more embodiments, the motor is configured to move the stabilization rod downwardly toward the surface to thereby apply a resistance force thereto.
In one or more embodiments, the motor is configured to linearly move the stabilization rod.
In one or more embodiments, the device further comprises a solenoid pin configured to reversibly lock the stabilization rod in place after deployment thereof.
In one or more embodiments, the device further comprises a potentiometer to read values from the hardware board to provide an indication of battery power.
In one or more embodiments, the power source is a battery.
In one or more embodiments, the device is configured to be positioned on a right shoe, a left shoe, or both shoes.
In one or more embodiments, the device is configured to be positioned on the lateral facet of a wearer shoe.
In one or more embodiments, the device is configured to stabilize the wearer and prevent falling thereof.
In one or more embodiments, the device further comprises an alarm mechanism comprising a vibration and/or an audible warning to allow for an advance warning to the wearer about a potential fall.
In one or more embodiments, the stabilization rod is configured to revert to the undeployed state when the wearer is essentially vertically stabilized.
In one or more embodiments, the threshold is at least 20 degrees movement of the wearer toward the ground/floor.
In one or more embodiments, the threshold is at least 30 degrees movement of the wearer toward the ground/floor.
In one or more embodiments, the stabilization rod is operably connected to the motor via a stabilization rod connector.
In one or more embodiments, the connector is removably connected to the stabilization rod via.
In one or more embodiments, the attachment between the connector and the stabilization rod is via threads and corresponding internal threads located on the attachment ends of the stabilization rod and stabilization rod connector, respectively.
In one or more embodiments, the attachment between the connector and the stabilization rod is via threads and corresponding internal threads located on the attachment ends of the stabilization rod connector and stabilization rod, respectively.
In one or more embodiments, the stabilization rod outwardly protrudes from a side wall of the housing when the device is actuated.
In one or more embodiments, the stabilization rod outwardly protrudes from a rear wall of the housing when the device is actuated.
According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter there is provided a method of preventing or indicating a fall of a wearer of a shoe balancing device connected to a shoe of the wearer upon a surface. The method includes the steps of
In one or more embodiments, the stabilizing rod is linearly moved by the rod toward the ground/floor to stabilize the wearer.
In one or more embodiments, if the threshold is surpassed by a predetermined period of time, a signal is sent to a telephone of another person or to a monitoring service.
In one or more embodiments, the predetermined period of time is at least 10 seconds, at least 20 seconds, at least 30 seconds, at least 40 second, at least 50 seconds, or at least 60 seconds. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the invention.
In one or more embodiments, the predetermined period of time is no more than 60 seconds, no more than 50 seconds, no more than 40 seconds, no more than 30 seconds, no more than 20 seconds, or no more than 10 seconds. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the invention.
In one or more embodiments, the method comprises providing a location of the device using a GPS module.
In one or more embodiments, the threshold is at least 20 degrees movement of the wearer toward the ground/floor. In one or more embodiments, the threshold is at least 30 degrees movement of the wearer toward the ground/floor.
The presently disclosed subject matter may be more clearly understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
The following detailed description of embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.
It is understood that the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited to the particular methodology, systems, devices, apparatus, items or products etc., described herein, as these may vary as the skilled artisan will recognize. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter. The following exemplary embodiments may be described in the context of exemplary shoe balancing devices for ease of description and understanding. However, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited to the specifically described products and methods and may be adapted to various applications without departing from the overall scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
The present invention provides a shoe balancing device configured to protect a wearer from falling. The shoe balancing device includes a motorized stabilization rod that is movable between an undeployed state and a deployed state in accordance with monitored movements that potentially lead to falling. In the undeployed state, the stabilization rod does not touch the ground below the wearer. In the deployed state, the stabilization rod touches the ground below the wearer and balances the wearer, thus preventing a potentially detected fall.
Thus, according to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a shoe balancing device comprising:
According to another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a shoe balancing device comprising:
The housing of the herein shoe balancing device may feature various forms, including, without limitation a square shape, a rectangular shape, and a circular shape. The device (housing thereof) is configured for removable attachment to a shoe. The device may be attached to a left shoe, a right shoe, or each shoe may have a device attached thereto.
The housing may be attached to the right shoe. The housing may be attached to the left shoe. The housing may be attached to both the left shoe and the right shoe. Optionally, each shoe, right or left, is attached to the herein shoe balancing device, and each device orientationally fits its own shoe (right or left) such that the devices seem inverted with respect to each other and appear as a “mirror image”. To facilitate efficient prevention of falls, the housing is preferably attached to the lateral side (the external facet) of the shoe. Thus, the housing may be attached to the lateral side (the external facet) of the right shoe; to the lateral side (the external facet) of the left shoe; or the housing may be attached to the lateral side (the external facet) of both the right shoe and the left shoe.
The housing may be made from various materials or combination of materials, such as polymers, e.g., a rubber, a polycarbonate, and a metal, or metal alloys, and the like.
The housing features a stabilization rod which is actuated to move to the deployed state and thereby move downwardly when a fall is detected.
The stabilization rod is made from a rigid material to allow a stable and reliable support to the wearer and effectively prevent a fall. Exemplary rigid materials include, for example, rigid polymeric materials (e.g., polypropylene), metals (e.g., aluminum, iron), or metal alloys (e.g., steel). The rigid material may be coated with a rubber or the like to improve a stable interface between a free end of the stabilization rod and the floor/ground or any other surface underneath the wearer.
The stabilization rod may feature a linear movement. Optionally, the stabilization rod may feature a rotational movement, or a partially rotational movement. The linear movement from the undeployed state to the deployed state includes a linear movement downwards toward the ground. The movement from the deployed state to the undeployed state includes movement upward. The herein device may further comprise a locking pin, e.g., a solenoid pin, configured to reversibly lock the stabilization rod in place after deployment thereof.
Optionally, the herein housing includes a side stabilization rod to prevent side falls and also a rear stabilization rod to prevent backward falls. A side stabilization rod as well as a rear stabilization rod also can effectively prevent side-backward falls.
The device comprises at least one strap (e.g., lanyard) to attach the housing to the shoe. The straps may be made from various materials, e.g., a stretchy material, e.g., a stretchy fabric, such as spandex. The device may include two or more straps, at least three straps, or at least four straps. In an exemplary embodiment, the device includes two straps. The straps may include attachment mechanisms to attach the two ends thereof, such as buckles composed of male and female buckle portions.
The herein device may additionally include a global positioning system (GPS) module to provide location information of the wearer.
As used herein the term “GPS module” refers to processor(s) and antenna(s) that directly receive data sent by satellites through dedicated radio frequency (RF frequencies) to accurately calculate a position and time of the wearer.
The device further includes a hardware board (e.g., an open-source hardware board, such as an ESP32 hardware board) configured to act as the operation control center. The hardware board may include a single or a dual-core, and support Wi-Fi connectivity, support Bluetooth specifications, RAM (Random Access Memory), I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) Interface, and/or have programmable GPIOs (general-purpose input/output). The support with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is configured to transfer falling data to a remote-control center (e.g., through the wearer's smartphone mobile software App (application)) when a fall incident is detected, optionally in conjunction with the operation of the stabilization rod.
The motor of the herein device may be any suitable motor capable of actuating the movement of the stabilization rod from the undeployed state to the deployed state and from the deployed state to the undeployed state. The motor is disposed within the housing of the device. The motor may be for example, a servo-motor.
As used herein the term “servo-motor” refers to an actuator (typically a rotary actuator or linear actuator) that allows for a precise control of movement of the stabilization rod from the undeployed state to a deployed state and/or from the deployed state to an undeployed state.
The motor is configured to be activated by the hardware board if the sensing means (accelerometer and/or gyroscope) determines there is an imbalance state beyond a predetermined threshold. The threshold may be a tilt of the shoe with respect to the ground of at least 10 degrees sideway. For example, the threshold may be of at least 15 degrees, the threshold may be of at least 20 degrees, at least 30 degrees, at least 40 degrees, at least 50 degrees, or at least 60 degrees sideways. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the invention. The threshold may be adapted to each of the right and left shoe such that in a device that is designed for the right shoe, the threshold will be a right tilt and in a device that is designed for the left shoe, the threshold will be a left tilt.
The motor may be actuated to move the stabilization rod by one or more sensors for position feedback. The sensor may be an accelerometer and a gyroscope sensor, e.g., a GY-521 MPU-6050 3 Axis gyroscope and 3 Axis Accelerometer Module. The sensor may be a proximity sensor. The sensor may be constituted by a single sensor, two sensors, three sensors, or more sensors. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the invention.
As used herein the term sensing means refers to devices that can sense and measure three-dimensional rotation, static acceleration due to gravity, as well as motion, inclination, shock, and/or dynamic acceleration due to vibration. The term includes accelerometer and a gyroscope.
The power source may be a battery, or a solar board, or any other suitable power source.
The herein device may further comprise a potentiometer to read values from the hardware board to provide an indication of battery power.
Shoe balancing device 700 features a housing 100, which may have a square or a rectangular shape, as illustrated, configured for removable attachment to a shoe. Such removable attachment can be accomplished via an attachment mechanism, for example, including attachment straps 300 and 310 configured to attach device 700 to the lateral side (the outer side) of the shoe and to the upper front and the rear (heel area) of the shoe, respectively (see also
Device 700 includes a stabilizing/balancing rod 120, configured for movement from an undeployed state (as in
Device 700 may further include a vibration or an audible warning mechanism (not shown) such that upon tilting thereof beyond a given angle, a vibration or a sound is emitted to provide an early warning to the wearer about a potential fall.
Operation of shoe balancing device 700 is exemplarily depicted in
In other words, a method of fall prevention or operation of the shoe balancing device includes, in a case of the wearer falling sideways 600, detecting the falling 601; and instructing stabilizing rod 120 to deploy, i.e., moving the stabilizing rod downward to engage the floor/ground (surface) 602, 603. Deployment of rod 120 is performed by activation of motor 200 to rotate, translate, or otherwise move, the free end 121 of the rod downward.
If accelerometer and/or gyroscope sensor 190 determines that the falling has been prevented (i.e., the wearer is stabilized 604), then stabilizing/balancing rod 120 is returned to its undeployed default/initial state (step 605). However, if the wearer continues to fall (step 607), as determined by accelerometer and/or gyroscope sensor 190 detecting an angle beyond a threshold angle (in particular, generally horizontal) with respect to the surface under the wearer (step 608) for a predetermined time that would indicate that the fall has not been prevented, i.e. the wearer has fallen, a signal is sent (step 609) from hardware board 180, which may connect via a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, for example, to a mobile software App (application) of the wearer. The data may then be transmitted to a monitoring service (such as an aid/caregiving service or individual). The data transmitted may include an indication of the wearer's location, as determined by GPS module 210. In some examples, device 700 includes a timer, which can be incorporated in one or more of the afore-mentioned components, or be a separate component, to indicate the time that has lapsed since the fall, thereby providing an indication of the seriousness of the fall and possibly the condition of the wearer. Optionally, and in cases wherein the wearer uses a pair of the herein devices (i.e., one device attached to the right shoe and another to the left shoe), the dedicated mobile software App may be programmed to communicate with only one of the devices (via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi). In such cases, the hardware board 180 of one device may incorporate a protocol algorithm that allows the App to communicate with the hardware board 180 of the other device. Such a configuration allows the devices to share information if necessary (for example the ESP32 hardware board may incorporate an algorithm protocol named ESP-NOW which enables multiple devices to communicate with one another without using Wi-Fi).
Thus, a device and method are herein disclosed for providing support to a falling person. The device and method can help prevent a fall, and in a case where a fall has regardless occurred, the device/method provide for signaling help.
As used herein the terms ‘a’ and ‘an’ may mean ‘one’ or ‘more than one’. All ranges disclosed herein include the endpoints. The use of the term “or” shall be construed to mean “and/or” unless the specific context indicates otherwise. Each of the following terms: ‘includes’, ‘including’, ‘has’, ‘having’, ‘comprises’, and ‘comprising’, and, their linguistic, as used herein, means ‘including, but not limited to’, and is to be taken as specifying the stated component(s), feature(s), characteristic(s), parameter(s), integer(s), or step(s), and does not preclude addition of one or more additional component(s), feature(s), characteristic(s), parameter(s), integer(s), step(s), or groups thereof.
The term ‘consisting essentially of’ as used herein means limited to the specified elements and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed presently disclosed subject matter. Each of the phrases ‘consisting of’ and ‘consists of’, as used herein, means ‘including and limited to’.
The term ‘method’, as used herein, refers to steps, procedures, manners, means, or/and techniques, for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those steps, procedures, manners, means, or/and techniques, either known to, or readily developed from known steps, procedures, manners, means, or/and techniques, by practitioners in the relevant field(s) of the disclosed presently disclosed subject matter.
Throughout this disclosure, a numerical value of a parameter, feature, characteristic, object, or dimension, may be stated or described in terms of a numerical range format. Such a numerical range format, as used herein, illustrates implementation of some exemplary embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, and does not inflexibly limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. Accordingly, a stated or described numerical range also refers to, and encompasses, all possible sub-ranges and individual numerical values (where a numerical value may be expressed as a whole, integral, or fractional number) within that stated or described numerical range. For example, a stated or described numerical range ‘from 1 to 6’ also refers to, and encompasses, all possible sub-ranges, such as ‘from 1 to 3’, ‘from 1 to 4’, ‘from 1 to 5’, ‘from 2 to 4’, ‘from 2 to 6’, ‘from 3 to 6’, etc., and individual numerical values, such as ‘1’, ‘1.3’, ‘2’, ‘2.8’, ‘3’, ‘3.5’, ‘4’, ‘4.6’, ‘5’, ‘5.2’, and ‘6’, within the stated or described numerical range of ‘from 1 to 6’. This applies regardless of the numerical breadth, extent, or size, of the stated or described numerical range.
Moreover, for stating or describing a numerical range, the phrase ‘in a range of between about a first numerical value and about a second numerical value’, is considered equivalent to, and meaning the same as, the phrase ‘in a range of from about a first numerical value to about a second numerical value’, and, thus, the two equivalently meaning phrases may be used interchangeably.
The term ‘about’, in some embodiments, refers to ±30% of the stated numerical value. In further embodiments, the term refers to ±20% of the stated numerical value. In yet further embodiments, the term refers to ±10% of the stated numerical value.
It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and various embodiments of the present presently disclosed subject matter may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments, and those not described herein, may be used separately or in any suitable combination; and the presently disclosed subject matter can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IL2022/050433 | 4/28/2022 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63181912 | Apr 2021 | US |
