Device for assisting joint exercise

Abstract

Provided is a device having a novel configuration and adapted to assist joint exercise. A device for assisting joint exercise that assists bending and extending of a joint including: a flexible assist force transmission section; a first mounting section and a second mounting section, which are provided at both end portions of the assist force transmission section, the first mounting section adapted to be mounted on one site and the second mounting section adapted to be mounted on another site sandwiching a user's joint; a drive source provided that exerts tensile force between the first mounting section and the second mounting section through the assist force transmission section, wherein at least a portion of the assist force transmission section is elastically deformable in an acting direction of the tensile force by the drive source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for assisting joint exercise comprising:
 a flexible assist force transmission section;   a first mounting section and a second mounting section, which are provided at both end portions of the assist force transmission section, the first mounting section adapted to be mounted on one site and the second mounting section adapted to be mounted on another site sandwiching a user's joint so that the assist force transmission section is arranged across at least one of a hip joint and a knee joint of a user; and   a drive source that exerts tensile force between the first mounting section and the second mounting section through the assist force transmission section,   wherein at least a portion of the assist force transmission section is elastically deformable in an acting direction of the tensile force by the drive source.   
     
     
         2 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , wherein the first mounting section is attached to at least one of a thigh and the knee joint of the user while the second mounting section is attached to a lower back of the user so that the assist force transmission section is arranged across the hip joint. 
     
     
         3 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the assist force transmission section which is elastically deformable is an item for which, compared to elasticity in the acting direction of the tensile force by the drive source, elasticity in a direction orthogonal to that is smaller. 
     
     
         4 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the assist force transmission section which is elastically deformable has the elasticity of 0.3 kgf/cm or greater and 0.5 kgf/cm or less in the acting direction of the tensile force by the drive source. 
     
     
         5 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , wherein the assist force transmission section comprises: a band-shaped first traction band extending from the first mounting section; a band-shaped second traction band extending from the second mounting section; and a connecting fitting connecting the first and second traction bands with each other. 
     
     
         6 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 5 , wherein the first mounting section is worn wound on the knee joint of the user and the second mounting section is worn wound on a lower back of the user;
 wherein the first traction band is elastically deformable in a lengthwise direction which is the acting direction of the tensile force, while extending from the first mounting section and being arranged so as to cover a front surface of a thigh of the user;   wherein the connecting fitting is attached to a top end of the first traction band; and   wherein a lengthwise middle part of the second traction band is inserted in the connecting fitting while both lengthwise end parts of the second traction band are attached to the second mounting section so that the assist force transmission section including the first traction band and the second traction band is arranged across the hip joint of the user, and an assisting force exerted involving elastic deformation of the assist force transmission section assists bending and extending of the hip joint.   
     
     
         7 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , wherein the assist force transmission section is provided as an integral unit with a main unit in clothing form, and by wearing the main unit, the assist force transmission section is arranged across the user's joint. 
     
     
         8 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a sensor that can detect bending and extending of the user's joint based on force exerted on the sensor in accordance with the bending and extending of the user's joint, the sensor including at least one of a capacitance type sensor and a resistance change type sensor; and a control device arranged for controlling the drive source based on detection results of the sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , wherein the assist force transmission section is in a band form that extends in a force transmission direction. 
     
     
         10 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive source is attached to the second mounting section. 
     
     
         11 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensile force by the drive source acts as an assist force that reinforces force necessary for joint bending and extending exercise. 
     
     
         12 . The device for assisting joint exercise according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensile force by the drive source acts as a resist force resisting force necessary for joint bending and extending exercise.