Wearable device for grip assistance

Glove-type grip assistance device using pneumatic cylinders, pulleys, and wires to enhance gripping force

This technology is a glove-type wearable device that converts the stroke changes of a pneumatic cylinder into bending and extending motions of the finger joints using a pulley-based stroke compensation member and a wire system. It utilizes an external pneumatic source (e.g., a firefighter's air tank) and enhances gripping force by controlling cylinder actuation via finger pressure sensors.

Existing electric motor-based assistive devices require large batteries and motors to generate high output, which increases the weight and places a significant burden on the user, leading to accumulated muscle fatigue when handling heavy objects.

This technology optimizes device weight by incorporating a pneumatic cylinder and wire connection structure, while the stroke compensation member (pulley mechanism) ensures a wide range of motion for finger joints even with minimal stroke changes. Additionally, it features a control unit based on pressure sensors that detect fingertip pressure and open/close valves to automatically assist with grip. Applicable to firefighting, industrial sites, strength assistance, and rehabilitation, it increases gripping force without the need for large batteries, thereby reducing muscle fatigue and musculoskeletal strain.

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Key Features:

• A wearable grip assistance device maintained at a distance shorter than the gap between the inner surface of the thimble-type main body and the fingertip facing it in the normal direction.
• A stroke compensation member installed on the wire component that supplements the cylinder's stroke to increase the range of bending and extending motions of the glove structure.
• A wire component installed between the glove structure and the cylinder that works in conjunction with the cylinder's operation to bend or extend the glove structure.
• A cylinder connected to the glove structure, driven by pneumatic pressure, which enables the bending and extending motions of the glove structure through stroke changes.