US 11,684,536 B2
Fall prevention apparatus
Homayoon Kazerooni, Berkeley, CA (US); Mimi Parker, Berkeley, CA (US); and Lace Co Ting Keh, La Crescenta, CA (US)
Assigned to The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US)
Filed by The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 13, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/189,809.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/585,438, filed on Nov. 13, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0142683 A1, May 16, 2019
Int. Cl. A61H 3/00 (2006.01); A61F 2/70 (2006.01); A61H 3/04 (2006.01); B25J 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61H 3/008 (2013.01) [A61F 2/70 (2013.01); A61H 3/00 (2013.01); A61H 3/04 (2013.01); B25J 9/0006 (2013.01); A61F 2002/701 (2013.01); A61F 2002/704 (2013.01); A61H 2003/007 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0161 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0192 (2013.01); A61H 2201/163 (2013.01); A61H 2201/165 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1616 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1642 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1652 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fall prevention device configured to be coupled to a person using crutches or a cane, the fall prevention device comprising:
a mechanical torso configured to be coupled to a torso of the person;
at least one mechanical structure that is elongated and tubular and comprising a first end and a second end; and
a rigid coupling to rigidly couple the at least one mechanical structure to the mechanical torso at the first end such that the at least one mechanical structure and the mechanical torso rigidly maintain relative posture to each other, the mechanical torso does not rotate relative to the at least one mechanical structure when coupled to the person, wherein
the second end of the at least one mechanical structure is configured to be positioned behind the person and close to a ground, such that when the second end of the at least one mechanical structure contacts the ground, contact points of legs of the person on the ground and a contact point of the second end of the at least one mechanical structure on the ground outline a multi-sided polygon on the ground,
when a vertical projection of a center of gravity of the person to the ground is configured to intersect the ground within the multi-sided polygon, the fall prevention device is configured to prevent the person from falling backwards or sideways, and
the crutches or cane are configured to prevent the person from falling forward.