JP2013078441A - Walking auxiliary machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lock orientations of front wheels different from the folding operation of a support column, to secure both the stability of linear advancing walking and the stability of self-erected states, and to facilitate operation.SOLUTION: This walking auxiliary machine comprises: a pair of wheel frames 6 attached with casters being the front wheels 4; a base supported to a pair of the left and right wheel frames 6; the support column attached to the base so as to be foldable; and a locking implement 34 for fixing the orientations of the front wheels 4. The front wheels 4 are attached to the wheel frames 6 so as to abut on the ground in the self-erected states that the front wheels 6 are erected while making their front ends 6a contact with the ground by folding the support column, the locking implement 34 has a linear advancing lock state that the orientations of the front wheels 4 are locked to orientations in which the wheels linearly advance in walking states, and a self-erecting lock state that the orientations are fixed to orientations in which the wheel frames 6 are supported, and the two lock states can be operated by one operation unit 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a walking aid that assists walking of an elderly person or a physically handicapped person. More specifically, the present invention relates to a walking aid that has a front wheel that is a caster and that can stand up and stand independently in a state in which a column is folded.

  As a walking aid that employs a caster for the front wheel, there is one that locks the direction of the front wheel in order to ensure stability in a state where the column is folded and self-supported (for example, Patent Document 1). This walking aid makes it possible to fold the column with the handle attached to the base supported by the wheel frame, and automatically locks the direction of the front wheels (casters) in conjunction with the folding operation of the column. It is convenient because it is not necessary to manually lock the direction of the front wheels.

  The height of the walking aid can be reduced by folding the column (falling the column) and making it compact. Therefore, it is possible to fold the column and place it in an unobtrusive place, and after folding the column, lift the rear wheel and stand up to raise the left and right wheel frame front ends (two points) and the left and right front wheels. It can also be made independent by supporting 4 points (2 points). In a self-supporting state, it can be placed in a smaller space.

  In addition, as a general thing of the locking mechanism used for the front wheel of a walking aid, there exists what was disclosed by patent document 2, for example.

JP 2008-237594 A JP 2010-18079 A

  However, the above-mentioned walking aid is convenient because the user does not have to manually operate the front wheel lock when standing independently, but on the other hand, the column folding operation and the front wheel locking operation are separated. Cannot be operated separately. For example, it is not necessary to lock the direction of the front wheel when the column is folded and stored as it is, and when moving it to a low and narrow space between things, it is rather the front wheel. If the direction of is changed, it may be easier to move and handle.

  Moreover, the above-mentioned walking aid cannot lock the direction of the front wheel during walking, and is inferior in straight running stability. Here, as a lock mechanism that locks the direction of the front wheel, it may be possible to add a lock mechanism for straight advancement in addition to the lock mechanism for self-supporting stability, but the two lock mechanisms are operated by separate operating means. If it does, operation will become troublesome and it will be inferior to usability.

  The present invention can lock the direction of the front wheels separately from the folding operation of the column, and can ensure both the stability of straight progress and the stability of a self-supporting state, and easy walking operation. The purpose is to provide an auxiliary device.

  In order to achieve such an object, the walking assist device according to claim 1 is a pair of left and right wheel frames to which a caster serving as a front wheel is attached, a base supported by the pair of left and right wheel frames, and a base. Folding support column and locking means to fix the direction of the front wheel are provided, and the front wheel is placed on the wheel frame so that it comes into contact with the ground in a standing state with the wheel frame folded up and the front end of the wheel frame being grounded. The locking means has a straight-running lock state that fixes the direction of the front wheel in a straight-advancing direction in the walking state and a self-supporting lock state that fixes the front wheel in a direction that supports the wheel frame in a self-supporting state, and has two locking states. It can be operated by one operating means.

  In the walking assist device according to the second aspect, the direction of the front wheel in the straight advance lock state is the same as the direction of the front wheel in the self-supporting lock state.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the walking aid, the direction of the front wheel is fixed by fitting the locking means with the convex portion provided on one of the wheel frame and the front wheel and the concave portion provided on the other side. I am doing so.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the walking assist device includes a spring that constantly biases the operating means in a direction in which the convex portion is inserted into the concave portion, a cam follower provided on the convex portion, and a cam surface on which the cam follower moves. The cam surface is provided with a lock release position where the cam follower is moved away from the recess to pull out the projection from the recess against the spring force. The spring, the cam follower and the cam are housed in the wheel frame.

  Further, in the walking assist device according to the fifth aspect, the cam surface is provided with a disengagement prevention portion for preventing the cam follower from coming off from the unlocking position.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, by operating the operating means of the locking means and fixing the direction of the front wheel in a direction to go straight forward, that is, by setting the locking means to the straight forward locked state, vibrations and protrusions during walking It is possible to prevent the direction of the front wheels from fluctuating due to riding on the vehicle, and to improve the straight running stability of the walking aid. Further, when the folding means is operated, the operation means of the lock means is operated to fix the direction of the front wheel in a direction to support the wheel frame, that is, the lock means is set in a self-locking state so that the raised wheel frame is firmly supported by the front wheel. It is possible to improve the stability during self-supporting. And since the straight-running lock state and the self-supporting lock state can be operated by one operation means, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed as compared with the case where two operation means are provided. In addition, it is possible to improve usability by preventing the operation from becoming complicated and troublesome. Moreover, since the lock state is operated by the operation means operated by the user, the lock means can be operated separately from the folding operation of the support column, and the front wheel direction can be locked and unlocked according to the user's will Can be a thing.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the direction of the front wheel that can ensure the straight running stability during walking and the stability during self-supporting is the same, only one fixed position for the direction of the front wheel is sufficient, and the locking means This makes the structure simple and can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost. In addition, it is not necessary to switch the lock state of the locking means between walking and standing, and it is possible to further improve the usability by preventing troublesome operations.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the locking means has a structure for fixing the direction of the front wheel by fitting the unevenness, the locking means has a simple structure and can further suppress an increase in manufacturing cost. it can.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the operation means of the lock means has a simple structure, which can further suppress an increase in manufacturing cost, and is also a highly reliable structure, so that it can be reliably locked. Can do. Further, by accommodating the spring, cam follower, and cam in the wheel frame, they can be concealed, and the appearance can be prevented and the design can be improved.

  Furthermore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to more reliably prevent the cam follower from coming off the lock release position due to vibration or the like. In addition, since the feeling of resistance when the cam follower gets over the convex disengagement prevention portion is transmitted to the person who operates the operating means, it is possible to know that the cam follower has come out of the unlock position, and the feeling of operation is improved. .

It is a perspective view which shows an example of embodiment of the walking aid of this invention. It is a side view of the walking aid. It is a bottom view of the walking aid. It is a side view which shows the state which folded the support | pillar of the same walking aid. It is a perspective view which shows the state which made the same walking assistance stand self-supporting. It is a perspective view which shows the state which extended the support | pillar of the walking aid. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state which shows the locking means which fixes the direction of a front wheel, and has released the lock. It is the cross-sectional view which expanded the state which shows the locking means which fixes direction of a front wheel, and has cancel | released the lock | rock. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view which showed the locking means which fixes direction of a front wheel, and expanded the locked state. It is the cross-sectional view which showed the locking means which fixes direction of a front wheel, and expanded the locked state. It is sectional drawing which shows the shape of the large diameter part of a lock pin, and the cylindrical part for a guide of a holder. It is sectional drawing of the state which showed a mode that the support | pillar was attached to a base and the support | pillar stood. It is sectional drawing of the state which showed a mode that the support | pillar was attached to a base and laid the support | pillar. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a mode that a support | pillar is attached to a base. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a mode that a base is attached to a wheel frame. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the cylindrical part of the support | pillar lower end. It is sectional drawing which looked at the state in which the handle | steering-wheel was locked in the lowest position from the rear side. It is sectional drawing which looked at the state in which the handle | steering-wheel was locked in the lowest position from the left side. FIG. 18 is an enlarged view around the height adjustment mechanism in FIGS. 17A and 17B. It is sectional drawing which looked at the state by which the handle | steering-wheel is unlocked in the lowest position from the rear side. It is sectional drawing which looked at the state by which the handle | steering-wheel is unlocked in the lowest position from the left side. FIG. 19 is an enlarged view around the height adjustment mechanism in FIGS. 18A and 18B. It is sectional drawing which looked at the state in which the handle | steering-wheel is unlocked in the highest position from the rear side. It is sectional drawing which looked at the state in which the handle | steering-wheel is unlocked in the highest position from the left side. It is sectional drawing which looked at the state in which the handle | steering-wheel was locked in the highest position from the rear side. It is sectional drawing which looked at the state in which the handle | steering-wheel was locked in the highest position from the left side. It is sectional drawing which shows the brake structure of a rear wheel. It is the cross-sectional view which expanded another state which shows other embodiment of the locking means which fixes direction of a front wheel, and is locking.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail based on the form shown in the drawings.

  1 to 6 show an example of an embodiment of the walking aid of the present invention. This walking aid includes a pair of left and right wheel frames 6 to which a caster serving as a front wheel 4 is attached, a base 7 supported by the pair of left and right wheel frames 6, and a column that is foldably attached to the base 7. 3 and locking means 34 for fixing the direction of the front wheel 4.

  A handle 1 is attached to the upper end of the support post 3, and the support post 3 is in the form of a walking assistance device (FIG. 1 to FIG. 3) used for assisting walking of a person who is difficult to walk normally. Is folded into a compact form (FIG. 4). In this compact form, the front ends 6a of the left and right wheel frames 6 and the left and right front wheels 4 can be grounded to stand on their own (FIG. 5). Moreover, in the form of a walking aid, the column 3 can be extended to adjust the height of the handle 1 (FIG. 6).

  In this embodiment, the rear wheel 5 is also attached to the wheel frame 6 in addition to the front wheel 4. However, both the front wheel 4 and the rear wheel 5 are not necessarily attached to the same wheel frame 6. A wheel frame for the wheel 5 may be provided.

  The attachment structure of the front wheel 4 to the wheel frame 6 is shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 show the right wheel frame 6. The left and right wheel frames 6 are symmetrical. The mounting structure of the left and right front wheels 4 is the same. The wheel frame 6 is, for example, a gently curved pipe-like member, and the front wheel 4 is attached to the wheel frame 6 so as to hit the ground in a self-supporting state in which the support frame 3 is folded and the front end 6a is grounded. It has been. In the present embodiment, the front wheel 4 is attached to the front bottom surface of the wheel frame 6. The rear wheel 5 is attached to the rear end of the wheel frame 6.

  The front wheel 4 is a caster whose direction can be changed. That is, the yoke 4 a that rotatably supports the front wheel 4 is attached to the leg cap 24 fitted into the wheel frame 6 from the end opening by the screw 25 and the nut 27 that penetrate the hole of the wheel frame 6. A holder 43 is sandwiched between the yoke 4 a and the wheel frame 6. Two bearings 26 are provided between the yoke 4 a and the screw 25, and the yoke 4 a is rotatable with respect to the screw 25. The yoke 5a of the rear wheel 5 is fitted to the rear end of the wheel frame 6 so as not to drop off.

  The locking means 34 has a straight-advancing lock state in which the direction of the front wheel 4 is fixed to a straight-ahead direction in the walking state and a self-supporting lock state in which the front wheel 4 is fixed in a direction to support the wheel frame 6 in a self-supporting state. The operation means 30 is operable. Here, the straight-running lock state refers to the state of the locking means 34 that fixes the direction of the front wheel 4 to the direction in which the walking aid travels straight forward, and the self-supporting locked state refers to the direction of the front wheel 4 as the walking aid. The state of the locking means 34 fixed in the direction in which the self-supporting is most stable.

  In the present embodiment, the direction of the front wheel 4 in the straight advance locked state is the same as the direction of the front wheel 4 in the self-standing locked state. That is, the direction of the front wheel 4 that causes the walking aid to move straight forward is the same as the direction of the front wheel 4 that most stabilizes the walking aid, and the direction of the front wheel 4 that is locked by the locking means 34 is One direction.

  The locking means 34 has a structure in which the direction of the front wheel 4 is fixed by fitting a projection 35 provided on one of the wheel frame 6 and the front wheel 4 and a recess 36 provided on the other. Thus, by making the locking means 34 have a structure in which the direction of the front wheel 4 is fixed by fitting the concave and convex portions, the locking means 34 has a simple structure, can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost, and has high reliability. Become a structure. In this embodiment, the convex portion 35 is provided on the wheel frame 6 side and the concave portion 36 is provided on the front wheel 4 side. However, the concave portion 36 may be provided on the wheel frame 6 side and the convex portion 35 may be provided on the front wheel 4 side. In the present embodiment, a lock pin (hereinafter referred to as a lock pin 35) is used as the convex portion 35, and a groove having a width corresponding to the thickness of the tip of the lock pin 35 is formed as the concave portion 36 on the upper surface of the yoke 4a. Is formed. Therefore, the direction of the front wheel 4 is fixed (locked) by inserting the tip of the lock pin 35 into the recess 36, and the front wheel is fixed (unlocked) by pulling the tip of the lock pin 35 out of the recess 36. ) The locking means 34 is provided for each of the left and right front wheels 4.

  The operating means 30 is provided with a spring 39 that constantly urges the lock pin (protrusion) 35 in the direction of insertion into the recess 36, a cam follower 37 provided on the lock pin 35, and a cam surface 38a on which the cam follower 37 moves. A cam 38 and an operation member 40 for moving the cam 38. The spring 39, the cam follower 37 and the cam 38 are accommodated in the wheel frame 6. The spring 39 is provided between the leg cap 24 and the large diameter portion 35 a of the lock pin 35.

  The cam 38 is a slider slidably fitted in a guide groove 24 a provided in the leg cap 24, and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the wheel frame 6 while being guided by the guide groove 24 a. On the other hand, the lock pin 35 is inserted into the guide cylindrical portion 43a of the holder 43 fitted on the bottom surface of the wheel frame 6 from above, and the large diameter portion 35a is guided by the guide cylindrical portion 43a in the vertical direction. It can be moved. The lock pin 35 is provided with a protruding portion as a cam follower 37, and the cam follower 37 is pressed against the cam surface 38 a of the cam 38 by urging the lock pin 35 toward the recess 36 by a spring 39.

  On the cam surface 38a, the cam follower 37 is moved in a direction away from the recess 36 so that the lock pin 35 is pulled out of the recess 36 against the force of the spring 39, and the cam follower 37 is locked close to the recess 36. A lock position 47 for inserting the pin 35 into the recess 36 is provided. In the present embodiment, the cam 38 is accommodated in the wheel frame 6 and the yoke 36 a of the front wheel 4 is provided with the recess 36. Therefore, the cam surface 38 a is disposed above the recess 36, and the lock release position 46. Is a high position, and the lock position 47 is a low position of the cam surface 38a. Further, an inclined surface is formed between the unlock position 46 and the lock position 47. Therefore, when the cam 38 is slid in the longitudinal direction (substantially horizontal direction) of the wheel frame 6, the lock pin 35 moves up and down and is inserted into the recess 36 or pulled out from the recess 36.

  Further, the cam surface 38a of the present embodiment is provided with a convex detachment preventing portion 48 that prevents the cam follower 37 from being detached from the unlock position 46. Therefore, in order to move the cam follower 37 from the unlocking position 46 to the inclined surface or from the inclined surface to the unlocking position 46, it is necessary to overcome the disengagement prevention portion 48 against the biasing force of the spring 39, and the cam follower 37 Can be more reliably prevented from unintentionally detaching from the unlocking position 46 due to vibration during walking, etc., and the operator can operate by generating a small sense of resistance when getting over the detachment preventing portion 48. Can be confirmed and the operational feeling becomes better.

  In the present embodiment, a space 49 into which the upper end of the lock pin 35 is inserted is provided in the cam 38, and a hole 38 is formed in both side walls 38b of the space 49 to form a cam surface 38a. A cam follower 37 is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the lock pin 35 to be inserted into the space 49 so as to protrude into the holes of the side walls 38b. In this way, two sets of left and right combinations of the cam surface 38a and the cam follower 37 are provided, and the lock pin 35 is arranged between each set, so that the lock pin 35 can be moved straight up and down, and inserted into the recess 36 or the recess. The drawing from 36 can be made smooth. However, the configuration of the cam surface 38a and the cam follower 37 is not limited to this.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a rotation-preventing flat surface 35b is formed on a part of the peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 35a of the lock pin 35, and the inner peripheral surface of the guide cylindrical portion 43a is formed. A flat surface 43b is formed in part, and the flat surfaces 35b and 43b are brought into contact with each other to prevent the lock pin 35 from rotating and prevent the cam follower 37 from falling off the cam surface 38a.

  An operation member 40 operated by a user is attached to the cam 38. A locking piece 40a is provided on the bottom surface of the operation member 40. The operation member 40 is placed on the upper surface of the wheel frame 6, and the locking piece 40a is inserted into the long hole 6b provided on the upper surface of the wheel frame 6. Thus, the operating member 40 and the cam 38 are integrated with each other with the upper surface of the wheel frame 6 interposed therebetween by engaging with the engaging portion 38c of the cam 38. The long hole 6b is formed to be elongated in the longitudinal direction of the wheel frame 6, and is formed to have such a length that the cam follower 37 can move from the unlock position 46 to the lock position 47 of the cam surface 38a. Therefore, the user can operate the lock pin 35 by sliding the cam 38 by moving the operation member 40 in the longitudinal direction of the wheel frame 6.

  In the present embodiment, a lock release position 46 is provided at the front part of the cam surface 38a, and a lock position 47 is provided at the rear part. Therefore, when the user slides the operating member 40 rearward, the cam 38 slides rearward and the cam follower 37 moves to the lock release position 46 at the front portion of the cam surface 38a, so that the biasing force of the spring 39 is resisted. The lock pin 35 is lifted, and the tip of the lock pin 35 is pulled into the wheel frame 6. Accordingly, the engagement of the yoke 4a of the front wheel 4 is released (unlocked), and the front wheel 4 functions as a caster.

  When the user slides the operating member 40 forward from this state, the cam 38 also slides forward and the cam follower 37 moves to the lock position 47 at the rear of the cam surface 38a, so that the lock pin 35 can be lowered. At this time, when the tip of the lock pin 35 does not face the recess 36 of the yoke 4a, the tip of the lock pin 35 hits the upper surface of the yoke 4a, and the state where the locking of the yoke 4a is released continues. The direction of the front wheel 4 can be changed. When the recess 36 provided in the yoke 4 a faces the lock pin 35 by changing the direction of the front wheel 4, the lock pin 35 is pushed out by the urging force of the spring 39 and is fitted into the recess 36. As a result, the yoke 4a is locked, and the direction of the front wheel 4 cannot be changed (straight drive lock state and self-supporting lock state).

  When the walking aid is used, by locking the direction of the left and right front wheels 4, it is possible to prevent the direction of the front wheels 4 from changing due to unevenness of the ground and the like, and it is possible to improve straight running stability. On the other hand, when it is desired to change the traveling direction frequently, the turning performance can be improved by unlocking the direction of the front wheel 4. In this case, since the operating means 30 of the left and right lock means 34 can be operated separately, the lock may be released for both the left and right front wheels 4, or only one of the front wheels 4 may be unlocked.

  In addition, when the folded walking aid is made to stand on its own, the front end 6a (two points) of the left and right wheel frames 6 and the left and right front wheels 4 (two points) are grounded. By locking it, it can be firmly supported by the left and right front wheels 4 and the stability in a self-supporting state can be improved.

  As described above, since the locking / unlocking of the direction of the front wheel 4 can be switched by the sliding operation of the operation member 40, the operation is simple and easy to understand, and is very easy to use.

  Further, since the lock member 34 is operated by the operation member 40 operated by the user, the lock member 34 can be operated separately from the folding operation of the support column 3, and the front wheel 4 can be locked and unlocked. It can be made according to the will of the user. For example, if the walking aid is stored in a state in which the column 3 is folded and left as it is, the walking assistance device can be moved to the storage location while changing the traveling direction by unlocking the direction of the front wheel 4. , Movement becomes easier and ease of handling can be improved.

  Further, since the straight locking state and the self-supporting locking state of the lock means 34 can be operated by the same operation member 40, the increase in the number of parts can be suppressed and the manufacturing cost can be increased compared to the case where two systems of operation means are provided. In addition to being able to be suppressed, it is possible to prevent the operation from becoming complicated and troublesome and improve usability. In particular, in this embodiment, since the direction of the front wheel 4 in the straight-running locked state and the direction of the front wheel 4 in the self-locking state are the same, the direction of the front wheel 4 that can ensure straight running stability during walking and stability during self-supporting Are the same, only one fixing position in the direction of the front wheel 4 is sufficient, the structure of the locking means 34 is simplified, and the increase in manufacturing cost can be further suppressed. In addition, it is not necessary to switch the lock state of the lock means 34 between walking and standing, and it is possible to further prevent the troublesome operation and further improve the usability.

  The operation means 30 of the lock means 34 uses a cam mechanism, which can simplify the structure, suppress an increase in manufacturing cost, and is excellent in operation reliability. Further, the operating means 30 can be reduced in size, and the spring 39, the cam follower 37, and the cam 38 can be accommodated in the wheel frame 6, so that these members can be concealed, and the appearance is improved and the design is improved. Can be made.

  Further, the left and right operating means 30 are independent from each other, and the structure can be simplified as compared with the case where the left and right operating means 30 are interlocked. Reliability can be improved.

  Next, a structure for attaching the support column 3 to the base 7 is shown in FIGS. The base 7 accommodates the cylindrical portion 10 at the lower end of the column 3 and has an opening at the bottom, and a pair of left and right wheel frame mounting portions 7d and 7d connected to both sides of the main body 7b by connecting portions 7c. It is made up of. The cylindrical portion 10 is rotatably supported on the left and right side walls 7a, 7a of the main body 7b using the first rotation center shaft 11. The main body 7b is provided with an opening 7e for extending the support column 3. The bottom opening of the main body 7 b is closed by the base cover 17. The base cover 17 is provided with a pair of left and right lever support portions 17 a for attaching the folding lever 16.

  The wheel frame mounting portion 7d has a U-shaped cross section, is placed on the wheel frame 6, and surrounds the periphery of the wheel frame 6 by fitting the mounting portion cover 21 from below. It is fixed by bolts and nuts (both not shown) penetrating through. Since the wheel frame mounting portion 7d of the base 7 that supports the support column 3 is placed on the wheel frame 6, the structure is such that the left and right wheel frames 6 support the base 7 from below, and the load from the support column 3 is applied to the wheel frame. 6 can be transmitted efficiently, and the strength of mounting the base 7 to the wheel frame 6 is increased.

  Two connecting portions 7c are provided on each side of the main body 7b. A stay is provided between the front and rear connecting portions 7 to prevent the user's limbs from entering between the front and rear connecting portions 7.

  A cylindrical portion 10 is provided at the lower end of the column 3. The cylindrical portion 10 is accommodated in the main body 7b, and the first rotation center shaft 11 is passed through the shaft hole 7f of the left and right side walls 7a and the shaft hole 10b of the end plate 10a of the cylindrical portion 10 so as to pass through the base 7. The cylindrical portion 10 is rotatably attached, in other words, the column 3 is swingably attached to the base 7. By swinging the column 3 with respect to the base 7, the column 3 can be folded or raised. The first rotation center shaft 11 is prevented from being detached from the base 7 and the cylindrical portion 10 by retaining members (not shown) fitted to both ends thereof. The left and right end plates 10a of the cylindrical portion 10 are, for example, screwed to the peripheral plate 10c. The peripheral plate 10c is provided with slits 13 and 14 at two positions with a predetermined interval.

  A folding lever 16 is swingably attached to the left and right lever support portions 17 a of the base cover 17. The folding lever 16 is provided with a shaft hole portion 16c. The both ends of the second rotation center shaft 18 passed through the shaft hole portion 16c are screwed to the left and right lever support portions 17a, for example, so that the folding lever 16 is moved. It is attached so that it can swing. The folding lever 16 is provided with a locking claw 16 a that is inserted into the slits 13 and 14 of the cylindrical portion 10. The front end of the folding lever 16 protrudes forward from the notch 7g of the base 7, and this protruding portion is an operation portion. By providing the operation part of the folding lever 16 on the front side, the operation part can be arranged on the opposite side to the user side with the support post 3 interposed therebetween, and an erroneous operation such as a user stepping on by mistake can be prevented. The folding lever 16 is always urged upward by a return spring 44, that is, in a direction in which the locking claw 16 a is inserted into the slits 13 and 14.

  In a state where the locking claw 16 a of the folding lever 16 is inserted into any of the slits 13 and 14 of the cylindrical portion 10, the cylindrical portion 10 cannot be rotated with respect to the base 7. Therefore, the column 3 is locked with respect to the base 7. In the state where the locking claw 16a is inserted in the first slit 13 on the front side of the two slits 13 and 14, as shown in FIG. 12, the support column 3 stands up and the walking aid is used. It is in the form of time (Fig. 1). Further, in a state where the locking claw 16a is inserted into the second slit 14 on the rear side, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 13, the support column 3 is folded. In this state, the walking aid can be made independent by raising the wheel frame 6 by lifting the rear wheel 5 (FIG. 5). In this way, by operating the folding lever 16, that is, by pushing down the protruding portion of the front end of the folding lever 16, the folding lever 16 is swung against the urging force of the return spring 44 and locked from the slits 13 and 14. By removing the claw 16a, swinging the column 3 and inserting the locking claw 16a into the other slits 13 and 14, the angle of the column 3 can be changed in two stages to change the shape of the walking aid.

  On the left and right end plates 10a of the cylindrical portion 10 of the column 3, the column 3 is folded with the first stopper 19 that contacts the stopper 7j of the base 7 when the column 3 stands up to an angle that is in use. A second stopper 20 is provided that comes into contact with the stopper portion 7i of the base 7 when it is laid down to the angle at which the state is reached. Inserting the locking claws 16a into the slits 13 and 14 prevents the support column 3 from rotating too much. However, providing the stoppers 19 and 20 provides double safety against excessive rotation of the support column 3. Is planned. In FIGS. 14 and 16, the stoppers 19 and 20 are not shown.

  Protective wall portions 7h and 7h for protecting the protruding portion of the folding lever 16 from the base 7 are provided on both sides of the notch portion 7g of the base 7 so that the user's foot is caught or an object falls. The folding lever 16 is prevented from being erroneously operated.

  Next, a height adjusting mechanism 80 of the handle 1 and a brake operation transmission mechanism are shown in FIGS. The handle 1 is supported by a column 3 composed of a hollow column rod 3a fitted and connected to the handle 1 and a cylindrical column pipe portion 3b in which the column rod 3a can slide in and out. And the height of the handle | steering_wheel 1 is adjusted by the support | pillar rod 3a being drawn in to the support | pillar pipe part 3b, or being pulled out from the support | pillar pipe part 3b.

  Specifically, the walking aid includes a column 3 with a handle 1 attached to the upper portion and a rear wheel 5 with a brake, and the column 3 is slidably inserted into the column rod 3a and column rod 3a. A support pipe portion 3b, which fixes the positional relationship between the support rod rod 3a and the support pipe portion 3b and allows the support rod rod 3a to slide relative to the support pipe portion 3b when the height of the handle 1 is adjusted. An adjustment mechanism 80, a first transmission member 64 on the handle 1 side and a second transmission member 66 on the brake side for transmitting a brake operation by operating a brake lever 62 attached to the handle 1 to the brake of the rear wheel 5, The positional relationship between the first transmission member 64 and the second transmission member 66 is fixed and the positional relationship between the first transmission member 64 and the second transmission member 66 is released when the height of the handle 1 is adjusted. And a connecting mechanism 65 that.

  The handle 1 has a grip 61 and a brake lever 62. 17 to 20, the grip 61 and the brake lever 62 on the right side of the handle are not shown.

  A plurality of through holes 88 are provided in the peripheral wall of the support rod 3a at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, five through holes 88 are provided on the left side surface of the peripheral wall of the support rod 3a.

  The connection member 63, the first transmission member 64, the connection mechanism 65, and the second transmission member 66 are configured to operate the brake when the grip 61 and the grip 62a of the brake lever 62 are clamped and the brake lever 62 is operated. Is transmitted to pull the brake operation wire 71.

  A swing support shaft 62b is provided at the end of the brake lever 62 opposite to the grip 61, that is, the end opposite to the grip 62a that is gripped together with the grip 61 by the user. The swing support shaft 62b is a shaft that is fixed to the handle 1 and that rotatably supports the brake lever 62 through a through hole provided at an end of the brake lever 62 opposite to the grip portion 62a.

  The brake lever 62 has a connecting projection 62c that protrudes from the side surface of the brake lever 62 at a position between the grip portion 62a and the swing support shaft 62b and above the hollow portion of the support rod 3a.

  A connecting member 63 is connected to the brake lever 62. The connecting member 63 is connected to the brake lever 62 by a through-hole 63a provided on the upper end side being rotatably fitted to the connecting protrusion 62c.

  A first transmission member 64 is coupled to the lower end of the coupling member 63. The first transmission member 64 is coupled to the coupling member 63 by fitting a hook 64 a formed at the upper end into a long hole 63 b provided on the lower end side of the coupling member 63.

  The first transmission member 64 is formed in an elongated plate shape, the upper end is curved and a hook 64a is formed, and a plurality of through holes 64b are provided from the bottom to the lower end of the hook 64a. In the present embodiment, five through holes 64b are provided. The number and interval of the through holes 64b are matched with the number and interval of the through holes 88 provided in the peripheral wall of the support rod 3a. Moreover, the 1st transmission member 64 is arrange | positioned in the support | pillar rod 3a so that the opening of the through-hole 64b may face the front.

  Even when the height of the handle 1 is adjusted by the connecting mechanism 65, that is, when the positional relationship between the support rod 3a and the support pipe portion 3b is changed, the connection is made when the brake lever 62 is operated. The brake operation transmitted to the first transmission member 64 via the member 63 is transmitted to the second transmission member 66.

  The coupling mechanism 65 is fixedly provided on the front surface of the upper end of the support pipe portion 3b. The coupling mechanism 65 includes a clamping member 65c that slidably penetrates the plate-like first transmission member 64, and a male screw 65b that protrudes from and is fixed to the front surface of the clamping member 65c and penetrates the peripheral wall of the column pipe portion 3b. And a grip 65a having a female screw that is screwed with the male screw 65b.

  The second transmission member 66 includes an upper connecting portion 66a, an intermediate body portion 66b, a lower wire connecting portion 66d, and a locking portion 66e provided at the lower end of the wire connecting portion 66d. It has become.

  The connecting portion 66a has a through hole for allowing the first transmission member 64 to pass therethrough, and has a connecting pin 66c protruding into the hole at the front position of the inner peripheral surface of the through hole.

  The main body portion 66b of the second transmission member 66 is formed in a U-shape, and is disposed in the support pipe portion 3b with the first transmission member 64 sandwiched from the left and right in a U-shaped recess with the opening facing upward. ing. However, a slight gap is provided between the left and right side surfaces of the first transmission member 64 and the inner side surface of the second transmission member main body portion 66b, and can move freely. The main body portion 66b of the second transmission member 66 is attached to the lower surface of the connecting portion 66a with the upper end screwed.

  At the lower end of the rod-shaped wire connecting portion 66d connected to the lower end of the main body portion 66b of the second transmission member 66, two brake operation wires 71 of the left and right rear wheels 5 are provided via the locking portions 66e. It is connected. In the present embodiment, an engagement ball portion 71a is formed at the tip of the brake operation wire 71, and the engagement ball portion 71a is locked to the locking portion 66e.

  When the grip 65a of the coupling mechanism 65 is turned and the male screw 65b is pulled into the grip 65a, the axis of the first transmission member 64 clamped by the clamping member 65c is substantially the center of the support pipe portion 3b. It is adjusted so that it is located above. In this state, the connecting pin 66 c of the second transmission member 66 is fitted into the through hole 64 b of the first transmission member 64. Thereby, the positional relationship between the first transmission member 64 and the second transmission member 66 is fixed, and the brake operation is transmitted.

  With the above-described configuration, when the grip 61 of the handle 1 and the grip portion 62a of the brake lever 62 are clamped, the brake lever 62 is pulled up and swings about the swing support shaft 62b. Thereby, the connection protrusion 62c between the grip part 62a and the swing support shaft 62b moves upward, and the connection member 63 connected by the connection protrusion 62c is pulled up. Then, the brake operation wire connected to the lower end is transmitted by the brake operation when the brake lever 62 is operated by the connection member 63, the first transmission member 64, the connection mechanism 65, and the second transmission member 66. 71 is pulled.

  One end of the brake operation wire 71 is connected to the second transmission member 66 at the lower end of the support pipe portion 3 b, enters the base 7 from the lower end of the support pipe portion 3 b, and is a hole provided in the base cover 17. After being pulled out from 17c once, it is drawn into the wheel frame 6 through a hole (not shown) provided in the wheel frame 6 from a hole 21a (FIG. 3) provided in the attachment portion cover 21, and the wheel frame. 6 and is connected to a brake shoe holder 75 (FIG. 21) provided at the rear end of the wheel frame 6. In the present embodiment, two brake operation wires 71 are provided for the left and right rear wheels 5, and the brake operation wires 71 for the left rear wheel 5 enter the left wheel frame 6 from the left attachment cover 21. Is passed through the brake shoe holder 75 for the left rear wheel 5 and the brake operation wire 71 for the right rear wheel 5 is passed from the right mounting portion cover 21 into the right wheel frame 6 to pass through the right rear wheel 5. The brake shoe holders 75 are connected respectively. The brake operation wire 71 is passed through the protective tube 76.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the brake shoe holder 75 is attached to a brake frame 70 attached to the inner peripheral surface of the rear end of the wheel frame 6 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 73. A brake shoe 72 is attached to the brake shoe holder 75. In the present embodiment, two types of brake shoes having different shapes as the brake shoe 72, specifically, a brake shoe 72 for the left rear wheel 5 and a brake shoe 72 for the right rear wheel 5 are provided. The brake shoe holder 75 and the two types of brake shoes 72 are unitized in advance. As is clear from FIG. 3 and the like, the left and right wheel frames 6 are arranged in a C shape in which the distance between the front ends 6a is narrower than the distance between the rear ends. Accordingly, the angle of the brake shoe holder 75 with respect to the rear wheel 5 also differs on the left and right. By making the two types of brake shoes 72 having different shapes into units (shoe units), it becomes possible to use a common shoe unit for the left and right rear wheel brakes, and parts management becomes easy. As a result of the brake operation, the shoe unit rotates with respect to the brake frame 70 and the two types of brake shoes 72 operate simultaneously. However, in the unit used for the rear wheel brake on the left side, The brake shoe 72 for 5 is in contact, but the brake shoe 72 for the right rear wheel 5 is not in contact. In the unit used for the right rear wheel brake, the brake shoe 72 for the right rear wheel 5 contacts the rear wheel 5, but the brake shoe 72 for the left rear wheel 5 does not contact. With the structure in which the brake shoe 72 is attached to the brake shoe holder 75, only the brake shoe 72, which is a consumable item, can be replaced.

  The shoe unit in which the brake shoe holder 75 and the two types of brake shoes 72 are integrated is always urged by a return spring 79 in the direction of separating the brake shoes 72 from the rear wheel 5. In this embodiment, a torsion coil spring is used as the return spring 79 and is provided on the rotating shaft 73.

  A brake operation wire 71 is connected to the brake shoe holder 75. In this embodiment, an engagement ball portion 71 b is formed at the tip of the brake operation wire 71, and this engagement ball portion 71 b is locked to the brake shoe holder 75. Thus, when the brake operation wire 71 is pulled by the operation of the brake lever 62, the brake shoe holder 75 rotates and the brake shoe 72 is pressed against the rear wheel 5 to be braked.

  Here, an urging spring 68 is interposed between the upper surface of the locking portion 66e at the lower end of the second transmission member 66 and the partition plate 67 that is fixedly provided at the lower portion of the support pipe portion 3b. The urging spring 68 is urged downward by the action of the urging spring 68, whereby the brake operation wire 71 is urged in the pushing direction. In the present embodiment, as the urging spring 68, a compression coil spring is provided around the rod-shaped wire connecting portion 66d.

  In addition, a cap 71c is fitted into the tip of the protective tube 76 of the brake operation wire 71 on the brake shoe holder 75 side. The brake operation wire 71 extends from the tip of the cap 71c. Further, a stopper member 74 provided with a slit 74 a through which the brake operation wire 71 is passed but not through the cap 71 c is attached to the brake frame 70 by a shaft 77.

  When no load is applied to the brake lever 62, that is, when no brake operation is performed, the weights of the first transmission member 64 and the second transmission member 66, the biasing spring 68, and the return spring 79 act. The locking portion 66e at the lower end of the second transmission member 66 is biased downward, and the brake operation wire 71 is pushed out to the rear wheel 5 side until the cap 71c comes into contact with the stopper member 74. As a result, the brake shoe 72 is biased in the direction away from the rear wheel 5, and the state away from the rear wheel 5 is maintained, so that the brake is not applied.

  The stopper member 74 is rotatable about the shaft 77, and the angle of the stopper member 74 can be adjusted by changing the screwing amount of the adjusting screw 78. By adjusting the angle of the stopper member 74, the position of the cap 71c can be adjusted to adjust the position of the brake shoe 72 when the brake operation is not performed.

  The walking aid further includes a height adjustment mechanism 80. The height adjusting mechanism 80 fixes the support rod 3a and the support pipe portion 3b while adjusting the degree of the support rod 3a entering the support pipe portion 3b, that is, while changing the length of the support post 3 as a whole. Both are fixed and the height of the handle 1 can be adjusted according to the user.

  In this embodiment, the height adjusting mechanism 80 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the support pipe portion 3b. Further, the height adjusting mechanism 80 is disposed in accordance with the position of the through hole 88 in the peripheral wall of the support rod 3a, and in this embodiment, is disposed on the left side surface of the support pipe portion 3b.

  The height adjusting mechanism 80 includes an oscillating body 81, a button 82, a torsion spring 83, a penetrating pin 84, an oscillating body rotating shaft 85, and a penetrating pin rotating shaft 86. The whole is covered with the height adjustment mechanism cover 87, and only the button 82 penetrates the surface of the height adjustment mechanism cover 87 facing the peripheral wall of the support pipe portion 3 b and protrudes from the height adjustment mechanism cover 87.

  The oscillating body 81 is fixed to the height adjusting mechanism cover 87 so as to be rotatable by an oscillating body rotating shaft 85 penetrating the intermediate portion.

  The button 82 is provided so as to be able to enter and exit the height adjusting mechanism 80 through a surface of the height adjusting mechanism cover 87 facing the peripheral wall of the support pipe portion 3b. The end portion of the button 82 on the support column 3 side is in contact with the portion near the upper end of the swing body 81, and when the button 82 is pressed, a biasing force is applied to press the upper portion of the swing body 81 toward the support column 3 side.

  The torsion spring 83 is provided by being wound around the oscillating body rotation shaft 85. The torsion spring 83 is interposed between the surface of the height adjusting mechanism cover 87 facing the peripheral wall of the support pipe part 3b and the lower part of the swinging body 81, and the biasing force that pushes the lower part of the swinging body 81 into the support 3 side. Is given to the oscillator 81.

  The penetrating pin 84 is rotatably fixed to the lower portion of the rocking body 81 by a penetrating pin rotating shaft 86. And when the penetration pin 84 is pushed in to the support | pillar 3 side, it penetrates the through-hole 89 provided in the surrounding wall of the support | pillar pipe part 3b, and the through-hole 88 of the surrounding wall of the support | pillar rod 3a.

  With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 17 (FIGS. 17A to 17C) and FIG. 20 (FIGS. 20A and 20B), when the load is not applied to the button 82, the swinging body 81 is acted by the torsion spring 83. Is urged toward the support column 3 side. Thereby, since the penetration pin 84 connected with the lower part of the rocking | swiveling body 81 penetrates the surrounding wall of the support | pillar pipe part 3b, and the surrounding wall of the support | pillar rod 3a, both are fixed.

  On the other hand, when the button 82 is pushed in, as shown in FIG. 18 (FIGS. 18A to 18C) and FIG. 19 (FIGS. 19A and 19B), the upper end of the swinging body 81 is supported by the end portion of the button 82 on the support column 3 side. A force for rotating about the swinging body rotation shaft 85 is applied to the rotating body 85. Accordingly, the oscillating body 81 rotates about the oscillating body rotation shaft 85 against the urging force acting by the torsion spring 83, and the through pin 84 is pulled out from the through hole 88 in the peripheral wall of the support rod 3a.

  The above-described coupling mechanism 65 and height adjusting mechanism 80 can adjust the overall length of the support column 3, that is, the height of the handle 1, and can also operate the brake on it. It becomes.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17C, when no force is applied to the button 82 of the height adjusting mechanism 80, the through pin 84 is connected to the through hole 89 in the peripheral wall of the support pipe portion 3 b and the support rod. The positional relationship between them is fixed by penetrating through the through-hole 88 of the 3a peripheral wall. That is, the height adjustment mechanism 80 exhibits the effect of locking the height of the handle 1. Note that the state shown in FIG. 17 of the present embodiment is that the penetrating pin 84 passes through the uppermost through hole 88 of the five through holes 88 provided in the peripheral wall of the support rod 3a, and the support rod 3a and the support pipe. The positional relationship with the part 3b is fixed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 17B, when the grip 65a of the coupling mechanism 65 is operated and the male screw 65b is pulled into the grip 65a, the clamping member 65c is fixed substantially on the axial center of the column pipe portion 3b, The connecting pin 66c of the second transmission member 66 passes through the through hole 64b of the transmission member 64, and both are fixed. That is, the connecting mechanism 65 exhibits the effect of locking the brake operation transmission members 64 and 66. In the state shown in FIG. 17 of the present embodiment, the connection pin 66c passes through the uppermost through hole 64b of the five through holes 64b of the first transmission member 64, and the first transmission member 64 and the first transmission member 64 The positional relationship with the second transmission member 66 is fixed.

  Thus, in the state shown in FIG. 17, the positional relationship between the support rod 3a and the support pipe portion 3b is fixed in a state where the support rod 3a is most drawn into the support pipe portion 3b and the overall length of the support post 3 is the shortest. In addition, the positional relationship between the first transmission member 64 and the second transmission member 66 is fixed, and the brake shoe 72 can be operated by operating the brake lever 62 to apply the brake.

  Next, from the state where the connecting mechanism 65 and the height adjusting mechanism 80 shown in FIG. 17 exhibit the locking effect, as shown in FIG. 18B, the grip 65a of the connecting mechanism 65 is operated, and the male screw is inserted from the grip 65a. When 65b is pushed out, the clamping member 65c pushes the first transmission member 64, and the connecting pin 66c of the second transmission member 66 comes out from the through hole 64b. Thereby, the locking of the positional relationship between the first transmission member 64 and the second transmission member 66 by the coupling mechanism 65 is released, and the first transmission member 64 is slid freely with respect to the second transmission member 66. be able to.

  In this state, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18C, when a force to push the button 82 of the height adjusting mechanism 80 is applied, the penetrating pin 84 comes out of the through hole 88 in the peripheral wall of the column rod 3a, and the column rod 3a and The lock of the positional relationship with the support pipe portion 3b is released, and the support rod 3a can be freely pulled out from the support pipe portion 3b.

  Accordingly, in the state shown in FIG. 18, the support rod 3a and the first transmission member 64 can be freely slid with respect to the support pipe portion 3b, so that the height of the handle 1 can be adjusted. Become.

  Then, in the state where the support rod 3a is pulled out from the support pipe portion 3b as shown in FIG. 19, the locking mechanism of the coupling mechanism 65 and the height adjusting mechanism 80 is exerted as shown in FIG. Can be fixed and brake operation can be transmitted.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20C, when the force of pushing the button 82 is released after adjusting the height of the handle 1, that is, the pulling degree of the support rod 3 a, the penetrating pin 84 becomes a support pipe portion. The positional relationship between the through hole 89 of the peripheral wall 3b and the through hole 88 of the peripheral wall of the support rod 3a is fixed. That is, the height adjusting mechanism 80 exhibits the effect of locking the height of the handle 1. Note that the state shown in FIG. 20 of the present embodiment is that the penetrating pin 84 passes through the bottom through-hole 88 of the five through-holes 88 provided on the peripheral wall of the support rod 3a and the support rod 3a and the support pipe portion. The positional relationship with 3b is fixed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 20B, when the grip 65a of the coupling mechanism 65 is operated and the male screw 65b is pulled into the grip 65a, the clamping member 65c is fixed substantially on the axis of the column pipe portion 3b, and the first transmission is performed. The connecting pin 66c of the second transmission member 66 passes through the through hole 64b of the member 64, and both are fixed. In other words, the coupling mechanism 65 exhibits an effect of locking the positional relationship between the brake operation transmission members 64 and 66.

  Thus, in the state shown in FIG. 20, the positional relationship between the support rod 3a and the support pipe portion 3b is fixed in a state where the support rod 3a is pulled out most into the support pipe portion 3b and the entire length of the support column 3 is the longest. In addition, the positional relationship between the first transmission member 64 and the second transmission member 66 is fixed, and the brake shoe 72 can be operated by operating the brake lever 62 to apply the brake.

  According to the height adjustment mechanism 80 and the brake operation transmission mechanism configured as described above, the positional relationship between the support rod 3a and the support pipe portion 3b is fixed and switched to release the handle 1. Can be adjusted, and also when the positional relationship between the support rod 3a and the support pipe portion 3b changes, the brake operation can be transmitted. In addition, since the change in the positional relationship between the support rod 3a and the support pipe portion 3b is absorbed by the brake operation transmission mechanism, the brake operation transmission mechanism such as a brake cable is externally provided as in the prior art. It doesn't come out greatly. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the brake cable from being bent and getting in the way.

  In this embodiment, the tip of the grip portion 62 of the brake lever 62 is retracted inside the tip of the grip 61 (FIG. 1 and the like). Therefore, when the walking assist device falls down, the brake lever 62 can be protected by the grip 61 to prevent breakage of the brake.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the base 7 and the brake frame 70 are formed with resin, and the walk aid is reduced in weight.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above description, the direction of the front wheel 4 in the straight advance locked state and the direction of the front wheel 4 in the self-standing locked state are the same, but the directions of the front wheels 4 may be different. For example, when the direction of the front wheel 4 in the self-locking state is slightly inward (when viewed from above), when the self-supporting of the walking assist device is most stable, the direction of the front wheel 4 in the self-locking state is set to that direction. Try to match. An example in which the directions of the front wheels 4 are different is shown in FIG. The yoke 4a of the front wheel 4 is provided with a recess 36 (denoted by reference numeral 36A in the drawing) for making a straight advance lock state and a recess 36 (denoted by reference numeral 36B in the drawing) for making a self-standing lock state. . By inserting the lock pin 35 into the recess 36A, the direction of the front wheel 4 is fixed to the direction in which the walking aid moves straight forward, and by inserting the lock pin 35 into the recess 36B, the direction of the front wheel 4 becomes independent of the walking aid. Is fixed in the most stable orientation.

  In the above description, the convex portion (lock pin) 35 is provided on the wheel frame 6 side and the concave portion 36 is provided on the front wheel 4 side. However, the concave portion 36 is provided on the wheel frame 6 side and the convex portion 35 is provided on the front wheel 4 side. It may be provided. Also in this case, the direction of the front wheel 4 can be locked / unlocked, and the stability of the walking assist device in a straight line and the stability when standing independently can be ensured. In this case, for example, it is considered that a piston that pushes the convex portion 35 back in the concave portion 36 is provided while the convex portion 35 is constantly urged, and the lock / unlock is performed by operating the piston. It is done.

  Further, in the above description, the lock release position 46 is provided at the front part of the cam surface 38a and the lock position 47 is provided at the rear part. When the lock of the direction of the front wheel 4 is released, the operation member 40 is slid backward, When the direction of the front wheel 4 is locked, the operation member 40 is slid forward. However, the configuration is not necessarily limited to this configuration, and conversely, a lock position 47 is provided at the front portion of the cam surface 38a and the rear portion is locked. The release position 46 is provided, and the operation member 40 may be slid forward when unlocking the direction of the front wheel 4, and the operation member 40 may be slid rearward when the direction of the front wheel 4 is locked. .

  In the above description, a member (slider) that slides on the wheel frame 6 is used as the operation member 40. However, the operation member 40 is not necessarily limited to the slider. You may make it slide. Furthermore, an electric motor for sliding the cam 38 may be provided, and the cam 38 may be slid by operating a switch provided near the handle 1.

  Further, although the above-described operation means 30 is configured to operate separately on the left and right, the left and right operation means 30 may be interlocked. For example, the left and right operation means 30 may be interlocked by simultaneously transmitting the movement of one operation lever to the left and right operation means 30, or an electric motor provided for each left and right operation means 30 by one switch operation. May be operated at the same time so that the left and right operating means 30 are interlocked. In these cases, it is not necessary to operate the left and right operating means 30 separately, and the direction of the left and right front wheels 4 can be locked and unlocked with a single action, which further improves usability.

  In the above description, both the unlock position 46 and the lock position 47 are provided on the cam surface 38a. However, the lock position 47 may be omitted. For example, when the lock pin 35 is inserted into the recess 36, the cam follower 37 is separated from the cam surface 38a, and when the lock pin 35 is pulled out from the recess 36, the cam surface 38a comes into contact with the cam follower 37 and lifts it up. Anyway. Also in this case, the lock pin 35 can be moved up and down by the movement of the cam 38 to operate the lock / unlock of the direction of the front wheel 4.

3 Strut 4 Front Wheel 6 Wheel Frame 6a Front End of Wheel Frame 7 Base 30 Operating Means 34 Locking Means 35 Convex Part 36 Concave 37 Cam Follower 38 Cam 38a Cam Face 39 Spring 40 Operating Member 46 Unlocking Position of Cam Face 38a 48 Cam Face 38a Detachment prevention part

Claims (5)

  A pair of left and right wheel frames to which a caster serving as a front wheel is attached, a base supported by the pair of left and right wheel frames, a support column foldably attached to the base, and a direction of the front wheel are fixed. Locking means, and the front wheel is attached to the wheel frame so as to hit the ground in a self-supporting state in which the support frame is folded up and the front end of the wheel frame is grounded. The front wheel has a straight lock state in which the front wheel is fixed in a straight direction in a walking state and a self-supporting lock state in which the wheel frame is fixed in a direction to support the wheel frame in the self-supporting state, and the two lock states are operated by a single operating means. A walking aid that is made possible.   The walking assist device according to claim 1, wherein a direction of the front wheel in the linearly locked state and a direction of the front wheel in the self-locking state are the same.   The said locking means fixes the direction of the said front wheel by the fitting of the convex part provided in any one of the said wheel frame and the said front wheel, and the recessed part provided in any other. Or the walk assistance device of 2.   The operating means includes a spring that constantly biases the convex portion in a direction of inserting the convex portion into the concave portion, a cam follower provided on the convex portion, a cam provided with a cam surface on which the cam follower moves, and the cam And an unlocking position for pulling out the convex portion from the concave portion against the force of the spring by moving the cam follower in a direction away from the concave portion. 4. The walking aid according to claim 3, wherein the spring, the cam follower, and the cam are accommodated in the wheel frame.   The walking assist device according to claim 4, wherein the cam surface is provided with a convex disengagement preventing portion that prevents the cam follower from being disengaged from the unlocking position.

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