DE102019107272B4 - walker - Google Patents

Abstract

Rollator (10), - with a pair of wheels at the front in the direction of travel and a pair of wheels at the rear in the direction of travel, - with a frame (11) which has struts (12) pointing to the rear, each strut (12) having a rear wheel (13 ) of the rear pair of wheels holds, - with a platform (30) which is attached to the walker (10), has at least one wheel (31) and provides a standing area (32) for a person using the walker (10), - with a use position of the platform (30), in which the platform (30) rests on a floor surface with its wheel (31) following the frame (11), - with a storage position of the platform (30), in which the platform (30) functionless on the frame (11) of the walker (10),- the platform (30) being arranged horizontally relative to the frame (11) of the walker (10) so that it can pivot about at least one geometric axis in order to be moved between the use position and the storage position to become, characterized in that- a blocking element (24) is present, which can assume a blocking position and a release position, - the blocking element (24) in the blocking position restricts the pivoting movement of the platform (30) in order to use the standing area of the platform ( 30) to prevent a person from turning over the rollator frame (11) about the geometric axis, - the blocking element (24) in the blocking position allows a limited pivoting movement to compensate for uneven floors.

Description

• - mit einem in Fahrtrichtung vorne liegenden Radpaar und einem in Fahrtrichtung hinten liegenden Radpaar,
• - mit einem Rahmen, der nach hinten gerichtete Streben aufweist, wobei jede Strebe ein hinteres Rad des hinteren Radpaares hält,
• - mit einer Plattform, die am Rollator befestigt ist, wenigstens ein Rad aufweist und eine Stehfläche für eine den Rollator nutzende Person zur Verfügung stellt,
• - mit einer Nutzstellung der Plattform, in welcher die Plattform dem Rahmen nachlaufend mit ihrem Rad auf einer Bodenfläche aufliegt,
• - mit einer Lagerstellung der Plattform, in welcher die Plattform funktionslos am Rahmen des Rollators festgelegt ist,
• - wobei die Plattform relativ zum Rahmen des Rollators horizontal um zumindest eine geometrische Achse schwenkbar angeordnet ist, um zwischen der Nutzstellung und der Lagerstellung bewegt zu werden.

The invention relates to a walker

• - with one pair of wheels at the front in the direction of travel and one pair of wheels at the rear in the direction of travel,
• - having a frame having rearward struts, each strut supporting a rear wheel of the rear pair of wheels,
• - with a platform that is attached to the rollator, has at least one wheel and provides a standing area for a person using the rollator,
• - with a use position of the platform, in which the platform, following the frame, rests with its wheel on a floor surface,
• - with a storage position of the platform, in which the platform is fixed without function on the frame of the rollator,
• - wherein the platform relative to the frame of the walker is horizontally pivotable about at least one geometric axis to be moved between the use position and the storage position.

Generic rollators are made, for example DE 2016 002 904 U1 , DE 10 2007 062 406 B4 or EP 451 423 B1 known. What all these rollators have in common is that they have a trailing platform. A person with restricted mobility can stand on this platform. The rollator is moved forward by an electric motor drive, so that the person with restricted mobility does not have to move the rollator forward on their own.

The prior art also includes the applicant's own DE 20 2017 107 072 U1 , which describes an optimized concept of generic rollators and is an integral part of this application.

What all of the aforementioned rollators have in common is that the frame and platform can be pivoted relative to one another about a horizontal axis. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that pitching movements, caused for example by unevenness in the road, have to be compensated for. On the other hand, some walkers from the prior art allow the platform to be pivoted from a use position to a storage position in order to move the walker forward while walking.

Even if the rollator concepts are very popular with users, there are occasional usage situations in which the combination of rollator and platform exhibits unstable driving behavior when in use. In particular when driving over higher obstacles that require the front wheels to be lifted significantly to overcome the obstacle, for example curbs, situations are at least theoretically conceivable in which the rollator frame threatens to overturn due to the front wheels being lifted.

It is therefore the object of the invention to counteract such instabilities by technical means.

• - ein Sperrelement vorhanden ist, welches eine Sperrstellung und eine Losstellung einnehmen kann,
• - das Sperrelement in Sperrstellung die Schwenkbewegung der Plattform einschränkt, um bei Nutzung der Stehfläche der Plattform durch eine Person ein Umschlagen des Rollatorrahmens um die geometrische Achse zu verhindern.

The invention is solved by a rollator with the features of claim 1, in particular with its characterizing features, after which

• - a blocking element is present, which can assume a blocking position and a release position,
• - The blocking element in the blocking position restricts the pivoting movement of the platform in order to prevent the rollator frame from turning over about the geometric axis when the standing area of the platform is used by a person.

In its locked position, the blocking element allows only stable driving conditions to be ensured - even when overcoming obstacles - and in its loose position it nevertheless allows the platform to be fully pivoted, for example if it is to be moved into the storage position or for other reasons, for example for Transport or storage purposes, a large pivoting path of the platform is required.

Therefore, the invention is preferably designed so that the blocking element in the blocking position allows a limited pivoting movement to compensate for uneven floors, especially when the blocking element in the blocking position allows a limited pivoting movement to overcome obstacles up to the height of a curb.

In a platform that can be pivoted between the use and storage position by an electric motor, it is provided that the platform can be moved from the use position to the storage position by an electric motor and using a self-locking gear, the gear being a blocking element in the use position of the platform.

In this case, a special embodiment is distinguished by the fact that at least one gear part has a play in movement, which allows a limited pivoting movement of the platform.

• - der Rahmen eine körperliche Horizontalachse ausbildet, um welche ein Hülsenbauteil angeordnet ist,
• - die Plattform am Hülsenbauteil festgelegt ist,
• - Hülsenbauteil und Horizontalachse ein Schwenklager für die Schwenkbewegung der Plattform bilden,
• - das Sperrelement mittels Kopplung von Hülsenbauteil und Horizontalachse die Schwenkbewegung einschränkt.

In a rollator according to the applicant's prior art, it is provided that

• - the frame forms a physical horizontal axis around which a sleeve component is arranged,
• - the platform is fixed to the sleeve component,
• - sleeve component and horizontal axis form a pivot bearing for the pivoting movement of the platform,
• - The locking element restricts the pivoting movement by means of the coupling of the sleeve component and the horizontal axis.

In this way, the pivoting movement can be limited in a particularly simple manner.

Specifically, it is provided, for example, that the blocking element is arranged in a receptacle which locks the blocking element in its blocked position on the one hand and in its release position on the other hand, with the receptacle then being arranged on the sleeve component.

The problem can be solved mechanically, in particular if the blocking element is a blocking pin which, in its blocking position, passes through aligned openings in the sleeve component and horizontal axis, with provision being made for the openings in the sleeve component or the horizontal axis to be in the form of elongated holes running in the circumferential direction and thus allow limited pivoting movement of the platform.

It is also provided that the receptacle has at least one ball catch and the locking pin is provided with groove sections defining the locked position and the unlocked position, the ball lock interacting with the corresponding groove section to anchor the locking pin in the locked or unlocked position.

• - die Plattform einen elektromotorischen Antrieb aufweist, mittels dessen der Rollator antreibbar ist,
• - die Inbetriebnahme des elektromotorischen Antriebs nur bei in Sperrstellung befindlichen Sperrelement möglich ist.

In order to ensure driving safety, it is provided that

• - the platform has an electric motor drive, by means of which the walker can be driven,
• - The commissioning of the electric motor drive is only possible when the blocking element is in the blocking position.

• 1: einen erfindungsgemäßen Rollator mit nachlaufender Plattform,
• 2: die Darstellung gemäß 1 mit nachlaufender Plattform in Lagerstellung,
• 3: ein Kopplungselement zwischen Rollator und Plattform mit Sperrstift in Losstellung,
• 4: die Darstellung gemäß 3 mit Sperrstift in Sperrstellung
• 5: ein alternatives Kopplungselement zwischen Rollator und Plattform mit Motor und Getriebe zum elektrischen Anheben der Plattform.

Further advantages of the invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

• 1 : a rollator according to the invention with a trailing platform,
• 2 : according to the representation 1 with trailing platform in storage position,
• 3 : a coupling element between rollator and platform with locking pin in release position,
• 4 : according to the representation 3 with locking pin in locking position
• 5 : an alternative coupling element between rollator and platform with motor and gearbox for electric lifting of the platform.

In the figures, a rollator according to the invention is given the reference number 10 overall.

The rollator is in its entirety in the 1 and 2 shown and includes a generally designated 11 frame. The frame 11 includes two rearward struts 12. A rear wheel 13 of a pair of rear wheels is attached to each strut 12. In the forward direction, the frame 11 carries two front wheels 14 of a pair of front wheels. The front wheels 14 are pivotally mounted on the frame to allow the rollator to turn. The rear wheels 13 do not swivel and are rigidly connected to the frame 11 .

The user supports himself on handlebars 15 with handles 16 during a forward movement with the walker 10 . A horizontal axis 17 connecting the struts 12 is fixed to the struts 12 with clamps 18 . It serves to arrange a trailing or trailing platform, denoted overall by 30.

The platform 30 has a platform wheel 31, which is provided with an electric drive to move the walker 10 forward in the direction of travel. In order to further simplify use by a person with restricted mobility, the platform 30 provides a standing area 32 . A person with restricted mobility can stand on this, support themselves on the handles 16 and is thus moved by the electrically driven walker 10 without their own exertion of force.

The platform 30 is arranged on the horizontal axis 17 via a coupling device, which is denoted overall by 40 .

2 shows the walker 10 according to FIG 1 . A section through the illustration according to FIG 1 placed.

The apparent difference to 1 consists in the arrangement of the platform 30. This is pivoted about the physical horizontal axis 17 by about 90 degrees upwards and is located opposite the in 1 shown use position here in storage position. The horizontal axis 17 forms a swivel joint, designated 19 overall. This will be discussed further below.

As described above, the fundamentally advantageous, pivotable arrangement of the platform 30 on the rollator frame 11 can be disadvantageous in a few driving situations, particularly when driving over higher obstacles, since there is a risk of the rollator 10 tipping over backwards.

In order to prevent this, the invention proposes a blocking element which will now be described in a specific embodiment.

The 3 and 4 show an axial section through the in 1 Pivot joint 19 denoted by 19. The pivot joint 19 is formed by a section of the horizontal axis 17, around which a sleeve component 20 is arranged. A helical spring 21 is coupled at one end to the horizontal axis 17 and at the other end to the sleeve component 20 and builds up a spring preload when the platform 30 pivots from the storage position to the use position. This is reduced when pivoting back from the use position to the storage position and supports the pivoting movement of the platform 30.

The sleeve component 20 has a bearing mandrel 22 on which the coupling device 40 is seated and which allows a buckling movement of the combination of walker 10 and platform 30 when cornering.

A receptacle 23 of the sleeve component 20 as an approximately hollow-cylindrical component holds a locking pin 24 which is provided with circumferential grooves 25 axially spaced apart from one another. A ball detent 26 interacts alternately with the circumferential grooves 25 to hold the locking pin 24 in a locking position (see 4 ) or a release ( 3 ) to secure.

The horizontal axis 17 has openings 27, and the sleeve component 20 also has openings marked with the reference number 28. When the platform 30 is in the use position, the openings 27 in the horizontal axis 17 are aligned with the openings 28 in the sleeve component 20, so that in the use position the locking pin 24 can be pushed through the aligned openings 27, 28 and the platform 30 is thus restricted in its pivoting mobility or in the Usage position of the platform 30 can even be completely locked.

However, a certain freedom of movement of the platform 30 relative to the walker 10 about the horizontal axis 17 is desired to compensate for uneven floors. In order to achieve this, either the openings 27 or the openings 28 can be designed as elongated holes running in the circumferential direction.

In order to further increase safety, the idea of enabling or blocking the electric drive integrated in the platform 30 depending on the position of the locking pin 24 is being considered. By means of a suitable sensor, for example a contact switch, the control signal line can be interrupted when the locking pin 24 is in the released position and released only when the locking pin 24 is in the locked position. It is also conceivable to interrupt the main power supply between the electric motor and the power source via such a contact. This ensures that the rollator 10 can only be put into operation when the pivoting movement between the roller door frame 11 and the platform 30 is restricted.

5 12 shows an axial section through an alternative swivel joint 19. Here, too, the swivel joint 19 is formed by a section of the horizontal axis 17 and a sleeve component 20 arranged so as to be relatively movable around it. An electric motor 50 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the horizontal axis, and a worm shaft 51 is arranged on its output. The worm shaft 51 forms a gear together with a pinion 52 rotatably mounted on the axle 17 , the pinion 52 being connected via a bearing ring 53 to the helical spring 21 already described and via this to the sleeve component 20 .

The worm shaft 51 can now be driven by means of the motor 50 in order to move the sleeve component 20 relative to the horizontal axis 17 and thereby the platform seated on the bearing mandrel 22 between the in 1 shown use position and in 2 to move the bearing position shown back and forth. The gear consisting of the worm shaft 51 and the pinion 52 is self-locking and thus acts as a blocking element 24 within the meaning of the invention, which restricts or completely prevents the pivoting movement of the platform 30 . If the pivoting movement is only to be limited and the gearing is to form the blocking element for this purpose, this can be achieved by either mounting the worm shaft 51 on the output shaft with axial play or mounting the ring-shaped pinion 52 with a certain rotational play.

However, in order to protect the transmission components, a bearing of the worm shaft 51 or the pinion 52 that is subject to play should be avoided. To still have a certain level of pivoting Allow speed between platform 30 and walker 10 to allow driving over bumps in the ground, can be guaranteed by the coil spring 21 play between the sleeve component 20 and horizontal axis 17 use.

Reference List

10

walker

11

Frame

12

strut

13

rear wheel

14

front wheel

15

handle bar

16

Handle

17

horizontal axis

18

clamp

19

swivel joint

20

sleeve component

21

coil spring

22

bearing mandrel

23

Recording

24

locking pin

25

circumferential groove

26

ball detent

27

breakthrough

28

breakthrough

30

platform

31

platform bike

32

standing area

40

coupling device

50

engine

51

worm shaft

52

pinion

53

bearing ring

Claims (11)

Rollator (10), - with a pair of wheels at the front in the direction of travel and a pair of wheels at the rear in the direction of travel, - with a frame (11) which has struts (12) pointing to the rear, each strut (12) having a rear wheel (13 ) of the rear pair of wheels, - with a platform (30) which is attached to the rollator (10), has at least one wheel (31) and provides a standing area (32) for a person using the rollator (10), - with a use position of the platform (30), in which the platform (30), following the frame (11), rests with its wheel (31) on a floor surface, - with a storage position of the platform (30), in which the platform (30) functionless on the frame (11) of the walker (10), - the platform (30) being arranged horizontally relative to the frame (11) of the walker (10) so that it can pivot about at least one geometric axis in order to be moved between the use position and the storage position to become, characterized in that - a blocking element (24) is present, which can assume a blocking position and a release position, - the blocking element (24) in the blocking position limits the pivoting movement of the platform (30) in order to use the standing area of the platform ( 30) to prevent a person from turning over the rollator frame (11) about the geometric axis, - the blocking element (24) in the blocking position allows a limited pivoting movement to compensate for uneven floors. walker after claim 1 , characterized in that the blocking element (24) in the blocking position allows a limited pivoting movement for overcoming obstacles up to the height of a kerb. Rollator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform (30) can be moved from the use position to the storage position by an electric motor and using a self-locking gear, the gear being a blocking element (24) in the use position of the platform (30). Rollator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one gear part or a connecting part between the rollator (10) and platform (30) has a play of movement which enables limited pivoting movement of the platform (30). walker after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that - the frame (11) forms a physical horizontal axis (17) around which a sleeve component (20) is arranged, - the platform (30) is fixed to the sleeve component (20), - sleeve component (20) and horizontal axis (17) form a pivot bearing for the pivoting movement of the platform (30), - the locking element (24) by means of coupling sleeve Sensing component (20) and horizontal axis (17) restricts the pivoting movement. walker after claim 5 , characterized in that the blocking element (24) is arranged in a receptacle (23) which locks the blocking element (24) in its blocking position on the one hand and in its release position on the other hand. walker after claim 6 . characterized in that the receptacle (23) is arranged on the sleeve component (20). walker after claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the blocking element is a blocking pin (24) which passes through aligned openings (27, 28) of the sleeve component (20) and horizontal axis (17) in its blocking position. walker after claim 8 , characterized in that the openings (27, 28) of the sleeve component (20) or the horizontal axis (17) are designed as slots running in the circumferential direction and thus allow a limited pivoting movement of the platform (30). walker after claim 6 or 8th , characterized in that the receptacle (23) has at least one ball catch (26), and the locking pin (24) is provided with groove sections defining the locking position and the release position, the ball catch (26) for anchoring the locking pin (24) in the Blocking or loosening interacts with the groove sections. Walker after one of Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that - the platform (30) has an electric motor drive, by means of which the rollator (10) can be driven, - the electric motor drive can only be put into operation when the locking element (24) is in the locking position.

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