EP1631230A2 - English cane for a person with mobility impairment - Google Patents

English cane for a person with mobility impairment

Info

Publication number
EP1631230A2
EP1631230A2 EP04767228A EP04767228A EP1631230A2 EP 1631230 A2 EP1631230 A2 EP 1631230A2 EP 04767228 A EP04767228 A EP 04767228A EP 04767228 A EP04767228 A EP 04767228A EP 1631230 A2 EP1631230 A2 EP 1631230A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
belts
ergonomic handle
rod according
tube
support
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP04767228A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1631230B1 (en
Inventor
Mathieu-Francois Agnello
Vincent Dehais
Lucien Hartog
Alexandre Neut
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1631230A2 publication Critical patent/EP1631230A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1631230B1 publication Critical patent/EP1631230B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/02—Crutches

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an English rod for a person with a motor handicap.
  • Such a rod conventionally comprises a telescopic tube composed of at least two tube segments which can slide one inside the other, namely an upper tube segment and a lower tube segment and equipped at its upper end with an ergonomic handle comprising a large cylinder part which extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube and which serves as palmar support and a part which extends upwards from the part serving as support palmar, obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube and which serves as antebrachial support.
  • the rods in particular the known English rods certainly provide appreciable help in terms of safety to the people who use them, but this help is not always sufficient to make these people completely independent, when they have a relatively heavy handicap, so these must be helped by another person.
  • the object of the present invention is therefore to provide an English rod making it possible to give a person with a motor handicap greater autonomy to overcome a difficulty such as getting up from a seat, sitting on it, or tackling obstacles like steps or slopes.
  • the present invention relates to an English rod of the type defined in the preamble, characterized in that it is equipped at its internal part with a linear actuator capable of transmitting traction and thrust forces and comprising on the one hand two identical toothed belts respectively provided with regularly spaced studs on their face opposite to the toothed face, and on the other hand drive members located on either side of the two toothed belts and cooperating with actuating means to allow the studs of these belts to engage in each other, so that they are flexible and independent of each other at a first section located on one side or upstream side of the drive bodies then that at a second section located on the opposite side or downstream side of these members, they are joined together and extend along a straight line behaving like a rigid bar in one piece capable of transmitting thrust forces like tensile forces.
  • the drive members and the actuating means are housed in a housing fixed to the upper end of the upper tube segment and shaped to serve as an ergonomic handle so that the first section of the two toothed belts s
  • the extension in the antebrachial support part of the ergonomic handle while the second section of these belts extends into the upper tube segment and is fixed to the internal part of the lower tube segment by its downstream end.
  • the actuation of the drive members causes the sliding of the second section of the notched belts in the internal part of the telescopic tube and the modification of the length of this tube.
  • the actuating means preferably comprise an electric motor with two directions of rotation supplied with current by a rechargeable accumulator battery as well as a speed reduction mechanism with gears which is coupled to the motor and comprises two output pins coming from respectively engaged with the two toothed belts and constituting the drive members.
  • the linear actuator must of course have a power chosen sufficient to provide a thrust corresponding to a substantial part of the weight of a person leaning on the ergonomic handle.
  • the linear actuator comprises control means carried by the ergonomic handle for controlling on / off as well as the direction of rotation of the electric motor.
  • control means may include a reversing switch with two unstable closing positions and a stable intermediate cut-off position.
  • Such a reversing switch may advantageously include an operating member which projects radially from the large cylinder part serving as palmar support, in the region of the free end of this large cylinder part so that it can be actuated by a thumb from the hand of a cane user holding this large cylinder part.
  • the storage battery is preferably electrically connected to an electrical connector accessible from the outside of the housing to allow recharging of this storage battery by means of a battery charger.
  • the housing consists of two half shells, in particular made of a molded plastic material, for example polyethylene which have a joint plane corresponding to the vertical median plane of symmetry of the ergonomic handle and are assembled by means of screws. These two half shells preferably each have a rib at the internal part of their part corresponding to the part forming antebrachial support of the ergonomic handle after assembly of the two half shells.
  • the housing has, in the connection zone between the part forming the palmar support and the part forming the antebrachial support of the ergonomic handle, a hollow bulged part inside which are arranged. the electric motor, the speed reduction mechanism and the storage battery.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view, in vertical section, of a rod according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a rear view partly in vertical section, of the cane of Figure 1;
  • Figures 3 and 4 are views corresponding respectively to those of Figures 1 and 2, showing the upper part of the rod on a larger scale;
  • the rod according to the invention comprises, in a conventional manner, a telescopic tube 1 provided with an ergonomic handle 2 at its upper end and with a non-slip tip 3 in sound rubber lower end.
  • the ergonomic handle 2 comprises a part 2a, in a large cylinder, which extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube 1 and which serves as a palmar support, and a part 2b which extends upwards to from part 2a obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube and which serves as antebrachial support.
  • the telescopic tube 1 comprises at least two tube segments, preferably three tube segments, namely an upper segment 1a, an intermediate segment 1b and a lower segment 1a, which can slide into one another.
  • the tube segments 1a, 1b and 1c can be of light metal or a light metal alloy such as duralumin, or they can be of a composite material based on glass fibers or carbon.
  • the rod comprises, in a known manner, means making it possible to adjust the length of the telescopic tube 1 to the size of the person or persons who are likely to use said rod.
  • the lower tube segment 1a comprises a pair of diametrically aligned holes 4
  • the intermediate tube segment 1b comprises two series of regularly spaced holes 5, each hole 5 of a series being diametrically aligned with hole 5 of the another series, and a dowel 6.
  • the rod according to the invention comprises an actuator 7 with reversible linear movement, which is functionally associated with the tube segments 1a and 1b to move them longitudinally relative to each other in both directions.
  • the linear actuator 7 comprises an electric motor 8 with two directions of rotation, a speed reduction mechanism 9 with gears which is coupled to the motor, and a thrust chain 10 which is engaged with output pins 11 and 11 'of the speed reduction mechanism 9.
  • the speed reduction mechanism 9 comprises a first pinion 12 which is fixed to the output shaft 13 of the motor 8 and which meshes with a toothed wheel 14 secured to a worm 15 which is itself in engagement with two toothed wheels 16 and 16 'carried respectively by two shafts 17 and 17' to which the two output pinions 11 and 11 'mentioned above are respectively fixed, so that each pinion 11 or 11' is rotationally secured to the corresponding gear 1 or 17 '.
  • the thrust chain 10 essentially comprises two toothed belts 18 and 18 'which are respectively engaged with the output pinions 11 and 11' of the speed reduction mechanism 9 and which are provided, on their face opposite to the toothed face, with studs 19 and 19 'regularly spaced apart and capable of engaging with each other in the manner of the teeth of a zipper. Upstream of the two output pinions 11 and 11 ′, that is to say above these two pinions in FIGS.
  • the two belts 18 and 18 are flexible and independent of one of the other, while, downstream of the two output pinions 11 and 11 ', the two belts 18 and 18' and their studs 19 and 19 'are joined so as to define a chain extending in a straight line and behaving like a rigid bar capable of transmitting thrust forces such as tensile forces.
  • Push chains like chain 10 are well known and are described in particular in document FR-A-2 826 422 to which reference may advantageously be made for more details.
  • the lower end of the two toothed belts 18 and 18 ' is linked to a connecting member 21 which is rigidly fixed to the upper end of the segment of tube 1b of the telescopic tube 1.
  • the connecting member 21 may consist of a plastic block, of generally cylindrical shape, which is produced by overmolding on the lower end of the two toothed belts 18 and 18 ′, in such a way that the lower end of the two belts 18 and 18 ′ is embedded and, therefore, anchored in the block 21.
  • the block 21 can have a circular groove in its peripheral surface to allow its fixing to the upper end of the tube segment 1b, for example by crimping, as shown at 22 in FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • the pushing chain 10 is dimensioned in such a way that, in the assembled state of the two toothed belts 18 and 18 'and their studs 19 and 19', the chain 10 can slide inside the tube segment la of the tube telescopic 1.
  • each of the two lateral faces 23 and 24 of each of the studs 19 and 19 'of the toothed belts 18 and 18 ′ has a curved profile which follows the contour of the inner cylindrical surface of the tube segment 1a as shown in FIG. 7.
  • the electric motor, the speed reduction mechanism 9, at least part of the thrust chain 10 and a rechargeable accumulator battery 25 intended for the supply of electric current to the electric motor 8 are housed in a housing 26 which is fixed at the upper end of the tube segment 1a of the telescopic tube I.
  • the housing 26 may advantageously be shaped to serve as an ergonomic handle 2.
  • the housing 26 may consist of two half shells 26a and 26b, made of a plastic material molded, for example polyethylene, which have a joint plane 27 corresponding to the vertical median plane of symmetry 28 ( Figure 4) of the ergonomic handle 2.
  • the two half shells 26a and 26b together form the ergonomic handle 2 with its part 2a serving as palmar support and its part 2b serving as antebrachial support .
  • the housing 26 has, in the connection zone between the parts 2a and 2b of the ergonomic handle 2, a hollow bulged part 31 inside which the electric motor are arranged 8, the speed reduction mechanism 9 and the storage battery 25.
  • the manner in which the electric motor 8, the worm 15, the shafts 17 and 17 'and the storage battery are supported in the housing 26 n' has not been shown in Figures 3 and 4 for the sake of simplicity and clarity in these figures, but it is obvious that these elements can be supported or maintained in the housing 26 by partitions or by support elements which are molded in one piece with one or the other of the two half shells 26a and 26b.
  • the two half shells 26a and 26b each have a rib 32 (FIG. 3) inside their part forming part 2b of the ergonomic handle 2.
  • the two ribs 32 together form a partition separating from one another the independent flexible parts of the two toothed belts 18 and 18 'of the thrust chain 10, upstream of the two output pinions 11 and 11'. This avoids any interference between said flexible independent parts of the toothed belts 18 and 18 'which could cause blockage or damage to the linear actuator 7.
  • the two ribs 32 comprise a bulged part 32a intended to facilitate the separation of the studs 19 and 19 'of the two toothed belts 18 and 18' when the thrust chain 10 is moved vertically from bottom to top by the output pinions 11 and 11 '.
  • a stop member at the end of the stroke not shown in the figures, ensures that a minimum part of the two toothed belts 18, 18 'is maintained upstream of the two output pinions 11, 11' so as to exclude any dismantling. untimely thrust chain 10.
  • the two half-shells 26a and 26b form, after their assembly, a cylindrical part 33 which closely surrounds the upper end part of the tube segment 1a of the telescopic tube.
  • other fixing screws such as the screws 29, or a clamp may be necessary to firmly tighten the two half shells 26a and 26b, in their cylindrical part 33, against the upper end portion of the tube segment 1a.
  • the upper end of the tube segment 1a is preferably shaped so as to have a lip or a collar 34 capable of engaging with raised elements 35 formed on the inner wall of the cylindrical part 33 of the housing 26 to prevent any relative axial displacement in one direction or the other, between the tube segment 1a and the housing 26.
  • Control means 36 carried by the ergonomic handle 2 are provided for controlling the on / off and the direction of travel of the linear actuator 7. More specifically, the control means 36 may include a reversing switch 37 (FIGS. 3 , 5 and 8) with two unstable closing positions and a stable intermediate cut-off position.
  • the reversing switch 37 is housed inside part 2a of the ergonomic handle 2, and it includes an operating member 38 which projects radially from said part 2a, in the region of the free end of the latter, so that it can be actuated by a thumb of the hand of a user of the cane holding said part 2a of the ergonomic handle 2 in his hand, and this without the user being forced to release his grip on said part 2a.
  • the operating member 38 projects radially on the cylindrical surface of the part 2a of the ergonomic handle 2, in a direction which is directed obliquely towards down and to the right side of the user.
  • this direction can make an angle about 45 degrees from the vertical when the reversing switch 37 is in its stable intermediate cut-off position.
  • the operating member 38 * is guided and can slide in a slot or notch 39 (FIG. 5) which extends in the circumferential direction in the cylindrical wall of the part 2a of the ergonomic handle 2.
  • the reversing switch 37 switches to one of its two unstable closing positions and controls the starting of the electric motor 8 in a first direction corresponding to a displacement of the thrust chain 10, for example downwards, that is to say in a direction corresponding to the elongation of the telescopic tube 1.
  • the operating member 38 when the operating member 38 is moved upward, in the direction of arrow F2, it switches the reversing switch 37 to its other unstable closed position and controls the starting of the electric motor 8 in the opposite direction of rotation, corresponding to a displacement of the thrust chain 10 upwards, c 'East- ie in a direction corresponding to a shortening of the telescopic tube 1 of the rod.
  • the reversing switch 37 may comprise two movable contacts 41 and 42 which are connected to the positive and negative poles of the storage battery 25 respectively by conductors 43 and 44 as shown in FIG. 8.
  • the reversing switch 37 also has a first pair of fixed contacts 45 and 46 which are connected to the two terminals of the motor 8 respectively by conductors 47 and 48, so that, when the movable contacts 41 and 42 are in contact with the fixed contacts 45 and 46, the current supplied by the storage battery 25 passes through the engine 8 in a first direction to rotate said engine in the first direction of rotation causing for example the extension of the telescopic tube 1 of the rod.
  • the reversing switch 37 comprises a second pair of fixed contacts 49 and 51 which are connected to the terminals of the motor 8 respectively by conductors 52 and 53 so that, when the movable contacts 41 and 42 are in contact with the contacts fixed 49 and 51, the current supplied by the storage battery 25 passes through the engine 8 in the opposite direction to rotate said engine in a second direction of rotation causing for example a shortening of the telescopic tube 1 of the rod.
  • the two poles of the storage battery 25 are also connected respectively by conductors 54 and 55 to the contacts 56 and 57 of a connector 58.
  • the connector 58 is fixed to the housing 26 and is accessible from the outside of said housing to allow recharging of the storage battery 25 by means of a battery charger (not shown) provided with a power cord terminated by a plug compatible with connector 58.
  • the actuator 7, in particular the motor 8 and the speed reduction mechanism 9 are dimensioned so as to be capable of providing a predetermined power sufficient to give a thrust corresponding to a substantial part of the weight of a person s' pressing the ergonomic handle 2.
  • - electric motor 8 direct current 17W, 12V, capable of supplying a torque of 0.058 N.m at 2800 rpm with a current of 2.5 A;
  • - toothed wheel 14 fourteen teeth, module 0.5;
  • - worm 15 a thread having an angle of inclination of 85 degrees and a friction angle of 5 degrees; - two toothed wheels 16 and 16 'each having fifty teeth, module 0.5;
  • the speed reducing mechanism 9 has a reduction ratio 1/100 and an overall mechanical efficiency of approximately 0.5. Under these conditions, when the electric motor 8 rotates at 2800 rpm, the thrust chain 10 moves at a speed of 22 mm / s and provides a force of thrust of 350N. In other words, the rod is capable of lifting a weight of 35 kilos at a speed of 22 mm / s.
  • the efficiency of the worm 15 is zero when the output pinions 11 and 11 'and the toothed wheels 16 and 16' are driving. This is for example the case when the motor 8 is not supplied with current and the user of the rod presses on the ergonomic handle 2.
  • the reaction exerted by the ground on the lower end of the tube telescopic 1 causes the thrust chain 10 to be subjected to a force directed from the bottom up, so that the toothed belts 18 and 18 'tend to drive the pinions 11 and 11' in rotation and consequently also the toothed wheels 16 and 16 '.
  • the worm 15 since the worm 15 has under these conditions zero efficiency, it cannot rotate, so that it blocks the toothed wheels 16 and 16 ′ and thus prevents any vertical movement of the thrust chain 10, as well up rather than down.
  • the linear actuator 7 is therefore irreversible in the sense that the electric motor 8, when it is powered by current, and the speed reduction mechanism 9 are capable of moving the thrust chain 10 in both directions, towards the up and down, but conversely, the push chain 10 is unable to transmit any movement to the speed reduction mechanism 9 and to the electric motor 8.
  • the length of the push chain 10 is preferably chosen so that linear actuator 7 has a total stroke of approximately 30 to 35 cm

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
  • Control Of Stepping Motors (AREA)
  • Control Of Electric Motors In General (AREA)
  • Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)

Abstract

English cane for a person with mobility impairment, comprising in its internal part a linear actuator (7) likely to transfer pulling and pushing loads and having on one hand a pair of toothed belts (18, 18') equipped respectively with regularly spaced pads(19, 19') on their face opposed to the toothed face, and having on the other hand driving members (11, 11') positioned on the opposed sides of said pair of toothed belts (18, 18') and cooperating with actuating means to allow the pads (19, 19') of said belts (18, 18') to engage with one another, with the result that said belts are flexible and mutually independent at a first length on one side or upstream of the driving members (11, 11'), while at a second length on the opposite side or downstream of said driving members (11, 11') said belts are securely attached and extend in a straight line as an integral rigid bar suitable to transfer pushing loads as well as pulling loads.

Description

« Canne anglaise pour personne ayant un handicap moteur » "English cane for people with motor disabilities"
La présente invention concerne une canne anglaise pour personne ayant un handicap moteur.The present invention relates to an English rod for a person with a motor handicap.
Une telle canne comprend classiquement un tube télescopi- que composé d'au moins deux segments de tubes pouvant coulisser l'un dans l'autre, à savoir un segment de tube supérieur et un segment de tube inférieur et équipé à son extrémité supérieure d'une poignée ergonomique comprenant une partie en gros cylindre qui s'étend transversalement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du tube télescopique et qui sert d'appui palmaire et une partie qui s'étend vers le haut à partir de la partie servant d'appui palmaire, obliquement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du tube télescopique et qui sert d'appui antébrachial.Such a rod conventionally comprises a telescopic tube composed of at least two tube segments which can slide one inside the other, namely an upper tube segment and a lower tube segment and equipped at its upper end with an ergonomic handle comprising a large cylinder part which extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube and which serves as palmar support and a part which extends upwards from the part serving as support palmar, obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube and which serves as antebrachial support.
Il existe un grand nombre de personnes présentant un handicap moteur, temporaire ou définitif, qui se caractérise par une diffi- culte à se lever, à s'asseoir ou à aborder ou à franchir des obstacles comme des marches ou des déclivités.There are a large number of people with a temporary or permanent motor handicap, which is characterized by difficulty in getting up, sitting down or tackling or crossing obstacles such as steps or inclines.
Les cannes en particulier les cannes anglaises connues apportent certes une aide appréciable sur le plan de la sécurité aux personnes qui les utilisent, mais cette aide n'est pas toujours suffisante pour rendre ces personnes complètement autonomes, lorsqu'elles ont un handicap relativement lourd, de sorte que celles-ci doivent être aidées par une autre personne.The rods in particular the known English rods certainly provide appreciable help in terms of safety to the people who use them, but this help is not always sufficient to make these people completely independent, when they have a relatively heavy handicap, so these must be helped by another person.
La présente invention a donc pour but de fournir une canne anglaise permettant de conférer à une personne ayant un handicap mo- teur une plus grande autonomie pour vaincre une difficulté comme se lever d'un siège, s'asseoir sur celui-ci, ou aborder des obstacles comme des marches ou des déclivités.The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an English rod making it possible to give a person with a motor handicap greater autonomy to overcome a difficulty such as getting up from a seat, sitting on it, or tackling obstacles like steps or slopes.
A cet effet, la présente invention a pour objet une canne anglaise du type défini en préambule, caractérisée en ce qu'elle est équipée à sa partie interne d'un actionneur linéaire susceptible de transmettre des efforts de traction et de poussée et comportant d'une part deux courroies crantée identiques respectivement munies de plots régulièrement espacés sur leur face opposée à la face crantée, et d'autre part des organes d'entraînement situés de part et d'autre des deux courroies crantées et coopérant avec des moyens d'actionnement pour permettre aux plots de ces courroies de venir en prise les uns dans les autres, de sorte que celles- ci soient souples et indépendantes l'une de l'autre au niveau d'un premier tronçon situé d'un côté ou côté amont des organes d'entraînement, alors qu'au niveau d'un second tronçon situé du côté opposé ou côté aval de ces organes, elles sont rassemblées solidairement et s'étendent selon une ligne droite en se comportant comme une barre rigide en une seule pièce apte à transmettre des efforts de poussée comme des efforts de traction. Selon l'invention, les organes d'entraînement et les moyens d'actionnement sont logés dans un boîtier fixé à l'extrémité supérieure du segment de tube supérieur et conformé pour servir de poignée ergonomique de sorte que le premier tronçon des deux courroies crantées s'étende dans la partie formant appui antébrachial de la poignée ergonomique tan- dis que le second tronçon de ces courroies se prolonge dans le segment de tube supérieur et est fixé à la partie interne du segment de tube inférieur par son extrémité aval.To this end, the present invention relates to an English rod of the type defined in the preamble, characterized in that it is equipped at its internal part with a linear actuator capable of transmitting traction and thrust forces and comprising on the one hand two identical toothed belts respectively provided with regularly spaced studs on their face opposite to the toothed face, and on the other hand drive members located on either side of the two toothed belts and cooperating with actuating means to allow the studs of these belts to engage in each other, so that they are flexible and independent of each other at a first section located on one side or upstream side of the drive bodies then that at a second section located on the opposite side or downstream side of these members, they are joined together and extend along a straight line behaving like a rigid bar in one piece capable of transmitting thrust forces like tensile forces. According to the invention, the drive members and the actuating means are housed in a housing fixed to the upper end of the upper tube segment and shaped to serve as an ergonomic handle so that the first section of the two toothed belts s The extension in the antebrachial support part of the ergonomic handle while the second section of these belts extends into the upper tube segment and is fixed to the internal part of the lower tube segment by its downstream end.
L'actionnement des organes d'entraînement entraîne le coulissement du second tronçon des courroies crantées à la partie interne du tube télescopique et la modification de la longueur de ce tube.The actuation of the drive members causes the sliding of the second section of the notched belts in the internal part of the telescopic tube and the modification of the length of this tube.
Les moyens d'actionnement comportent de préférence un moteur électrique à deux sens de rotation alimenté en courant par une batterie d'accumulateurs rechargeable ainsi qu'un mécanisme réducteur de vitesse à engrenages qui est couplé au moteur et comporte deux pi- gnons de sortie venant respectivement en prise avec les deux courroies crantées et constituant les organes d'entraînement.The actuating means preferably comprise an electric motor with two directions of rotation supplied with current by a rechargeable accumulator battery as well as a speed reduction mechanism with gears which is coupled to the motor and comprises two output pins coming from respectively engaged with the two toothed belts and constituting the drive members.
Pour permettre à la canne anglaise de remplir sa fonction, l'actionneur linéaire doit bien entendu avoir une puissance choisie suffisante pour fournir une poussée correspondant à une partie substantielle du poids d'une personne s'appuyant sur la poignée ergonomique.To allow the English rod to fulfill its function, the linear actuator must of course have a power chosen sufficient to provide a thrust corresponding to a substantial part of the weight of a person leaning on the ergonomic handle.
Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, l'actionneur linéaire comporte des moyens de commande portés par la poignée ergonomique pour commander la marche / arrêt ainsi que le sens de rotation du moteur électrique. Ces moyens de commande peuvent comporter un commutateur inverseur à deux positions instables de fermeture et une position intermédiaire stable de coupure.According to another characteristic of the invention, the linear actuator comprises control means carried by the ergonomic handle for controlling on / off as well as the direction of rotation of the electric motor. These control means may include a reversing switch with two unstable closing positions and a stable intermediate cut-off position.
Un tel commutateur inverseur peut avantageusement comporter un organe de manœuvre qui fait radialement saillie sur la partie en gros cylindre servant d'appui palmaire, dans la région de l'extrémité libre de cette partie en gros cylindre de manière à pouvoir être actionné par un pouce de la main d'un utilisateur de la canne tenant cette partie en gros cylindre. La batterie d'accumulateurs est de préférence reliée électriquement à un connecteur électrique accessible de l'extérieur du boîtier pour permettre un rechargement de cette batterie d'accumulateurs au moyen d'un chargeur de batterie. Selon une caractéristique particulièrement avantageuse de l'invention, le boîtier est constitué de deux demi coquilles notamment réalisées en une matière plastique moulée, par exemple en polyéthylène qui ont un plan de joint correspondant au plan médian vertical de symétrie de la poignée ergonomique et sont assemblées au moyen de vis. Ces deux demi coquilles comportent de préférence chacune une nervure à la partie interne de leur partie correspondant à la partie formant appui antébrachial de la poignée ergonomique après assemblage des deux demi coquilles.Such a reversing switch may advantageously include an operating member which projects radially from the large cylinder part serving as palmar support, in the region of the free end of this large cylinder part so that it can be actuated by a thumb from the hand of a cane user holding this large cylinder part. The storage battery is preferably electrically connected to an electrical connector accessible from the outside of the housing to allow recharging of this storage battery by means of a battery charger. According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the housing consists of two half shells, in particular made of a molded plastic material, for example polyethylene which have a joint plane corresponding to the vertical median plane of symmetry of the ergonomic handle and are assembled by means of screws. These two half shells preferably each have a rib at the internal part of their part corresponding to the part forming antebrachial support of the ergonomic handle after assembly of the two half shells.
Ces deux nervures définissent ensemble une cloison de sé- paration isolant les premiers tronçons souples et indépendants des deux courroies crantées.These two ribs together define a partition separating the first flexible and independent sections of the two notched belts.
Selon une autre caractéristique particulièrement avantageuse de l'invention, le boîtier présente, dans la zone de raccordement en- tre la partie formant appui palmaire et la partie formant appui antébrachial de la poignée ergonomique une partie renflée creuse à l'intérieur de laquelle sont disposés le moteur électrique, le mécanisme réducteur de vitesse et la batterie d'accumulateurs.According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the housing has, in the connection zone between the part forming the palmar support and the part forming the antebrachial support of the ergonomic handle, a hollow bulged part inside which are arranged. the electric motor, the speed reduction mechanism and the storage battery.
D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux au cours de la description suivante d'un mode de réalisation donné à titre d'exemple en faisant référence aux dessins annexés sur lesquels :Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly during the following description of an embodiment given by way of example with reference to the appended drawings in which:
- la figure 1 est une vue latérale, en coupe verticale, d'une canne selon l'invention ;- Figure 1 is a side view, in vertical section, of a rod according to the invention;
- la figure 2 est une vue de derrière en partie en coupe verticale, de la canne de la figure 1 ;- Figure 2 is a rear view partly in vertical section, of the cane of Figure 1;
- les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues correspondant respectivement à celles des figures 1 et 2, montrant la partie supérieure de la canne à une plus grande échelle ;- Figures 3 and 4 are views corresponding respectively to those of Figures 1 and 2, showing the upper part of the rod on a larger scale;
- les figures 5, 6 et 7 sont des vues en coupe respectivement suivant les lignes V-V, VT-VI et VII-VÏÏ de la figure 3 ;- Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views respectively along the lines V-V, VT-VI and VII-VII of Figure 3;
- la figure 8 est un schéma montrant le circuit électrique utilisé dans la canne selon l'invention. En se reportant aux figures 1 et 2, on peut voir que la canne selon l'invention comprend, de façon classique, un tube télescopique 1 pourvu d'une poignée ergonomique 2 à son extrémité supérieure et d'un embout antidérapant 3 en caoutchouc son extrémité inférieure. La poignée ergonomique 2 comprend une partie 2 a, en gros cylindre, qui s'étend transversalement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du tube télescopique 1 et qui sert d'appui palmaire, et une partie 2b qui s'étend vers le haut à partir de la partie 2a obliquement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du tube télescopique et qui sert d'appui antébrachial. Le tube télescopique 1 comporte au moins deux segments de tube, de préférence trois segments de tube, à savoir un segment supérieur la, un segment intermédiaire lb et un segment inférieur le, qui peuvent coulisser les uns dans les autres. Les segments de tube la, lb et le peuvent être en métal léger ou alliage de métal léger comme le duralumin, ou ils peuvent être en un matériau composite à base de fibres de verre ou de carbone.- Figure 8 is a diagram showing the electrical circuit used in the rod according to the invention. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that the rod according to the invention comprises, in a conventional manner, a telescopic tube 1 provided with an ergonomic handle 2 at its upper end and with a non-slip tip 3 in sound rubber lower end. The ergonomic handle 2 comprises a part 2a, in a large cylinder, which extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube 1 and which serves as a palmar support, and a part 2b which extends upwards to from part 2a obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube and which serves as antebrachial support. The telescopic tube 1 comprises at least two tube segments, preferably three tube segments, namely an upper segment 1a, an intermediate segment 1b and a lower segment 1a, which can slide into one another. The tube segments 1a, 1b and 1c can be of light metal or a light metal alloy such as duralumin, or they can be of a composite material based on glass fibers or carbon.
De préférence, la canne comporte, de façon connue, des moyens permettant d'ajuster la longueur du tube télescopique 1 à la taille de la ou des personnes qui sont susceptibles d'utiliser ladite canne. A cet effet le segment de tube inférieur le comporte une paire de trous 4 diamétralement alignés, le segment intermédiaire de tube lb comporte deux séries de trous 5 régulièrement espacés, chaque trou 5 d'une série étant diamétralement aligné avec le trou 5 de l'autre série, et une cheville 6. Pour ajuster la longueur du tube télescopique 1 , il suffit d'aligner les deux trous 4 du segment le avec une paire choisie de trous 5 du segment lb et d'engager la cheville 6 dans les trous 4 et 5 ainsi alignés.Preferably, the rod comprises, in a known manner, means making it possible to adjust the length of the telescopic tube 1 to the size of the person or persons who are likely to use said rod. For this purpose, the lower tube segment 1a comprises a pair of diametrically aligned holes 4, the intermediate tube segment 1b comprises two series of regularly spaced holes 5, each hole 5 of a series being diametrically aligned with hole 5 of the another series, and a dowel 6. To adjust the length of the telescopic tube 1, it is enough to align the two holes 4 of the segment le with a chosen pair of holes 5 of the segment lb and to engage the dowel 6 in the holes 4 and 5 thus aligned.
La canne selon l'invention comprend un actionneur 7 à mouvement linéaire réversible, qui est associé fonctionnellement aux segments de tube la et lb pour les déplacer longitudinalement l'un par rap- port à l'autre dans les deux sens.The rod according to the invention comprises an actuator 7 with reversible linear movement, which is functionally associated with the tube segments 1a and 1b to move them longitudinally relative to each other in both directions.
Comme cela est mieux visible dans les figures 3 et 4, l'actionneur linéaire 7 comporte un moteur électrique 8 à deux sens de rotation, un mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9 à engrenages qui est couplé au moteur, et une chaîne de poussée 10 qui est en prise avec des pi- gnons de sortie 11 et 11' du mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9. Plus précisément, le mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9 comporte un premier pignon 12 qui est fixé à l'arbre de sortie 13 du moteur 8 et qui engrène avec une roue dentée 14 solidaire d'une vis sans fin 15 qui est elle même en prise avec deux roues dentées 16 et 16' portées respectivement par deux arbres 17 et 17' auxquels sont respectivement fixés les deux pignons de sortie 11 et 11' susmentionnés, de telle façon que chaque pignon 11 ou 11' soit solidaire en rotation de la roue dentée 1 ou 17' correspondante. La chaîne de poussée 10 comporte essentiellement deux courroies crantées 18 et 18' qui sont respectivement en prise avec les pignons de sortie 11 et 11 ' du mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9 et qui sont munies, sur leur face opposée à la face crantée, de plots 19 et 19' régulièrement espacés et aptes à venir en prise les uns avec les autres à la ma- nière des dents d'une fermeture à glissière. En amont des deux pignons de sortie 11 et 11', c'est-à-dire au-dessus de ces deux pignons dans les figures 3 et 4, les deux courroies 18 et 18, sont souples et indépendantes l'une de l'autre, tandis que, en aval des deux pignons de sortie 11 et 11', les deux courroies 18 et 18' et leurs plots 19 et 19' sont réunis de manière à définir une chaîne s'étendant en ligne droite et se comportant comme une barre rigide apte à transmettre des efforts de poussée comme des efforts de traction. Les chaînes de poussée comme la chaîne 10 sont bien connues et sont décrites notamment dans le document FR-A-2 826 422 auquel on pourra avantageusement se référer pour plus de détails. Dans l'application de la chaîne de poussée 10 à la canne selon l'invention, l'extrémité inférieure des deux courroies crantées 18 et 18' est liée à un organe de liaison 21 qui est fixé rigidement à l'extrémité supérieure du segment de tube lb du tube télescopique 1. Par exemple, l'organe de liaison 21 peut être constitué par un bloc en matière plastique, de forme générale cylindrique, qui est réalisé par surmoulage sur l'extrémité inférieure des deux courroies crantées 18 et 18', de telle façon que l'extrémité inférieure des deux courroies 18 et 18' soit noyée et, par conséquent, ancrée dans le bloc 21. En outre, le bloc 21 peut comporter une gorge circulaire dans sa surface périphérique pour permettre sa fixa- tion à l'extrémité supérieure du segment de tube lb, par exemple par sertissage, comme montré en 22 dans les figures 3 et 4.As is better visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, the linear actuator 7 comprises an electric motor 8 with two directions of rotation, a speed reduction mechanism 9 with gears which is coupled to the motor, and a thrust chain 10 which is engaged with output pins 11 and 11 'of the speed reduction mechanism 9. More specifically, the speed reduction mechanism 9 comprises a first pinion 12 which is fixed to the output shaft 13 of the motor 8 and which meshes with a toothed wheel 14 secured to a worm 15 which is itself in engagement with two toothed wheels 16 and 16 'carried respectively by two shafts 17 and 17' to which the two output pinions 11 and 11 'mentioned above are respectively fixed, so that each pinion 11 or 11' is rotationally secured to the corresponding gear 1 or 17 '. The thrust chain 10 essentially comprises two toothed belts 18 and 18 'which are respectively engaged with the output pinions 11 and 11' of the speed reduction mechanism 9 and which are provided, on their face opposite to the toothed face, with studs 19 and 19 'regularly spaced apart and capable of engaging with each other in the manner of the teeth of a zipper. Upstream of the two output pinions 11 and 11 ′, that is to say above these two pinions in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two belts 18 and 18 are flexible and independent of one of the other, while, downstream of the two output pinions 11 and 11 ', the two belts 18 and 18' and their studs 19 and 19 'are joined so as to define a chain extending in a straight line and behaving like a rigid bar capable of transmitting thrust forces such as tensile forces. Push chains like chain 10 are well known and are described in particular in document FR-A-2 826 422 to which reference may advantageously be made for more details. In the application of the pushing chain 10 to the rod according to the invention, the lower end of the two toothed belts 18 and 18 'is linked to a connecting member 21 which is rigidly fixed to the upper end of the segment of tube 1b of the telescopic tube 1. For example, the connecting member 21 may consist of a plastic block, of generally cylindrical shape, which is produced by overmolding on the lower end of the two toothed belts 18 and 18 ′, in such a way that the lower end of the two belts 18 and 18 ′ is embedded and, therefore, anchored in the block 21. In addition, the block 21 can have a circular groove in its peripheral surface to allow its fixing to the upper end of the tube segment 1b, for example by crimping, as shown at 22 in FIGS. 3 and 4.
La chaîne de poussée 10 est dimensionnée de telle façon que, dans l'état assemblé des deux courroies crantées 18 et 18' et de leurs plots 19 et 19', la chaîne 10 puisse coulisser à l'intérieur du segment de tube la du tube télescopique 1. De préférence, afin d'assurer un bon guidage de la chaîne 10 dans le segment de tube la, chacune des deux faces latérales 23 et 24 de chacun des plots 19 et 19' des courroies crantées 18 et 18' présente un profil courbe qui épouse le contour de la surface cylindrique intérieure du segment de tube la comme montré dans la figure 7.The pushing chain 10 is dimensioned in such a way that, in the assembled state of the two toothed belts 18 and 18 'and their studs 19 and 19', the chain 10 can slide inside the tube segment la of the tube telescopic 1. Preferably, in order to ensure proper guiding of the chain 10 in the tube segment la, each of the two lateral faces 23 and 24 of each of the studs 19 and 19 'of the toothed belts 18 and 18 ′ has a curved profile which follows the contour of the inner cylindrical surface of the tube segment 1a as shown in FIG. 7.
Le moteur électrique, le mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9, au moins une partie de la chaîne de poussée 10 et une batterie d'accumulateurs rechargeables 25 destinée à l'alimentation en courant électrique du moteur électrique 8 sont logés dans un boîtier 26 qui est fixé à l'extrémité supérieure du segment de tube la du tube télescopique I. Le boîtier 26 peut être avantageusement conformé pour servir de poignée ergonomique 2. Par exemple, le boîtier 26 peut être constitué de deux demi coquilles 26a et 26b, en une matière plastique moulée, par exemple en polyéthylène, qui ont un plan de joint 27 correspondant au plan médian vertical de symétrie 28 (figure 4) de la poignée ergonomique 2. Ainsi, après assemblage et fixation des deux demi coquilles 26a et 26b l'une à l'autre par plusieurs vis 29, les deux demi coquilles 26a et 26b forment ensemble la poignée ergonomique 2 avec sa partie 2a servant d'appui palmaire et sa partie 2b servant d'appui antébrachial.The electric motor, the speed reduction mechanism 9, at least part of the thrust chain 10 and a rechargeable accumulator battery 25 intended for the supply of electric current to the electric motor 8 are housed in a housing 26 which is fixed at the upper end of the tube segment 1a of the telescopic tube I. The housing 26 may advantageously be shaped to serve as an ergonomic handle 2. For example, the housing 26 may consist of two half shells 26a and 26b, made of a plastic material molded, for example polyethylene, which have a joint plane 27 corresponding to the vertical median plane of symmetry 28 (Figure 4) of the ergonomic handle 2. Thus, after assembly and fixing of the two half shells 26a and 26b one to the other by several screws 29, the two half shells 26a and 26b together form the ergonomic handle 2 with its part 2a serving as palmar support and its part 2b serving as antebrachial support .
Comme cela est bien visible dans les figures 3 et 4, le boîtier 26 présente, dans la zone de raccordement entre les parties 2a et 2b de la poignée ergonomique 2, une partie renflée creuse 31 à l'intérieur de laquelle sont disposés le moteur électrique 8, le mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9 et la batterie d'accumulateurs 25. La manière dont le moteur électrique 8, la vis sans fin 15, les arbres 17 et 17' et la batterie d'accumulateurs sont supportés dans le boîtier 26 n'a pas été montrée dans les figures 3 et 4 dans un souci de simplification et de clarté dans ces figures, mais il est bien évident que ces éléments peuvent être supportés ou maintenus dans le boîtier 26 par des cloisons ou par des éléments de support qui sont moulés d'un seul tenant avec l'une ou l'autre des deux demi coquilles 26a et 26b.As is clearly visible in Figures 3 and 4, the housing 26 has, in the connection zone between the parts 2a and 2b of the ergonomic handle 2, a hollow bulged part 31 inside which the electric motor are arranged 8, the speed reduction mechanism 9 and the storage battery 25. The manner in which the electric motor 8, the worm 15, the shafts 17 and 17 'and the storage battery are supported in the housing 26 n' has not been shown in Figures 3 and 4 for the sake of simplicity and clarity in these figures, but it is obvious that these elements can be supported or maintained in the housing 26 by partitions or by support elements which are molded in one piece with one or the other of the two half shells 26a and 26b.
On notera également que les deux demi coquilles 26a et 26b comportent chacune une nervure 32 (figure 3) à l'intérieur de leur partie formant la partie 2b de la poignée ergonomique 2. Après assemblage des deux demi coquilles 26a et 26b, les deux nervures 32 forment ensemble une cloison de séparation isolant l'une de l'autre les parties souples indépendantes des deux courroies crantées 18 et 18' de la chaîne de poussée 10, en amont des deux pignons de sortie 11 et 11'. On évite ainsi toute interférence entre lesdites parties souples indépendantes des courroies crantées 18 et 18' qui pourrait provoquer un blocage ou un endommage- ment de l'actionneur linéaire 7. A leur partie inférieure, les deux nervures 32 comportent une partie renflée 32a destinée à faciliter la séparation des plots 19 et 19' des deux courroies crantées 18 et 18' lorsque la chaîne de poussée 10 est déplacée verticalement de bas on haut par les pignons de sortie 11 et 11'. Un organe d'arrêt en fin de course, non représenté sur les figures permet de garantir le maintien d'une partie minimum des deux courroies crantées 18, 18' en amont des deux pignons de sortie 11, 11' de façon à exclure tout démontage intempestif de la chaîne de poussée 10.It will also be noted that the two half shells 26a and 26b each have a rib 32 (FIG. 3) inside their part forming part 2b of the ergonomic handle 2. After assembling the two half shells 26a and 26b, the two ribs 32 together form a partition separating from one another the independent flexible parts of the two toothed belts 18 and 18 'of the thrust chain 10, upstream of the two output pinions 11 and 11'. This avoids any interference between said flexible independent parts of the toothed belts 18 and 18 'which could cause blockage or damage to the linear actuator 7. At their lower part, the two ribs 32 comprise a bulged part 32a intended to facilitate the separation of the studs 19 and 19 'of the two toothed belts 18 and 18' when the thrust chain 10 is moved vertically from bottom to top by the output pinions 11 and 11 '. A stop member at the end of the stroke, not shown in the figures, ensures that a minimum part of the two toothed belts 18, 18 'is maintained upstream of the two output pinions 11, 11' so as to exclude any dismantling. untimely thrust chain 10.
Au-dessous de la partie renflée 31 du boîtier 26, les deux demi coquilles 26a et 26b forment, après leur assemblage, une partie cylindrique 33 qui entoure étroitement la partie d'extrémité supérieure du segment de tube la du tube télescopique. Bien que cela ne soit pas représenté sur les dessins, d'autres vis de fixation comme les vis 29, ou un collier de serrage peuvent s'avérer nécessaire pour serrer fermement les deux demi coquilles 26a et 26b, dans leur partie cylindrique 33, contre la partie d'extrémité supérieure du segment de tube la. En outre, l'extrémité supérieure du segment de tube la est de préférence conformée de manière à présenter une lèvre ou un collet 34 apte à venir en prise avec des éléments en relief 35 formés sur la paroi intérieure de la partie cylindrique 33 du boîtier 26 pour empêcher tout déplacement relatif axial dans un sens ou dans l'autre, entre le segment de tube la et le boîtier 26.Below the bulged part 31 of the housing 26, the two half-shells 26a and 26b form, after their assembly, a cylindrical part 33 which closely surrounds the upper end part of the tube segment 1a of the telescopic tube. Although this is not shown in the drawings, other fixing screws such as the screws 29, or a clamp may be necessary to firmly tighten the two half shells 26a and 26b, in their cylindrical part 33, against the upper end portion of the tube segment 1a. In addition, the upper end of the tube segment 1a is preferably shaped so as to have a lip or a collar 34 capable of engaging with raised elements 35 formed on the inner wall of the cylindrical part 33 of the housing 26 to prevent any relative axial displacement in one direction or the other, between the tube segment 1a and the housing 26.
Des moyens de commande 36 portés par la poignée ergonomique 2 sont prévus pour commander la marche/ arrêt et le sens de marche de l'actionneur linéaire 7. Plus précisément, les moyens de com- mande 36 peuvent comporter un commutateur inverseur 37 (figures 3, 5 et 8) à deux positions instables de fermeture et une position intermédiaire stable de coupure. De préférence, le commutateur inverseur 37 est logé à l'intérieur de la partie 2a de la poignée ergonomique 2, et il comporte un organe de manœuvre 38 qui fait radialement saillie sur ladite partie 2 a, dans la région de l'extrémité libre de celle-ci, de manière à pouvoir être actionné par un pouce de la main d'un utilisateur de la canne tenant ladite partie 2a de la poignée ergonomique 2 dans sa main, et cela sans que l'utilisateur soit obligé de relâcher son étreinte sur ladite partie 2a.Control means 36 carried by the ergonomic handle 2 are provided for controlling the on / off and the direction of travel of the linear actuator 7. More specifically, the control means 36 may include a reversing switch 37 (FIGS. 3 , 5 and 8) with two unstable closing positions and a stable intermediate cut-off position. Preferably, the reversing switch 37 is housed inside part 2a of the ergonomic handle 2, and it includes an operating member 38 which projects radially from said part 2a, in the region of the free end of the latter, so that it can be actuated by a thumb of the hand of a user of the cane holding said part 2a of the ergonomic handle 2 in his hand, and this without the user being forced to release his grip on said part 2a.
Par exemple, pour une canne destinée à être tenue par la main droite de l'utilisateur, l'organe de manœuvre 38 fait radialement saillie sur la surface cylindrique de la partie 2a de la poignée ergonomique 2, dans une direction qui est dirigée obliquement vers le bas et vers le côté droit de l'utilisateur. Par exemple, cette direction peut faire un angle d'environ 45 degrés par rapport à la verticale quand le commutateur inverseur 37 est dans sa position intermédiaire stable de coupure.For example, for a cane intended to be held by the right hand of the user, the operating member 38 projects radially on the cylindrical surface of the part 2a of the ergonomic handle 2, in a direction which is directed obliquely towards down and to the right side of the user. For example, this direction can make an angle about 45 degrees from the vertical when the reversing switch 37 is in its stable intermediate cut-off position.
L'organe de manœuvre 38* est guidé et peut glisser dans une fente ou encoche 39 (figure 5) qui s'étend dans le sens circonférentiel dans la paroi cylindrique de la partie 2a de la poignée ergonomique 2. Quand l'organe de manœuvre 38 est déplacé vers le bas, dans le sens de la flèche FI, le commutateur inverseur 37 bascule dans l'une des ses deux positions instables de fermeture et commande la mise en marche du moteur électrique 8 dans un premier sens correspondant à un déplacement de la chaîne de poussée 10 par exemple vers le bas, c'est-à-dire dans un sens correspondant à l'allongement du tube télescopique 1. Inversement, quand l'organe de manœuvre 38 est déplacé vers le haut, dans le sens de la flèche F2, il fait basculer le commutateur inverseur 37 dans son autre position instable de fermeture et commande la mise en marche du moteur électrique 8 dans le sens opposé de rotation, correspondant à un déplacement de la chaîne de poussée 10 vers le haut, c'est-à-dire dans un sens correspondant à un raccourcissement du tube télescopique 1 de la canne. A cet effet, dans le cas où le moteur électrique 8 est un moteur à courant continu, le commutateur inverseur 37 peut comporter deux contacts mobiles 41 et 42 qui sont reliés aux pôles positif et négatif de la batterie d'accumulateurs 25 respectivement par des conducteurs 43 et 44 comme montré dans la figure 8. Le commutateur inverseur 37 comporte on outre une première paire de contacts fixes 45 et 46 qui sont reliés aux deux bornes du moteur 8 respectivement par des conducteurs 47 et 48, de telle sorte que, quand les contacts mobiles 41 et 42 sont en contact avec les contacts fixes 45 et 46, le courant fourni par la batterie d'accumulateurs 25 traverse le moteur 8 dans un premier sens pour faire tourner ledit moteur dans le premier sens de rotation provoquant par exemple l'allongement du tube télescopique 1 de la canne. Enfin le com- mutateur inverseur 37 comporte une deuxième paire de contacts fixes 49 et 51 qui sont reliés aux bornes du moteur 8 respectivement par des conducteurs 52 et 53 de telle façon que, quand les contacts mobiles 41 et 42 sont en contact avec les contacts fixes 49 et 51, le courant fourni par la batterie d'accumulateurs 25 traverse le moteur 8 dans le sens opposé pour faire tourner ledit moteur dans un second sens de rotation provoquant par exemple un raccourcissement du tube télescopique 1 de la canne. Comme on peut le voir sur la figure 8, les deux pôles de la batterie d'accumulateurs 25 sont également raccordés respectivement par des conducteurs 54 et 55 aux contacts 56 et 57 d'un connecteur 58. Comme montré dans la figure 4, le connecteur 58 est fixé au boîtier 26 et est accessible de l'extérieur dudit boîtier pour permettre un rechargement de la batterie d'accumulateurs 25 au moyen d'un chargeur de batterie (non montré) muni d'un cordon d'alimentation terminé par une fiche compatible avec le connecteur 58.The operating member 38 * is guided and can slide in a slot or notch 39 (FIG. 5) which extends in the circumferential direction in the cylindrical wall of the part 2a of the ergonomic handle 2. When the operating member 38 is moved down, in the direction of the arrow FI, the reversing switch 37 switches to one of its two unstable closing positions and controls the starting of the electric motor 8 in a first direction corresponding to a displacement of the thrust chain 10, for example downwards, that is to say in a direction corresponding to the elongation of the telescopic tube 1. Conversely, when the operating member 38 is moved upward, in the direction of arrow F2, it switches the reversing switch 37 to its other unstable closed position and controls the starting of the electric motor 8 in the opposite direction of rotation, corresponding to a displacement of the thrust chain 10 upwards, c 'East- ie in a direction corresponding to a shortening of the telescopic tube 1 of the rod. To this end, in the case where the electric motor 8 is a direct current motor, the reversing switch 37 may comprise two movable contacts 41 and 42 which are connected to the positive and negative poles of the storage battery 25 respectively by conductors 43 and 44 as shown in FIG. 8. The reversing switch 37 also has a first pair of fixed contacts 45 and 46 which are connected to the two terminals of the motor 8 respectively by conductors 47 and 48, so that, when the movable contacts 41 and 42 are in contact with the fixed contacts 45 and 46, the current supplied by the storage battery 25 passes through the engine 8 in a first direction to rotate said engine in the first direction of rotation causing for example the extension of the telescopic tube 1 of the rod. Finally, the reversing switch 37 comprises a second pair of fixed contacts 49 and 51 which are connected to the terminals of the motor 8 respectively by conductors 52 and 53 so that, when the movable contacts 41 and 42 are in contact with the contacts fixed 49 and 51, the current supplied by the storage battery 25 passes through the engine 8 in the opposite direction to rotate said engine in a second direction of rotation causing for example a shortening of the telescopic tube 1 of the rod. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the two poles of the storage battery 25 are also connected respectively by conductors 54 and 55 to the contacts 56 and 57 of a connector 58. As shown in FIG. 4, the connector 58 is fixed to the housing 26 and is accessible from the outside of said housing to allow recharging of the storage battery 25 by means of a battery charger (not shown) provided with a power cord terminated by a plug compatible with connector 58.
Comme cela ressort de la description qui précède, il est clair qu'en agissant sur l'organe de manœuvre 38 du commutateur inverseur 37 dans le sens de la flèche FI ou dans le sens de la flèche F2 l'utilisateur de la canne peut provoquer, selon le cas, un allongement ou un raccourcissement de ladite canne. Ainsi, dans le cas d'un allongement de la canne, il est clair qu'un utilisateur s'appuyant sur la poignée ergonomique 2 peut obtenir une aide au franchissement d'un obstacle, par exemple pour monter sur une marche, ou pour se lever d'un siège.As is apparent from the above description, it is clear that by acting on the operating member 38 of the reversing switch 37 in the direction of the arrow FI or in the direction of the arrow F2 the user of the rod can cause , as appropriate, an elongation or a shortening of said rod. Thus, in the case of an extension of the cane, it is clear that a user leaning on the ergonomic handle 2 can obtain assistance in crossing an obstacle, for example to climb on a step, or to get up from a seat.
De préférence, l'actionneur 7, en particulier le moteur 8 et le mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9 sont dimensionnés de manière à être capables de fournir une puissance prédéterminée suffisante pour donner une poussée correspondant à une partie substantielle du poids d'une personne s'appuyant sur la poignée ergonomique 2.Preferably, the actuator 7, in particular the motor 8 and the speed reduction mechanism 9 are dimensioned so as to be capable of providing a predetermined power sufficient to give a thrust corresponding to a substantial part of the weight of a person s' pressing the ergonomic handle 2.
Par exemple, en utilisant des composants présentant les caractéristiques suivantes :For example, using components with the following characteristics:
- moteur électrique 8 : à courant continu 17W, 12V, apte à fournir un couple de 0,058 N.m à 2800 tr/min avec un courant de 2,5 A ;- electric motor 8: direct current 17W, 12V, capable of supplying a torque of 0.058 N.m at 2800 rpm with a current of 2.5 A;
- pignon 12 : sept dents, module 0,5 ;- pinion 12: seven teeth, module 0.5;
- roue dentée 14 : quatorze dents, module 0,5 ;- toothed wheel 14: fourteen teeth, module 0.5;
- vis sans fin 15 : un filet ayant un angle d'inclinaison de 85 degrés et un angle de frottement de 5 degrés ; - deux roues dentées 16 et 16' ayant chacune cinquante dents, module 0.5 ;- worm 15: a thread having an angle of inclination of 85 degrees and a friction angle of 5 degrees; - two toothed wheels 16 and 16 'each having fifty teeth, module 0.5;
- deux pignons de sortie 11 et 11' ayant chacun un rayon de 7,5 mm et dix dents ;- two output pinions 11 and 11 'each having a radius of 7.5 mm and ten teeth;
- batterie d'accumulateurs 25 : accumulateurs 12V au lithium ; le mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9 a un rapport de réduction 1/ 100 et un rendement mécanique global d'environ 0,5. Dans ces conditions, quand le moteur électrique 8 tourne à 2 800 tours/minute, la chaîne de poussée 10 se déplace à une vitesse de 22 mm/ s et fournit un effort de poussée de 350N. Autrement dit, la canne est capable de soulever un poids de 35 kilos à une vitesse de 22 mm/ s.- storage battery 25: 12V lithium storage batteries; the speed reducing mechanism 9 has a reduction ratio 1/100 and an overall mechanical efficiency of approximately 0.5. Under these conditions, when the electric motor 8 rotates at 2800 rpm, the thrust chain 10 moves at a speed of 22 mm / s and provides a force of thrust of 350N. In other words, the rod is capable of lifting a weight of 35 kilos at a speed of 22 mm / s.
A titre de moteur électrique 8, on peut utiliser par exemple un moteur commercialisé sous la référence RE0 5 CLL par la société MDP MOTOR (http://www.mdpm.otor.com) .As an electric motor 8, one can use for example a motor marketed under the reference RE0 5 CLL by the company MDP MOTOR (http://www.mdpm.otor.com).
On notera que, avec les composants indiqués plus haut, le rendement de la vis sans fin 15 est nul quand les pignons de sortie 11 et 11' et les roues dentées 16 et 16' sont menants. Cela est par exemple le cas lorsque le moteur 8 n'est pas alimenté en courant et que l'utilisateur de la canne prend appui sur la poignée ergonomique 2. Dans ce cas, la réaction exercée par le sol sur l'extrémité inférieure du tube télescopique 1 fait que la chaîne de poussée 10 est soumise à une force dirigée de bas en haut, de sorte que les courroies crantées 18 et 18' tendent à entraîner les pignons 11 et 11' en rotation et par suite aussi les roues dentées 16 et 16'. Cependant, comme la vis sans fin 15 a dans ces conditions un rendement nul, elle ne peut pas tourner, de sorte qu'elle bloque les roues dentées 16 et 16' et empêche ainsi tout mouvement vertical de la chaîne de poussée 10, aussi bien vers le haut que vers le bas. L'actionneur linéaire 7 est donc irréversible en ce sens que le moteur électrique 8, lorsqu'il est ali- mente en courant, et le mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9 sont capables de déplacer la chaîne de poussée 10 dans les deux sens, vers le haut et vers le bas, mais, inversement, la chaîne de poussée 10 est incapable de transmettre un quelconque mouvement au mécanisme réducteur de vitesse 9 et au moteur électrique 8. La longueur de la chaîne de poussée 10 est de préférence choisie de telle façon que l'actionneur linéaire 7 ait une course totale d'environ 30 à 35 cmIt will be noted that, with the components indicated above, the efficiency of the worm 15 is zero when the output pinions 11 and 11 'and the toothed wheels 16 and 16' are driving. This is for example the case when the motor 8 is not supplied with current and the user of the rod presses on the ergonomic handle 2. In this case, the reaction exerted by the ground on the lower end of the tube telescopic 1 causes the thrust chain 10 to be subjected to a force directed from the bottom up, so that the toothed belts 18 and 18 'tend to drive the pinions 11 and 11' in rotation and consequently also the toothed wheels 16 and 16 '. However, since the worm 15 has under these conditions zero efficiency, it cannot rotate, so that it blocks the toothed wheels 16 and 16 ′ and thus prevents any vertical movement of the thrust chain 10, as well up rather than down. The linear actuator 7 is therefore irreversible in the sense that the electric motor 8, when it is powered by current, and the speed reduction mechanism 9 are capable of moving the thrust chain 10 in both directions, towards the up and down, but conversely, the push chain 10 is unable to transmit any movement to the speed reduction mechanism 9 and to the electric motor 8. The length of the push chain 10 is preferably chosen so that linear actuator 7 has a total stroke of approximately 30 to 35 cm
Il va de soi que le mode de réalisation de l'invention qui a été décrit ci-dessus a été donné à titre d'exemple purement indicatif et nullement limitatif, et que de nombreuses modifications peuvent être facilement apportées par l'homme de l'Art sans pour autant sortir du cadre de l'invention.It goes without saying that the embodiment of the invention which has been described above has been given by way of purely indicative and in no way limiting example, and that numerous modifications can be easily made by those skilled in the art. Art without departing from the scope of the invention.
Il est notamment possible de prévoir un circuit électronique pour piloter le moteur électrique 8, par exemple pour en régler la vitesse de rotation. Un tel circuit de pilotage peut être aisément porté par une carte à circuit imprimé installée dans la partie 2a de la poignée ergonomique 2. It is in particular possible to provide an electronic circuit for controlling the electric motor 8, for example for adjusting the speed of rotation. Such a control circuit can be easily carried by a printed circuit card installed in part 2a of the ergonomic handle 2.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S 1°) Canne anglaise pour personne ayant un handicap moteur comprenant un tube télescopique (1) composé d'au moins deux segments de tube pouvant coulisser l'un dans l'autre, à savoir un segment de tube supérieur (la) et un segment de tube inférieur (lb) et équipé à son extrémité supérieure d'une poignée ergonomique (2) comprenant une partie (2a) en gros cylindre qui s'étend transversalement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du tube télescopique (1) et qui sert d'appui palmaire et une partie (2b) qui s'étend vers le haut à partir de la partie (2a) obliquement par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du tube télescopique (1) et qui sert d'appui antébrachial, caractérisée en ce que CLAIMS 1) English rod for a person with a motor handicap comprising a telescopic tube (1) composed of at least two tube segments which can slide one inside the other, namely an upper tube segment (la) and a lower tube segment (lb) and equipped at its upper end with an ergonomic handle (2) comprising a large cylinder part (2a) which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube (1) and which serves as a palmar support and a part (2b) which extends upwards from the part (2a) obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic tube (1) and which serves as an antebrachial support, characterized in what
- la canne est équipée à sa partie interne d'un actionneur linéaire (7) susceptible de transmettre des efforts de traction et de poussée et comportant d'une part deux courroies crantées identiques (18, 18') res- pectivement munies de plots régulièrement espacés (19, 1 ^ sur leur face opposée à la face crantée, et d'autre part des organes d'entraînement (11, 11') situés de part et d'autre des deux courroies crantées (18, lβ5) et coopérant avec des moyens d'actionnement pour permettre aux plots (19, 19^ de ces courroies (18, lδ^ de venir en prise les uns dans les autres, de sorte que celles-ci soient souples et indépendantes l'une de l'autre au niveau d'un premier tronçon situé d'un coté ou coté amont des organes d'entraînement (11, 11*), alors qu'au niveau d'un second tronçon situé du coté opposé ou coté aval de ces organes (11, 11') elles sont rassemblées solidairement et s'étendent se- Ion une ligne droite en se comportant comme une barre rigide en une seule pièce apte à transmettre des efforts de poussée comme des efforts de traction, et- the rod is equipped at its internal part with a linear actuator (7) capable of transmitting traction and thrust forces and comprising on the one hand two identical toothed belts (18, 18 ') respectively provided with studs regularly spaced apart (19, 1 ^ on their face opposite to the notched face, and on the other hand drive members (11, 11 ') situated on either side of the two notched belts (18, lβ 5 ) and cooperating with actuating means to allow the studs (19, 19 ^ of these belts (18, lδ ^ to engage one inside the other, so that they are flexible and independent of each other at a first section located on one side or upstream side of the drive members (11, 11 *), while at a second section located on the opposite side or downstream side of these bodies (11, 11 ') they are joined together and extend along a straight line behaving like a rigid bar in a single piece capable of transmitting thrust forces such as tensile forces, and
- les organes d'entraînement (11, 11') et les moyens d'actionnement sont logés dans un boîtier (26) fixé à l'extrémité supérieure du segment de tube supérieur (la) et conformé pour servir de poignée ergonomique (2) de sorte que le premier tronçon des deux courroies crantées (18, 18r) s'étende dans la partie (2b) formant appui antébrachial de la poignée ergonomique (2) tandis que le second tronçon de ces courroies se prolonge dans le segment de tube supérieur (la) et est fixé à la partie in- terne du segment de tube inférieur (lb) par son extrémité avale, l'actionnement des organes d'entraînement (11, 11') entraînant le cou- lissement du second tronçon des courroies crantées (18, 18^ à la partie interne du tube télescopique (1) et la modification de la longueur de ce tube.- the drive members (11, 11 ') and the actuating means are housed in a housing (26) fixed to the upper end of the upper tube segment (la) and shaped to serve as an ergonomic handle (2) so that the first section of the two notched belts (18, 18 r ) extends in the part (2b) forming an antebrachial support of the ergonomic handle (2) while the second section of these belts extends into the tube segment upper (la) and is fixed to the internal part of the lower tube segment (lb) by its downstream end, the actuation of the drive members (11, 11 ') causing the second section of the belts to slip notched (18, 18 ^ to the part internal of the telescopic tube (1) and the modification of the length of this tube.
2°) Canne selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'actionnement comportent un moteur électrique (8) à deux sens de rotation alimenté en courant par une batterie d'accumulateurs rechargeables (25) ainsi qu'un mécanisme réducteur de vitesse à engrenages (9) qui est couplé au moteur (8) et comporte deux pignons de sortie (11, 11') venant respectivement en prise avec les deux courroies crantées (18, 18') et constituant les organes d'entraînement.2 °) Rod according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating means comprise an electric motor (8) with two directions of rotation supplied with current by a rechargeable accumulator battery (25) as well as a reduction mechanism of gear speed (9) which is coupled to the motor (8) and comprises two output pinions (11, 11 ') respectively engaging with the two toothed belts (18, 18') and constituting the drive members.
3°) Canne selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisée en ce que l'actionneur linéaire (7) a une puissance choisie suffisante pour fournir une poussée correspondant à une partie substantielle du poids d'une personne s'appuyant sur la poignée ergonomique (2).3 °) Rod according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the linear actuator (7) has a chosen power sufficient to provide a thrust corresponding to a substantial part of the weight of a person leaning on the ergonomic handle (2).
4°) Canne selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 et 3, caractérisée en ce que l'actionneur linéaire (7) comporte des moyens de commande (36) portés par la poignée ergonomique (2) pour commander la marche / arrêt ainsi que le sens de rotation du moteur électrique (8).4 °) Rod according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the linear actuator (7) comprises control means (36) carried by the ergonomic handle (2) for controlling on / off as well as the direction of rotation of the electric motor (8).
5°) Canne selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que les moyens de commande (36) comportent un commutateur inverseur (37) à deux positions instables de fermeture et une position intermédiaire stable de coupure.5 °) Rod according to claim 4, characterized in that the control means (36) comprise a reversing switch (37) with two unstable closing positions and a stable intermediate cut-off position.
6°) Canne selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que le commutateur inverseur (37) comporte un organe de manœuvre (38) qui fait radialement saillie sur la partie (2a) en gros cylindre servant d'appui palmaire, dans la région de l'extrémité libre de cette partie en gros cylindre, de manière à pouvoir être actionné par un pouce de la main d'un utilisateur de la canne tenant cette partie en gros cylindre. 7°) Canne selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 6, caractérisée en ce que la batterie d'accumulateurs (25) est reliée électriquement à un connecteur électrique (58) accessible de l'extérieur du boîtier (26) pour permettre un rechargement de cette batterie d'accumulateurs au moyen d'un chargeur de batterie.6 °) Rod according to claim 5, characterized in that the reversing switch (37) comprises an operating member (38) which projects radially on the part (2a) in large cylinder serving as palmar support, in the region of the free end of this large cylinder part, so that it can be actuated by a thumb of the hand of a cane user holding this large cylinder part. 7 °) Rod according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the storage battery (25) is electrically connected to an electrical connector (58) accessible from outside the housing (26) to allow a recharging of this storage battery by means of a battery charger.
8°) Canne selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisée en ce que le boîtier (26) est constitué de deux demi coquilles (26a, 26b) notamment réalisées en une matière plastique moulée, par exemple en polyéthylène qui ont un plan de joint (27) correspondant au plan médian vertical de symétrie (28) de la poignée ergonomique (2) et sont assemblées au moyen de vis (29).8 °) Rod according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing (26) consists of two half shells (26a, 26b) in particular made of a molded plastic material, for example polyethylene which have a joint plane (27) corresponding to the vertical median plane of symmetry (28) of the ergonomic handle (2) and are assembled by means of screws (29).
9°) Canne selon la revendication 8, caractérisée en ce que les deux demi coquilles (26a, 26b) comportent chacune une nervure (32) à la partie interne de leur partie correspondant à la partie (2b) formant ap- pui antébrachial de la poignée ergonomique (2), après assemblage des deux demi coquilles (26a, 26b) ces deux nervures (32) définissant ensemble une cloison de séparation isolant les premiers tronçons souples et indépendants des deux courroies crantées (18, 18').9 °) Rod according to claim 8, characterized in that the two half shells (26a, 26b) each have a rib (32) in the internal part of their part corresponding to the part (2b) forming an antebrachial support of the ergonomic handle (2), after assembly of the two half shells (26a, 26b) these two ribs (32) together defining a partition separating the first flexible and independent sections of the two notched belts (18, 18 ').
10°) Canne selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisée en ce que le boîtier (26) présente, dans la zone de raccordement entre la partie (2a) formant appui palmaire et la partie (2b) formant appui antébrachial de la poignée ergonomique (2) une partie renflée creuse (31) à l'intérieur de laquelle sont disposés le moteur électrique (8), le mécanisme réducteur de vitesse (9) et la batterie d'accumulateurs (25). 10 °) Rod according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the housing (26) has, in the connection zone between the part (2a) forming palmar support and the part (2b) forming antebrachial support of the ergonomic handle (2) a hollow bulged part (31) inside which the electric motor (8), the speed reduction mechanism (9) and the accumulator battery (25) are arranged.
EP04767228A 2003-06-04 2004-06-02 English cane for a person with mobility impairment Expired - Lifetime EP1631230B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0306728A FR2855748B1 (en) 2003-06-04 2003-06-04 CANE FOR PERSON HAVING A MOTOR DISABLED
PCT/FR2004/001357 WO2004108053A2 (en) 2003-06-04 2004-06-02 English cane for a person with mobility impairment

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1631230A2 true EP1631230A2 (en) 2006-03-08
EP1631230B1 EP1631230B1 (en) 2008-05-28

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04767228A Expired - Lifetime EP1631230B1 (en) 2003-06-04 2004-06-02 English cane for a person with mobility impairment

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US20070023072A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1631230B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2006526444A (en)
AT (1) ATE396686T1 (en)
DE (1) DE602004014136D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2855748B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004108053A2 (en)

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US7395829B2 (en) * 2006-06-06 2008-07-08 Chapman Richard R Shock absorber crutch and shock absorber kit
AU2009260178B2 (en) * 2008-06-16 2012-07-26 Warren Phillip Drew Linearly adjustable device
US8177692B2 (en) * 2008-09-25 2012-05-15 Deppen Timothy A Pike pole exercise apparatus
US9044374B1 (en) * 2013-07-05 2015-06-02 Leon E. Stimpson Assisted walking device
JP6383198B2 (en) * 2014-07-04 2018-08-29 ブライト・ソレイルズ株式会社 Walking aid
USD895956S1 (en) * 2018-02-01 2020-09-15 Hyundai Motor Company Crutch
DE102019126671A1 (en) * 2019-10-02 2021-04-08 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Push belt unit with two belt terminals

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FR1419625A (en) * 1964-06-04 1965-12-03 Far Prit Associate Inc Variable length kickstand
US3416546A (en) * 1967-11-29 1968-12-17 William T. Carpenter Power-operated crutch
SE410389B (en) * 1978-01-12 1979-10-15 Avraham Cohen STEPLESS LENGTH ADJUSTABLE CRUCK
DE4137096A1 (en) * 1991-11-12 1993-05-13 Fuhs Rudolf Walking stick / walking stick
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE602004014136D1 (en) 2008-07-10
ATE396686T1 (en) 2008-06-15
EP1631230B1 (en) 2008-05-28
FR2855748B1 (en) 2006-11-10
WO2004108053A2 (en) 2004-12-16
FR2855748A1 (en) 2004-12-10
US20070023072A1 (en) 2007-02-01
JP2006526444A (en) 2006-11-24
WO2004108053A3 (en) 2005-01-27

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