EP3890676A1 - Dispositif de contrôle de direction pour fauteuil roulant - Google Patents
Dispositif de contrôle de direction pour fauteuil roulantInfo
- Publication number
- EP3890676A1 EP3890676A1 EP19839360.5A EP19839360A EP3890676A1 EP 3890676 A1 EP3890676 A1 EP 3890676A1 EP 19839360 A EP19839360 A EP 19839360A EP 3890676 A1 EP3890676 A1 EP 3890676A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- wheelchair
- support
- footrest
- rotation
- fork
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 210000002683 foot Anatomy 0.000 description 26
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 6
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 210000003141 lower extremity Anatomy 0.000 description 5
- 210000003041 ligament Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 210000002435 tendon Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 206010019468 Hemiplegia Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 210000003423 ankle Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000003127 knee Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000003414 extremity Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000001364 upper extremity Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
- A61G5/1051—Arrangements for steering
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/02—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs propelled by the patient or disabled person
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
- A61G5/12—Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
- A61G5/128—Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet for feet
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G2200/00—Information related to the kind of patient or his position
- A61G2200/10—Type of patient
- A61G2200/20—Type of patient with asymmetric abilities, e.g. hemiplegic or missing a limb
Definitions
- the invention relates to a steering control device for a wheelchair, suitable for people with hemiplegia.
- the invention also relates to a wheelchair comprising such a device and to a method of installing such a device on a wheelchair.
- a wheelchair with manual propulsion comprises a chassis having rear, front, right and left sides, a seat carried by the chassis, and, on each of the right and left sides, a rear wheel rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis linked to the chassis, a front wheel rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis carried by a fork, itself rotatably mounted around a corresponding vertical axis linked to the chassis, and a footrest linked to the chassis and disposed at the before the seat.
- Controlled movement of a standard wheelchair requires efforts on the part of the person using it in a coordinated manner on both sides of the wheelchair, which a hemiplegic person is unable to exercise .
- WO 2010/142884 A1 describes a wheelchair, suitable for people with hemiplegia, in which one of the footrests is fixed relative to the chassis of the wheelchair while the other footrest is movable and linked in rotation, to the by means of a connecting rod installed in the front upright of the chassis, with the fork carrying the front steering wheel located on the same side as this footrest.
- This arrangement has several drawbacks. First of all, this requires the presence of a hollow tube at the level of the front upright of the chassis, for the passage of the connecting rod, which is not the case for all models of wheelchairs.
- the use of the front upright of the chassis as a support for the movable footrest results in bringing the footrests closer to one another, so that the pallets of the two footrests tend to touch when adduction movement is applied to the pallet of the movable footrest.
- the use of smaller pallets does not completely solve this problem of limited conveyance movement.
- assisted use of the wheelchair that is to say a use in which a third person steers the wheelchair, is impossible due to the clamping of the fork which is linked in rotation with the movable footrest.
- the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a steering control device for a wheelchair allowing autonomous use of the wheelchair by a hemiplegic person, as well as an easy and rapid passage between autonomous use. and assisted use of the wheelchair, this device being also light, visually discreet, and capable of being put in place in a simple manner on any type of wheelchair, limiting the need to replace or modify the original parts of the Wheelchair.
- the subject of the invention is a directional control device for a wheelchair, comprising a body intended to be fixed to the chassis of the wheelchair, the body of the device receiving a transmission intended to be linked with the fork of a steering wheel of the wheelchair to form a rotary assembly relative to the body about an axis of rotation aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fork, and a support intended to be linked with a footrest to form a rotary assembly by relative to the body around said axis of rotation, the device comprising a connecting finger capable of securing in rotation, in a selective manner, the transmission and the support so as to obtain a passage between an autonomous use and an assisted use of the wheelchair by acting only on said connecting finger.
- a hemiplegic user is able to control the direction of the wheelchair by acting on the footrest linked to the support, this footrest being movable in rotation around said axis of rotation, and linked in rotation with the fork of the steering wheel when the connecting finger rotatably secures the transmission and the support.
- the device according to the invention then makes it possible to transform a movement of rotation of the valid lower limb of the hemiplegic user, which acts on the movable footrest around said axis of rotation, into a movement of rotation of the steering wheel located on the same side.
- connection between the footrest and the fork of the steering wheel, provided by the connecting finger is a connection of the embedding type, guaranteeing an effective transfer of forces from one to the other.
- the transmission and the support are secured, the person with at least one lower limb and one upper limb are healthy, and whose physical condition requires the use of a wheelchair, can move independently using their limb valid lower.
- a third person can push the wheelchair while the user is installed in the wheelchair, without the lower member of the latter on the footrest, do not come to compel the direction.
- the steering control device also makes it possible to switch easily and quickly between an autonomous mode and an assisted mode of use of the wheelchair, by maneuvering the connecting finger between an active position, in which it secures in rotation the transmission and the support, and an inactive position, in which it allows relative rotation between the transmission and the support.
- assisted mode which corresponds to the inactive position of the connecting finger
- the steerer fork is not linked in rotation with the movable footrest, so that a third person can steer the wheelchair.
- the transition between autonomous use and assisted use of the wheelchair is obtained by acting only on the connecting finger, without having to move the movable footrest which is installed once and for all on the support of the device, which is particularly simple and ergonomic.
- the device according to the invention modifies the original attachment system of the steering wheel situated on the side of the valid lower limb of the user.
- the device body replaces the original fork body and serves as a housing for the rotating elements.
- the footrest placed on the support of the device is the original footrest of the wheelchair, which has been removed from its original location and placed on the same vertical axis as the fork supporting the steering wheel. .
- the mounting of the device of the invention on a wheelchair is particularly simple, by assembling the fork with the transmission of the device; fixing the body of the device to the chassis of the wheelchair; assembly of the footrest with the support of the device.
- the steering control device according to the invention is light and visually discreet.
- the direction control device does not increase, or not substantially, the weight and / or overall dimensions of the wheelchair.
- the steering control device according to the invention is capable of being fitted to any type of wheelchair and allows the original parts of the wheelchair to be reused.
- the body is fixed to the chassis of the wheelchair, said body comprising means for fixing to the chassis of the wheelchair, the body support being offset laterally towards the outside of the wheelchair relative to an upright of the chassis.
- Such an arrangement allows the movable footrest to be moved outward, which moves the two footrests of the wheelchair away from each other and avoids problems of contact between the pallets of the footrests during of an adduction movement. This results in a reduction in the radius of gyration when the user performs an adduction movement.
- the body of the device is fixed to the chassis of the wheelchair by means of a plate allowing the angle of the fork of the steering wheel to be adjusted relative to the ground.
- the fixing plate of the body of the device can be part of the body or be a part attached to the body.
- the fixing plate of the body of the device is configured to cooperate with an original spacer of the wheelchair, in particular with the spacer for fixing the original fork body of the wheelchair.
- the fixing plate of the body of the device is adapted to position the body of the device, and therefore the steering wheel, at a predetermined distance from the amount of the chassis originally supporting the fork of the steering wheel.
- the mounting plate can also be designed to allow adjustment of the height of attachment of the steering control device to the chair frame, in particular as a function of the seat height of the wheelchair.
- the direction control device comprises, in addition to the connecting finger, a locking finger capable of locking in rotation, selectively, the support relative to the body of the device.
- a locking finger can be operated between an active position, in which it rotatably secures the support and the body of the device.
- the footrest is then fixed, which allows, for example, the user to reposition himself in his wheelchair by leaning on his healthy lower limb.
- an inactive position such a locking finger allows relative rotation between the support and the body of the device.
- the locking finger is advantageously placed in the active position, which makes it possible to block the footrest relative to the body of the device.
- the footrest is fixed relative to the body, which avoids any discomfort vis-à-vis a third person directing the wheelchair or vis-à-vis a user seated in the wheelchair, which can put their foot on the footrest without risk of uncontrolled movement thereof.
- the locking finger In the autonomous mode of use of the wheelchair, which corresponds to the active position of the connecting finger, the locking finger is imperatively placed in the inactive position, since it is then not desirable to block the footrest relative to the body of the device On the contrary, it is then desirable to leave the movable footrest in rotation relative to the body of the device around said axis of rotation, so that a wheelchair user can print on the footrest, with his member valid lower, a rotational movement which causes a rotation of the corresponding steering wheel.
- each of the body and the support of the direction control device comprises two diametrically opposite notches for receiving the locking finger.
- This arrangement allows the same steering control device to be used to equip the right or left side of the wheelchair.
- the locking finger can be placed in the support and the body of the device so as to project on one side or the other of the body.
- the support of the direction control device comprises a tube intended to be linked to the footrest and a rotating base mounted around the transmission of the device with the possibility of rotation relative to the transmission.
- the tube is linked to the bracket of the footrest at one of its ends and linked to the rotating base at its other end.
- the tube can be of adjustable length or be associated with at least one additional riser tube, so as to allow an adjustment of the height of the footrest, in particular according to the height of the seat of the wheelchair.
- the angular position between the tube and the rotating base is adjustable, so as to create a possible angle between the steering wheel in the straight position and the stem of the footrest.
- the term "straight position of the steering wheel” means a position of the steering wheel corresponding to a straight line advance of the wheelchair. Thanks to the possibility of adjusting the angular position between the tube and the rotating base, the rest position of the footrest can be adjusted to correspond, as desired, to the straight position of the steering wheel, or to a position in abduction, or to a position in adduction.
- the adjustment of the angular position of the tube relative to the rotary base can be obtained using at least one screw for holding the tube relative to the rotary base.
- the transmission of the direction control device comprises a shaft and an indexer fixed to the shaft, the rotary base being mounted with the possibility of rotation around the shaft and of G indexer and configured for be secured to G indexer using the connecting finger.
- G indexer is an indexer with conical coupling ensuring a conical connection with the shaft. The conical coupling indexer distributes the forces resulting from the connection of the rotary base with the transmission over the entire circumference of the device.
- the rotary base comprises two diametrically opposite notches for receiving the connecting finger.
- the indexer may, for its part, comprise a single notch for receiving the connecting finger, insofar as it is possible to turn it on the shaft to adapt its position to an installation of the direction control device on the right side or on the left side of the wheelchair.
- the connecting finger can be arranged in the indexer and the rotary base so as to project on one side or the other of the rotary base.
- the direction control device comprises a torsion spring which connects the body to the support so as to elastically oppose a rotational movement of the support relative to the body from a position of rest corresponding to a straight position of the steering wheel.
- the torsion spring provides stiffness to the rotational movement of the footrest, preventing it from rotating when the user does not exert sufficient force to pivot the footrest.
- the rest position of the torsion spring corresponds to a straight position of the steering wheel, that is to say a straight line advance of the wheelchair.
- the torsion spring is also of interest when a third person moves the empty wheelchair, avoiding that the footrest swivels freely and hits furniture or the like.
- the direction control device comprises a system for limiting the rotational travel of the support relative to the body of the device, the travel limiting system comprising a peripheral groove, which is defined by the one among the support and the body, and a screw, which is integral with the other among the support and the body and received in the peripheral groove, the peripheral groove having an angular extension of the order of 80 ° to 100 °, preferably of the order of 90 °, around said axis of rotation.
- a travel limitation system guarantees user safety by limiting the rotational travel of the footrest.
- the peripheral groove of the stroke limitation system has, in a radial direction corresponding to the direction of depth of the groove, at least two portions having distinct angular extensions, so that the stroke limitation in rotation of the support relative to the body can be adjusted using a screw of length adapted to cooperate with one or the other portion of the groove.
- the direction control device comprises a bearing positioned in the rotary base and a bearing positioned in the body of the device, so as to keep the transmission of the device radially in position. respectively with respect to the rotary base and the body, and to withstand the radial forces applied to the transmission.
- the bearing positioned in the body is configured to also support the axial forces exerted on the transmission.
- Such bearings which are for example ball bearings, make it possible to have very low resistance to pivoting while supporting significant forces.
- the bearing positioned in the rotary base provides rotational guidance of the transmission shaft with respect to the rotary base
- the bearing positioned in the body provides rotational guidance of the shaft of the transmission vis-à-vis the body.
- an additional bearing independent of the shaft of the transmission for example a ball bearing, is provided in the body of the direction control device to support the rotary base axially and radially without preventing its rotation.
- the direction control device comprises a plain bearing interposed between the body and the support.
- This smooth bearing which provides sliding rotation guidance between the body and the support, acts as a wearing part between the body and the support, in particular between the body and the rotating base, making it possible to limit the wear during the rotational movement.
- the aforementioned rotating guide elements namely the bearings and the plain bearing, are distributed along the direction of said axis of rotation so as to limit the deflection of the direction control device.
- the invention also relates to an assembly comprising a direction control device as described above, a footrest linked to the support of the device and a steerable fork connected to the transmission of the device.
- the invention relates to a footrest for a wheelchair comprising a direction control device by rotation of the footrest, the footrest comprising: - a bracket (or arm) for attaching the footrest to the chassis of the wheelchair, the attachment being direct or indirect; it is considered that there is an indirect fixing for example in the case where the footrest bracket is fixed to a tube of a direction control device as described above and the body of the direction control device is itself fixed to the chassis of the wheelchair;
- a pallet for receiving the foot of a wheelchair user in which the pallet is provided with a foot support which is attached to the pallet, for example by screwing, and which comprises means for retaining the foot of the 'user to help the user to print on the footrest, with his lower limb, a rotational movement causing a rotation of the steering wheel of the wheelchair.
- the foot support comprises a rotary plate which is rotatably mounted on the pallet about an axis transverse to the plane of the plate and configured to pivot around said transverse axis in the direction opposite to the rotation of the support foot around said axis of rotation.
- the foot support comprises a plate provided with edges, in particular arranged laterally with respect to a zone for receiving the foot of the user, the edges being configured to offer support to the foot of the user during the control of a change of direction of the wheelchair.
- the edges form means for retaining the foot of the user which help him to impart a rotational movement to the footrest.
- a plate provided with support edges can be a rotary plate relative to the pallet as described above, or a fixed plate relative to the pallet.
- the foot support can be oriented on the pallet so that the user's foot received between the support edges is indifferently parallel, or in abduction, or in adduction, with respect to the position of the footrest corresponding to the straight position of the steering wheel.
- the foot support is oriented on the pallet so that the user's foot received between the support edges is slightly abducted relative to the position of the footrest corresponding to the right position of the steering wheel, so that the possible travel in the adduction movement is increased.
- Another object of the invention is a wheelchair comprising a direction control device or an assembly as described above.
- the original footrest and the original fork of the wheelchair which are respectively linked to the support and to the transmission of the direction control device.
- the installation of the steering control device on the wheelchair is done by limiting as much as possible the parts of the wheelchair to be replaced.
- the subject of the invention is also a method of installing a steering control device as described above on a wheelchair, comprising steps in which:
- the body of the device is fixed to the chassis of the wheelchair so that, when the body is fixed to the chassis, the support is offset laterally towards the outside of the wheelchair relative to an upright of the chassis originally supporting the fork the steering wheel,
- the fork of the steering wheel is linked to the transmission of the device to form a rotary assembly with respect to the body about an axis of rotation aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fork,
- the footrest is linked to the support of the device to form a rotary assembly relative to the body around said axis of rotation.
- the installation of the steering control device on a wheelchair can be carried out by implementing the steps listed above in any technically possible order.
- the installation method comprises the following steps:
- the original fork body is removed from a steering wheel of the wheelchair, on the left or right side, relative to the chassis of the wheelchair;
- the fork of the steering wheel is dismantled with respect to this original fork body
- the torsion spring is placed in the body of the device
- the plain bearing is placed in the body of the device
- the rotary base is placed in the body so that the upper strand of the torsion spring is inserted into a housing located on the rotary base; in this way, the peripheral groove and the screw of the stroke limitation system are centered with respect to each other;
- the transmission shaft is inserted into the body and the rotating base
- the fork of the steering wheel is connected to the shaft to form a rotary assembly with respect to the body about an axis of rotation aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fork;
- the body of the device is fixed to the chassis of the wheelchair so that, when the body is fixed to the chassis, the support is offset laterally towards the outside of the wheelchair relative to an upright of the chassis originally supporting the fork the steering wheel;
- the shaft is rotated so as to place the steering wheel in an upright position
- the indexer with conical coupling is placed on the shaft so that the notch for receiving the connecting finger is located opposite the appropriate notch of the rotary base, and the indexer is fixed relative to the 'tree ; the tube is placed on the rotating base; the footrest is linked to the tube to form a rotary assembly relative to the body around said axis of rotation;
- the tube linked to the footrest is indexed relative to the rotating base to adjust the rest position.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair according to the invention, comprising a steering control device according to a first embodiment of the invention
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sub-assembly of the wheelchair of Figure 1, including the steering control device linked to the footrest and the corresponding steer wheel fork;
- Figure 3 is a side view on a larger scale of the direction control device, taken along arrow III of Figure 2;
- Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;
- Figure 5 is a section along the line V-V of Figure 4.
- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a part of the direction control device, on which the rotary base has been omitted;
- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a part of the steering control device, on which the body has been omitted;
- Figure 8 is a section along line VIII-VIII of Figure 5;
- Figure 9 is a top view of a wheelchair similar to that of Figure 1, in which the pallet of the footrest which is linked to the direction control device comprises a foot support comprising a rotary plate provided with edges d support for the foot of a user, the footrest being shown in the abduction position;
- Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, the footrest being shown in the supply position;
- Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 2 for a direction control device according to a second embodiment of the invention.
- Figure 12 is a section along plane XII of Figure 11.
- FIG. 1 a wheelchair 100 suitable for people with hemiplegia, which is equipped with a device 1 for controlling the direction according to the invention.
- the device 1 comprises a body 3 intended to be fixed on an upright 1 1 of the chassis of the wheelchair, on the right or left side of the wheelchair.
- the body 3 of the device 1 serves as a housing for several rotating elements including, on the one hand, a footrest support comprising a tube 2 and a rotating base 4 and, on the other hand, a transmission comprising a shaft 5 and an indexer 6.
- the shaft 5 is connected at its upper end to the indexer 6 using a screw 29 and at its lower end to the fork 12 of a steerable wheel 13 of the wheelchair using a nut 24, so that the assembly 5, 6, 12, 13 is rotatable relative to the body 3 about an axis of rotation 7JI aligned with the longitudinal axis X12 of the fork 12.
- the tube 2 is linked at its upper end to the bracket 15 of a footrest 14 of the wheelchair and at its lower end to the rotating base 4.
- the rotating base 4 is mounted with the possibility of rotation around the shaft 5 and the indexer 6, so that the assembly 2, 4, 14 also forms a rotary assembly with respect to the body 3 around the axis of rotation Z2.
- the tube 2 can be of adjustable length or be associated with at least one additional raising tube, so as to allow an adjustment of the height of the footrest 14, in particular as a function of the height of the seat of the wheelchair 100.
- the angular position between the tube 2 and the rotating base 4 is adjustable, so as to create a possible angle between the steering wheel 13 in the straight position and the bracket 15 of the footrest 14, the straight position of the steering wheel 13 being a position of the wheel 13 corresponding to a straight line advancement of the wheelchair 100.
- this adjustment of the angular position of the tube 2 relative to the rotating base 4 is obtained using three screws 22 for holding the tube 2 on the rotating base 4, one of which is visible in FIG. 4.
- the adjustment of the angular position between the tube 2 and the rotating base 4 makes it possible to adjust the rest position of the footrest 14 to correspond, as desired, to the straight position of the steering wheel 13, or to a position in abduction, or to a position in adduction. It is thus possible to adapt the rest position of the footrest 14 to the user of the wheelchair 100, and to limit the risks of ligament or tendon damage.
- the device 1 also comprises a connecting finger 7 configured to secure in rotation, in a selective manner, the rotary base 4 of the support and the indexer 6 of the transmission.
- the rotary base 4 comprises two diametrically opposite notches 47, 47 ′ for receiving the connecting finger 7.
- the notch 47 or 47 ′ which is not used is preferably closed by a plug 27.
- the indexer 6 comprises a single notch 67 for receiving the connecting finger 7, which is both compatible with an installation of the device 1 on the right or left side of the wheelchair 100 because the indexer 6 can be pivoted relative to the shaft 5.
- the connecting finger 7 When the connecting finger 7 is in an active position where it is inserted in the two notches 47 (or 47 ’) and 67, the rotary base 4 and the indexer 6 are integral in rotation.
- the footrest 14 is then linked in rotation with the fork 12 of the steering wheel 13, which allows a hemiplegic user to control the direction of the wheelchair 100 by acting on the footrest 14.
- the passage of a mode autonomous to an assisted mode of use of the wheelchair 100 is done by operating the connecting finger 7 from the active position to an inactive position where it is offset radially towards the outside of the device 1 and is no longer inserted in the notch 67 of indexer 6.
- the connecting finger 7 which is received only in the notch 47 (or 47 ′) of the rotary base 4, allows relative rotation between the rotary base 4 and the indexer 6.
- the fork 12 of the steering wheel 13 is then not linked in rotation with the footrest 14, so that a third person can steer the wheelchair 100.
- the connection between the footrest 14 and the fork 12 of the wheel director 13, provided by the connecting finger is an embedding type connection, which ensures a efficient effort transfer.
- the indexer 6 is an indexer with conical coupling ensuring a conical connection with the shaft 5.
- the device 1 was mounted on a wheelchair with conventional manual propulsion, on the right side of the wheelchair (considering the position of a user seated in the wheelchair), where the wheelchair included two fixed footrests.
- the original fork body of the right steering wheel 13 of the wheelchair has been removed with respect to the right upright 11 of the wheelchair chassis, and the fork 12 of the right steering wheel 13 has been removed with respect to - screw of this original fork body.
- the original right footrest 14 of the wheelchair has also been disassembled relative to the right upright 11 of the chassis which supported it.
- the body 3 of the device 1 was then mounted on the right upright 11 while being offset to the right relative to the right upright 11, as visible in FIG. 1.
- the body 3 of the device 1 is fixed to the upright 11 of the wheelchair by means of a spacer 35.
- the spacer 35 can be the spacer of the original fork body of the Wheelchair.
- the body 3 is in one piece and itself integrates its fixing plate on the spacer 35. The body 3 allows the angle 12 of the fork 12 of the steering wheel 13 to be adjusted relative to the ground and is designed to position the steering wheel 13 at a predetermined distance from the upright 11 originally supporting the fork of the steering wheel.
- the body 3 can also be designed to allow adjustment of the mounting height of the device 1 on the upright 11, in particular as a function of the seat height of the wheelchair. It appears from FIG. 1 that, when the body 3 of the device 1 is fixed on the upright 11, the tube 2 is offset laterally towards the outside of the wheelchair (on the right side in the example shown) relative to the upright 11 originally supporting the fork 12, as shown by the offset between the axis of rotation Z2, which is also the longitudinal axis of the device 1, and the longitudinal axis Zi of the upright 11.
- the movable footrest 14 is thus offset outward (on the right side in the example shown) relative to its original position, which is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1.
- This arrangement moves the two footrests of the wheelchair 100 away from each other to the other and avoids the problems of contact between the pallets of the footrests during an adduction movement. This also results in a reduction in the radius of gyration when the user performs a conveyance movement.
- the device 1 also includes, in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, a locking finger 8 configured to selectively lock in rotation the rotating base 4 relative to the body 3 of the device.
- the body 3 comprises two notches 38, 38 'diametrically opposite for receiving the blocking finger 8 and the rotary base 4 comprises two notches 48, 48' diametrically opposite for receiving the blocking finger 8.
- the notches 38, 48 or 38 ′, 48 ′ which are not used are preferably closed by a plug 28.
- the locking finger 8 When the locking finger 8 is in an active position where it is inserted in the two notches 38, 48 (or 38 ′, 48 ′), as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the rotary base 4 and the body 3 are united in rotation.
- the locking finger 8 can be easily operated between the active position and an inactive position, where it is offset radially towards the outside of the device 1 and is no longer inserted in the notch 48 (or 48 ′) of the base rotating 4.
- the locking finger 8 which is received only in the notch 38 (or 38 ′) of the body 3, allows relative rotation between the rotating base 4 and the body 3.
- the connection between the rotating base 4 and the body 3, provided by the locking finger, is an embedding type connection, which ensures an effective transfer of forces.
- the active position of the locking finger 8 makes it possible to block the footrest 14 relative to the body 3 of the device. Any discomfort vis-à-vis a third person directing the wheelchair 100 or vis-à-vis a user seated in the wheelchair 100, who can put his foot on the pallet 16 of the footrest 14 without risk uncontrolled movement of it.
- the locking finger 8 is imperatively placed in the inactive position, since it is then desirable to leave the footrest 14 movable in rotation about the axis of rotation Zi, so that a user of the wheelchair 100 can impart to the footrest 14 a rotational movement which causes a rotation of the corresponding steering wheel 13.
- the device 1 comprises a torsion spring 9 which connects the rotary base 4 to the body 3 so as to elastically oppose a rotational movement of the rotary base 4 with respect to to the body 3 from a rest position corresponding to a straight position of the steering wheel 13.
- the torsion spring 9 brings stiffness to the rotational movement of the footrest 14.
- the torsion spring 9 is also of interest when a third person moves the wheelchair 100 empty (without a person seated in the wheelchair) and the locking finger 8 is in the inactive position, preventing the footrest 14 from pivoting freely and striking furniture or the like.
- the indexer 6 can be rotated in such a way that the notch 67 is located opposite the notch 47 or the notch 47 'of the rotary base 4. This makes it possible to adjust the steering wheel 13 in the straight position independently of the position of the notch 67 relative to the notch 47 or 47 '.
- the device 1 also comprises a system for limiting the rotational travel of the rotary base 4 relative to the body 3 of the device, clearly visible in FIG. 8, which comprises a peripheral groove 41 of the rotary base 4, of one hand, and one screw 21 secured to the body 3 and received in the peripheral groove 41, on the other hand.
- the peripheral groove 41 has an angular extension of the order of 90 ° around the axis of rotation Z2.
- the stroke limitation system makes it possible to guarantee the safety of the user by limiting the rotational stroke of the footrest 14.
- the peripheral groove 41 of the stroke limitation system can have, according to a radial direction corresponding to the depth direction of the groove 41, at least two portions having distinct angular extensions, so that the limitation of the rotational travel of the rotary base 4 relative to the body 3 can be adjusted using a screw 21 of length adapted to cooperate with one or the other portion of the groove 4L
- the device 1 comprises a ball bearing 17 positioned in the rotating base 4 and a ball bearing 19 positioned in the body 3 so as to keep the shaft 5 radially in position and to ensure its guiding in rotation, respectively with respect to the rotating base 4 (when the connecting finger 7 is in the inactive position) and to the body 3, while supporting the radial forces applied to the shaft 5.
- the bearing 19 positioned in the body 3 is configured to also support the axial forces exerted on the shaft 5.
- the bearings 17 and 19 allow to have a very low resistance to pivoting while supporting significant forces.
- An additional ball bearing 18, independent of the shaft 5, is provided in the body 3 to support the rotary base 4 axially and radially without preventing its rotation.
- a plain bearing 20 is also interposed between the body 3 and the rotary base 4 to ensure sliding guiding in rotation and to limit wear during the rotational movement. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the bearings 17, 18, 19 and the plain bearing 20 are distributed along the direction of the axis of rotation Z2 so as to limit the deflection of the device 1.
- FIGS. 9 and 10 show a variant of footrest 14 connected to the device 1.
- the footrest 14 comprises a bracket 15 for fixing the footrest 14 on the tube 2 of the device 1, and a pallet 16 for receiving the foot of a wheelchair user 100.
- the pallet 16 is provided with a foot support 16 ′, which comprises a rotary plate 16 ′ which is rotatably mounted on the pallet 16 around an axis Xi6 ' transverse to the plane of the plate 16' a.
- the plate 16 'a is configured to pivot around the transverse axis Xi6 ' in the opposite direction to the rotation of the footrest 14 around the axis of rotation Zi.
- the plate 16'a is provided with a peripheral border 16'b, in particular disposed laterally with respect to the reception area of the user's foot on the plate 16'a.
- the edge 16'b forms means for retaining the foot of the user which help him to impart a rotational movement to the footrest 14 when controlling a change of direction of the wheelchair 100.
- Such an arrangement allows '' avoid eversion or inversions of the ankle / knee assembly of the user and limit the risks of ligament or tendon damage.
- the pallet 16 of the footrest may include a foot support 16 'which is a plate 16'a fixed relative to the pallet 16, the foot support 16' can then be oriented on the pallet 16 so that the user's foot received between the support edges 16'b is parallel, or in abduction, or in adduction, relative to the position of the footrest 14 corresponding to the straight position of the steering wheel 13.
- the foot support 16 ' can in particular be oriented on the pallet 16 so that the user's foot received between the support edges 16'b is slightly abducted with respect to the position of the footrest corresponding to the straight position of the steering wheel 13, which advantageously increases the possible travel in the adduction movement.
- An example of a method for installing the device 1 described above on a manual propelled wheelchair, initially comprising two fixed footrests comprises the following steps:
- the original fork body is removed from a steering wheel 13 of the wheelchair relative to the upright 11 of the chassis of the wheelchair which supports it;
- the footrest 14 fitted to the wheelchair is removed from the side of the steering wheel 13 considered relative to the chassis of the wheelchair which supports it; the torsion spring 9 is placed in the body 3 of the device; the smooth bearing 20 is placed in the body 3 of the device;
- the rotary base 4 is placed in the body 3 so that the upper strand of the torsion spring 9 is inserted in a housing located on the rotary base 4, so that the peripheral groove 41 and the screw 21 of the system stroke limitation are centered with respect to each other;
- the shaft 5 is inserted into the body 3 and the rotating base 4;
- the fork 12 of the steering wheel 13 is connected to the shaft 5 using the nut 24 to form a rotary assembly relative to the body 3 around the axis of rotation Z2 aligned with the longitudinal axis X12 of the fork 12;
- the body 3 is fixed on the upright 11 of the chassis of the wheelchair so that, when the body 3 is fixed on the upright 11, the tube 2 is offset laterally towards the outside of the chair relative to the upright 11;
- the shaft 5 is rotated so as to place the steering wheel 13 in an upright position;
- the indexer 6 with conical coupling is placed on the shaft 5 so that the notch 67 for receiving the connecting finger 7 is located opposite the appropriate notch 47 or 47 ′ of the rotary base 4, and the indexer 6 is fixed relative to the shaft 5 using the screw 29;
- the tube 2 is placed on the rotating base 4;
- the footrest 14 is connected to the tube 2 to form a rotary assembly relative to the body 3 around the axis of rotation Z2;
- the device 101 for controlling the direction of this second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that it only comprises a finger link 107, and no locking finger, and in that the body 103 is associated with a fixing plate 130 which is attached to the body 103.
- the plate 130 can be of different shapes and designs, making it possible to adapt a body 103 "Standard" so that it can be fixed on any type of wheelchair model, in particular on wheelchair models which are not very present on the market.
- the device 101 has the other advantages of the device 1 of the first embodiment, namely that it allows a user to control the direction of the wheelchair by acting on the footrest linked to the tube 102 of the device, and to easily and quickly switch between an autonomous mode and an assisted mode of use of the wheelchair, by operating a connecting finger 107 between an active position , in which it secures in rotation the rotary base 104 and the indexer 106, and an inactive position, in which it allows a relative rotation between the rotary base 104 and the indexer 106.
- the fork 112 of the steering wheel 113 is not linked in rotation with the footrest, so that a third person can steer the wheelchair.
- the transition between autonomous use and assisted use of the wheelchair is obtained by acting only on the connecting finger 107, without having to move the footrest which is installed once and for all on the tube 102 of the device 101, which is particularly simple and ergonomic.
- a device according to the invention mounted on a wheelchair is particularly simple, the device being light and visually discreet.
- the steering control device according to the invention does not increase, or not significantly, the weight and overall dimensions of a wheelchair.
- a steering control device according to the invention can be implemented on any type of wheelchair, allowing reuse of the original parts of the wheelchair.
- a direction control device can comprise two indexing fingers, namely a connecting finger and a locking finger, as in the first mode of realization, and have a "standard" body associated with a fixing plate as in the second embodiment; or a direction control device according to the invention can comprise only a connecting finger, without locking finger, as in the second embodiment, and have a one-piece body as in the first embodiment.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
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- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Handcart (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR1872373A FR3089409B1 (fr) | 2018-12-05 | 2018-12-05 | Dispositif de contrôle de direction pour fauteuil roulant |
PCT/FR2019/052920 WO2020115433A1 (fr) | 2018-12-05 | 2019-12-04 | Dispositif de contrôle de direction pour fauteuil roulant |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3890676A1 true EP3890676A1 (fr) | 2021-10-13 |
Family
ID=66542341
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19839360.5A Pending EP3890676A1 (fr) | 2018-12-05 | 2019-12-04 | Dispositif de contrôle de direction pour fauteuil roulant |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3890676A1 (fr) |
FR (1) | FR3089409B1 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO2020115433A1 (fr) |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2563170A1 (fr) * | 1984-04-20 | 1985-10-25 | Dufresne Bernard | Dispositif auxiliaire pour la propulsion et la direction des fauteuils roulants d'invalides |
EP1627619A3 (fr) * | 2004-08-16 | 2006-05-17 | Samuel Lesley | Moyen de direction et système de fixation rapide pour un fauteuil roulant |
FR2946528B1 (fr) | 2009-06-11 | 2012-07-27 | Assist Publ Hopitaux De Paris | Fauteuil roulant a controle de direction ameliore pour personnes hemiplegiques. |
-
2018
- 2018-12-05 FR FR1872373A patent/FR3089409B1/fr active Active
-
2019
- 2019-12-04 EP EP19839360.5A patent/EP3890676A1/fr active Pending
- 2019-12-04 WO PCT/FR2019/052920 patent/WO2020115433A1/fr unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2020115433A1 (fr) | 2020-06-11 |
FR3089409B1 (fr) | 2021-12-03 |
FR3089409A1 (fr) | 2020-06-12 |
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