JP2000325402A - Portable wheel chair - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable wheel chair which can be folded to a small size by a simple operation and in which a complicated operation is not required when it turns to an unfolded state, by providing a folding mechanism in which a first supporting bar consisting of a first pivot part and a first connection part and a second supporting bar consisting of a second pivot part and a second connection part are connected in an X-shaped manner by a rotating axis. SOLUTION: In order to fold a portable wheel chair 1, at first, locking of a front frame 21 to a rear frame 22 is released, next, a backrest part 10 is inclined to the side of a seating part 20. by doing so, rotation of respective supporting bars 31 and 32 of an expanding and folding part 30 of the seating part 20, moving of a slide pipe and an approach of a footrest part 40 to the seating part 20 which accompanies this occur interlockingly. Thereby, the backrest part 10, the seating part 20 and the footrest part 40 are respectively folded so as to overlap in parallel. Moreover, in order to unfold the chair 1, at first, locking of the slide pipe and a guiding member 46 is released, and after that the backrest part 10 is moved upward so as to be away from the seating part 20. By doing so, reverse operations of the seating part 20, the folding part 30 and footrest part 40 occur interlockingly, and the chair 1 turns to an unfolded state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable wheelchair. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable wheelchair that can be folded into a small size with a simple operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a portable wheelchair having various folding mechanisms has been known. For example, JP-A-9
In the portable wheelchair described in -573, a folding mechanism including a connection bar, a support bar, and the like is provided on a support leg,
By tilting the back frame (back portion) forward, the folding mechanism is operated, and the back frame, the seat frame, and the like are overlapped and folded. In addition, a portable wheelchair that can be reduced in size by folding wheels, supporting feet, etc. for convenient carrying has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-308650).
No. reference. ).

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional portable wheelchair, complicated operations such as release of a plurality of lock mechanisms, individual folding of a backrest portion, support legs, and the like must be performed when the portable wheelchair is folded into a small size. In addition, when returning from the folded state to the expanded state, a complicated operation was similarly required. Such a complicated operation has placed an excessive burden on elderly people, wheelchair users, and caregivers who use wheelchairs. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a portable wheelchair that can be folded into a small size with a simple operation and does not require a complicated operation when returning from a folded state to an expanded state. Aim.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above-mentioned object, and has the following structure. A back portion and a seat portion pivotally attached to the back portion, the seat portion having a first length when a folding mechanism described later is folded, and a second length when the folding mechanism is extended. A footrest provided with a first wheel, a wheel provided with a second wheel, a first pivoted part pivotally connected to the seat, and a first coupling part coupled to the wheel. And a second support bar including a second pivot portion pivotally connected to the seat portion and a second coupling portion coupled to the footrest portion. A portable wheelchair comprising: a folding mechanism connected in an X shape by a shaft.

[0005] In the portable wheelchair of the present invention configured as described above, the length of the seat portion changes in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the folding mechanism. Conversely, changing the seat from the first length state to the second length state causes the folding mechanism to fold. Since the footrest and the wheel are connected to the side opposite to the side on which the seat of the folding mechanism is pivotally connected, the footrest and the wheel approach the seat by folding the folding mechanism. To move. As a result, the footrest and the wheel are folded in a state of being close to the seat. On the other hand, by returning the seat from the second length to the first length, the folding mechanism is extended, and at the same time, the footrest and the wheel are moved away from the seat, so that the wheelchair can be moved. Is converted to an expanded state. in this way,
In the portable wheelchair of the present invention, the expansion and contraction of the folding mechanism and the movement of the footrests and the wheels are linked together by a simple operation of changing the length of the seat, and the expanded state of the wheelchair can be changed to the folded state or The reverse is possible.

In another aspect of the present invention, the footrest and the wheel are fixed, and the second connecting portion of the second support bar of the folding mechanism is connected to a guide member provided on the footrest. It is slidably connected. In such a configuration, one support bar constituting the folding mechanism is connected to the wheel fixed to the footrest, and the other support bar is connected to the guide member of the footrest. Then, when the folding mechanism is folded, the connecting portion connected to the guide member of the other support bar slides according to the guide member, and changes the position at the footrest. This prevents the lateral length of the footrest from being changed when the connecting portion is moved in the lateral direction. As a result, it is possible to fold more compactly.

[0007] Preferably, a connecting bar is provided between the back and the seat. Such connecting bars serve to transmit the movement of the back to the seat. By providing a connection bar so that the seat can be changed from the first length to the second length in conjunction with the movement of tilting the back toward the seat,
The change in the length of the seat portion and the folding of the folding mechanism can be performed in conjunction with the tilting of the back portion.

Further, it is preferable to provide a first locking means for maintaining the length of the seat when the wheelchair is deployed. By providing such a locking means, the length of the seat during use of the wheelchair is maintained, that is, the wheelchair is prevented from being inadvertently changed from the deployed state to the folded state.

Further, it is preferable that a second lock means for maintaining the wheelchair in the folded state is provided. By providing such a locking means, careless conversion of the wheelchair from the folded state to the expanded state is prevented,
The portability of the wheelchair is improved.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable wheelchair 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable wheelchair 1 in an expanded state (used state), and FIG. 2 is a side view of the same. Hereinafter, each member of the portable wheelchair 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The portable wheelchair 1 generally includes a back portion 10, a seat portion 20, a folding portion 30, and a leg portion 40. The back portion 10 includes a back frame 11, a pair of armrests 16, and a cloth 15 stretched on the back frame. The back frame 11 is formed of a U-shaped pipe and a reinforcing pipe 13 made of an aluminum alloy. The material of the back frame 11 is not limited to this, but it is preferable to use a lightweight material in consideration of portability. Further, the material of the cloth 15 is not particularly limited. The handle portion 12 of the back frame 11 is bent slightly rearward so that an assistant can easily operate the portable wheelchair 1.

The armrest 16 has a structure in which a pipe 17 made of the same material as the back frame 11 is covered with a cover 18 made of foamed resin to prevent slipping.
Are rotatably fixed to pivots 14 provided on both sides of the.
The pivot frame 19 of the armrest 16 includes the back frame 11
A bar-shaped stopper 20 is provided so as to be parallel to the pivot 14 of the armrest, and the stopper 20 is stopped by the back frame 11, whereby the armrest 16 is maintained in a substantially horizontal position.

The seat 20 includes a pair of U-shaped pipes, a front frame 21 and a rear frame 22, and a front frame 2.
It comprises a connecting pipe 23 for slidably connecting the first frame 1 and the rear frame 22, and a cloth 24 stretched on the front frame. In the embodiment, the lock mechanism 25 is provided on the rear frame 23. The back frame 11 is pivotally attached to pivots 26 provided on the left and right sides of the rear frame.

The connecting pipe 23 is a pipe whose outer diameter is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the front frame 21, one end of which is fixed to the rear frame 22, and the other end of which is the front frame 2.
1 is slidably inserted. Such connecting pipe 23
Applies a vertical load applied to the seat portion 20 to the front frame 2.
1 and the rear frame 22, and also functions to change the distance between the front frame 21 and the rear frame 22 by sliding back and forth in the front frame 21.

In this embodiment, one end of the connecting pipe 23 is fixed to the rear frame 22 and the other end is slid in the front frame 21. On the contrary, one end is fixed to the front frame 21. Alternatively, a connecting pipe whose other end slides in the rear frame 22 may be used. If the front frame 21 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rear frame 22 is used, a part of the rear frame 22 is slidably inserted directly into the front frame 21 without using a separate connecting pipe. A unit can also be configured. Similarly, the inner diameter of the rear frame 22 may be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the front frame 21, and the front frame 21 may be slidably inserted into the rear frame 22 to form a connecting portion. Further, in the present embodiment, the connecting portion between the front frame 21 and the rear frame 22 is provided at the rear position of the seat portion 20 (in FIG. 2, the left direction is the front and the right direction is the rear). A connecting portion may be provided at a position in front of the seat 20. Note that a cylindrical bar having a similar outer diameter can be used instead of the connecting pipe 23.

The front frame 21 is temporarily fixed to the rear frame 22 by the lock mechanism 25 provided on the rear frame 22 when the wheelchair is deployed (the front frame 21 is located at the rearmost position). This prevents inadvertent conversion from the unfolded state to the folded state.

A connecting bar 60 is provided between the back 10 and the seat 20.
Is provided. The connecting bar 60 has one end pivotally connected to the back frame 11 and the other end pivotally connected to the front frame 21 of the seat 20 to connect the back 10 and the seat 20. The connecting bar 60 connects the back portion 10 to the seat portion 20 to support the back portion 10 and to apply a forward force generated when the back portion 10 is tilted to the seat portion 20 side.
And pushes the front frame 21 forward. As a result, when the back portion 10 is tilted toward the seat portion 20, the connection pipe 23 stored in the front frame 21 slides in the front frame 21, so that the seat portion 20 extends in the front-rear direction. Becomes Conversely, by raising the back portion 10 backward away from the seat portion 20, the connecting pipe 23 is stored in the front frame 21, and as a result, the seat portion 20 contracts in the front-rear direction.

The seat portion 20 is connected to a footrest portion 40 via a folding member 30 composed of a cross bar. The crossbar is such that the support bar 31 and the support bar 32
It is configured by being connected in a letter shape. One end of the support bar 31 is pivotally connected to the front frame 21 of the seat portion 20, and the other end is rotatably connected to the rotation shaft 45 of the rear wheel 42 of the foot rest 40.
On the other hand, one end of the support bar 32 is
3 and the other end is slidably connected to a guide member 46 provided in the footrest 40.

The footrest 40 includes a front wheel 41, a rear wheel 42, and a guide member 46. In the embodiment, a U-shaped frame 4 is used.
3 is mounted so as to cover a plate 44 of the same material as the frame. Subsequently, the configuration of the guide member 46 provided in the footrest portion 40 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a view of the leg rest 40 observed from below in FIG. The guide member 46 is generally constituted by a pair of groove-like frames 47 provided on the left and right frames 43 of the footrests, and a slide pipe 48 arranged perpendicular to the frame 47. A pair of left and right support bars 32 of the folding member 30 are connected to the slide pipe 48. The slide pipe 48 is provided with a lock mechanism.

The slide pipe 48 is provided with the above-mentioned folding member 3.
The inside of the frame 47 is slid in conjunction with the operation of folding and unfolding 0. In FIG. 3, the slide pipe 48 is in a position (deployed position) where the portable wheelchair 1 is unfolded. When the wheelchair is folded, the slide bar 48 slides along the frame 47 in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and when the portable wheelchair 1 is completely folded, the slide pipe 48 is located at the left end (folded position) of the frame 47 in the figure. (The position shown by the dotted line).

The lock mechanism provided in the slide pipe 48 includes a bar portion 49 housed in the pair of slide pipes 48, a spring mechanism (not shown) and a knob portion 50.
Consists of Both ends of the bar portion 49 are always urged outward by a spring mechanism. At the folded position of the slide pipe 48, both ends of the bar portion 49 of the lock mechanism are fitted into holes 51 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) provided in the frame 47 by this spring mechanism, and the slide pipe 48 is fixed at the folded position. You. Using the knob portion 50 of the lock mechanism, the bar portion 49 is slid so that both ends thereof are housed, and the locked state is released. In the embodiment, the pair of knob portions 50 are arranged near the center of the slide pipe 48 so that the user can operate both knob portions 50 at a time with one hand. The provision of the lock mechanism prevents the careless conversion from the folded state to the expanded state. The configuration and the position of the lock mechanism are not limited to those of the embodiment. For example, the configuration in which the slide pipe 48 is temporarily fixed to the attachment provided on the plate 44 of the foot 40 at the folding position. And so on.

Next, the operation of converting the portable wheelchair 1 from the expanded state to the folded state and vice versa will be described. 2, 4 and 5 show the unfolded state,
The portable wheelchair 1 is shown in the middle of conversion from the unfolded state to the folded state and in the folded state. Hereinafter, the operation of each member of the portable wheelchair 1 in each state will be described with reference to the drawings. In the unfolded state, the front frame 2 of the seat 20
1 is fixed to the rear frame 22 by a lock mechanism 25. The slide pipe 48 to which the support bar 32 of the folding member 30 is fixed is located at the rearmost position.

To fold the portable wheelchair 1, the front frame 21 is first unlocked from the rear frame 22. Subsequently, the back 10 is tilted toward the seat 20. At this time, the forward force generated by the connecting bar 60 is applied to the seat 2.
0 is transmitted to the front frame 21 so that the front frame 21 is pushed forward. This allows
The front frame 21 moves away from the rear frame 22, and the seat 20 extends in the front-rear direction. This seat 2
0, each support bar 31 of the folding member 30
Numerals 32 rotate in the directions of the arrows in the figure. The rotation of the support frame 32 causes the slide pipe 48 connected to the support frame 32 to slide the guide member 46 forward. At the same time, the connecting portion of the support frame 31 with the foot 40 rotates about the pivot 45. By these series of operations,
The foot 40 approaches the seat 20.

In the folded state of the portable wheelchair 1 shown in FIG. 5, the back 10 is completely turned down to the seat 20 side, and
0 and seat 20 are approximately parallel. The front frame 21 of the seat 20 is located at the forefront. That is, in this state, the length of the seat portion 20 in the front-rear direction is maximized. Further, the slide pipe 48 is located at the forefront of the guide member 46 and is fixed to the guide member 46 by the lock mechanism.

As described above, the simple operation of tilting the back portion 10 toward the seat portion 20 allows the extension of the seat portion 20, the rotation of the support bars 31, 32 of the folding member 30, the movement of the slide pipe 48, and the movement of the slide pipe 48. The accompanying approach of the foot portion 40 to the seat portion 20 occurs in conjunction therewith, whereby the back portion 10, the seat portion 20, and the foot portion 40 are folded so as to overlap each other in parallel.

On the other hand, in order to deploy from the folded state, first, the slide pipe 48 and the guide member 46 are unlocked. Thereafter, the back part 10 is raised so as to be separated from the seat part 20. As a result, an operation opposite to that in the case of the conversion from the expanded state to the folded state is caused in conjunction with the seat 20, the folding member 30, and the foot 30, and as a result, the state is restored to the expanded state.

The present invention is not limited to the description of the embodiment and the example of the above invention. Various modifications are included in the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims and within the scope of those skilled in the art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable wheelchair 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention in an unfolded state.

FIG. 2 is a side view in the expanded state.

FIG. 3 is a view of the footrest 40 similarly observed from below.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the portable wheelchair 1 during the conversion from the unfolded state to the folded state.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the portable wheelchair 1 in the folded state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable wheelchair 10 Back 16 Armrest 20 Foot 21 Front frame 22 Rear frame 23 Connecting pipe 30 Folding part 31 32 Support bar 40 Foot 46 Guide member 48 Slide pipe

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A back portion, and a seat portion pivotally attached to the back portion, the seat portion having a first length when a folding mechanism described later is folded, and a second length when the folding mechanism is extended. A seat portion having a length, a footrest portion having a first wheel, a wheel portion having a second wheel, a first pivot portion pivotally connected to the seat portion, and being connected to the wheel portion. A first support bar having a first connection portion, a second support portion having a second connection portion connected to the seat portion and a second connection portion connected to the footrest portion; A portable wheelchair, comprising: a bar and a folding mechanism connected in an X-shape by a rotation shaft. 2. The footrest portion and the wheel portion are fixed, and the second connecting portion of the second support bar is slidably connected to a guide member provided on the footrest portion. The portable wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The portable wheelchair according to claim 1, further comprising a connection bar between the back portion and the seat portion. 4. In the deployed state of the portable wheelchair,
4. The portable wheelchair according to claim 1, further comprising first locking means for maintaining the length of the seat. 5. The portable wheelchair according to claim 1, further comprising a second locking means for maintaining the portable wheelchair in a folded state when the portable wheelchair is folded. 6. The tilt of the back portion toward the seat portion changes the length of the seat portion. At the same time, the first and second support bars of the folding mechanism rotate, and the second 6. The portable device according to claim 2, wherein the second connecting portion of the support bar slides along the guide member so that the footrest portion is folded close to the seat portion. wheelchair. 7. A back portion, a seat portion to which the back portion is pivotally attached, the seat portion having a slide mechanism capable of changing the length of the seat portion, and one end provided on a shaft portion provided on the back portion. A connecting bar connecting the back portion and the seat portion by being rotatably attached to the shaft portion provided on the seat portion at the other end, and a front wheel, a rear wheel, and a guide member. A folding mechanism comprising a footrest provided, and a crossbar, wherein the crossbar has a first support bar pivotally connected to the seat at one end and a first support bar pivotally connected to the footrest at the other end. A folding mechanism in which a second support bar pivotally attached to the seat and having the other end connected to the guide member of the footrest is connected in an X-shape with a rotating shaft. . 8. The portable wheelchair according to claim 7, wherein the slide mechanism is provided on a rear end side of the seat. 9. In a deployed state of the portable wheelchair,
The portable wheelchair according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a first locking means for maintaining the length of the seat. 10. The portable wheelchair according to claim 7, wherein the guide member further includes a second locking means for maintaining the portable wheelchair in a folded state when the portable wheelchair is folded. 11. The tilt of the back portion toward the seat portion changes the length of the seat portion. At the same time, the first and second support bars of the folding mechanism rotate, and the second The portable wheelchair according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the other end of the support bar slides along the guide member, whereby the footrest portion is folded close to the seat portion.