JP2001231827A - Walker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve stability for safe walking. SOLUTION: A balance weight 11 serving also as a bumper is attached to a lower crossbar part 3c integrally interconnecting a pair of front post parts 3a near the lower end of a front frame 3 where front wheels 2 are mounted. The balance weight 11 is in the form of a tank blow-molded out of a synthetic resin, and has water inlets 12 in the top, through which some 2.5 liters of water is poured in an a weight and which is hermetically plugged with caps 13. The water poured into the balance weight 11 may be replace with another liquid, granular matter, powdery matter, or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a walking assist device with enhanced stability so as to be able to walk safely for people with walking disorders and for elderly people.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, people with walking disorders and elderly people
When going out without the care of a caregiver, a walking aid (hereinafter, a walking car) is often used. Although not shown, this walking vehicle may be configured by a pipe frame as an example, having four wheels, and having a grip for a user to grasp, push and walk. Since such a walking vehicle is handled by a person having a walking disorder or an elderly person, it is important that the vehicle be easily handled and it is desirable that the vehicle be lightweight.

[0003]

However, on the other hand,
Conversely, being lightweight makes it difficult to handle and may lack stability. For example, depending on the physical condition of the user, the walking speed of the walking vehicle cannot keep up, and only the walking vehicle runs first and may fall. Also, when walking on hills or uneven terrain with steps, the walking vehicle does not have a low center of gravity, so it does not remain at the user's will. Easy to repeat. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above background, and provides a walking assist device having enhanced stability so as to be able to walk safely, for walking assistance of a person having a walking disorder and for elderly people. The purpose is to do.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a walking assist device having at least a main body frame and a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the main body frame. The weight imparting means was detachably attached to the main body frame. Further, according to the present invention, in a walking assist device having at least a main body frame and a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the main body frame, a seat plate is provided, and weight applying means is provided on a back side of the seat plate. Further, according to the present invention, in a walking assist device having at least a main body frame and a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the main body frame, the main body frame in the vicinity of the rear wheel is provided with a weight applying means also serving as a safety cover.
Further, the present invention provides a walking aid having at least a main body frame and a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the main body frame,
A weight applying means also serving as a bumper is provided on the main body frame near the front wheel. The present invention also provides a walking assist device having at least a main body frame, a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the main body frame, wherein the back frame side of the seat plate, the main body frame near the rear wheel, and the main body frame near the rear wheel are respectively weighted. The attachment means is selectively mounted to correspond to the user and the use situation. In the above-described configuration, the weight imparting unit includes:
A configuration including a tank for injecting a fluid can be provided.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a walking aid according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a four-wheeled walking vehicle 1 which is a walking aid. This four-wheeled walking vehicle 1 (hereinafter referred to as a walking vehicle 1) is formed entirely of a pipe frame, and has front wheels 2, 2
And a rear frame 5 to which rear wheels 4 and 4 are mounted. The front frame 3 and the rear frame 5 cross each other at a position closer to the upper side than the middle and are fixed to each other.

The front frame 3 has a bent portion near the lower end where the front wheels 2, 2 are mounted, and a pair of front struts 3a, 3a directed obliquely upward from the vicinity of the lower end toward the upper end.
And a horizontal support 3b in the middle. A grip 6 is attached to the upper ends of the front support portions 3a.
Although not shown in detail, the grip 6 is provided with an operation lever 7 for a brake operation.

The rear frame 5 is formed in a substantially inverted U-shape. A brake unit 8 is arranged on the rear wheels 4, 4 mounted on the lower end side. On the other hand, the upper side crosses with the front frame 3 and is directed obliquely forward, and is provided with a back pad 9 so as to function as a backrest along the upper side. Further, a seat plate 10 is disposed in a space below the intersection of the front frame 3 and the rear frame 5.

In the vicinity of the lower end of the front frame 3 where the front wheels 2, 2 are mounted, a balance weight 11, which also serves as a bumper, is provided with a lower horizontal column 3c integrally connecting the pair of front columns 3a, 3a. (See FIG. 2). In this case, the balance weight 11 is a tank made of a synthetic resin blow-molded body. In the drawing, a water injection port 12 is provided on the upper surface, and about 2.5 liters of water is injected therein. And the cap 13 is sealed tightly. The water injected into the balance weight 11 can be replaced with another liquid, granular material, powder, or the like. Further, in order to detachably hold the balance weight 11, an engagement groove 14 for engaging with the lower lateral support 3c is provided on the lower surface, and the balance weight 11 is fixed from the back side by screws 15, 15. I have.

On the other hand, the seat plate 10 has a tank portion 10a on the back surface side of the seat surface, and is made of a synthetic resin blow molded body. That is, the seat plate 10
About 4-5 liters of water in the tank portion 10a of
Water is injected from the water inlet 16 to add weight. In this case, in addition to water, other liquids, granular materials, powders, or the like can be applied to the tank portion 10a of the seat plate 10.

In the walking vehicle 1 configured as described above, the user can hold the grip 6 and push in so as to apply the weight of the upper body, move the walking vehicle 1 and walk with the walking vehicle 1 as a support. it can. Since the walking vehicle 1 is substantially composed of the front frame 3 and the rear frame 5, it is inherently light and can easily be moved by rotating the front wheels 2, 2 and the rear wheels 4, 4. Can be. Here, for example, the balance weight 11 is mounted on the lower horizontal support 3c near the lower end where the front wheels 2 and 2 of the front frame 3 are mounted. In this case, about 2.5 liters of water is injected into the balance weight 11 from the water injection port 12 and sealed with the cap 13. The weight of the balance weight 11 can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of water to be injected, and the balance weight 11 can be used as a weight suitable for a user and a use situation. Then, the engaging groove 14 on the lower surface of the balance weight 11 is engaged with the lower lateral support 3c, and is fixed from the back side surface by screws 15,15. By giving weight to the position near the front wheels 2 and 2 of the walking vehicle 1 in this way, the center of gravity of the walking vehicle 1 can be lowered, and the stability when walking on a slightly uneven or sloping ground is improved. be able to. The balance weight 11 is
Since it is located near the front wheels 2 and 2 of the front frame 3 and is made of a synthetic resin blow molded body, it can provide a function as a bumper, and can reduce the impact even if it hits a wall or an obstacle. Therefore, safety can be improved.

As means for giving weight to the walking vehicle 1, a tank portion 10a on the back side of the seat surface of the seat plate 10
Water is injected from the water inlet 16. Also in this case, by adjusting the amount of water to be injected, it can be utilized as a weight suitable for a user and a use situation. In this case, the center of gravity of the walking vehicle 1 is near the position of the seat plate 10 where the front frame 3 and the rear frame 5 intersect. If the tank portion 10a of the seat plate 10 is used in combination with the balance weight 11 as a weight, the walking vehicle 1 can be given an appropriate weight in a well-balanced manner, and the walking stability can be further increased.

The walking aid according to the present invention can also be configured as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the walking vehicle 20, in the rear frame 22 on which the rear wheels 21 and 21 are mounted, a balancer 23 as a load means is attached along the rear frame 22 directly above the rear wheels 21 and 21. Has been established. In this case, the balancer 23 is formed of an elongate tank that covers from the rear wheel 21, 21 attachment point to the middle point of the rear frame 22 from the rear side of the rear frame 22.
That is, the balancer 23 has a notch 23a at the lower side in the figure corresponding to the mounting position of the rear wheels 21 and 21 of the rear frame 22, and a link extending from the lower side to the upper side along the longitudinal direction. A mating groove 23b is formed, and the balancer 23 is engaged with the rear frame 22 via the engaging groove 23b, and is fixed by a fixing screw 24. The balancer 23 is made of, for example, a blow-molded body made of a synthetic resin, has a water injection port 25 provided on the upper side, and is sealed with a cap 26 after water injection (see FIG. 6). Also in this case, by adjusting the amount of water, the weight can be utilized as a weight according to the use situation. In addition to the water injected from the water inlet 25, other liquids, granular materials, powders, and the like can be applied. Further, the balancer 23 includes the rear wheel 2
The protective cover is also provided by being provided directly above the frame 21 and 21 above the frame.

When the balancer 23 as described above is mounted on the walking vehicle 20, the center of gravity is located near the position just above the rear wheels 21 and 21 and above the rear frame 22, so that the walking stability is particularly high when walking on a slope. Can be brought.
Further, the balancer 23 can prevent the user's feet, the hem of the pants, and the like from touching the rear wheels 21 and 21 and causing an unexpected injury. Of course, also in this walking vehicle 20, the balance weight 11 can be mounted on the front wheel side as in the above-described walking vehicle 1, or the tank portion 10a of the seat plate 10 can be used as a weight.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, a walking aid originally designed to be light in weight can be effectively weighted to lower the center of gravity, and walking can be performed without sacrificing handling. Stability can be improved, and there is no such thing as a walking aid alone leading. In addition, it is possible to provide a traveling vehicle that is more excellent in usability according to the way of use and the user, by attaching various balance weights.

[0015]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a walking aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting structure of a balance weight mounted on a front wheel side of the walking assist device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the walking assist device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from a seat surface side of a seat plate.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the walking assist device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back side of a seat plate.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing another example of the walking assist device according to the present invention.

6 is a perspective view of an upper side of a balancer provided in the walking assist device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a use state of the walking aid shown in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Walking vehicle 2 Front wheel 3 Front frame 3a Front support 3b Horizontal support 3c Lower horizontal support 4 Rear wheel 5 Rear frame 6 Grip 7 Operation lever 8 Brake unit 9 Back pad 10 Seat plate 10a Tank portion 11 Balance weight 12 Water inlet 13 Cap 14 Engagement groove 15 Screw 16 Water intake 20 Walker 21 Rear wheel 22 Rear frame 23 Balancer 23a Notch 23b Engagement groove 24 Fixing screw 25 Water inlet 26 Cap

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A walking assist device having at least a main body frame and a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the main body frame, wherein a weight applying means is detachably mounted on the front wheel or the main body frame near the rear wheel. And walking aids. 2. A walking assist device having at least a main body frame and a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the main body frame, wherein a seat plate is provided, and weight applying means is provided on a back side of the seat plate. Walking aid. 3. A walking assist device having at least a main body frame and a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the main body frame, wherein a weight applying means serving also as a safety cover is provided on the main body frame near the rear wheel. And walking aids. 4. A walking assist device having at least a main body frame and front wheels and rear wheels mounted on the main body frame, wherein a weight applying means serving also as a bumper is provided on the main body frame near the front wheel. Walking aid. 5. A walking assist device having at least a main body frame, a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the main body frame, wherein the back frame side of the seat plate, the main body frame near the rear wheel, and the main body frame near the rear wheel are respectively weighted. A walking assist device characterized in that it is provided with a means for selectively providing a support means so as to correspond to a user and a use situation. 6. The walking aid according to claim 1, wherein the weight applying means includes a tank for injecting a fluid.