JP2002306552A - Walker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a walker, with which turning of the direction is facilitated, and further, oblique sliding is facilitated. SOLUTION: A walker 1 is provided with a frame 3, a pair of left and right front wheels 5, a pair of left and right intermediate wheels 7 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 9. The front wheels 5 and the rear wheels 9 are free wheels. Namely, by rolling the front wheels 5 and the rear wheels 9, an advancing direction is variable in respect to the longitudinal direction of the walker 1. On the other hand, the intermediate wheels 7 are non-free wheels. Namely, the direction of advancing by rolling the intermediate wheels 7 is matched with the longitudinal direction of the walker 1 at all the time. The walker 1 is provided with a lifting means for lifting the intermediate wheels 7. While the intermediate wheels 7 are grounded, the walker 1 can be turned with these intermediate wheels 7 as supporting points so that a turning radius can be small. While the intermediate wheels 7 are floated, the walker 1 can be easily slid in the oblique direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a walker used for, for example, the physically handicapped, the elderly, the injured, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Persons who have difficulty walking on their own, such as physically handicapped persons,
In some cases, a walker is used during walking, during walking training performed as part of rehabilitation, or during a walking exercise performed for the purpose of maintaining health.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional walker 101. In this figure, the direction indicated by arrow F is
This is the forward direction of the walker 101. This walker 101
Frame 103, a pair of left and right front wheels 105, a pair of left and right middle wheels 107, a pair of left and right rear wheels 109, a back pipe 1
11, a saddle 113, an armrest 115, and the like. The front wheel 105 and the rear wheel 109 are free wheels (so-called casters). That is, the front wheel 105 and the rear wheel 1
09 travels by rolling,
It is variable in the front-back direction of 01. On the other hand, intermediate wheel 1
07 is a non-free wheel. That is, the direction in which the intermediate wheel 107 rolls to advance and the forward / backward direction of the walker 101 always match.

When a person using the walker 101 (such as a physically handicapped person) changes direction, the walker 101 turns with the left or right intermediate wheel 107 as a fulcrum. For example, in the case of a left turn, the left intermediate wheel 107 becomes a fulcrum of turning. The turning radius at this time is the left intermediate wheel 107
And a straight line connecting the left intermediate wheel 107 and the right rear wheel 109, whichever is longer. This turning radius is smaller than the turning radius of a walker (four-wheel walker) not having the intermediate wheel 107. Since the walker 101 can make a small turn, it is easy to change the direction even in a narrow passage or the like.

[0005]

As described above, the intermediate wheel 107, which is a non-free wheel, easily contributes to the turning of the walker 101. However, since the intermediate wheel 107 is a non-free wheel, it is difficult for the walker 101 to slide in an oblique direction (moving in an oblique direction with the walker 101 facing the front). Specifically, the intermediate wheel 1
The walker 101 cannot slide in an oblique direction unless 07 slips on the road surface. Generally, the user is weak and it is difficult for the user to slip the intermediate wheel 107. In addition, a load is applied to the intermediate wheel 107 and its axle due to the slip, which may cause a failure.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a walker that can easily change its direction and slide easily in an oblique direction.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a front wheel and a rear wheel which are free wheels, an intermediate wheel which is a non-free wheel, and an elevating means for elevating the intermediate wheel. And a walker with:

[0008] The intermediate wheel of this walker can be moved up and down. For example, when turning in a narrow passage, the intermediate wheel is lowered and comes into contact with the road surface. Thereby, the walker can change direction with a small turning radius around the intermediate wheel. On the other hand, for example, when working indoors, the intermediate wheel is raised and rises from the road surface. This allows the walker to easily slide in an oblique direction.

A preferred lifting means includes a biasing means for biasing the axle of the intermediate wheel upward and a pressing means for pressing the axle downward. According to this elevating means, the elevating and lowering of the intermediate wheel is easily and reliably achieved.

Preferably, the pressing means has a lock function. The pressing means presses the axle in the locked state and does not press the axle in the unlocked state. By this pressing means, an unintended rise of the intermediate wheel is prevented.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
The present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a walker 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front right. The walker 1 includes a frame 3, a pair of left and right front wheels 5, a pair of left and right intermediate wheels 7, a pair of left and right rear wheels 9, a back pipe 11, a seat 13, a pair of left and right armrests 15, and a pair of left and right grips 1.
7, a pair of left and right footrests 19 and a brake 21 are provided. The direction indicated by arrow F in FIG.
This is the forward direction of the walker 1.

The front wheel 5 and the rear wheel 9 are free wheels (so-called casters). That is, the direction in which the front wheel 5 and the rear wheel 9 travel by rolling is variable with respect to the front-rear direction of the walker 1. On the other hand, the intermediate wheel 7 is a non-free wheel. That is, the direction in which the intermediate wheel 7 advances by rolling is always the same as the front-back direction of the walker 1.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a part of the walker 1 of FIG. In this figure, the axle 23 of the intermediate wheel 7, the lifting bar 25, the helical spring 27, the cylindrical body 29, the frame 3, the fixed plate 31, the support bar 33, and the movable plate 3
5, the arm 37, the contact bar 39 and the pedal 41 are shown. The fixed plate 31, the support bar 33, the movable plate 35, the arm 37, the contact bar 39, and the pedal 41
It constitutes pressing means. In addition, the helical spring 27
It constitutes urging means. Further, the pressing means and the urging means constitute elevating means.

The axle 23 is fixed to a lifting bar 25. The lifting bar 25 extends through the cylindrical body 29. The outer diameter of the elevating bar 25 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 29, so that the elevating bar 25 is slidable with respect to the cylindrical body 29. For example, a square pipe is used for the cylinder 29, and the cylinder 29 is attached to the frame 3 by means such as welding.
It is fixed to. The helical spring 27 is connected to the lifting bar 25.
And the cylindrical body 29.

The fixing plate 31 is fixed to the frame 3 by means such as bolts 43 or the like. Fixing plate 3
The first support pin 33 is rotatably supported by the first shaft pin 45. The upper end of the support bar 33 is joined to the pedal 41, and the support bar 33 is substantially upright from the pedal 41. An arm 37 is rotatably supported on the fixed plate 31 by a second shaft pin 47. The contact bar 39 is fixed to the tip of the arm 37 by a nut 49. The movable plate 35 is bridged between the support bar 33 and the arm 37. One end of the movable plate 35 is supported by a support bar 3 by a third shaft pin 51.
3 is rotatably supported at the other end, and the other end is a fourth shaft pin 53.
The arm 37 is rotatably supported by the arm 37.

In FIG. 2, the support bar 33, the arm 37 and the pedal 41 are obliquely inclined. The intermediate wheel 7 is floating from the road surface G. Further, almost no load is applied to the helical spring 27, and therefore the helical spring 27
Is in a contracted state.

FIG. 3 is also an enlarged view showing a part of the walker 1 of FIG. In this figure, the support bar 33 extends substantially vertically, and the arm 37 and the pedal 41 extend substantially horizontally. The intermediate wheel 7 is in contact with the road surface G. Further, the helical spring 27 is extended. In this state, the helical spring 27 urges the axle 23 upward via the lifting bar 25. In addition, helical spring 2
Instead of 7, an elastic body such as rubber, a gas spring, a leaf spring or the like may be used as the urging means.

The transition from the state shown in FIG. 2 to the state shown in FIG. 3 is achieved by depressing the right end of the pedal 41 with a foot. When the right end of the pedal 41 is stepped on with a foot, the support bar 33 and the pedal 41 rotate around the first shaft pin 45 in a direction indicated by an arrow R1 in FIG.
By this rotation, the movable plate 35 pushes the arm 37 downward, and the arm 37 rotates about the second shaft pin 47 as a fulcrum. Then, the contact bar 39 pushes the upper end of the lifting bar 25 downward, and the lifting bar 25 slides downward. That is, the axle 23 is pressed downward via the lifting bar 25. Thus, the intermediate wheel 7 descends and comes into contact with the road surface G.
Even if the right end of the pedal 41 is pushed by a hand or a tool, the intermediate wheel 7 similarly contacts the road surface G. Further, the left end of the pedal 41 may be raised.

In this pressing means, when the intermediate wheel 7 is in contact with the ground, the fourth shaft pin 53 is at the dead point (the first shaft pin 45,
The positional relationship between the first shaft pin 45, the fourth shaft pin 53, and the third shaft pin 51 is set such that the fourth shaft pin 53 and the third shaft pin 51 slightly pass through (a state in which the fourth shaft pin 53 and the third shaft pin 51 are linearly arranged). . This prevents the support bar 33 from rotating in the reverse direction (rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG. 3). That is, the pressing means is locked. The locking prevents unintentional lifting of the intermediate wheel 7. Such a mechanism is called a toggle mechanism.

The transition from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG. 2 is achieved by depressing the left end of the pedal 41 with a foot. When the left end of the pedal 41 is depressed with a foot, the lock is released, and the support bar 33 and the pedal 41 rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow R2 in FIG. By this rotation, the movable plate 35 raises the arm 37 upward, and the arm 37 rotates about the second shaft pin 47 as a fulcrum. Then, the contact bar 39 rises,
The pressing on the axle 23 via the lifting bar 25 is released.
As described above, since the axle 23 is urged upward by the helix spring 27, the axle 23 slides upward together with the lifting bar 25. Thus, the intermediate wheel 7 rises,
Floating from the road surface G.

A wire may be connected to the support bar 33, and an operating lever may be connected to the wire to form a pressing means. In this case, the axle 23 is moved up and down by operating the operation lever. The elevating means may be constituted by a combination of a plurality of gears (for example, a combination of a rack gear and a pinion gear), a cam and the like. Further, the elevating means may be configured so that the left and right intermediate wheels 7 can be raised and lowered simultaneously, or the elevating means may be configured so that the left and right intermediate wheels 7 can be individually raised and lowered.

The walker 1 shown in FIG. 1 can turn around the intermediate wheel 7 when the intermediate wheel 7 is in contact with the ground. For example, in the case of a left turn, the left intermediate wheel 7 becomes a fulcrum of turning. The turning radius at this time substantially coincides with the longer one of the distance between the straight line connecting the left intermediate wheel 7 and the right front wheel 5 and the straight line connecting the left intermediate wheel 7 and the right rear wheel 9. . This turning radius is smaller than the turning radius of the walker 1 with the intermediate wheel 7 raised (the walker 1 with four wheels in contact with the ground). That is, the walker 1 can make a small turn. Therefore, for example, it is easy to change the direction in a narrow passage.

When the walker 1 moves forward with the intermediate wheels 7 in contact with the ground, the front portion of the walker 1 may swing right and left around the intermediate wheels 7. However, since the distance between the front wheel 5 and the intermediate wheel 7 is short, the swing width is relatively small. Similarly, the rear portion of the walker 1 may swing right and left around the middle wheel 7, but the swing width is relatively small because the distance between the rear wheel 9 and the middle wheel 7 is short.

As described above, the walker 1 having a small turning radius and a small swing width is easy for the user to use. In particular, this walker 1 is easy to handle for a user even in a narrow passage such as a corridor of a general home.

When the intermediate wheel 7 is floating, all the four wheels (two front wheels 5 and two rear wheels 9) that are in contact with the ground are free wheels. Therefore, no matter which direction the walker 1 slides, all the wheels 5 and 9 can roll in the moving direction. That is, the walker 1 can easily slide in an oblique direction. This state is suitable, for example, for an indoor operation toward a desk.

As shown in FIG. 1, since the back pipe 11 is located on the back side of the user, the back pipe 11 prevents the user from falling backward. The back pipe 11 is also used when the assistant pushes the walker 1.

A column 55 extends downward from the armrest 15, and the column 55 is fixed to the frame 3 by bolts 57. The fixing position of the column 55 to the frame 3 can be changed, and the height of the armrest 15 and the gripper 17 can be adjusted by this change. The height of the left armrest 15 and the gripper 17 and the height of the right armrest 15 and the gripper 17 can be adjusted separately. Therefore, for example, it is convenient for a user who has difficulty in raising one arm or a user whose spine is bent left or right.

The pair of left and right grips 17 are attached to the armrest 15 so as to be rotatable with respect to the armrest 15. The rotation of the grip 17 with respect to the armrest 15
It is possible in a range from a state in which 7 is substantially suspended to a state in which it is substantially horizontal. FIG. 1 shows a state where the gripper 17 for the right hand is substantially horizontal and the gripper 17 for the left hand is substantially hung.

The pair of left and right footrests 19 are attached to the frame 3 so as to be rotatable with respect to the frame 3. The rotation of the footrest 19 with respect to the frame 3 is possible in a range from a state in which the footrest 19 stands substantially up to a state in which the footrest 19 becomes substantially horizontal. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the footrest 19 for the right foot is substantially upright, and the footrest 19 for the left foot is substantially horizontal.

When the walker 1 is used by a user,
First, the user enters the walker 1. At this time, both grippers 17 are hung so as not to disturb the user, and both footrests 19 are raised. Next, the gripper 17
Is substantially horizontal. The user places the elbow and the arm on the armrest 15 and grips the gripping body 17 by hand. A part of the weight of the user is supported by the armrest 15 and the grip 17. Thereby, the user can walk with a small load.

The user may sit on the seat 13 and walk with part of the weight on the seat 13. This further reduces the load on the user. In addition, a user who is tired of walking can sit on the seat 13 and take a break. Further, even if the user is likely to fall suddenly while walking, sitting on the seat 13 prevents the user from falling. Furthermore, the caregiver can push the back pipe 11 while the user is sitting on the seat 13 to move the user. In this case, both footrests 19
Is leveled, and the user places his / her foot on this footrest 19. The seat 13 is preferably configured so that the height can be adjusted according to the user's physique.

Whether the user walks or the caregiver presses the walker 1, the use of the walker 1 according to the situation is achieved by raising and lowering the intermediate wheels 7. You. That is, when small turn is important, the intermediate wheel 7
The lifting / lowering means is operated so as to touch the ground, and when importance is given to sliding in an oblique direction, the lifting / lowering means is operated so that the intermediate wheel 7 floats.

When the user is to wash his / her hands and face in a washroom, for example, the user enters the walker 1 and walks to the washroom. When the walker 1 reaches the lavatory, the user holds the holding body 17 until it falls down.
Turning the. Thereby, there is no obstacle in front of the user. That is, the front of the user is opened. The user can wash his or her hands and face almost without getting out of the walker 1. Since the seat 13 and the back pipe 11 are present behind the user, and the armrests 15 are present on the left and right sides, the safety of the user is further improved, and at the same time, the user is given a sense of security. The same convenience is obtained when the user uses the toilet, enters the bathroom, approaches the bed, lays down on this bed, approaches the desk, and works. By applying the brake 21, the safety of the user is further improved.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a part of a walker according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the axle 23 of the intermediate wheel 7, the lifting bar 61, the cylindrical body 63, the frame 3, the first joint 65, the second joint 67, the brake plate 69, the first wire 71, the second wire 73, the catcher 75, The hanging bar 77 hanging from the lifting bar 61 and the hanging bar 7
A horizontal bar 79 extending horizontally from the lower end of 7 is shown. The brake plate 69 is biased in a direction that rotates counterclockwise about the fulcrum 81. Other members of the walker are substantially the same as those of the walker 1 shown in FIG.

When the first wire 71 is pulled by operating the operation lever (not shown) from the state shown in FIG. 4, the inner angle between the first node 65 and the second node 67 is widened, and the lifting bar 61 and the axle 23 descends, and the intermediate wheel 7 is installed on the road surface G. At the same time, the brake plate 69 rotates clockwise, and the vicinity of the lower end abuts on the intermediate wheel 7. Thereby, the brake is applied to the walker. When the operating lever has a lock mechanism (for example, a toggle mechanism), the brake plate 69 can be kept in contact with the intermediate wheel 7, so that the brake plate 69 also functions as a parking brake.

When the first wire 71 is pulled, the axle 23
The horizontal bar 79 also descends with the descent of the catcher 7
Accepted by 5. Since the catcher 75 has the automatic lock mechanism, even if the first wire 71 is opened, the axle 23 is kept pulled down via the horizontal bar 79 and the hanging bar 77. That is, the intermediate wheel 7 remains grounded.

When the second wire 73 is pulled, the lock of the catcher 75 is released. As described above, since the brake plate 69 is urged in the direction of rotating counterclockwise, the unlocking of the catcher 75 causes the first section 65 to rotate.
The inner angle between the first and second nodes 67 is reduced, and the axle 23 is raised.
Thus, the intermediate wheel 7 rises from the road surface G. Even with this walker, it is possible to use the intermediate wheel 7 in a grounded state and a lifted state.

Various changes can be made to the walker 1 without impairing the spirit of the present invention. For example, only one rear wheel 9 is provided, and the rear wheel 9 is located at the center of the left and right width.
It may be a walker having a wheel structure. Further, for example, the intermediate wheel 7 may be configured to be detachable from the frame 3.

[0040]

As described above, the walker of the present invention can easily change its direction and can easily slide in an oblique direction. This walker is easy to use for users and caregivers. This walker can contribute to the improvement of welfare.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front right showing a walker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a part of the walker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a part of the walker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a part of a walker according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional walker.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Walker 3 ... Frame 5 ... Front wheel 7 ... Middle wheel 9 ... Rear wheel 11 ... Back pipe 13 ... Seat seat 15 ... Armrest 17 ... Gripping body 19: Footrest 21: Brake 23: Axle 25, 61: Elevating bar 27: Spring spring 29, 63 ... Cylindrical body 31: Fixed plate 33 ... Support bar 35 ... Movable plate 37 ... Arm 39 ... Contact bar 41 ... Pedal 45,47,51,53 ... Shaft pin 65 ... First section 67 ... Second Section 69 Brake plate 71 First wire 73 Second wire 75 Catcher 77 Hanging bar 79 Horizontal bar

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A walker comprising a front wheel and a rear wheel which are free wheels, an intermediate wheel which is a non-free wheel, and an elevating means for raising and lowering the intermediate wheel. 2. The walker according to claim 1, wherein said lifting means comprises urging means for urging the axle of the intermediate wheel upward and pressing means for urging the axle downward. 3. The walker according to claim 2, wherein the pressing means has a lock function, and is configured so as to press the axle in a locked state and not to press the axle in an unlocked state.