JP2003089491A - Handrail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the labor of walking for a walker moving as supported by a handrail by changing the handhold traveling rate to reflect the walker's moving rate. SOLUTION: A guide section 2 is arranged in the location where people move in a building. The section 2 is provided with moving units 3, installed to be movable along the guide section 2 and provided with handholds 32 at some locations. A driving mechanism 4 is also provided for moving the units 3 along the section 2 when a walker's hand H is on a handhold 32.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handrail device which is preferably used when a person moves on stairs or a hallway.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, handrails may be provided on the wall surfaces of stairs, corridors, etc. in buildings in order to prevent passersby from falling and to ensure safety. In such a handrail, a long rod-shaped member that continuously extends along a traveling direction such as stairs is generally used.

[0003]

However, since such a handrail is fixedly provided on the wall surface, when a passerby moves with the handrail as a support, the walking speed of the passerby himself. It will be necessary to change the position of the hand that holds the handrail according to. In particular, an elderly person or a physically handicapped person who has deteriorated physical functions walks with his / her weight on the handrail, and thus it is very difficult to change hands while walking.

In response to such a general problem of handrails, a handrail device having a structure in which a belt portion which is a handle portion such as an escalator always moves in the traveling direction is conceivable. The moving speed of the belt does not always correspond to the walking speed of each pedestrian, and there is a risk that the pedestrian may fall over. further,
Since the device is large-scale and expensive, it is difficult to install it in existing welfare facilities and hospitals.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a simple structure in which the walking speed of the user is made to correspond to the walking speed of each user, thereby increasing the safety during walking and reducing the labor required for walking. A handrail device that can be reduced in number.

[0006]

That is, a handrail device of the present invention is provided with a guide portion arranged along a place where a user can move in a building, and a movable portion along the guide portion. And a drive mechanism for moving the movable body along the guide portion when the user holds his / her hand on the handle portion.

With such a structure, the moving mechanism automatically moves along the guide portion when the drive mechanism starts the moving operation only by an extremely simple operation in which the user places his hand on the handle portion. Since it moves automatically, it is not necessary to sequentially move the position of the hand holding the handle according to walking, and it is possible to reduce the labor during the movement. Also, when the user releases his / her hand from the moving body, the moving operation of the moving body stops, so the user suspends walking at an arbitrary moving position and resumes walking by holding the moving body from that position. be able to.

In particular, in order to ensure that the moving body can be moved along the guide portion even with a simple structure, the drive mechanism is provided with a serrated meshing portion and the meshing portion thereof. It is preferable that a protrusion that engages with the gear member is formed on the outer edge of the gear member, one of the meshing portion and the gear member is provided along the guide portion, and the other is formed in a part of the movable body.

In order to realize stable movement during movement, the gear members may be arranged in pairs at positions where the guide portion can be held.

In such a structure, by forming an opening in the bottom surface of the moving body so that the guide portion can be sandwiched in the width direction from above, the guide portion is arranged in the state of being housed in the bottom surface of the moving body. Since it can be installed, the stability of the moving body with respect to the guide portion is improved, and the moving body can be moved more safely along the guide portion.

A preferred embodiment of this case is as follows.
It is preferable that a groove is formed on the upper surface of the guide portion, and a protrusion that is accommodated in the groove is formed on the bottom surface of the movable body. With such a configuration, the projecting portion of the moving body is guided in a state of being housed in the groove of the guide portion, and the moving body can be reliably moved in the predetermined direction along the guide portion. The moving operation can be made more stable.

In order to stop the movement of the moving body at one end of the guide portion, at least one end of the guide portion is provided with a stop mechanism capable of stopping the operation of the moving body when the moving body reaches. Is preferred. The stop mechanism may be provided at both ends of the guide portion. In this case, the operation of the moving body can be stopped at both ends of the guide portion.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the handrail device 1 to which the present invention is applied has, for example, a plurality of pillars C arranged at predetermined intervals along a stair S in a building such as a hospital or a nursing home. It is arranged at a position where the upper ends of the are connected, and is preferably used when a user (not shown) such as a sick person or an elderly person moves.

The handrail device 1 includes a guide portion 2 fixedly provided at a position where upper ends of a plurality of columns C are connected to each other, a movable body 3 attached to a predetermined portion of the guide portion 2, and a movable body 3. It is composed of a drive mechanism 4 for moving along the guide portion 2.

The guide portion 2 has, for example, a thickness of about 50 mm, a width of about 50 mm, and a length of approximately a square pole corresponding to the distance between the uppermost step and the lowermost step of the stairs S, and is meshed. It has a portion 2A and a groove portion 2b. As shown in FIG. 2, the meshing portion 2A is formed by forming mountain-shaped projections 2a outwardly along the extending direction at substantially central portions in the thickness direction of both side surfaces of the guide portion 2 in a continuous strip shape. It has a sawtooth shape. On the other hand, the groove portion 2b is formed by continuously opening in a concave shape along the extending direction on the upper surface side of the guide portion 2. Further, stoppers (not shown), which are stop mechanisms, are provided at both ends of the guide portion 2. For the stopper, for example, the guide portion 2
The members that are projected upward from the upper surface side of both ends of,
When the moving body 3 described later comes into contact with the stopper, it is preferable to apply a configuration in which the moving operation of the moving body 3 is stopped by operating a predetermined sensor or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the moving body 3 is composed of a moving body 31 and a side view portal type handle portion 32 integrally provided on the upper surface of the moving body 31. The moving body 31 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a thickness of about 90 mm, a width of about 150 mm, and a length of about 200 mm, and has a bottom surface that is long enough to sandwich the guide portion 2 from above in the width direction. Open continuously in the depth direction. For example, thickness about 65mm, width about 60
The opening 31a of mm is formed. Further, the opening 31
A projecting portion 31 that projects downward from a substantially central portion of the upper surface of a and is accommodated from above in the groove portion 2b of the guide portion 2.
b is projected. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the handle portion 32 has, for example, a thickness of about 40 mm, a width of about 40 mm, and a length of about 18 mm.
The grip portion 32a of 0 mm and the hanging portion 32b hanging from both ends thereof are integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 2, the grip portion 32a is provided with a sensor (not shown) which is activated when the user puts his / her hand H on to conduct electricity.

The drive mechanism 4 has the meshing portion 2A and a wavy projection edge 41a that is rotatably provided on the moving body 3 via the support shaft n and engages with the projection 2a of the meshing portion 2A over the entire outer circumference. Having, for example, four gear members 41 having a diameter of about 35 mm
It consists of and. The gear member 41 is at least
The thickness is set to be slightly smaller than the vertical width of the meshing portion 22a. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the thickness of the gear member 41 is substantially the same as the vertical width of the meshing portion 2a. Then, the opening 31a formed in the moving body 31
A pair of gear members 41 are provided at both end portions of one side surface of the gear member 41, respectively.
A and 41B are arranged, and gear members 41C and 41D are arranged on the other side surface side of the opening 31a at positions facing the gear members 41A and 41B. The gear members 41A, 41B, 41C, and 41D have the same configuration, and the spindle n is inserted into a through hole (not shown) provided at the center of each gear member, so that the predetermined position of the moving body 31 is reached. It is provided so that it can rotate forward and backward. Specifically, one end of each of the gear members 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D is projected inwardly from the side surface of the opening 31a by, for example, about 10 mm, and the projection edge 41a is the projection 2 of the meshing portion 2A.
It is provided by a support shaft n at a position where it can be engaged with a. In addition,
When the sensor provided in the handle portion 32a is activated, the gear members 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D interlock with each other to perform a rotational movement, for example, inside the moving body 3, the sensor and the gear members 41A, 41B. , 41C, 41
The support shaft n of D is connected by wiring or the like.

It is necessary to switch the rotation direction of the gear member 41 according to the ascending / descending direction of the stairs of the user. For that purpose, a switch for setting either of the ascending / descending directions and the handgrip portion 32a. Appropriate means such as a sensor that can discriminate between up and down depending on the direction of the hand of the user who is hung up may be provided in the moving body or the like.

Next, a method of using the handrail device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

For example, when the user uses the handrail device 1 to go up the stairs S, first, the grip portion 32a of the handle portion 32 is first.
When the user puts his / her hand H on, the sensor provided on the handgrip part 32a is activated. Then, correspondingly, the gear member 4
1A and 41B counterclockwise, at the same time gear member 41C,
41D is clockwise and each protrusion edge 41a is engaged with the engaging portion 2
Since the rotary motion is performed while engaging with the protruding portion 2a of A, the gear member 41 moves upward while meshing with the meshing portion 2A. As a result, the moving body 3 moves upward along the guide portion 2. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the gear members 41A,
Since 1B, 41C, and 41D are provided, the moving body 3 moves stably. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom surface of the moving body 31 has an opening 31a that allows the guide portion 2 to be sandwiched in the width direction from above, so that the bottom surface of the moving body 31 interferes with the guide portion 2. It is possible to smoothly move the moving body 3 without moving. Moreover, the moving body 3
1. The protrusion 31b formed on the guide 1 is formed into the groove 2b of the guide 2.
Since the moving body 3 is moved in the state of being housed in the housing 3, the moving body 3 can be moved safely and reliably along the guide portion 2. Further, the gear member 41 is attached to the protruding edge 41a thereof.
Is provided on the moving body 31 at a position where it can be engaged with the protrusion 2a formed on the meshing portion 2A, so that the gear member 41 can be reliably engaged with the meshing portion 2a when the moving body 3 moves. You can

Here, the user holds the hand H on the handgrip part 32a.
While the switch is kept on, the sensor is activated and the state of being energized continues. For example, if this state is maintained until reaching the uppermost floor of the stairs S, the moving body 3 moves upward until reaching the upper end of the guide portion 2. Then, when the moving body 3 reaches the upper end of the guide portion 2, a part of the moving body 3 comes into contact with a stopper provided on the upper end portion of the guide portion 2, and a sensor provided on the stopper reacts to turn on the electricity. And the rotational movement of the gear member 41 is stopped. as a result,
Since the upward movement of the moving body 2 is also stopped, the moving body 2 can be reliably stopped at the upper end portion of the guide portion 3.

Further, when the user releases his hand from the handle portion 32 during movement, the sensor of the handle portion 32 stops operating and stops the rotational movement of the gear member 41. As a result, the movement of the moving body 3 is also stopped, and when the user releases the hand at a desired position, the movement of the moving body 3 can be stopped and the walking can be interrupted.

When the user uses the handrail device 1 to go down the stairs S, the moving body 3 is guided by the moving body 3 when the hand H is applied to the handgrip portion 32a of the handle portion 32, as in the case of ascending.
Will move downwards. And the moving body 3
When reaches the lower end of the guide portion 2, a part of the moving body 3 comes into contact with a stopper provided at the lower end portion of the guide portion 2, and a sensor provided on the stopper reacts to move the gear member 4
Since the rotary motion of 1 is stopped, the moving body 2 is moved to the guide portion 3
It can be reliably stopped at the lower end of the.

The configuration of the present invention is not limited to that described above. For example, the handle portion is not limited to being provided on the upper surface of the moving body, but may be provided on the side surface or the bottom surface of the moving body, or on two or more surfaces such as the upper surface and the side surface. With such a configuration, the handle portion can be provided at a position where the user can easily reach with the handrail device depending on the place where the handrail device is arranged, and the user can easily use the handle portion. Further, the number of gear members forming the drive mechanism is not limited to four, and the number may be increased or decreased as appropriate. Further, the gear member may be arranged in the guide portion and the meshing portion may be provided in the movable body main body. Even if such a configuration is adopted, the drive mechanism is composed of the gear member and the meshing portion, and the same effect as described above can be exhibited. Further, the size, shape, and the like of each part can be appropriately changed depending on the place of use and the purpose of use.
Further, the handrail device of the present invention can be arranged not only along stairs, but also along any place where a person can move in a building such as a corridor or a passageway, in particular, a decrease in athletic ability. It is suitable for use in various facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes where there are sick people and the elderly who desire to reduce the labor required to move as much as possible due to disability, physical disability, etc., or general households. Is possible.

In addition, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0027]

The present invention is carried out in the form as described above, and has the following effects.

That is, in the handrail device of the present invention, the guide portion is arranged along the place where the user can move in the building, and the handle portion is provided on a part of the moving body which moves along the guide portion. Then, the user has a drive mechanism for moving the moving body along the guide portion by placing a hand on the handle portion.

With such a structure, the driving mechanism is actuated and the moving body is automatically moved along the guide portion by a very simple operation in which the user places his hand on the handle portion. You can On the other hand, when the hand is released from the handle, the moving operation of the moving body is stopped. As a result, the user can save the labor of moving the position of the hand gripping the handle portion as he walks, and can reduce the labor during the movement. Also,
The handrail device having such a simple structure can be installed in existing hospitals, welfare facilities, buildings such as general households at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Handrail device 2 ... Guide section 2A ... Mating part 2b ... groove 3 ... Mobile 31 ... Mobile body 32 ... Handle part 4 ... Drive mechanism 41 ... Gear member

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A guide part arranged along a place where a user can move in a building, a movable body movably provided along the guide part and having a handle part, and a handle part. A handrail device, comprising: a drive mechanism that drives a moving body to move along a guide portion when a user holds his / her hand. 2. The drive mechanism comprises a meshing portion having a continuous sawtooth shape and a gear member having an outer edge with a wavy projection engaging with the meshing portion, one of the meshing portion and the gear member. The handrail device according to claim 1, wherein the handrail device is provided along the extending direction of the guide portion, and the other is provided in a part of the movable body. 3. The handrail device according to claim 2, wherein the gear members are arranged in pairs at positions where the guide portion can be held. 4. The handrail device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an opening is formed on a bottom surface of the movable body main body so as to sandwich the guide portion in a width direction from above. 5. A groove portion is formed on the upper surface of the guide portion so as to continuously open upward along the extending direction of the guide portion, and a protrusion portion to be accommodated in the groove portion is formed on the bottom surface of the movable body main body. The handrail device according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4. 6. A stop mechanism for stopping the operation of the moving body when the moving body reaches the one end, at least at one end of the guide portion. The handrail device according to 3, 4, or 5.