JP2004290433A - White walking stick - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a white walking stick which can operate to trace a circular arc by a distal end at a shoulder or an elbow without loading arms or hands to continuously search the state of a road surface. <P>SOLUTION: This white walking stick comprises rotors (14, 22, 24, 25, 32, 34-38, 39 and 43) provided rotatably around a spindle (16, 46) at the distal end part of a walking stick body (11). At least the distal end side half part of this rotor is formed in a sectional profile shape obtained by rotating a curve smoothly curved to approach the spindle toward a distal end, one straight line extended to approach the spindle toward the distal end or a folded line folded on the way around the spindle at least at the distal end side half part of this rotor. The rotor is always brought into contact with the road surface at an arbitrary angle from the walking stick body to the road surface, the rotor is rotated around the support shaft by operating the walking stick body so that a visual acuity handicapped person traces the circular arc by the distal end at the shoulder or the elbow as a center to realize confirming of the state of the road surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a white cane, and particularly to a distal end around a shoulder or an elbow without placing a burden on an arm or a hand of a person having a visual impairment such as a blind person or a person with low vision (hereinafter referred to as a visually impaired person). TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a white cane that can be operated so as to trace an arc so that a road surface condition can be continuously searched.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a visually impaired person walks, although braille blocks etc. are provided on the road to guide the walking of the visually impaired person, buildings, stairs, curbs on the road, trees, cars or bicycles parked on the road may not be able to walk. It is very dangerous to get in the way.
[0003]
Normally, the visually impaired person holds the so-called white cane in his hand, keeps his arms in a natural state, and operates in such a way as to trace an arc with the tip of the white cane around his shoulder or elbow in front of himself, and then his body He walks in a slightly wide range at appropriate intervals, for example, at an interval of 20 cm to 30 cm, using the tip of a white cane (for example, a stone stick) to hit the road surface with a rug, and confirms the situation of obstacles and the like.
[0004]
However, if there is a small and deep depression on a part of the road surface, if the tip of the white cane does not hit the depression well, the visually impaired person will not know the existence of the depression and the feet will suddenly fit into the depression on the road surface The balance may be lost and fall.
[0005]
On the other hand, a white cane has been proposed in which a caster is attached to the tip, the caster is continuously slid in the lateral direction, and a small and deep dent on a road surface can be searched (for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 1). Reference 2, Patent Document 3, Patent Document 4, Patent Document 5, etc.).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-07-31504 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-08-256812 [Patent Document 3] JP-A-2001-70375 [Patent Document 4] JP-A-2001-269374 [Patent] Reference 5: Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-145533
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the white cane described in the above-mentioned conventional publication has a structure in which the casters rotatably support the small wheels around two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes and a vertical axis. It is very troublesome to grasp the rear end of the white cane, which is heavier and lighter by hand, to control the direction of the caster having a heavy tip centering on the shoulder or elbow, and the hands and arms are easily tired.
[0008]
In addition, due to the structure of the casters, the direction of movement is unstable, and it is difficult to move the casters in an arc around the shoulder or elbow. The road surface is only moved by an unnatural method (see FIG. 12 (a)) in which the moving direction of the casters is reversed and the casters are moved linearly obliquely forward, and further, the moving directions of the casters are reversed and moved linearly in the lateral direction. Can not find the situation of the eye, it is very different from the method of searching for arcs familiar to people with visual impairment, so you must use muscles different from the muscles you usually use, which also makes your hands and arms tired .
[0009]
In addition, visually impaired people walk not only on paved roads but also on unpaved roads such as gravel roads.Weeds growing on the road shoulders are easily entangled with the casters, and it is necessary to remove them. It is complicated.
[0010]
Further, even if the road surface is paved, if the gutter covers the gutter, the wheels of the casters are caught by the grating, and there is a problem that the walking must be temporarily stopped.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has been made to be able to continuously search for a road surface condition by operating an arc at a tip centering on a shoulder or an elbow without placing a burden on an arm or a hand. It is an object to provide a cane.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the white cane according to the present invention allows a visually impaired person to hold the hand in one hand to bring the tip into contact with the road surface, and to operate in such a manner as to trace an arc at the tip centering on the shoulder or elbow, thereby continuously searching the front road surface. In the white cane as described above, a grip portion that can be gripped with one hand is provided at a rear end portion of the cane body extending substantially straight, and a rotating body is provided at a front end portion of the cane body with respect to a center axis of the cane body. The rotating body is provided so as to be rotatable around the supporting shaft, and the outer shape of the cross section of at least the front half of the rotating body is smoothly curved so as to approach the supporting shaft toward the tip, and the supporting shaft toward the tip. A straight line or a tip extending closer to the support shaft, and having a shape obtained by rotating a bent straight line which is extended on the way to the support shaft and bent on the way around the support shaft, For the body surface Any site of at least the tip half portion of the rotary member at an arbitrary angle is always in contact with the road surface, characterized in that is adapted to be rotated by the support shaft around by the arc-shaped operation.
[0013]
One of the features of the present invention is that a rotating body is provided at the tip of the white cane that rotates around a support axis extending in the direction of the central axis, and the outer shape of the cross section of at least the tip side half of the rotating body becomes closer to the support shaft. By rotating a curved line that smoothly curves closer to it, a single straight line that extends closer to the support shaft toward the tip, or a bent straight line that extends closer to the support shaft toward the tip and is bent in the middle, around the support shaft The point is that the shape is obtained.
[0014]
As a result, when the visually impaired person holds the white cane with one hand and contacts the rotating body on the tip side with the road surface and operates the white cane so as to trace an arc at the tip, the rotating body moves around the center axis of the support shaft. It rotates smoothly, so that depressions and obstacles on the road surface can be confirmed reliably.
[0015]
In addition, because the structure that rotates the rotating body around the support shaft is adopted, the supporting structure of the rotating body can be made lightweight, the weight and balance are almost the same as ordinary white canes, Your hands and arms never get tired.
[0016]
In addition, the white cane can be operated so as to trace an arc with the tip of the white cane around the shoulder or elbow in the same manner as the normal operation of the white cane, so that the hands and arms are not tired.
[0017]
In addition, since the rotating body traces the road surface, weeds that have grown on the shoulders are difficult to get tangled, there is no need to remove entangled weeds as in the case of casters, and there is no caught in the grating of the gutter, so people with visual impairment You can walk smoothly.
[0018]
Here, the "white cane" does not mean a white cane, but means a walking aid used mainly by persons with visual impairment. Also, the tip side half of the rotating body does not mean half the size of the rotating body, but the direction of the center axis of the supporting shaft from the portion of the largest diameter in the direction perpendicular to the center axis of the supporting shaft of the rotating body. Means the part on the tip side. This is because the white cane is used in an inclined state, so that it comes into contact with the road surface at a portion closer to the tip end than the portion having the maximum diameter of the rotating body.
[0019]
The cane body may have a shape that extends substantially straight, and the rear end portion may have a straight grip or an inverted J-shaped grip. The material of the cane main body is not particularly limited, and can be manufactured using the same material as a known white cane. Further, the cane body may be a straight one, may be configured to be telescopic, or may be configured to be foldable.
[0020]
The support shaft may extend in the direction of the center axis of the wand body. For example, the center axis of the support shaft and the center axis of the wand body may be in a mutually parallel relationship (offset). If the rotating body and the support shaft are positioned above the wand body when the wand is held, a force that causes the rotating body and the support shaft to rotate downward around the wand body may act to give a sense of discomfort. Therefore, it is preferable that the center axis of the support shaft and the center axis of the cane body are provided coaxially.
[0021]
The support shaft may be made of any material such as a metal material or a plastic material as long as it can connect the rotating body and the distal end portion of the cane body so that they can rotate with each other.
[0022]
The rotator supports this rotatably on the support shaft, the support shaft may be fixed to the wand body, the rotator may be fixed to the support shaft, and the support shaft may be rotatably supported on the wand body, Further, the rotating body may be rotatably supported on both the support shaft and the distal end portion of the cane body.
[0023]
That is, the distal end portion of the cane body and the rotating body are connected so as to be able to rotate with each other by the support shaft, and between the support shaft and the distal end portion of the cane body, between the support shaft and the rotating body, or with the rotating body. By providing a bearing between the tip of the cane body and the bearing, the rotating body can be configured to be rotatable.
[0024]
The material of the rotating body is not particularly limited, but is preferably made of natural rubber or synthetic rubber, or a plastic material (a soft plastic material or a hard plastic material) in consideration of weight reduction. When the rotator is made of rubber, it is preferable to have a solid solid structure, but when the rotator is made of a plastic material, it may have a solid structure (the plastic material may be soft or hard). ), A hollow structure (the plastic material is preferably harder). In particular, if a hollow structure is adopted by using a plastic material, the weight can be significantly reduced, and the burden on the visually impaired can be reduced.
[0025]
Further, the rotating body can be formed by combining rubber and a plastic material. For example, a molded body having a general shape of a rotating body may be manufactured from a plastic material, and the surface thereof may be covered with rubber, or a core body supported on a support shaft may be manufactured from a plastic material, and the rotating body may be formed thereon. A rubber member having an outer shape may be fitted.
[0026]
As for the rotating body, any shape having a cross-sectional outer shape obtained by rotating a curve smoothly curved so as to be closer to the support shaft as the outer shape of the cross section of at least the front end half becomes closer to the support shaft around the support shaft may be used. However, a straight cross-sectional shape may be better depending on how the visually impaired person uses it. In other words, the outer shape of the cross section of at least the front end half of the rotating body is a single straight line that extends closer to the support shaft toward the tip or a straight line that extends closer to the support shaft toward the tip and is bent in the middle. Can be formed into a shape having a cross-sectional outer shape obtained by rotating around a circle.
[0027]
For example, the rotating body can be made substantially spherical. This is because when the visually impaired person uses the white cane for a certain period of time, the rotating body gradually wears from a spherical shape, and has a shape suitable for the visually impaired person. After the cross section suitable for the visually impaired person is determined in this way, it is preferable to manufacture at least the front end half of the rotating body to have a cross section suitable for the visually impaired person. In this case as well, the outer shape of the cross section of at least the tip half of the rotating body will be the cross sectional shape of the first aspect.
[0028]
The size of the rotating body depends on the material of the rotating body, but it is preferable that it does not hinder the operation of the white cane. Specifically, the maximum outer diameter of the rotating body (in the direction perpendicular to the center axis of the white cane) The maximum outer diameter is about 0.5 to 5 times, preferably about 2 times the outer diameter of the tip of the white cane.
[0029]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on specific examples. 1 to 4 schematically show a preferred embodiment of a white stick according to the present invention. In the figure, a cane main body 11 of a white cane 10 is manufactured using an aluminum alloy (or a fiber reinforced plastic material), and the cane main body 11 includes a plurality of hollow rods 11A to 11F whose outer diameters are gradually reduced. It is constructed almost straight by being inserted elastically.
[0030]
At the rear end of the cane body 11, a grip 13 is formed by winding a leather or rubber sheet or by fitting a leather, rubber or plastic cylinder. The strap 13 is fixed so as to form a substantially annular shape. When the visually impaired person passes his / her wrist through the strap 13, the white cane 10 will fall even when the grip 13 is released for some reason. To prevent it.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of lock holes 18 are formed in the rod 11A at the rearmost end of the cane main body 11 at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction (central axis direction), and the rod 11B of the next stage is formed. An insertion hole is formed in the rear end portion, and the head of the lock pin 19 is inserted from the inside toward the outside. The lock pin 19 is urged outward by a spring member 21 housed in the case 20 to expand the enlarged portion. The case 20 is fixed to the inner surface of the rod 11B with an adhesive or a rivet.
[0032]
By fitting the lock pin 19 into an appropriate lock hole 18, the cane main body 11 can be adjusted to a length corresponding to a visually impaired person. When the other rods 11B to 11F are extended in the direction in which they are most removed, the inner surfaces and the outer surfaces of the adjacent rods 11B to 11F are in close contact with each other, and the extended state is maintained.
[0033]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a plastic cylindrical base 15 is press-fitted or inserted into and adhered to the distal end portion of the cane main body 11, and a metal support shaft 16 is attached to the base 15 at its center. It is inserted and fixed with its axis aligned with the central axis of the cane body 11.
[0034]
A cylindrical plastic bearing (bearing portion) 17 is rotatably fitted on the distal end side of the support shaft 16, and a part of the bearing 17 enters the recess of the support shaft 16 so that the bearing 17 and the support shaft are formed. 16 are mutually prevented. The bearing 17 functions as a sliding bearing.
[0035]
The connection between the support shaft 16 and the bearing 17 is performed, for example, by setting the support shaft 16 on a molding surface of a molding die of the bearing 17 and matching the molds, and then injecting a molten plastic material into the mold in this state. The bearing 17 can be obtained by molding the bearing 17 so as to enclose it. Alternatively, the bearing 17 may be joined by pushing the support shaft 16 into the bearing 17. However, in this case, a part of the bearing 17 enters the recess of the support shaft 16 little, and there is a possibility that the bearing 17 may come off from the support shaft 16. Further, lubricating oil may be allowed to permeate between the outer surface of the support shaft 16 and the inner surface of the bearing 17 in order to ensure the rotation of the bearing 17 with respect to the support shaft 16.
[0036]
The rotating body 14 is fitted into the bearing 17 and fixed by bonding or the like. The rotating body 14 is made of synthetic rubber (which may be natural rubber), is manufactured to have a substantially solid structure except for a hole to be fitted into the bearing 17, and extends in a direction transverse to the center axis of the support shaft 16 of the rotating body 14 ( A portion (rear half on the rear end side) of the portion having the largest diameter in the vertical direction) is obtained by rotating a straight line extending substantially straight away from the support shaft 16 toward the front end, as the tip is extended, around the support shaft 16. The outer half of the rotating body 14 has a cross-sectional outer shape obtained by rotating a curved curve smoothly around the support shaft 16 so that the front half of the rotating body 14 approaches the support shaft 16 toward the tip. .
[0037]
The maximum outer diameter of the rotating body 14 in the direction transverse to the central axis of the cane main body 11 is set to be approximately twice the outer diameter of the distal end of the cane main body 11 (the outer diameter of the distal end of the lowermost rod 11G).
[0038]
In addition, this rotating body 14 is made into a substantially spherical shape, and one visually impaired person reproduces the outer shape of the cross section when the rotating body 14 is worn out by using it as a white stick 10 for a certain period of time. Is good. The rotating body 14 of the present embodiment is an example in which the cross-sectional outer shape obtained in this manner is adopted.
[0039]
The rear end portion of the rotating body 14 is flat so that a large gap is not formed between the rotating body 14 and the front end of the wand body 11.
[0040]
Further, the lower end rod 11F of the cane main body 11 has a distal end portion 11G which is divided and screwed to each other so that the rotating body 14 can be replaced from the distal end portion 11G of the rod 11F. Note that the distal end portion 11G may be formed to have a diameter slightly smaller or larger than the inner diameter of the lowermost step 11F, and may be inserted inside or outside the lowermost step 11F so as to be replaceably fixed.
[0041]
When a visually impaired person travels on the road, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the hand of the right arm is passed through the strap 13 of the white cane 10, the grip 12 is gripped with the hand, and the white arm 10 is put in a natural state with the right arm. The rotating body 14 is brought into contact with the road surface GL by lowering the front end side of the vehicle (see FIG. 3). In this state, the user walks while shaking the distal end side of the white stick 10 right and left so as to trace an arc with the rotating body 14 around the shoulder or elbow (see FIG. 12B).
[0042]
Then, the rotating body 14 rotates around the support shaft 16 with the swing of the white stick 10. If there is a depression in the road surface GL, the visually impaired person receives a sensation from the white stick 10 as if the rotating body 14 is fitted into the depression, so that the existence of the depression can be surely known.
[0043]
In addition, when there are obstacles such as buildings, stairs, curbs of roads, trees, parked cars, and bicycles parked on the road surface GL, the rotating body 14 hits the obstacle, and the visually impaired person has the rotating body 14. Since the sensation of hitting something is received from the white stick 10, the existence of the obstacle can be surely known.
[0044]
In addition, even when the visually impaired person wears his arm holding the white cane 10 and the angle of the cane body 11 with respect to the road surface GL changes, as shown in FIG. 3, the tip half of the rotating body 14 is smooth. Since it has a curved surface, any part thereof comes into contact with the road surface GL, and the rotating body 14 can smoothly rotate around the support shaft 16 as the white cane 10 swings.
[0045]
As described above, in the white cane 10 of the present embodiment, the rotating body 14 of the white cane 10 is always in contact with the road surface, so that a visually impaired person can surely confirm a depression or obstacle on the road surface.
[0046]
Further, since the structure of the rotating body 14 and the support shaft 16 is simple and lightweight, the weight and balance of the white cane 10 can be made almost the same as a normal white cane, as in the case of the caster type white cane. Your hands and arms never get tired.
[0047]
Further, since the white cane 10 can be swung so as to trace an arc with the tip of the white cane 10 around the shoulder or elbow, the hands and arms are not tired.
[0048]
Furthermore, since the rotating body 14 traces the road surface GL, the weeds growing on the road shoulder do not become entangled or caught in the grating of the side ditch, and the visually impaired person can walk smoothly.
[0049]
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same or corresponding parts. In this example, the rotating body 22 is manufactured in a hollow shape using a plastic material, and this is fitted into the bearing 17 and fixed by bonding or the like. The rotating body 22 is formed in a three-dimensional outer shape substantially equal to the rotating body 14 in the first embodiment.
[0050]
FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment, in which the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same or corresponding parts. In this example, a rolling bearing (bearing portion) 23 is press-fitted and fixed in the lowermost rod 11G, and the supporting shaft 16 is rotatably supported by the rolling bearing 23, and a rotating body 24 made of rubber is mounted on the supporting shaft 16. Fixed. The rotating body 24 is formed in a three-dimensional outer shape substantially equal to the rotating body 14 in the first embodiment.
[0051]
In this manner, the bearing 23 may be fixed to the cane main body 11 and the support shaft 16 may be rotatably supported on the main body.
[0052]
FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same or corresponding parts. In this example, the rolling bearing 23 is press-fitted and fixed in the lowermost rod 11G, and the supporting shaft 16 is rotatably supported by the rolling bearing 23, while a hollow plastic rotating body 25 is fixed to the supporting shaft 16. Have been. This rotator 25 is also formed in a three-dimensional outer shape substantially equal to the rotator 14 in the first embodiment.
[0053]
FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same or corresponding parts. In this example, the bolt 16 as the support shaft is screwed into the long nut 26 and is prevented from turning by the nut 34, and these are inserted and fixed in the lowermost rod 11 </ b> G of the cane main body 10. When the wand body is manufactured using, for example, a plastic material, the support shaft may be formed integrally at the tip of the wand body at the same time.
[0054]
On the other hand, an insertion hole is formed in the rotating body 32, and two rolling bearings 27 are inserted into the insertion hole. The rolling bearings 27 are fixed at a certain interval from each other by a pipe 28, and The shaft portion of the bolt 16 is inserted through the nut, and a cap nut 30 is screwed into the inserted portion via a spring washer 29, and the rotating body 32 is rotatably attached to the bolt 16.
[0055]
A circular cap 33 is fitted in the concave portion on the tip side of the rotating body 32, and the cap 33 is held in the fitted state by hooking a claw of the cap 33 on an inner surface step of the concave portion on the tip side of the rotating body 32. A concave groove 33A for removal is formed in the cap 33 so that coins can be inserted into the concave groove 33A and the cap 33 can be removed.
[0056]
FIG. 9 shows an example of another shape of the rotating body. In FIG. 9A, the rotating body 34 is substantially spherical. In FIG. 9B, the rotating body 35 has a substantially elliptical cross section in which the direction of the center axis of the support shaft is larger than the direction perpendicular thereto.
[0057]
In (c) of FIG. 9, a portion on the rear end side (rear end side half portion) of the portion having the largest diameter in a direction (perpendicular direction) transverse to the center axis of the support shaft of the rotating body 36 is closer to the front end. The outer shape of the cross section obtained by rotating a straight line extending straight away from the support shaft around the support shaft, and the front end half of the rotating body 36 has a straight line extending straight so as to be closer to the support shaft as it approaches the tip. Has a cross-sectional outer shape obtained by being rotated around.
[0058]
In FIG. 9D, the rear end half of the rotating body 37 is the same as that of FIG. 9C, but the front end half of the rotating body 37 extends straight closer to the support shaft toward the front end. Further, it has a cross-sectional outer shape obtained by rotating two combined straight lines bent in the middle around the support shaft.
[0059]
9 (e), the rear half of the rotating body 38 is the same as that of FIG. 9 (c), but the front half of the rotating body 37 extends straighter toward the support shaft toward the tip. Further, it has a cross-sectional outer shape obtained by rotating three combination straight lines bent in the middle around the support shaft.
[0060]
FIG. 10 shows a sixth embodiment, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same or corresponding parts. In the present embodiment, a rolling bearing (bearing portion) 41 is externally fitted and fixed to the outside of the rod 11G of the cane body 11, and a cylindrical holding bracket 40 is fixed to the outside of the rolling bearing 41 by press fitting or the like. I have.
[0061]
Further, a plastic cylindrical base 15 is press-fitted or inserted and adhered to the tip of the rod 11G of the cane body 11, and a metal support shaft 16 is attached to the base 15 by a central axis of the cane body 11. It is inserted and fixed in alignment with the central axis.
[0062]
The support shaft 16 is inserted through an insertion hole formed at the center of the holding bracket 40, and the retaining ring 42 is fitted into the annular concave portion of the support shaft 15 so that the support shaft 15 is rotatably supported by the holding bracket 40. I have.
[0063]
On the other hand, a concave portion is formed in the rear end portion of the rotating body 39, and the holding bracket 40 is fitted and fixed in the concave portion by bonding or the like. Thus, the rotating body 39 and the rod 11G of the cane main body 11 are separated. In addition to being rotatably connected by the support shaft 16, a rolling bearing 41 is provided between the rod 11G and the rotating body 39, and the rotating body 39 is rotatable.
[0064]
FIG. 11 shows a seventh embodiment, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same or corresponding parts. In this example, a plurality of balls are interposed between a small-diameter disk having an annular groove and a large-diameter disk, and the small-diameter disk and the large-diameter disk can be mutually rotated by a connecting pin (support shaft) 46. A rotating disk (bearing portion) 45 is configured by being connected thereto, and a small-diameter disk of the rotating disk 45 is pressed into the rod 11 </ b> G of the cane main body 11 and fixed.
[0065]
On the other hand, a concave portion is formed in the rotating body 43, and a cylindrical mounting base 44 is inserted into the concave portion and fixed by bonding or the like. Inside the mounting base 44, a large-diameter disk of the rotating disk 45 is provided. The rotating body 43 and the rod 11G of the cane main body 11 are connected so as to be rotatable by a connecting pin (support shaft) 46, and are fixed between the rod 11G and the rotating body 43. A rotating disk (bearing portion) 45 is provided, and the rotating body 43 is rotatable.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a usage example of a preferred embodiment of a white stick according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a main part structure in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing another main part structure in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a sectional configuration diagram showing a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration and a bottom configuration according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the outer shape of the rotating body.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a sixth embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a seventh embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the movement of the tip of the white cane in the present invention in comparison with the movement of the white cane with casters.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 White cane 11 Cane main body 12 Grip 14 Rotating body 16 Support shaft 17 Bearing (bearing part)
22, 24, 25 Rotating body 23 Rolling bearing (bearing part)
27 Rolling bearing (bearing part)
32 rotating body 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 43 rotating body 41 rolling bearing (bearing portion)
45 Rotating disk (bearing)
46 Connecting pin (support shaft)

Claims (3)

A white cane that a visually impaired person holds with one hand to bring the tip into contact with the road surface and operate so as to trace an arc at the tip centering on the shoulder or elbow and to be able to continuously search the road surface in front,
A grip portion that can be gripped with one hand is provided at a rear end portion of the cane body that extends substantially straight, and a rotating body rotates around a support shaft extending in a direction of the center axis of the cane body at a tip portion of the cane body. Freely provided,
The outer shape of the cross section of at least the tip side half portion of the rotating body is a curve that is smoothly curved so as to be closer to the support shaft toward the tip, and is one straight line or the tip that extends closer to the support shaft as the tip is closer. It has a shape obtained by rotating a bent straight line that extends near the support shaft and is bent in the middle around the support shaft,
At least any part of the rotating body at least on the tip side at an arbitrary angle with respect to the road surface of the cane body is always in contact with the road surface, and is rotated around the support shaft by the arc-shaped operation. A white cane characterized by the following: The distal end portion of the cane body and the rotating body are connected so as to be able to rotate with each other by the support shaft. The white cane according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is rotatable by providing a bearing between the rotating body and a tip portion of the cane body. 3. The white stick according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is made of a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, or a plastic material.

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