JP2005270436A - Wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheelchair which can be surely stopped without rocking a body. <P>SOLUTION: This wheel chair 10 is provided with a body frame 11 and is provided with a jack device 15 on the rear part of the body frame 11. The jack device 15 is provided with a stepladder member 49, and the stepladder member 49 is turned around a spindle 50. By the turning of the stepladder member 49, the wheelchair 10 changes the state between a normal traveling state and a jack-up state. The stepladder member 49 is provided with the spindle 50 and first and second leg parts 51 and 52 and is formed roughly in a triangular shape as the whole. The respective leg parts 51 and 52 are provided with ferrule parts 55 and 58 and both ferrule parts 55 and 58 are grounded by the turning of the stepladder member 49. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheelchair, and more particularly to a structure of a wheelchair frame.

  A wheelchair generally has a parking brake. This parking brake is for maintaining the stopped state of the wheelchair, and regulates the rotation of wheels (generally, rear wheels) (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). A normal parking brake has an operation lever and a braking member connected to the operation lever via a so-called toggle mechanism. When the user of the wheelchair operates the operation lever, the braking member is directly pressed against the wheel tire of the wheelchair by the toggle mechanism, thereby restricting the rotation of the wheel tire.

Kawamura Cycle Co., Ltd. Wheelchair General Catalog 21C Vol. 9 (page 9)

  However, in the conventional parking brake, since the wheel tire is easily elastically deformed in a braking state (a state where the braking member is pressed against the wheel tire), it is difficult to reliably stop the wheelchair. The vehicle body may swing due to elastic deformation. In addition, if the wheelchair is used continuously, the wheel tires wear and the air pressure of the wheel tires decreases, so that the braking force of the parking brake decreases, which further promotes the swinging of the vehicle body when the vehicle is stopped. Cause.

  When a wheelchair passes on a general road or the like, the shaking of the vehicle body at the time of stopping does not cause a big problem. However, for example, when a wheelchair user uses a wheelchair to take a shower or the like, the wheelchair needs to be surely stopped in the bathroom. This is because if the wheelchair cannot be reliably stopped and the vehicle body shakes, the wheelchair user cannot take a shower comfortably, and the caregiver may have difficulty in shower care.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair that can be surely stopped without shaking of the vehicle body.

  (1) In order to achieve the above object, a wheelchair according to the present application includes a vehicle body frame, a caster provided at a lower front portion of the vehicle body frame, an axle hub provided at a lower rear portion of the vehicle body frame and constituting an axle, and an axle hub. A pair of wheels disposed opposite to each other along the width direction of the vehicle body frame, and a jack device that changes posture between a first posture that allows ground contact of the wheels and a second posture that jacks up the wheels. It is characterized by having.

  According to this configuration, the wheel is grounded when the jack device is changed to the first posture, so that the wheelchair can perform normal traveling. Further, the wheels are jacked up by changing the jack device to the second posture. That is, the wheel is lifted from the road surface and the body frame is supported by the jack device. Thereby, the said wheelchair can stop reliably.

  The jack apparatus includes a stepladder member. The stepladder member is configured such that the top portion of the stepladder member is pivotally connected to the axle hub with a direction along the axle as a rotation center axis, whereby the stepladder member changes the posture.

  In this configuration, the jack device is configured by a stepladder member, and the vehicle body frame is jacked up only by the pivoting of the stepladder member, and is also in a normal running state. Therefore, there is an advantage that the jack device is configured by a very simple structure.

  Further, the stepladder member is formed in a substantially U shape with a support shaft provided to be rotatable around the rotation center axis, and both ends thereof are connected to the support shaft and extend rearward of the body frame. A first leg portion, and a second leg portion that is formed in a substantially U shape, has both ends connected to a support shaft and extends rearward of the body frame, and each leg portion includes the support shaft. The one leg can be configured to be arranged so as to be rotated by a predetermined angle around the rotation center axis with respect to the other leg.

  In this configuration, the first and second leg portions formed in a substantially U shape are arranged so as to span the support shaft and are radially connected to the support shaft. The projected shape in the moving center axis direction is substantially triangular. Therefore, when the stepladder member is rotated around the rotation center axis, the bottom edge portion of each leg portion constitutes a stone protrusion for supporting the vehicle body frame. That is, the vehicle body frame is reliably supported by the legs arranged radially.

  (2) In particular, the body frame is provided with a caster and a wheel attached to the lower part and an upper part defining the front part of the seat, and an upper part of the main frame, and defines the rear part of the seat and the back seat. And a subframe. The sub frame is pivotally connected to the main frame so as to change the arrangement angle of the seat seat rear portion and the back seat with respect to the main frame, and when the jack device changes its posture from the first posture to the second posture. A connecting member for connecting the jack device and the sub frame may be provided so that the seat seat rear portion and the back seat lie backward relative to the main frame.

  In this configuration, the rear portion of the seat seat and the back seat lie down with respect to the main frame when the subframe is pivotally connected to the main frame, so the wheelchair is equipped with a reclining seat. And when the said jack apparatus changes to a 2nd attitude | position and the said wheelchair stops, the said seat seat rear part and a back seat with respect to a main frame with the attitude | position change of a jack apparatus with a connection member And fall backwards relatively. Therefore, the wheelchair user can relax because the body falls backward when the vehicle stops. It is particularly comfortable when the wheelchair user takes a shower. In addition, when the wheelchair stops, the seat seat rear portion and the back seat lie down with respect to the main frame, so that the wheelchair user's buttocks are displaced so as to sink downward and rearward. Thereby, a wheelchair user's buttocks shift | deviate ahead and a posture is not disturb | confused.

  In the case where the jack device includes the stepladder member, the seat seat rear portion and the back seat are moved rearward relative to the main frame when the stepladder member changes from the first posture to the second posture. It is preferable that a connecting member for connecting the stepladder member and the subframe is provided so as to fall down.

  Even in this case, when the posture of the stepladder is changed to the second posture and the wheelchair is stopped, the seat seat rear portion and the back seat are moved together with the change of posture of the stepladder by the connecting member. Climb backwards relative to the main frame. Therefore, the wheelchair user can relax because the body falls backward when the vehicle stops. It is particularly comfortable when the wheelchair user takes a shower.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the vehicle body frame is supported by the jack device, the wheelchair is reliably stopped when necessary. Therefore, when the wheelchair stops on a general road, the vehicle can be stopped reliably. In addition, for example, even if a wheelchair user takes a shower using the wheelchair, the wheelchair user can securely take a shower because the wheelchair is surely stopped in the bathroom. Even if a caregiver exists, the caregiver can perform safe and smooth shower care.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with appropriate reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, FIG.2 and FIG.3 is a principal part side view of the said wheelchair.

  The wheelchair 10 is designed to be particularly suitable when a wheelchair user takes a bath, and includes a body frame 11, casters 12 constituting front wheels and wheels 13 and 14 constituting rear wheels, And a jack device 15. A feature of the wheelchair 10 according to the present embodiment is that the jack device 15 is provided. The jack device 15 is configured to change the posture between a first posture (the posture shown in FIG. 2) and a second posture (the posture shown in FIG. 3). As a result, the wheelchair 10 is reliably and stably stopped in the bathroom. In addition, this invention is not only applied to the wheelchair for bathing, but of course is applied also to the wheelchair which drive | works a general road.

  The vehicle body frame 11 includes a main frame 16 and a sub frame 17. In the present embodiment, the sub frame 17 and the jack device 15 are particularly connected by connecting members 18 and 19.

  The main frame 16 is configured by bending a rod-shaped member. This rod-shaped member is made of an aluminum alloy or other metal. Specifically, the main frame 16 includes a right frame 20 and a left frame 21 and a cross member 22 that connects them.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the right frame 20 has an upper bone portion 26 and a lower bone portion 27. The upper bone portion 26 includes a vertical portion 23 extending in a substantially vertical direction, a horizontal portion 24 extending continuously rearwardly in the horizontal direction, and an inclined portion 25 extending continuously rearward and extending obliquely downward and rearward. The caster 12 is attached to the vertical portion 23. And the lower bone part 27 is arrange | positioned so that the rear-end part of the inclination part 25 and the lower end part of the vertical part 23 may be connected. Further, the left frame 21 is formed symmetrically with the right frame 20 and is disposed so as to oppose the width direction of the wheelchair 10. The cross member 22 is disposed so as to be bridged between the lower bone portions 27 of the right frame 20 and the left frame 21, thereby improving the rigidity of the main frame 16.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, a seat plate 29 is attached between the horizontal portions 24 of the upper bone portion 26. The seat plate 29 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, and constitutes a skeleton for defining a front portion 31 of a seat sheet 30 described later. In the present embodiment, a footrest 28 is attached to the seat plate 29. The footrest 32 is used by a user of the wheelchair 10 to place a leg.

  In the present embodiment, the lower bone portion 27 and the inclined portion 25 are connected via an axle hub 28. The wheels 13 and 14 are attached to the axle hub 28. The axle hub 28 constitutes a wheelchair axle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the axle hub 28 is formed in a disk shape, and the lower bone portion 27 and the inclined portion 25 are connected to the peripheral portion of the axle hub 28. Each of the wheels 13 and 14 includes a central shaft 33, and the central shaft 33 is supported by the axle hub 28.

  The subframe 17 includes a pair of rod-shaped members 34 and 35 and a back plate 36 that connects them. Each rod-shaped member 34, 35 is made of an aluminum alloy or other metal. In the present embodiment, the rod-shaped members 34 and 35 are formed in a crank shape, and the end portions 37 and 38 are connected to the main frame 16. Specifically, each of the rod-shaped members 34 and 35 includes a horizontal portion 41 connected to the main frame 16, a back portion 42 extending continuously to the information, and a handle extending continuously rearward in the substantially horizontal direction. Part 43. The back part 42 constitutes a skeleton of a back sheet 46 described later, and the handle part 43 is a part that is held by the caregiver when a caregiver is present.

  Ends 37 and 38 of the horizontal portion 41 are rotatably connected to the main frame 16 via pins 39, and the pins 39 protrude from the inclined portion 25 of the main frame 16. 40. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a seat plate 44 is provided so as to be bridged between the horizontal portions 41. The seat plate 44 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape and constitutes a skeleton for partitioning a rear portion 445 of the seat seat 30 described later. The back plate 36 is made of an aluminum alloy or other metal and has a flat plate shape. In the present embodiment, the back plate 36 is arranged so as to span between the back portions 42.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, a cushion 47 is attached to the back plate 36. Thereby, the back part 42 of the sub-frame 17 forms a back seat 46 of the wheelchair 10. A cushion 48 is attached to the horizontal portion 24 of the main frame 16 and the horizontal portion 41 of the sub frame 17. Thereby, the said horizontal part 24 and the said horizontal part 41 comprise the seat 30 of the said wheelchair 10. FIG. As described above, in particular, the front portion 31 of the seat 30 is constituted by the horizontal portion 24 portion, and the rear portion 45 of the seat seat 30 is particularly constituted by the horizontal portion 41 portion. That is, when the wheelchair user sits down on the wheelchair 10, the portion from the wheelchair user's knee to the thigh is supported by the front portion 31 of the seat seat 30, and the wheelchair user's thigh from the rear thigh The portion reaching the waist is supported by the rear portion 45 of the seat sheet 30.

  The jack device 15 includes a stepladder member 49, and the stepladder member 49 is supported by the axle hub 28. Specifically, the stepladder member 49 includes a support shaft 50 and a first leg portion 51 and a second leg portion 52 formed in a U shape. The support shaft 50 is made of an aluminum alloy or other metal and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The support shaft 50 is rotatably supported by the axle hub 28, and the center axis of the support shaft 50 is arranged in a direction along the axle direction (the direction of the center shaft 33 of the wheels 13 and 14). However, the central axis of the support shaft 50 does not coincide with the axle direction, and is disposed slightly below the axle. In the present embodiment, the jack device 15 is provided on the axle hub 28, but the attachment site of the jack device 15 is not limited to the axle hub 28, and the jack device 15 is not limited to the body frame 11. It may be provided in the part.

  The first leg portion 51 is configured by bending a cylindrical member. The cylindrical member is made of an aluminum alloy or other metal. The first leg 51 includes a base 53 and 54 that are connected to the support shaft 50 and extend rearward, and a stone protrusion 55 (bottom edge) that extends in the width direction of the wheelchair 10. Similarly to the first leg portion 51, the second leg portion 52 is also configured by bending a cylindrical member, and is connected to the shaft 50 and extends rearward from base portions 56 and 57. And a stone protrusion 58 (bottom edge) extending in the width direction of the wheelchair 10. That is, each leg part 51 and 52 is arrange | positioned so that it may span over the said spindle 50, protruding backward.

  In the present embodiment, the first leg portion 51 is disposed so as to extend substantially rearward in the horizontal direction, and the second leg portion 52 intersects the first leg portion 51 at a predetermined angle θ. Is arranged. Specifically, the bases 56 and 57 of the second leg 52 are upward with respect to the bases 53 and 54 of the first leg 51 around the central axis of the support shaft 50 (clockwise in FIG. 2). ) It is arranged at a position rotated by an angle θ (55 ° (degree) to 75 °). Therefore, each leg part 51 and 52 is arrange | positioned radially with respect to the spindle 50, and the center axis direction projection shape of the said spindle 50 becomes a substantially triangular shape in the stepladder member 49. As shown in FIG. That is, the top of the stepladder member 49 is rotatably connected to the axle hub 28. In the present embodiment, a connecting rod 59 that connects the stone protrusion 55 and the stone protrusion 58 is provided. The rigidity of the stepladder member 49 is improved by the connecting rod 59.

  Further, the bases 53 and 54 of the first leg 51 and the bases 56 and 57 of the second leg 52 are set to predetermined length dimensions. Thereby, when the stepladder member 49 is rotated and the jack device 15 is in the second posture (see FIG. 3), the wheels 13 and 14 are jacked up. The length dimensions of the base portions 53 and 54 and the base portions 56 and 57 are not particularly limited. In short, the lengths of the wheels 13 and 14 can be jacked up when the stepladder member 49 is rotated. It only has to be set.

  The connecting member 18 is composed of a straight rod-shaped member. This rod-shaped member is made of an aluminum alloy or other metal. Both ends of the connecting member 18 are connected to the second leg 52 and the back plate 36 via pins 60. The pins 60 are supported by base plates 56 and 57 of the second leg 52 and support plates 61 provided on the back plate 36, respectively, so that both ends of the connecting member 18 are connected to the second leg 52. And it is rotatable with respect to the back plate 36.

  In the present embodiment, the support plate 61 provided on the second leg portion 52 is disposed on the support shaft 50 side of the base portions 56 and 57 of the second leg portion 52. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, when the connecting member 18 is displaced downward, the stepladder member 49 rotates clockwise, that is, the jack device 15 is biased so as to be in the first posture. Is done. When the jack device 15 changes from the second posture to the first posture, the axle hub 28 is provided with a rotation restricting member that restricts the rotation of the stepladder member 49 so that the first posture is maintained. ing. Therefore, in FIG. 2, even when the connecting member 18 is used for displacement downward (for example, when a wheelchair user sits down on the wheelchair 10), the jack device 15 is held in the first posture. Is done.

  Further, since the support plate 61 is disposed at the above position, as shown in FIG. 3, when the connecting member 18 is further displaced downward when the jack device 15 is in the second posture. Even if it exists, although the stepladder member 49 is urged | biased so that it may rotate counterclockwise, this means that the jack apparatus 15 is stably hold | maintained at the said 2nd attitude | position.

  That is, the stepladder member 49 constitutes a so-called toggle mechanism by the connecting member 18, whereby when the jack device 15 is in the first posture, the first posture is maintained, and When the jack device 15 is in the second posture, the second posture is maintained. However, the stepladder member 49 is attached to the support shaft 50 via, for example, a torsion coil spring, and the stepping member 49 is always urged to rotate rightward by the torsion coil spring, whereby the jack device 15 is Of course, a structure that is elastically biased to be in a posture may be adopted.

  According to the wheelchair 10, when the jack device 15 is in the first posture as shown in FIG. 2, the wheels 13 and 14 are grounded, so that the wheelchair 10 can perform normal traveling. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the jack device 15 is changed to the second posture, the wheels 13 and 14 are jacked up. That is, the wheels 13 and 14 are lifted from the road surface and the body frame 11 is supported by the jack device 15. Thereby, the said wheelchair can stop reliably. Therefore, the wheelchair 10 can be surely stopped when necessary (for example, at the time of bathing). As a result, when the wheelchair user enters the bathroom using the wheelchair 10, the user can take a shower safely and comfortably. be able to.

  In the present embodiment, the jack device 15 includes the stepladder member 49, and the stepladder member 49 has a very simple structure as described above. In addition, the vehicle body frame 11 is jacked up simply by turning the stepladder member 49. Therefore, the jack device 15 is realized at a low cost, and an increase in the manufacturing cost of the wheelchair 10 is suppressed, and for example, there is an advantage that a jacking-up operation of the wheelchair 10 by a caregiver is easy.

  In particular, the stepladder member 49 includes two leg portions 51 and 52, and these are rotated (for example, when the caregiver steps on the first leg portion 51 of the stepladder member 49 with his / her foot, the stepladder member 49 is rotated). By doing so, the stone projections 55 and 58 of the legs 51 and 52 are grounded, and the wheelchair 10 is jacked up easily and reliably. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the caregiver can jack up the wheelchair 10 very easily and the care work can be performed smoothly.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the sub frame 17 is rotatably connected to the main frame 16, the rear portion 45 and the back seat 46 of the seat seat 30 lie backward with respect to the main frame 16. That is, the wheelchair 10 is equipped with a reclining seat. And since the said connection members 18 and 19 are provided, when the wheelchair 10 is jacked up, as FIG. 3 shows, the rear part 45 and the back seat | sheet 46 of the seat 30 will incline back. Therefore, the wheelchair user can be extremely relaxed when the vehicle is stopped, and has an advantage that the user can take a shower or the like comfortably when taking a bath.

  In addition, since the rear portion 45 and the back seat 46 of the seat 30 are laid down, when the wheelchair 10 stops, the heel portion of the wheelchair user is displaced downward in the rear portion. Therefore, even if the subframe 17 rotates with respect to the main frame 16, the buttocks of the wheelchair user are not displaced forward, the posture of the wheelchair user is not disturbed, and the wheelchair user is extremely comfortable. The wheelchair 10 can be used.

  The present invention is applied to a wheelchair.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the wheelchair according to the embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a state in which the jack device is in the first posture. FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of the wheelchair according to the embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a state in which the jack device is in the second posture.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Wheelchair 11 ... Body frame 12 ... Caster 13 ... Wheel 14 ... Wheel 15 ... Jack apparatus 16 ... Main frame 17 ... Sub-frame 18 ... Connecting member DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Connecting member 28 ... Axle hub 29 ... Seat plate 30 ... Seat seat 31 ... Front part of seat seat 33 ... Center axis
36 ... Back plate 37 ... End portion 38 ... End portion 39 ... Pin 40 ... Support plate 41 ... Horizontal portion 42 ... Back portion 44 ... Seat plate 45 ... Rear portion of seat seat 46 ... back seat 49 ... stepladder member 50 ... spindle 51 ... first leg portion 52 ... second leg portion 53 ... base portion 54 ... base portion 55 ..Stone protrusion 56 ... Base 57 ... Base 58 ... Stone protrusion 60 ... Pin 61 ... Support plate

Claims (5)

Body frame,
A caster provided at the lower front part of the body frame;
An axle hub provided at the lower rear part of the body frame and constituting an axle;
A pair of wheels provided on the axle hub and arranged to face each other along the width direction of the body frame;
A wheelchair provided with a jack device that changes a posture between a first posture that allows ground contact of a wheel and a second posture that jacks up the wheel. The jack device is
The stepladder member is provided, and the stepladder member is configured to change the posture by pivotally connecting the top portion of the stepladder member to the axle hub with a direction along the axle as a rotation center axis. The wheelchair according to claim 1. The stepladder member is
A support shaft rotatably provided around the rotation center axis;
A first leg formed in a substantially U shape, having both ends connected to a support shaft and extending rearward of the body frame;
Formed in a substantially U shape, having both ends connected to a support shaft and extending to the rear of the vehicle body frame,
Each leg portion is arranged radially with respect to the support shaft, and one leg portion is arranged so as to be rotated by a predetermined angle around the rotation center axis with respect to the other leg portion. The wheelchair according to claim 2. The body frame is
The caster and the wheel are attached to the lower part, and the upper part has a main frame that defines the front part of the seat, and a sub frame that is provided at the upper part of the main frame and defines the rear part of the seat and the back seat. The rear seat and the back seat with respect to the main frame are pivotally connected to the main frame to change the arrangement angle of the back seat,
The jack device and the sub-frame are connected so that the rear seat portion and the back seat of the seat device lie backward relative to the main frame when the jack device changes from the first posture to the second posture. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a connecting member is provided. The body frame is
The caster and the wheel are attached to the lower part, and the upper part has a main frame that defines the front part of the seat, and a sub frame that is provided at the upper part of the main frame and defines the rear part of the seat and the back seat. The rear seat and the back seat with respect to the main frame are pivotally connected to the main frame to change the arrangement angle of the back seat,
The stepladder member and the sub-frame are connected so that the rear portion of the seat seat and the back seat lie backward relative to the main frame when the stepladder member changes from the first posture to the second posture. The wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein a connecting member is provided.

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