JP2006109977A - Wheelchair for bathing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheelchair for bathing, which enables a care giver to be close to the wheelchair for bathing at maximum when transferring a person taking a bath to a seat part thereby improving work efficiency in transfer. <P>SOLUTION: The wheelchair for bathing is provided with: a truck part capable of traveling; a backrest part fixed by a shaft at the truck part; a seat part fixed to the backrest part; and a lower limb support part attached to the seat part so as to be turned and fixed, wherein at least a part of the lower limb support part can be withdrawn below the seat part and handles provided on the right and left side positions of the seat part can be turned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheelchair for bathing in which a bather is inserted into a bathtub in a sitting state and used for bathing.

  In Patent Document 1 below, armrests are provided on both front sides of the seat part, footrests are provided on the lower front part of the seat part, and the armrests can be turned about 180 degrees around a support shaft provided on the seat part, and the normal use position and turn A wheelchair that can be switched to an avoidance position is disclosed.

  In the above wheelchair, since the footrest is always fixed in front of the chair body, the caregiver transfers the bather from another transport device (wheelchair, etc.) to the seat of the bathing wheelchair. The footrest has the disadvantage of being inconvenient and disturbing the transfer work.

Further, the armrest whose position is switched from the normal use position to the turning avoidance position is present at the lower front position of the seat portion (see FIG. 9A), and therefore the armrest at the position is the seat portion of the assistant. There was a disadvantage that the forward approach of the hindered.
JP-A-9-108290

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and for transferring a bather to a seat, the assistant can maximize the access to the wheelchair for bathing and improve workability related to transfer. The purpose is to provide a wheelchair.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a dolly that can travel, a backrest that is pivotally attached to the dolly, a seat that is fixed to the backrest, and a rotation fixed to the seat. And a lower limb support portion attached to be possible, and at least a part of the lower limb support portion can be retracted below the seat portion.

  The lower limb support part is composed of a pair of arm parts pivotally attached to the left and right front ends of the seat part, and a footrest part pivotally attached to the front ends of the left and right arm parts. It is characterized by having a node link mechanism.

  In addition, the handle provided at the left and right side positions of the seat portion can be pivotally fixed.

  Further, tilting means for tilting and moving the back part between a predetermined standing position and a tilted position with respect to the cart part, and tilt assisting means for assisting the tilting operation of the back part by an assistant, It is characterized by being interposed over the buttocks.

  Further, tilting means for tilting the backrest to a predetermined standing position and tilted position with respect to the carriage section, and a lower limb support section for the seat section in conjunction with the tilting movement of the backrest by the tilting means. An interlocking lifting / lowering means for lifting / lowering to a lower limit position and an upper limit position is provided.

  Since the present invention is such that the lower limb support part can be retracted below the seat part, the assistant performs the work of transferring the bather to the seat part from other welfare equipment such as a wheelchair that transports the bather to the bathroom. When the bather is transferred from the bathing wheelchair of the present invention to another welfare device, the lower limb support portion is temporarily moved below the seat portion to move the lower limb support portion to the transfer operation. Compared to a conventional wheelchair in which the footrest is always fixed at the front position of the seat part, the assistant can move closer to the bathing wheelchair from the front of the seat part. Therefore, transfer work can be performed with a more comfortable posture, and the labor and burden of the assistant can be reduced.

  Further, in the conventional wheelchair, there is a concern that the assistant may accidentally collide the lower limb of the bather with the footrest at the time of transfer work and damage the lower limb of the bather. Since the support portion can be retracted below the seat portion, the above-described danger can be avoided and the transfer operation can be performed safely.

  Furthermore, when the bathing wheelchair is not in use, the total length of the bathing wheelchair can be shortened by retracting and storing the lower limb support part below the seat part, and the occupied space in the storage area of the bathing wheelchair can be reduced. There is an advantage that the bathing wheelchair can be stored in a limited space.

  In the present invention, the footrest part is retracted to the lower back side of the seat part via a pair of left and right arms provided with a parallel four-bar linkage mechanism. In the case where the footrest part is retracted below the seat part, the inclination angle of the footrest part changes and does not come into contact with the floor surface, and the footrest part or the floor surface is damaged. Nothing will happen.

  In the wheelchair of the prior art, the armrest is turned about 180 degrees around the support shaft provided in the seat portion, and the armrest is switched to the turning avoidance position to enable the bather to transfer from the lateral direction. The armrest is present at the lower front position of the seat portion, and therefore the armrest at that position prevents the assistant from approaching the seat portion in the forward direction, and the assistant is forced to move by an unreasonable posture. It was what had. However, according to the present invention, the handle disposed at the upper position on the left and right sides with respect to the seat portion is configured to turn to the side of the seat portion. The person can transfer the bather with a comfortable posture from the lateral direction of the seat part at the front position of the seat part, and can reduce the burden on the transfer work by the assistant.

  The wheelchair of the prior art includes a tilt device that can tilt the back plate portion and the seat portion from the upright side position to the tilt position, but does not include tilt assisting means that assists tilting by the tilt device. For a less powerful helper such as the above, labor is required to tilt and return the back plate and seat seated by the bather to the forward standing position. On the other hand, the present invention interposes the tilt assisting means for assisting the tilting movement of the back portion by the helper between the carriage portion and the back portion. It is possible to easily perform the work related to the tilting return of the dorsal part with a small amount of force, and the labor related to the assistance work can be saved.

  In the present invention, since the lower limb support part moves up and down relative to the seat part in conjunction with the forward and backward tilting between the standing position and the inclined position of the dorsal part, the forward and backward tilting operation of the back part and the lifting and lowering work of the lower limb support part, It is not necessary to perform the steps individually, and the number of labor and labor of the assistant can be reduced.

  When the bather was transferred to the seat part, it was attached to the seat part so as to be able to rotate and fix to the seat part for the purpose of improving the workability related to the transfer by allowing the assistant to gain maximum access to the bathing wheelchair. The lower limb support portion can be temporarily retracted below the seat portion, and the grips provided at the upper left and right side positions of the seat portion can be pivotally fixed.

  Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a right side view showing the bathing wheelchair 1 in a state where the backrest 5 is in the upright position. The bathing wheelchair 1 has a cart unit 3 composed of a cart frame 2 having a total of four casters on the front, rear, left and right, and can travel on the floor, and a lower end thereof is pivotally attached to the cart frame 2 by a support shaft 4 The seat back portion 5, the seat portion 6 fixed to the back portion 5, and the lower limb support portion 7 attached to the front portion of the seat portion 6 so as to be rotatable and fixable.

  FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the bathing wheelchair 1 in a state in which the lower limb support portion 7 is retracted below the seat portion 6, and FIG. 3 is a view showing the action of the retraction mechanism of the lower limb support portion 7, a) is a partial view showing a state in which the lower limb support portion 7 is lowered to the lower limit position with respect to the seat portion 6, and (b) is a state in which the lower limb support portion 7 is retracted from the lower limit position downward to the seat portion 6. FIG. The lower limb support portion 7 is normally set at a predetermined lower limit position with respect to the seat portion 6 indicated by the solid line in FIG.

  The seat portion 6 is configured such that a seat plate 23 is placed on a pipe-shaped seat frame 9 that is substantially L-shaped in a side view and is fixed to the left and right sides of the backrest portion 5, and the lower limb support portion 7 has a base end portion that is a seat portion. 6 includes a pair of left and right arm portions 96 that are pivotally attached to the left and right front end positions, and a footrest portion 97 that is pivotally attached to the distal end side of the arm portion 96. The arm portion 96 extends from the seat plate 23 to the left and right of the seat plate 23 via the L-shaped fixing member 14 attached to the front portion of the seat frame 9 and is attached to the mounting member 10. A short piece 11 having a base end pivotally attached to a distal end thereof by a shaft 16; and a lower limb support pipe 13 attached in parallel to an appropriate position of a connecting pipe 12 connecting the left and right short pieces 11; The base end of the fixing member 14 is pivotally attached to a support member 68 that is suspended from the attachment position of the mounting member 10 at the left and right positions of the horizontal portion 14a. And a bent piece 17 having a rectangular shape. Then, the base end portions of the footrest pipes 20 (footrest portions 97) having a substantially U shape in plan view are pivotally attached to the distal ends of the left and right lower limb support pipes 13 and the bent pieces 17 by the shafts 18 and 19, respectively. The

  Since the above-mentioned four shafts 15, 16, 18, and 19 constitute the parallel four-bar linkage mechanism 8, the inclination angle of the footrest pipe 20 at the lower limit position shown in FIG. The lower limb support portion 7 (arm portion 96 and footrest portion 97) can be integrally rotated to the lower back side of the seat portion 6 and temporarily retracted (see FIG. 3B).

  The bent piece 17 is provided with a regulating means 98 that regulates the operation of the parallel four-bar linkage mechanism 8. Hereinafter, the restricting means 98 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, an arc-shaped groove 26 is formed at the base end side position of the bent piece 17, and a circular groove 29 is formed at one end side of the arc-shaped groove 26. A pin 27 is inserted horizontally between the circular grooves 29 and 29. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view for explaining the relationship between the bent piece 17 and the pin 27. The pin 27 is inserted into a holding cylinder 74 interposed between the left and right bent pieces 17 so as to be movable forward and backward.

  The pin 27 includes an operation portion 27a that can be held and pushed by an assistant, and a rod-like portion 27b that is attached to one end of the operation portion 27a. The proximal-side position and the distal-side position of the rod-like portion 27b Is formed in a small-diameter rod-shaped portion 27c having a smaller diameter than the rod-shaped portion 27b. The diameter of the rod-shaped portion 27 b is substantially the same as the diameter of the circular groove 29, so that the rod-shaped portion 27 b can be fitted into the circular groove 29, and the diameter of the small-diameter rod-shaped portion 27 c is smaller than the diameter of the circular groove 29. A compression spring 99 is interposed between the bent piece 17 and the operation portion 27a. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 95 denotes a bearing that supports both ends of the rod-like portion 27b.

  Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 3A, both end portions of the rod-like portion 27b are inserted and fitted into the circular groove 29 of the bent piece 17, and the push-up piece 25 and the bent piece 17 are connected and fixed via the pin 27. Therefore, the bent piece 17 is in a state in which it cannot be rotated in the lower back direction of the seat portion 6 (the restricting means 98 is acting).

  When the assistant presses the operating portion 27a and pushes the pin 27 (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5), the pin 27 moves forward with respect to the holding cylinder 74, and the small-diameter rod-shaped portion formed at two positions of the rod-shaped portion 27b. When 27c faces the circular groove 29, the connecting and fixing of the push-up piece 25 and the bent piece 17 is released, and the bent piece 17 is allowed to rotate in the lower back direction of the seat portion 6 (operation of the restricting means 98). Is released).

  When the lower limb support portion 7 is temporarily retracted below the seat portion 6, the operation portion 27 a of the pin 27 is pressed in the direction of the seat portion 6 as described above, and the connection and fixing of the bent piece 17 to the push-up piece 25 is released. After that, by holding a part of the lower limb support part 7 appropriately and pushing the lower limb support part 7 in the direction of the seat part 6, the parallel four-bar linkage mechanism 8 acts, and the lower limb support part 7 is in the lower back direction of the seat part 6. To the state shown in FIG. 3B.

  At the center position of the holding cylinder 74, the tip end portion of the push-up piece 25 that pushes and raises the lower limb support portion 7 is integrally attached to the holding cylinder 74. As shown in FIG. 3, the base end portion of the push-up piece 25 is rotatably coupled to the operating rod 28 by a pin 30, and the operating rod 28 is attached to a guide member 71 attached at two positions on the lower surface of the seat plate 23. It is inserted into the guide groove 32a of the lower holder 32 that is inserted through the back portion 5 and attached to the center position of the pipe 2c that connects the left and right pipes 2a and 2b constituting the carriage frame 2.

  The pin 27, the push-up piece 25, and the operating rod 28 are interlocked ascending / descending to move the lower limb support portion 7 up and down to a predetermined lower limit position and upper limit position with respect to the seat portion 6 in conjunction with a tilting movement of the back portion 5 described later. The means 31 is configured. The operating rod 28 moves in the lower right direction along the guide groove 32a formed in the lower holder 32 in accordance with the backward tilting of the back portion 5 by the tilting means 45 described later.

  FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the bathing wheelchair 1 in a state where the one handle 33 is horizontally turned to the side of the seat portion 6. A handle 33 is attached to the left and right seat frames 9 of the bathing wheelchair 1 so that the bather can transfer the seat portion 6 from the lateral direction. As shown in FIG. 6 is arranged so as to be horizontally turnable by a predetermined angle (= about 90 degrees) in the outer direction. The handle 33 is attached to the upright portions 9 a of the left and right seat frames 9 via a horizontal turning mechanism 34.

  The handle 33 includes a fixed column portion 35 and a grip portion 36 having a base end portion fitted in the front portion of the fixed column portion 35. The fixed column portion 35 is disposed at a position facing the upright portion 9a. The upper and lower ends of the swiveling operation pipe 39 are fitted into upper and lower cylindrical portions 37 and 38 that are attached to the up and down positions of the upright portion 9 a, and the swiveling operation pipe 39 is rotated around the axis of the pipe 39. It can be turned in the direction (horizontal turning mechanism 34). Further, the turning operation pipe 39 is internally fitted with play in the insertion direction of the upper cylinder part 37 and the lower cylinder part 38.

  FIG. 7 is a partial view transparently showing the internal structure of portion A (near the lower cylinder portion 38) in FIG. The inner wall portion of the lower cylindrical portion 38 is formed with a taper shape in which a two-way engaging groove 40 that intersects each other to form a cross shape becomes narrower as the depth of the engaging groove 40 increases. An engagement piece 41 that can be engaged with the one-way groove of the two-way engagement grooves 40 is formed in the portion in a tapered shape that becomes narrower in the direction toward the distal end of the engagement piece 41. Therefore, when the engaging piece 41 of the turning operation pipe 39 is fitted and engaged with the engaging groove 40 in either one direction, the turning operation pipe 39 is in a state in which the turning operation cannot be performed, and the handle 33 is in the state of being separated from the seat frame 9. Fixed. Note that the engagement groove 40 and the engagement piece 41 are formed in the above-described taper shape, thereby preventing rattling when both are fitted and engaged with each other.

  When the handle 33 is turned to the side of the seat portion 6, the turning operation pipe 39 is once lifted upward, the engagement piece 41 is removed from the engagement groove 40 in one direction, and the handle 33 is turned by a predetermined angle. Thereafter, the turning operation pipe 39 is lowered, and the engaging piece 41 is fitted into and engaged with the engaging groove 40 in the other direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the gripping portion 36 is fitted so as to be rotatable in the direction around the axis of the fixed support column 35, and the gripping portion 36 can be fixed at a predetermined upper position and lower position. Although illustration is omitted, for example, a plate-like member in which a handle and a side fence are integrally formed by a technique such as blow molding may be used, and an appropriate portion of the plate-like member may be cut and used as a gripping portion. The shape of the fence 42 is not limited to the shape described in the drawings. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 42 denotes a side fence made of a pipe material having a substantially U shape in side view, which is attached across the lower portion of the fixed support 35 and the turning operation pipe 39. The side fence may be a plate-like member instead of a pipe material.

  FIG. 4 is a right side view showing the bathing wheelchair 1 in a state in which the backrest 5 is tilted backward to a predetermined tilt position, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bathing wheelchair 1 seen from the right rear side. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of the tilt assisting means 46. The carriage frame 2 has pipes 2a and 2b arranged in parallel on the left and right sides and casters attached to the front and rear, and a pipe 2c for connecting both the pipes 2a and 2b in a horizontal manner at a position behind the intermediate position of the pipes 2a and 2b. The entire carriage frame 2 has an H shape in a plan view (see FIG. 8).

  The dorsal fin portion 5 is formed by joining a FRP front side member 44 and a back side member (not shown) to the dorsal frame 43. The left and right lower ends of the dorsal frame 43 are respectively pivotally attached to the pipes 2a and 2b by the support shaft 4 (tilting means 45), and the dorsal back portion 5 changes from a predetermined standing position to an inclined position with the support shaft 4 as a fulcrum. It is possible to tilt up to.

  The bathing wheelchair 1 is provided with a tilt assisting means 46 for assisting the tilting operation of the assistant who returns the dorsal part 5 (see FIG. 4) tilted back to the predetermined tilt position to the predetermined standing position. And the back part 5 are interposed. The tilt assisting means 46 includes a cylindrical upper bracket 52 whose upper end is pivotally attached to the lateral dorsal frame 43b via a bracket 72, a compression spring 60 fixed to the lower end of the upper bracket 52, and an upper bracket. 52 and a cylindrical bottom bracket 53 pivotally attached to a lower holder 32 having a lower end fixed to the center position of the pipe 2c, and a contraction / restoration (extension) operation of the compression spring 60. It consists of a dorsal lock release lever 47 to be operated.

  The dorsal lock release lever 47 includes an operation lever portion 47a held by an assistant and an operation portion 47b whose tip is fixed to the operation lever portion 47a. The base end of the operation portion 47b is connected to the lateral dorsal frame 43b. One end of the connecting piece 48 is connected to a position closer to the base end side of the operating portion 47b. The other end of the connecting piece 48 is pivotally attached by a shaft 50 to the position of the apex corner of the substantially triangular link piece 49. At the other apex corner position of the link piece 49, the link piece 49 is pivotally attached by a shaft 51 and an attachment member 75 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the upper bracket 52.

  A rod 56 is fixed to the upper bracket 52 so as to protrude toward the connecting piece 48, one end of a tension spring 57 is attached to the tip of the rod 56, and the other end of the tension spring 57 is attached to the shaft 50. . The tension spring 57 has an action of pulling the connecting piece 48 toward the upper bracket 52 side. Long cylindrical guide holes 55 are formed in the cylindrical surface of the upper bracket 52 at mutually opposing surface positions along the cylindrical direction. Support shafts 54 are respectively inserted into the guide holes 55, and each support shaft 54 is connected to the bottom bracket 53. It is attached to the upper part.

  The tilt assisting means 46 is provided with a lock mechanism 61 that restricts the contraction or restoration operation of the compression spring 60 and fixes and maintains the backrest 5 at a predetermined standing position or tilted position. The lock mechanism 61 is formed on the guide cylinder 65 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the upper bracket 52 below the attachment position of the mounting member 75, the center lock pin 64 fitted in the guide cylinder 65, and the bottom bracket 53. And upper and lower insertion holes 62 and 63.

  That is, in a state where the center lock pin 64 is fitted in the upper insertion hole 62, the contraction operation of the compression spring 60 is restricted, and in a state where the center lock pin 64 is fitted in the lower insertion hole 63. The restoration operation of the compression spring 60 is restricted. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the center lock pin 64 is fitted in the upper insertion hole 62 (a state in which the backrest 5 is in the standing position).

  The guide tube 65 is formed with an insertion hole 67 that allows the center lock pin 64 to move forward and backward relative to the guide tube 65, and a spring pin 66 attached to the center lock pin 64 projects from the insertion hole 67. The spring pin 66 is fitted in a notch groove 76 formed toward the inner side of the triangle at the remaining apex position of the link piece 49. Accordingly, when the dorsal lock release lever 47 is slightly pushed upward, the link piece 49 rotates clockwise with the shaft 51 as a fulcrum, and the center lock pin 64 is removed from the upper insertion hole 62 by the rotation of the link piece 49. The lock function by the lock mechanism 61 is released.

  When the backrest 5 in the standing position is tilted rearward to the inclined position, the bather who hangs the backrest 5 on the backrest 5 with the dorsal lock release lever 47 slightly pushed upward. By using the load to tilt the support shaft 4 back to the fulcrum, the compression spring 60 is displaced in the contracting direction. With the contraction operation of the compression spring 60, the upper bracket 52 moves downward relative to the bottom bracket 53, so that the back 5 is tilted backward to the inclined position.

  When the upper bracket 52 reaches a predetermined lower position with respect to the bottom bracket 53, the center lock pin 64 is automatically fitted into the lower insertion hole 63 by the action of the tension spring 57, and the upper bracket 52 is relative to the bottom bracket 53. The backrest 5 is fixedly held at a predetermined inclined position.

  When tilting the dorsal fin portion 5 in the inclined position to the upright position, the dorsal lock unlocking lever 47 is slightly pushed upward to remove the center lock pin 64 from the lower insertion hole 63, and Using the restoring force, the upper bracket 52 is raised to a predetermined upper position with respect to the bottom bracket 53.

  When the upper bracket 52 reaches a predetermined upper position, the center lock pin 64 is automatically fitted into the upper insertion hole 62 by the tension of the tension spring 57, so that the upper bracket 52 cannot move with respect to the bottom bracket 53. The backrest 5 is fixedly held at a predetermined standing position.

  In FIG. 9, 58 and 59 are an upper washer and a lower washer for holding the compression spring 60. In addition to the upper and lower insertion holes 62 and 63 formed in the bottom bracket 53, for example, an intermediate insertion hole (not shown) is formed in the bottom bracket 53 between the upper and lower insertion holes 62 and 63, and the back You may make it fix and maintain the collar part 5 in the intermediate | middle inclination position between the predetermined standing position and inclination position mentioned above, and the position which fixes and maintains the dorsal rib part 5 is limited to two places, a predetermined standing position and an inclination position. Is not to be done.

  As described above, the bathing wheelchair 1 moves the lower limb support portion 7 up and down to the predetermined lower limit position and the upper limit position with respect to the seat portion 6 in conjunction with the tilting movement between the standing position and the tilt position of the backrest portion 5. The interlocking lifting / lowering means 31 includes a pin 27, a push-up piece 25, and an operating rod 28.

  In a state where the two large diameter portions 27c formed on the pin 27 are respectively fitted in the circular grooves 29 of the left and right bent pieces 17 (FIG. 3A), that is, in a state where the interlocking lifting means 31 functions. When the rearward tilting of the dorsal part 5 is started by releasing the locking function of the locking mechanism 61 of the tilt assisting means 46 described above by operating the dorsal lock release lever 47, the operation is performed in accordance with the rearward tilting of the dorsal part 5. The heel 28 is displaced obliquely downward to the right along the guide groove 32a of the lower holder 32, and the bent piece 17 of the lower limb support portion 7 is pushed upward by the push-up piece 25 coupled to the tip of the operation heel 28, The lower limb support portion 7 rises to a predetermined upper limit position with respect to the seat portion 6 tilted rearward (see the one-dot chain line portion in FIG. 1). When the back part 5 is tilted forward from the inclined position to the standing position by performing the reverse operation to the above, the lower limb support part 7 descends to a predetermined lower limit position with respect to the seat part 6 (solid line in FIG. 1). Part reference).

  Subsequently, a bathtub 77 for bathing a bather using the bathing wheelchair 1 of the first embodiment will be described. A hot water tank 78 is integrally formed in the bathtub 77, and an opening 79 is formed on one side of the bathtub 77. In the first embodiment, the bather is put in a bathing state by closing the opening 79 of the bathtub 77 with the dorsal part 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 on which the bather is seated. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bathtub 77 viewed from the opening 79 direction, and FIG. 11 is a front view of the bathtub 77 viewed from the opening 79 direction.

  The opening 79 has left and right inner side walls 77aa and 77bb formed on the inner side surfaces of the left and right side walls 77a and 77b of the bathtub 77 so as to be inclined from the opening 79 side toward the back side of the bathtub 77 and the bottom. The joint surface 80 is composed of a wall 77c, and the joint surface 80 has left, right, and lower flat surfaces 81a, 81b, and 81c formed on the dorsal part 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 (see FIG. 6). Can be contacted.

  The left and right reinforcing members 82 and 82 having substantially L-shapes are attached to the upper positions inside the left and right walls 77a and 77b formed to protrude forward from the joint surface 80 of the bathtub 77, respectively. A left lock pin (not shown) and a right hole 84 into which the left lock pin (not shown) and the right lock pin 83 of the bathing wheelchair 1 are fitted are provided in the reinforcing members 82 and 82, respectively.

  A sealing material 85 is attached to the periphery of the joint surface 80 to maintain a watertight state between the joint surface 80 and the flat surface 81 of the backrest 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 along the joint surface 80. A stepped portion 86 is formed on the inner side of the bottom wall 77 c of the bathtub 77 at a position opposite to the opening 79 of the bathtub 77. By forming the stepped portion 86, the volume of the bathtub 77 can be reduced, and the amount of hot water transferred from the hot water storage tank 78 to the bathtub 77 can be reduced.

  The bathtub 77 and the dorsal part 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 are fixed by the following two means. One is a first fixing means 87 for fixing the left and right side walls 77a and 77b of the bathtub 77 and the upper left and right sides of the back portion 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1, and the other is a bath and the bottom wall 77c of the bathtub 77. It is the 2nd fixing means 88 which fixes the lower part of the backrest part 5 of the wheelchair 1 for vehicles.

  The first fixing means 87 includes the left lock pin (not shown) / right lock pin 83 provided on the bathing wheelchair 1 side, and the left hole (not shown) / right hole 84 provided on the bathtub 77 side. Composed. The second fixing means 88 is pivotally attached to the electric actuator 89 fixed to the lower outer surface of the bottom wall 77c, and the tip of the telescopic rod of the electric actuator 89 and the end surface of the bottom wall 77c. And a receiving member 91 that is screwed to the center of the lower end of the dorsal frame 43 of the bathing wheelchair 1 and receives the pressure of the pressure piece 90.

  Accordingly, when the bathing wheelchair 1 is advanced to a predetermined position inside the bathtub 77, the lock pin 83 is automatically fitted into the hole 84, and the upper part of the back portion 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 and the bathtub 77 are fixed. Is done. Subsequently, when the extension operation of the rod of the electric actuator 89 is started, the distal end portion of the pressing piece 90 rotates counterclockwise (rotates toward the back portion 5 side) and comes into contact with the receiving member 91. Further, when the rod is extended, the receiving member 91 is pressed by the pressing piece 90, and the lower portion of the backrest portion 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 is pressed and fixed to the bottom wall 77 c of the bathtub 77. The opening 79 of the bathtub 77 is closed by the backrest 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 by the first fixing means 87 and the second fixing means 88 described above.

  When the bather is bathed in the bathtub 77 using the bathing wheelchair 1 described above, the assistant first stores a predetermined amount of hot water in the hot water tank 78. After pressing the operation part 27a of the pin 27 in the seat part 6 direction and releasing the connection and fixing of the bent piece 17 to the push-up piece 25, a part of the lower leg support part 7 is appropriately grasped and the leg support part 7 in the seat part 6 direction. To temporarily retract the lower limb support portion 7 below the seat portion 6 (state shown in FIG. 3B).

  Next, a part of the handle 33 in the direction in which the bather is transferred is gripped, the turning operation pipe 39 is slightly lifted upward, and the engagement fixing between the turning operation pipe 39 and the lower cylinder portion 38 is released, and the handle 33 is moved to the seat. After turning about 90 degrees horizontally to the outside of the part 6, the turning operation pipe 39 is lowered downward and the turning operation pipe 39 is engaged and fixed to the lower cylinder part 38. Since the grip portion 36 of the handle 33 that is horizontally swiveled is located at an upper position with respect to the fixed support portion 35 and is inclined to the bather side, the grip portion 36 in the arrangement hinders a bather's transfer operation described later. It is preferable to appropriately change the position to the lower position so as not to come. (The state of the handle 33 in the right direction in FIG. 6).

  The caregiver prepares to change the lower limb support portion 7 and the handle 33 of the bathing wheelchair 1 to the retracted state and the turning state, respectively, and then uses other welfare equipment to which the bather is transported as the bathing wheelchair of the present invention. Stop near 1 and transfer the bather to the wheelchair 1 for bathing. As described above, since the lower limb support portion 7 is retracted below the seat portion 6, the assistant can easily approach the front position of the seat portion 6, and the lower limb support portion 7 does not hinder the transfer operation. Further, since the handle 33 is disposed to be retracted by being turned approximately 90 degrees to the left and right side portions of the seat portion 6, a sufficient transfer space can be secured on both sides of the seat portion 6. The transfer operation of the bather can be smoothly performed from the side of the portion 6. The bathing wheelchair 1 of the present invention is capable of transferring a bather from any of the three directions of the front, left, and right of the seat portion 6.

  After confirming that the bather is seated on the seat portion 6, the handle 33 is rotated backward in the direction of the seat portion 6 to return the grip portion 36 to a predetermined upper position. The assistant advances the lower limb support portion 7 in the retracted position to the front position shown in FIG. 3A while supporting the lower limb of the bather sitting on the seat portion 6. When the small-diameter rod-shaped portion 27c of the pin 27 faces the circular groove 29, the pin 27 is biased in the direction opposite to the arrow B in FIG. 5 by the elastic action of the compression spring 99, and both end portions of the rod-shaped portion 27b are circular grooves. 29, the push-up piece 25 and the bent piece 17 are connected and fixed via the pin 27, and the interlocking lifting / lowering means 31 is operable.

  The dorsal lock release lever 47 provided at the back side position of the dorsal part 5 is slightly lifted upward to release the lock function of the lock mechanism 61, and the dorsal part 5 in the standing position with the support shaft 4 as a fulcrum. Tilt backward to tilt position. In conjunction with the backward tilting of the dorsal fin portion 5, the lower limb support portion 7 is raised to a predetermined upper limit position by the push-up piece 25 (interlocking lifting means 31).

  The assistant operates the push handle 92 to cause the bathing wheelchair 1 to travel on the floor surface 93. The wheelchair 1 for bathing is arranged in the vicinity of the opening 79, and the carriage frame 2 is brought into contact with the guide rails 94 and 94 extending in the direction of the opening 79 and attached in parallel along the inside of the left and right walls 77a and 77b. The bathing wheelchair 1 is made to enter the bathtub 77 from the opening 79 side.

  At this time, the cart unit 3 is located below the bottom wall 77 c, and the seat unit 6 and the lower limb support unit 7 on which the bather is placed are located in the bathtub 77. Since the lower limb support portion 7 is lifted to the upper limit position in accordance with the rearward tilt of the back portion 5, it collides with the step portion 86 formed on the bottom wall 77 c even when inserted in the bathtub 77. Never do.

  When the bathing wheelchair 1 is advanced to a predetermined position inside the bathtub 77, the lock pin 83 is fitted into the hole 84, and the upper portion of the back portion 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 and the bathtub 77 are fixed. Next, when the rod of the electric actuator 89 is extended and the receiving member 91 is pressed by the pressing piece 90, the left flat surface 81a, the right flat surface 81b, and the lower flat surface 81c of the dorsal part 5 become the bonding surface 80. The opening 79 of the bathtub 77 is closed by the dorsal part 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1. Hot water is transferred from the hot water tank 78 to the bathtub 77 to bathe the bather.

  When bathing is completed and the bather is discharged, first the hot water in the bathtub 77 is discharged out of the bathing apparatus. When the water level in the bathtub 77 decreases and becomes less than the predetermined height position, the rod of the electric actuator 89 can be allowed to contract, so that the assistant contracts the rod and presses the receiving member 91 by the pressing piece 90. The fixation is released, and the fixation between the bottom wall 77c of the bathtub 77 and the lower portion of the backrest 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 is released. Next, a lock pin operating lever (not shown) of the bathing wheelchair 1 is pulled forward, the lock pin 83 is removed from the hole 84, and the left and right side walls 77 a and 77 b of the bathtub 77 and the left and right sides of the back 5 of the bathing wheelchair 1 are removed. The fixing with the upper side is released, and the bathing wheelchair 1 is operated to leave the bathtub 77.

  The assistant operates the backrest lock release lever 47 to return the backrest portion 5 in the inclined position to the upright position, and then performs the procedure in the reverse procedure of the above-described transfer operation, so that the bathing wheelchair 1 Transfer the bather to other welfare equipment and complete the bath.

  The second embodiment is an embodiment in which the interlocking lifting and lowering means 31 in the bathing wheelchair 1 of the first embodiment is removed, and the lower limb support portion 7 can be retracted below the seat portion 6. FIG. 12 is a right side view showing the bathing wheelchair 1 in a state where the dorsal fin portion 5 is in the upright position, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the action related to the retracting mechanism of the lower limb support portion 7 of the bathing wheelchair 1. (A) is the fragmentary figure which made the leg support part 7 the extended state ahead of the seat part 6, (b) is the fragmentary figure which shows the state which retracted the leg support part 7 below the seat part 6 is there. 12 and 13, the same or equivalent components as those in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the components is omitted unless particularly required.

  In the bathing wheelchair 1 according to the second embodiment, the holding member 21 is attached to the upper side of one base end side of the footrest pipe 20, and the fixing pin 22 (regulating means 98) is attached to the side of the footrest pipe 20. It is inserted from the direction. The lower limb support pipe 13 has an insertion hole 24 through which the fixing pin 22 is inserted. When the fixing pin 22 is inserted into the insertion hole 24, the parallel four-bar link mechanism 8 does not act, and the lower limb support portion 7 Is not retractable below the seat portion 6.

  When the lower limb support portion 7 is temporarily retracted below the seat portion 6 as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the fixing pin 22 is removed from the insertion hole 24, and a part of the lower limb support portion 7 is appropriately grasped and lowered. By pushing in the direction, the parallel four-bar linkage mechanism 8 acts, and the lower limb support part 7 (foot rest part 20) moves downward of the seat part 6 while descending.

  In the third embodiment, the arm portion 96 is composed of the bent piece 17 and the outer bent piece 100, and the restricting means 98 for restricting the operation of the parallel four-bar linkage mechanism 8 is formed on the lock shaft 101 and the key groove 101c formed on the lock shaft 101. In this embodiment, the tilt assisting means 46 is a torsion spring 106 interposed in the support shaft 4 of the backrest 5. A configuration of a bathing wheelchair 1 according to the third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 14 is a plan view showing the bathing wheelchair 1 according to the third embodiment, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 14, and FIG. 16 is a view for explaining the regulating means 98. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the restricting means 98, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the relationship between the holes 10a and 10b formed in the mounting member 10, the lock shaft 101, and the parallel key 102. FIG. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the bathing wheelchair 1 as viewed from the right rear side. 14, 15, 16, and 17, the same or equivalent components as in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the components is omitted unless particularly described.

First, the configuration of the lock shaft 101 that restricts the operation of the four-bar linkage mechanism 8 (rotation of the outer bent piece 100) will be described. As shown in FIG. 16A, the lock shaft 101 includes a button portion 101a and a shaft portion 101b, and a parallel key 102 is fitted in a key groove 101c formed in the shaft portion 101b. The shaft portion 101 b is inserted into the one hole 10 a and the other hole 10 b opened at the tip of the mounting member 10 having a U-shaped cross-sectional view, and the hole 100 a opened in the outer bent piece 100, and the lock shaft 101 as a whole. Is constantly urged outward by the compression spring 103 (in the direction opposite to the arrow D in FIG. 16).
As shown in FIG. 16 (b), the shape of the one hole 10a is formed in a keyhole shape, and the other hole 10b is parallel to enable the rotation restriction of the outer bent piece 100 by the parallel key 102 described later to be released. It has a hole shape in which a gap 104 is provided between the key 102 and the shaft portion 101b. The shape of the hole 100a formed in the outer bent piece 100 is also the same shape as the hole 10a.

  In the state shown in FIG. 16A, the rotation of the outer bent piece 100 is restricted by the parallel key 102. When the assistant grips the button portion 101a and pushes the lock shaft 101 in the direction of the arrow D against the urging force of the compression spring 103, the lock shaft 101 and the parallel key 102 move together, and a part of the parallel key 102 is moved. The remaining portion of the parallel key 102 faces the hole 100a in the hole 10b. As a result, the outer bent piece 100 can be rotated with the shaft portion 101b as a fulcrum, and the operation of the parallel four-bar linkage mechanism 8 is allowed. In FIG. 16A, reference numeral 105 denotes a retaining lid that is fixed to the tip of the shaft portion 101b and prevents the locking shaft 101 from coming off.

  Next, the configuration of the tilt assisting means 46 provided in the bathing wheelchair 1 of the third embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 17, a lower fixing plate 70 is attached horizontally between the left and right pipe-shaped vertical saddle frames 43 a forming the skeleton of the dorsal fin portion 5, and two pieces are attached to the lower fixing plate 70. The dorsal frame piece 107 having a substantially inverted L shape in side view is attached at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction, and the front lower portion of each dorsal frame piece 107 is rotatably connected to the support shaft 4. Yes. The torsion spring 106 is interposed on the support shaft 4 between the carriage frame 2 and the dorsal frame piece 107, and one end of the torsion spring 106 is extended and attached to the inside lower side of the carriage frame 2 (pipe 2a and pipe 2b). The other end of the torsion spring 106 is fixed to a pin 124 that protrudes outward from the dorsal frame piece 107. The torsion spring 106 is interposed so as to act in a direction to return the dorsal fin portion 5 tilted rearward from a predetermined standing position to the standing position.

  At the lower rear position of the dorsal frame piece 107, an arc groove 113 having the support shaft 4 as a circle center is formed. As shown in FIG. 15, a substantially inverted trapezoidal lock plate 108 is pivotally mounted on the inner side of the dorsal frame piece 107 at the upper and lower intermediate positions of the dorsal frame piece 107 by a lock plate rotating shaft 109. A front lower part of the frame piece 107 and a front lower part of the lock plate 108 are connected by a compression spring 110. The compression spring 110 has an action of pulling the lock plate 108 to the left (in FIG. 15). A substantially inverted U-shaped groove 112 is formed in the lock plate 108. The groove 112 includes an arc groove 112b having the same shape as the arc groove 113, and an upper groove 112a formed from both ends of the arc groove 112b toward the upper right direction. -It consists of the lower groove 112c. A lock pin 111 projecting inward from the carriage frame 2 is inserted into the groove 112 and the arc groove 113.

  As shown in FIG. 17, an upper fixing plate 73 is horizontally mounted between the left and right vertical saddle frames 43a in the vicinity of the vertical middle position of the vertical saddle frame 43a. Two slide rails 118 are attached in parallel at a predetermined interval. A single plate-like slide member 69 is slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the left and right slide rails 118, and two rod mounting members 117 are screwed in parallel in the left and right direction of the slide member 69. ing. The lower end of the lower rod 115 is pivotally attached to the upper right end side of the two lock plates 108 via the rod shaft 114, and the upper end of the lower rod 115 is attached to the rod shaft 114 below the slide member 69. It is attached to the shaft.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 17, the lower end of the upper rod 116 is attached to the upper portion of one rod mounting member 117 by a rod shaft 114, and the upper end of the upper rod 116 is rotated by two lock plates 108. The rod shaft 114 is attached to a front lower portion 119a of a lever link 119 having a reverse L-shape in side view. A rear lower portion 119b of the lever link 119 is rotated by a rod shaft 114 on a support piece 122 fixed to the lateral dorsal frame 43b spanned between the left and right vertical dorsal frame 43a. It is pivotally attached as possible. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, an unlocking lever 123 that is orthogonal to the lever link 119 and extends outward is attached to the upper portion 119 c of the lever link 119. The lock release lever 123 is provided in parallel with the push handle 92 spanned between the rectangular frames 120 attached to the upper inside of the left and right dorsal frame 43a.

  The lock plate 108, the compression spring 110, and the lock pin 111 described above constitute a lock mechanism 125 that maintains the back portion 5 at a predetermined standing position or inclined position. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the back 5 is fixed and maintained at a predetermined standing position by the lock mechanism 125. When the back 5 is tilted backward to a predetermined tilt position, the push handle 92 and the lock release lever 123 are simultaneously gripped, and the lock release lever 123 is moved in a direction approaching the push handle 92. As a result of this operation, the lever link 119 rotates clockwise with the rod shaft 114 as a fulcrum (the front lower portion 119a of the lever link 119 rotates upward), and the slide member 69 slides upward in accordance with this rotation operation. As a result, the two lock plates 108 are rotated counterclockwise in synchronization with the lock plate rotation shaft 109 as a fulcrum.

  When the lock plate 108 rotates counterclockwise by a predetermined angle and the arc groove 113 and the arc groove 112b overlap with each other, that is, when the lock pin 111 is located at the lower end of the arc groove 112b and the arc groove 113, The rear tilting of the collar part 5 becomes possible (the lock function by the lock mechanism 125 is released). When the lock release lever 123 is released at the stage where the dorsal back part 5 is tilted backward until the lock pin 111 reaches the upper ends of the arc groove 112b and the arc groove 113, the lock plate 108 is pulled by the compression spring 110 and turned clockwise. , The lock pin 111 faces the upper groove 112a of the lock plate 108, and the rotation of the lock plate 108 is stopped by the lock pin 111, whereby the backrest 5 is fixed and maintained at a predetermined inclined position. In addition to the upper and lower grooves 112a and 112b formed on the lock plate 108, for example, a middle groove (not shown) is formed extending from the middle position of the arc groove 112b in the same direction as the upper and lower grooves 112a and 112b. You may make it fix and maintain the collar part 5 in the intermediate | middle inclination position between the predetermined standing position and inclination position mentioned above, and the position which fixes and maintains the dorsal rib part 5 is limited to two places, a predetermined standing position and an inclination position. Is not to be done.

  When returning the dorsal back part 5 to a predetermined standing position, the push handle 92 and the lock release lever 123 are grasped at the same time as in the case of the rearward tilting operation described above, the lock plate 108 is rotated clockwise and the lock pin 111 is moved. After being positioned at the upper ends of the arc groove 112b and the arc groove 113 (the lock function of the lock mechanism 125 is released), the backrest 5 is tilted forward. At this time, the assistant can easily perform the work related to the forward tilt return of the dorsal part 5 with a small amount of force by the restoring force of the torsion spring 106, and the burden on the assistant can be reduced.

  For example, when a commercially available iron gas spring is used as a tilt assisting means for a bathing wheelchair, if the bathing wheelchair is used for a long period of time, rusting will occur due to water droplets etc. adhering to the gas spring.・ There is a problem that it is unfavorable in terms of hygiene. Furthermore, when a stainless steel gas spring is used to prevent rusting, the gas spring is more expensive than an iron gas spring. There arises a problem that the manufacturing cost of the wheelchair for bathing is increased. In the present invention, since the stainless steel compression spring or torsion spring is used as the tilting assisting means, rusting caused by water droplets adhering to the surface can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost is not significantly increased compared to the stainless steel gas spring. It is possible to save labor related to the assistant's assistance work, which is preferable. In addition, compared with the case of using a gas spring, when a compression spring or a torsion spring is used, the spring reaction force can be easily set, so that there is an advantage that the tilt assisting force can be easily set.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in Examples 1 to 3 above, and it goes without saying that the design can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to a bathing wheelchair in which a bather is inserted into a bathtub in a sitting state and used for bathing.

It is a right view which shows the wheelchair for bathing in the state which made the dorsal part of this invention into the standing position. It is a right view which shows the wheelchair for bathing in the state which retracted the lower limb support part of this invention below the seat part. It is a figure which shows the effect | action of the retracting mechanism of the leg support part of this invention, (a) is a fragmentary figure which shows the state which lowered | hung the leg support part to the minimum position with respect to the seat part, (b) is a leg It is a fragmentary figure which shows the state which retracted the support part from the lower limit position to the downward direction of the seat part. It is a right view which shows the wheelchair for bathing in the state which made the back saddle part of this invention tilt backward to the predetermined | prescribed inclination position. It is sectional drawing which shows the relationship between the pin of this invention, and a bending piece. It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the wheelchair for bathing in the state where the one handle of the present invention was horizontally turned to the side of the seat. FIG. 3 is a partial view showing the internal structure of portion A (near the lower cylinder portion) in FIG. 2 in a transparent manner. It is the perspective view which looked at the wheelchair for bathing of this invention from diagonally right back. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure of the tilt assistance means of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the bathtub from the opening part direction. It is the front view which looked at the bathtub from the opening part direction. It is a right view which shows the wheelchair for bathing in the state which made the back part of Example 2 of this invention into the standing position. It is a figure which shows the effect | action which concerns on the retracting mechanism of the leg support part of the wheelchair for bathing of Example 2 of this invention, (a) is the fragmentary figure which made the leg support part the extended state ahead of the seat part, ( b) is a partial view showing a state where the lower limb support part is retracted below the seat part. It is a top view of the wheelchair for bathing of Example 3 of the present invention. It is CC sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is a figure explaining the control means of Example 3 of this invention, (a) is a fragmentary sectional view which shows a control means, (b) is the relationship between the hole formed in an attachment member, a lock shaft, and a parallel key. It is sectional drawing which shows this typically. It is the perspective view which looked at the wheelchair for bathing of Example 3 of the present invention from diagonally right rear.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathing wheelchair 3 Carriage part 5 Back part 6 Seat part 7 Lower leg support part 8 Parallel four-bar link mechanism 31 Interlocking raising / lowering means 33 Handle 45 Tilt means 46 Tilt assist means 96 Arm part 97 Footrest part

Claims (5)

  A dolly that can travel, a backrest that is pivotally attached to the dolly, a seat that is secured to the backrest, and a lower limb support that is attached to the seat so as to be pivotally fixed. A bathing wheelchair characterized in that at least a part of the lower limb support part can be retracted below the seat part.   The lower limb support part is composed of a pair of arm parts pivotally attached to the left and right front ends of the seat part, and a footrest part having a base end part pivotally attached to the distal ends of the left and right arm parts. The bathing wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the bathing wheelchair is provided with a four-bar linkage mechanism.   The wheelchair for bathing according to claim 1, wherein a handle provided at the left and right side positions of the seat portion can be pivotally fixed.   A tilting means for tilting and moving the back part between a predetermined standing position and a tilted position with respect to the cart part, and a tilt assisting means for assisting the tilting operation of the back part by an assistant, the cart part and the back part The bathing wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the wheelchair is interposed. Tilt means for tilting the backrest to a predetermined standing position and tilt position with respect to the carriage section, and the lower limb support section to a predetermined lower limit position relative to the seat section in conjunction with the tilting movement of the backrest by the tilting means The bathing wheelchair according to claim 1, further comprising interlocking elevating means for elevating and lowering to an upper limit position.

Images