JP2006110030A - Wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheelchair providing a comfortable ride quality and a stable traveling by absorbing vibrations and shocks caused by recesses/projections and small steps on sidewalks, roads and other passages. <P>SOLUTION: A pair of upper frame 4 and lower frame 6 are mutually symmetrically disposed, the respective upper frame 4 and lower frame 6 are vertically swingably connected by front journal parts 28 and 104, and the pair of symmetric frames 4 and 6 are mutually integrally connected. The respective upper frame 4 and lower frame 6 are relatively vertically movably supported at a seat lower part near the connected central part via a buffer 34. The rear parts both sides of the respective upper frame 4 and lower frame 6 are provided with connectors 40 with springs connecting the pair of respective upper frame 4 and lower frame 6 via coil springs 114. The respective upper frame 4 and lower frame 6 constitute a link along with the buffer 34 and the connectors 40 with the springs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheelchair such as a manual type or an electric type used by a person who has an inability to walk or who has a handicapped person.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, manual and electric wheelchairs used by care recipients and people who have difficulty in walking and have difficulty walking have a frame made of pipe material such as steel or aluminum. In general, a manual wheelchair or a care wheelchair is not provided with a suspension or the like, and a front wheel and a rear wheel are directly attached to a frame column. In addition, since electric wheelchairs are equipped with heavy objects such as a motor and a battery, some of them are partially supported by attachment points of rear wheels via springs.

  The conventional wheelchair described above is not very comfortable when the wheelchair is driven by a person who pushes the wheelchair for the passenger's own operation or care, because the unevenness of the running surface is directly transmitted to the passenger. In addition, they were turned forward due to slight steps and unevenness at the sidewalk and at home, or received shocks from the rear wheels as they were down the step, causing discomfort and sometimes fear. In electric wheelchairs, the rear wheels are attached via springs, etc. The main purpose is to improve the followability of the rear wheels to the road surface in order to efficiently transmit the driving force of the rear wheels by the motor to the road surface. It does not seek good ride comfort.

  In order to improve these drawbacks, Patent Document 1 discloses that a spring is incorporated in a frame column to which a front wheel and a rear wheel are attached. This spring alleviates and absorbs vibrations and shocks applied to the front and rear wheels, and can comfortably run indoors, outdoors, on sidewalks and roads, and without having to worry about small steps or unevenness.

Further, in Patent Document 2, a rear universal wheel elastically supported by a spring is provided at the rear part of the wheelchair, and is displaced up and down in response to a step, unevenness or a sudden change in inclination, and the vehicle body is always kept in a stable state. It discloses what can be done and can reduce the impact on the user.
JP 2000-126240 A JP-A-8-191862

  However, in Patent Document 1, a shock absorber having only a spring as a shock absorber is provided on a frame column, and a rear wheel shaft is attached to the column. For this reason, the spring contracted by impact or the like repeatedly expands and contracts and vibrates, and the wheelchair repeatedly moves up and down for a while. In such a case, the ride comfort is uncomfortable, and if the unevenness continues, the shock and vibration are not absorbed sufficiently by the spring, and there is a risk that the posture of the wheelchair becomes unstable.

  In Patent Document 2, only the rear universal ring is attached to the frame via a spring. In this wheelchair, due to an impact when the front wheel crosses a step, a force is applied to rotate the entire vehicle body backward about the rear wheel. The force is applied to the rear universal wheel as a load, and shock and vibration are absorbed and mitigated. However, since the rear wheel to which the rider's load is most applied is directly attached to the frame column, the vibration and impact transmitted from the rear wheel are not absorbed, and the drawback remains that the rear wheel is directly transmitted to the passenger.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. A wheelchair that absorbs vibrations and shocks caused by unevenness and small steps on sidewalks, roads, and other passages, and is capable of comfortable riding and stable driving The purpose is to provide.

  According to the present invention, an upper frame and a lower frame are arranged as a pair, and the upper frame and the lower frame are connected to each other so as to be swingable in a vertical direction at a front shaft support portion. The upper frame and the lower frame are supported in a vertically movable manner by means of a shock absorber at the lower part of the seat near the connected central part. Both sides of the rear part are provided with a coupler in which a pair of upper and lower frames are connected via a buffer member such as a spring or a damper, and each upper frame and lower frame constitute a link together with the buffer device and the coupler. The wheelchairs are connected to each other so as to be swingable in the vertical direction around the shaft support portion.

  The shock absorber is provided with one coil spring and a damper provided coaxially. Or the said buffering device may be provided with two or more between the connection member of the said sheet | seat lower part, and the connection member of the said lower frame.

  According to the wheelchair of the present invention, small steps such as sidewalks and roads, road surface irregularities and the like are sufficiently absorbed to enable a comfortable ride and stable running.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a wheelchair according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The wheelchair 2 of this embodiment is used by a caregiver boarding and pushing a cared person, or by a person who has difficulty in walking because of a foot injury and turns the wheel himself.

  In the wheelchair 2 of this embodiment, as shown in the drawing, a pair of symmetrical upper frames 4 and a pair of lower frames 6 formed by welding or screwing together, appropriately cutting and combining aluminum alloy pipe members, form the vehicle body. Forming.

  The aluminum alloy forming the vehicle body of the wheelchair 2 of this embodiment is made of an aluminum wrought material obtained by pressing, forging, or extrusion. The wrought material includes 1000 series to 7000 series according to Japanese Industrial Standards due to the difference in additive elements, but the 5000 series or 7000 series is used for the wheelchair of this embodiment. Series 5000 is Al-Mg engagement gold with good corrosion resistance and excellent strength. The 7000 series is an Al—Zn—Mn engagement gold and has the highest strength among aluminum alloys.

  Next, the upper frame 4 forming the vehicle body will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper frame 4 is provided in a pair symmetrically, and is formed of a side frame 8, a footrest frame 10, seat frames 12 and 14, and a backrest frame 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the side frame 8 is formed by providing two curved portions on the pipe material, and the straight portions thereof become the footrest forming portion 18, the seat frame forming portion 20, and the vertical frame forming portion 22, It is formed symmetrically and provided as a pair.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the footrest frame 10 is formed by bending a pipe material into a U shape, and the left and right side frames 8 are connected by a footrest forming portion 18. Both end portions of the footrest frame 10 are inserted into the end portions of the footrest forming portions 18 of the left and right side frames 8, and are fixed by screws at appropriate positions. A semi-long circular reinforcing member 24 as shown in FIG. 3 is fixed to the footrest frame 10 by welding to form a footrest 26. Further, a shaft support portion 28 that rotatably supports the lower frame 6 is fixed to the middle of the footrest forming portion 18 of the side frame 8 by welding.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat frame forming portion 20 of the side frame 8 includes seat frames 12 and 14, which are connecting members made of two pipe members curved at both ends, and left and right seat frame forming portions. It is welded so that 20 may be connected. The right and left seat frame forming portions 20 are provided with a seat cloth and are fixed by screws 30 to form seat seat surfaces 32. When the passenger sits down on the seating surface 32, the seat frame 14 positioned just below the hips is welded with a shaft support portion 36 to which a shock absorber 34 composed of a damper 106 and a coil spring 108, which will be described later, is connected. Yes.

  Further, in the vertical frame forming portion 22 of the side frame 8, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the back frame 16 made of a semi-ellipse pipe material with curved ends is formed by the left and right vertical frame forming portions 22 as shown in FIG. Welded to connect. Further, a cap 38 is attached to the end of the vertical frame forming portion 22. A shaft support portion 42 is connected to the lower frame 6 via a spring-coupled connector 40 so as to be swingable before reaching the curved portion from the vertical frame forming portion 22. The spring connector 40 includes a coil spring and an expansion / contraction guide portion 112 that guides the spring in the expansion / contraction direction, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported by the shaft support portions 42 and 60. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a cloth is handed over and fixed to the left and right vertical frame forming portions 22 by a method (not shown) to form a seat back 44.

  Next, the lower frame 6 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower frame 6 includes a support frame 46, a reinforcing member duct connection part 50, a rear wheel support part 52, a brake support part 54, and a front wheel support subframe 56.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support frame 46 includes an L-shaped curved portion provided with a vertical frame forming portion 58 on one side, and is formed as a pair symmetrically. At the end of the vertical frame forming portion 58, there is formed a shaft support portion 60 which is a connecting portion for pivotally connecting the upper frame 4 and the spring-equipped connector 40. The portion corresponding to the bottom side of the L-shaped vehicle body is slightly refracted from the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction. In addition, a concave fitting portion of the rear wheel support portion 52 formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape is fitted into the support frame 46 and welded inside the curved portion. The rear wheel support portion 52 has a substantially trapezoidal shape with a corner portion dropped, and includes a plurality of rear wheel shaft mounting through holes 62. The rear wheel shaft mounting through-hole 62 can be appropriately selected at a symmetrical position. In addition, an inclination is added symmetrically in the direction facing the support frame 46, and when the rear wheel 64 is attached to the rear wheel support portion 52, this inclination forms a negative camber of the rear wheel 64. It has become. A rear wheel 64 formed integrally with a rear wheel shaft 66 provided with a bearing or the like has a rear wheel shaft 66 fixed to a rear wheel shaft mounting through hole 62 by a nut so as to be rotatable. The rear wheel 64 includes a spoke and a wheel 68 integrated with an aluminum alloy. A hollow tire 70 is mounted on the rear wheel 64, and a handle 72 made of an aluminum alloy having a slightly smaller diameter than the wheel is provided on the outside of the wheel 68. It is fixed by a support tool 74.

  In the vicinity of the welding position of the rear wheel support portion 52 of the support frame 46, reinforcing members 48 and 50, which are formed of pipe members that connect the left and right support frames 46, are connected. At the center in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing member 48 located on the bottom surface side of the vehicle body, a shaft support portion 76 that supports the upper frame 4 via the shock absorber 34 so as to be swingable is welded. In addition, a brake support portion 54 formed by bending a pipe material into an L shape is welded in the vicinity of the fitting position between the support frame 46 and the rear wheel support portion 52 located on the bottom surface side of the vehicle body. A brake device 78 and a lever 80 are provided at the tip.

  A front wheel support subframe 56 is provided in the vicinity of the end of the support frame 46 on the vehicle body bottom side. The vicinity of the end portion of the front wheel support subframe 56 is curved, and is welded to the left and right support frames 46 so that the curved opening direction is directed forward in the traveling direction of the wheelchair. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a columnar front wheel support portion 82 is fixed to the end portion of the front wheel support subframe 56.

  The front wheel support portion 82 has a through hole inside in the longitudinal direction, and a front wheel support 90 is attached to the through hole via a bearing or the like. Further, a shaft 84 is inserted into the through hole, and the shaft 84 is pivotally supported by a shaft retaining nut 88 on the bottom surface side by a shaft fastener 86 or the like inside the front wheel support portion 82. A fork-shaped front wheel support 90 is attached below the shaft locking nut 88 and fixed by a nut 92.

  The front wheel support 90 has a fork-like portion that supports the front wheel 94 formed obliquely with respect to the front wheel support portion, and a front wheel axle 96 is rotatably attached thereto. The front wheel 94 is formed by attaching a rubber tire 102 to a resin wheel 100.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an end portion of the support frame 46 on the bottom surface side of the vehicle body is formed with a shaft support portion 104 that is rotatably connected to the upper frame 4.

  The upper frame 4 and the lower frame 6 are connected to each other by a shaft support portion 104, a single shock absorber 34, and a right and left spring-coupled device 40 so that the shaft support portion 104 serves as a fulcrum and can swing in the vertical direction. The shock absorber 34 is formed by coaxially positioning a damper 106 and a coil spring 108 having a load resistance of, for example, about 40 kg. By rotating one adjustment ring 110 that sandwiches the coil spring 106, the stiffness by the coil spring 106 can be finely adjusted. It has become. As shown in FIG. 1, the shock absorber 34 is rotatably supported by a shaft support portion 36 of the upper frame 4 and a shaft support portion 76 of the lower frame 6. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the spring-coupled connector 40 is formed such that the telescopic guide portion 112 and the spring 114 are formed coaxially, and is rotatably supported by the shaft support portion 42 of the upper frame 4 and the shaft support portion 60 of the lower frame 6. Has been. The spring rate of the spring-coupled connector 40 may be set to be about ½ or less of the spring rate of the shock absorber 34, for example.

  According to the wheelchair 2 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, the upper frame 4 is located at one location near the center of gravity of the passenger near the center of the seating surface, Since it is elastically supported at three points of the spring-coupled connector 40 provided on the vertical frame forming portions 22 and 58 on the left and right of the backrest shown in FIG. 1, the shock received by the left and right rear wheels is affected by the shock absorber 34 and the spring. The attached coupler 40 absorbs, and further, the spring-coupled coupler 40 absorbs left and right rolling due to the deflection of the lower frame 6, so that vibration due to small steps such as sidewalks and roads and road surface irregularities is absorbed and stabilized. It makes it possible to run. In particular, the upper frame 4 and the lower frame 6 are connected by the shaft support portion 28 and the shaft support portion 104 and constitute a link mechanism that is rotatably supported by the shock absorber 34 and the spring-equipped connection 49. The vibration received by the vehicle is not directly transmitted to the seating surface 32, and the shock-absorbing and damping effects are great, thereby providing a good riding comfort. Furthermore, since vibration and impact are dispersed and absorbed at three points, the spring rate of the shock absorber 34 and the coupler with spring 40 can be made relatively small, and a softer ride is possible.

  In addition, the wheelchair of this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The said shock absorber may be provided with two or more between the connection member of the said sheet | seat lower part, and the connection member of the said lower frame. Thereby, it can be made comfortable with a small shock absorber.

  In addition, if the front wheel support portion is provided with a shock absorber or a spring, vibration from the front wheels is reduced, and it is even better to ride on small steps such as sidewalks and roads. Further, the angle of the backrest can be set as appropriate by changing the angle of the vertical frame forming portion of the side frame, and an armrest positioned between the passenger and the rear wheels on both sides can be attached to the vertical frame forming portion. good. Further, the frame of the wheelchair, the seat, the front and rear wheels, the handle material, and the like can be changed as appropriate, and the design of the front and rear wheels can also be set as appropriate.

It is a partially broken schematic back view which shows the attachment state of the buffering device of a wheelchair of one Embodiment of this invention, and the connection apparatus with a spring. It is a schematic plan view of the frame part of the wheelchair of this embodiment. It is a schematic top view of the frame part of the wheelchair of this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the wheelchair of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

2 Wheelchair 4 Upper frame 6 Lower frame 22 Vertical frame forming portion 28, 36, 42, 60, 76, 104 Shaft support 34 Shock absorber 40 Spring coupler 52 Rear wheel support portion 64 Rear wheel 106 Damper 108, 114 Coil spring 112 Expansion / contraction Guide section

Claims (2)

  The upper frame and the lower frame are arranged as a pair, and the upper frame and the lower frame are connected to each other so as to be swingable in the vertical direction at the front shaft support portion, and the pair of frames are integrated with each other. The upper frame and the lower frame are supported so as to be relatively movable up and down via a shock absorber at the lower part of the seat near the connected central part, and on the both sides of the rear part of the upper and lower frames. Each of the upper frame and the lower frame is connected to each other, and each of the upper frame and the lower frame forms a link together with the shock absorber and the connector and swings up and down around the shaft support portion. A wheelchair characterized by being connected. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the shock absorbers are provided between a connecting member at the lower part of the seat and a connecting member at the lower frame.

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