JP2010068982A - Body aid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a body aid which allows a user to stoop for standing to work with a burden alleviated more efficiently on the waist of the user and can be avoided from becoming an obstacle to any other working. <P>SOLUTION: The body aid 1, which reduces a burden on the waist of a user Y who stoops for standing to work toward a washstand 2, includes: a bendable hanger 6, which is supported above the washstand 2 to hang down; and a thoracic limb suspender 7 which can be disposed vertically above the washstand 2 via the hanger 6 to lift at least the axillae Wl, Wr of the user Y upward from the bottom. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a body assisting tool that reduces the burden during forward tilting work, and more particularly, to a body assisting tool that reduces the burden on the user's waist.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a body assisting tool that reduces a burden on a user's waist during a washing operation that keeps a forward tilt in a standing posture such as a face wash is known. As this body support tool, a cushioning material is provided near the knee position at the bottom of the washstand and supported while the knee is bent, so that it is possible to perform a wash operation with the knee bent, and the calf and thigh What prevents the back muscles from stretching and burdening the waist is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Similarly, in the washstand, a support bar that extends forward from near the user's lower abdomen and can support the user's lower abdomen is provided to reduce the burden on the waist as in the case of providing the cushion material. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-38627 A JP-A-11-349218

  Recently, a verification method called a three-dimensional motion analysis system that can calculate a joint angle, a joint moment, a joint power, and the like by approximating a body to a model called a rigid link model has been used. This three-dimensional motion analysis system assumes that the segment of the human body is a rigid body that does not deform hard, and considers these segments to be connected by joints, taking into account the floor reaction force and gravity acting on this link model. Then, a dynamic model is created, and by estimating the burden on the hip joint, it is possible to verify the burden on the lumbar joint more accurately.

As a result of the verification by the three-dimensional motion analysis system, the conventional assistive device described above has a certain effect on reducing the burden on the knees and ankles, but is less effective on reducing the burden on the waist. The verification result that there was no was obtained.
In addition, since the conventional auxiliary tools are mainly composed of support bars and cushions that support the user's lower abdomen and lower limbs such as knees, a work table installed in a narrow space such as a dressing room or a corridor laundry room. In the case of the above, there are cases where other operations are obstructed when operations such as face washing are not performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when performing a standing work in a forward leaning posture, the burden on the user's lower back is more effectively reduced, and other work other than during work is obstructed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a body assisting device that can reduce the risk of becoming a person.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a user who stands and works in a forward leaning posture toward a work table (for example, the washbasin 2 in the embodiment) (for example, a user Y in the embodiment). ) Is a body assisting tool that reduces the burden on the waist (for example, the body assisting tool 1 in the embodiment), and has a flexible hanging part that is supported and suspended above the work table (for example, implementation) , 6a, 6b), and is arranged vertically above the work table via the suspending portion so that at least the armpits of the user (for example, the armpits Wl and Wr in the embodiment) are viewed from below. A supportable upper limb support part (for example, the upper limb support parts 7, 7a, 7b in the embodiment) is provided.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that two upper limb support portions are provided.

  The invention described in claim 3 includes an adjustment mechanism (for example, length adjustment mechanisms 21, 31, 45, jigs 50, 60 in the embodiment) for adjusting the height position of the upper limb support portion. To do.

  The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that the adjusting mechanism includes a length adjusting unit (for example, the length adjusting mechanism 21, 31, 45 in the embodiment) for adjusting the length of the hanging part. To do.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the adjusting mechanism is a jig (for example, the jigs 50 and 60 in the embodiment) that supports the hanging part with the ceiling or the wall, and the jig supports the hanging part. The position is configured to be slidable.

  The invention described in claim 6 includes an elastic member (for example, the belt 108 in the embodiment) that biases the upper limb support portion upward.

  The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the upper limb support portion includes a belt-like portion (for example, the belt 8 and the belt 108 in the embodiment).

  The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that the upper limb support portion includes a rod-like portion (for example, the bar 11 in the embodiment).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the arm of the user is supported from below by the upper limb support unit arranged vertically above the work table, and the load of the upper limb on the user's waist is distributed to the upper limb support unit. Therefore, the burden on the user's lower back can be reduced compared to the case of supporting the lower limbs. In addition, since the hanging part is arranged above the workbench, it does not get in the way when other work is performed around the workbench, and further has flexibility, for example, on a wall or the like. By providing and hooking the hook, even when a user who does not need assistance uses the work table, there is no obstacle.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the upper limbs can be supported by individually wrapping the two upper limb support portions under the left and right armpits of the user. Can reduce the burden on the lower back with a simple posture.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the height position of the upper limb support portion can be adjusted, when used by a plurality of users, it can be adjusted to the position of the armpit of each user.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since the length of the hanging portion can be adjusted by the length adjusting portion, the height position of the upper limb support portion can be easily adjusted according to the user's physique. .

  According to the invention described in claim 5, since the position of the hanging part can be displaced by the jig, the position of the upper limb support part can be easily displaced to the optimum position according to the physique of the user.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, since the height position can be displaced while urging the upper limb support portion upward by the elastic member, for example, the upper limb support portion of the upper limb support portion is in a state where the elastic member is most contracted. While the height position is set to the height position of the armpit of the user in the upright posture, the height position of the upper limb support portion is set to the height position of the armpit of the user in the forward leaning posture with the elastic member extended most. Therefore, the upper limb is biased upward by the upper limb support part while the angle of the user's upper limb is shifting from the upright posture to the forward leaning posture, and from the forward leaning posture to the upright posture. There is an effect that the burden applied can be further reduced.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the portion that contacts the user's upper limb is formed in a band shape, thereby preventing the load from being concentrated and reducing the user's feeling of pressure.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the portion that contacts the user's upper limb has a rod shape, for example, when the rod-shaped upper limb support portion is attached to be horizontal, the upper limb support portion is attached to and detached from the upper limb. It can be done easily.

Next, a body support tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the body assisting tool 1 according to the first embodiment is used by a user in washing, washing, conditioning, makeup, toothpaste, etc. in the wash basin 2 of the washroom. This supports the work of standing and leaning forward.
The body assisting tool 1 is mainly disposed vertically above the wash basin 2, and its base side is supported by the ceiling 3. A substantially annular hook 4 is attached to the ceiling 3, and a ring member 5 that is one size larger is locked to the hook 4. A belt-like belt 8 rich in flexibility is fixed to the ring member 5.

  The belt 8 is configured to be wound once, and is suspended by a substantially arcuate shape at a hanging part 6 fixed to the ring member 5 and gradually separated as it hangs down substantially vertically downward, and at a lower part of the hanging part 6. And an upper limb support portion 7.

  The upper limb support portion 7 has a predetermined height that can support the upper limb J from below the waist of the user Y through the armpits Wl and Wr on both sides of the user Y and the chest front M when the user Y tilts forward. It is arranged in the position. The lower surface of the ceiling 3, the hook 4 and the belt 8 are all set to a sufficient load (for example, about 200 kg) that does not break even when the user Y puts weight on the upper limb support portion 7. A hook is provided on a side wall (not shown) in the vicinity of 2, and when the user Y who does not need the body support tool 1 uses the washstand 2 by hooking the hook 8 near the upper limb support portion 7 of the belt 8, The body assisting tool 1 does not get in the way.

  As a result, when the user Y works toward the washstand 2, the user 8 pulls the belt 8 while standing on the front of the washstand 2, and both arms and head are placed on the inner side of the belt 8. Then, the upper limb J of the user Y is supported from below by the upper limb support unit 7 in the forward leaning posture with the upper limb support unit 7 in contact with the chest front M from the armpits Wl and Wr.

  Here, the burden on the waist of the user Y can be verified by the joint moment of the hip joint by the three-dimensional motion analysis system. FIG. 3 shows the time change of the joint moment during the washing operation when the conventional assisting tool is not used, and FIG. 4 shows the hip joint during the washing operation when using the body assisting tool 1 of the first embodiment. It shows the time change of the joint moment. 3 and 4, when the solid line is the joint moment of the right hip joint, the broken line is the joint moment of the left hip joint, and the height of the upper edge of the washstand is set to a standard height range of about 75 cm It is. Further, the elapsed time (hours) [%] on the horizontal axis is 100 [%] from the start to the end of the washing operation.

  In the case of FIGS. 3 and 4, the forward tilt is started near the elapsed time (time) 20 [%] on the horizontal axis, and the posture return to the upright state is started at the elapsed time (time) 80 [%]. The joint moment in the case of using the body assisting device 1 shown in FIG. 4 has a low peak at the start of the forward tilting and completes the forward tilting compared to the joint moment in the case of not using the body assisting device 1 shown in FIG. It is remarkably reduced after the posture is maintained, and rises again when returning to the posture. As a result of this verification, it has been clarified that the burden on the left and right hip joints when holding the posture is reduced by about 77% when the body assisting device 1 is used rather than when the body assisting device 1 is not used.

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment described above, the arm Y supporting the arm Y of the user Y from the lower side by the upper limb support unit 7 arranged vertically above the wash basin 2 from below, and the burden on the waist of the user Y Can be distributed to the upper limb support portion 7, so that the burden on the waist of the user Y can be greatly reduced compared to the case where the lower limb is supported.

Further, since the hanging portion 6 is disposed above the wash basin 2, it does not get in the way when other work is performed around the wash basin 2, and the belt 8 is highly flexible, so it is not illustrated. By providing a hook on the side wall or the like, the user Y who does not need assistance uses the washstand 2 or does not get in the way when working around the washstand 2.
Furthermore, since the upper limb support portion 7 is formed in a belt shape by the belt 8, it is possible to prevent the load from being concentrated compared to the case where the upper limb support portion 7 is formed in a string shape and to reduce the user Y's feeling of pressure.

In the above-described first embodiment, the case where the hanging portion 6 and the upper limb support portion 7 are formed by the belt 8 and is wound is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the first deformation is performed. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the hanging portion 6 may be a rope 10, and the upper limb support portion 7 may be a substantially cylindrical bar 11 having both ends connected to the lower end of the rope 10. In this case, as the outer diameter of the bar 11 is larger, the load applied to the front face M of the chest of the user Y is dispersed, and the user Y's feeling of pressure can be removed.
Similarly, as a second modified example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the hanging portion 6 may be a rope 10 and only the upper limb support portion 7 may be formed of a flexible belt 8. good.

  Furthermore, although the case where the body assisting device 1 is configured by using only one wound belt 8 has been described in the first embodiment described above, the configuration is not limited to this configuration. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, two wound belts 8 are fixed to the same ring 5, and hanging portions 6 a and 6 b and upper limb support portions 7 a and 7 b are provided. Also good. As a result, the upper limb support portions 7a and 7b are respectively placed on the armpits Wl and Wr through the two belts 8 wound around the right arm and the left arm. The upper limb J can be supported by supporting from below.

  Similarly to the second modified example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 as the fourth modified example, the hanging parts 6a and 6b may be the rope 10 and the upper limb support parts 7a and 7b may be the columnar bar 11, Although illustration is omitted, the hanging portions 6a and 6b may be formed of the rope 10 and the upper limb support portions 7a and 7b may be formed of the belt-like belt 8 as in the third modification.

  Next, a body holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, a length adjusting mechanism that adjusts the length of the belt 8 to adjust the height position of the upper limb support portion 7 is added to the configuration of the first embodiment described above. Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same parts, and only the length adjusting mechanism will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the body holder 1 of the second embodiment is provided with an attachment / detachment mechanism 17 on a hanging portion 6 at a position where the user Y can reach. The attachment / detachment mechanism 17 includes a tongue 15 and a plate 16 that is attached / detached by operating the button 20 of the tongue 15. A length adjusting mechanism 21 having a pair of slits 18 and 19 arranged in parallel is provided at the base portion 22 of the plate 16 of the attachment / detachment mechanism 17 so that the end portion of the belt 8 passes through the slits 18 and 19 sequentially. The belt length can be adjusted freely by folding it back. As a result, the length of the drooping portion 6 can be adjusted, and as a result, the height of the upper limb support portion 7 can be adjusted.

  The length adjusting mechanism 21 is not limited to the one described above as long as the length of the belt 8 can be adjusted and fixed. For example, a length adjustment mechanism 31 as shown in FIG. 14 can be used. The length adjusting mechanism 31 includes a frame body 32 and a rocking member 33 pivotally supported by the frame body 32 so that one end portion 34 of the rocking member 33 presses the frame body 32. The belt 8 is sandwiched between the one end portion 34 of the swinging member 33 and the frame body 32. When the length adjusting mechanism 31 presses the other end 35 of the swinging member 33 against the biasing direction of the swinging member 33 and widens the gap between the one end 34 and the frame 32, the belt 8. Will be slidable.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of holes 41 reinforced by metal fittings 40 are provided along the longitudinal direction at one end of the belt 8, and a buckle 44 having a locking rod 42 at the other end of the belt 8. It is also possible to use a length adjusting mechanism 45 that can adjust the length of the belt 8 by inserting the locking rod 42 into the buckle 44 and locking it in the desired hole 41 of one belt 8.

Next, another aspect of the second embodiment described above will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 16 shows a jig 50 for supporting the hanging portion 6 on the ceiling 3. The jig 50 includes a base 51 fixed to the ceiling 3 via a fastening member such as a screw (not shown), and is integrally coupled to the base 51 and extends vertically downward from the base 51 to the inner peripheral surface. A pipe portion 52 having a screw; an inner rod 55 having a male screw 54 that can be screwed to the pipe portion 52; and an annular ring 56 coupled to a lower portion of the inner rod 55. Is formed. The base side of the hanging part 6 of the first embodiment described above is inserted into the ring 56. By providing the jig 50 configured in this manner, the inner rod 55 can protrude and retract from the pipe portion 52 simply by rotating the ring 56. Therefore, the height position of the ring 56 is changed to change the height of the upper limb support portion 7. The position can be easily changed. In addition, the inner rod 55 may be provided on the base portion 51 and the ring 56 may be coupled to the pipe portion 52.

  Further, as a modification of the jig 50 described above, for example, a jig 60 as shown in FIG. 17 may be employed. The jig 60 shown in FIG. 17 is provided with a pipe portion 52, and a claw portion 57 that is biased radially inward is provided in the pipe portion 52. The claw portion 57 includes a horizontal upper surface 58, and can be displaced outward in the radial direction of the pipe portion 52 by operating the button B. On the other hand, on the outer periphery of the upper portion of the inner rod 55 of the jig 60, a horizontal lower surface 59 is formed at predetermined intervals so as to abut against the horizontal upper surface 58 of the claw portion 57 and to restrict downward displacement. Further, an inclined surface 61 is formed between each horizontal lower surface 59 so as to incline radially outward and downward. When the inner rod 55 is inserted into the pipe portion 52, the upper surface is always allowed to slide upward. This is a method that requires the operation of the button B only for sliding to the right. The mechanism for displacing the claw portion 57 is not limited to the button B described above, and may be a lever or the like, for example.

  In addition, in the other aspect of 2nd Embodiment mentioned above, although the case where the base part of the pipe part 52 was integrally couple | bonded with the base part 51 was demonstrated, it is not restricted to this structure, For example, a base part 51 is attached to the ceiling 3 in a penetrating state, and a hole penetrating in the vertical direction is provided in the base portion 51, and an inner rod 55 that can be slidably fixed by a screw type or a claw type may be attached to the hole. . Accordingly, the back of the ceiling can be used effectively, and the above-described pipe portion 52 does not protrude downward from the ceiling 3, which is preferable when the distance between the ceiling 3 and the washstand 2 is short.

  As a modification of the jig 60 shown in FIG. 17, for example, a plurality of positioning holes along the longitudinal direction are formed in the inner rod 55, and protrusions that can be inserted into and removed from these positioning holes are provided in the pipe portion 52 and the base portion 51. Furthermore, a button or lever for removing the protrusion from the positioning hole may be provided. As a result, not only when the inner rod 55 is slid downward, but also when it is slid upward, the button or lever for pulling out the protrusion from the positioning hole is operated. It can be simplified.

Furthermore, although the case where the base part 51 and the pipe part 52 of the jigs 50 and 60 are integrally coupled has been described, the pipe part 52 may be detachably attached to the base part 51. Note that various methods can be employed as the attachment / detachment mechanism. By comprising in this way, when the user Y who does not need assistance performs a washing operation, it can prevent that the body assistance tool 1 becomes obstructive by removing the pipe part 52. FIG.
And as a structure which adjusts the height position of the upper limb support part 7, it is not restricted to the structure mentioned above, Various structures, such as a hydraulic type by a cylinder and an electric type using a motor, can be used.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment described above, the length of the drooping portion 6 can be adjusted by the length adjusting mechanisms 21, 31, 45, so that the upper limb support portion can be easily adjusted according to the physique of the user Y. 7 height position can be adjusted. Furthermore, also when adjusting the vertical support position of the hanging part 6 with the jigs 50 and 60, the height position of the upper limb support part 7 can be easily adjusted according to the user's Y physique.

Next, a body support tool 101 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, since the body assistance tool 101 of this 3rd Embodiment provided the elastic member in the structure of 1st, 2nd Embodiment mentioned above, it attaches | subjects and demonstrates the same code | symbol to the same part. .
As shown in FIG. 18, the body assisting tool 101 is mainly composed of a belt-like belt 108, and like the body assisting tool 1 of the first embodiment, is attached to the hook 4 of the ceiling 3 vertically above the washstand 2. It is suspended via the ring member 5.
The belt 108 is formed of an elastic member such as elastic rubber. The belt 108 is composed of the hanging part 6 and the upper limb support part 7, and the vertical position of the upper limb support part 7 can be displaced mainly by expansion and contraction of the hanging part 6. Then, the height position of the upper limb support portion 7 is the height position of the armpits Wl and Wr in a substantially upright state before the user assumes a forward leaning posture when the belt 108 is most contracted (in FIG. Is set to be substantially the same as that indicated by the dotted line), and when the belt 108 is most extended, the heights of the armpits Wl and Wr of the armpits of the user Y that are in a forward tilting posture for work are set. Set to

  Therefore, according to the third embodiment described above, while the angle of the upper limb J of the user Y is shifted from the upright posture to the forward leaning posture and from the forward leaning posture to the upright posture, the upper limb J is formed by the belt 108 made of an elastic member. 4 is biased upward, for example, the maximum values of the first peak and the second peak of the joint moment shown in FIG. 4 can be reduced, and as a result, the burden on the waist of the user Y is further reduced. be able to. In addition, even when the upper limb J of the user Y moves up and down finely during the work, the upper limb support portion 7 can support and follow the movement of the upper limb J, so the burden on the waist can be more reliably reduced.

  In the above-described third embodiment, the case where the belt 108 is formed of an elastic member has been described. However, an elastic member that expands and contracts in the vertical direction is provided between the ceiling 3 and the upper limb support portion 7 to support the upper limb. The configuration is not limited to the above-described configuration as long as the height position of the portion 7 can be displaced by expansion and contraction of the elastic member. For example, only the drooping portion 6 is used as an elastic member, or between the ring 5 and the hook 4. It is good also as a structure of interposing an elastic member. The elastic member is not limited to rubber, and a coil spring, a leaf spring, or the like may be used.

In the first to third embodiments described above, the wash basin 2 has been described as an example. However, the work table is not limited to the wash basin 2, and the work in which the user Y stands in a forward leaning posture. It may be a table, for example, a kitchen sink. For example, the body assisting tool 1 is installed above the sink and can be used at the time of dishwashing. Moreover, the work in the washstand 2 is not limited to the wash face work, and may be various works such as hair washing.
And although the case where the body assistance tool 1 was supported by the ceiling 3 was demonstrated, you may make it support on the side wall located in the upper part of a work table. As a support method to the side wall, it is directly supported on a single side wall, for example, as an indirect support method, a branch line, a support bar, or the like is passed between opposing or adjacent side walls, and these branch lines, support bars, etc. You may make it support the body assistance tool 1 via this.

It is a perspective view of the body assistance tool in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure of the body assistance tool in the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. It is a graph which shows the time change of the joint moment during the washing operation in the case of not using the conventional replenishment tool. It is a graph equivalent to FIG. 5 at the time of using the body assistance tool in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the body aid in the 1st modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure of the body assistance tool in the 1st modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. It is a perspective view of the body aid in the 2nd modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure of the body assistance tool in the 2nd modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. It is a perspective view of the body aid in the 3rd modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure of the body assistance tool in the 3rd modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. It is a perspective view of the body aid in the 4th modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure of the body assistance tool in the 4th modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. It is a perspective view of the length adjustment mechanism in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the length adjustment mechanism in the modification of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the length adjustment mechanism in the other aspect of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the length adjustment mechanism in the other aspect of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the length adjustment mechanism in the modification of the other aspect of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the body assistance tool in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Washbasin Y User 1 Body aid 6, 6a, 6b Hanging part Wl, Wr Armpit 7, 7a, 7b Upper limb support part 8 Belt (band-like part)
11 bar (bar-shaped part)
21, 31, 45 Length adjustment mechanism (adjustment mechanism, length adjustment unit)
50, 60 Jig (adjustment mechanism)
108 Belt (band-like part, elastic member)

Claims (8)

A body support tool that reduces the burden on the user's lower back while standing in front of the work table,
An upper limb support that includes a flexible hanging portion that is supported above the workbench and that hangs down, and that is disposed vertically above the workbench through the drooping portion to support at least the armpit of the user from below. A body support device comprising a part.   The body support tool according to claim 1, wherein two upper limb support portions are provided.   The body support tool according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism that adjusts a height position of the upper limb support portion.   The body assisting device according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a length adjusting unit that adjusts a length of the hanging portion.   5. The body according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism is a jig that supports the hanging portion with the ceiling, and the jig is configured to be slidably displaced at a support position of the hanging portion. Auxiliary tool.   The body support tool according to any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising an elastic member that urges the upper limb support portion upward.   The body support device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper limb support portion includes a belt-like portion.   The body support device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the upper limb support portion includes a rod-shaped portion.

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