JP2010099317A - Handle operation type walker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a handle operation type walk aid for allowing a walker user having difficulty in direction control to perform the direction control with the slight force of an upper limb. <P>SOLUTION: The handle operation type walker is constituted by including a pair of universal caster type front wheels 7; a handle 2 arranged in the upper part of a rotary shaft 1 which vertically penetrates from a middle part between the wheels 7 to an upper elbow rest surface; a direction wheel 4 which is attached to a lower end, is a wheel axis fixing wheel pressurized by a spring 3 with respect to a ground surface, and pulled by a spring 5 so as to face a straight-ahead direction; and a pair of wheel axis fixing type rear wheels 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a handle-operated walker for persons with lower limb function impairments who can control the direction by steering operation without depending on leg strength or trunk twist.

In Japan, the number of people with lower limb dysfunction is about 600,000. Although it is important to use not only the feet but also the functions of the whole body to regain the standing walking function even a little, the current situation is that the function is not used effectively in the walking aid.

The walking assist device that supports the upper trunk of the body and puts the forearm on a table or armrest is easy to obtain the extension of the trunk and head because it is close to the standing position. Exercise is possible. Essentially, it is a tool to make up for the training motivation by making up for imbalance and lack of support ability and moving to the intended place. However, many users have left-right differences in the exercise ability of both lower limbs, and it is extremely difficult to move to the desired location.

On the other hand, there are many upper limb-dominated subjects who are excellent at hand control such as game operation. The hand is said to be one of the most excellent functions of human movement, but it is rarely used for direction control. The directional operation walking assist device by the left and right caster braking type is difficult to delicately control with the hand supporting the trunk, and there are few subjects who can use the hand and foot in coordination. These walking aids have a handle, and if you turn quickly by interlocking with the turning angle like a car handle with a light operation by the upper limb, the cooperation between the hand and foot will increase, and the use of muscle strength throughout the body will be promoted, Although it is possible to move to the target location, there is no walking aid with such a handle.

Also, on the training side, walking aids that support the upper trunk of the body by placing the forearm on a table or armrest are less than 10 minutes because of the heavy exhaustion of physical strength due to heavy leg load for maintaining the direction and turning. There are many subjects that cannot be sustained, which makes it difficult to exercise the training effect.

If there is a directional wheel handle type walking assist device that can draw out the right / left difference in the exercise ability of both lower limbs in a well-balanced manner using hand coordination, and if there is a device that can be operated by the upper limbs at the same time, The problem is solved.

However, the walking aid supports the upper part of the trunk with both forearms when walking, so even if you can walk while reducing the load on the lower limbs, to the place you thought due to the hemiplegia of the legs and the imbalance of the power of both legs It is impossible to move.

In addition, although it is possible to move with walking aids, it is difficult to control the direction, and subjects with superior upper limb functions can function in addition to supporting the upper trunk with both forearms to maintain a standing position. It cannot be utilized, and there is a problem that the duration of walking is short due to exhaustion of physical strength, and training effect and motivation improvement cannot be expected.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a walking assist device for a person with impaired leg function who has a superior upper limb function and can operate a direction with a slight force. It is.

In order to achieve the above object, a walking aid having a body moving mechanism composed of a plurality of non-powered wheels according to the present invention is a pair of universal caster type front wheels 7 and an upper elbow rest surface at an intermediate position therebetween. It has a directional wheel 4 fixed to the axle and a pair of axle-fixed rear wheels 6 attached to the upper end of the rotary shaft 1 vertically penetrating to the top plate 10 by pressing the handle 2 against the grounding surface with a spring 3 at the lower end. Constitute.

Here, by approaching the directional wheel offset value to zero, even when stopped, the handle 2 can be operated with a small force and turns immediately when moving, but the behavior of the directional wheel 4 becomes unstable with respect to the traveling direction. Therefore, by attaching the tension spring 5 so as to face forward, while maintaining a light operability, when the steering wheel is not operated, it goes straight, so that the physical strength can be preserved.

In addition, by adding the direction wheel 4 to the walking aid, the trajectory when empty is due to the direction wheel. To facilitate movement, the directional wheel lift lever 9 is arranged at the bottom of the handle, the directional wheel 4 is lifted by pushing down the lift lever 9, and the lifted state is maintained by hooking on the movable hook 8 to lock it. It can be moved.

By configuring the vertical frame 13 vertically on the middle position of the lower frame 12 of the pair of free caster type front wheels 7 and passing the rotary shaft 1 through the pipe of the vertical frame 13, a simple configuration can be realized.

The existing walking aid is equipped with pulleys 16a and 16b, with the left and right wires 15a and 15b wound around each other around the fork at the base of the fork of the universal caster with zero caster offset. By attaching a retrofit directional steering caster 14 characterized in that the direction is controlled by the degree of pulling of the wires 15a and 15b, it is possible to divert to a direction-operated direction device.

Even if it is difficult to use the walking aid due to the imbalance of both leg forces, the present invention can bend efficiently by operating the direction with the handle, so the travel distance is extended, slipping through narrow and complicated places, You can move to a place.

The present invention has low hand sophistication, and even if straight movement and direction change cannot be performed well due to imbalance of leg power, the direction wheel is directed forward by the spring, so it is possible to go straight without operating the steering wheel. .

Since the present invention improves the coordination between the hand and the foot and can efficiently use the slight remaining force, the duration of the training for using the walking assist device is extended and the purpose consciousness is increased. It is possible to promote the use of muscle strength of the whole body that has been rarely used until now.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view for explaining an example of a walking aid to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of universal caster type front wheels 7 provided on the lower frame 12 and an upper end of a rotary shaft 1 vertically penetrating to an elbow rest surface 10 which is an upper elbow rest surface at an intermediate position between them. An axle-fixed directional wheel 4 and a pair of axle-fixed rear wheels 6 that are attached to the lower end of the handle 2 by being pressed against the ground surface by a spring 3 are configured.

In order to allow the walking aid to be steered by the steering wheel, the steering wheel two-way wheel 4 is attached and fixed to the rotary shaft 1 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the directional wheel 4 is attached by being pressed against the ground surface by the spring 3. As shown in FIG. 5, the directional wheel offset value is brought close to zero, and the handle 2 can be operated with a small force. Since the behavior of the direction wheel 4 becomes unstable with respect to the traveling direction, a pulling spring 5 is attached as shown in FIG.

In order to avoid the movement trajectory when traveling empty to the directional wheel 4, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the directional wheel lift lever 9 is arranged at the lower part of the handle, and the directional wheel is pushed down. 4 is lifted and the lifted state is maintained by hooking on the movable hook 8 and locking.

The vertical frame 13 is configured vertically on the middle position of the lower frame 12 of the pair of free caster type front wheels 7 shown in FIG. 5, and the rotary shaft 1 is passed through the pipe of the vertical frame 13.

6 and 7, a retrofit directional steering caster 14 is a pulley in which left and right wires 15a and 15b are wound around a caster shaft in the vicinity of a fork portion root of a universal caster with zero caster offset while intersecting. 16a and 16b are provided, and the direction is controlled by the pulling condition of the two wires 15a and 15b. When the direction steering is further strengthened, a pressure is applied to the ground surface by a leaf spring 16 as shown in FIG.

Institutions, hospitals, schools, etc. will be able to work on their own to be aware of moving to the target place by introducing this walking aid, which will improve rehabilitation effects and improve educational motivation. By attaching a retrofit directional operation caster to the middle part of the free caster, the unstable directional operation is stabilized, and in the case of a caster cart, the direction can be easily changed even when carrying heavy objects.

The upper perspective view of a handle operation type walker. The lower perspective view of a handle operation type walker. The upper part sectional view of a steering wheel operation type walker. The lower part sectional view of a handle operation type walker. FIG. A rear view direction operation caster perspective view. A rear view direction operation caster front view. The perspective view attached to the retrofit direction operation caster via the spring.

Explanation of symbols

1 Rotating shaft 2 Handle 3 Spring 4 Direction wheel 5 Spring 6 Axle fixed rear wheel
7 Swivel caster type front wheel 8 Movable hook 9 Lift lever
10 Elbow rest surface
11 Upper frame
12 Lower frame
13 Vertical frame
14-direction steering caster
15a, 15b wire
16a, 16b pulley
17 leaf spring

Claims (5)

A walking aid with a body movement mechanism consisting of a plurality of non-powered wheels is composed of a pair of universal caster type front wheels, and an intermediate position between the upper shaft and the upper shaft, and a handle at the bottom and a spring at the bottom A walking aid comprising a directional wheel that is attached to and interlocked with a fixed axle fixed wheel against a ground contact surface, and a pair of axle fixed rear wheels. The walking assist device according to claim 1, wherein the directional wheel offset is set to zero and is pulled by a pulling spring so as to face forward. The walking aid according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for lifting and locking the direction wheel pressed by the spring. The caster offset is zero, and the pulley is provided around the caster shaft, with the left and right wires wound around each other, and the direction is controlled by pulling the two wires. A retrofit directional steering caster. A retrofit directional operation caster, which is attached to the direction steering caster fixing surface according to claim 4 via a spring.

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