JP2010259638A - Wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheelchair with a footrest position adjustment mechanism which is simple and safer. <P>SOLUTION: The leg support 24 of the wheelchair 14 includes a first pipe 26, a second pipe 30 and a footrest 40. The first pipe 26 is fixed to a main frame 16. The second pipe 30 is attached to the first pipe 26. The second pipe 30 is made axially upward and downward movable with respect to the first pipe 26. The footrest 40 is attached to lower one end of the second pipe 30. The second pipe 30 and the first pipe 26 permits the axial direction to be fixed by being contacted with each other by pressure. Either the first pipe 26 or the second pipe 30 has a long groove along the axial direction. The other has a protrusion. The protrusion prevents the first pipe 26 and the second pipe 30 from axially coming off by being projected into the long groove. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheelchair. In particular, the present invention relates to a wheelchair with improved leg support.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional wheelchair 2. The wheelchair 2 is used by persons with difficulty in walking on their own, such as physically disabled people, elderly people, and injured people. A user of the wheelchair 2 sits on the seat 4 of the wheelchair 2. The user's foot is placed on the footrest 8 of the leg support 6. Thereby, a user's leg is supported stably and the burden to a leg is reduced. Since this footrest 8 mounts a user's foot | leg, it is preferable that it can adjust according to a user's physique. The leg support 6 preferably includes a position adjusting mechanism for the footrest 8 relative to the seat 4.

JP 2002-78748 A

  The bone member 10 of the leg support 6 is fixed to the main frame 12 of the wheelchair 2. The bone member 10 and the main frame 12 may be formed of a metal pipe having a hole therein. As a position adjustment mechanism of the footrest 8, a structure in which a bar to which the footrest 8 is fixed is movably inserted into the hole of the bone member 10 can be considered. And the position of the footrest 8 can be adjusted by providing a fixing means in the moving direction between the bar and the bone member 10. As this fixing means, it can be considered that the bone member 10 and the bar are pressed against each other and fixed in the moving direction. By this fixing means, the position of the footrest 8 can be fixed at an arbitrary position in the longitudinal direction of the bone member 10. The position adjustment mechanism provided with this fixing means has a simple structure.

  Such fixing means may be slack for some reason. When looseness occurs, the footrest 8 is displaced downward. When the footrest 8 shifted downward comes into contact with the ground, the wheelchair 2 is prevented from traveling. Further, the wheelchair 2 that is traveling may cause the wheelchair 2 to stop or turn. Also, when the wheelchair is transported, the footrest may fall off.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair including a footrest position adjusting mechanism that is simple and safer.

  The wheelchair according to the present invention includes a main frame and a leg support. The leg support includes a first bone member that is long in the axial direction, a second bone member that is long in the axial direction, and a footrest for placing a foot. The first bone member is fixed to the main frame. The second bone member is attached to the first bone member. The second bone member is movable in the axial direction with respect to the first bone member. The footrest is attached to the lower end of the second bone member. The second bone member and the first bone member are pressed against each other and can be fixed in the axial direction. Either the first bone member or the second bone member is provided with a long groove along the axial direction thereof. The other of the first bone member and the second bone member includes a protrusion. The protrusion is protruded into the long groove to prevent the first bone member and the second bone member from coming off in the axial direction.

  Preferably, the first bone member is made of a first pipe and has a first hole. The second bone member includes a bone member body that is elongated in the axial direction. The footrest is attached to the bone member body. The bone member main body is inserted into the first hole so that the bone member main body is movable in the axial direction with respect to the first bone member. The bone member main body is pressed against the inner wall of the first hole so that the second bone member can be fixed to the first bone member. The bone member body has a long groove. The first bone member includes a protrusion.

  Preferably, the second bone member includes a cap. The cap includes a female thread extending in the axial direction and a first tapered surface formed at the lower end in the axial direction. The bone member body includes a second pipe and includes a second hole and a second tapered surface formed at the upper end in the axial direction. The first taper surface and the second taper surface are brought into pressure contact with each other so that the axis of the bone member body and the axis of the cap are displaced from each other. The bone member main body and the cap are configured to be pressed against the inner wall of the first hole due to the deviation between the axis of the bone member main body and the axis of the cap.

  Preferably, the long groove of the bone member body is formed by a hole penetrating the outer peripheral surface and the second hole. Alternatively, the long groove of the bone member body is formed by a concave portion on the outer peripheral surface.

  Preferably, the wheelchair includes a front wheel and a rear wheel. A plane including the ground contact surface of the front wheel and the ground contact surface of the rear wheel constitutes a reference surface. The second bone member and the lower end of the footrest are restricted from moving downward at a position above the reference plane.

  In the wheelchair according to the present invention, the footrest can be fixed at an arbitrary position within a slidable range. This footrest position adjusting mechanism has a simple structure and prevents the footrest from falling off. Furthermore, by restricting the lower end of the footrest, the safety of the wheelchair is increased.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a leg support of the wheelchair of FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the leg support of FIG. 4A is a side view showing the second pipe of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb of FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a part of the leg support of FIG. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another part of the leg support of FIG. FIG. 7A is a side view showing a second pipe according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIb-VIIb in FIG. . FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional wheelchair.

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

  The wheelchair 14 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main frame 16, a pair of rear wheels 18, a pair of front wheels 20, a seat seat 22, and a pair of leg supports 24. The rightward direction in FIG. 1 is the forward direction of the wheelchair 14, and the leftward direction in FIG. 1 is the rearward direction of the wheelchair 14. A direction perpendicular to the paper surface is the left-right direction of the wheelchair 14. In FIG. 1, the side surface of the wheelchair 14 is shown.

  The main frame 16 is made of a metal pipe. The pair of rear wheels 18 are attached to the lower rear side of the main frame 16. As shown in FIG. 1, one rear wheel 18 is attached to one side surface of the main frame 16. Although not shown, the other rear wheel 18 is attached to the other side surface of the main frame 16. The rear wheel 18 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the main frame 16. The pair of front wheels 20 are attached to the front lower side of the main frame 16. As shown in FIG. 1, one front wheel 20 is attached to one side surface of the main frame 16. Although not shown, the other front wheel 20 is attached to the other side surface of the main frame 16. The front wheel 20 is supported rotatably with respect to the main frame 16.

  The seat 22 is attached to the center of the main frame 16 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The seat sheet 22 is attached to a height at which it can be easily seated. The pair of leg supports 24 are attached to the front of the main frame 16. One leg support 24 is attached to one front side of the main frame 16. The other leg support 24 is attached to the front of the other side surface of the main frame 16.

  In FIG. 2, one leg support 24 is shown. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the leg support 24. The leg support 24 includes a first pipe 26 as a first bone member, a support pipe 28, a second pipe 30 as a second bone member, a footrest shaft 32, a bolt 34, a cap 36, a stopper 38, a footrest 40, and a protrusion. The screw 42 is provided.

  The first pipe 26 has a first hole 44 extending in the axial direction. The first hole 44 extends in the longitudinal direction of the first pipe 26. The first pipe 26 is bent obliquely forward and downward in the vicinity of one end 46 extending in the front-rear direction. From the bent portion to the other end portion 48 extends straight diagonally forward and downward. The bent portion to the other end portion 48 may extend straight downward in the vertical direction. A support pipe 28 is integrally fixed above the vicinity of the other end 48. The support pipe 28 extends rearward from the first pipe 26. A female screw 50 is formed at the other end 48 of the first pipe 26. The axis of the female screw 50 is orthogonal to the axial direction of the first pipe 26. One end 46 of the first pipe 26 is integrally fixed to the main frame 16. One end of the support pipe 28 is integrally fixed to the main frame 16. Thereby, the first pipe 26 is fixed to the main frame 16.

  FIG. 4A shows this second pipe 30. FIG. 4B shows a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. The left-right direction in FIG. 4A is the axial direction from the bent portion of the first pipe 26 to the other end 48. In the wheelchair 14, the left-right direction in FIG. The second pipe 30 is a pipe that extends straight. The second pipe 30 includes a second hole 52 formed along the axial direction. The second pipe 30 has a second tapered surface 54 at its upper end. The footrest shaft 32 is fixed below the second pipe 30. The footrest shaft 32 is a stepped round bar. The axis of the footrest shaft 32 is orthogonal to the axis of the second pipe 30. A hole 56 is formed in the second pipe 30 as a long groove. The hole 56 is a hole extending along the axis of the second pipe 30. The hole 56 penetrates between the outer peripheral surface of the second pipe 30 and the second hole 52. The hole 56 is formed between the second tapered surface 54 and the footrest shaft 32.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bolt 34 has a long round bar shape. The bolt 34 includes a male screw formed at the upper end and a head formed at the lower end. This head has the shape of a hexagon head.

  The cap 36 has a first tapered surface 58 at its lower end. The vertical direction in FIG. 3 is the axial direction of the cap 36. The cap 36 is formed with a female screw 60 penetrating in the axial direction. The cap 36 may be composed of a cap body having a hole penetrating in the axial direction and a nut formed with a female screw. By positioning the nut above the cap body, the same function as the cap 36 can be achieved.

  The footrest 40 includes a main body 62 and a mounting portion 64. The main body 62 is made of a flat plate. A mounting portion 64 stands upward at one end of the main body 62. A through hole 66 is formed in the attachment portion 64. The footrest shaft 32 is passed through the through hole 66. A stopper 38 is screwed to the tip of the footrest shaft 32. The footrest 40 is attached to the second pipe 30 via the footrest shaft 32. The footrest 40 is rotatable about the footrest shaft 32 as a rotation axis. The footrest 40 is rotatable with respect to the rotation axis in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the second pipe 30.

  A bolt 34 is passed through the second hole 52 of the second pipe 30. A female screw 60 of the cap 36 is screwed into the male screw of the bolt 34. The first tapered surface 58 of the cap 36 and the second tapered surface 54 of the second pipe 30 are opposed to each other. The second pipe 30, the footrest shaft 32, the bolt 34, the cap 36 and the stopper 38 constitute a movable part 68 of the leg support 24.

  Part of the second pipe 30, part of the cap 36 and part of the bolt 34 are inserted into the first hole 44 of the first pipe 26 from below. A screw 42 is screwed and fixed to the female screw 50 of the other end 48 of the first pipe 26. FIG. 5A shows the other end 48 of the first pipe 26 and a part of the second pipe 30 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 5B shows a cross section taken along line B-B in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, the tip of the screw 42 projects into the hole 56. A gap is formed between the tip of the screw 42 and the hole 56 in the circumferential direction of the second pipe 30. A gap is formed between the tip of the screw 42 and the bolt 34 facing the screw 42.

  A gap is formed between the inner wall of the first hole 44 of the first pipe 26 and the outer peripheral surface of the second pipe 30. The axis of the second pipe 30 can be displaced in the radial direction with respect to the axis of the first pipe 26. A gap is formed between the inner wall of the second hole 52 of the second pipe 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the bolt 34. The axis of the bolt 34 can be displaced in the radial direction with respect to the axis of the second pipe 30. A movable portion 68 is movable in the axial direction of the first hole 44 from the bent portion of the first pipe 26 to the other end portion 48.

  FIG. 6A shows a cross section of the other end 48 of the first pipe 26 in FIG. 2, a cap 36, a part of the second pipe 30, and a part of the bolt 34. When the bolt 34 is screwed into the cap 36 in the state of FIG. 6A, the first tapered surface 58 and the second tapered surface 54 approach each other. Further, when the bolt 34 is screwed into the cap 36, the first tapered surface 58 and the second tapered surface 54 are brought into pressure contact with each other. The axis of the second pipe 30 and the axis of the cap 36 are decentered, and the second pipe 30 and the cap 36 are in the state 6 (b). As shown in FIG. 6B, due to this eccentricity, the outer peripheral surface of the second pipe 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the cap 36 abut against the inner wall of the first pipe 26. The movement of the second pipe 30 relative to the first pipe 26 can be restricted by the frictional force of the contact. The second pipe 30 is fixed to the first pipe 26. In the wheelchair 14, the height position of the footrest 40 can be adjusted steplessly with respect to the first pipe 26. The footrest 40 can be set to an optimum height for the user.

  When the fastening between the bolt 34 and the cap 36 is loosened, the second pipe 30 can move in the axial direction with respect to the first pipe 26. The movement of the second pipe 30 relative to the first pipe 26 is possible within a range in which the tip of the screw 42 moves from the upper end to the lower end of the hole 56. The height of the footrest 40 can be adjusted within this range. Since the tip of the screw 42 enters the hole 56, the second pipe 30 is prevented from coming off from the first hole 44 of the first pipe 26. The second pipe 30 is prevented from falling off.

  A straight line L1 in FIG. 1 indicates a reference plane. The reference plane L1 is a plane including the ground contact surface 70 of the rear wheel 18 and the ground contact surface 72 of the front wheel 20. In the wheelchair 14, the downward movement of the lower end of the movable portion 68 is restricted above the reference plane L1. The downward movement of the lower ends of the second pipe 30 and the footrest 40 is restricted above the reference plane L1. With this configuration, the movable portion 68 is prevented from being grounded. In the wheelchair 14, the movable portion 68 is prevented from being grounded during traveling. Thereby, the safety | security of driving | running | working of the wheelchair 14 is improved more. The other leg support 24 is the left and right object of this one leg support 24, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 shows a second pipe 74 as a second bone member of a wheelchair according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the second pipe 74, a recess 76 is formed instead of the hole 56 of the second pipe 30. Other configurations are the same as those of the second pipe 30, and the description thereof is omitted. Even in the second pipe 74, the effect of the present invention can be obtained as in the second pipe 30.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Wheelchair 16 ... Main frame 18 ... Rear wheel 20 ... Front wheel 22 ... Seat seat 24 ... Leg support 26 ... First pipe 28 ... Support pipe 30, 72 ... Second pipe 32 ... Footrest shaft 34 ... Bolt 36 ... Cap 38 ... Stopper 40 ... Footrest 42 ... Screw 44 ... First hole 46 ... One end 48 ... the other end 50 ... female screw 52 ... second hole 54 ... second taper surface 56 ... hole 58 ... first taper surface 60 ... female screw 62 ..Main body 64 ... Mounting part 66 ... Through hole 68 ... Moving part 70, 72 ... Ground surface 76 ... Recess

Claims (6)

It has a main frame and leg support,
The leg support includes a first bone member that is long in the axial direction, a second bone member that is long in the axial direction, and a footrest for placing a foot.
This first bone member is fixed to the main frame,
The second bone member is attached to the first bone member, the second bone member is movable in the axial direction with respect to the first bone member,
This footrest is attached to the lower end of the second bone member,
The second bone member and the first bone member are pressed against each other to be fixed in the axial direction,
Either the first bone member or the second bone member has a long groove along the axial direction, and the other of the first bone member or the second bone member has a protrusion, and the protrusion is the long groove. A wheelchair that is protruded inward and prevents the first bone member and the second bone member from coming off in the axial direction. The first bone member comprises a first pipe and has a first hole;
This second bone member is provided with an elongated bone member body in the axial direction,
This footrest is attached to the bone member body,
The bone member body is inserted into the first hole so that the bone member body is movable in the axial direction with respect to the first bone member.
The bone member body is pressed against the inner wall of the first hole, and the second bone member can be fixed to the first bone member,
The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the bone member main body includes a long groove, and the first bone member includes a protrusion. The second bone member includes a cap;
The cap includes a female thread extending in the axial direction and a first tapered surface formed at the lower end in the axial direction.
The bone member body is composed of a second pipe, and includes a second hole and a second tapered surface formed at the upper end in the axial direction,
The first taper surface and the second taper surface are pressed against each other, and the axis of the bone member body and the axis of the cap are configured to be shifted from each other.
The wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the bone member main body and the cap are pressed against the inner wall of the first hole by the deviation between the axis of the bone member main body and the axis of the cap.   The wheelchair according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the long groove of the bone member body is formed by a hole penetrating the outer peripheral surface and the second hole.   The wheelchair according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the long groove of the bone member body is formed by a concave portion on an outer peripheral surface. With front and rear wheels,
A plane including the ground contact surface of the front wheel and the ground contact surface of the rear wheel constitutes a reference surface,
The wheelchair according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein downward movement of the second bone member and the footrest is restricted at a position above the reference plane.

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