JP2011110304A - Link spring device and chair for motion aid including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a link spring device which allows a spring pressure adjustment mechanism of the link spring device to be arranged as an internal mechanism of the link spring device, thereby allowing a whole chair to be made more simple and compact than before, and to provide a chair for a motion aid including the link spring device. <P>SOLUTION: The link spring device 20 having the link mechanism constituted by combining a plurality of link units 201-204 intersected in an X shape includes a guide member 240. When the link spring device 20 is extended/contracted, the guide member 240 guides along circular arcuate curved surfaces 241, the lower ends of the link plates 215a, 215b of the link members 211a, 211b which are arranged at the bottom of the link mechanism. A seat portion 14 is attached to the link unit 201 in the top stage of the link spring device 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a link spring device and an exercise assisting chair provided with the link spring device, and more particularly, a link spring device having a link mechanism configured by connecting a plurality of link members combined in an X shape and the same. The present invention relates to an exercise support chair.

  Japan's aging is rapidly progressing, and the ratio of elderly people to the population has risen significantly. Many elderly people are suffering from weakness of their legs and joint pain, and many people are sitting on a chair, but the operation of sitting on a chair or standing up is still a heavy burden. Therefore, in order to reduce the burden when standing up from a chair and to eliminate the burden on the elderly, for example, JP-A-8-670 (Patent Document 1), JP-A-8-112314 (Patent Document 2), JP Various proposals have been made in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-267410 (Patent Document 3).

  Under such circumstances, the inventors of the present invention have developed a patent application for a link spring device in which the entire link mechanism works like a single spring (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-107678 (Patent Document 4)). ) By using the link spring device, it can be used as a chair, and it is possible to perform an appropriate exercise by repeating it while assisting the user to sit on or stand up on the chair. A chair having an exercise assisting device function was developed and proposed (Japanese Patent No. 3795057 (Patent Document 5)).

  In the above-described link spring device invented by the inventors of the present invention, as shown in Patent Documents 4 and 5, when a load is applied, the link gradually lowers and becomes lower, but to a certain height. When it becomes lower, the force to support the load is weakened. In other words, this link spring device gradually contracts while supporting a strong load at a certain height, but when it is compressed to a certain extent, the link mechanism is now compressed with a force weaker than the force applied so far. It becomes like this.

  In this regard, in the case of a normal push spring, when a load is applied gradually from an unloaded state, it can be initially shrunk with a small load, but the repulsive force gradually increases as the shrunk. However, this link spring device has the property that it acts on the load in a completely opposite manner to the conventional push spring. For this reason, when the user sits on the chair and the seat part falls to some extent and the weight of the link spring device is weakened when the weight of the user is applied to the chair, the seat surface suddenly falls, which is not practically preferable. Therefore, the chair provided with the exercise assisting device function shown in the cited document 5 is configured to adjust the pressing force of the link spring device by providing a spring pressure adjusting mechanism for adjusting the pressing force which is expanded and contracted horizontally. Was.

  However, in the case of a spring pressure adjusting mechanism in which a coil spring that expands and contracts in the horizontal direction is provided on the surface of the pedestal, there is a problem in that the place of placement is restricted because the surface area of the pedestal must be increased accordingly. Of course, if the surface area of the pedestal is large, the stability of the chair is good, but if it takes up too much space, it is not convenient.

  Therefore, the inventors of the present invention, unlike the chair having the exercise assisting device function shown in the cited document 5, in order to allow the entire chair to be compacted without taking up a large surface area of the pedestal. We devised a spring pressure adjustment mechanism for adjusting the pressing force of the link spring device arranged in the direction (height direction), and proposed a chair equipped with a bending-extension motion assisting function attached to it (Utility Model Registration No. 1) 3180771 (patent document 6)).

JP-A-8-670 JP-A-8-112314 JP 2004-267410 A JP 2007-107678 A Japanese Patent No. 3795057 Utility Model Registration No. 3138071

  According to the chair provided with the bending / extending motion assist function shown in Patent Document 6, since the elastic body is arranged so that the spring pressure adjusting mechanism expands and contracts in the expansion / contraction direction of the link spring device, that is, the vertical direction, it is necessary to increase the surface area of the base. Therefore, the entire chair could be made compact while eliminating the attenuation of the pressing force of the link spring device.

  In the chair provided with the bending / extending motion assisting function described in Patent Document 6 described above, the spring of the link spring device is eliminated by providing a spring pressure adjusting mechanism in which an elastic body that expands and contracts in the vertical direction is provided by a tension spring. The spring pressure adjusting mechanism is provided outside the link spring device. For this reason, there is a concern that the device becomes complicated because the mechanism requires another mechanism called a spring pressure adjusting mechanism in addition to the link spring device, and the number of parts increases, which requires time and effort.

  Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention have made a study to make the spring pressure adjusting mechanism for eliminating the damping of the pressing force of the link spring device 20 a simpler mechanism and to make the chair using the link spring device simple and compact. As a result, a mechanism for eliminating the damping of the link spring device was successfully incorporated into the link spring device itself. That is, the present invention is different from a chair having a bending / extending motion assisting function shown in Patent Document 6 in that a spring pressure adjusting mechanism for adjusting the pressing force of the link spring device is not attached to the outside of the link spring device. An object of the present invention is to provide a link spring device in which a mechanism for eliminating the damping of the link spring device is incorporated in the link spring device itself.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a chair configured using a link spring device in which a mechanism for eliminating the damping of the link spring device is incorporated in the link spring device itself.

  Furthermore, in the chair provided with the bending / extending movement assist function shown in Patent Document 6, it was difficult to rotate the seat portion because the spring pressure adjusting mechanism was attached to the outside, and the link spring device that made it possible was also provided. The purpose is to provide a chair.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is arranged such that two link plates are arranged so that link members made to cross each other in an X shape face each other, and the intersections of the link members facing each other are arranged. Are connected to each other by the central axis, and the end portions of the link plates are connected to each other by the connecting shaft to form a link unit, and the link shaft on the upper side of the link unit and the other link units disposed thereon are connected. Elasticity that forms a link mechanism that can be expanded and contracted by connecting a plurality of lower connecting shafts in common, and that urges the connecting shafts positioned so as to face each other in the direction of extending the link mechanism In the link spring device constructed by laying the members, the link member arranged at the lowermost part of the link mechanism is retracted when the link spring device expands and contracts. Characterized in that a guide member for guiding the lower end portion of the click plate along the arc-shaped curved surface.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 2 is the link spring device according to claim 1, wherein the roller member is attached to the lower end portion of the link plate guided along the arcuate curved surface of the guide member. It is characterized by that.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 3 is the link spring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the link member disposed at the lowermost portion is provided between the lower end side of the link unit and the guide member. In addition, an elastic member is installed on the base, and the attachment position of the elastic member can be changed.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 4 is the link spring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a guide member is provided that regulates the expansion and contraction direction of the link mechanism that expands and contracts. It is characterized by.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a fifth aspect of the present invention is an exercise assisting chair comprising the link spring device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the link spring device is disposed. A base, a seat attached to the link unit located at the top of the link spring device, an upper limit stopper for restricting the upper limit position of the link mechanism, and a lower limit stopper for restricting the lower limit position of the link mechanism It is characterized by.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 6 is the exercise assisting chair provided with the link spring device according to claim 5, comprising a backrest and an armrest, and the backrest and the armrest are independent of the link spring device. It is characterized by being fixed on the base.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 7 is the exercise assisting chair provided with the link spring device according to claim 5, wherein the link spring device is rotatably attached to the base. It is characterized by.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 8 is the chair for exercise assistance provided with the link spring device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, and is located at the uppermost part of the link spring device. Of the pair of link plates constituting the link unit, the seat portion is attached in a state where the upper side is cut from the central axis of the link plate on one side.

  According to the link spring device and the exercise assisting chair including the link spring device according to the present invention, since the spring pressure adjusting mechanism for canceling the attenuation of the link spring device is incorporated in the link spring device itself, the pressing force does not attenuate midway. There is an effect that the link spring device can be provided by a simple mechanism. Further, when such a link spring device is used for a chair, there is no need to provide a spring pressure adjusting mechanism outside, and there is an effect that the mechanism of the entire chair can be formed easily and compactly. Furthermore, since a mechanism for eliminating the damping of the link spring device is incorporated in the link spring device itself, the link spring device can be rotatably mounted on the base, and the chair can be rotated.

1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a link spring device according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a link unit. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the link spring apparatus shown in FIG. 1 contracted. It is a perspective view which shows the lowermost link unit. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the link unit of the lowest end part extended | stretched, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which a link unit opens with a load. It is side surface partial sectional drawing which shows preferable 1st embodiment of the exercise | movement assistance chair provided with the link spring apparatus of the extended state. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the exercise assisting chair of FIG. 6 in a compressed state. It is a top view of the chair for exercise assistance of FIG. It is side surface partial sectional drawing which shows 2nd embodiment of the chair for exercise assistance provided with the link spring apparatus of the extended state. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the exercise assisting chair of FIG. 9 in a compressed state. It is a top view of the chair for exercise assistance of FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a link spring device according to the present invention and an exercise assisting chair including the link spring device will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a preferred embodiment of a link spring device according to the present invention will be described, and then a preferred embodiment of a chair provided with the link spring device will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a link spring device according to the present invention.

[Link spring device]
As shown in FIG. 1, the link spring device 20 is generally configured by connecting four link units 201 to 204 in the vertical direction. Each link unit 201 to 204 will be described by taking the link unit 204 as an example. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of link members 211a and 211b formed by intersecting two link plates 215a and 215b in an X-shape. They are arranged so as to oppose each other, and the intersections of the link plates 215a and 215b of the link members 211a and 211b are rotatably connected by the central shaft 217, and the end portions of the link plates 215a and 215a facing each other are connected to each other. The link unit 204 is formed by connecting the vicinity of the end portions of the link plates 215b and 215b facing each other with a connecting shaft 219b. The link units 201 to 203 are also formed with substantially the same configuration as the link unit 204. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same member also about link units 201-203.

  The link plates 215a and 215b are, for example, plate-like members formed by making a steel plate into a thin and thin plate shape. It is installed. Accordingly, the link plates 215a and 215b are provided with holes in at least three locations. Of course, the material and shape of the link plates 215a and 215b are not limited to this, and can be formed of an appropriate material having rigidity.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting shafts 219b and 219b arranged on the lower side of the link unit 204 are shared with the upper connecting shafts 219a and 219a of the link unit 203 arranged on the lower side thereof. Similarly, in the other link units 202 and 201, the connecting shafts 219a and 219a and the connecting shafts 219b and 219b are shared. In FIG. 1, the reference numerals of the shared connecting shafts are shown as 219a and 219b, respectively, but they are substantially the same regardless of which of them are indicated by 219a and 219b. In this way, a link mechanism that can be expanded and contracted is formed by connecting a plurality of link units 201 to 204 in the vertical direction.

  In the link mechanism thus formed, the direction in which the link mechanism is extended between the connecting shafts 219a and 219a and the connecting shafts 219b and 219b arranged in parallel so as to face each other (FIG. 1). An elastic member 220 made of, for example, a tension spring is erected in the direction of the arrow in FIG. One or a plurality of elastic members 220 can be disposed between the pair of connecting shafts 219a and 219a and the pair of connecting shafts 219b and 219b.

  The central shaft 217 that connects the holes 216a and 216a of the pair of link members 211a and 211b formed by the link plates 215a and 215b is formed of a round bar-like member. On the other hand, the connecting shafts 219a and 219b that connect the hole portions 216b and 216b of the link plates 215a and 215b are also formed of a round bar-like member. By appropriately adjusting the lengths of the central shaft 217 and the connecting shafts 219a and 219b and the lengths of the link plates 215a and 215b, a stable link spring device 20 having a relatively large mounting area can be obtained. The link spring device 20 can be used. In addition, by interposing a ball bearing or the like on the central shaft 217 and the connecting shafts 219a and 219b, the link plates 215a and 215b can be smoothly opened and closed, and the expansion and contraction of the link spring device 20 can be made smoother.

  On the other hand, in the link spring device 20 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, an arc base 240 having an arc-shaped curved surface 241 is disposed below the link unit 201 located at the lowermost part. Each of the lower end portions of the link plates 215a and 215b constituting each of the link plates is guided along arcuate curved surfaces 241 and 241 provided on the arc base 240 as the link spring device 20 expands and contracts. The arc base 240 includes two side plates 242 and 242 each having a semicircular curved surface 241 having an approximate radius from the hole 216a located at the intersection of the link plates 215a and 215b to the lowest end. Rollers 230 and 230 are formed so as to be erected at two positions with the same width interval as the width interval where the link members 211a and 211b are arranged, and attached to the lower ends of the link plates 215a and 215b It is guided along the curved surface 241. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 5A, when a force F is applied to compress the extended link spring device 20 downward, the lower ends of the link members 211 a and 211 b are guided to the roller 230. However, at this time, the force F is firmly supported by a relatively strong force due to the repulsive force of the link spring device 20 itself. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, only the lowermost link unit 201 is shown.

  When a force F is applied in a direction to further compress the link spring device 20 and the link spring device is lowered to a predetermined height, the link spring device 20 gradually attenuates the repulsive force of the link spring device 20 with respect to the force F due to its property. . However, in order to further compress the link spring device 20, the lower ends of the link members 211a and 211b must be pushed and expanded so as to move further upward along the curved surface 241. At this time, the force necessary to spread the lower end side of the link members 211a and 211b is larger than that when the link spring device 20 is extended. This force becomes a resistance against the compression of the link spring device 20, and the attenuation when the link spring device 20 is compressed is eliminated. Needless to say, the link spring device 20 is extended upward by the force of the elastic members 220 and 220 except for the force F.

  Further, the elastic members 245 and 245 made of spring members are provided between the lower end side of the link members 211a and 211b constituting the link unit 201 disposed at the lowermost portion where the rollers 230 and 230 are attached and the arc base 240. Is installed, and the mounting positions of the elastic members 245 and 245 can be changed. A force opposite to the damping of the link spring device 20 is further applied by the force of the elastic members 245 and 245, and the spring pressure of the elastic members 245 and 245 is adjusted by appropriately changing the mounting position, thereby the link. The force opposing the damping of the spring device 20 can be adjusted. Of course, it goes without saying that the force opposed to the damping of the link spring device 20 can be adjusted by replacing the elastic member 245 itself with one having a different spring pressure.

  Here, unlike the link units 202 to 204, the center axis 217 of the lowermost link unit 201 is not a round bar connecting the link members 211a and 211b, but an arc instead of a collapse prevention guide 250 described later. It is attached via support members 217a and 217a attached so as to stand upright from the side plates 242 and 242 on both sides of the base 240, respectively. With this configuration, a fall prevention guide 250, which will be described later, is arranged and erected substantially at the center of the link mechanism without being obstructed by the center axis 217 of the link unit 201.

  The fall prevention guide 250 is disposed substantially at the center of the arc base 240, and its upper end is attached to the center shaft 217 of the link unit 202, and is disposed so as to expand and contract in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the link mechanism. . The fall prevention guide 250 is a member that regulates the expansion and contraction direction when the link mechanism expands and contracts in the vertical direction. The fall prevention guide 250 is a member formed by nesting hard rod members in a plurality of stages, and regulates the expansion / contraction direction of the link mechanism. By arranging the fall prevention guide 250 to extend and contract in the vertical direction, the expansion and contraction direction of the link mechanism is stabilized.

  Next, the operation of the link spring device 20 described above will be described. First, the link spring device 20 is biased in the extension direction by the elastic members 220 and 220 disposed between the connecting shafts 219a and 219a and the connecting shafts 219b and 219b (the state shown in FIG. 1). . When the force F is applied in the direction in which the link spring device 20 is compressed, the force F is initially supported by the repulsive force of the elastic member 220. When a force F is further applied, the link spring device 20 is gradually compressed and its height is lowered. When the link spring device 20 is compressed to a predetermined height position, the repulsive force by the elastic members 220 and 220 is weakened and attenuated, but the lower ends of the link members 211a and 211b move further upward along the curved surface 241. The link spring device 20 is compressed to the end while being loaded with a substantially constant force F without causing any damping. . And the spring pressure of the link spring apparatus 20 can be adjusted by changing suitably the attachment position of the elastic member 245 constructed so that attachment position can be changed.

[Exercise chair with link spring device]
Next, an exercise assisting chair provided with the above-described link spring device 20 will be described. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a first preferred embodiment of the exercise assistance chair provided with the link spring device in the extended state, and FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the exercise assistance chair of FIG. 6 in a compressed state. 8 is a plan view of the exercise assisting chair of FIG.

[First embodiment]
The illustrated exercise assisting chair 1 according to the first embodiment schematically includes a base 11, struts 13 and 13 erected on four sides of the base 11, and seats supported by the struts 13 and 13. A plate 12 (see FIG. 8), a backrest 15 and armrests 17 and 17 fixed to a frame (not shown) including the columns 13 and 13, a link spring device 20 disposed on the base 11, and a link spring device 20 It comprises a seat 14 attached to the upper part.

  The base 11 is a flat plate member that supports the exercise assisting chair 1 and can be formed of a metal plate, a synthetic resin plate, or a wooden plate. Four supports 13 and 13 (only two are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) are erected on the base 11, and a seat plate 12 is attached to the top of the supports 13 and 13. . Although not shown, the support columns 13 and 13 are provided with a height adjustment mechanism that can adjust the height position of the seat plate 12 to a height at which the user can easily sit. The seat plate 12 is formed with an opening for accommodating a seat 14 attached to the upper part of the link spring device 20, and when the link spring device 20 is compressed and lowered to the lowest position by a lower limit stopper described later. It is configured to be flush with the seat plate 12. Further, a backrest 15 and armrests 17 and 17 are fixed to a frame (not shown) including the columns 13 and 13. Here, the armrests 17 and 17 are attached to the upper part of the support bar 17a so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and an unnatural posture when the user stands up by moving the armrests 17 and 17 forward. You can grab it without unreasonableness. Moreover, the front end 17b side of the armrests 17 and 17 has a shape that can be easily grasped by the user. The armrests 17 and 17 may be provided with a lock mechanism that is fixed at the frontmost position and the rearmost position when they are slid. Also, casters 11a and 11a are attached to the four corners of the bottom surface of the base 11, so that the exercise assisting chair 1 can be easily moved. The casters 11a and 11a are preferably provided with stoppers so that they can be fixed at the place of use.

  The link spring device 20 attached to the base 11 includes three link units 201 to 203, and the specific mechanism thereof is the same as that of the link spring device 20 described above. The link spring device 20 used in the illustrated exercise assisting chair 1 is located on the front side of the exercise assisting chair 1 among the link plates 215a and 215b constituting the uppermost link unit 203. The link plate 215b becomes a shape in which the upper side of the central axis 217 is cut and removed.

  The seat portion 14 is attached to a fastening member 215g such as a nut that pivotally supports a connecting shaft 219b (see FIG. 2) at the lower end portion of the link plate 215a constituting the link unit 203 via a support plate 215f. A fastening member 215h such as a nut that pivotally supports a connecting shaft 219a (see FIG. 2) at the upper end of the link plate 215a of the link unit 203 is attached via a support plate 215i. With this structure, when the user sits on the seat 14 and the link spring device 20 is compressed to the lowest position, the seat 14 is flush with the seat plate 12. Then, when the user stands up and the link spring device 20 is extended, the seat portion 14 is inclined obliquely.

  The movement of the seat portion 14 is such that when the user stands in front of the seat portion 14 trying to sit on the exercise assisting chair 1, the seat portion 14 is obliquely positioned in the vicinity of the user's buttocks. Acts as a guide for easy sitting. When the user performs an operation of sitting with the buttocks on the seat 14, the seat 14 gradually becomes horizontal while supporting the user's buttocks, and finally the seat 14 becomes horizontal. It is flush with the seat plate 12. During the seating operation of the user, the link spring mechanism of the link spring device 20 supports the weight of the user, so that an elderly person with weak legs and the like can sit down comfortably while the weight of the seat 14 is supported. Can do. Conversely, when the user stands up, the link spring mechanism of the link spring device 20 acts to push up the user's buttocks, so that the user can stand up easily. In this way, the link spring device 20 assists the user to sit and stand up, so that the exercise assisting chair 1 can be used to easily bend and stretch even for elderly people with weak legs and the like. It becomes possible.

  Further, since the exercise assisting chair 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that only the seat portion 14 is expanded and contracted by the link spring device 20, the user holds the armrests 17 and 17 that are fixed and do not move, and bends and stretches while maintaining the posture. Can do exercise.

  The curved surface 241 of the arc base 240 of the link spring device 20 used in the illustrated exercise assisting chair 1 is formed in a slit shape in this embodiment, and the curved surface opened in the slit shape. The rollers 230, 230 attached to the lower ends of the link members 211 a, 211 b are guided along the line 241. In this case, it is preferable that the roller 230 has a substantially H shape so that the roller 230 does not fall off the curved surface 241 so that the roller 230 does not come off the slit-shaped curved surface 241.

  Further, the link spring device 20 used in the illustrated exercise assisting chair 1 is attached with rollers 230 and 230 of link members 211a and 211b constituting the link unit 201 disposed at the lowermost portion of the link spring device 20. The elastic members 245 and 245 made of a spring member are laid between the lower end portion and the arc base 240 so that the mounting position thereof can be changed, thereby reducing the pressing force of the link spring device 20. The force acting on the spring pressure adjusting mechanism for eliminating the pressure can be adjusted. That is, the position changing member 245a is appropriately arranged on the side plate 242 of the arc base 240 with a plurality of locking portions for locking one end of the elastic member 245 at different distances to the lower ends of the link members 211a and 211b. 245a are provided at two locations, and one end of each elastic member 245, 245 is locked to an appropriate locking portion of the corresponding position changing member 245a, 245a, so that the spring pressure against the damping of the link spring device 20 Can be adjusted.

  Further, the exercise assisting chair 1 of the present embodiment is provided with an upper limit stopper 261 that regulates the upper limit position of the link spring device 20 and a lower limit stopper 263 that regulates the lower limit position of the link spring device 20. That is, the curved surface 241 formed in the slit shape in the side plate 242 is sandwiched between the two rollers 230 disposed at the lower end portion of the link member 211a and the rollers 230 disposed at the lower end portion of the link member 211b. Thus, the upper limit stopper 261 for restricting the movement of the link members 211a and 211b in the extending direction is arranged, and even if the link unit 201 tries to extend, the movement is blocked by the upper limit stopper 261 so that it does not extend further. Thus, the upper limit position of the seat portion 14 is regulated. Therefore, the height position of the seat portion 14 can be adjusted by appropriately changing the attachment position of the upper limit stopper 261 between the curved surfaces 241 opened in a slit shape.

  On the other hand, a lower limit stopper 263 is provided below the seat portion 14 so as to protrude downward with a predetermined length. That is, the lower limit stopper 263 is adjustable in length, and comes into contact with the upper end portion of the fall prevention guide 250 when the seat portion 14 is lowered to a predetermined position. As a result, when the seat portion 14 is lowered to a predetermined position, the lower limit stopper 263 is brought into contact with the upper end portion of the prevention guide 250 so that the seat portion 14 is not lowered further. The adjustment of the lower limit position of the seat portion 14 by the lower limit stopper 263 is performed in conjunction with the height position adjustment of the seat plate 12 (not shown) provided in the support columns 13 and 13, and the seat portion 14 is positioned at the lowermost position. The adjustment is preferably performed so as to be flush with the seat plate 12. Further, the exercise assisting chair 1 is used as a normal chair by separately providing a fixing mechanism that fixes the lower limit stopper 263 in contact with the upper end of the fall prevention guide 250 to stop the function of the link spring device 20. You can also.

  The method of using the exercise assisting chair 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. First, the user places the link spring device 20 in an extended state so that the seat portion 14 is positioned in the vicinity of the user's buttocks. . The user puts his / her buttocks on the seat 14 and slowly sits down while holding the armrests 17 and 17 fixed to the supports 13 and 13 with both hands. At this time, the link spring device 20 slowly lowers the seat portion 14 while supporting the weight of the user without causing rapid attenuation by the spring pressure adjusting function. When the seat portion 14 is flush with the seat plate 12, the lower limit stopper 263 is brought into contact with the upper end portion of the prevention guide 250 and further lowering of the seat portion 14 is prevented, and the user can sit on the exercise assisting chair 1. it can.

  When the user stands up, the user's buttocks are pushed up by the force of the link spring device 20 if the user slowly stands up while supporting the weight of the user with the armrests 17 and 17, and the burden when the user stands up is reduced. By repeating this operation several times, even an elderly person with weak legs and the like can perform a bending and stretching exercise (squat exercise) while being supported by the force of the link spring device 20.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the exercise assistance chair 1 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a side partial cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the exercise assisting chair provided with the link spring device in the extended state, and FIG. 10 is a partial side cross-sectional view in a state where the exercise assisting chair of FIG. 9 is compressed. 11 and 11 are plan views of the exercise assisting chair of FIG.

  The exercise assisting chair 2 according to the illustrated second embodiment is roughly composed of a base 11, a link spring device 20 disposed on the base 11, and a seat attached to the upper part of the link spring device 20. A portion 14, and a backrest 15 and armrests 17 and 17 supported by the link spring device 20 are provided. 9 to 11, the same components as those in the exercise assisting chair 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The exercise assisting chair 2 in the present embodiment basically has the same configuration as the exercise assisting chair 1 in the first embodiment, and the main difference is that the exercise assisting chair 2 includes struts 13 and 13 and a frame (not shown). The backrest 15 and the armrests 17 and 17 are attached to the link spring device 20, and the link spring device 20 is attached to the base 11 so as to be rotatable about the fall prevention guide 250.

  The link spring device 20 is attached to the base 11 so as to rotate about the fall prevention guide 250 as a rotation axis. A known mechanism can be adopted as the rotation mechanism, but it is preferable that the rotation mechanism has a fixing mechanism that can be fixed at a desired position. An attachment plate 201a is arranged on the upper part of the link unit 201 located at the uppermost stage of the link spring device 20 so as to be bridged over the upper ends of the link members 211a and 211b, and the seat portion 14 is disposed on the attachment plate 201a. It is attached. Further, the armrests 17 and 17 are supported by a support bar 201b erected on the mounting plate 201a, and a backrest 15 is formed so as to connect the armrests 17 and 17 on the rear side. Unlike the exercise assisting chair 1 of the first embodiment, the backrest 15 side of the seat portion 14 is not fixed to the mounting plate 201a, and the seat portion 14 is inclined forward by a spring (not shown) on the front side. It is supposed to let you.

  A lower limit stopper 263 is attached in the vicinity of the center of the central axis 217 of the uppermost link unit 201 in the length direction so as to regulate the lowermost position of the seat portion 14 by abutting against the tip portion of the fall prevention guide 250. It has become. Further, the curved surface 241 opened in a slit shape of the arc base 240 is sandwiched between the two rollers 230 arranged at the lower end portion of the link member 211a and the rollers 230 arranged at the lower end portion of the link member 211b. An upper limit stopper 261 that restricts the movement of the link members 211a and 211b in the extending direction is disposed, and thereby the uppermost end position of the seat portion 14 is restricted.

  In the exercise assisting chair 2 of the second embodiment, since the seat portion 14 rotates, when there is a table, a desk, or the like in the front, it is possible to easily sit or stand up by changing the front of the chair. In addition, when the user sits or stands up, the weight of the user is supported by the force of the link spring device 20 as in the first embodiment, and the user uses the armrests 17 and 17 by utilizing this. As in the first embodiment, it is possible to perform bending and stretching while holding the body with both hands and supporting the body.

  As described above, according to the link spring device and the exercise assisting chair equipped with the link spring device, it is possible to prevent the link spring device from being attenuated with a simple structure as compared with the conventional spring pressure adjusting mechanism, so that there is a failure. Less and safe to use. Therefore, it is very effective not only for elderly people whose legs have deteriorated, but also for people and students of occupations who sit on chairs for a long time and maintain and improve their lower limb strength.

  Although the link spring device according to the present invention and the exercise assisting chair including the link spring device have been described, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the gist of the present invention described in the claims. It goes without saying that various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Exercise support chair 11 Base 12 Seat plate 13 Post 14 Seat 15 Back 17 Armrest 20 Link spring device 201 Link unit 202 Link unit 203 Link unit 204 Link unit 211a Link member 211b Link member 215a Link plate 215b Link plate 217 Center shaft 217a Support member 219a Connection shaft 219b Connection shaft 220 Elastic member 230 Roller 240 Arc base 241 Curved surface 242 Side plate 245 Elastic member 245a Position changing member 250 Fall prevention guide 261 Upper limit stopper 263 Lower limit stopper

Claims (8)

The link members formed by crossing two link plates in an X shape are arranged so as to face each other, and the intersections of the link members opposed to each other are connected by a central axis, and in the vicinity of the end of the link plate A link unit is formed by connecting each other with a connecting shaft, and a plurality of connecting units on the upper side of the link unit and a connecting shaft on the lower side of another link unit arranged on the link unit are shared. A link spring device configured by forming a link mechanism that can be expanded and contracted by connecting, and by laying an elastic member that urges the connecting shafts positioned so as to face each other in a direction in which the link mechanism is extended. In
A link spring device comprising a guide member that guides a lower end portion of a link plate of a link member disposed at a lowermost portion of the link mechanism along an arcuate curved surface when the link spring device expands and contracts. . The link spring device according to claim 1,
A link spring device comprising a roller member attached to a lower end portion of the link plate guided along an arcuate curved surface of the guide member. In the link spring device according to claim 1 or 2,
A link spring device characterized in that an elastic member is installed between a lower end portion side of a link unit of a link member arranged at the lowermost part and the guide member, and the attachment position of the elastic member can be changed. The link spring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A link spring device, characterized in that a guide member for restricting the expansion and contraction direction of the link mechanism that expands and contracts is provided. An exercise assisting chair comprising the link spring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A base on which the link spring device is disposed;
A seat attached to a link unit located at the top of the link spring device;
An upper limit stopper for regulating the upper limit position of the link mechanism;
A lower limit stopper for regulating a lower limit position of the link mechanism;
An exercise assisting chair provided with a link spring device. In the exercise assistance chair provided with the link spring device according to claim 5,
With a backrest and armrest,
The backrest and the armrest are fixed on the base independently of the link spring device, and the exercise assisting chair provided with the link spring device. In the exercise assistance chair provided with the link spring device according to claim 5,
The link spring device is attached to the base so as to be rotatable, and the exercise support chair includes the link spring device. In the exercise assistance chair provided with the link spring device according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
Of the pair of link plates constituting the link unit positioned at the uppermost part of the link spring device, the seat is attached in a state where the upper side of the central axis of the link plate on one side is cut. Exercise assisting chair with link spring device.

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