JP2013116146A - Walker with arm swinging function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a walker with an arm swinging function, enabling a person to be trained to walk while swinging his/her arms.SOLUTION: The walker includes: a base frame 13 having a left wheel 11 and a right wheel 12; right-left posts 14, 15 each coupled to the base frame 13 at a lower end and having a bearing member 36 provided thereon; a left arm 17 fixed to a left horizontal axis 16 turnably attached to the bearing member 36 of the left post 14, and having a left grip 37 on one side; a right arm 19 fixed to a right horizontal axis 18 turnably attached to the bearing member 36 of the right post 15, and having a right grip 57 on one side; a left link mechanism 20 for coupling a left shaft 29 fixed to the left wheel 11 to the left horizontal axis 16, and transmitting a rotational force of the left wheel 11 to the left arm 17; and a right link mechanism 21 for coupling a right shaft 32 fixed to the right wheel 12 to the right horizontal axis 18, and transmitting a rotational force of the right wheel 12 to the right arm 19. The left grip 37 and the right grip 57 are swung to and fro in accordance with the advance of the base frame 13.

Description

The present invention relates to a walker with an arm swing function that is used when a person with a disability or weakness in a lower limb performs walking training.

When walking training is performed, a walker is used to prevent the trainee from falling. A walker is generally equipped with wheels and moves with a trainee, and specific examples thereof are described in Patent Documents 1 and 2.
Patent Document 1 describes a walker capable of walking while a trainee holds the walker by hand and holds his / her posture. Trainers who use this walker are required to be able to grab on an object and maintain their standing posture.
On the other hand, since the walker described in Patent Document 2 includes a mechanism for supporting the waist and thighs of the trainee, even a trainee who is difficult to maintain his / her posture without assistance can be trained in walking. It can be performed.

JP 2006-102301 A JP 2007-111382 A

However, since the walker described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 does not have a mechanism for moving the trainee's arm, it has not been possible to prevent and treat shoulder joint contracture to the trainee. . For this reason, apart from walking training, it was necessary to perform manual training by the therapist and passive movement using a pulley on a bed or chair to move the shoulder joint, which was inefficient.
In addition, the walker described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 cannot allow the trainee to perform a walking motion that is normally performed by a healthy person who moves his / her leg while swinging his / her arm back and forth. Therefore, there has been a problem that it is not possible to efficiently perform gait training with natural movements, functional recovery of cranial nerves by pattern training, balance adjustment training for upper, lower, left and right, and strength training.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a walker with an arm swing function that allows a trainee to walk with an arm swing motion.

The walker with arm swing function according to the present invention that meets the above-mentioned object is a base gantry having left and right wheels on the left and right sides, and a left and right basin each having a lower end connected to the base gantry and a bearing member. A support, a left arm fixed to a left horizontal shaft rotatably attached to the bearing member of the left support, and provided with a left grip on one side, and rotated to the bearing member of the right support A right arm, which is fixed to a freely mounted right horizontal shaft and has a right grip on one side, a left shaft fixed to the left wheel and the left horizontal shaft are connected, and the rotational force of the left wheel is A left link mechanism that transmits to the left arm; a right link mechanism that connects a right shaft fixed to the right wheel and the right horizontal axis and transmits a rotational force of the right wheel to the right arm; and As the gantry advances, The left grip is swung back and forth alternately in one direction and the other direction around the left horizontal axis, and the right arm is rotated in one direction and the other direction around the right horizontal axis. And swing the right grip back and forth.

In the walker with the arm swing function according to the present invention, an axle clutch that connects the left shaft and the right shaft is provided, and the axle clutch releases the connection between the left shaft and the right shaft, and the left wheel It is preferable that the right wheel and the right wheel are independently rotatable.

In the walker with an arm swing function according to the present invention, the left link mechanism includes a clutch means A that separates the left shaft and the left horizontal shaft in the connected state, and the right link mechanism is the right link in the connected state. It is preferable to provide clutch means B for separating the shaft and the right horizontal axis.

In the walker with the arm swing function according to the present invention, the left and right support columns each include a lower column member connected to the base frame and the bearing member, and are attached to the lower column member so that the height can be adjusted. It is preferable to have an upper pillar material.

In the walker with an arm swing function according to the present invention, a breast pad is attached to the left and right struts via a first support member, and a buttocks support is attached via a second support member. preferable.

In the walker with an arm swing function according to the present invention, it is preferable that the left wheel and the right wheel are provided at a front portion of the base gantry, and casters are respectively provided on the left and right of the rear portion of the base gantry. .

The walker with arm swing function according to the present invention swings the left arm back and forth by rotating the left arm alternately in one direction and the other about the left horizontal axis as the base frame advances, The right grip is swung back and forth by alternately rotating in one direction and the other direction around the right horizontal axis. Therefore, the trainee who holds the left grip and the right grip with the left and right hands should move forward with the base frame, and perform walking training with the left and right arms being swung back and forth by the left arm and the right arm, respectively. Is possible.

In the walker with arm swing function according to the present invention, when the axle clutch releases the connection of the left shaft and the right shaft so that the left wheel and the right wheel can be rotated independently of each other, the arm swing function is provided. The walker can be in a state where it can turn.

In the walker with the arm swing function according to the present invention, the left link mechanism includes a clutch means A for separating the left shaft and the left horizontal shaft in the connected state, and the right link mechanism includes the right shaft and the right horizontal shaft in the connected state. When the clutch means B is provided, the state where the left arm does not rotate even when the left wheel rotates and the right arm does not rotate even when the right wheel rotates can be appropriately configured.

In the walker with the arm swing function according to the present invention, the left and right support columns include a lower column member connected to the base frame, and an upper column member provided with a bearing member and attached to the lower column member so that the height can be adjusted. If so, the height of the left and right arms can be adjusted to the trainer's physique.

In the walker with the arm swing function according to the present invention, when the chest support is attached to the left and right support posts via the first support member and the buttocks support tool is attached via the second support member, training is performed. A person can perform walking training in a state in which the posture is maintained.

In the walker with the arm swing function according to the present invention, when the left wheel and the right wheel are provided at the front part of the base frame, and casters are provided at the left and right of the rear part of the base frame, the base frame is stable. Can be moved to.

It is explanatory drawing of the walker with an arm swing function which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the walker with the same arm swing function. It is explanatory drawing which shows the inside of a left gear box, a right gear box, and a clutch box.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a walker 10 with an arm swing function according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base frame 13 having a left wheel 11 and a right wheel 12, and a lower end portion on the base frame 13. The connected left column 14 and right column 15, the left arm 17 fixed to the left horizontal shaft 16 rotatably attached to the left column 14, and the right horizontal shaft rotatably attached to the right column 15 A right arm 19 fixed to 18, a left link mechanism 20 that transmits the rotational force of the left wheel 11 to the left arm 17, and a right link mechanism 21 that transmits the rotational force of the right wheel 12 to the right arm 19. .
Hereinafter, these will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base frame 13 includes a U-shaped frame 24 in plan view, and a left gear box 25 and a right gear box 26 fixed to the left and right of the front portion of the frame 24. ing.
As shown in FIG. 3, a left shaft 29 is rotatably attached to the left gear box 25 via bearings 27 and 28, and the left wheel 11 is fixed to the left shaft 29. A right shaft 32 is rotatably attached to the right gear box 26 via bearings 30 and 31, and the right wheel 12 is fixed to the right shaft 32.

The frame 24 is provided with casters 22 and 23 on the left and right sides of the rear part, respectively. Therefore, the base mount 13 is provided with the left wheel 11 and the right wheel 12 on the left and right of the front part, respectively, and the casters 22 and 23 are provided on the left and right of the rear part, respectively.
The base mount 13 is mainly composed of a frame 24, a left gear box 25, a right gear box 26, a left wheel 11, a right wheel 12, a left shaft 29, and a right shaft 32.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the left column 14 and the right column 15 are fixed to the frame 24 on the left and right sides, respectively.
The left column 14 (the same applies to the right column 15) includes a lower column member 33 having a lower end coupled to the frame 24, and an upper column member 35 attached to the lower column member 33 by a fixture 34 so that the height can be adjusted. Have. The upper column member 35 includes a bearing member 36 at the top.

The left horizontal shaft 16 is rotatably attached to the bearing member 36 of the left column 14, and the left arm 17 is fixed to one end of the left horizontal shaft 16. The left arm 17 is rotatable about the left horizontal axis 16.
The left arm 17 is provided with a left grip 37 on one side, and arm fixtures 38 and 39 are attached between a portion fixed to the left horizontal shaft 16 and the left grip 37.
The arm fixing tools 38 and 39 rotate the left arm of the trainee as the left arm 17 rotates by fixing the left arm of the trainee who is going to perform walking training. The left grip 37 is a portion that the trainee grips with the left hand.

A crank 40 that rotates integrally with the left arm 17 about the left horizontal shaft 16 is fixed to the other end of the left horizontal shaft 16 to which the left arm 17 is fixed at one end. An adjustable power transmission rod 41 is attached. The power transmission rod 41 has one end connected to the crank 40 and the other end connected to a crank 42 that rotates integrally with the left wheel 11.
The power transmission rod 41 can transmit the rotational force of the crank 42 to the crank 40. When the crank 42 rotates as the left wheel 11 rolls, the left arm 17 and the crank 40 alternately in one direction and the other direction. Rotate and swing left grip 37 back and forth.
The attachment position of the power transmission rod 41 to the cranks 40 and 42 can be changed. By adjusting the attachment position and adjusting the length of the power transmission rod 41, the left wheel 11 rolls in one direction so that the left arm 17 Can be alternately rotated in one direction and the other direction.

Assuming that the position of the left grip 37 when the power transmission rod 41, the crank 40 and the crank 42 are linearly arranged in a side view is a reference position, the left grip 37 is moved along with the rolling of the left wheel 11. It is swung back and forth around the reference position. The rotation position of the crank 40 with respect to the left arm 17 can be adjusted. By adjusting the rotation position, the reference position of the left grip 37 is determined, and as a result, a range in which the trainee swings the left arm is determined.

A horizontal shaft 44, part of which is housed in the left gear box 25, is connected to the crank 42. As shown in FIG. 3, a clutch block 47 rotatably mounted via needle bearings 45 and 46 and a slide block 48 that rotates integrally with the horizontal shaft 44 are attached to the horizontal shaft 44.
The clutch block 47 is designed so that it cannot move along the horizontal axis 44, whereas the slide block 48 moves along the horizontal axis 44 by operating the switching lever 49 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The slide block 48 rotates integrally with the horizontal shaft 44 by being connected to the clutch block 47, and can be rotated independently of the horizontal shaft 44 by being disconnected from the clutch block 47.
As shown in FIG. 3, the clutch block 47 and the horizontal shaft 44 are rotatably attached to the left gear box 25 via bearings 50 and 51, respectively.

The clutch block 47 has a gear structure, and a sprocket 52 fixed to the left shaft 29 and a chain 53 that connects the clutch block 47 are hooked on the gear structure.
The chain 53 transmits the rotational force of the left wheel 11 to the clutch block 47 via the left shaft 29, and rotates the clutch block 47 and the left wheel 11 integrally.
Therefore, when the clutch block 47 and the slide block 48 are connected, the left wheel 11 and the left arm 17 are interlocked, and when the left wheel 11 rolls in one direction, the left arm 17 rotates alternately in one direction and the other direction. To do. On the other hand, when the clutch block 47 and the slide block 48 are not connected, the rotational force of the left wheel 11 is not transmitted to the left arm 17, and the left wheel 11 and the left arm 17 are not interlocked.

Here, the left link mechanism 20 that connects the left shaft 29 and the left horizontal shaft 16 is mainly constituted by a crank 40, 42, a power transmission rod 41, a horizontal shaft 44, a clutch block 47, a slide block 48, a sprocket 52, and a chain 53. It is configured.
The clutch means A for separating the left shaft 29 and the left horizontal shaft 16 in the connected state is mainly constituted by a clutch block 47 and a slide block 48.

A right horizontal shaft 18 having a right arm 19 fixed to one end is rotatably attached to the bearing member 36 of the right column 15. The right arm 19 is provided with arm fixtures 55 and 56 for fixing the trainee's right arm, and a right grip 57 is provided on one side.
A right link mechanism 21 is connected to the other end of the right horizontal shaft 18. The right link mechanism 21 basically has a bilaterally symmetric configuration with the left link mechanism 20, connects the right shaft 32 and the right horizontal shaft 18, transmits the rotational force of the right wheel 12 to the right arm 19, and transmits the right arm 19. Are alternately rotated in one direction and the other direction.

The right link mechanism 21 includes a crank 58 fixed to the right horizontal shaft 18, a power transmission rod 59 having an adjustable length connected to one end of the crank 58, and a crank 60 at the other end of the power transmission rod 59. A horizontal shaft 61 is provided.
A clutch block 62 and a slide block 63 are attached to the horizontal shaft 61 as shown in FIG. The slide block 63 moves along the horizontal axis 61 by the operation of the switching lever 64 shown in FIGS.

The slide block 63 rotates integrally with the horizontal shaft 61 by being connected to the clutch block 62, and can be rotated independently of the horizontal shaft 61 by being disconnected from the clutch block 62.
3, the clutch block 62 is attached to the horizontal shaft 61 via needle bearings 65 and 66, and the clutch block 62 and the horizontal shaft 61 are connected to the right gear box 26 via bearings 67 and 68, respectively. Is rotatably mounted on the

A chain 70 that connects the sprocket 69 fixed to the right shaft 32 and the clutch block 62 is hooked to the clutch block 62.
When the clutch block 62 and the slide block 63 are connected, when the right wheel 12 rolls in one direction, the right arm 19 rotates alternately in one direction and the other direction. When the clutch block 62 and the slide block 63 are not connected, the right wheel 12 and the right arm 19 are not interlocked.

Here, the right link mechanism 21 that connects the right shaft 32 and the right horizontal shaft 18 is mainly constituted by a crank 58, 60, a power transmission rod 59, a horizontal shaft 61, a clutch block 62, a slide block 63, a sprocket 69, and a chain 70. It is configured.
The clutch means B for separating the right shaft 32 and the right horizontal shaft 18 in the connected state is mainly composed of a clutch block 62 and a slide block 63.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a clutch box 71 is fixed to the frame 24 between the left gear box 25 and the right gear box 26.
As shown in FIG. 3, an axle clutch 72 that connects the left shaft 29 and the right shaft 32 is accommodated in the clutch box 71.
The axle clutch 72 has a slide block 73 attached to the right shaft 32 and a fixed block 74 fixed to the left shaft 29.

The slide block 73 can be moved along the right shaft 32 by operating the switching lever 75 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the left shaft 29 and the right shaft 32 are connected to each other by being in close contact with the fixed block 74. It becomes to rotate integrally.
When the slide block 73 moves away from the fixed block 74, the connection between the left shaft 29 and the right shaft 32 is released, and the left shaft 29 and the right shaft 32 (that is, the left wheel 11 and the right wheel 12) can rotate independently. It becomes a state.

Further, a breast pad 78 is attached to the left support column 14 and the right support column 15 via a first support member 77, and a buttocks support tool 80 is attached via a second support member 79.
The breast pad 78 can be adjusted in the front-rear position and the height according to the trainee's physique, and can keep in contact with the trainee's chest and maintain the trainee's standing posture.
The heel support 80 is adjustable in height, wraps around the trainee's buttocks and holds the trainee's buttocks in a predetermined height position.

In performing walking training, first, the position adjustment of the breast pad 78 and the height adjustment of the upper column member 35 of the buttocks support tool 80, the left column 14, and the right column 15 are performed in accordance with the trainee's physique.
Next, the clutch block 47 and the slide block 48 and the clutch block 62 and the slide block 63 are disconnected from each other, and the power transmission rod 41 and the cranks 40 and 42 are linearly arranged to determine the reference position of the left grip 37. The power transmission rod 59 and the cranks 58 and 60 are linearly arranged to determine the reference position of the right grip 57.

Then, the length of the power transmission rods 41 and 59, the attachment position of the power transmission rod 41 to the cranks 40 and 42, and the attachment position of the power transmission rod 59 to the cranks 58 and 60 are adjusted so that the left wheel 11 is in one direction. The left grip 37 is swung back and forth by rolling, and the right grip 57 is swung back and forth by rolling the right wheel 12 in one direction. When this adjustment is completed, the switching levers 49 and 64 are operated to bring the clutch block 47 and the slide block 48 and the clutch block 62 and the slide block 63 into the connected state.
Next, the trainee fixes the left arm with the arm fixtures 38 and 39 and fixes the right arm with the arm fixtures 55 and 56.

Next, the trainee grasps the left grip 37 and the right grip 57 with the left and right hands, and walks forward. The left wheel 11 and the right wheel 12 roll in one direction by the advance of the trainee (that is, the advance of the base mount 13).
At this time, since the clutch block 47 and the slide block 48 and the clutch block 62 and the slide block 63 are respectively connected, the left arm 17 and the right arm 19 are unidirectional around the left horizontal shaft 16 and the right horizontal shaft 18, respectively. And the left grip 37 and the right grip 57 are swung back and forth. As a result, the trainee performs a walking motion with the left and right arms being swung back and forth.
Further, the trainee can turn around and change direction by operating the switching lever 75 to disengage the axle clutch 72.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and all changes in conditions and the like that do not depart from the gist are within the scope of the present invention.
For example, a timing belt and a pulley can be used in place of the chain and sprocket provided in the left gear box and the right gear box.

10: Walker with arm swing function, 11: Left wheel, 12: Right wheel, 13: Base mount, 14: Left column, 15: Right column, 16: Left horizontal axis, 17: Left arm, 18: Right horizontal axis , 19: Right arm, 20: Left link mechanism, 21: Right link mechanism, 22, 23: Caster, 24: Frame, 25: Left gear box, 26: Right gear box, 27, 28: Bearing, 29: Left shaft , 30, 31: bearing, 32: right shaft, 33: lower pillar material, 34: fixing tool, 35: upper pillar material, 36: bearing member, 37: left grip, 38, 39: arm fixing tool, 40: crank , 41: Power transmission rod, 42: Crank, 44: Horizontal shaft, 45, 46: Needle bearing, 47: Clutch block, 48: Slide block, 49: Switching lever, 50, 51: Bearing, 52: Sprocket 53: Chain, 55, 56: Arm fixture, 57: Right grip, 58: Crank, 59: Power transmission rod, 60: Crank, 61: Horizontal shaft, 62: Clutch block, 63: Slide block, 64: Switching lever, 65, 66: Needle bearing, 67, 68: Bearing, 69: Sprocket, 70: Chain, 71: Clutch box, 72: Axle clutch, 73: Slide block, 74: Fixed block, 75: Switching lever, 77 : First support member, 78: breastplate, 79: second support member, 80: buttocks support

Claims (6)

A base frame with left and right wheels on the left and right respectively;
Left and right support columns, each having a lower end connected to the base frame and provided with bearing members,
A left arm fixed to a left horizontal shaft rotatably attached to the bearing member of the left column, and a left grip provided on one side;
A right arm fixed to a right horizontal shaft rotatably attached to the bearing member of the right support column and provided with a right grip on one side;
A left link mechanism connecting the left shaft fixed to the left wheel and the left horizontal axis, and transmitting the rotational force of the left wheel to the left arm;
A right link mechanism that connects the right shaft fixed to the right wheel and the right horizontal shaft, and transmits the rotational force of the right wheel to the right arm;
As the base frame advances, the left arm is alternately rotated in one direction and the other direction around the left horizontal axis, the left grip is swung back and forth, and the right arm is centered on the right horizontal axis. A walker with an arm swing function, wherein the right grip is swung back and forth by alternately rotating in one direction and the other direction. 2. The walker with an arm swing function according to claim 1, wherein an axle clutch that connects the left shaft and the right shaft is provided, and the axle clutch releases the connection between the left shaft and the right shaft, and A walker with an arm swing function, wherein the wheel and the right wheel are independently rotatable. The walker with arm swing function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the left link mechanism includes a clutch means A that separates the left shaft and the left horizontal axis in a connected state, and the right link mechanism is in a connected state. A walker with an arm swing function, comprising clutch means B for separating the right shaft and the right horizontal axis. The walker with arm swing function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the left and right support columns includes a lower column member connected to the base frame and the bearing member, and the lower column member A walker with an arm swinging function, characterized in that it has an upper column member that is attached to the top so that the height can be adjusted. The walker with an arm swinging function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a breast pad is attached to the left and right support posts via a first support member, and a hip part via a second support member. A walker with an arm swing function, wherein a support is attached. The walker with an arm swinging function according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the left wheel and the right wheel are provided at a front portion of the base gantry, and casters are provided at the left and right of the rear portion of the base gantry. A walker with an arm swing function, characterized in that each is provided.

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