JP2014124150A - Training apparatus for animal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a training apparatus for an animal which can appropriately perform training such as walking training of an animal and which allows the animal to easily move.SOLUTION: A training apparatus 1 for an animal includes: a base part 11 which can travel; a frame part 12 which is installed upright on the base part 11; a load-reducing mechanism 13 which is provided on the frame part 12 and can reduce a load applied on an animal; and a width narrowing mechanism 20 which can narrow the apparatus width.

Description

  The present invention relates to an animal training apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus suitable for animal standing-up training and walking training.

  In recent years, animals kept as pets (for example, dogs and cats) have a long life due to advancement of medical care and improvement of breeding environment. On the other hand, with an increase in life, pets that cannot stand or walk are increasing. For this reason, conventionally, training devices for performing animal standing-up training and walking training have been developed. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a walking function recovery device for a pet that can perform a walking motion while reducing a load applied to the pet's foot.

JP 2010-17090 A

  In the pet walking function recovery device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a pet suspended by a wire suspended from a rotating arm has a mast portion (which is rotatably provided on the base and connected to the rotating arm). Walking training is performed while rotating around the center. In such an apparatus, for example, there is a possibility that a pet (for example, a dog or the like) may stray by walking in a free direction, and it is difficult to perform walking training safely.

  In consideration of such points and the like, the present applicant has developed an animal training apparatus that can perform walking training without causing an animal to stray, and has already filed a patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-238863). This animal training apparatus includes a frame portion that can be driven by wheels, and a load-carrying mechanism provided in the frame portion.

  In this animal training apparatus, a person who trains an animal (therapist, etc.) moves the frame part in the walking direction of the animal while walking an animal (for example, a dog, etc.) whose load is reduced by the load-carrying mechanism. Can do. In this configuration, the frame portion that travels while the animal is walking serves as a guide, which can prevent the animal from straying in an unexpected direction, and can perform safe and appropriate training.

  Since this animal training apparatus is provided so as to be able to run, for example, it can be taken out of the building while being run, or can be put into the building from the outside. It is also possible to freely move between rooms in the building while traveling. However, the frontage of the door part provided in the building is not necessarily a constant width. In some cases, the frontage is not wide enough, and there is a concern that the animal training apparatus may not pass through the door part.

  In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide an animal training apparatus that can appropriately perform animal walking training and the like and that is easy to move.

  In order to achieve the above object, an animal training apparatus according to the present invention reduces a load applied to an animal by being able to run, a frame portion standing on the foundation portion, and the frame portion. It has a configuration (first configuration) including an enabling load-reducing mechanism and a narrowing mechanism that can narrow the apparatus width. The device width in the first configuration of the invention is not limited to a specific direction. For example, when the animal training device is viewed from above, the device width may be horizontal or vertical. It's okay.

  In this configuration, for example, walking training can be performed while running the frame portion in accordance with the walking of an animal whose own load is reduced. That is, according to this structure, the frame part can be used as a guide to prevent the animal from stray and appropriate walking training can be performed. Further, according to the present configuration, for example, when passing through a door portion with a narrow frontage, it is possible to narrow the device width using the narrowing mechanism and allow the door portion to pass therethrough. That is, according to this structure, the animal training apparatus which is easy to move between rooms etc. can be provided.

  In the animal training apparatus of the first configuration, the base portion includes a pair of rod-shaped members having wheels, the pair of rod-shaped members are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and the frame portion is the pair of rod-shaped members. It is provided in a substantially inverted U shape so as to bridge the members, and the narrowing mechanism is a mechanism that makes it possible to narrow the width between the pair of rod-shaped members, or the length of the pair of rod-shaped members. The configuration (second configuration) may be a mechanism that can be shortened. According to this configuration, it is easy to appropriately perform animal walking training, standing-up training, and the like, and a configuration convenient for movement can be realized with a simple structure.

  In the animal training device of the second configuration, the narrowing mechanism is a mechanism that narrows a width between the pair of rod-shaped members by changing an angle of the frame portion with respect to the pair of rod-shaped members. (3rd structure) may be sufficient. According to this configuration, it is easy to obtain the target narrowing mechanism by reducing the influence on the configuration of the load-carrying mechanism.

  In the animal training device of the third configuration, the narrowing mechanism is provided in each of the pair of rod-shaped members, and an engaging portion that engages with the frame portion, and the frame portion engages with the engaging portion. And a switching unit that switches between a state fixed to the unit and a state not fixed to the unit (fourth configuration).

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to perform walk training of an animal etc. appropriately, the animal training apparatus which is easy to move can be provided.

The schematic perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the training apparatus for animals which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which looked at the training apparatus for animals which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the front, and shows the example of use at the time of performing walking training of animals The figure which looked at the training apparatus for animals which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the front, and shows the example of use at the time of performing standing training of an animal The figure which expanded and showed the structure by the side of the 1st support | pillar part among the parts enclosed with the broken line in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration when the first support column is cut at the position AA in FIG. The figure which shows the state which the 1st support | pillar part rotated relatively with respect to the 1st rod-shaped member compared with the state of FIG. The figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the narrowing mechanism with which the animal training apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided. The figure for demonstrating 1st another embodiment of the width narrowing mechanism of this invention The figure for demonstrating 2nd another embodiment of the width narrowing mechanism of this invention

  Hereinafter, an animal training apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, although the animal used as the object of the animal training apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention is a dog, a cat, a rabbit, etc., for example, it is not the meaning limited to them. The animal training apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is widely applicable to various animals. Further, as will become clear from the following contents, the animal training apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a wide range of animals from small animals to large animals.

<Schematic configuration of animal training apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an external configuration of an animal training apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the animal training apparatus 1 includes a base part 11 and a frame part 12 erected on the base part 11. The base portion 11 is constituted by a pair of rod-like members 11a and 11b arranged so as to be in a substantially parallel relationship with each other. Each of the pair of rod-shaped members 11a and 11b has wheels 111 attached to both end portions on the lower surface side. That is, the base part 11 is provided so that it can run.

  The frame portion 12 includes a first support column 12a erected on the first rod member 11a, a second support column 12b erected on the second rod member 11b, and upper ends of the two support columns 12a and 12b. It is comprised with the beam part 12c which connects between parts. In this embodiment, the 1st support | pillar part 12a, the 2nd support | pillar part 12b, and the beam part 12c are integrally formed. In other words, the frame portion 12 is provided in a substantially inverted U shape so as to bridge the pair of rod-like members 11a and 11b.

  An unloading mechanism 13 that can reduce the load applied to the animal is attached to the frame portion 12. The unloading mechanism 13 includes a wire 131, a plurality of rollers (not shown) provided inside the frame portion 12, a moving pulley 132 provided so as to be movable up and down, an unloading amount adjustment scale 133, a shock absorber 134, And an operation handle 135.

  One end side of the wire 131 hangs downward from the vicinity of the center of the beam portion 12c constituting the frame portion 12, and a connection fitting 131a is attached to the tip thereof. The other end of the wire 131 is connected to a load-unloading adjustment scale 133. Between the one end side and the other end side of the wire 131, the wire 131 is wound around a plurality of rollers (not shown) provided inside the frame portion 12 and a moving pulley 132 provided on the first support column portion 12a. ing.

  In addition, the raising / lowering groove | channel 121 provided so that it may extend in the height direction is formed in the center vicinity of the 1st support | pillar part 12a. The moving pulley 132 is provided so as to be movable up and down along the lift groove 121. Specifically, the moving pulley 132 is supported by a movable part (not shown) that can be moved up and down by operation (rotation) of the operation handle 135, and is moved up and down integrally with the movable part by operation of the operation handle 135. The groove 121 is moved up and down.

  As the moving pulley 132 moves up and down, the end portion (one end portion) of the wire 131 on the side where the connection fitting 131a is provided moves up and down. For this reason, by operating the operation handle 135, it is possible to adjust the amount of reduction (unloading amount) of the load applied to the animal attached to one end of the wire 131. Since the unloading amount adjustment scale 133 can display the unloading amount to the outside, the user operates the operation handle 135 while looking at the unloading amount adjustment scale 133 to thereby obtain the target exemption amount. It can be adjusted to the load. Note that the shock absorber 134 is provided so as to reduce the impact even when a large load is applied to the wire 131 at the time of adjusting the unloading amount.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the animal training apparatus 1 preferably includes a table 14 that is detachably attached to the frame portion 12. However, in some cases, the animal training apparatus 1 is included in the animal training apparatus 1. You don't have to. The table 14 is mainly preferably used for small animals, and is removed when the training apparatus 1 is not necessary, for example, when the training apparatus 1 is used for large animals. By attaching the table 14, for example, a small animal that requires training such as standing training can be placed at a high position, and a veterinarian or a therapist can easily examine the animal.

<Examples of using animal training equipment>
Next, the usage example of the animal training apparatus 1 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 2 is a view of the animal training apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and is a diagram illustrating an example of use when performing walking training of an animal A (here, a dog). In FIG. 2, the table 14 is removed from the frame portion 12. The symbol F in FIG. 2 is a floor. When using the animal training apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 2, a harness 15 is attached to the animal A so that an unnecessary load is not applied.

  The animal A to which the harness 15 is attached is connected to the wire 131 via the support bar 16 and the intermediate wire 17 connected to the support bar 16. The support bar 16 includes a plurality of connection bands 16a, and the plurality of connection bands 16a are attached to a plurality of connection fittings (not shown) included in the harness 15, whereby the harness 15 and the support bar 16 are connected. The The support bar 16 is used so that the animal A can exercise without stress. The intermediate wire 17 is added to adjust the length of the wire, and may not be used if not necessary, for example, when the animal A is large.

  When the operation handle 135 is operated (rotated) to move the moving pulley 132 up and down, the support bar 16 moves up and down, and the load applied to the animal A can be increased or decreased. When the moving pulley 132 is raised, the support bar 16 is lowered to reduce the amount of unloading. Further, when the moving pulley 132 is lowered, the support bar 16 is raised and the amount of unloading is increased. The user can adjust the unloading amount by operating the operation handle 135 while viewing the unloading amount measured by the unloading amount adjusting balance 133. That is, for example, the walking training of the animal A whose leg is weak can be performed while appropriately determining the burden on the animal A by adjusting the amount of unloading.

  In the walking training, the animal A is walked while reducing the load applied to the animal A using the load relief mechanism 13. At this time, walking training can be performed while guiding the walking direction of the animal A by moving the frame portion 12 together with the base portion 11 by the rotation of the wheel 111 in the walking direction of the animal. That is, according to the animal training apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, appropriate walking training can be performed while suppressing the stray of the animal A.

  In performing walking training, as shown in FIG. 2, a lateral movement correction bar 18 is attached to each of the two column parts 12 a and 12 b constituting the frame part 12, and the lateral movement correction bar 18 and the harness 15 are attached. May be connected by a connecting band 18a. When a person who trains the animal A (therapist, etc.) moves the frame part 12 in conjunction with the walking of the animal A, the animal A changes the direction of the body, twists the body, etc., and adversely affects the training. There is a risk of giving. In this regard, when the lateral movement correction bar 18 attached to the frame part 12 and the harness 15 are connected by the connecting band 18a, the direction and posture of the animal A can be regulated, and effective training can be performed. Can be expected.

  FIG. 3 is a view of the animal training apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and is a diagram illustrating a usage example when performing the standing training of the animal A. In FIG. 3, the table 14 is attached to the frame portion 12. This is because, for example, it is assumed that the small animal A is trained. When the large animal is trained, the table 14 may be removed. When performing standing training using the table 14, the angle of the table 14 may be horizontal, but may be inclined from the horizontal. Moreover, it is preferable to comprise the table 14 so that the attachment height position to the frame part 12 can be changed suitably so that it can respond to the size of the animal A.

  In the case of the standing up training shown in FIG. 3, the harness 15 is attached to the animal A so that unnecessary load is not applied. The animal A to which the harness 15 is attached is connected to the wire 131 through the support bar 16. The structure of the support bar 16 is the same as that in the case of walking training described above. Here, an intermediate wire is not used, but may be used as needed. Further, the lateral movement correction bar 18 (see FIG. 2) may be used.

  In the standing-up training, the animal A is erected while adjusting the load applied to the animal A using the load-free mechanism 13. At this time, by adjusting the angle of the table 14, it is possible to focus on training of either the front foot or the rear foot of the animal A. Since the training is performed on the table 14, a veterinarian, a therapist or the like can examine the animal without taking an unreasonable posture.

<Narrowing mechanism of animal training device>
Since the animal training apparatus 1 configured as described above is provided so as to be able to run, for example, it can be taken out of the building while being run or can be put into the building from the outside. It is also possible to freely move between rooms in the building while traveling. However, since the width of the frontage of the door part with which a building is equipped is not necessarily constant, the animal training apparatus 1 may not pass a door part depending on the case. The animal training apparatus 1 includes a mechanism (width narrowing mechanism) that solves such a problem. This will be described below.

  A narrowing mechanism 20 is provided in a portion P surrounded by a broken line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the narrowing mechanism 20 is provided on the first support column 12a side and the second support column 12b side. The mechanism provided in the 1st support | pillar part 12a side and the 2nd support | pillar part 12b side is the same structure. For this reason, below, the structure provided in the 1st support | pillar part 12a side is demonstrated, and description of the structure provided in the 2nd support | pillar part 12b side is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the configuration on the first support column 12a side in the portion P surrounded by the broken line in FIG. In addition, in FIG. 4, a part is sectional drawing. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration when the first support column 12a is cut at the position AA in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the narrowing mechanism 20 includes a convex portion 21 (an example of an engaging portion of the present invention), a nut member 22, a screw member 23, and a column portion 12 a (column portion 12 b). And a through hole 25 provided in the convex portion 21.

  As shown in FIG.4 and FIG.5, the round pipe-shaped convex part 21 is provided in the substantially center part of the 1st rod-shaped member 11a formed in a substantially prismatic shape so that it may protrude upwards. The first support column 12 a provided in a hollow shape is covered so that the lower end thereof covers the convex portion 21. In addition, the same convex part 21 is provided also in the 2nd rod-shaped member 11b, and the 2nd support | pillar part 12b is covered on the said convex part 21. FIG.

  A nut member 22 is rotatably inserted into the round pipe-shaped convex portion 21. In the present embodiment, a round nut is used as the nut member 22, but this is only an example. Further, when a screw hole can be formed in the convex portion 21, the nut member may be omitted. Through holes 24 and 25 are formed in the first support column 12 a and the convex portion 21 so that the screw portion 23 b of the screw member 23 with the knob 23 a can be inserted into the screw hole 22 a of the nut member 22. For this reason, the 1st support | pillar part 12a can be fixed to the convex part 21 by screwing the screw member 23 to the nut member 22, and fastening. In other words, using the nut member 22 and the screw member 23 (which constitute the switching portion of the present invention), the frame portion 12 is fixed to the base portion 11 (convex portion 21) and the state is not fixed. Can be switched.

  Note that a pressing member 26 (for example, an elastic member) is formed inside the first support column 12a so that the first support column 12a is securely pressed against the convex portion 21 by tightening the screw member 23. Are preferably arranged.

  By the way, although the through-hole 24 provided in the 1st support | pillar part 12a is a round hole, the through-hole 25 provided in the convex part 21 is a long hole (refer FIG. 5). The through hole 25 extends long in the horizontal direction. For this reason, by loosening the tightening by the screw member 23, the first support column 12a can be rotated relative to the first rod-shaped member 11a without completely removing the screw member 23 from the nut member 22 (FIG. 6). The amount of rotation at this time can be adjusted by, for example, the size of the through hole 25 provided in a long hole shape. By comprising like this embodiment, the operation which switches the state with which the 1st support | pillar part 12a was fixed to the convex part 21 and the state which is not fixed becomes easy.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the first support column 12a is rotated relative to the first rod-shaped member 11a as compared with the state of FIG. In FIG. 6, as in FIG. 5, the screw member 23 is tightened, and the first support column 12a is not rotatable relative to the first rod-shaped member 11a.

  As described above, a similar mechanism is also provided on the second support column 12b side. For this purpose, by turning the knob 23a provided on the first support column 12a and the second support column 12b to loosen the tightening of the screw member 23, as shown in FIG. Can rotate.

  In addition, FIG. 7 is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the narrowing mechanism 20 with which the animal training apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided. FIG. 7 is a diagram assuming that the animal training apparatus 1 is viewed from directly above.

  As shown in the upper part of FIG. 7, the animal training apparatus 1 is used in a state (normal state) in which the beam portion 12c is approximately 90 ° with respect to the two rod-like members 11a and 11b. From this state, when the frame portion 12 is rotated (angle α rotation) using the narrowing mechanism 20, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 7, the space between the first rod-shaped member 11a and the second rod-shaped member 11b. The width can be narrowed. In other words, the width of the animal training apparatus 1 can be made narrower (W2) than the width (W1) in the normal state. Therefore, the animal training apparatus 1 can easily pass the door portion without performing a treatment such as removing the door when the door portion having a narrow frontage is passed.

  In addition, the animal training apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment facilitates the disassembly of the base portion 11 and the frame portion 12 by employing the narrowing mechanism 20 described above. For this reason, the animal training apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment also has an advantage that the package during transportation can be made compact.

<Others>
The embodiment described above is an exemplification of the present invention, and the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment described above. The embodiment described above can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, even when the screw portion 23b of the screw member 23 is inserted into the through hole 24 provided in the support columns 12a and 12b and the through hole 25 provided in the convex portion 21 (however, The screw member 23 is loosened), and the frame portion 12 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the base portion 11. However, this is only an example, and in some cases, the frame portion 12 may not be rotatable with respect to the base portion 11 unless the screw member 23 is at least removed from the convex portion 21. . That is, the configuration of the narrowing mechanism 20 may be different from the configuration described above.

  Further, in the embodiment described above, the support columns 12a and 12b are configured to be covered with the projections 21 provided on the base unit 11, but the support columns 12a and 12b are included in the projections provided on the base unit 11, or It is good also as a structure fitted in a recessed part. Even in this case, it is possible to obtain a configuration in which the frame portion 12 is rotated with respect to the base portion 11 to narrow the apparatus width.

  Moreover, in embodiment shown above, the narrowing mechanism 20 is provided so that the angle of the flame | frame part 12 with respect to the base part 11 can be changed, and it is between 1st rod-shaped member 11a and 2nd rod-shaped member 11b. Can be narrowed (in other words, the device width can be narrowed). However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the width narrowing mechanism of the present invention is configured such that the length of the beam portion 12c that connects the two column portions 12a and 12b is variable, for example, by configuring the frame portion 12 with two members. It may be a mechanism to perform. In FIG. 8, the alternate long and short dash line indicates a state where the apparatus width is narrowed (a state where the apparatus width is reduced from W1 to W2).

  Moreover, in embodiment shown above, the width narrowing mechanism 20 was set as the structure which narrows an apparatus width | variety by narrowing the width | variety between the 1st rod-shaped member 11a and the 2nd rod-shaped member 11b. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, the apparatus width narrowed by the narrowing mechanism may be not the horizontal direction (X direction; see FIG. 1) but the vertical direction (Y direction; see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 9, the narrowing mechanism of the present invention may be a mechanism in which each of the rod-shaped members 11a and 11b is composed of two or more members and the length thereof is variable. In FIG. 9, the alternate long and short dash line indicates a state where the device width is narrowed (a state where the device width is reduced from W1 to W2).

  In addition, the shape of each part in embodiment shown above is only an example, and it is natural that you may change the shape suitably.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Animal training apparatus 11 Base part 11a 1st rod-shaped member 11b 2nd rod-shaped member 12 Frame part 13 Unloading mechanism 20 Narrowing mechanism 21 Convex part (engagement part)
22 Nut member (component of switching part)
23 Screw member (component of switching part)
111 wheels

Claims (4)

A base that can travel,
A frame portion erected on the base portion;
An unloading mechanism that is provided in the frame part and enables a load applied to the animal to be reduced;
A narrowing mechanism that makes it possible to narrow the device width;
An animal training apparatus comprising: The base portion is provided with a pair of rod-shaped members having wheels,
The pair of rod-shaped members are arranged substantially parallel to each other,
The frame portion is provided in a substantially inverted U shape so as to bridge the pair of rod-shaped members,
2. The narrowing mechanism is a mechanism capable of narrowing a width between the pair of rod-shaped members or a mechanism capable of shortening the length of the pair of rod-shaped members. The animal training apparatus according to 1.   The animal width according to claim 2, wherein the width narrowing mechanism is a mechanism that narrows a width between the pair of rod-shaped members by changing an angle of the frame portion with respect to the pair of rod-shaped members. Training device. The narrowing mechanism is
An engaging portion that is provided on each of the pair of rod-shaped members and engages with the frame portion;
A switching unit that switches between a state in which the frame unit is fixed to the engaging unit and a state in which the frame unit is not fixed;
The animal training device according to claim 3, comprising:

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