JP2017000698A - Walker and braking device for walker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a walker enabling even a dementia patient to safely exercise, and a braking device for a walker.SOLUTION: A walker 1 comprises: a frame 2 which forms a space where a walking person can stand and walk, and with which the walking person grasps an upper part thereof during walking and a part of a body of the walking person comes into contact; and a plurality of casters 3, 3A provided at a lower end of the frame 2. When the body of the walking person leaves the walkable space in an opposite direction of an advance direction A of the walker 1, the caster 3A is braked. The frame 2 comprises caster frames 22-25 with which the casters are provided at the tips. Rod bodies 4 pass through the caster frames 22, 25. An inclined part 5 is provided at an upper end of the rod body 4, and a brake part in direct contact with a wheel of the caster 3A is provided at a lower end of the rod body 4. A bar 7 is provided with a pressing part 8 for pressing the inclined part 5 by the turning of the bar 7 to displace the rod body 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a walker for assisting a person who cannot stably walk and a brake device for a walker that can be attached to the walker. In particular, the walker for dementia patients and the walker can be attached to the walker. The present invention relates to a brake device for a walker.

  When a disabled person, an elderly person, or the like cannot walk stably on their own, the walker may be used for movement or rehabilitation.

  There exists a walker as shown in patent document 1 as such a walker. The walker of Patent Document 1 includes a brake mechanism having a grip that is gripped by a user and a brake lever that is integrated with the grip lever. Since the speed of the walker can be adjusted by the brake mechanism, it is possible to prevent an accident such as a fall of the user due to excessive speed of the walker.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-126023

  However, dementia patients such as the elderly with dementia, which is estimated to be around 4.62 million people nationwide as of 2012 and over 7 million people in 2025, is an obstacle to understanding and judgment. Therefore, even if the brake lever is provided, the brake lever may not be operated.

  In particular, patients with dementia who have relatively little motor function can accelerate the walker rapidly, but as a result, they cannot follow the accelerated walker and may fall. There is. In particular, elderly people with advanced osteoporosis may have a fracture due to a fall and then become bedridden.

  Reducing exercise opportunities for patients with dementia to prevent falling injuries can lead to a poorly stimulated life, which can further aggravate cognitive symptoms. In addition, reducing the chances of exercise for the elderly with dementia may increase the burden of care due to a decline in the muscle strength and cardiopulmonary function of the elderly with dementia.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a walker and a brake device for a walker capable of safely exercising even in patients with dementia.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the walker according to claim 1 forms a space where a pedestrian can stand and walk in the center, and the pedestrian grips the upper part during walking or part of the body of the pedestrian In a walker having a frame that comes in contact with and a plurality of wheels provided at the lower end of the frame, the body of the pedestrian in the direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker from the walkable space When it comes out, it has a braking device that brakes the wheel.

  According to the walker of claim 1, when a pedestrian's body comes out in a direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker from a space in which the walker can no longer follow the walker and can walk, the wheel of the walker The brakes are applied to the pedestrian, reducing the speed of the walker and preventing the pedestrian from falling and injured.

  The walker according to claim 2 is the walker according to claim 1, wherein the frame is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above, and the braking device is one of the approximately U-shaped when viewed from above. It has a bar that extends from the vicinity of the end toward the other end and is pivotable around the vicinity of one end of the substantially U shape in the top view, and the bar is swung, The wheel brake is applied.

  According to the walker of the second aspect, in addition to acting in the same manner as the walker of the first aspect, a bar is provided on the opened side of the substantially U-shape in a top view which is the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the walker. Is provided. For this reason, when it becomes impossible for the walker to follow the walker and the pedestrian's body comes out of the walking space in the direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker, a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact with the bar. By turning the bar, the wheels of the walker can be reliably braked.

  The walker according to claim 3 is the walker according to claim 2, wherein the frame includes a caster frame that extends toward the ground and is provided with a caster having the wheel at a tip thereof. The caster frame on which the caster is applied has a rod penetrating the rod, and the rod is urged away from the ground along the axis of the rod. The upper end is provided with an inclined portion having an inclined surface, and the lower end of the rod body is provided with a braking portion for directly contacting and braking the wheel of the caster. The bar is provided with a pressing portion that presses and displaces the rod body along the axis of the rod body against urging.

  According to the walker of claim 3, the same effect as that of the walker of claim 2 is achieved, and when the bar turns, the rod body is displaced in the axial direction, and the braking of the wheels of the caster is realized smoothly and quickly. be able to. Since the rod body penetrates the caster frame, the rod body is not exposed, and the possibility that the user touches the rod body which is displaced accidentally and is injured can be greatly reduced.

  The walker according to claim 4 is the walker according to claim 3, wherein the wheels of the casters are capable of turning, and the wheels of the casters are moved with respect to the caster frame along a turning axis of the wheels of the casters. The rod is biased in a direction away from the ground, so that the braking portion presses the caster toward the caster frame, and the rod is By displacing the rod body in the axial direction against the urging force, the pressing of the caster by the braking unit is released, and the wheel of the caster that is not in contact with the ground moves toward the ground along the turning axis. You can slide.

  The walker according to claim 5 is the walker according to claim 3, wherein the wheels of the casters are capable of turning, and the wheels of the casters are moved with respect to the caster frame along a turning axis of the wheels of the casters. The rod is biased in a direction away from the ground, so that the braking portion presses the caster toward the caster frame, and the rod is By displacing the rod body in the axial direction against the urging force, the braking portion comes into contact with the wheel of the caster and presses the wheel of the caster toward the ground along the turning axis.

  When a plurality of brakeable casters are provided in the walker, there are cases where braking is performed in a state where some of the wheels of the casters are not in contact with the ground. Only the wheels of the casters that are in contact with the ground are braked, which can cause dangerous situations while using the walker, such as turning the walker in an unpredictable direction or turning the walker over. is there.

  However, according to the walker of claim 4, the wheel operates in the same manner as the walker of claim 3, and the wheels of the casters not in contact with the ground slide toward the ground along the turning axis. Is to be grounded. Further, according to the walker of claim 5, the walker operates in the same manner as the walker of claim 3, and the wheel is pressed toward the ground along the turning axis so that the wheel is grounded. Therefore, the occurrence of a dangerous situation during use of the walker can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, according to the walker of claim 5, since the braking unit is configured to forcibly ground the wheel by pressing the wheel of the caster toward the ground along the turning axis, during braking, The wheel can be prevented from floating from the ground. Therefore, the occurrence of a dangerous situation during use of the walker can be more reliably suppressed.

  The walker according to claim 6 is the walker according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the axis of the rod body provided with the braking portion and the turning axis for changing the direction of the wheels of the caster coincide with each other. The eccentricity between the rotating shaft and the turning shaft of the wheel in the caster is a range in which the braking portion can be brought into contact with and separated from the wheel along the turning axis.

  According to the walker of claim 6, since it acts in the same manner as the walker of claim 4 or 5, the axis of the rod body provided with the braking portion and the turning axis of the wheel of the caster coincide with each other. If the rod is displaced along the axis of the rod, the braking portion provided at the lower end of the rod will be displaced along the pivot axis of the wheel of the caster. The eccentricity between the rotating shaft and the turning shaft of the wheel is a range in which the braking unit can be brought into contact with and separated from the wheel along the turning axis. Therefore, regardless of the position of the wheel of the caster that is turned, if the braking unit is displaced along the turning axis of the wheel, the wheel can always be in contact with the wheel for braking.

  The walker according to claim 7 is the walker according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the turning of the bar is urged in the direction in which the pressing portion contacts the inclined portion.

  According to the walker of the seventh aspect, in addition to acting in the same manner as the walker of any one of the third to sixth aspects, the turning of the bar is urged in the direction in which the pressing portion contacts the inclined portion. When the pedestrian's body comes out of the walking space in the direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker, the bar turns and the pressing portion immediately presses the inclined surface of the inclined portion. Therefore, when the pedestrian's body comes out of the walking space in the direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker, the caster is quickly braked.

  Moreover, even if the bar is turned in a direction against the urging of the bar and the user enters a space where the user can walk, the urging of the bar immediately returns to the state where the pressing portion comes into contact with the inclined portion.

  The walker according to claim 8 is the walker according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the caster frame is bent, and the rod body is vertically moved inside a bent portion of the caster frame. It is divided by.

According to the walker of claim 8, it acts in the same manner as the walker of any of claims 3 to 7,
Even in a caster frame that is bent, when the bar turns, the rod body is displaced in the axial direction, and braking of the wheels of the caster can be realized smoothly and quickly. Even in a caster frame that is bent, the rod body is divided up and down, but the rod body is not exposed because it penetrates, and the user is injured by the displacement of the rod body in the axial direction. The possibility of doing so can be very small.

  The braking device for a walker according to claim 9 forms a space in which a pedestrian stands and walks in the center so that the pedestrian grips the upper part during walking or a part of the body of the pedestrian abuts. It is a brake device for a walker that can be attached to a walker having a frame that is substantially U-shaped in top view and a plurality of wheels provided at the lower end of the frame. A rod body that extends toward the end and penetrates a caster frame provided with a caster having the wheel at its tip, and is biased in a direction away from the ground along its axis, and provided at the upper end of this rod body An inclined portion having an inclined surface, a braking portion that is provided at the lower end of the rod body and that directly contacts the wheel of the caster and brakes, and one end of a substantially U-shape when viewed from above. Extending from near to the other end A bar that is pivotable around one end of a substantially U-shape when viewed from above, and a bar that is provided on the bar and that presses the inclined surface by swiveling the bar. A pressing portion that displaces the body in the axial direction of the rod body against the biasing force.

  According to the walker brake device of claim 9, when the bar turns, the rod body is displaced in the axial direction, and braking of the wheels of the caster can be realized smoothly and quickly. Since the rod body penetrates the caster frame, the rod body is not exposed, and the possibility that the user touches the rod body which is displaced accidentally and is injured can be greatly reduced.

  The walker of claim 10 forms a space in which a pedestrian 1 stands and can walk in the center, and the pedestrian grips the upper part of the pedestrian while walking or a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact. And a plurality of wheels provided at the lower end of the frame, when the pedestrian's body comes out of the walkable space in a direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker, the wheels The frame has a substantially U-shape when viewed from above, and the braking device extends from the vicinity of one end of the approximately U-shape when viewed from above to the other end. And has a bar that can turn around one end of a substantially U-shape when viewed from above, and the wheel is braked by turning the bar. And the bar has a top surface after turning. It is biased so as to return in the direction extending from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U-shape to the other end.

  According to the walker of the tenth aspect, when a pedestrian enters a walkable space, the bar is temporarily turned. Therefore, the wheel is always braked, and the walker can be prevented from making unexpected movements when a pedestrian enters a space in which walking is possible. Further, once a pedestrian enters a space where the user can walk, the opened side of the substantially U-shape is closed with a bar when viewed from above. Therefore, it will be in the state where it is always ready for braking, without performing special operation after a pedestrian enters into the space which can walk.

  The braking device for a walker according to claim 11 forms a space where a pedestrian stands and walks in the center, and the pedestrian grips the upper part thereof or a part of the body of the pedestrian comes into contact. A walker brake device attachable to a walker having a frame that is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above and a plurality of wheels provided at the lower end of the frame, the walker brake device Is a bar that extends from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U-shape in the top view toward the other end and is pivotable around the vicinity of the one end of the approximately U-shape in the top view. A brake that abuts against the wheel and brakes the wheel, and a wire that connects the bar and the brake. The wire is pulled by turning the bar, and the brake is Apply brakes against the wheels It has become the jar.

  According to the brake device for a walker of claim 11, it can be easily attached to an existing walker having a frame that is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above.

  A walker equipped with the walker according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or 10 and the walker for walker according to claim 9 or 11 can exercise safely even in patients with dementia who cannot operate the brake lever. Is possible. Even if it is used by people other than those with dementia, it is possible to prevent accidents such as a user's falling due to excessive speed of the walker.

It is a perspective view of the walker of 1st embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bar near the upper end of the caster frame of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bar near the upper end of the caster frame of FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the caster frame of FIG. It is a perspective view of the walker of 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the mode of the braking of the wheel of FIG.

  A walker 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The walker 1 includes a frame 2 and casters 3 and 3A provided at the lower end of the frame 2. The direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1 is the traveling direction of the walker.

  The frame 2 is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above. A pedestrian can stand and walk in the center of the space surrounded by a substantially U-shape when viewed from above. When viewed from the inside of the space, the opposite side of the traveling direction is the open side of the substantially U-shape in the top view of the frame 2.

  The frame 2 is fixed to the upper frame 21, the four caster frames 22 to 25 that are fixed to the upper frame 21 and extend toward the ground, and the lower frame that is fixed to the caster frames 22 to 25 in the vicinity of the lower ends of the caster frames 22 to 25. It has a frame 26.

  The upper frame 21 has a pair of pipes 21a and 21b that are spaced apart and face each other, and a pipe 21c that connects the pair of pipes 21a and 21b, and has a substantially U-shape when viewed from above. Yes. A cushion 27 that matches the shape of the upper frame 21 is provided at the upper end of the upper frame 21. The height of the cushion 27 can be adjusted with respect to the upper frame 21.

  A pedestrian standing in the center of a space surrounded by a substantially U-shape when viewed from the top of the frame 2 can move stably in the traveling direction by placing his arm on the cushion 27.

  The caster frames 22 to 25 are each near one end of the upper frame 21, near the end of the pipe 21a, near the part where the pipe 21a and the pipe 21c are connected, and where the pipe 21c and the pipe 21b are connected. It extends toward the ground from four points in the vicinity and in the vicinity of the end of the pipe 21b that is the other end of the upper frame 21.

  Similar to the upper frame, the lower frame 26 has a pair of pipes 26a and 26b that are spaced apart and opposed to each other, and a pipe 26c that connects the pair of pipes 26a and 26b. It has a shape.

  The casters 3 and 3A have a mounting portion 32 having a stem inserted at the lower end of each of the caster frames 22 to 25, and can turn around the axis of the stem with respect to the mounting portion 32 so that the wheel 31 can rotate. It is provided with the fork part 33 to support. The casters 3 and 3 </ b> A have stem axes that coincide with the turning axes of the wheels 31.

  It is provided on each of the two caster frames 22 and 25 opposite to the traveling direction. The caster frames 22 and 25 are each provided with a caster 3 </ b> A for braking the wheel 31. In the caster 3 </ b> A, the wheel 31 can slide along the turning axis of the wheel 31.

  Hereinafter, the braking device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The braking device is provided at the upper ends of the rod bodies 4, 4 penetrating the caster frames 22, 25, and the respective rod bodies 4, 4, the inclined portion 5 having the inclined surface 51, and the rod bodies 4. , 4 and a braking portion 6 provided at the lower end of the first and second ends, extending from the vicinity of one end of a substantially U-shape in a top view toward the other end, and in the vicinity of one end of a substantially U-shape in a top view Are provided on each of the bars 7 and 7, and the inclined surface 51 is pressed by turning each of the bars 7 and 7, so that the rod body 4 is opposed to being biased. It has the press parts 8 and 8 which displace the axial direction of the rod 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the upper ends of the rods 4, 4 extend upward from the caster frames 22, 25. An inclined portion 5 is provided at the upper end of each rod 4, 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lower ends of the rods 4, 4 extend downward from the lower ends of the caster frames 22, 25, and further penetrate the upper surface of the attachment part 32 and the fork part 33 of the caster 3 </ b> A. A braking portion 6 is provided at the lower end of each rod 4, 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each rod 4, 4 is movable along the axis of the rod 4, 4. Each rod 4, 4 has an axis that coincides with the turning axis of the wheel 31. Therefore, each rod 4, 4 is movable along the turning axis of the wheel 31.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the rods 4, 4 are urged along the axis of the rods 4, 4 in the direction in which the lower ends of the rods 4, 4 are separated from the ground. Each of the rods 4 and 4 is provided with a biasing member 41 that biases the lower surface of the inclined portion 5 and the upper surfaces of the caster frames 22 and 25 in a direction away from each other.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the inclined portion 5 has a truncated cone portion. The longitudinal section of the truncated cone portion of the inclined portion 5 is a trapezoid whose upper side is shorter than the lower side. The inclined portion 5 is provided so that the axis of the truncated cone and the axis of the rod 4 are the same. The inclined portion 5 has an inclined surface 51 on the side peripheral surface of the truncated cone.

  The inclined portion 5 has a truncated cone-like portion, so that the exposed portion of the inclined portion 5 does not have a sharp portion. Therefore, even if the user accidentally touches the inclined portion, the possibility of injury is reduced.

  As described above, the rod body 4 is movable along the turning axis of the wheel 31. The braking portion 6 provided at the lower end of the rod body 4 can be brought into contact with and separated from the wheel 31 along the turning axis of the wheel 31 of the caster.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bar 4 passes through the upper surface of the attachment portion 32 and the fork portion 33 of the caster 3 </ b> A. Since the braking unit 6 is provided at the lower end of the rod 4, the braking unit 6 can be brought into direct contact with the wheel 31 and braked.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the braking unit 6 has an umbrella-shaped part. The axis of the umbrella-shaped part of the braking part 6 and the axis of the rod 4 are provided so as to be the same. Since the axis of the rod 4 moves along the turning axis of the wheel 31 of the caster 3, the braking unit 6 also moves along the turning axis of the wheel 31.

  In the frame 2, one end and the other end that are substantially U-shaped when viewed from above are the upper end of the caster frame 22 and the upper end of the caster frame 25. The frame 2 is provided with a bar 7 extending from the vicinity of the upper end of the caster frame 22 toward the upper end of the caster frame 25 and a bar 7 extending from the vicinity of the upper end of the caster frame 25 toward the upper end of the caster frame 22. It has been.

  Bars 7 are present between one end and the other end of the substantially U-shape when the frame 2 is viewed from above. That is, the open side of the substantially U-shape when viewed from the top of the frame 2 is almost closed by the bars 7 and 7.

  Hereinafter, the vicinity of the upper end of the caster frame 25 will be described. The vicinity of the upper end of the caster frame 22 has the same configuration.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bar 7 is provided near the upper end of the caster frame 25. The bar 7 can turn around the upper end of a substantially U-shaped caster frame 25 when the frame 2 is viewed from above.

  A pad 71 is provided at a portion of the bar 7 that extends toward the open side of the substantially U-shape. When the pedestrian's body comes out of the walking space in the direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker 1, the pad 71 is touched and the bar 7 turns.

  A pressing portion 8 is provided on the opposite side of the bar 7 from the side where the pad 71 is provided, with the pivot axis of the bar 7 as the center. The pressing part 8 consists of a bearing. The bearing can suppress the friction generated when the pressing portion 8 presses the inclined surface 51 of the inclined portion 5.

  A stopper 73 for limiting the turning of the bar 7 is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the caster frame 25. The turning of the bar 7 when the pedestrian's body comes out of the walking space in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the walker 1 is restricted by a part of the bar 7 coming into contact with the stopper 73.

  A bar urging member 72 is provided between the bar 7 and the upper end of the caster frame 25. The turning of the bar 7 is urged in the direction in which the pressing portion 8 contacts the inclined portion 5.

  Hereinafter, operation | movement of the braking device of the walker 1 of 1st embodiment is demonstrated.

  When a pedestrian's body comes out of the space that can be walked in the direction opposite to the arrow A, which is the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the walker 1, a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact with the pad 71. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bar 7 is turned by the contact of the pad 71. As shown in FIG. 3, when the bar 7 turns, the pressing portion 8 presses the inclined portion 5. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the bar 4 moves along the turning axis of the wheel 31 by pressing the inclined portion 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the brake unit 6 comes into contact with the wheel 31 by the movement of the rod body 4, and the wheel 31 is braked.

  When the pressing part 8 presses the inclined part 5, when the wheel 31 is not in contact with the ground, the following operation is performed. As shown in FIG. 3, when the bar 7 turns, the pressing portion 8 presses the inclined portion 5. As shown in FIG. 4B, the braking unit 6 contacts the wheel 31. As shown in FIG. 4C, the wheel 31 pushed by the braking unit 6 slides toward the ground along the turning axis of the wheel 31. The wheel 31 is grounded by this slide. The braking unit 6 follows the slide of the wheel 31 while being in contact with the wheel 31. Even if the wheel 31 is grounded, the braking unit 6 continues to contact the wheel 31, so that the wheel 31 is braked.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the caster frame 22 is straight has been described with reference to FIG. 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the caster frame may be bent, and the rod body is divided above and below the bent portion. It may be. The upper and lower rods have different displacement directions. For example, the upper and lower rods can be in contact with each other via a bearing or a sphere. That is, if the upper bar is displaced, the lower bar is also displaced in accordance with the displacement of the upper bar. When the rod is divided, it is sufficient that at least the lower rod is biased toward the upper rod.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the inclined portion 5 has a truncated cone-shaped portion has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the inclined portion may have an inclined surface such as an umbrella shape.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the braking unit 6 has an umbrella-shaped portion has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the braking unit is configured such that a wheel of a caster rotates such as an inverted truncated cone-shaped portion. Whatever the position, if the brake part is displaced along the turning axis of the wheel, it may have a shape that can always be brought into contact with the wheel for braking.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the wheel 31 pushed by the braking unit 6 slides toward the ground along the turning axis of the wheel 31 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the rod body is biased. By displacing it in the axial direction of the rod body, the pressing of the caster of the braking unit is released, and before the braking unit directly contacts the wheel, the caster's own weight moves toward the ground along the turning axis of the wheel. You may slide.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the pressing portion 8 is provided on the side opposite to the side where the pad 71 of the bar 7 is provided with the pivot axis of each of the bars 7 and 7 as the center has been described. Without being limited to the above, as long as the pressing portion can press the inclined surface of the inclined portion by turning the bar 7, both the pad and the pressing portion are provided on the same side with the center of the turning axis of the bar as the center. Good.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the pressing portion 8 is composed of a bearing has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a pressing portion such as a sphere or a rotating body other than a bearing presses the inclined surface of the inclined portion. What is necessary is just to be able to suppress the friction generated at the time.

  Moreover, the bar 7 has a base part on the swivel axis side of the bar and a front part provided with a pad 71, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. You may be able to fold. By folding the tip, the user can easily enter a space where the user can walk from the open side of the substantially U-shape when the frame 2 is viewed from above.

  A walker 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The walker 10 includes a frame 2 and wheels 31 provided at the lower end of the frame 2. The direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5 is the direction of travel of the walker.

  The frame 2 is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above. A pedestrian can stand and walk in the center of the space surrounded by a substantially U-shape when viewed from above. When viewed from the inside of the space, the opposite side of the traveling direction is the open side of the substantially U-shape in the top view of the frame 2.

  The frame 2 includes an upper frame 21, four caster frames 22 to 25 depending from the upper frame 21, and a lower frame 26 fixed to the caster frames 22 to 25 in the vicinity of the lower ends of the caster frames 22 to 25.

  The upper frame 21 has a pair of pipes 21a and 21b that are spaced apart and face each other, and a pipe 21c that connects the pair of pipes 21a and 21b, and has a substantially U-shape when viewed from above. Yes. A cushion 27 that matches the shape of the upper frame 21 is provided at the upper end of the upper frame 21.

  A pedestrian standing in the center of a space surrounded by a substantially U-shape when viewed from the top of the frame 2 can move stably in the traveling direction by placing his arm on the cushion 27.

  The caster frames 22 to 25 are near the end of the pipe 21a that is one end of the upper frame 21, near the part where the pipe 21a and the pipe 21c are connected, near the part where the pipe 21c and the pipe 21b are connected, and In addition, it hangs down from four locations near the end of the pipe 21b, which is the other end of the upper frame 21, respectively.

  Similar to the upper frame, the lower frame 26 has a pair of pipes 26a and 26b that are spaced apart and opposed to each other, and a pipe 26c that connects the pair of pipes 26a and 26b. It has a shape.

  The wheel 31 is a part of a caster and is provided at the lower end of each caster frame 22-25.

  The braking device includes a bar 7 extending from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U-shape in the top view of the frame 2 toward the other end, a braking mechanism 9 that contacts the wheel 31 and brakes the wheel 31, And a wire 74 for connecting the bar 7 and the braking mechanism 9.

  The bar 7 exists between one end and the other end of the substantially U-shape when viewed from the top of the frame 2. That is, the open side of the substantially U-shape when viewed from the top of the frame 2 is closed by the bar 7.

  The bar 7 is provided on a caster frame 22 that extends from the vicinity of the end of the pipe 21a, which is one end of the upper frame 21, toward the ground. As indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, the frame 2 can turn around one end of a substantially U-shape when viewed from the top.

  After turning, the bar 7 returns from the state indicated by the two-dot chain line to the direction indicated by the solid line by returning from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U-shape in the top view of the frame 2 toward the other end. It is so energized.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the braking mechanism 9 includes a support member 91, a rotation member 92, and a contact member 93.

  The support member 91 has one end fixed to the pipe 26a of the lower frame 26 and the other end supporting the fulcrum of the rotating member 92.

  A contact member 93 is provided on the action point side of the rotation member 92, and a wire 74 is connected to the force point side.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the braking device will be described.

  When the pedestrian's body comes out of the space that can be walked in the opposite direction of the arrow A, which is the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the walker 10, a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact with the bar 7. When the bar 7 turns by this contact as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, the wire 74 is pulled. When the wire 74 is pulled, the braking mechanism 9 is changed from the state shown in FIG. 6A to the state shown in FIG. 6B, and the rotating member 92 rotates around the fulcrum in the clockwise direction in the drawing to contact the member. 93 abuts on the wheel 31 and automatically brakes.

  When the user returns to the walkable space again or goes out of the walkable space, the bar 7 is substantially U-shaped in the top view of the frame 2 from the state shown by the two-dot chain line. Since the wire 74 returns to the direction extending from the vicinity of one end toward the other end and returns to the state indicated by the solid line, the pull of the wire 74 is released. By releasing the pull of the wire 74, the braking mechanism 9 is changed from the state shown in FIG. 6B to the state shown in FIG. 6A, and the rotating member 92 rotates around the fulcrum in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The member 93 is not in contact with the wheel 31 so that the brake is automatically released.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the braking device is fixed to the walker has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a space in which a pedestrian can stand and walk is formed in the center, and the traveling direction of the walker It is possible to attach and remove a braking device to an existing walker that may cause the pedestrian's body to come out in the opposite direction.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the frame 2 is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a space where a pedestrian can stand and walk is formed at the center. Any other shape may be used as long as it is a frame in which the pedestrian grips the upper part or a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact.

  The frame 2 may be configured so that the interval between the pair of pipes 21a and 21b facing the upper frame 21 and the interval between the pair of pipes 26a and 26b facing the lower frame 26 can be freely adjusted.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the user puts his arm on the cushion 27 and can move stably in the traveling direction has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the user can directly grip the frame. Good.

  Although the case where the wheel 31 is provided at the lower end of each caster frame 22 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the wheel 31 may be provided at a plurality of locations on the lower frame. Three or five or more may be sufficient.

  Although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the bar 7 was provided in the caster frame 22 extended toward the ground from the edge part vicinity of the pipe 21a which is one end of the upper frame 21, it is limited to this. Instead, the bar may be provided on the upper frame or the lower frame.

  FIG. 5 shows the case where the bar 7 is provided substantially parallel to the ground. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the bar is formed from the vicinity of one end of a substantially U-shape to the other end. You may be provided so that a bar may become diagonal as it approaches the edge or leaves | separates from the ground as it goes to the end.

  Further, the bar can be variously modified to change the extension direction of the bar or to fold the bar so that the user can easily enter a space where the user can easily walk.

  In the second embodiment described above, the brake device has been described as having the bar 7 extending from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U-shape in the top view of the frame 2 toward the other end. The first bar extending from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U-shape in the top view of the frame 2 toward the other end, and the other of the substantially U-shape in the top view of the frame 2 You may have the 2nd bar extended toward one end from the edge vicinity. The front end of the first bar and the front end of the second bar face each other in the vicinity of the center of one end and the other end of the substantially U-shape when viewed from above.

  Although FIG. 5 shows the case where the bar 7 is a rod, the present invention is not limited to this, and the bar has a root portion and a tip portion that can be bent with respect to the root portion. In addition, the root portion may be bent without turning the root portion. By bending only the front part, it becomes easy to enter a space where the user can easily walk.

  Although FIG. 5 shows the case where the bar 7 is a rod, the present invention is not limited to this, and instead of the bar, the band is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the top and the other end. It may be stretched between. When the pedestrian's body comes out in the direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker, a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact with the belt and the brake can be automatically applied.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the braking mechanism 9 includes the support member 91, the rotation member 92, and the abutting member 93 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the braking mechanism may be, for example, a drum brake, Other configurations that can brake a wheel such as a disc brake may be used.

  Although FIG. 5 shows a case where the braking mechanism 9 is provided on one wheel, the present invention is not limited to this, and a braking mechanism is provided on each of the wheels, and the wires are branched. A plurality of wheels may be braked by being connected to each braking mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,10 Walker 2 Frame 3, 3A Caster 4 Rod body 5 Inclination part 6 Brake part 7 Bar 8 Press part 9 Braking mechanism 21 Upper frame 21a, 21b, 21c Pipe 22, 23, 24, 25 Caster frame 26 Lower frame 26a , 26b, 26c Pipe 27 Cushion 31 Wheel 32 Mounting part 33 Fork part 41 Biasing member 51 Inclined surface 71 Pad 72 Bar urging member 73 Stopper 74 Wire 91 Support member 92 Turning member 93 Contacting member

Claims (11)

A space in which a pedestrian stands in the center and forms a walkable space, and the pedestrian grips the upper part during walking or a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact with the frame,
In a walker having a plurality of wheels provided at the lower end of the frame,
A walker having a braking device that brakes the wheel when a pedestrian's body comes out of the walking space in a direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker. The frame is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above,
The braking device extends from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U shape in the top view toward the other end, and can turn around the vicinity of the one end of the approximately U shape in the top view. Have a bar that
The walker according to claim 1, wherein the wheel is braked by turning the bar. The frame includes a caster frame that extends toward the ground and is provided with a caster having the wheel at a tip thereof.
A rod is penetrating the caster frame provided with the casters for braking the wheels, and the rod is biased in a direction away from the ground along the axis of the rod,
An inclined portion having an inclined surface is provided at the upper end of the rod body, and a braking portion is provided at the lower end of the rod body to directly contact and brake the wheel of the caster,
3. The bar is provided with a pressing portion that presses the inclined surface by turning the bar and displaces the rod body along the axis of the rod body against urging. The described walker. The wheels of the casters are turnable,
The wheel of the caster is slidable with respect to the caster frame along a turning axis of the wheel of the caster,
When the rod body is biased in a direction away from the ground, the braking portion presses the caster toward the caster frame,
When the rod body is displaced in the axial direction of the rod body against the urging force, the pressing of the caster by the braking unit is released, and the wheel of the caster that is not in contact with the ground moves along the turning axis line. The walker according to claim 3, wherein the walker can be slid toward the ground. The wheels of the casters are turnable,
The wheel of the caster is slidable with respect to the caster frame along a turning axis of the wheel of the caster,
When the rod body is biased in a direction away from the ground, the braking portion presses the caster toward the caster frame,
When the rod body is displaced in the axial direction of the rod body against the urging force, the braking portion comes into contact with the wheel of the caster and presses the wheel of the caster toward the ground along the pivot axis. The walker according to claim 3, wherein: The axis of the rod body provided with the braking portion and the turning axis for changing the direction of the wheel of the caster are the same,
The eccentricity between the rotation axis and the turning axis of the wheel in the caster is a range in which the braking part can come into contact with the wheel when the braking part is displaced along the turning axis. The walker according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by the above.   The walker according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the turning of the bar is urged in a direction in which the pressing portion comes into contact with the inclined portion. The caster frame is bent,
The walker according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the rod body is divided vertically inside a bent portion of the caster frame. A space where a pedestrian stands and walks is formed in the center, and the pedestrian grips the upper part during walking or a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact with the pedestrian. A brake device for a walker that can be attached to a walker having a letter-shaped frame and a plurality of wheels provided at the lower end of the frame,
A rod that extends toward the ground, penetrates a caster frame provided with a caster having the wheel at the tip, and is biased in a direction away from the ground along its axis,
Provided at the upper end of this rod, an inclined portion having an inclined surface,
A braking portion that is provided at the lower end of the rod body and brakes directly against the wheels of the caster;
A bar that extends from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U shape in the top view toward the other end, and that can be swiveled around the vicinity of the one end of the approximately U shape in the top view;
A pedestrian, comprising: a pressing portion that is provided on the bar, presses the inclined surface by turning the bar, and displaces the rod body in an axial direction against the biasing force. Braking device. A space in which a pedestrian stands in the center and forms a walkable space, and the pedestrian grips the upper part during walking or a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact with the frame,
In a walker having a plurality of wheels provided at the lower end of the frame,
When a pedestrian's body comes out in the direction opposite to the advancing direction of the walker from the walkable space, it has a braking device that brakes the wheel,
The frame is substantially U-shaped when viewed from above,
The braking device extends from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U shape in the top view toward the other end, and can turn around the vicinity of the one end of the approximately U shape in the top view. Have a bar that
When the bar turns, the wheel is braked,
The walker is biased so as to return in a direction extending from the vicinity of one end of a substantially U-shape in a top view to the other end after turning. A space where a pedestrian stands and walks is formed in the center, and the pedestrian grips the upper part during walking or a part of the pedestrian's body comes into contact with the pedestrian. A brake device for a walker that can be attached to a walker having a letter-shaped frame and a plurality of wheels provided at the lower end of the frame,
The brake device for a walker extends from the vicinity of one end of the substantially U shape in the top view to the other end, and can turn around the vicinity of the one end of the approximately U shape in the top view. And the bar
A braking mechanism for contacting the wheel and braking the wheel;
A wire connecting the bar and the braking mechanism;
The walker brake device according to claim 1, wherein the wire is pulled by the turning of the bar, and the brake mechanism is brought into contact with the wheel to apply a brake.

Images