JP2017074173A - Wheelchair with assist device, and assist device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an assist device that can be attached to a wheelchair without impairing a folding mechanism of a wheelchair.SOLUTION: A device body 10 of an assist device includes: a wheel 21 that is driven by a motor and rotates around a rotation shaft P0; a support body 18 that rotatably supports the rotation shaft of the wheel; a center member 11 connected to the upper end side of the support body; a first rotation arm 12L rotatably journaled by a first shaft P1 in a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft on the center member; a second rotation arm 12R rotatably journaled by a second shaft P2 parallel to the first shaft on the center member; and a pair of pipe holding parts 13 which are attached to the tips of the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheelchair with an assist device provided with an assist device that assists driving of a wheelchair by human power with electric power, and an assist device that can be retrofitted to an existing wheelchair.

  Wheelchairs are broadly classified into human-powered wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs according to driving force. In addition to this, a technique for attaching a device that assists driving with electric power to a wheelchair by human power has been proposed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). All of them attach a device for driving wheels by an electric motor to a wheelchair frame. A wheelchair equipped with such a device is simpler and lighter than an electric wheelchair and is usually driven by human power. In addition, driving can be assisted by electric power.

  However, none of the devices proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can be folded unless the wheelchair is removed. Therefore, every time the wheelchair is folded for storing or transporting, it is necessary to remove and attach the device, which is very complicated.

JP 2002-172143 A JP 2000-24049 A

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a wheelchair with an assist device that can be folded while the assist device is attached, and an assist device that can be attached to the wheelchair without impairing the folding mechanism of the wheelchair. , That is the subject.

In order to solve the above problems, a wheelchair with an assist device according to the present invention is:
“A base pipe extending in the front-rear direction, a seat side pipe extending in the front-rear direction above the base pipe, a front pipe connecting the base pipe and the seat side pipe on the front end sides thereof, the base pipe and the seat A wheelchair having a body frame comprising a pair of left and right one-side frames each having a rear pipe connecting side pipes on the rear end side and a connecting frame connecting the pair of one-side frames. A wheelchair with an assist device to which an assist device is attached,
The connecting frame is
A pair of left and right upper pipes each fixed to the seat side pipe;
A pair of left and right lower pipes that are rotatably attached to the base pipe,
A first connection bar connecting the lower pipe on the left and the upper pipe on the right;
A second connecting bar connecting the lower pipe on the right and the upper pipe on the left;
The first connection bar and the second connection bar intersect in an X shape and rotate in directions opposite to each other around the connection axis, thereby bringing the pair of one-side frames apart from each other.
The assist device is
A wheel driven by a motor and rotating around a rotation axis;
A support that rotatably supports the rotating shaft of the wheel;
A center member coupled to the upper end side of the support;
A first pivot arm pivotally supported on the center member by a first axis parallel to the coupling axis and having a tip coupled to the left lower pipe;
The center member is pivotally supported by a second shaft parallel to the first shaft so as to be pivotable, and has a second pivot arm whose tip is connected to the right lower pipe. It is.

  “Front / rear”, “up / down” and “left / right” in this document are “front / rear”, “up / down” and “left / right”, “for a wheelchair user (seat), respectively.

  In this configuration, the wheelchair to which the assist device is attached is folded by rotating the first connection bar and the second connection bar that intersect in an X shape in the connection frame in directions opposite to each other around the connection axis. The configuration is also expanded. Specifically, when the first connection bar and the second connection bar are rotated around the connection axis in directions in which both ends are directed inward, the upper ends of the first connection bar and the second connection bar are connected. A pair of upper pipes approach, and a pair of lower pipes to which the lower ends of the first connection bar and the second connection bar are connected approach. The pair of upper pipes are respectively fixed to the seat side pipes of the one side frame, and the pair of lower pipes are rotatably attached to the base pipe of the one side frame, respectively. As a result, the pair of one-side frames approach the left and right, and the wheelchair is folded. Conversely, when the first connection bar and the second connection bar are rotated around the connection axis in the directions in which both ends are directed outward, the pair of upper pipes are separated from each other and the pair of lower pipes are separated from each other. As a result, the pair of one-side frames are separated on the left and right, and the wheelchair is deployed.

  And with respect to such a wheelchair, the assist device is connected to a pair of lower pipes in the connection frame. In other words, when the wheelchair is folded and unfolded, the assist device is attached to the “portion that is displaced left and right” so as to approach each other. Usually, if the assist device is fixed to both of the “parts that are displaced on the left and right”, the function of displacing is impaired when the assist device is attached.

  On the other hand, in this structure, the 1st rotation arm and the 2nd rotation arm in an assist apparatus are each connected with the lower pipe. And the 1st rotation arm and the 2nd rotation arm can be rotated around the 1st axis and the 2nd axis which are parallel to the connection axis which is the rotation center of the 1st connection bar and the 2nd connection bar, respectively. . Therefore, even if the length of each of the first and second rotating arms is unchanged, the distance between the respective tips can be changed by the rotation. As a result, the pair of lower pipes can be separated and approached while the tips of the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm of the assist device remain connected. Therefore, the wheelchair can be folded and deployed with the assist device attached.

  More specifically, when the pair of one-side frames are brought close to each other, the first connection bar and the second connection bar rotate around the connection axis in directions in which both ends are directed inward, and the pair of upper pipes and the pair of lower pipes Displace so that comrades approach. At that time, the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm, both of which are connected to the lower pipe, can rotate downward around the first axis and the second axis, respectively. And the tip of each of the second rotating arms approaches. Thereby, the wheelchair is folded without the approach of the pair of lower pipes being hindered by the assist device. Conversely, when the pair of one-side frames are separated from each other, the first connection bar and the second connection bar rotate around the connection axis in directions in which both ends are directed outward, and the pair of upper pipes and the pair of lower pipes are Displaces away. At that time, the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm, both of which are connected to the lower pipe, can rotate upward around the first axis and the second axis, respectively. And the front-end | tip of each 2nd rotation arm is spaced apart. Thereby, the wheelchair is deployed without the separation of the pair of lower pipes being hindered by the assist device.

  Therefore, according to this configuration, the wheelchair can be folded and unfolded with the assist device attached. And the drive of a wheelchair can be assisted with an electric power by driving the wheel with which an assistant device is provided with a motor.

In addition to the above configuration, the wheelchair with an assist device according to the present invention includes:
“The first rotating arm and the second rotating arm each have a claw portion protruding toward the center member,
The center member includes the first turning arm and the pair of one-side frames as the pair of one-side frames are separated by turning the first connecting bar and the second connecting bar in directions opposite to each other around the connecting shaft. As the second rotating arm rotates in directions opposite to each other about the first axis and the second axis, it has a claw receiving portion that engages with the claw portion by frictional force. '' Can be.

  In this configuration, the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm that are configured to rotate each have a claw portion, and the claw portion is when the pair of one-side frames are separated and the wheelchair is deployed. As the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm rotate, the claw receiving portion of the center member engages with the frictional force. Thereby, the state where each of the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm is rotated by a specific angle with respect to the center member is locked by the engagement between the claw portion and the claw receiving portion. Therefore, when the wheelchair is deployed, it is possible to lock the left-right symmetric state in which the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm are rotated in the opposite directions with respect to the center member by the same angle. . As a result, the symmetrical state in which the wheel is not inclined with respect to the vehicle body frame can be locked.

Next, the assist device according to the present invention includes:
"A wheel that is driven by a motor and rotates around a rotation axis;
A support that rotatably supports the rotating shaft of the wheel;
A center member coupled to the upper end side of the support;
A first rotation arm pivotally supported on the center member by a first axis in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis;
A second rotating arm pivotally supported on the center member by a second axis parallel to the first axis;
A pair of pipe holders respectively attached to the tips of the first and second rotating arms;
Is provided. "

  This is an assist device that is configured as a wheelchair with the assist device described above by being attached to the wheelchair. Each of the pair of pipe holding portions holds one of the pair of lower pipes in the connecting frame of the wheelchair, and the pipe holding portion is attached to the tip of each of the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm. The assist device can be attached to the wheelchair. Although the assist device of this configuration is attached to a portion that is displaced along with folding and unfolding of the wheelchair, it is parallel to the connecting axis of the connecting frame as the wheelchair folding mechanism when attached to the wheelchair. Therefore, the folding mechanism of the wheelchair is not impaired.

  As described above, as an effect of the present invention, a wheelchair with an assist device that can be folded while the assist device is attached, and an assist device that can be attached to the wheelchair without impairing the folding mechanism of the wheelchair are provided. can do.

(A) A perspective view of a wheelchair to which an assist device is attached, and (b) a perspective view of a wheelchair with an assist device. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view of the assist apparatus of FIG.1 (b). It is a principal part top view of a wheelchair with an assist device. (A) The principal part rear view of the wheelchair with an assist apparatus of the state which expand | deployed, (b) The principal part rear view of the wheelchair with an assist apparatus of the state in the middle of being folded. (C) It is a principal part rear view of the wheelchair with an assist apparatus of the folded state. It is a perspective view of the body frame of a wheelchair. It is a partial front view of the wheelchair with an assist device of the folded state. It is the (a) perspective view and (b) sectional view of the pipe holding part of an assist device. It is explanatory drawing of the operation part and throttle of a wheelchair with an assist apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a wheelchair 1 with an assist device and an assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

  First, the configuration of the wheelchair 100 to which the assist device is attached will be described. The wheelchair 100 is a wheelchair prescribed by JIS. Here, as the wheelchair 100, a standard wheelchair for assistance mainly intended to be operated by an assistant is illustrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 6, the vehicle body frame 50 that is a framework of the wheelchair 100 includes a left frame 50 </ b> L and a right frame 50 </ b> R that form a pair, and a connecting frame 60 that connects them. Yes. The left frame 50L and the right frame 50R have the same configuration, and each correspond to a “one side frame” of the present invention. Each of the left frame 50L and the right frame 50R includes a base pipe 55 extending in the front-rear direction, a seat side pipe 53 extending in the front-rear direction above it, and an arm pipe 54 extending in the front-rear direction above it. These three pipes are connected up and down by a rear pipe 51 at the rear and are connected up and down by a front pipe 52 at the front.

  The connection frame 60 includes a pair of left and right upper pipes 61, a pair of left and right lower pipes 62, two first connection bars 65 that connect the left lower pipe 62 and the right upper pipe 61, and a right Two second connection bars 66 connecting the lower pipe 62 and the left upper pipe 61 are provided. Each of the first connection bar 65 and the second connection bar 66 crosses in an X shape with the second connection bar 66 inside, and is fastened around the connection axis P6 so as to be rotatable. . That is, the connection frame 60 has two pairs of the first connection bar 65 and the second connection bar 66 that are rotatably assembled in an X shape.

  The left and right upper pipes 61 are fixed inside the left and right seat side pipes 53, respectively. On the other hand, the left and right lower pipes 62 are fitted in the middle of the left and right base pipes 55 so as to be rotatable with respect to the axis of the base pipe 55. With such a configuration, when the left frame 50L and the right frame 50R are brought close to each other, the first connection bar 65 and the second connection bar 66 intersecting in an X shape are connected around the connection axis P6 so that both ends face inward. The vehicle body frame 50 is folded. Conversely, when the left frame 50L and the right frame 50R are separated from each other, the first connection bar 65 and the second connection bar 66 rotate around the connection axis P6 so that both ends face outward, and the vehicle body frame 50 expands. Is done.

  A seat sheet 81 is stretched between the left and right upper pipes 61. The rear pipe 51 extends upward from the arm pipe 54 and then bends further rearward to form a handle 59. A back seat 82 is stretched between the left and right rear pipes 51 at a portion higher than the height of the seat side pipe 53. The seat side pipe 53 and the base pipe 55 each extend forward from the front pipe 52 and are connected by a leg pipe 56. The leg pipe 56 is rotatably supported by a footrest 85 on which a user's foot is placed, and a leg seat 86 is stretched between the left and right leg pipes 56. The seat portion seat 81, the back portion seat 82, and the leg seat 86 are flexible, and are folded and unfolded together with the vehicle body frame 50.

  In each of the left and right rear pipes 51, a rotating shaft of a main wheel 71 that is rotatable in the front-rear direction is fixed through a bearing in the vicinity of a connection portion with the base pipe 55. A small caster 72 is attached to each of the left and right front pipes 52 in the vicinity of the connection point with the base pipe 55. The caster 72 is a free wheel that is rotatable in the front-rear direction and that can turn around an axis that extends vertically.

  Next, the configuration of the assist device will be described. The assist device is connected to the wheel 21 that is driven by a motor and rotates around the rotation axis P 0, the support 18 that rotatably supports the rotation axis P 0 of the wheel 21, and the upper end side of the support 18. The center member 11, the center member 11, the first rotation arm 12 </ b> L pivotally supported by the first axis P <b> 1 in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis P <b> 0, the center member 11, and the first axis P <b> 1 A second turning arm 12R pivotally supported by a parallel second shaft P2, a pair of pipe holding portions 13 attached to the first turning arm 12L and the tip of the second turning arm, respectively; A pair of claw portions 14b projecting from the first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R toward the center member 11 side, and the first rotating arm 12L side and the second rotating arm 12 of the center member 11 respectively. From the upper surface side, and includes a pair of claw receiving portion 15 that protrudes upward, respectively, the. The assist device further includes a controller having a control circuit for controlling the driving of the motor, an operation unit 30 and a throttle 40 for operating the driving of the motor, and a battery 22 as a driving power source of the motor.

  In the following description, “front / rear”, “up / down”, and “left / right” in the assist device refer to “front / rear”, “up / down” and “up / down” for the user (sitting person) when the assist device is attached to the wheelchair 100. "Left and right"

  More specifically, the assist device includes one wheel 21, and the direction of the rotation axis P0 of the wheel 21 is the left-right direction. The motor that drives the wheel 21 is an in-wheel motor (not shown) provided inside the wheel 21.

  The support 18 includes a pair of first support 18a and a pair of second support 18b. Each of the pair of first support bodies 18a is L-shaped, and sandwiches the wheel 21 from both sides at a portion extending in the front-rear direction, and rotatably supports the rotation shaft P0. The second support 18b is superimposed on a portion extending in the vertical direction of the L-shaped first support 18a. A long hole 18h that is long in the vertical direction is formed through the second support 18b, and a plurality of bolt holes 18i are formed through the first support 18a on a line extending the long hole 18h. With such a configuration, even if a bolt is inserted into any one of the plurality of bolt holes 18i, the bolt can be inserted into the long hole 18h. By fastening with the bolt and the nut, the first support 18a and The second support 18b can be integrated, and the height can be adjusted by sliding the second support 18b vertically with respect to the first support 18a.

  The center member 11 is a plate having a U-shaped cross section and a rectangular shape in plan view, and spans the upper ends of the pair of second support bodies 18b so that the U-shape opens downward. In the center of the upper surface of the center member 11, a casing 25 that houses a controller is supported via a controller support portion 19.

  The first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R, the pair of pipe holding portions 13, the pair of claw portions 14b, and the pair of claw receiving portions 15 are symmetrical with respect to the center member 11. Therefore, the configuration on the left side with respect to the center member 11 will be specifically described below, and the description on the configuration on the right side will be omitted. The first rotating arm 12L is a U-shaped plate, and a pair of side walls extending in the same direction in the U-shape are fitted on the left side to a pair of side walls extending in the same direction in the U-shape of the center member 11. In this state, the first pivot arm 12 </ b> L and the center member 11 are pivotally supported by a first axis P <b> 1 that extends through the side walls of the first pivot arm 12 </ b> L and the center member 11.

  The pipe holding part 13 includes a first holding part 13a having a U-shaped cross section and a second holding part 13b having an L-shaped cross section that closes the opening of the first holding part 13a. A bolt and a hole 13h are provided in one of a pair of side walls extending in the same direction in the U-shape of the first holding portion 13a, and a hole 12h provided in the tip of the first rotating arm 12L. By fastening with a nut, the first holding portion 13a can be detachably attached to the first rotating arm 12L. The first holding portion 13a is fastened with a bolt and a nut through a hole 13i provided in the other of the pair of side walls of the first holding portion 13a and a hole 13k provided in the second holding portion 13b. The second holding portion 13b can be detachably attached to the portion 13a.

  A flat claw plate 14 is superimposed on an intermediate surface of the first rotating arm 12L having a U-shaped cross section, and an inner end portion of the claw plate 14 bends and extends toward the center member 11. A claw portion 14b is formed. The claw plate 14 is fastened to the first rotating arm 12L with bolts and nuts, but the hole 14h that penetrates the claw plate 14 for fastening is a long hole, and the claw 14b. It is possible to adjust the length protruding toward the center member 11 side.

  On the other hand, a claw receiving portion 15 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the center member 11 on the first rotating arm 12L side. The claw receiving portion 15 has a flat plate shape, and its upper portion is slightly bent toward the inside of the center member 11. When the first rotating arm 12L is rotated upward about the first axis P1, the claw portion 14b protruding from the first rotating arm 12L contacts the claw receiving portion 15 protruding from the center member 11. And engaged by frictional force.

  The operation unit 30 is attached to one of the pair of handles 59 and is electrically connected to a control circuit of the controller. As shown in FIG. 9, the operation unit 30 includes a power button 31, a constant speed selection button 32 for selecting a constant speed traveling mode, and a mode selection button 33 for selecting a plurality of modes having different maximum speeds. , A mode display unit 35 for displaying the selected mode, and an output display unit 36 for displaying the magnitude of the output by illumination. The throttle 40 is attached to the other of the pair of handles 59, and is electrically connected to the control circuit of the controller. The battery 22 is detachably connected to a battery connection portion 22b fixed to the rear pipe 51, and the battery connection portion 22b is electrically connected to a controller control circuit.

  Of the assist device having the above-described configuration, a portion excluding the operation unit 30, the throttle 40, the battery 22, and electric wiring (not shown), that is, a configuration around the wheel (hereinafter referred to as “device main body 10”) is a wheelchair as follows. 100. First, the apparatus main body 10 in a state in which the pipe holding portion 13 is removed from the distal ends of the first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R is positioned in the space below the connection frame 60 in the wheelchair 100.

  Then, the first holding portion 13a of the left pipe holding portion 13 is applied to the left lower pipe 62 from the outside, and the lower pipe 62 is positioned in the U-shape of the first holding portion 13a. In this state, the first holding part 13a is attached to the first turning arm 12L by fastening with bolts and nuts through the hole 13h of the first holding part 13a and the hole 12h of the first turning arm 12L. Install. Furthermore, the second holding part 13b is attached to the first holding part 13a by fastening with bolts and nuts through the hole part 13i of the first holding part 13a and the hole part 13k of the second holding part 13b. The opening of the first holding part 13a is closed by the second holding part 13b. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the lower pipe 62 is inserted through the tubular space formed by the first holding portion 13a and the second holding portion 13b, and the first rotating arm 12L is Connected to the left lower pipe 62. Similarly, the right lower pipe 62 is held in the right pipe holding portion 13, and the second turning arm 12 </ b> R is connected to the right lower pipe 62 through the right pipe holding portion 13.

  As described above, the apparatus main body 10 can be attached to the wheelchair 100 by an easy operation of simply attaching the left and right pipe holding portions 13 to the tips of the first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R, respectively. Here, the size of the wheelchair 100 according to the standard is almost constant, but if a plurality of types having different sizes are prepared for the pipe holding portion 13, the diameter of the lower pipe 62 and the distance between the pair of lower pipes 62 are different. In contrast, the apparatus main body 10 can be attached. That is, in the configuration of the apparatus main body 10, wheelchairs having different sizes can be handled only by setting the pipe holding unit 13. In addition, with respect to the wheelchair in which the heights of the lower pipe 62 and the base pipe 55 from the ground are different, in the support body 18 that supports the wheel 21, the second support body 18b is replaced with the first support body 18a as described above. On the other hand, the height can be adjusted by sliding in the vertical direction.

  In the present embodiment, the width in the front-rear direction of the center member 11, the first rotating arm 12L, and the second rotating arm 12R is between two pairs of the first connecting bar 65 and the second connecting bar 66 that form an X shape. It is set slightly larger than the distance. Therefore, when the apparatus main body 10 is attached to the wheelchair 100, as shown in FIG. 3, the first connecting bar 65 is provided on both outer sides of the center member 11, the first rotating arm 12L, and the second rotating arm 12R. And the second connecting bar 66 are located close to each other. Therefore, in the present embodiment, two L-shaped hooks 16L are attached to the first rotating arm 12L, one facing forward and the other facing backward, and the first connecting bar 65 is covered from above. Yes. Similarly, two L-shaped hooks 16R are attached to the second rotating arm 12R, and the second connecting bar 66 is covered from above. Here, since the second connection bar 66 is inside the first connection bar 65, the hook 16L is longer in the front-rear direction than the hook 16R. By having such hooks 16L and 16R, the state where the apparatus main body 10 is attached to the wheelchair 100 is stabilized. The hooks 16L and 16R are attached to the first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R by fastening bolts and nuts through the respective long holes 16h. Thereby, it is possible to adjust the length which the hooks 16L and 16R protrude according to the thickness of the 1st connection bar 65 and the 2nd connection bar 66. FIG.

  By attaching the apparatus main body 10 to the wheelchair 100 as described above, the wheelchair 1 with an assist device having the following configuration (hereinafter simply referred to as “wheelchair 1”) is obtained. That is, the wheelchair 1 with an assist device in which an assist device is attached to a wheelchair 100 having a body frame 50 including a left frame 50L and a right frame 50R and a connecting frame 60 that connects these frames, A wheel 21 that is driven by a motor and rotates around the rotation axis P0, a support 18 that rotatably supports the rotation axis P0 of the wheel 21, and a center member 11 that is connected to the upper end side of the support 18 The first rotating arm is pivotally supported by the center member 11 by a first shaft P1 parallel to the connecting shaft P6, and the tip is connected to the left lower pipe 62 via the pipe holding portion 13. 12L and the center member 11 is pivotally supported by a second shaft P2 parallel to the first shaft P1, and a pipe holding portion is connected to the lower pipe 62 whose right end is right. Second 3 via is coupled and a rotating arm 12R, is configured to assist device is equipped.

  The wheelchair 1 with an assist device having such a configuration can be folded while the assist device is attached as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the left frame 50L and the right frame 50R are brought closer from the state where the wheelchair 1 is deployed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, the first connection bar 65 and the second connection bar 66 are rotated around the connection axis P6 in the directions in which both ends are directed inward, and the pair of upper pipes 61 and the pair are connected. The lower pipes 62 are displaced so as to approach each other. At that time, the first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R, both of which are connected to the lower pipe 62 via the pipe holding portion 13, are directed downward around the first axis P1 and the second axis P2, respectively. The claw portion 14b and the claw receiving portion 15 are disengaged by rotating. Then, when the first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R further rotate, the respective leading ends of the first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R approach together with the lower pipe 62, and FIG. The wheelchair 1 is folded as shown in c) and FIG. 4A to 5C, the pair of the first connection bar 65 and the second connection bar 66 that should be in front of the apparatus main body 1 is omitted in order to clearly show the configuration. ing.

  In the present embodiment, the distance between the first axis P1 and the second axis P2 is set slightly longer than the width in the left-right direction of the support 18 that supports the wheel 21. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the apparatus main body 10 interferes with other parts of the wheelchair 1 in a state where the wheelchair 1 is folded so that the first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R are substantially perpendicular to the ground. And there is no waste of space. Thereby, the wheelchair 1 can be stored or transported in a compactly folded state.

  Conversely, when the left frame 50L and the right frame 50R are separated from each other, the first connection bar 65 and the second connection bar 66 rotate around the connection axis P6 in directions in which both ends are directed outward, and the pair of upper pipes 61 are commutated. The pair of lower pipes 62 are displaced so as to be separated from each other. Accordingly, the first rotation arm 12L and the second rotation arm 12R rotate upward around the first axis P1 and the second axis P2, respectively, and the first rotation arm 12L and the second rotation arm. The respective tips of 12R are separated together with the lower pipe 62. Thereby, the wheelchair 1 is unfolded through the state shown in FIG. 4B, and the state shown in FIG.

  Thus, when the wheelchair 1 is deployed, the claw portion 14b comes into contact with the claw receiving portion 15 and engages by frictional force as the first turning arm 12L and the second turning arm 12R turn upward. . As described above, the first turning arm 12L and the second turning arm 12R, the pair of pipe holding portions 13, the pair of claw portions 14b, and the pair of claw receiving portions 15 are all left and right with respect to the center member 11. Symmetric. Accordingly, when the claw portion 14b is engaged with the claw receiving portion 15 by frictional force, the first turning arm 12L and the second turning arm 12R are turned in the opposite directions with respect to the center member 11 by the same angle. The symmetric state can be locked. Thus, when the wheelchair 1 is deployed, the state in which the center member 11 is not inclined with respect to the vehicle body frame 50, that is, the symmetric state in which the wheel 21 is not inclined with respect to the vehicle body frame 50 can be locked. it can.

  When assisting the driving of the wheelchair 1 with an assist device with electric power, the power is turned on by operating the power button 31 of the operation unit 30. When the constant speed selection button 32 is pressed, the vehicle travels at a constant set speed while the button is pressed. The mode selection button 33 is a button for selecting a low speed mode, a medium speed mode, and a high speed mode with different maximum speeds. When any mode is selected by this button, the selected mode is displayed on the mode display unit 35. When the throttle 40 is turned, the motor speed gradually increases, and when the throttle 40 is returned, the motor speed gradually decreases. Thereby, the wheelchair 1 can be run at a speed lower than the maximum speed set for each mode and at a speed corresponding to the operation of the throttle 40.

  In a state where the power is turned off by operating the power button 31, the wheel 21 rotates freely. Therefore, the wheelchair 1 with an assist device can be switched between a wheelchair that is driven by human power and a wheelchair that is driven by electric power only by operating the power button 31. That is, in a state where the power button 31 is turned off, it can be used as a normal wheelchair without operating the assist device.

  As described above, the assist device of the present embodiment can be retrofitted to the existing wheelchair 100 that is driven by human power by an easy operation to be the wheelchair 1 with the assist device. And the wheelchair 1 with an assist apparatus can be folded and expand | deployed with the assist apparatus attached.

  Further, the distance between the rotation axes (the first axis P1 and the second axis P2) of each of the first rotation arm 12L and the second rotation arm 12R that rotate when the wheelchair 1 is folded is determined by moving the wheel 21 from both sides. The setting is slightly longer than the left and right widths of the support 18 to be supported. For this reason, when the first rotating arm 12L and the second rotating arm 12R are perpendicular to the ground, the support 18 is sandwiched from both sides, and the state where the space is folded without waste is compact. In addition, since the motor that drives the wheel 21 is an in-wheel motor, the wheelchair 1 can be folded more compactly than when the motor is provided outside.

  Further, when the wheelchair 1 is deployed, the claw portion 14b of the assist device and the claw receiving portion 15 are engaged with each other by frictional force, so that a symmetric state in which the wheel 21 is not inclined with respect to the vehicle body frame 50 can be easily performed. Can be locked to.

  The preferred embodiments have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and designs can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as described below. It can be changed.

  For example, although a standard wheelchair for assistance is illustrated as a wheelchair to which the assist device is attached, it is not limited to this. As long as it has a folding mechanism with an X-shaped connecting frame, even if it is a wheelchair of another type, it can be set as a wheelchair with an assist apparatus by attaching the assist apparatus of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wheelchair 10 with an assist apparatus Main body 11 Center member 12L First rotation arm 12R Second rotation arm 13 Pipe holding part 14b Claw part 15 Claw receiving part 18 Support body 21 Wheel 50 Body frame 50L Left frame (one side frame)
50R Right frame (one side frame)
51 Rear pipe 52 Front pipe 53 Seat side pipe 55 Base pipe 60 Connection frame 61 Upper pipe 62 Lower pipe 65 First connection bar 66 Second connection bar P0 Rotating axis P1 First axis P2 Second axis P6 Connection axis

Claims (3)

A base pipe extending in the front-rear direction, a seat side pipe extending in the front-rear direction above the base pipe, a front pipe connecting the base pipe and the seat side pipe on the respective front end sides, the base pipe and the seat side A wheelchair having a frame of a vehicle body frame including a pair of left and right one-side frames each having a rear pipe connecting pipes on the rear end side and a connection frame connecting a pair of the one-side frames, A wheelchair with an assist device to which an assist device is attached,
The connecting frame is
A pair of left and right upper pipes each fixed to the seat side pipe;
A pair of left and right lower pipes that are rotatably attached to the base pipe,
A first connection bar connecting the lower pipe on the left and the upper pipe on the right;
A second connecting bar connecting the lower pipe on the right and the upper pipe on the left;
The first connection bar and the second connection bar intersect in an X shape and rotate in directions opposite to each other around the connection axis, thereby bringing the pair of one-side frames apart from each other.
The assist device is
A wheel driven by a motor and rotating around a rotation axis;
A support that rotatably supports the rotating shaft of the wheel;
A center member coupled to the upper end side of the support;
A first pivot arm pivotally supported on the center member by a first axis parallel to the coupling axis and having a tip coupled to the left lower pipe;
A second pivot arm pivotally supported on the center member by a second axis parallel to the first axis and having a tip connected to the right lower pipe; A wheelchair with an assist device. The first rotating arm and the second rotating arm each have a claw portion protruding toward the center member side,
The center member includes the first turning arm and the pair of one-side frames as the pair of one-side frames are separated by turning the first connecting bar and the second connecting bar in directions opposite to each other around the connecting shaft. A claw receiving portion that engages with the claw portion by a frictional force as the second rotation arm rotates in directions opposite to each other around the first axis and the second axis. The wheelchair with an assist device according to claim 1. A wheel driven by a motor and rotating around a rotation axis;
A support that rotatably supports the rotating shaft of the wheel;
A center member coupled to the upper end side of the support;
A first rotation arm pivotally supported on the center member by a first axis in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis;
A second rotating arm pivotally supported on the center member by a second axis parallel to the first axis;
A pair of pipe holders respectively attached to the tips of the first and second rotating arms;
An assist device comprising:

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