JP2017225504A - Walking support device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a walking support device having a standing assisting function and height adjusting function.SOLUTION: A walking support device 1 includes: a support member 2 having supporters 21 and a support table 22 arranged on upper ends of the supporters in order to support a user; and a support member rotation movement mechanism 4 for moving the support member 2 upward by rotation while allowing the supporters 21 to be closer to a vertical state from an inclined state and also allowing an upper surface 26 of the support table 22 to be closer to a horizontal state from an inclined state, and then continuously performing an action to move the support member 2 upward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a walking support device having a standing assistance function.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the walking support apparatus has a U-shaped support base (support table) 103 swinging on the upper ends of left and right support columns 101; 101 rising from a base frame 100 having casters 99 via hinges 102. The mechanism suspension point 104 is provided on the lower surface of the front end portion of the support base 103, and the human body suspension points 105; 105 are provided on the left and right lower surfaces of the rear end portion of the support base 103, respectively. In addition, a weight-loading device 106 is provided, and the other end of the rope 107, one end of which is connected to the weight-loading device 106, is connected to the mechanism suspension point 104 via a connector 108 such as a hook. The left and right hanging portions 111; 111 of the mounting tool 110 for lifting a human body worn by a user A such as an elderly person, a care recipient, or a rehabilitation trainer are suspended from a human body via a coupling tool 112; 112 such as a hook. By being connected to the points 105; 105, the user A who uses the walking support device can walk with the weight load reducing device 106 in a state where the weight load is reduced.
There is also known a walking support device configured by attaching a standing assistance device and a weight-bearing device to a base frame provided with casters (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-125548 A

However, the walking support device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that there is no height adjustment function after standing up assistance and the height of the device cannot be adjusted according to the height or walking posture of the user. .
The present invention provides a walking support device having a standing assistance function and a height adjustment function.

The walking support device according to the present invention includes a support, a support member having a support provided at the upper end of the support to support the user, and the support so that the support approaches the vertical state from the inclined state. Since the support member is moved upward while rotating the support member so that the upper surface approaches the horizontal state from the inclined state, and further provided with a support member rotation moving mechanism that continuously performs the operation of moving the support member upward. The walking assist device is provided with a standing assist function and a height adjustment function.
The support member rotational movement mechanism includes a first support shaft provided on the lower end side of the support column, a second support shaft provided on the upper end side of the support column with respect to the first support shaft, and a first support shaft. After guiding a first fixed frame having a first guide groove for guiding the shaft vertically upward and a second support shaft in an inclined direction so as to rise from the rear of the device toward the front of the device A second fixed frame provided with a second guide groove for vertically guiding; a pinion having a first support shaft as a rotation center; a rack in which the pinion is engaged; and a drive source for rotating the pinion. Since the driving mechanism is provided, the walking assist device can continuously realize the standing assistance function and the height adjustment function by controlling the driving source.
In addition, the support base is connected to the upper end of the column via a hinge so that one end of the support base positioned on the front side of the apparatus and the other end of the support base positioned on the rear side of the apparatus reciprocate vertically. A weight-loading device for reducing the weight of a user wearing a wearing tool connected to the other end of the support base is attached to one end side of the support base. A lifting force is applied to the user, and the user can walk with a reduced weight.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the walking support apparatus showing a state where the support base is at the lowest position, and FIG. FIG. 4A is a front view of the walking support apparatus showing a state where the support base is at the lowest position, and FIG. FIG. 4A is a side view showing the swinging restricting means of the support base provided at the upper end of the column, and FIG. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a standing assistance function. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a height adjustment function. The figure which shows an example of the conventional walking assistance apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the walking support device 1 according to the embodiment includes a support member 2, a support frame 3, a support member rotation moving mechanism 4, a weight loader device 5, and a traveling unit 10. Prepare.

The support member 2 includes left and right support columns 21; 21 and a support base 22 provided at the upper ends of the left and right support columns 21; 21 to support the user A (see FIG. 6).
The support base 22 is formed in a U-shape so that the lower side (bottom side) of the U-shape is positioned in front of the apparatus 1 when viewed from above, and the lower side of the U-shape on the lower surface (back side) 23. Are attached to the upper ends of the left and right columns 21; 21 via a hinge 24 (see FIG. 3) so as to be swingable.
As shown in FIG. 3, the upper and lower ends of the left and right columns 21; 21 are provided with swing restricting bodies 25; 25, and the support base 22 has a predetermined angular range α (for example, α = 5 ° to It can swing only about 10 °).
Then, the user A puts the upper arm on the upper surface 26 of the support base 22 (see FIG. 6), the user A holds the left and right sides of the U-shape of the support base 22, and the user A supports the support base 22. The walking in the state where it was made becomes possible.

A mechanism suspension point 27 is provided on the lower surface of the front end portion of the support base 22 (the lower surface of the U-shaped lower end portion), and the left and right lower surfaces of the rear end portion of the support base (the lower surfaces of the left and right upper end portions of the U-shape). 23 are provided with human body hanging points 28; 28, respectively.
Then, the other end of the rope 50, one end of which is connected to the weight-bearing device 5, is connected to the mechanism suspension point 27 via a connecting tool 51 such as a hook, which is used by elderly people, care recipients, rehabilitation trainers, etc. When the hanging part of the lifting tool for lifting the human body worn by the person A is connected to the human body hanging point 28; 28 via a connecting tool such as a hook (see FIG. 6), the user A has a weight load. It becomes possible to walk in a reduced state.

In order to reduce the weight load of the user A, the weight-unloading device 5 converts the user A suspended by the human body hanging point 28; 28 through the wearing tool 110 as shown in FIG. It is a device that lifts upward with a force that is a fraction of the body weight. For example, it is a lifting device that uses a motor, a cylinder (such as an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder), a spring, a weight, or the like as a drive source. For example, one end of the rope 50 is connected to an output shaft of a motor or a piston of a cylinder so that the lifting force can be applied and the lifting force can be changed by controlling the motor or the cylinder. As the configuration for connecting the mainspring (spring) or the weight and applying the lifting force, the lifting force may be changed by changing the spring force of the constant load spring or the weight of the weight.
The weight loader 5 is attached to, for example, a first fixed frame 33 or a base frame 32 constituting a support frame 3 described later.

  That is, the walking support device 1 performs a seesaw motion in which the one end of the support base 22 positioned on the front side of the device 1 and the other end of the support base 22 positioned on the rear side of the device 1 reciprocate vertically. A support base 22 is attached to the upper ends of the left and right columns 21; 21 via hinges 24, and a mechanism suspension point 27 on one end side of the support base 22 is connected to a human body suspension point 28 on the other end side of the support base 22; The weight unloading device 5 that reduces the weight of the user A wearing the wearing tool connected to the user 28 is attached, and the hanging part of the wearing tool worn by the user A is the other end of the support base 22. In a state where the user is suspended by being connected to the human body suspension point 28; 28 on the side, the weight-loading device 5 applies a lifting force to the user A, and the user A is in a state where the weight is reduced. It is possible to walk.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the support column 21 is formed of a metal rod-shaped cylinder having a lower portion 21a and an upper portion 21b that are not in a straight line, for example. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), the upper portion 21b is configured to incline toward the rear of the device 1 and extend upward while the lower portion 21a extends vertically. For example, the angle formed by the center line c of the lower portion 21a and the center line d of the upper portion 21b is configured to be a predetermined angle θ (for example, θ = 1 ° to 30 °).

  Then, the support bases are connected to the upper ends of the left and right support columns 21; 21 via hinges 24; 24 so that the center line d of the upper portion 21b of the left and right support columns 21 and the upper surface 26 of the support table 22 are substantially orthogonal to each other. 22 are connected.

It should be noted that the upper portion 21b is configured so that the upper portion 21b is inclined rearwardly of the device 1 and extends upward while the lower portion 21a extends vertically, and the upper portions of the left and right columns 21; A configuration (see FIG. 4D) in which the support member 2 is configured so that the center line d of 21b and the upper surface 26 of the support base 22 are substantially orthogonal to each other, and a support column that extends straightly. In addition, when comparing the B configuration in which the support member is configured such that the center line of the support column and the upper surface 26 of the support base 22 are substantially orthogonal to each other, the support column is arranged at the same angle behind the device 1. If tilted, the configuration A can increase the tilt angle β (see FIG. 4A) of the upper surface 26 of the support base 22 with respect to the horizontal plane H, and the rear side of the support base 22 (the upper left and right upper sides of the U-shape) It can be located further downward. In other words, in the configuration A, the inclination angle β of the upper surface 26 of the support base 22 with respect to the horizontal plane H can be increased without tilting the column 21 to the rear of the device 1, so the column 21 is not inclined to the rear of the device 1 much. By being able to be configured, it is possible to reduce the burden on the drive source (motor 15 to be described later) for moving the support column 21 and to prevent the support column 21 from entering the space in front of the user A and getting in the way. And it can be set as the structure which can respond also to the standing assistance of the user A from a low bed.
However, you may comprise the supporting member 2 like the B structure mentioned above.

As shown in FIG. 1, the support frame 3 includes left and right support columns 31; 31 and a base frame 32.
Each of the left and right support columns 31; 31 includes a first fixed frame 33 and a second fixed frame 34, respectively.
The first fixed frame 33 is formed of a metal rod-like cylinder extending in the vertical direction, and a first guide groove 35 extending in the vertical direction is formed. The first guide groove 35 is formed so as to penetrate the left and right sides of the first fixed frame 33 and extend in the vertical direction.
The second fixed frame 34 is formed by a metal rod-like cylindrical body that extends so as to gradually rise from the rear to the front of the device 1, and a second guide groove 36 that extends in the extending direction is formed. . The second guide groove 36 is formed so as to penetrate the left and right sides of the second fixed frame 34 and extend in the extending direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the second fixed frame 34 includes an upper end 34 a, a lower end 34 b, and a center 34 c, and the center line e of the upper end 34 a and the center line of the first fixed frame 33. f are positioned on planes parallel to each other. The center line e of the upper end portion 34 a and the center line f of the first fixed frame 33 extend vertically while being parallel to each other, and the center line g of the center portion 34 c is the center of the first fixed frame 33. The central portion 34c is provided so as to intersect and extend with respect to the line e, and the lower end portion 34b is provided so as to extend downward from the lower end of the central portion 34c to the rear side of the device 1. And the 2nd guide groove 36 is provided so that it may straddle between the upper end vicinity of the upper end part 34a, and the lower end vicinity of the center part 34c. That is, the second guide groove 36 includes an inclined guide groove 36c provided in the central portion 34c and a vertical guide groove 36a provided in the upper end portion 34a. The inclined guide groove 36 c is a groove that is inclined and extended so as to rise from the rear to the front of the device 1.

  The lower ends of the left and right support columns 31; 31, that is, the lower ends of the left and right first fixed frames 33; 33 and the lower ends of the left and right second fixed frames 34; 34 are connected to the base frame 31, and the base The traveling unit 10 is formed by a plurality of wheels (casters) 37 being rotatably attached to the frame 31. The base frame 31 is formed in a U shape corresponding to the shape of the support base 22, for example.

  The support 21 moves in the first guide shaft 11 that can move in the vertical direction in the first guide groove 35 of the first fixed frame 33 and in the second guide groove 36 of the second fixed frame 34. A possible second spindle 12 is provided. The first support shaft 11 is provided at a position on the lower end side of the support column 21, and the second support shaft 12 is provided at a position closer to the center of the support column 21, which is the upper end side of the support column 21 than the first support shaft 11. It has been.

  The support member rotating / moving mechanism 4 moves upward while rotating the support member 2 so that the left and right columns 21; 21 approach the vertical state from the inclined state and the upper surface 26 of the support base 22 approaches the horizontal state from the inclined state. This is a mechanism for continuously performing the operation of moving the support member 2 upward after the movement.

  That is, the support member rotational movement mechanism 4 includes a first support shaft 11 provided on the lower end side of the support column 21, and a second support shaft 12 provided on the upper end side of the support column 21 with respect to the first support shaft. A first fixed frame 33 provided with a first guide groove 35 for guiding the first support shaft 11 vertically upward, and the second support shaft 12 rise from the rear of the device 1 toward the front of the device 1. In this way, the second fixed frame 34 having the second guide groove 36 for guiding in the vertically upward direction after being guided in the inclined direction, the pinion 13 having the first support shaft 11 as the center of rotation, and the pinion 13 And a drive mechanism having a motor 15 as a drive source for rotating the pinion 13.

The pinion 13 has a first guide shaft 35 passing through the first guide groove 35 of the first fixed frame 33 from the outside (left and right sides of the device 1) to the inside (center side of the device 1). It is attached so as to rotate together with the support shaft 11.
The rack 14 that meshes with the pinion 13 is fixed to the first fixed frame 33 so as to extend in the vertical direction.
For example, the base end of the first support shaft 11 is connected to the output shaft 16 of the motor 15 fixed to the lower end side of the support column 21, and when the motor 15 is driven, the output shaft 16 of the motor 15 and The pinion 13 rotates through the first support shaft 11 and meshes with the rack 14, and the first support shaft 11 connected to the support column 21 moves in the vertical direction through the first guide groove 35. The support column 21 is configured to move in the vertical direction.
The left and right motors 15; 15 are configured to be driven synchronously by turning on a power switch (not shown).

The second support shaft 12 is assembled so as to penetrate the second guide groove 36 of the second fixed frame 34 from the inner side (center side of the device 1) to the outer side (left and right sides of the device 1). A stopper 12 a that restricts the second support shaft 12 from coming off from the second guide groove 36 is attached to the tip of the second support shaft 12 that passes through the guide groove 36.
Further, the pinion 13 functions as a retaining stopper that restricts the first support shaft 11 from slipping out of the first guide groove 35.
It should be noted that the stopper 12a is opposed to the second fixed frame 34 in order to reduce friction interference between the stopper 12a and the second fixed frame 34 and friction interference between the pinion 13 and the first fixed frame 33. It is preferable to provide a member having a low frictional resistance on the surface of the pinion 13 and the surface of the pinion 13 facing the first fixed frame 33, or to use the stopper 12a and the pinion 13 formed of a material having a low frictional resistance.

The operation of the support member rotational movement mechanism 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
By driving the motor 15 and rotating the pinion 13 in one direction, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the first support shaft 11 connected to the column 21 is moved from the lowermost position. The second support shaft 12 is moved vertically upward via the first guide groove 35 and the second support shaft 12 connected to the support column 21 passes through the inclined guide groove 36c provided in the central portion 34c of the second fixed frame 34. Then, the apparatus 1 moves forward and obliquely upward. While the second support shaft 12 connected to the support column 21 moves in an obliquely upward front direction of the apparatus 1 through the inclined guide groove 36c provided in the central portion 34c of the second fixed frame 34, the support column 21 is inclined. It becomes an upright state from a state inclined to. That is, when the user A stands up from the sitting position, the upper surface 26 of the support base 22 is gripped by the support base 22 in an inclined state so as to rise from the rear of the apparatus 1 to the front of the apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. The stand-up assisting operation for assisting the user A standing-up operation is performed.
That is, in the stand-up assisting operation, the support column 21 changes from a tilted state so as to rise from the front of the device 1 to the rear of the device 1, and the upper surface 26 of the support base 22 changes from the rear of the device 1 to that of the device 1. It changes so that it may approach a horizontal state from the state inclined so that it may stand ahead.

After the standing assistance operation is completed, the operation moves to a vertically upward movement operation. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, as the first support shaft 11 of the support column 21 rises in the vertical upward direction, the second support shaft 12 of the support column 21 is also second. The support member 2 is lifted by ascending vertically upward through a vertical guide groove 36a provided at the upper end 34a of the fixed frame 34. That is, in the vertical upward movement operation, the support member 2 moves in the vertical upward direction while maintaining the posture after the rising assist operation is completed.
That is, by continuously adjusting the time for pressing the power switch (not shown) for driving the motor 15 and the number of times the power switch is pressed, as shown by the arrow group X in FIG. The walking assist device 1 can adjust the height position of the table 22.

Needless to say, by driving the motor 15 and rotating the pinion 13 in a direction opposite to one direction, the support member 2 performs an operation opposite to the standing assist operation and the vertical upward movement operation.
For example, a power switch for driving the motor 15 to rotate the pinion 13 in one direction and a power switch for driving the motor 15 to rotate the pinion 13 in one direction are separately provided. By individually putting in, it is possible to cause the support member 2 to perform the stand-up assisting operation and the vertical upward movement operation, or to allow the support member 2 to perform the operations opposite to the stand-up assisting operation and the vertical upward movement operation. .

  That is, since the support member rotational movement mechanism 4 is provided, the support member 2 is allowed to perform the standing up assist operation and the vertical up movement operation, or the support member 2 is operated opposite to the stand up assist operation and the vertical up movement operation. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the height of the upper surface 26 of the support base 22 according to the user A continuously after the standing assist operation. That is, since the support member rotational movement mechanism 4 is provided, the walking assist device 1 that can continuously realize the standing assistance function and the height adjustment function for the user A is obtained.

1 walking support device, 2 support member, 4 support member rotational movement mechanism, 5 weight-loading device,
11 first support shaft, 12 second support shaft, 13 pinion, 14 rack,
15 motor (drive source), 21 support, 22 support base, 24 hinge,
26 upper surface of support base, 33 first fixed frame, 34 second fixed frame,
35 1st guide groove, 36 2nd guide groove.

Claims (3)

A support member having a support and a support provided on the upper end of the support to support the user and the support;
The support member is moved upward while rotating the support member so that the support column approaches the vertical state from the inclined state and the upper surface of the support base approaches the horizontal state from the inclined state, and then the support member is further moved upward. A walking support device comprising a support member rotational movement mechanism that is continuously performed.   The support member rotational movement mechanism includes a first support shaft provided on the lower end side of the support column, a second support shaft provided on the upper end side of the support column with respect to the first support shaft, and a first support shaft. A first fixed frame having a first guide groove that guides vertically upward, and a second support shaft that is guided vertically in an inclined direction so as to rise from the rear of the device toward the front of the device. Drive mechanism having a second fixed frame having a second guide groove for guiding in the direction, a pinion having the first support shaft as a rotation center, a rack in which the pinion meshes, and a drive source for rotating the pinion The walking support device according to claim 1, comprising: The support base is attached to the upper end of the support via a hinge so that one end of the support base positioned on the front side of the device and the other end of the support base positioned on the rear side of the device reciprocate vertically. And
3. A weight-loading device for reducing the weight of a user wearing a wearing tool connected to the other end side of the support base is attached to one end side of the support base. The walking support device according to 1.

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