JP2023166298A - Stick and foot part for stick - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a stick and a foot part for a stick capable of forming repulsive force when the stick is pushed.SOLUTION: A foot part 30 of a stick 1 includes a plurality of grounding parts 31 and 32 that is grounded to support the stick. The plurality of grounding parts 31 and 32 includes a first grounding part 31 connected to the shaft 20 of the stick at a connecting part 50 and extending from the connecting part to a walking direction front side when the stick is used, and a second grounding part 32 connected to the shaft 20 at the connecting part 50 and extending from the connecting part to an opposite side of the walking direction when the stick is used. When the stick 1 is viewed from the lateral face, a front diameter from the connecting part 50 with the shaft 20 to a tip of the first grounding part 31 is different from a rear diameter from the connecting part 50 with the shaft 20 to a rear end of the second grounding part 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a cane and a foot for a cane.

BACKGROUND ART Traditionally, canes have been widely used as devices to aid walking. Conventional general walking canes are rod-shaped, and are either single-point canes that touch the ground at one point or multi-point canes that touch the ground at multiple points. Such canes have been proven to increase walking speed and reduce abnormal gait for people with hemiplegia. This is said to be because the staff can create braking and propulsion forces.

Further, canes with curved shafts have been disclosed (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Patent No. 6786132 Patent No. 6746182 Patent No. 6746181

However, the single-point cane has a single point on the bottom surface, which is suitable for generating propulsive force, but not suitable for generating braking force. In contrast, a multi-point cane has a wide contact area, which makes it suitable for generating braking force, but not suitable for generating propulsive force. In addition, a push-off action is required to generate the propulsion force, but conventional wooden or aluminum rod-shaped canes cannot generate sufficient reaction force.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a cane and a foot portion for the cane that can generate a repulsive force when the cane is pushed into the cane.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the invention includes a plurality of grounding parts that touch the ground and support the cane, and the plurality of grounding parts are connected to the shaft of the cane at a connecting part, and when walking when using the cane from the connecting part. a first grounding part that extends in the front direction; and a second grounding part that is connected to the shaft at the connecting part and extends from the connecting part in the opposite direction in the walking direction when the cane is used. A foot for a cane that, when viewed, has a front diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the tip of the first ground contact part and a rear diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the rear end of the second ground contact part. part is provided.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the invention includes the above-described cane foot, a shaft connected to the cane foot, and a grip connected to the shaft and to be held by a user. A cane will be provided.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cane and a foot portion for the cane that can generate a repulsive force when the cane is pushed.

It is a perspective view of the cane in this embodiment. It is a left side view of the cane in this embodiment. It is a front view of the cane in this embodiment.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1. Overview The cane of this embodiment has a mechanism in which the foot, which is the lower end of the cane, has an optimal shape for generating forward propulsive force. For example, a cane has a shape that is longer in the front from the connection point with the shaft than in the rear on a sagittal plane (a plane viewed from the side). Further, the material of the cane is preferably a carbon material.

2. Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cane in this embodiment. The cane 1 of this embodiment includes a grip 10, a shaft 20, and a foot 30. The grip 10 is the part where the user holds the cane in his/her hand. The grip 10 may be referred to as a handle or a grip, for example. The grip 10 is connected to the shaft 20 via a first connection part 40. The shaft 20 is a portion connected between the grip 10 and the foot 30. For example, the shaft 20 may also be referred to as a handle or a support. The foot portion 30 is a portion that comes into contact with the ground or the like. The foot portion 30 is connected to the shaft 20. In addition to the configuration described below, the foot portion 30 may simply represent a portion that touches the ground. For example, the foot 30 may be integral with the shaft 20, or may be rubber or other elastic material attached to the bottom of the shaft. The foot portion 30 may be referred to as a ground contact portion, for example. In addition to the configuration described below, the shaft 20 may have a known shape or an appropriate shape.

In this embodiment, the grip 10, the shaft 20, and the foot 30 are connected to each other to constitute the cane 1. Such a connection may be made, for example, by constructing the grip 10, shaft 20, and foot 30 as separate elements and connecting them to each other to constitute the cane 1, or by connecting the grip 10, shaft 20, and foot 30 as a single unit. It may be configured as follows. Alternatively, two of the grip 10, shaft 20, and foot 30 may be integrally configured and connected to the other one. The detailed configuration of each part will be described later.

In addition, in the following description, each direction is defined as follows. The direction in which the user walks while holding the cane 1 is referred to as the walking direction or front-back direction, the walking direction is referred to as the forward direction, and the opposite direction is referred to as the backward direction. The direction perpendicular to the horizontal ground is defined as the vertical direction, with the ground side defined as the downward direction, and the opposite direction defined as the upward direction. Note that although the cane 1 is tilted during use, it is not used upside down, so the upper side of the cane 1 corresponds to the grip side in the longitudinal direction of the cane 1, and the lower side of the cane 1 corresponds to the grip side in the longitudinal direction of the cane 1. This corresponds to the foot side of the cane 1 in the longitudinal direction. Further, a direction perpendicular to the above-mentioned front-rear direction and vertical direction is defined as a lateral direction (left-right direction). The direction may differ depending on whether the hand holding cane 1 is the right or left hand, so assuming the hand holding cane 1, the thumb side of the hand is the thumb direction (also called the inside of the cane), and the little finger side of the hand is the little finger direction. direction (also referred to as the outside of the cane). If the hand holding the cane 1 is left and right reversed, the direction of the thumb (inside) and the direction of the little finger (outside) will be opposite. That is, the cane 1 (particularly the grip 10) can be used for right and left hands. If there is no relation to the hand holding the cane 1, it may simply be referred to as the lateral direction or left and right direction.

(Configuration of grip 10 and first connection part 40)
In this embodiment, the shape of the grip 10 may be any suitable configuration, but may be the shape shown in the drawings and described below, and the cane 1 may be provided with the first connecting portion 40. The grip 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is held by the user of the cane 1. The first connecting portion 40 is a first connecting portion that connects the shaft 20 and the grip 10, and has a plate shape or a flat shape. The material of the first connecting portion 40 is, for example, carbon. For example, when a user grips the cane 1, the first connecting portion 40 passes between the second and third fingers of the user's handle. The long axis of the horizontal section of the first connecting portion 40 is perpendicular to the walking direction when the user walks using the cane. In other words, the long axis extends in the lateral direction (left-right direction). Further, the short axis of the horizontal cross section of the first connecting portion 40 is along the walking direction. Note that the direction of the long axis does not need to be strictly perpendicular to the walking direction, and may have a width of about plus or minus 30 degrees, for example. That is, the angle between the long axis and the walking direction may be any angle from 60 degrees to 120 degrees, or any angle from 75 degrees to 105 degrees.

The long axis of the horizontal section of the first connecting portion 40 has a length in the range of 15 mm to 20 mm, and the short axis of the cross section has a length of 10 mm or less. The grip 10 is longer in the rear direction from the first connection part 40 in the walking direction than in the front part in the walking direction from the first connection part 40 (see FIG. 2). The user of the cane 1 grips the cane by passing the first connection part 40 between the second and third fingers from the outside of the cane, with the thumb on the walking direction side, and with the palm of the hand on the outside of the grip 10 and above it. Grip 10.

(Configuration of shaft 20)
The shape of the shaft 20 is, for example, a plate-shaped shaft curved so as to be convex forward. Note that if it is plate-shaped, the shape of the horizontal cross section is rectangular, but the shape of the horizontal cross section may be elliptical or flat. Further, the shaft 20 may be a shaft having a circular cross section (that is, a cylindrical shape) like a conventional cane.

(Configuration of foot portion 30)
The foot portion 30 includes a grounding portion that supports the cane in contact with the ground or floor. Here, the ground or floor is a walking surface in an environment where the cane 1 is used for walking, regardless of whether it is outdoors or indoors. For example, when striking with a cane, the plurality of ground-contacting parts of the foot may touch the ground almost simultaneously, or may touch the ground as follows, for example. At the initial stage of thrusting the cane (initial ground contact), the rear of the foot 30 touches the ground, and at the middle stage (for example, mid-stance) when the user's weight is applied, both the front and rear of the foot touch the ground, At the final stage of lifting the cane off the ground (for example, the final stage of stance), the front of the foot (corresponding to the toes) may touch the ground.

The foot part 30 has a plurality of grounding parts that touch the ground and support the cane. The plurality of grounding parts include a first grounding part 31 and a second grounding part 32. The first ground contact portion 31 is connected to the shaft 20 of the cane at a second connection portion 50, and extends from the connection portion forward in the walking direction when the cane is used. The second grounding portion 32 is connected to the shaft 20 at a second connecting portion 50, and extends from the connecting portion in a direction opposite to the walking direction when the cane is used. When the cane is viewed from the side, the front diameter from the second connection part 50 with the shaft 20 to the tip of the first ground contact part 31, and the diameter from the second connection part 50 with the shaft 30 to the rear end of the second ground contact part 32. The rear diameter is different. For example, when the cane is viewed from the side, the front diameter from the second connection part 50 with the shaft 20 to the tip of the first ground contact part 31 is Longer than the rear diameter to the end.

For example, the first grounding portion 31 is curved downward in a convex manner between the grounding surface of the first grounding portion 31 and the second connecting portion 50, and the second grounding portion 32 is curved convexly between the grounding surface of the second grounding portion 32 and the second connecting portion 50. The space between the second connecting portions 50 is curved downward in a convex manner. The first ground contact portion 31 and the second ground contact portion 32 configured as described above form a repulsion mechanism against the load from the shaft 20 of the cane. Note that the ground plane of the first grounding part 31 and the grounding plane of the second grounding part 32 do not necessarily have to be separated, and the first grounding part 31 and the second grounding part 32 may have a continuous grounding plane. good.

The first grounding portion 31 has a flat shape and is continuously connected to the plate-shaped shaft 20. Further, the second grounding portion 32 has a flat shape and is continuously connected to the plate-shaped shaft 20.

(effect)
The above-described structure makes it possible to generate a repulsive force when the cane is pushed in. This makes it possible to significantly improve the propulsion function of canes that have been used up until now. In addition, elderly people and disabled people (particularly hemiplegic people) who require a cane use a cane to compensate for the propulsion function that is lacking in their own bodies. As a result, the patient exhibits decreased walking speed and abnormal movements of the limbs and trunk. By using this cane, a high propulsion force can be generated, increasing the walking speed to a natural walking speed and reducing abnormal movements while walking.

(Configuration example)
The above configuration can also be expressed as follows.

[Configuration example 1]
Equipped with multiple grounding parts that ground and support the cane,
The plurality of grounding parts are
a first ground contact portion connected to the shaft of the cane at a connecting portion and extending from the connecting portion toward the front in the walking direction when the cane is used;
a second ground contact portion connected to the shaft at the connection portion and extending from the connection portion in a direction opposite to the walking direction when using the cane;
has
When the cane is viewed from the side, the front diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the tip of the first ground contact part and the rear diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the rear end of the second ground contact part are different. Foot for cane.

[Configuration example 2]
Configuration example 1, when the cane is viewed from the side, the front diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the tip of the first ground contact part is longer than the rear diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the rear end of the second ground contact part. The foot part for the cane described in .

[Configuration example 3]
The first grounding portion is curved downwardly in a convex manner between the grounding surface of the first grounding portion and the connecting portion,
The second grounding part is curved downwardly in a convex manner between the grounding surface of the second grounding part and the connecting part,
The foot part for a cane according to configuration example 1 or 2, wherein the first ground contact part and the second ground contact part form a repulsion mechanism against the load from the shaft of the cane.

[Configuration example 4]
The first grounding part has a flat shape and is continuously connected to the plate-shaped shaft,
The foot portion for a cane according to any one of configuration examples 1 to 3, wherein the second grounding portion is flat and continuously connected to the plate-shaped shaft.

[Configuration example 5]
A foot for a cane according to any one of configuration examples 1 to 4,
a shaft connected to the cane foot;
a grip connected to the shaft and held by a user;
A cane with a.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention can be utilized for manufacture and sale of a cane and the component for a cane. Further, the cane of the present invention is suitable as a walking cane for elderly people and disabled people, especially hemiplegic people.

1 Cane 10 Grip 20 Shaft 30 Foot 40 First connection part 50 Second connection part

The foot part 30 has a plurality of grounding parts that touch the ground and support the cane. The plurality of grounding parts include a first grounding part 31 and a second grounding part 32. The first grounding part 31 is connected to the shaft 20 of the cane at a second connecting part 50 (corresponding to the "connecting part" in the claims) , and extends from the connecting part forward in the walking direction when the cane is used. The second grounding portion 32 is connected to the shaft 20 at a second connecting portion 50, and extends from the connecting portion in a direction opposite to the walking direction when the cane is used. When the cane is viewed from the side, the front diameter from the second connection part 50 with the shaft 20 to the tip of the first ground contact part 31, and the diameter from the second connection part 50 with the shaft 30 to the rear end of the second ground contact part 32. The rear diameter is different. For example, when the cane is viewed from the side, the front diameter from the second connection part 50 with the shaft 20 to the tip of the first ground contact part 31 is Longer than the rear diameter to the end.

Claims (5)

Equipped with multiple grounding parts that ground and support the cane,
The plurality of grounding parts are
a first ground contact portion that is connected to the shaft of the cane at a connecting portion and extends from the connecting portion toward the front in the walking direction when the cane is used;
a second ground contact portion connected to the shaft at the connection portion and extending from the connection portion in a direction opposite to the walking direction when using the cane;
has
When the cane is viewed from the side, the front diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the tip of the first ground contact part and the rear diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the rear end of the second ground contact part are different. Foot for cane. Claim 1: When the cane is viewed from the side, the front diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the tip of the first ground contact part is longer than the rear diameter from the connection part with the shaft to the rear end of the second ground contact part. The foot part for the cane described in . The first grounding portion is curved downwardly in a convex manner between the grounding surface of the first grounding portion and the connecting portion,
The second grounding part is curved downwardly in a convex manner between the grounding surface of the second grounding part and the connecting part,
The foot part for a cane according to claim 1, wherein the first ground contact part and the second ground contact part form a repulsion mechanism against the load from the shaft of the cane. The first grounding part has a flat shape and is continuously connected to the plate-shaped shaft,
The foot portion for a cane according to claim 1, wherein the second ground contact portion has a flat shape and is continuously connected to the plate-shaped shaft. A foot for a cane according to claim 1;
a shaft connected to the cane foot;
a grip connected to the shaft and held by a user;
A cane with a.