JP3195981B2 - wheelchair - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wheelchair for persons with disabilities, mainly made of molded plywood, and particularly to a wheelchair most suitable for indoor use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a conventional wheelchair for the disabled, particularly a frame which is a main part thereof,
Assembled using metal pipes 1 and 2 made of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium alloy, etc.
4 is welded.

[0003]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the wheelchair frame composed of the metal pipes 1 and 2 is strong but lacks functions, performance and design suitable for an indoor living environment.

A wheelchair using metal pipes 1 and 2 has the following disadvantages. 1. Weight increases. 2. The welding of the joints 3 and 4 is very difficult because it is performed by spot welding or line contact welding, and the appearance becomes dirty. 3. Since the welded portions 3 and 4 of the metal pipes 1 and 2 have high rigidity, brittle fracture is easily generated, and it is difficult to prevent the generated brittle fracture on the way. Is low. 4. In the welded portions 3 and 4 of the metal pipes 1 and 2, deformation of the frame due to welding strain and residual stress remain. Therefore, in the field, the deformation is corrected while forcibly bending. 5. The welds 3 and 4 of the metal pipes 1 and 2 are weak against concentrated stress, and are significantly deformed by bending. That is, when bending the metal pipes 1 and 2, it is difficult to bend the outer diameter uniformly, and the outer diameter is smaller at the bent portion than at the straight portion. In addition, when the radius of curvature is small, there is a drawback such that wrinkles can be formed on the inside, and further, there is a disadvantage that the design lacks simplicity.

On the other hand, when a wheelchair frame is formed by molded plywood, there is an advantage that the concentrated stress at the joint can be evenly dispersed, as compared with a metal pipe frame structure. For this reason, it has a strong resistance to the load in the front-back direction. In addition, the molded plywood has an advantage that the bending radius can be reduced because of the joining structure in which the bending of a thin single plate is combined.

[0006] Furthermore, a molded plywood frame is superior to a metal pipe frame, for example, a stainless steel pipe frame having an outer diameter of 19 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm, and a length of 24 m.
When compared with a molded plywood frame having an mx24 mm cross section, the results are as follows. 1. It has the same strength under the same load condition. 2. The spring constant at the time of vibration is as low as 2/3 to 1/2 of the frame made of molded plywood as compared with the stainless steel frame, and it vibrates softer than metal. Conversely, vibration is easily absorbed. 3. Under the same load conditions, the deformation amount of the molded plywood frame is two to three times that of the stainless steel frame. In other words, it becomes more flexible to respond to the load, and the feeling of resistance in the body is reduced.

As described above, wood is superior in strength / specific gravity to metal, has excellent heat retention, moisture absorption, and sound absorption, and has physical properties and interior properties suitable for a high-temperature and high-humidity indoor space in Japan. In addition, since the timber can be reproduced and procured in the region, the technology of the region can be utilized, so that there is a possibility that the wheelchair can be made to order according to the individual requirements of the disabled.

[0008] However, when a frame or the like of a wheelchair is formed of molded plywood, there are the following problems.

As an issue of developing an indoor wheelchair using wood as a main material as compared with a conventional metal wheelchair, wood that can be reproduced locally has excellent heat retention, moisture absorption, and sound absorption.
It has features that cannot be overlooked as a material for wheelchairs. For this reason, woodenization of an indoor wheelchair is not only an auxiliary tool for a user's foot but also has the property of furniture. That is, indoor wheelchairs are required to have a function and performance suitable for an indoor living environment and an image suitable for the place.

Therefore, the inventors have clarified the following problems as a test drive of the prototype. First of all, it was possible to obtain a feeling that it could sufficiently cope with wooden materials, but there was a problem in the element design of the joints with metal parts. Secondly, for those skilled in wheelchair operation, high functionality is required, apart from the interior, and there is a need for the development of a light and comfortable wheelchair in combination with other materials. Third, there is a need to develop a wheelchair that is stable and structurally warm for a static indoor resident. Fourth, the molding plywood technology enables the production of many kinds in small quantities because it is formed by a mold. Both the strength and the dimensions are stable, and this is an issue for practical application of this technology.

[0011] Such technical problems become clear, and making a wheelchair wooden has not been considered as a cause because wood is inhomogeneous and difficult to calculate in terms of price, and the strength of the finished product , There is concern about durability. Manufacture requires manual processing and is difficult to apply industrially.

Also, when the user sits in a wheelchair,
The part to which the most pressure is applied, that is, the part where strength and durability are required, is the configuration of the side frame for holding and fixing the seat plate and the back plate. In the present invention, the structure of the side frame is how to exhibit the warmth and interior properties of the wood while maintaining the strength and durability. That is, how to disperse the stress of the joint portion without concentrating it at one point.

One object of the present invention is to improve the adaptability in the function, performance, and psychological aspects in an indoor space as described above, and as another object, all the components other than the wheelchair casters and the driving wheels are used. An object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair which can be made continuous by molding plywood technology, can be connected continuously, can reduce the number of parts, and is excellent in strength, durability and the like.

[0014]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of metal and to solve the problem when it is constituted by molded plywood, and is constituted as follows. is there.

[0015] A first invention for which a patent is sought includes a pair of left and right side frames and a head frame, a backing plate, a seat plate, a footrest arm, a connecting frame, and the like which are joined and fixed between the side frames. In the wheelchair configured, the pair of side frames are formed by molding plywood into an upper side frame and a lower side frame in which a leg, a horizontal portion, and a back portion are continuously formed, and a portion between the horizontal portions of the upper and lower side frames. Is formed so as to secure the seating position of the seat plate, and a deformed parallelogram-shaped mold frame is inscribed on the inner peripheral surface between the horizontal portions of the upper and lower side frames formed so as to be separated from each other. A wheelchair wherein a triangular piece is inserted and fixed in a gap between the upper and lower side frames and the mold frame.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the side frame is divided into an upper frame and a lower frame, and the mold frame is inscribed and integrated between the horizontal portions thereof.
Since the triangular frame is inserted and fixed in the gap between the joints of the mold frame, the joint can be made continuous, the number of parts can be reduced, and the strength and durability are excellent. Further, the stress at the joint can be dispersed without being concentrated at one point.

According to a second invention for which a patent is sought, a driving wheel and a caster are attached to each of the side frames,
The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a hand rim made of molded plywood is fixed outside the driving wheel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a driving wheel is detachable from the side frame.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a seat having a predetermined shape is detachably attached to an outer surface of the driving wheel.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the seat plate and the backrest plate are integrally formed.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a wheelchair according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the wheelchair, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part of the wheelchair being assembled, and FIG. 4 is a completed view of the main part. , FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a material of a driving wheel of a wheelchair, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of the driving wheel made of the same material, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a joint portion of a wheelchair according to the present invention.

Next, the manufacturing process will be described.
In the drawings, reference numeral 5 denotes a frame main body constituting a main element of a wheelchair, 6 denotes a pair of side frames constituting the frame main body 5, and the side frame 6 has a thickness of 1.5 mm to 2 mm.
7 mm, a horizontal part (armrest part) 7 b and a back part 7 c by a molded plywood in which thin plates having a width of 25 mm to 30 mm are joined.
A modified S-shaped upper side frame 7 composed of the following, a modified S-shaped lower side frame 8 composed of the legs 8a, the horizontal portion 8b, and the back portion 8c, and a modified parallelogram shaped mold frame 9 are formed. .

Then, with the mold frame 9 therebetween,
An upper side frame 7 is provided on the upper horizontal portion of the mold frame 9.
And a horizontal portion (armrest portion) 7b of the lower side frame 8 is joined to a lower horizontal portion of the mold frame 9.
b, the legs 7a, 8a of the upper side frame 7 and the lower side frame 8 are joined to the backs 7c, 8c, and a triangular piece 10 is inserted and fixed in the joint gap. The frame 6 is completed.

Next, a plate thickness of 1.5 mm to 2 mm and a width of 25 mm
A rectangular connection frame 11, a head frame 12, and a footrest frame 13 are formed from molded plywood obtained by joining thin plates of 30 mm to 30 mm. Also, a seat plate 14 and a backing plate 15 having a plate thickness of about 10 mm are formed by the molded plywood.
And a seat cushion 16 and a back cushion 17 are provided on the seat plate 14 and the backrest plate 15, respectively.
And attach.

The connecting frame 11 is interposed between the lower horizontal portions of the side frames 6 which are separated to the left and right, and is fixed with bolts and nuts. Then, the footrest frame 13 is horizontally fixed to the lower ends of the legs of the left and right side frames 6 and fixed by tenon joining. Further, the seat plate 14 is fixed between the upper horizontal portions of the left and right side frames 6, and the backrest plate 15 is fixed by tenon joining between the back portions of the left and right side frames 6. The joint between the lower end of the leg of the side frame 6 and the footrest frame 13 is covered and covered with a resin plate 18 or the like. In addition, if the seat plate 14 and the backing plate 15 are integrally formed, it is possible to maintain a sitting position of a severely disabled person who cannot maintain a sitting position.

Further, an arc-shaped armrest 19 is formed by plywood formed by laminating and molding thin plates having a thickness of about 1.5 mm to 2 mm, and this armrest 19 is provided between the upper horizontal portion and the back portion of the left and right side frames 6. Secure with screws. The armrest 19 also serves as a protective cover for the driving wheels 23 described later, and prevents a disabled person from touching spokes or the like of the driving wheels 23. In the footrest frame 13, a footrest plate 20 is connected by a hinge 21 so as to be able to rotate backward. Reference numeral 22 denotes a stopper that regulates the lowering position of the footrest plate 20.

The shape, dimensions, and the like of the side frame 6 are set based on the results of body measurements of a disabled person. Can respond. If a non-pressure mat that equalizes the seat pressure is selected as the cushioning material for the seat plate 14 and the backing plate 15, it is possible to prevent the waist from being scratched due to long-term use.

Next, a general-purpose wheel is used as the driving wheel 23 for running the frame main body 5. The support shaft of the driving wheel 23 is formed at a position below the back of the side frame 6 by a metal bush. Are rotatably mounted by being inserted into the press-fitted mounting holes 24 and screwed.

If a hook 25 is attached to the rim of the driving wheel 23 and a cloth or a plastic sheet 26 of a square shape or a desired shape is attached to the hook 25, the spoke portion of the driving wheel 23 is concealed and the interior decoration is improved. Play can be expressed.

Further, when the driving wheel 23 is configured to be detachable from the side frame 6, the overall size can be reduced by removing the driving wheel 23, so that the driving wheel 23 can be easily mounted on a rear seat or a trunk of the automobile. It can be stored and carried outdoors.

The wooden hand rim 27 for manually driving the driving wheel 23 is manufactured as follows.

First, a plate thickness of 3 mm to 5 mm and a width of 30 mm
The opposite ends of the veneer are cut alternately in a tapered shape, and the veneer is boiled and softened, then bent into a circular shape by a mold and joined. Next, the ring formed in the same process is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the formed ring 28a with an adhesive. In this way, the plurality of rings 28a are laminated and joined,
A circular ring 28 having a thickness of 30 mm to 40 mm is formed. At this time, it is necessary to laminate the joints of the rings 28a so that the joints do not overlap each other.

Further, after the above-mentioned circular ring 28 is matched with the mold and the whole is pressurized and strengthened, this circular ring 28 having a rectangular cross section is cut by a wood lathe or a potter's wheel m / c to obtain a circular or irregular cross-sectional shape. The standard hand rim 27 is completed. The hand rim 27 is concentrically fixed to the outside of the driving wheel 23 by a mounting bracket or the like.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a caster.
9 is screwed and fixed to the front position of the lower horizontal portion of the side frame 6 via the mounting plate 30.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a commercially available brake, which is attached to the lower horizontal portion of the side frame 6 at the rear of the caster 29. The tip grip 32 of the brake lever is made of wood, and the brake portion is covered with a wooden cover. is there.

Each of the above-mentioned molded plywoods is impregnated with a prepolymer to harden the soft wood portion and harden the wood, and then the surface layer is reinforced by urethane coating. Further, if a dam bar is attached to the side frame 6, the footrest arm 13, or the like, damage due to contact can be prevented.

Next, the seating load of the disabled person on the wheelchair will be described. At the moment when the user sits down, the force of three times the body weight is concentrated on the seat plate 14 in an unbalanced manner.
Thereby, the side frame 6 is deformed so as to be pulled inward. Although the above-mentioned deformation is received by the connecting frame 11, since the frame 11 is made of molded plywood, the impact deformation due to the concentrated load is absorbed like a spring. Also, pulling and twisting occur, which act as a shock absorber. Further, a footrest arm 1 for connecting lower end portions of both side frames 6.
3 also absorbs the impact force.

The impact load due to the uneven floor surface transmitted through the tire of the driving wheel 23 is absorbed by the deformation of the side frame 6 and the torsional deformation of the bending moment generated in the connecting frame 11. As described above, the wheelchair of the present invention has a flexible structure.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the stress at the joint between the upper side frame 7, the lower side frame 8, and the mold frame 9 of the side frame 6 is dispersed without being concentrated at one point.

[0040]

As described above, the present invention includes a pair of left and right side frames, and a head frame, a backing plate, a seat plate, a footrest arm, a connection frame, and the like which are joined and fixed between the side frames. In a wheelchair, the pair of side frames are formed by molding plywood into an upper side frame and a lower side frame in which legs, a horizontal portion, and a back portion are continuously formed, and a seat is provided between the horizontal portions of the upper and lower side frames. Formed apart so as to secure the seating position of the face plate, and formed in parallel with the deformed parallelogram shaped mold frame on the inner peripheral surface between the horizontal portions of the upper and lower side frames formed apart from each other, A wheelchair, wherein a triangular piece is inserted and fixed in a gap between the upper and lower side frames and the mold frame.

According to the above invention, the side frame is separated into the upper and lower frames, the mold frame is inscribed and integrated between the horizontal portions, and the triangular shape is formed at the joint gap between the upper and lower frames and the mold frame. Since the top was inserted and fixed, the joining portion could be made continuous, the number of parts could be reduced, and the strength and durability were excellent. Further, the stress at the joint can be dispersed without being concentrated at one point.

Further, if component parts such as side frames are classified and molded in several steps from large to small dimensions, a wheelchair suitable for the body dimensions of most disabled persons can be provided. Also, since the main part of the wheelchair is made of molded plywood, there is the warmth and tenderness of wood,
Excellent interior design. Also, because it is molded plywood,
The weight can be reduced to the same level as aluminum, and there is no concern about strength and durability.

As described above, since it is configured using wood that has been overlooked as being industrially impossible, it can be used indoors as well as outdoors, and it is suitable for indoor environments. It is gentle to the body and mind, and can be widely used by people who need a wheelchair, from the elderly to children, by providing warmth.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a wheelchair according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a wheelchair according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part of the wheelchair according to the present invention during the assembly.

FIG. 4 is a completed view of a main part of the wheelchair according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a material of a driving wheel of a wheelchair according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of a driving wheel of a wheelchair according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a joint portion of the wheelchair according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a metal frame in a conventional wheelchair.

FIG. 9 is a side view of another conventional wheelchair metal frame.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 5 frame body 6 side frame 7 upper side frame 8 lower side frame 9 type frame 10 frame 11 connecting frame 12 head frame 13 footrest arm 14 seating plate 15 backing plate 16 seating cushion 17 backing cushion 19 armrest 20 footrest plate 23 Drive wheels 26 Seats 27 Hand rims 29 Casters

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A wheelchair including a pair of left and right side frames and a head frame, a backrest plate, a seat plate, a footrest arm, a connecting frame, and the like, which are joined and fixed between the side frames. The frame is formed on the upper side frame and the lower side frame in which the leg, the horizontal portion, and the back portion are continuously formed by molded plywood, and the seating position of the seat plate is secured between the horizontal portions of the upper and lower side frames. A deformed parallelogram mold frame is inscribed on the inner peripheral surface between the horizontal portions of the upper and lower side frames formed apart from each other, and the upper and lower side frames and the mold are formed. A wheelchair characterized by inserting and fixing a triangular piece in a gap between a joint and a frame. 2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a driving wheel and a caster are mounted on each of the side frames, and a hand rim made of molded plywood is fixed outside the driving wheel. 3. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a driving wheel is detachable from the side frame. 4. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a seat having a predetermined shape is detachably mounted on an outer surface of the driving wheel. 5. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the seat plate and the backrest plate are integrally formed.