JP3214607U - Wheelchair brake lever structure and brake lever operation aid - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an operation assisting tool for a brake lever used in a brake lever structure of a wheelchair that is easy to grasp and operate. Brake lever operation assisting devices 1 and 1b are filled with a cylinder 10 into which a brake lever 50 of a wheelchair is inserted and an inner space of the cylinder leaving holes 35 and 35b extending in the axial direction. The elastic member 30 and the head portions 20 and 20b formed of a soft resin at the upper end of the cylindrical body are provided. Protrusions 26f and 26p simulating animal paws can be formed on the outer surface of the head portion with a soft resin. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a brake lever structure for a wheelchair and a brake lever operation assisting tool used in the brake lever structure.

  The wheelchair is provided with a parking brake that manually rotates the brake lever so that the friction member is pressed against the wheel to restrict the rolling of the wheel. In general, the brake lever is attached at a low position while shortening the entire length so as not to protrude greatly above the seat surface. This is to prevent the brake lever from getting in the way when getting on and off the wheelchair when moving from the wheelchair to the bed. However, because the brake lever is short and in a low position, it may be difficult for some users to grip the brake lever, such as a person with a small body shape or a person who cannot easily lean forward. In addition, there are many wheelchair users who are weak, such as sick, injured, and elderly, and it is difficult to operate the brake lever in a short position with a short overall length.

  In a typical wheelchair, the brake lever has a diameter of about 8 mm to 20 mm (the diameter of the shaft is 8 mm to 10 mm, and the diameter of the grip portion is about 20 mm). Wheelchair users often have weak gripping force, and such a thin brake lever may be difficult to operate by gripping and turning.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a brake lever structure for a wheelchair that is easy to grasp and operate, and an operation assisting tool for a brake lever used in the brake lever structure.

In order to solve the above problems, a brake lever structure of a wheelchair according to the present invention (sometimes simply referred to as “brake lever structure”)
“The brake lever is supported by the wheelchair frame and presses the friction member against the wheel by its rotation.
A cylinder body in which the brake lever is inserted, an elastic member filling a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body and the brake lever, and an upper end of the cylinder body is formed of a soft resin. A brake lever operation assisting tool having a head part;
”.

  In this configuration, since the brake lever is inserted into the cylinder of the brake lever operation assisting tool (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “auxiliary tool”), at least the height of the head portion is the original position of the brake lever. The upper end of the auxiliary tool is at a position higher than the height of. Therefore, even if the wheelchair user (sitting person) is a person with a small body shape or a person who is difficult to take a forward leaning posture, it is easy to grasp the brake lever via the assisting tool. Also, an assistant pushing the wheelchair can easily reach the brake lever through the assisting tool when reaching out from behind the user.

  Moreover, by attaching an auxiliary tool, the length from the power point when rotating a brake lever to a fulcrum (rotation center) becomes large. Therefore, the lever can be rotated with a small force by the lever principle, and even if the user is a person with weak arm strength, the brake lever can be easily operated.

  Furthermore, since the cylinder of the auxiliary tool is inserted into the brake lever, it is naturally larger in thickness than the brake lever. Therefore, it is easy to grip the cylinder of the auxiliary tool, and even if the user has a weak grip, the rake lever can be easily operated.

  Further, since the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder and the brake lever is filled with an elastic member, an auxiliary tool attached to the brake lever rattles or rotates with respect to the brake lever. The operation of the brake lever can be performed stably. Here, examples of the “elastic member” include sponges and fiber materials.

  In addition, there is a head portion at the upper end of the auxiliary tool, and the head portion is formed of a soft resin. Therefore, the touch when the assisting tool is gripped for operating the brake lever is comfortable. In addition, even if the user's body hits the assisting tool, the impact can be softened by the soft resin. As the “soft resin”, a resin having a Shore A hardness of 0 to 50 or an ASKER C hardness of 0 to 70 according to JIS K6253 can be used. As the resin, a silicone resin, a urethane resin, a chloroprene resin, a nitrile resin can be used. Fluorine resin can be exemplified. The hardness of the resin is more preferably 40 or less in Shore A hardness, and more preferably 65 or less in ASKER C hardness.

  Furthermore, an auxiliary tool is retrofitted to the brake lever, and an existing wheelchair can be used as it is. And when the auxiliary tool which protrudes longer than the original brake lever gets in the way, the auxiliary tool can be easily detached from the brake lever by pulling out the cylinder from the brake lever.

The brake lever structure of the wheelchair according to the present invention is as described above.
“The brake bar is inserted halfway along the axial length of the cylindrical body”.

  In this configuration, since the brake bar is inserted up to the middle of the cylinder, the cylinder extends further upward from the upper end of the brake lever. For this reason, the position of the upper end of the auxiliary tool is higher, and the brake lever is easier to grip through the auxiliary tool. In addition, since the length from the power point to the fulcrum when the brake lever is rotated becomes longer, the brake lever can be operated more easily.

Next, the brake lever operation aid according to the present invention is as follows.
“The cylinder into which the wheelchair brake lever is inserted,
An elastic member filled in the internal space of the cylindrical body leaving a hole extending in the axial direction;
A head portion formed of a soft resin at an upper end of the cylindrical body;
Is provided. "

  This is the configuration of the brake lever operation aid used in the brake lever structure described above. By attaching the auxiliary tool of this structure to the brake lever of a wheelchair, the above-mentioned effect is exhibited.

The brake lever operation assisting device according to the present invention has the above-described configuration,
It is assumed that “a projection portion simulating an animal meat ball is formed on the outer surface of the head portion with a soft resin”.

  In this configuration, a protrusion simulating a meat ball is formed on the outer surface of the head, which is a portion gripped by the user, with a soft resin having a soft feel. Since some people feel that their hearts are healed by touching cats and dogs' paws, the same effect can be expected with the aid of this configuration. Moreover, since it is said that when the stimulus is applied to the palm, the brain is also stimulated, the effect of such a stimulus is also expected by providing a protrusion on the portion gripped by the user. Note that it is desirable that the soft resin that forms the protrusions is softer (has lower hardness) than the soft resin that forms the head part, because it provides a more comfortable feel.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wheelchair brake lever structure that is easy to grasp and operate, and a brake lever operation assisting tool that is used in the brake lever structure.

It is the perspective view which looked at the auxiliary tool which is 1st embodiment of this invention from the (a) perspective view and (b) different direction. It is a perspective view of the state which attached the auxiliary tool of FIG. 1 to the wheelchair. (A) Plan view of the auxiliary tool in FIG. 1, (b) XX sectional view of the auxiliary tool in FIG. 1, (c) XX sectional view in a state where a brake lever is inserted into the auxiliary tool in FIG. And (d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX for explaining another form of the head portion and the hole portion. (A)-(d) It is a perspective view of the auxiliary tool of the modification of 1st embodiment. It is (a) perspective view, (b) top view, and (c) YY sectional view about the auxiliary tool which is 2nd embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a brake lever operation assisting tool according to a specific embodiment of the present invention and a wheelchair brake lever structure using the same will be described. First, the configuration of the brake lever operation assisting tool 1 (hereinafter referred to as “auxiliary tool 1”) according to the first embodiment and the brake lever structure of a wheelchair using the assisting tool 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. explain.

  The auxiliary tool 1 includes a cylindrical body 10, an elastic member 30, a head portion 20, and projections 26f and 26p. The cylindrical body 10 has a cylindrical shape, and can have an inner diameter of 25 mm to 40 mm and a length of 20 cm to 45 cm. The cylinder 10 is a rigid body and can be made of resin, metal, or wood.

  The head portion 20 is formed of a soft resin at the upper end of the cylindrical body 10. In this embodiment, the soft resin is silicone rubber, and the hardness thereof is 10 to 40 in Shore A hardness according to JIS K6253. As shown in FIG. 3B, the head portion 20 includes a head main body 21 that is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 10 and a columnar inner collar portion 22 that protrudes from the head main body 21. Since the inner flange portion 22 is fitted into the cylindrical body 10 at the upper end of the cylindrical body 10, the head portion 20 and the cylindrical body 10 are integrated.

  As another form, a head main body 21 larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 10 and a cylindrical shape protruding from the head main body 21 as in the head portion 20b of the auxiliary tool 1b of the modified example shown in FIG. It can be set as the structure which has the outer collar part 23 of this. By fitting the outer flange portion 23 to the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the cylindrical body 10, the head portion 20 b and the cylindrical body 10 are integrated.

  In this embodiment, the elastic member 30 is a sponge (a synthetic resin containing bubbles). The elastic member 30 is filled in the internal space of the cylindrical body 10 while leaving a hole 35 extending in the axial direction. The diameter of the hole 35 is set smaller than the maximum diameter of the brake lever 50 of the wheelchair. The length of the hole 35 can be a length extending over the entire length from the open end of the cylindrical body 10 to the head portion 20 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 3 (d), the hole 35 b extends from the open end of the cylinder 10 to the middle of the cylinder 10 and does not reach the head part 20.

  The protrusions 26f and 26p are formed on the outer surface of the head part 20, and their shapes are imitating cats and dogs' paws. Specifically, a large protrusion 26p that imitates a “palmball” is arranged at a portion where the palm of the user hits when the head portion 20 is gripped, and “finger” is positioned at a portion where the base of the user's finger hits. A plurality of small protrusions 26f imitating a “sphere” are arranged. The protrusions 26f and 26p are formed of silicone rubber like the head portion 20. In the present embodiment, as the silicone rubber of the protrusions 26f and 26p, one having a softer feel and a lower hardness than the silicone rubber of the head portion 20 is used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary tool 1 having the above configuration is used by being attached to the brake lever 50 of the wheelchair 60. The brake lever 50 includes a shaft 51 and a grip portion 52. The shaft 51 is supported by the frame of the wheelchair 60 so as to be rotatable by a support fitting 66. When the shaft 51 is rotated, the friction member 67 moves through the link mechanism and is pressed against the wheel 65.

  In order to attach the auxiliary tool 1 to the brake lever 50, the brake lever 50 is inserted into the hole 35 from the open end of the cylinder 10, that is, the end where the hole 35 is open on the side opposite to the head part 20. Then, the auxiliary tool 1 is pushed down. Accordingly, the brake lever 50 is inserted into the cylindrical body 10 while expanding the hole 35 while elastically deforming the elastic member 30. As the brake lever 50 enters the inside of the cylinder 10, the elastic member 30 fills the gap between the inner peripheral wall of the cylinder 10 and the brake lever 50 due to the return deformation of the elastic member 30. Is stably held in the cylinder 10.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the lower end of the cylindrical body 10 is brought into contact with the support metal fitting 66, the upper end of the brake lever 50 (the upper end of the grip portion 52) is the cylindrical body 10. The length is set so as to be located in the middle of the ten axial directions. Since the length of the brake lever 50 differs depending on the type of wheelchair, a plurality of types of auxiliary tools 1 having different lengths of the cylindrical body 10 can be manufactured correspondingly. In order for the posture of the auxiliary tool 1 attached to the brake lever 50 to be stable, it is desirable that the length at which the brake lever 50 is inserted into the cylindrical body 10 is 1/3 or more of the length of the cylindrical body 10. In a general wheelchair, the length of the brake lever 50 is 8 cm to 16 cm. Therefore, if the length of the cylinder 10 is set in the range of 20 cm to 45 cm, the brake lever 50 of a general wheelchair can be inserted into the cylinder 10 to a length of 1/3 or more of the cylinder 10.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 3D, when the hole 35b has a length up to the middle in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 10, the brake lever 50 is inserted to the far end of the hole 35b. Naturally, the upper end of the brake lever 50 is positioned in the middle of the cylindrical body 10 in the axial direction.

  As described above, by attaching the auxiliary tool 1 to the brake lever 50, the following brake lever structure is formed. That is, the brake lever 50 is supported by the frame of the wheelchair 50 and presses the friction member 67 against the wheel 65 by its rotation, the cylinder 10 in which the brake lever 50 is inserted, and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 10 The elastic member 30 filling the gap between the brake lever 50 and the auxiliary tool 1 having the head portion 20 formed of a soft resin at the upper end of the cylindrical body 10 are provided. This is a brake lever structure in which the brake bar 50 is inserted halfway in the direction.

  According to the auxiliary tool 1 and the brake lever structure using the same according to the present embodiment, the upper end of the brake lever 50 is positioned in the middle of the cylindrical body 10, so that the cylindrical body 10 extends further upward. The upper end of the assisting tool 1 is higher than the original height of the brake lever 50 by a length corresponding to the sum of the length of the head portion 20 and the height of the head portion 20. Therefore, even if the wheelchair user is a person with a small body shape or a person who does not easily lean forward, the brake lever 50 can be easily grasped via the auxiliary tool 1. In addition, the assistant can easily reach the brake lever 50 via the auxiliary tool 1 when reaching out from behind the user.

  Moreover, since the length from the power point when rotating the brake lever 50 to the fulcrum is increased by attaching the auxiliary tool 1, the brake lever 50 can be rotated with a small force, and the user can improve the arm strength. Even a weak person can easily operate the brake lever 50.

  Furthermore, since the cylinder 10 of the auxiliary tool 1 is thicker than the brake lever 50, even if the user has a weak grip, the cylinder 10 of the auxiliary tool 1 can be easily gripped and operated.

  In addition, since the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 10 and the brake lever 50 is filled with the elastic member 30, the auxiliary tool 1 attached to the brake lever 50 rattles or the brake lever 50 The brake lever 50 can be stably operated without rotating.

  Furthermore, the auxiliary tool 1 can be used after being attached to the brake lever 50 of the existing wheelchair 60. When the auxiliary tool 1 protruding longer than the original brake lever 50 is in the way, the auxiliary tool 1 can be easily detached from the brake lever 50 by pulling the cylindrical body 10 out of the brake lever 50.

  In addition, since the head part 20 of the assisting tool 1 is formed of a soft resin, the touch when the head part 20 is gripped is comfortable, and in the unlikely event that the user's body hits the assisting tool 1 However, the impact is softened by the soft resin. Furthermore, since the projections 26f and 26p simulating animal meat balls are formed on the outer surface of the head portion 20 with a soft resin, it is expected that touching this will feel that the mind is healed. . In particular, in this embodiment, the soft resin forming the protrusions 26f and 26p has a lower hardness than the soft resin forming the head portion 20, and actually touches the cat's or dog's paws. It is possible to obtain a soft touch that is closer to the touch.

  As a modification of the auxiliary tool 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the auxiliary tool in which the outer surface of the cylinder 10 and the outer surface of the head portion 20 are decorated. 1c to 1f. The assisting devices 1c, 1d, and 1e shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C imitate the pattern of the body surface of a cat or dog on the outer surface of the cylindrical body 10 by painting, printing, sticking a seal, or the like. This is an example of decoration. By giving such a decoration, the auxiliary tool 1 becomes more adorable in combination with the projections 26f and 26p imitating a meat ball. FIG. 4D is an example in which a fiber material is attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical body 10 and the outer surface of the head portion 20 to imitate animal body hair. Thereby, the touch of the cylindrical body 10 is also softened, and the effect of reducing the impact when the user's body hits the auxiliary tool 1 is enhanced. And since the softness of the head part 20 is sensed through the fiber material when the head part 20 is gripped, it feels closer to the touch when touching the limbs of an actual cat or dog and feels warm. .

  Next, the auxiliary tool 2 of 2nd embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. The difference between the auxiliary tool 2 and the auxiliary tool 1 of the first embodiment is the outer shape of the head portion 20c. In the assisting device 1, the head portions 20 and 20b have a flat shape close to the shape of the toes of cats and dogs, whereas the head portion 20c of the assisting device 2 has a shape close to a sphere and the center is a cylinder. The cylinder 10 is attached to the upper end so as to be slightly deviated from the center axis of the body 10. The head part 20c is formed of a soft resin, and the projections 26f and 26p simulating animal meat balls are formed of a soft resin on the outer surface of the head part 20c. Same as 1. Even if the head portion 20c has such a shape, the same effects as those described above with respect to the assisting tool 1 are exhibited, and since the head portion 20c has such a shape, the user's palm can be obtained. It becomes easy to grasp the head portion 20c so as to grasp it.

  The present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as described below. Design changes are possible.

  For example, each of the assisting devices of the above embodiments has a projection part imitating an animal meat ball on the outer surface of the head part. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the head part having no projection part is used. It can also be used as an auxiliary tool. Even with such an auxiliary tool, it is possible to exert an effect of making the brake lever easy to grasp and operate.

1,1b-1f, 2 Auxiliary tools (Brake lever operation aids)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cylindrical body 20, 20b, 20c Head part 26f, 26p Protrusion part 30 Elastic member 35, 35b Hole part 50 Brake lever 60 Wheelchair 65 Wheel 67 Friction member

Claims (4)

A brake lever that is supported by the wheelchair frame and presses the friction member against the wheel by its rotation;
A cylinder body in which the brake lever is inserted, an elastic member filling a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body and the brake lever, and an upper end of the cylinder body is formed of a soft resin. A brake lever operation assisting tool having a head part;
A brake lever structure for a wheelchair characterized by comprising: The brake lever structure for a wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the brake bar is inserted halfway along the axial length of the cylindrical body. A cylinder into which the brake lever of the wheelchair is inserted;
An elastic member filled in the internal space of the cylindrical body leaving a hole extending in the axial direction;
A head portion formed of a soft resin at an upper end of the cylindrical body;
An operation assisting tool for a brake lever, comprising: 4. The brake lever operation assisting device according to claim 3, wherein a projection part imitating an animal meat ball is formed on the outer surface of the head part by a soft resin.

Images