JP3692138B1 - Folding wheelchair assistance handle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an assistance handle that improves the operability of a folding wheelchair by an assistant without hindering the folding wheelchair from being folded, and includes an assisting handle having a sufficient strength.
A first assisting handle portion, a second assisting handle portion, a joint portion connecting the first assisting handle portion and the second assisting handle portion, and a lock mechanism are provided. Is an insertion member 30 that can enter and exit in the axial direction of the first assistance handle portion from the joint side end of the first assistance handle portion, and the joint portion side end of the second assistance handle portion. It is characterized by comprising a receiving hole 31 for a fitting member.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a folding wheelchair.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has become widespread that a wheelchair can be folded as one of means for improving the portability, storage, and the like of a wheelchair. Furthermore, various devices have been devised to make it easier for an assistant or the like to operate such a folding wheelchair. For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 disclose a configuration in which a bar-shaped handle having a bendable joint is provided between the left and right grips of a folding wheelchair. According to such a configuration, the strength of the entire wheelchair can be increased without reducing the foldability of the foldable wheelchair as compared to a foldable wheelchair without a bar-like handle. At the same time, the operability of the folding wheelchair by the assistant can be improved.

JP 2000-316912 A JP 2002-253616 A

In the conventional handle described above, a large force is applied to the joint portion of the handle when the handle is used. Therefore, it is necessary to make the joint part have a sufficient strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a handle having the function of the conventional handle and having a higher strength by a simple method. That is, an assisting handle for improving the operability and overall strength of the folding wheelchair by an assistant without hindering the folding wheelchair from being folded, and providing an assisting handle having a joint portion having sufficient strength The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following wheelchair. That is,
A folding wheelchair assistance handle,
A first assistance handle,
A second assistance handle,
A joint portion connecting the first assistance handle portion and the second assistance handle portion;
A locking mechanism;
With
The locking mechanism is
A fitting member capable of entering and exiting in the axial direction of the first assistance handle portion from the joint side end of the first assistance handle portion;
A receiving hole of the fitting member provided at the joint side end of the second assistance handle part;
Comprising
An assisting handle for a folding wheelchair characterized by the above.

  In the folding wheelchair assistance handle of the present invention, the first assistance handle portion and the second assistance handle portion, which are rotatably connected at the joint portion, are locked by the lock mechanism. At this time, the fitting member is fitted into the receiving hole provided in the joint side end of the second assistance handle portion from the joint side edge of the first assistance handle portion. As a result, when the handle is used, the first assistance handle portion and the second assistance handle portion are connected by the fitting members in the axial direction of the both, and the joint portion in which mechanical strength is difficult to ensure is simple and inexpensive. Is surely reinforced. As a result, the overall strength of the folding wheelchair assistance handle is increased. In the folding wheelchair equipped with the folding wheelchair assistance handle of the present invention, the folding wheelchair frame is fixed by the folding wheelchair assistance handle of the present invention when the folding wheelchair is used. As a result, the strength of the entire folding wheelchair increases.

  Below, the component of this invention is demonstrated in detail.

The folding wheelchair assistance handle of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as “assisting handle” in the present specification) includes first and second assistance handle portions. The shape of the first and second assistance handle portions is not particularly limited, and a bar shape or the like can be adopted so that the assistant can easily operate the folding wheelchair. Moreover, a pipe material is used for weight reduction. The material of the first and second assistance handle portions is, for example, a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel or a resin such as ABS resin. In order to make it easier for an assistant to grip the first and second assistance handles, the assistant may be covered with an elastic material such as urethane.
The first assistance handle portion and the second assistance handle portion are connected by a joint portion. The joint portion rotatably connects one end of the first assistance handle portion and one end of the second assistance handle portion. As a result, the assistance handle can be bent at the joint.

The folding handle for the wheelchair assistance handle is locked by a lock mechanism at the joint. The lock mechanism includes a fitting member and a receiving hole. The fitting member is provided so as to enter and exit in the axial direction of the first assistance handle portion from the joint side end of the first assistance handle portion. The shape of the fitting member is smaller than the shape of the first assistance handle so that it can enter and exit in the axial direction of the first assistance handle portion. The material of the fitting member can be determined in consideration of rigidity, moldability, and the like, and examples thereof include metals such as aluminum and stainless steel. For example, the fitting member is provided at the side end so as to enter and exit the joint portion side end of the first assistance handle portion so that it can enter and exit on the same axis as the first assistance handle.
On the other hand, the receiving hole is provided at the joint side end of the second assistance handle. The shape of the receiving hole is determined in consideration of the shape of the fitting member so that the fitting member is fitted. When the second assisting handle portion is a pipe material, the hollow portion may be used as the receiving hole. When the fitting member is fitted into the receiving hole, the bending at the joint portion is locked. Further, when the handle is used, the first assisting handle portion and the second assisting handle portion are connected by the fitting members in the axial direction of the both, and the joint portion in which it is difficult to secure the mechanical strength has a simple and inexpensive configuration. Reinforced surely. As a result, the overall strength of the folding wheelchair assistance handle is increased. Further, by making the fitting member and the first and second assisting handle portions in a sliding state (a state having almost no gap), there is no backlash and stability is increased.

  Further, a knob is provided on the outer periphery of the joint portion side end of the first assistance handle portion. The knob is provided so as to be interlocked with the fitting member and is movable in the axial direction of the first handle portion. When the knob is moved to the side end side opposite to the joint portion of the first assistance handle portion, the fitting member moves inward of the first assistance handle portion in conjunction therewith. As a result, the fitting member fitted into the receiving hole is removed, the lock at the joint is released, and the assistance handle can be bent at the joint.

  The folding wheelchair assistance handle of the present invention is used for a folding wheelchair. The folding wheelchair used here includes, for example, a pair of left and right main frames connected by an X-shaped frame that can be freely opened and closed, each of the main frames having large and small wheels, and Is a folding wheelchair equipped with a seat. In such a folding wheelchair, in use, the pair of left and right main frames are separated by the X-shaped frame, and the seating seat can be parallel to the ground and can be seated on the seating seat. On the other hand, in the folded state, the pair of left and right main frames are brought close to each other by the X-shaped frame, and the seating seat is folded near the center, so that the whole is compact.

  The folding wheelchair assistance handle according to the present invention is mounted so as to bridge between the left and right grips of the folding wheelchair described above. In a foldable wheelchair equipped with an assistance handle, in the state of use, the assistance handle is prevented from being bent by the lock mechanism, so that the assistance handle is not inadvertently bent. On the other hand, the assist handle is bent at the joint by moving the knob of the assist handle to the side end opposite to the joint of the first assist handle in the axial direction of the first assist handle to release the lock. It becomes possible. Thus, the folding wheelchair can be folded while the assistance handle is attached to the folding wheelchair. Therefore, the assistance handle according to the present invention bends at the joint according to the state (used state or folded state) of the folding wheelchair, and therefore does not prevent the folding wheelchair from being folded.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail using an example of a folding wheelchair assistance handle according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a folding wheelchair 1 equipped with a folding wheelchair assistance handle 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a partially enlarged view of the rear perspective view thereof. Show. Moreover, the front side perspective view in the folding state of the folding wheelchair 1 is shown in FIG. 3, and the partially expanded view of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. Furthermore, AA sectional drawing in FIG. 4 is shown to FIG. 5A, B, and C. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the folding wheelchair 1 includes main frames 11 and 12. A grip 27, a large wheel 13, and a small wheel 15 are disposed on the main frame 11. Similarly, the main frame 12 is provided with grips 28, large wheels 14, and small wheels 16. Further, the main frames 11 and 12 are connected by an openable X-shaped connecting frame (not shown). A seating seat 17 and a backrest seat 18 are stretched between the main frames 11 and 12. Further, a folding wheelchair assistance handle (hereinafter also referred to as “assistance handle”) 2 is disposed between the grips 27 and 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the assistance handle 2 includes a first assistance handle portion 21 and a second assistance handle 22. The material of the first and second assistance handles 21 and 22 is made of aluminum. Moreover, the shape is a pipe shape. One end of the first assistance handle portion 21 is connected to the grip 27 by the connecting portion 24 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 40 as a rotation axis. The shaft 40 is a shaft perpendicular to the first assistance handle portion 21 and the grip 27. Similarly, one end of the second assistance handle 22 is connected to the grip 28 by the connecting portion 23 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 41 as a rotation axis. The shaft 41 is a shaft perpendicular to the first assistance handle portion 21 and the grip 28. Further, the other end of the first assisting handle portion 21 and the other end of the second assisting handle portion 22 are rotatably connected by a joint portion 26 about a shaft 42 as a rotation axis. The shaft 42 is parallel to the shaft 40 and the shaft 40.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a fitting member 30 is provided at the other end of the first assistance handle portion 21. The shape of the fitting member 30 is a columnar shape having a diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the first assistance handle portion 21, and the upper end 34 is chamfered. Further, the fitting member 30 is arranged so that a part thereof enters the inside of the other end side of the first assistance handle portion 21. Further, a spring 32 is disposed below the fitting member 30. With such a configuration, the insertion member 30 can enter and exit in the axial direction of the first assistance handle portion 21 on the same axis as the first assistance handle portion 21. Further, a knob 25 is provided on the outer periphery of the joint portion side end of the first assistance handle portion 21. The knob 25 is connected to the fitting member 30 and is passed through an elongated hole formed in the first assistance handle portion 21. As a result, the fitting member 30 can move only with the portion of the elongated hole together with the knob 25 and does not fall off from the first assistance handle portion 21.
On the other hand, a receiving hole 31 is provided at the other end of the second assistance handle 22. The shape of the receiving hole 31 is a cylindrical hole having a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the second assistance handle 22, and coincides with a lumen near the other end of the second assistance handle 22. The other end surface 33 of the second assistance handle 22 is a tapered surface inclined toward the lumen side of the second assistance handle 22.

Below, the use state of the folding wheelchair 1 and the state of the assistance handle 2 in the folded state will be described.
First, when the folding wheelchair 1 is in use, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first assistance handle 21 and the second assistance handle 22 bridge between the grip 27 and the grip 28. They are arranged side by side in a substantially straight line. At this time, the fitting member 30 is fitted in the receiving hole 31 as shown in FIG. 5C. Thereby, the joint part 26 of the assistance handle 2 is locked, and bending is prevented. Thereafter, in order to place the folding wheelchair 1 in the folded state, first, the knob 25 is slid in the direction of the connecting portion 24. In conjunction with this, the fitting member 30 moves in the direction of the connecting portion 24, that is, enters the lumen of the first assistance handle 21. As a result, the fitting member 30 is removed from the receiving hole 31, and the lock of the joint portion 26 of the assistance handle 2 is released. As a result, the release handle 2 can be bent at the joint 26 (see FIG. 5). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the folding wheelchair 1 can be made into a folding state, with the assistance handle 2 mounted | worn.
On the other hand, when the folding wheelchair 1 is changed from the folded state to the used state, the assistance handle 2 is changed from the state of FIG. 5A to the state of FIG. 5B as the main frame 11 and the main frame 12 are separated. At this time, the fitting member 30 is pushed into the lumen of the first assisting handle 21 by the other end surface 33 of the tapered second assisting handle 22. Further, when the main frames 11 and 12 are separated from each other, the fitting member 30 is fitted into the receiving hole 31 as shown in FIG. 5C. As a result, the folding wheelchair 1 is in use.

  As described above, the assistance handle 2 in the folding wheelchair 1 does not prevent the folding wheelchair 1 from being folded. Further, in the state of use, the bending of the assisting handle 2 is locked when the fitting member 30 is fitted into the receiving hole 31. Further, when the handle is used, a force is applied to the fitting member 30 and the receiving hole 31, and the force applied to the joint portion 26 is reduced. As a result, the joint portion 26 is reinforced and the strength of the entire assisting handle 2 is increased. The assistance handle 2 is arranged so as to bridge between the main frames 11 and 12. As a result, the main frames 11 and 12 are connected by the X-shaped connecting frame and the assistance handle 2. Since the main frames 11 and 12 are fixed by the assistance handle 2 in the use state, the strength of the entire folding wheelchair 1 is increased.

  The folding wheelchair assistance handle of the present invention is suitably used for a folding wheelchair.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the folding wheelchair 1 equipped with the folding wheelchair assistance handle 2 of the present invention in use. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a rear side perspective view of the folding wheelchair 1 in use. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the folding wheelchair 1 in the folded state. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of a front perspective view of the folding wheelchair 1 in the folded state. 5A, 5B, and 5C are sectional views taken along line AA in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Folding wheelchair 2 Assistance handle 11 12 Main frame 21 1st assistance handle 22 2nd assistance handle 26 Joint part 30 Inserting member 31 Receiving hole

Claims (3)

A folding wheelchair assistance handle,
A first assistance handle,
A second assistance handle,
A joint portion connecting the first assistance handle portion and the second assistance handle portion;
A locking mechanism;
With
The locking mechanism is
A fitting member capable of entering and exiting in the axial direction of the first assistance handle portion from the joint side end of the first assistance handle portion;
A receiving hole of the fitting member provided at the joint side end of the second assistance handle part;
Comprising
An assisting handle for a folding wheelchair characterized by that.   A knob is provided on an outer periphery of the joint part side end of the first assistance handle part, and the knob is movable in the axial direction of the first assistance handle part in conjunction with the fitting member. The assist handle for a folding wheelchair according to claim 1.   The folding wheelchair provided with the assistance handle for folding wheelchairs of Claim 1 or 2.

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