JP4344655B2 - caster - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a caster, and more particularly to a caster capable of preventing tripping due to a step.

  Conventionally, walking aids and wheelchairs have been used as assisting devices for assisting walking or movement of elderly people or people who have difficulty in walking.

  As an example of a conventional walking aid, a U-shaped lower frame is provided below, and a center post is erected substantially vertically from an intermediate point of the lower frame. The center post is inclined halfway toward the front side of the lower frame when the user holds the handle.

  Further, in order to more securely fix the center post, a sub frame for connecting the lower frame and the bending point of the center post is provided.

  Further, a handle post is inserted at the tip of the center post, and the handle post is formed in a pipe shape, and a handle height adjusting screw is inserted from the tip toward the inside of the center post. By loosening the handle height adjusting screw, the handle post can freely move up and down within the center post, and by tightening it, the height of the handle post is fixed.

  A handle holding ring is provided at the tip of the handle post, and a central portion of the handle is inserted therethrough.

  The opening angle of the handle holding ring is adjusted by a handle angle adjusting screw, and the elevation angle of the handle can be freely changed by loosening it, and the elevation angle of the handle can be fixed by tightening this. It has become.

  Further, grips are provided at both ends of the handle, and a brake lever is fixed to one grip.

  Four casters are provided under the lower frame, two casters with brakes are provided on the front side where the lower frame is opened, and two casters without a brake function are provided on the front side. ing.

  Each of the casters with brakes has cables laid along the subframe, the center post, and the handle to the brake lever, and the casters with brakes are held by gripping the brake lever. It is possible to give resistance to the vehicle, to give resistance to the running of the walking aid, or to stop the running (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-113990

  However, conventional general walking aids and casters installed on wheelchairs, including the walking aids described above, have a slight difference in level when the front wheels approach a step, for example when riding on a sidewalk. Even if it was, there was a case where this step could not be climbed well.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a caster that can successfully overcome a step.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the caster (1) according to the present invention is characterized by a front wheel frame (14), a rear wheel (16) having a rear wheel (13) rotatably disposed at a tip, A caster (12) connected to a front wheel frame (14) and attached to a walking aid (12) provided with a handle frame (18) that is placed in front of the rear wheel (13) and receives a load on the user. 1), a base (2) fixed to the front wheel frame (14) , a main holder (3) connected to a lower part of the base (2) and rotatable in a horizontal direction, and the base ( 2) an elastic member (9) that connects the main holder (3) , a wheel holder (5) that is rotatably connected to the rear end of the main holder (3) in the front-rear direction, and the wheel a holder (5) one end rotatably supported wheels (6), wherein in front of the lower end portion of the main holder (3), parallel to project the left and right sides of the wheel (6) Disposed, said wheels (6) two auxiliary wheels is also small diameter (8), wherein the main holder (3) is connected to the wheel holder (5), the wheel holder is pivoted to the rear A suspension (7) that pulls (5) forward;
The rotational axis of the wheel (6) is located in front of the vertical imaginary line (FL) of the rotational axis of the wheel holder (5) .

By adopting such a configuration, when the wheel (6) of the caster (1) comes into contact with the step (28) , the wheel holder (5) rotates rearward so that the wheel (6) The auxiliary wheel (8), which is pushed upward and has a higher ground contact position than the wheel (6) , can contact the ground and step over the step (28) . Then, after overcoming the step (28) , the wheel (6) together with the wheel holder (5) is returned to the original position by the suspension (7) , and normal traveling can be performed. In addition, the main holder (3) is rotatable in the horizontal direction, and the two auxiliary wheels (8) protrude from the left and right sides of the wheel (6) and are arranged in parallel, so that the step (28) The auxiliary wheel (8) can be grounded to the step (28) when entering obliquely from either the left or right direction, and stable running is possible. Furthermore, by providing an elastic member (9) that connects the base (2) and the main holder (3), it enters obliquely with respect to the step (28) and immediately after overcoming the step (28). Even when the road surface is not stable, the main holder (3) can be automatically faced to the front by the elastic member (9), and the traveling of the wheel (6) can be stabilized.

Furthermore, another feature of the caster (1) according to the present invention is that a lock mechanism (10) for restricting the rotation of the main holder (3) is disposed on the base (2) .

By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the main holder (3) from shaking left and right even in a place where the road surface is not stable, and the wheels (6) can be moved straight.

  According to the caster of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the wheel from tripping due to a step by the auxiliary wheel. In addition, by arranging the auxiliary wheels so as to protrude to the left and right of the wheels in parallel, the step can be stably overcome when the vehicle enters obliquely with respect to the step. Furthermore, by restricting the rotation of the main holder in the horizontal direction, the wheel can be moved straight even on an unstable road surface.

  Hereinafter, a case where an embodiment of a caster according to the present invention is used for a walking aid will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a caster according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an operation of the caster according to the present invention.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the caster 1 of the present embodiment includes a connecting member 4 having a cylindrical shape and a flange 4 a that protrudes outward as a stopper at the lower end portion below the base portion 2. The main holders 3 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction.

  A wheel holder 5 is disposed at the rear end portion (right end portion in FIG. 1) of the main holder 3 so as to be rotatable forward and backward, and a wheel 6 is rotatably supported below the wheel holder 5. Yes. In addition, the rotating shaft 6a of the wheel 6 is disposed so as to be positioned in front of the vertical imaginary line FL of the rotating shaft 5a of the wheel holder 5, and therefore, the wheel 6 has a step from the front. The wheel holder 5 is rotated rearward when a load is applied while abutting on the wheel 28, while the wheel holder 5 is moved rearward when a load is applied to the wheel 6 from above. It is designed not to rotate.

  The main holder 3 and the wheel holder 5 are connected by a suspension 7 made of a spring or rubber or the like, and when the wheel holder 5 rotates rearward, the wheel holder 5 is restored by the suspension 7. A force is applied to return to the position of.

  Further, two auxiliary wheels 8 having a diameter smaller than that of the wheel 6 are projected at the lower end of the front of the main holder 3 (left side in FIG. 1) in parallel to the left and right sides of the wheel 6. Is rotatably arranged. In the present embodiment, each auxiliary wheel 8 is disposed so that its lower end is raised by about 35 mm from the ground contact surface of the wheel 6.

  The base 2 and the main holder 3 are connected by an elastic member 9 such as a spring or rubber so that the main holder 3 rotated in the horizontal direction by the elastic member 9 is returned to its original position. It has become.

The base 2 and the main holder 3 are provided with a lock mechanism 10 for restricting the rotation of the main holder 3, and the lock mechanism 10 rotates in the vertical direction with respect to the base 2. The groove 11a of the lock lever 11 that is freely arranged and the claw 3a formed on the main holder 3 are engaged with each other so that the rotation of the main holder 3 is restricted. Furthermore, two groove portions 2a and 2b are formed on both side surfaces of the base portion 2 respectively, and the lock lever 11 has convex portions (not shown) that engage with the groove portions 2a and 2b of the base portion 2. The lock lever 11 is formed so that the lock lever 11 is turned up and down and the lock lever 11 is turned up and down by engaging either the convex portion or the groove 2a or 2b of the base portion 2. state, that is, making it possible to maintain the main holder 3 to pivotally state or a fixed state.

  According to the caster 1 of the present embodiment having the configuration described above, as shown in FIG. 2, when the wheel 6 goes straight as it is in contact with the step 28, the wheel 6 is rotated backward by the wheel holder 5. Each auxiliary wheel 8 is in contact with the upper surface of the step 28. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the caster 1 from tripping due to the step 28.

  Next, a walking aid using a caster according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a walking aid. The walking aid 12 includes two casters 1, two rear wheels 13 having the same diameter as the wheels 6 of the casters 1, and two wheels with the casters 1 fixed at the distal ends thereof in parallel. Front wheel frame 14.

  Between both the front wheel frames 14, an interval holding strip 15 is provided to keep the interval uniform.

  The walking aid 12 has two rear wheel frames 16 that are fixed to the opposite surfaces of the front wheel frames 14 and that each rear wheel 13 is rotatably disposed at the tip. Between each of the rear wheel frames 16, a spacing holding strip 17 for keeping the spacing uniform is disposed.

  Further, the walking assist device 12 has a U-shaped handle frame 18 formed with a handle portion 18a to be gripped by a user, and each front wheel frame 14 and each rear wheel frame 16 is connected to a connecting member 20. , 21 and 23 are connected and fixed to the handle frame 18. In order to prevent the user from falling backward, the handle frame 18 is erected substantially vertically forward from the rear wheels 13 so that the user's load is applied to the front. .

  The walking aid 12 is fixed to the front frame 14 and a seat frame 24 that is rotatably disposed between the front wheel frames 14, and the seat frame 24 is substantially horizontal from below. And a brake mechanism 27 that applies resistance to each of the rear wheels 13 and applies resistance to the travel of the walking aid 12 or stops the travel. The seat frame 24 is provided with at least one seat reinforcing member 25 in the horizontal direction so that a person can sit there.

  The brake mechanism 27 is disposed in the vicinity of the handle portion 18a of the handle frame 18 and is disposed in the vicinity of the rotating lever 13a of the rear wheel 13 and is rotated up and down. A brake 27b that presses against an inner peripheral surface of a wheel (not shown) of the wheel 13 to provide resistance and slides downward to engage the rotating shaft 13a to lock the rear wheel 13, and the brake lever 27a and the brake 27b are connected to each other, and a wire 27c that moves the brake 27b up and down by rotating the brake lever 27a up and down.

  When the brake lever 27a is positioned at the middle stage, the brake mechanism 27 is in a state where the brake 27b is not pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the wheel of the rear wheel 13 and is fitted to the rotary shaft 13a. In this state, the rear wheel 13 becomes rotatable. For this reason, when the user of the walking aid 12 sits on the seat frame 24, the rear wheel 13 is locked when the brake lever 27 a is rotated downward, and when the user sits on the seat frame 24. It is possible to prevent the walking assist device 12 from running and the user from falling down. Further, the walking assist device 12 travels while the user is sitting on the seat frame 24. Can be prevented.

  Below, the effect | action of the caster 1 of this embodiment arrange | positioned at the walking aid 12 is demonstrated.

  First, the user walks while running the walking aid 12 so that the handle frame 18 is pushed forward. At this time, when there is a step 28 in the advancing direction and the wheel 6 of the caster 1 comes into contact with the step 28, the auxiliary wheel 8 disposed on the caster 1 contacts the upper surface of the step 28 as shown in FIG. Further, when the walking aid 12 is pushed forward, the wheel 6 can be prevented from rotating backward by the wheel holder 5 and the walking aid 12 being tripped.

  Furthermore, when the auxiliary wheel 8 contacts the upper surface of the step 28 and the wheel 6 is pushed backward by the wheel holder 5 and the walking assist device 12 is pushed forward, the step 28 is moved while the wheel 6 is turned backward. The wheel 6 can get over the step 28 by touching the upper surface of the wheel.

  Then, after the wheel 6 contacts the upper surface of the step 28, the wheel 6 is pulled back together with the wheel holder 5 by the suspension 7, the auxiliary wheel 8 is again separated from the upper surface of the step 28, and the wheel 6 rotates to rotate the rear wheel. 13 can get over the step 28.

  Furthermore, the lock lever 11 of the lock mechanism 10 of each caster 1 is rotated, and the main holder 3 is freely rotatable in the horizontal direction by releasing the engagement between the groove 11a of the lock lever 11 and the claw 3a of the main holder 3. When the caster 1 enters obliquely with respect to the step 28 while running the walking aid 12, the main holder 3 is rotated and the wheel 6 is rotated rearward by the wheel holder 5 to assist the auxiliary wheel 8. Can be grounded directly on the upper surface of the step 28. The main holder 3 rotated in the horizontal direction by the step 28 is moved over the step 28 and then moved back to the original direction by the elastic member 9 that connects the base 2 and the main holder 3, that is, the rectilinear movement of the walking aid 12. It is designed to return to the direction.

  Further, by engaging the groove portion 11a of the lock lever 11 and the claw portion 3a of the main holder 3 so that the main holder 3 does not rotate in the horizontal direction, the walking aid 12 is caused to travel on a bad road surface. In this case, the walking aid 12 can be moved straight by restricting the rotation of the main holder 3.

  Furthermore, since the two auxiliary wheels 8 are disposed on each caster 1 so as to protrude to the left and right of each wheel 6, even when the wheel 6 enters obliquely with respect to the step 28, the auxiliary wheel 8 does not move. It is possible to prevent the walking aid 12 from tripping by grounding on the upper surface of the step 28.

  As described above, by arranging the casters of this embodiment on a walking aid, when an elderly person or a person with a disability walks using this walking aid, walking aid is provided at the level difference. Even if the caster of the vessel comes into contact, it is possible to walk by walking the walk assisting device 12 safely over the steps without tripping over the wheels. Furthermore, by restricting the horizontal rotation of the main holder by the lock mechanism, the walking aid can be moved straight even on a bad road surface.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various change is possible as needed. Further, the caster of the present invention can be applied to other traveling equipment such as a wheelchair.

The schematic side view which shows embodiment of the caster which concerns on this invention Explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the caster which concerns on this invention A perspective view showing one embodiment of a walking aid

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Caster 2 Base part 3 Main holder 4 Connecting member 5 Wheel holder 6 Wheel 7 Suspension 8 Auxiliary wheel 9 Elastic member 10 Lock mechanism 11 Lock lever 12 Walking aid 13 Rear wheel 14 Front wheel frame 15 Space | interval holding | maintenance body 16 Rear wheel frame 17 Space | interval Holding strip 18 Handle frame 20 Connecting member 21 Connecting member 23 Connecting member 24 Seat frame 25 Seat reinforcing member 26 Support member 27 Brake mechanism FL Vertical imaginary line

Claims (2)

A front wheel frame (14), a rear wheel frame (16) in which a rear wheel (13) is rotatably disposed at the tip, and connected to the front wheel frame (14) and in front of the rear wheel (13) A caster (1) attached to a walking aid (12) having a handle frame (18) that is erected on and is loaded with a user's load,
A base (2) fixed to the front wheel frame (14) ;
A main holder (3) connected below the base (2) and rotatable in a horizontal direction;
An elastic member (9) connecting the base (2) and the main holder (3);
A wheel holder (5) rotatably connected to the rear end of the main holder (3) in the front-rear direction;
A wheel (6) rotatably supported at one end of the wheel holder (5) ;
Wherein in front of the lower end portion of the main holder (3), the left and right are disposed in parallel laterally protruding, the two auxiliary wheels even smaller diameter than the wheel (6) of the wheel (6) (8) When,
Suspension (7) connected to the main holder (3) and the wheel holder (5) and pulling the wheel holder (5) rotated rearward forward,
The caster (1) , characterized in that the rotating shaft of the wheel (6) is positioned in front of the vertical imaginary line (FL) of the rotating shaft of the wheel holder (5 ) . The caster (1) according to claim 1 , wherein a lock mechanism (10) for restricting the rotation of the main holder is disposed on the base (2 ) .