JP4700239B2 - Fall shock absorber for wheelchair - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fall shock absorber for a wheelchair for protecting a human body from the fall of the wheelchair.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a wheelchair used by a person who has difficulty in walking, a wheelchair that is driven by the power of a user or an assistant, an electric wheel that can be driven by a user's driving operation, and the like are known. That is, even a person who has difficulty in walking can move freely by using a wheelchair as long as the wheelchair can travel.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if the wheelchair can travel, the wheelchair may fall down due to an accident. In such a case, since the conventional wheelchair is not provided with means for absorbing the impact to the user at the time of falling, there is a problem that the user is not sufficiently protected. In particular, wheelchair users are often unable to protect themselves more quickly than healthy people, and there is an increasing need to protect users from impacts when a wheelchair falls.
[0004]
This invention is made | formed in view of the said problem, The place made into the objective is providing the fall impact-absorbing device for wheelchairs which can absorb the impact at the time of the fall with respect to the user of a wheelchair.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, in the fall shock absorber for a wheelchair comprising an air bag that covers a wheelchair user when inflated and an inflating means for inflating the air bag, the air bag is provided. Are formed from a pair of first bag portions that bulge on both sides of the wheelchair, a second bag portion that bulges on the rear portion of the wheelchair, and a third bag portion that bulges on the front portion of the wheelchair, The three bag portions are formed so as to bulge from one first bag portion side toward the other first bag portion when inflated.
[0006]
Thereby, when the air bag is inflated, the user of the wheelchair is covered with the air bag, so that the impact when the wheelchair user falls is absorbed by the air bag. At that time, the impact on both sides and the rear of the user is absorbed by the first bag portion and the second bag portion, and the front of the user is covered by the third bag portion bulging from each first bag portion. Therefore, the impact to the front of the user A can be absorbed by each third bag portion, and falling from the wheelchair is prevented.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wheelchair fall impact absorbing device according to the first aspect, at least one third bag portion is provided on each first bag portion side.
[0008]
Thereby, in addition to the effect | action of Claim 1, a user's front is covered with a total of 2 or more 3rd bag parts provided at least 1 each in each 1st bag part.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wheelchair fall impact absorbing device according to the second aspect, the third bag portions provided in the first bag portions are staggered and arranged.
[0010]
Thereby, in addition to the operation of the second aspect, the third bag portions are arranged to be staggered so that the bulging third bag portions do not interfere with each other, It can be formed longer.
[0011]
Moreover, in Claim 4, in the fall shock absorber for wheelchairs of Claim 1, 2, or 3, the storage part which is formed over the back side and both sides of the wheelchair and stores the air bag at the time of contraction is provided. I have.
[0012]
Thereby, in addition to the effect | action of Claim 1, 2, or 3, Since the accommodating part of an air bag is formed over the back side and both sides of a wheelchair, each 1st bag part and 2nd bag of an air bag The parts can be respectively stored on both side surfaces and the back surface side of the storage part. Moreover, since the 3rd bag part is each provided in one or the other 1st bag part, it can be accommodated in the both sides | surfaces side of a storage part with each 1st bag part.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side view of a wheelchair and a fall shock absorber, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inflated air bag, and FIG. 3 is a front view thereof. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which an air bag is accommodated, FIG. 6 is a rear view thereof, FIG. 7 is a partial side view showing an inclined state of a wheelchair in the front-rear direction, and FIG. It is a partial front view which shows the inclination state of the left-right direction of a wheelchair.
[0014]
This overturning impact absorbing device includes an air bag 10 provided in the wheelchair 1, a storage cover 20 for storing the air bag 10, a charging device 30 for inflating the air bag 10, and a distance from the wheelchair 1 to the road surface. A plurality of sensors 40 to be detected and a control unit 50 that inflates the air bag 10 by detecting the inclination of the wheelchair 1 based on the detection distance of each sensor 40.
[0015]
The air bag 10 includes a pair of first bag portions 11 that bulge on both sides of the wheelchair 1, a second bag portion 12 that bulges on the rear portion of the wheelchair 1, and a total of 2 bulges on the front portion of the wheelchair 1. It is formed from two third bag portions 13, and is sewn with a highly airtight and durable fabric. Each 1st bag part 11 is formed in the right side and the left side of the wheelchair 1, respectively so that it may expand | swell to the range corresponding to the upper half of the user A seated on the wheelchair 1, and the front and back. The second bag portion 12 is formed to expand in a cylindrical shape behind the rear head of the user A at the upper rear portion of the wheelchair 1, and both ends thereof communicate with the upper rear portion of each first bag portion 11. Each third bag portion 13 is formed in the front portion of the wheelchair 1 so as to expand in a columnar shape in front of the user A, and one end thereof communicates with the front portion of the first bag portion 11. In this case, one third bag portion 13 is provided in one first bag portion 11, and the other third bag portion 13 is provided in the other first bag portion 11. Further, the third bag portions 13 are staggered and arranged such that a part of the distal end side overlaps with each other at intervals when inflated.
[0016]
The storage cover 20 is formed over the back side of the chair portion 1 a of the wheelchair 1 and the armrest portion 1 b and is fixed by a fixing belt 21. In the storage cover 20, the contracted air bag 10 is folded and stored, and its upper end is closed by a coupling tool 22 such as a snap tape. When the air bag 10 is inflated, the coupling tool 22 is detached. Thus, the air bag 10 bulges out from the storage cover 20. That is, each first bag portion 11 of the air bag 10 is stored in both side portions 20 a of the storage cover 20, and the second bag portion 12 is stored in the back surface portion 20 b of the storage cover 20. In addition, since each third bag portion 13 is provided in one or the other first bag portion 11, the third bag portion 13 is stored in both side portions 20 a of the storage cover 20 together with each first bag portion 11. Furthermore, a pocket 23 for storing a control unit (not shown) and the like is provided on the back side of the storage cover 20.
[0017]
The charging device 30 has a known structure in which a high-pressure gas is sealed in a gas cylinder, and the gas discharge port thereof is connected to one first bag portion 11. That is, in the charging device 30, the discharge port of the gas cylinder is opened by exploding the explosive of the opener by an electric signal from an ignition device (not shown) or by piercing the firing needle.
[0018]
Each sensor 40 is a well-known device that detects a distance from a detection object such as an ultrasonic sensor or an optical sensor, and is attached to the lower surface of the wheelchair 1 at a total of four locations, front and rear and left and right. That is, each sensor 40 detects the distance to the road surface on which the wheelchair 1 travels.
[0019]
The control unit 50 is configured by a microcomputer, and is connected to the charging device 30 and each sensor 40. In this control part 50, when the difference in the detection distance between the front and rear sensors 40 or the difference in the detection distance between the left and right sensors 40 becomes a predetermined distance or more, the charging device 30 is activated.
[0020]
In the overturning impact absorbing device configured as described above, when the wheelchair 1 is tilted, the tilt of the wheelchair 1 is detected by each sensor 40, whereby the charging device 30 is activated and the air bag 10 is inflated. At that time, due to the expansion of the air bag 10, the coupler 22 of the storage cover 20 is detached, and the air bag 10 is expanded. In this case, both sides of the user A are covered by the first bag portions 11 of the air bag 10, and the back of the user A is covered by the second bag portion 12. Moreover, each 3rd bag part 13 of the air bag 10 bulges inside the wheelchair 1 from each 1st bag part 11, respectively, and the front of the user A is covered by each 3rd bag part 13. FIG. Thereby, even when the wheelchair 1 falls, the falling impact on the user A is absorbed by the air bag 10, and the user A is held on the wheelchair 1 side by each third bag portion 13.
[0021]
In addition, in the control unit 50, when the wheelchair 1 is tilted in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. 7, the air bag is detected when the difference L1 in the detection distance between the front sensor 40 and the rear sensor 40 with respect to the road surface is a predetermined distance or more. 10 is inflated. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, when the wheelchair 1 is tilted in the left-right direction, the air bag 10 is inflated when the difference L2 in the detection distance between the left sensor 40 and the right sensor 40 with respect to the road surface exceeds a predetermined distance. It is like that. That is, since the inclination of the wheelchair 1 is detected based on the difference between the detection distances of the front and rear sensors 40 and the difference between the detection distances of the left and right sensors 40, The inclination in the left-right direction can be detected, respectively, and the air bag 20 can be inflated reliably even when the vehicle falls over in any direction.
[0022]
Thus, according to the overturning impact absorbing device of the present embodiment, when the inclination of the wheelchair 1 is detected, the air bag 10 provided in the wheelchair 1 is inflated and the user A is covered with the air bag 10. Even when the wheelchair 1 falls, the impact to the user A can be absorbed by the air bag 10. Therefore, it is extremely advantageous when protecting the user A of the wheelchair 1 from a fall accident. At that time, both side and rear impacts of the user A are absorbed by the first bag portion 11 and the second bag portion 12, and each bulge from the first bag portion 11 to the inside of the wheelchair 1. Since the front of the user A is covered by the third bag portion 13, the impact of the user A in the front can be absorbed by each third bag portion 13, and the fall from the wheelchair 1 can be prevented. .
[0023]
In addition, since one third bag portion 13 is provided for each first bag portion 11, a total of two third bag portions 13 can more reliably absorb the impact on the user A and prevent the fall. be able to. In this case, since the third bag portions 13 are staggered and arranged, the bulging third bag portions 13 do not interfere with each other. Thereby, each 3rd bag part 13 can be formed long so that it may mutually overlap, and an impact absorption effect and a fall prevention effect can be improved more.
[0024]
Furthermore, since the air bag 10 at the time of contraction is stored in the storage cover 20 provided on the wheelchair 1 side and the storage cover 20 is formed over the back side and both side surfaces of the wheelchair 1, The bag portion 11 and the second bag portion 12 can be stored in the both side portions 20a and the back surface portion 20b of the storage cover 20, respectively, and each third bag portion 13 is provided in one or the other first bag portion 11, respectively. Therefore, it can be stored together with the first bag portions 11 in both side portions 20a of the storage cover 20. Therefore, the air bag 10 can be stored in a compact manner without hindering the getting on and off of the wheelchair 1, which is extremely advantageous in practical use.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the fall shock absorber for a wheelchair of claim 1, even if the wheelchair falls, the shock to the user can be absorbed by the air bag. This is extremely advantageous for protection. At that time, the first bag portion and the second bag portion of the air bag can absorb impacts on both sides and the rear side of the user, and the third bag portion bulging from the first bag portion allows the user to Since the front of the vehicle can be covered, the third bag portion can also absorb the user's forward impact and prevent the wheelchair from falling. Therefore, the wheelchair user can be more effectively protected from a fall accident.
[0026]
Moreover, according to the fall impact absorbing device for a wheelchair of claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1, absorption of a shock to the user and prevention of fall are more reliably performed by a total of two or more third bag portions. be able to.
[0027]
Moreover, according to the fall shock absorber for a wheelchair of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 2, since the third bag portion provided in each first bag portion can be formed long, the impact absorbing effect and The fall prevention effect can be further enhanced.
[0028]
Moreover, according to the fall shock absorber for a wheelchair of claim 4, in addition to the effect of claim 1, 2 or 3, since the air bag can be stored compactly without hindering the getting on and off of the wheelchair, This is extremely advantageous for practical use.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a wheelchair and a tipping shock absorber according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inflated air bag. FIG. 3 is a front view showing an inflated air bag. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which an air bag is housed. FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a state in which an air bag is housed. FIG. 7 is a partial side view showing an inclined state of a wheelchair in the front-rear direction. [Fig. 8] Partial front view showing the state of tilting the wheelchair in the left-right direction [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wheelchair, 10 ... Air bag, 11 ... 1st bag part, 12 ... 2nd bag part, 13 ... 3rd bag part, 20 ... Storage cover, 30 ... Charging apparatus, A ... User.

Claims (4)

In a wheelchair overturning shock absorbing device comprising an air bag covering a wheelchair user during inflating and an inflating means for inflating the air bag
The air bag is formed of a pair of first bag portions that bulge on both sides of the wheelchair, a second bag portion that bulges on the rear portion of the wheelchair, and a third bag portion that bulges on the front portion of the wheelchair. And
A fall shock absorber for a wheelchair characterized in that the third bag portion is formed so as to bulge from one first bag portion side toward the other first bag portion when inflated. 2. The overturning shock absorbing device for wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein at least one third bag portion is provided on each first bag portion side. The fall shock absorber for a wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the third bag portions respectively provided in the first bag portions are staggered and arranged. 4. The overturning impact absorbing device for a wheelchair according to claim 1, further comprising a storage portion that is formed over a back surface side and both side surfaces of the wheelchair and stores an air bag when contracted.

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