JP5607472B2 - wheelchair - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheelchair, and more particularly to a wheelchair that can be driven by a lower limb.

  Conventional wheelchairs generally run by a person with low limb mobility by rotating two main wheels with both arms (both upper limbs). In other words, the frame with welded pipes, etc. is provided with a seat, main wheels, and freewheels, and the user grips the hand rim fixed to the rim of the main wheel with both arms and rotates both main wheels. It will run and move.

  Patients using wheelchairs include not only those whose lower limbs do not move at all, but also those who maintain a certain level of muscular strength even when stable walking is difficult. In addition, a patient who is incomplete due to cerebral infarction or the like can move the other upper limb and lower limb even if one upper limb and lower limb are paralyzed. For such patients, wheelchairs that can be driven by lower limbs have been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As shown in FIG. 4, in a conventional wheelchair capable of driving the lower limbs, a skeleton (frame) 11 of a main body is constituted by a pipe, and a front wheel has a small diameter free wheel 12 and a rear wheel has a large diameter. It is the main wheel 13. A hand rim 14 is directly connected to the rim of the main wheel 13, and the left and right main wheels 13 are driven to rotate by operating the left and right hand rims 14, so that the wheelchair 10 can be moved back and forth or turned left and right. It can be done. A campus is stretched between the left and right body frames 11 to form a seat back 15 and a seat 16. A main wheel locking means 17 for locking the rotation of the main wheel 13 is attached to the frame in front of the right main wheel 13.

  The lower limb driving device 30 has one end fixed to the frame 11 via a spring 36 and an intermediate portion pulled forward by a pedal 33 with a string member 35 wound around the rotation shaft 18 of the main wheel 13. The main wheel 13 is driven by frictional resistance with the rotating shaft 18.

  The steering device 20 includes a handle column 26 and a handle lever 23 connected to the left free wheel 12. That is, the handle column 26 is directly connected to the left free wheel 12, and the direction of the free wheel 12 is transmitted as it is as the rotation of the handle column 26. The handle lever 23 is connected to the handle column 26 by a connecting structure 27 that can be bent 180 ° back and forth by 90 ° with respect to the handle column 26. And the handle lever 23 is urged | biased by the spring which is not shown in figure in the connection structure 27 in the free state so that it may stand (upright).

JP 2009-023544 A

  When a patient with a right-handed body is using the conventional wheelchair capable of driving the lower limbs, the left foot that can be moved is placed on the pedal 33, and the handle 23 is held with the left hand to move forward. When it is necessary to stop suddenly, the left hand is released from the handle lever 23, the left hand rim 14 is grasped and stopped, and the lock lever 17a of the locking means 17 is grasped to lock the rotation of the main wheel 13. Regardless of whether the hand rim 14 or the lock lever 17a is gripped, it takes time to change the hand, and a sudden stop cannot be made. Further, if the hand rim 14 is used to stop, there is a risk of scratching the hand. If the lock lever 17a is to be stopped, the rotation of the main wheel 13 is locked, causing a sudden stop and an impact.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem of a wheelchair capable of driving the lower limbs, and provides a wheelchair capable of driving the lower limbs, which can brake the rotation of the main wheel and quickly stop it safely without changing the handle lever. This is the issue.

A wheelchair capable of driving the lower limbs of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, includes a frame, a seat portion provided in the frame, two main wheels and a free wheel provided in the frame, and the frame. A wheelchair capable of driving a lower limb, comprising: a driving device that rotationally drives one of the main wheels by a lower limb; and a steering means that steers one of the universal wheels by an upper limb, the steering means supporting the universal wheel A handle column in which a member is rotatably fixed to a lower end portion, a handle lever fixed to be bent at an upper end portion of the handle column, and a brake wire that is attached to the handle lever and operates a brake of the main wheel and linked brake lever, to lock the relative rotation between the support member of the universal wheel the handle lever and is folded and the handle post, the hand Lever is characterized by comprising a rotation lock member to unlock the relative rotation of the support member of the universal wheels and the handle post with it is in the standing state.

  Since the handle lever is equipped with a brake lever, there is no need to change hands and it can be stopped quickly and safely.

  In elevators, toilets, etc., the floor is kicked forward, retreated, turned, etc., but when the handle lever is folded, the handle column also rotates with the support member of the free wheel, and the brake wire It winds around the handle column. In elevators, toilets, etc., the floor is kicked with a foot to move forward, backward, and turn, so there is no need to steer the free wheel. If the handle lever is changed from the bent state to the standing state, the rotation lock of the support member of the free wheel is released and the rotation of the support member of the free wheel is not transmitted to the handle column, so that the brake wire does not wrap around the handle column. .

  In the wheelchair capable of driving the lower limbs, the handle column may include a height adjusting portion at an intermediate portion.

  When sitting at a table or desk, the steering means does not interfere with the top board, and the user can sit deeply with the body approaching the table or the like.

  The brake may be engaged with a hand rim-like member mounted on the inner side of the main wheel.

  As a brake for the main wheel, there is a configuration in which the rim is sandwiched from the inside and the outside by two pads, like a front wheel brake (rim brake) of a bicycle. A part of the brake protrudes outside, which is not preferable. A structure that tightens the outer periphery of the drum fixed to the rotating shaft of the main wheel with a band, such as a bicycle rear wheel brake (band brake), is mounted between the frame and the main wheel. Will become bigger. The brake that engages with the hand rim-like member mounted on the inner side of the main wheel according to the present invention only needs to press one pad radially against the inner periphery of the rim-like member. Therefore, a part of the brake does not protrude outside, and the distance between the main wheels does not increase.

  Since the handle lever is equipped with a brake lever, there is no need to change hands and it can be stopped quickly and safely.

  Also, if the handle lever is raised from the bent state, the rotation lock of the support member of the free wheel is released, and the rotation of the support member of the free wheel is not transmitted to the handle column, so that the brake wire wraps around the handle column. There is no.

It is a schematic perspective view of the wheelchair which can drive a leg according to an embodiment. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the steering means of the wheelchair which can drive a leg according to an embodiment. It is an enlarged view in the circle C of FIG. It is a schematic perspective view of the wheelchair which can drive the conventional leg.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wheelchair capable of driving the lower limbs of the embodiment is almost the same except that the steering means (steering device) 20A is significantly different from the conventional wheelchair shown in FIG. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The steering means 20A includes a handle column 26A that rotatably supports a support member 12a that rotatably supports the universal wheel 12 at a lower end portion, a handle coupler 24 that is fixed to the upper end of the handle column 26A, and a handle coupler 24. The handle lever 23A is pivotally supported so as to be bent. A brake lever 25 is fixed to the handle lever 23A. The brake lever 25 is connected by a brake wire 28 to a brake shoe 27 configured to press the inner periphery of a hand rim-shaped ring 14A fixed inward to the rim 13a of the main wheel 13 in the radial direction.

  Since the brake shoe 27 presses the inner periphery of the hand rim-shaped ring 14A fixed inward to the rim 13a of the main wheel 13 in the radial direction, a part of the brake does not protrude to the outside, and the distance between the left and right main wheels 13 is increased. Does not grow.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the handle coupler 24 has a lower end portion fixed to the upper end portion of the handle column 26A, and a handle lever 23A rotatably supported by a shaft 24a on the upper end portion. Further, the handle lever 23A is urged in a direction (arrow A1 direction) where one end is fixed to the end of the handle lever 23A and the other end is fixed by a spring 24b fixed to the handle coupler 24.

  A rotation lock member 29 that locks the relative rotation between the handle column 26A and the support member 12a of the free wheel 12 by bending the handle lever 23A is provided below the handle column 26A.

  The rotation lock member 29 is provided with a lock arm 29b whose central portion is pivotally supported by a base 29d by a shaft 29a and whose one end is engaged with the support member 12a of the universal ring 12. At the other end of the lock arm 29b, the lock arm 29b is urged in the arrow A2 direction by a lock spring 29c.

  A cable 29e connected to the handle lever 23A is fixed near the center of the lock arm 29b that is pivotally supported by the shaft 29a and the middle of the other end where the lock spring 29c engages.

  The handle column 26A includes a pipe 26A1, a pipe 26A2 inserted into the pipe 26A1, and a height adjusting unit 26A3.

  A pair of height adjustment holes 26A1a and 26A1b are formed in the radial direction on the inner periphery of the pipe 26A1 with a predetermined distance therebetween.

  A fixing pin hole 26A2c is formed in the radial direction on the outer periphery of the pipe 26A2 so as to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

  The height adjusting portion 26A3 is mounted on the outer periphery of the pipe 26A2 at a predetermined distance in the vertical direction, and a pair of height adjusting pins 26A3a and 26A3b inserted into the height adjusting holes 26A1a and 26A1b and the pipe 26A1 in the radial direction. And a fixed pin 26A3c fitted into the fixed pin hole 26A2c.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the height adjusting pins 26A3a and 26A3b include a bottomed cylindrical member 26A3a1 having a U-shaped cross section that is mounted on the pipe 26A1 so as to be movable in the radial direction, and the bottom of the bottomed cylindrical member 26A3a1 And a spring 26A3a2 that urges radially outward.

  Next, the operation of the steering means 20A having the above configuration will be described. The state of FIG. 2 is a state in which the handle lever 23A is bent against the spring 24b. When the handle lever 23A is bent, the cable 29e is pulled upward, the lock arm 29b is rotated in the direction of the arrow A3 against the lock spring 29c, and the rotation of the support member 12a of the free wheel 12 is locked by the lock arm 29b. Is done. Therefore, the universal wheel 12 can be steered by steering the handle lever 23A in the state of FIG.

  Further, the state of FIG. 2 is a state in which the steering means 20A is raised by the height adjusting unit 26A3 so that the passenger can easily steer. That is, the height adjustment pin 26A3a below the pipe 26A2 is inserted into the height adjustment hole 26A1b above the pipe 26A1, and the fixed pin 26A3c is inserted into the fixed pin hole 26A2c below the pipe 26A2.

  When the hand is released from the handle lever 23A in the state of FIG. 2, the handle lever 23A is rotated and raised in the direction of the arrow A1 by the urging force of the spring 24b. Then, the tension of the cable 29e is released, and the lock arm 29b is rotated in the unlocking direction (arrow A2 direction) by the urging force of the lock spring 29c. Therefore, in this unlocked state, the rotation of the support member 12a of the free wheel 12 is not transmitted to the handle column 26A, so that the brake wire 28 does not wrap around the handle column 26A even if the wheelchair is hit with a foot or the like.

  When the fixing pin 26A3c is removed from the state shown in FIG. 2 and the pipe 26A2 is pushed into the pipe 26A1, the bottomed cylindrical member 26A3a1 of the height adjustment pin 26A3a below the pipe 26A2 resists the urging force of the spring 26A3a2. Pushed in the radial direction. When the pipe 26A2 is further pushed into the pipe 26A1, the height adjusting pin 26A3a is inserted into the height adjusting hole 26A1a below the pipe 26A1. Similarly, the height adjustment pin 26A3b above the pipe 26A2 is inserted into the height adjustment hole 26A1b above the pipe 26A1. At the same time, the fixing pin hole 26A2c above the pipe 26A2 is lowered and the fixing pin 26A3c is inserted into the fixing pin hole 26A2c above the pipe 26A2, and the height is adjusted to be low.

  Therefore, when the user sits at the table or desk, the steering means 20A does not interfere with the top board, and the user can sit deeply with the body approaching the table or the like.

11 ········· Frame 12 ····················································································・ ・ ・ ・ Main wheel 14A ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Hand rim-shaped member 16 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Seat 20A ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Steering means 23A ········· Handle lever 25 ··················· Brake lever 26A ············· Handlebar 26A3 ······ High Length adjustment part 29 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Rotation lock member
27 ··········· Brake 28 ············ Brake wire 30 ··········· Drive device

Claims (3)

A frame, a seat portion provided on the frame, two main wheels and a free wheel provided on the frame, a driving device that rotationally drives one of the main wheels arranged on the frame by a lower limb, A wheelchair capable of driving a lower limb having steering means for steering one of the upper limbs,
The steering means is
A handle column in which a support member of the universal ring is rotatably fixed to a lower end portion;
A handle lever fixed to the upper end of the handle column so that it can be bent;
A brake lever attached to the handle lever and connected to a brake wire for operating the brake of the main wheel;
It locks the relative rotation between the support member of the universal wheel the handle lever is folded to the handle post, the handle lever relative rotation between the support member of the universal wheels and the handle post and is in the standing state A rotation lock member for unlocking ;
A wheelchair capable of driving a lower limb, comprising:   2. The wheelchair capable of driving a lower limb according to claim 1, wherein the handle column includes a height adjusting portion at an intermediate portion.   3. The wheelchair capable of driving a lower limb according to claim 1, wherein the brake engages with a hand rim-like member mounted inside the main wheel.

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