JP6767480B2 - Assistance device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an assisting device that assists the person being assisted in standing up or sitting down.

With the progress of the aging society, the needs for assistance devices are increasing. The assistance device provides transfer assistance, movement assistance, excretion assistance, and the like to the person being assisted, and has functions of standing assistance and sitting assistance as part of the assistance. The introduction of the assistance device will reduce the physical burden on the caregiver, lead to the prevention of back pain, and alleviate the labor shortage of caregivers. A technical example relating to this type of assistance device is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

The assistance device of Patent Document 1 includes a pair of left and right arms that are inserted under the armpits of the person being assisted, and the arms are raised to assist the person being assisted in standing up. This assisting device is characterized in that the tip portion of the arm portion is freely bent inward to support the back of the person being assisted. The assistance device further includes a breastplate (holding member) that comes into contact with the chest of the person being assisted, a grip that the person being assisted holds, and a handle that the caregiver uses when moving. According to this, when assisting the person to be assisted in standing up, it is possible to give the person to be assisted a sense of security similar to that of being held by a person.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-36392

By the way, according to the description of the embodiment of the assisting device of Patent Document 1, the raising of the arm portion is performed by the swinging arm to which the arm portion is attached swings at the upper end portion of the slide column. For this reason, hands, fingers, clothes, etc. are likely to be caught between the swing arm and the slide support.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the background technology, and it is an object to be solved to provide a safe assisting device in which the body or clothes of the person being assisted is not pinched.

The assistance device of the present invention includes a base, an elevating member movably supported by the base, an oscillating arm member whose one end is oscillatingly supported by the elevating member, and the oscillating arm member. It has a holding member that is supported by the other end of the object and holds the upper body of the person being assisted, and an opening that covers the one end of the elevating member and the swing arm member and allows the swing arm member to pass through. An elevating cover that moves up and down together with the elevating member, and an elevating cover that is assembled on the outer circumference of the swing arm member and stretched so as to cover the entire opening , and is a front side between the front edge of the opening and the swing arm member. It is provided with a gap and a closing member that closes the rear gap between the trailing edge of the opening and the swing arm member .
Further, the assistance device includes a base, an elevating member movably supported by the base, an oscillating arm member whose one end is oscillatingly supported by the elevating member, and the oscillating arm member. The elevating member has a holding member supported by the other end to hold the upper body of the person being assisted, and an opening that covers one end of the elevating member and the swinging arm member and allows the swinging arm member to pass through. An elevating cover that moves up and down together with the member and a closing member that closes a gap between the peripheral edge of the opening and the swing arm member are provided, and the opening is formed on a curved surface portion of the elevating cover. The closing member is an elastically deformable seat member that is assembled on the outer circumference of the swing arm member and extends over the entire opening, and the seat member is movably held along the swing arm member. Then, as the swing arm member swings, the swing arm member moves along the swing arm member, and the lift member or the lift cover swings the seat member together with the swing arm member at the peripheral edge of the opening. It may have a guide member along the line.
Further, the assistance device includes a base, an elevating member movably supported by the base, an oscillating arm member whose one end is swayably supported by the elevating member, and the oscillating arm member. The elevating member has a holding member supported by the other end to hold the upper body of the person being assisted, and an opening that covers one end of the elevating member and the swinging arm member and allows the swinging arm member to pass through. The swing arm member includes an elevating cover that moves up and down together with the member, and a closing member that closes a gap between the peripheral edge of the opening and the swing arm member, and the swing arm member is held by the holding member. Between the swing arm member that swings in the front-rear direction and swings forward and the front edge of the opening, and between the swing arm member that swings backward and the trailing edge of the opening. The gap of 3 times or more the thickness of the plate material forming the elevating cover may be secured between them.

In the assistance device of the present invention, an opening is provided in the elevating cover so that the swing arm member can swing. In the prior art, this opening has a risk of pinching the body or clothes of the person being assisted, but in the present invention, it is closed by the closing member. Therefore, the body and clothes of the person being assisted are not caught in the opening, and it is safe.

It is a perspective view which looked at the assistance device of an embodiment from an oblique rear view. It is a side view which shows the structure of the assist device and the person to be assisted in a sitting posture. It is a side view which shows the structure of the assist device and the person to be assisted in a standing posture. It is a partial perspective view which shows the structure near the upper part of the elevating cover. It is a partial perspective view explaining the seat member assembled on the outer periphery of the swing arm member. It is a figure exemplifying the rear side gap between a swing arm member swinging rearward and a trailing edge of an opening. It is a partial perspective view explaining the possibility of pinching which occurs when the swing arm member swings backward in the assist device of the prior art. It is a partial perspective view explaining the possibility of pinching which occurs when the swing arm member swings forward in the assist device of the prior art.

(1. Configuration of assistance device 1 of the embodiment)
The assistance device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assisting device 1 of the embodiment as viewed obliquely from the rear. Further, FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the assisting device 1 and the assisted person M in the sitting posture, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the assisting device 1 and the assisted person M in the standing posture. Is. With reference to the person being assisted M shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front-back direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction are determined as shown in FIG. In addition, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixed cover 23, the elevating cover 33, and the control unit 6 are not shown.

The assistance device 1 assists the person being assisted in standing from a sitting posture to a standing posture, and assists the person being seated in sitting from a standing posture to a sitting posture. Further, the assisting device 1 can be moved by the operation of the assisting person while the assisted person M in the standing posture is placed on the assisting device 1. As a result, the assistance device 1 can assist the person being assisted in transfer and movement. In the present specification, the "standing posture" means a posture in which the lower body of the person being assisted M is standing, regardless of the posture of the upper body. The assistance device 1 is composed of a base 2, an elevating part 3, a swinging part 4, a holding member 5, a control part 6, and the like.

The base 2 is composed of a frame 21, a support column 22, a fixed cover 23, a footrest base 24, a lower leg rest 25, and six wheels 26 to 28 and the like. The frame 21 is provided substantially horizontally near the floor surface F. The support column 22 is erected upward from the center in the left-right direction near the front of the frame 21. An elevating drive unit 32, which will be described later, is arranged in an internal space having a substantially rectangular cross section of the support column 22. The fixed cover 23 covers and protects the support column 22 and the lower portion of the elevating member 31 described later.

The footrest base 24 is fixed to the rear of the upper surface of the frame 21 and is provided substantially horizontally. The foot-shaped ground contact mark 241 drawn on the upper surface of the footrest 24 guides the position where the person being assisted M rests his / her foot. The base 2 has sufficient mechanical strength even when the person being assisted M rides on it. A recess 242 is formed in the center of the rear part of the footrest 24. The lower leg contact portion 25 is disposed slightly above the ground contact mark 241 by a pair of left and right support arms 251. The pair of left and right support arms 251 extend rearward from both sides of the support columns 22 on the upper surface of the frame 21, bend in the middle, and extend upward. The lower leg rest 25 is arranged across the upright portion of the left and right support arms 251 and extends in the left-right direction. The lower leg pad 25 is a portion where the lower leg of the person being assisted M comes into contact with the lower leg, and is formed of a cushioning material. The arrangement height of the lower leg pad 25 can be adjusted.

A pair of left and right front wheels 26 are provided on the lower front side of the frame 21. The front wheel 26 has a steering function for changing the direction of movement and a locking function for restricting movement. A pair of left and right middle wheels 27 are provided near the middle of the lower side of the footrest stand 24 in the front-rear direction. Further, a pair of left and right rear wheels 28 are provided on the lower rear side of the footrest stand 24. The middle wheel 27 and the rear wheel 28 have a steering function for changing the direction of movement. The six wheels 26-28 keep the frame 21 and footrest 24 horizontal, slightly away from the floor surface F. The steering function of the six wheels 26 to 28 enables the assisting device 1 to not only move in the front-rear direction and change direction, but also to move laterally (move to the side) and turn super-credit (turn in place). It has become.

The elevating unit 3 is composed of an elevating member 31, an elevating drive unit 32, an elevating cover 33, and the like. The elevating member 31 is a long member that is long in the vertical direction, and is supported on the rear surface of the support column 22 so as to be vertically movable. The upper part of the elevating member 31 projects rearward, and a swing support portion 34 is provided near the protruding rear end. A swing drive unit 42, which will be described later, is arranged in the internal space above the elevating member 31. The elevating drive unit 32 arranged in the internal space of the support column 22 drives the vertical movement of the elevating member 31. The elevating cover 33 covers the periphery of the elevating member 31 and the support column 22, and also covers and protects the upper part of one end 411 of the elevating member 31 and the swing arm member 41. The elevating cover 33 is coupled to the elevating member 31 and moves up and down together with the elevating member 31. The lower portion of the elevating cover 33 that moves up and down always overlaps the outer peripheral side of the fixed cover 23.

The swinging portion 4 is composed of a swinging arm member 41, a swinging drive portion 42, and the like. One end 411 of the swing arm member 41 is swingably supported by the swing support portion 34 of the lifting member 31. The swing drive unit 42 arranged in the internal space above the elevating member 31 swings and drives the other end 412 in the front-rear direction with one end 411 of the swing arm member 41 as the swing center. The swing range of the swing arm member 41 is regulated by a stopper member (not shown).

The handle 43 is integrally attached to the other end 412 of the swing arm member 41. The handle 43 is formed in a substantially quadrangular frame shape. The handle 43 extends in the left-right direction from both sides of the other end 412 of the swing arm member 41, bends 90 ° and extends in the front-up direction, and bends 90 ° again in the front-up position to connect the left and right. The person being assisted M grips the handle 43 during the standing operation and the sitting operation. The caregiver can move the caregiver 1 forward by pulling the handle 43. Further, the caregiver can change the direction of the caregiver 1, laterally move the caregiver 1, or make a super-credit turn by rotating the handle 43.

The holding member 5 is composed of a supported member 51, a body receiving portion 52, a pair of left and right side receiving portions 53, and the like. The front lower side of the supported member 51 is supported by the other end 412 of the swing arm member 41 so as to be freely tiltable. A fuselage receiving portion 52 is provided on the rear upper side of the supported member 51. The body receiving portion 52 is formed in a surface shape close to the body shape of the person being assisted M by using a cushion material, and can be flexibly deformed. The surface of the torso receiving portion 52 that contacts the abdomen from the chest of the person being assisted M is the support surface 521. The support surface 521 supports the body of the person being assisted M from below.

A pair of left and right side receiving portions 53 are provided on the left and right sides of the body receiving portion 52. The armpit receiving portion 53 is formed in an arc shape facing upward, and supports both sides of the person being assisted M from below. As a result, the body receiving portion 52 and the side receiving portion 53 can stably hold the upper body of the person being assisted M.

The control unit 6 is provided on the upper right side of the frame 21. The control unit 6 controls the elevating drive unit 32 and the swing drive unit 42 based on a command from the person being assisted M or the caregiver. A computer device operated by software can be used as the control unit 6. The computer device may include a remote control device (not shown) that receives a command from the person being assisted M or the caregiver. As software, a standing assist program that assists standing and a sitting assist program that assists sitting are executably stored. A battery power supply (abbreviated as a symbol) capable of repeated charging / discharging is attached to the lower side of the control unit 6. The battery power supply is also attached to the upper left side of the frame 21. The battery power supply is also shared by the elevating drive unit 32 and the swing drive unit 42.

(2. Structure near the upper part of the elevating cover 33)
Next, the structure near the upper part of the elevating cover 33 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a structure near the upper part of the elevating cover 33. Further, FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating the seat member 7 assembled on the outer periphery of the swing arm member 41. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface 331 of the elevating cover 33 has a curved surface portion 333 continuously formed on the rear side of the inclined flat surface portion 332 whose rear side is low. The curved surface portion 333 is sharply bent in the middle of the front-rear direction, and the rear end thereof is directed downward.

A rectangular opening 36 is formed from the inclined flat surface portion 332 to the rear end of the curved surface portion 333. The opening 36 is located at the center in the left-right direction and is long in the front-rear direction. The swing arm member 41 swings in the front-rear direction in the opening 36. Therefore, a front gap 361 is formed between the swing arm member 41 and the front edge of the opening 36, and a rear gap 362 (shown in FIG. 6) is formed between the swing arm member 41 and the trailing edge of the opening 36. Occurs. Further, the side gap between the swing arm member 41 and the right and left edges of the opening 36 is very small.

A guide member 37 is arranged on the inner surface side of the opening 36. The guide member 37 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate larger than the entire opening 36, and has a rectangular hole in the center through which the swing arm member 41 passes. The guide member 37 is fixedly attached to the elevating member 31 or the elevating cover 33, and is bent substantially in parallel with the upper surface 331. As a result, a moving space having a substantially constant gap size is partitioned between the upper surface 331 and the guide member 37. The gap size of the moving space is set so as to have a margin with respect to the thickness of the sheet member 7 described below.

An elastically deformable sheet member 7 is arranged in the moving space. The sheet member 7 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin, and is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 5, the seat member 7 is assembled on the outer circumference of the swing arm member 41 and is movably held along the swing arm member 41 (see arrow M). The seat member 7 has a rectangular shape whose outer shape is long in the front-rear direction, and its width in the left-right direction is narrower than that of the guide member 37 and wider than that of the opening 36. The sheet member 7 is arranged so as to extend over the entire opening 36. As the swing arm member 41 swings in the front-rear direction, the seat member 7 swings in the front-rear direction in the moving space, and at that time, elastically deforms and moves along the swing arm member 41. As a result, the seat member 7 can swing along the peripheral edge of the opening 36, and can always close the front gap 361, the rear gap 362, and the side gap. The seat member 7 is an embodiment of the closing member of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a rear side gap 362 between the swing arm member 41 swinging rearward and the trailing edge of the opening 36. The minimum dimension Gm of the rear side gap 362 shown is set to be three times or more the thickness of the plate material forming the elevating cover 33. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the elevating cover 33 is made of a steel plate having a thickness of 1 mm, and the minimum dimension Gm of the rear side gap 362 is set to about 10 mm. Similarly, the minimum dimension of the front gap 361 between the swing arm member 41 swinging forward and the front edge of the opening 36 is also set to about 10 mm.

(3. Usage and operation of assistance device 1 of the embodiment)
Next, a method and operation of the assistance device 1 of the embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, a case where the person being assisted M sitting on the chair C performs a standing motion will be described as an example. If the assisting device 1 is far away, the caregiver moves the assisting device 1 close to the person being assisted M in advance. The assisted person M in the sitting posture first draws the assisting device 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, both legs of the person being assisted M enter the lower side of the holding member 5. Here, when the holding member 5 becomes an obstacle, the person being assisted M lifts the lower end portion of the holding member 5 with his / her hand or knee. As a result, the holding member 5 tilts forward. The person being assisted M then puts both feet on the ground contact mark 241. The lower leg of the person being assisted M comes into contact with or approaches the lower leg pad 25.

Next, the person being assisted M starts the initial operation routine of the standing assist program of the control unit 6. As a result, the height of the elevating member 31 is automatically adjusted according to the physique of the person being assisted M. Next, the person being assisted M leans his upper body against the torso receiving portion 52 and puts his arms forward from above the side receiving portion 53. Further, the person being assisted M holds the handle 43 with both hands. As a result, the person being assisted M is in the sitting state shown in FIG. In the sitting position, the upper body of the person being assisted M is in a slightly forward leaning posture.

Subsequently, the person being assisted M starts the standing assist routine of the standing assist program. As a result, the vertical movement of the elevating member 31 and the forward swing of the swing arm member 41 are coordinated. When the standing assist program is completed, the elevating member 31 rises, and the swing arm member 41 swings forward to take the standing posture of the person being assisted M shown in FIG. In the standing posture, the upper body of the person being assisted M is in a large forward leaning posture.

The seating motion of the person being assisted M is generally the reverse of the standing motion, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. A part of the series of standing movements of the person being assisted M may be assisted by the caregiver or may be performed by the caregiver.

In the above-mentioned standing operation of the person being assisted M, the swing arm member 41 swings from the rear to the front. On the contrary, in the seating operation of the person being assisted M, the swing arm member 41 swings from the front to the rear. Here, regardless of the position of the swing arm member 41, the front side gap 361, the rear side gap 362, and the side gap are always closed by the seat member 7. Therefore, the body and clothes of the person being assisted M are not pinched by the opening 36.

On the other hand, in the assistance device 1X of the prior art, the risk of pinching has not been eliminated. FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the possibility of pinching that occurs when the swing arm member 41 swings backward in the assisting device 1X of the prior art. Further, FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view for explaining the possibility of pinching that occurs when the swing arm member 41 swings forward in the assisting device 1X of the prior art. The assistance device 1X of the prior art does not include the guide member 37 and the seat member 7, and the minimum dimension Gm of the rear side gap 362 and the minimum dimension of the front side gap 361 are not secured.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the rear side gap 362 gradually decreases as the swing arm member 41 swings backward, the body or clothes of the person being assisted M temporarily fills the rear side gap 362. If you are entering, you will be caught. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, when the front gap 361 gradually decreases as the swing arm member 41 swings forward, the body or clothes of the person being assisted M temporarily enters the front gap 361. If you do, you will be caught.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the seat member 7 prevents the body and clothes of the person being assisted M from entering the rear side gap 362 and the front side gap 361, so that there is no risk of being pinched. Further, the minimum dimension Gm of the rear side gap 362 and the minimum size of the front side gap 361 are secured. As a result, the pinching between the edge of the elevating cover 33 and the swing arm member 41 is also eliminated.

(4. Aspects and effects of the assistance device 1 of the embodiment)
The assistance device 1 of the embodiment includes a base 2, an elevating member 31 movably supported by the base 2, and an oscillating arm member 41 having one end 411 swayably supported by the elevating member 31. The holding member 5 which is supported by the other end 412 of the swing arm member 41 and holds the upper body of the person being assisted M, covers one end 411 of the elevating member 31 and the swing arm member 41, and the swing arm member 41 passes through. It is provided with an elevating cover 33 having an opening 36 and elevating together with the elevating member 31, and a closing member (seat member 7) that closes a gap between the peripheral edge of the opening 36 and the swing arm member 41.

In the assistance device 1 of the embodiment, the elevating cover 33 is provided with an opening 36 so that the swing arm member 41 can swing. In the prior art, the opening 36 has a risk of sandwiching the body or clothes of the person being assisted M, but in the present embodiment, the opening 36 is closed by the closing member (seat member 7). Therefore, the body and clothes of the person being assisted M are not pinched by the opening 36, and it is safe.

Further, the opening 36 is formed on the curved surface portion 333 of the elevating cover 33, and the closing member is an elastically deformable sheet member 7 that is assembled on the outer circumference of the swing arm member 41 and extends over the entire opening 36. The elevating member 31 or the elevating cover 33 has a guide member 37 that allows the seat member 7 that swings together with the swing arm member 41 to run along the peripheral edge of the opening 36. According to this, the opening 36 can be closed by using a simple structure, and the increase in cost is suppressed.

Further, the seat member 7 is movably held along the swing arm member 41, and moves along the swing arm member 41 as the swing arm member 41 swings. According to this, since the sheet member 7 can be freely moved according to the shape of the opening 36, the range of the shape of the opening 36 in which the present invention can be implemented is wide.

Further, the swing arm member 41 swings in the front-rear direction of the person being assisted M held by the holding member 5, and swings forward between the swing arm member 41 and the front edge of the opening 36, and A gap of three times or more the thickness of the plate material forming the elevating cover 33 is secured between the swing arm member 41 swinging rearward and the trailing edge of the opening 36. In other words, the minimum dimension Gm of the rear side gap 362 and the minimum size of the front side gap 361 are set to be three times or more the thickness of the plate material. According to this, the body and clothes of the person being assisted M are not caught between the edge of the opening 36 of the elevating cover 33 and the swing arm member 41.

(5. Modification and application of the embodiment)
The guide member 37 may be arranged on the outer surface side of the opening 36 to partition the moving space of the seat member 7 on the outside of the upper surface 331. Further, the same effect is obtained even if the holding member 5 does not freely tilt with respect to the swing arm member 41. Further, the shapes of the base 2 and the handle 43 can be changed as appropriate. The present invention can be modified and applied in various ways.

1: Assistance device 2: Base 3: Elevating part 31: Elevating member 32: Elevating drive part 33: Elevating cover 333: Curved surface part 36: Opening 361: Front side gap 362: Rear side gap 37: Guide member 4: Swing Part 41: Swing arm member 411: One end 42: Swing drive part 43: Handle 5: Holding member 7: Seat member (closing member)
1X: Conventional assistance device

Claims (4)

Base and
An elevating member supported up and down on the base,
A swing arm member whose one end is swingably supported by the lifting member,
A holding member that is supported by the other end of the swing arm member and holds the upper body of the person being assisted.
An elevating cover that covers one end of the elevating member and the oscillating arm member and has an opening through which the oscillating arm member passes, and elevates and elevates together with the elevating member.
The assembled to the outer circumference of the swing arm member extends to cover the entire of the opening, the front gap, and the rear edge of the opening between the said oscillating arm member and the front edge of the opening And the closing member that closes the rear gap between the swing arm member and
Assistance device equipped with. The opening is formed on a curved surface portion of the elevating cover.
The closure member is a sheet member capable of elastic deformation,
The assist device according to claim 1, wherein the elevating member or the elevating cover has a guide member that causes the seat member that swings together with the swing arm member to run along the peripheral edge of the opening. Base and
An elevating member supported up and down on the base,
A swing arm member whose one end is swingably supported by the lifting member,
A holding member that is supported by the other end of the swing arm member and holds the upper body of the person being assisted.
An elevating cover that covers one end of the elevating member and the oscillating arm member and has an opening through which the oscillating arm member passes, and elevates and elevates together with the elevating member.
A closing member that closes the gap between the peripheral edge of the opening and the swing arm member,
With
The opening is formed on a curved surface portion of the elevating cover.
The closing member is an elastically deformable sheet member that is assembled on the outer circumference of the swing arm member and extends over the entire opening.
The seat member is held movably along the swing arm member, and moves along the swing arm member as the swing arm member swings.
The elevating member or the elevating cover is an assistance device having a guide member that causes the seat member that swings together with the swing arm member to run along the peripheral edge of the opening . Base and
An elevating member supported up and down on the base,
A swing arm member whose one end is swingably supported by the lifting member,
A holding member that is supported by the other end of the swing arm member and holds the upper body of the person being assisted.
An elevating cover that covers one end of the elevating member and the oscillating arm member and has an opening through which the oscillating arm member passes, and elevates and elevates together with the elevating member.
A closing member that closes a gap between the peripheral edge of the opening and the swing arm member.
The swing arm member swings in the front-rear direction of the person being assisted held by the holding member.
The elevating cover is formed between the swing arm member swinging forward and the front edge of the opening, and between the swing arm member swinging backward and the trailing edge of the opening. An assistance device in which the gap is secured at least three times the thickness of the plate material.

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