JP7037616B2 - Caregiving device - Google Patents

Description

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

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

The assistance device of Patent Document 1 includes a pair of left and right arms 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 care 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 grips, a handle that the caregiver uses when moving, and the like. According to this, when assisting the care recipient to stand up, it is possible to give the care recipient a sense of security similar to that of being held by a person.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-36392

By the way, in the assistance device of Patent Document 1, in order to improve the comfort of use of the person being assisted, a configuration that allows the breastplate to be tilted in the left-right and up-down directions is adopted. In this configuration, the care recipient can change his / her posture as appropriate, so that he / she can perform a natural standing motion and a sitting motion without feeling cramped. However, there is still room for improvement in the arrangement of grips and handles with respect to the breastplate in the caregiving device that allows such tilting of the breastplate.

Therefore, it is an object of the present specification to provide a highly practical assisting device by devising the arrangement of the handles when the holding member for holding the assisted person is capable of freely tilting.

The assistance device disclosed in the present specification includes a base that can move a person to be assisted, an elevating member that is supported up and down with respect to the base, and an elevating member that drives the up and down movement of the elevating member. The drive unit, a holding member that is supported by the elevating member so as to be freely tiltable and holds the upper body of the person being assisted, a first handle provided on the elevating member, and the holding member provided with the elevating member. A second handle that tilts integrally with the holding member with respect to the member and the first handle is provided.

In the assist device disclosed in the present specification, since the holding member and the first handle are separate bodies, the first handle does not freely tilt even if the holding member tilts freely. Therefore, the caregiver can perform a stable movement operation when moving the care device using the first handle. Further, since the second handle tilts integrally with the holding member, the relative positional relationship between the holding member and the second handle does not change. Therefore, the person being assisted can safely and freely tilt the holding member. As described above, the practicality of the caregiving device is enhanced by devising the arrangement of the first handle and the second handle.

It is a perspective view which looked at the caregiving apparatus of an embodiment diagonally from the rear. It is a side view which shows the structure of the care device and the person to be assisted in a sitting posture. It is a side view which shows the structure of the care device and the person to be assisted in a standing posture. It is a partial side view which shows the shape and the mounting structure of the 1st handle and the 2nd handle. It is a figure seen from the arrow A direction of FIG. 4 which shows the shape and the mounting structure of the 1st handle and the 2nd handle. It is a partial side view which illustrates the state which the holding member tilted forward.

(1. Configuration of assistance device 1 of the embodiment)
The assistance device 1 of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the caregiving device 1 of the embodiment as viewed diagonally from the rear. Further, FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the assist device 1 and the assisted person M in the sitting posture, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the assist 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 care device 1 assists the person being assisted in standing from a sitting posture to a standing posture, and assists the person M in sitting from a standing posture to a sitting posture. Further, the care device 1 can be moved by the operation of the caregiver while the care recipient M in the standing posture is placed on the caregiver 1. As a result, the assistance device 1 is capable of transfer assistance and movement assistance for the person being assisted M. In the present specification, the “standing posture” means the posture in which the lower body of the care recipient M is standing, regardless of the posture of the upper body. The caregiving 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, 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 toward 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 periphery of the lower portion of the support column 22 and the elevating member 31, which will be described later.

The footrest table 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 table 24 guides the position where the person being assisted M puts 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 table 24. The lower leg rest 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 rest 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 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 platform 24. The middle wheel 27 and the rear wheel 28 have a steering function that changes the direction of movement. The six wheels 26-28 keep the frame 21 and footrest 24 horizontal, slightly away from the floor surface F. With the steering function of the six wheels 26 to 28, the caregiving device 1 is capable of not only moving in the front-back direction and changing direction, but also laterally moving (moving to the side) and turning super-credit (turning on the spot). 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 column 22 so as to be vertically movable. The upper part of the elevating member 31 protrudes 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 column 22 drives the vertical movement of the elevating member 31. The elevating cover 33 covers and protects the elevating member 31 and the support column 22 around and above. 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 with 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, and is provided with a first handle 43. The swing arm member 41 corresponds to the "swing member swayably supported by the elevating member" of the present invention. One end 411 of the swing arm member 41 is swingably supported by the swing support portion 34 of the elevating 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 the stopper member (not shown). A tilting support shaft 44 (see FIG. 5) is provided at the other end 412 of the swing arm member 41. The first handle 43 is integrally attached to the other end 412 of the swing arm member 41 (details will be described later).

The holding member 5 is composed of a supported member 51, a body receiving portion 52, a pair of left and right armpit receiving portions 53, and the like, and a second handle 54 is attached to the holding member 5. The front lower side of the supported member 51 is supported by the tilting support shaft 44 of the swing arm member 41 so as to be freely tilted (details will be described later). 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 body 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 armpit 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 armpit receiving portion 53 can stably hold the upper body of the person being assisted M. The second handle 54 is integrally attached to the front lower side of the supported member 51 (details will be described later).

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 for 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 and 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. Shape and mounting structure of the first handle 43 and the second handle 54)
Next, the first handle 43 and the second handle 54 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing the shape and mounting structure of the first handle 43 and the second handle 54. Further, FIG. 5 is a view showing the shape and mounting structure of the first handle 43 and the second handle 54 as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG.

The first handle 43 is formed in a substantially quadrangular frame shape. The first handle 43 includes a pair of left and right first handle base shaft portions 431, a pair of left and right first handle portions 432, and a moving handle portion 433 (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 5, the pair of left and right first handle base shaft portions 431 are fixed to both side surfaces of the other end 412 branched into two branches of the swing arm member 41 and extend in the left-right direction. The pair of left and right first handle portions 432 are continuously bent by 90 ° to the tip of the first handle base shaft portion 431 and extend in the front-up direction. The pair of left and right first handle portions 432 are parallel to each other and are curved in the rear-upward direction. The moving handle portion 433 extends in the left-right direction by connecting the tips of the pair of left and right first handle portions 432 to each other.

A tilting support shaft 44 is provided between the bifurcations of the other end 412 of the swing arm member 41. The tilting support shaft 44 is located between a pair of left and right first handle base shaft portions 431. The supported member 51 of the holding member 5 has a tilting member 511 that fits outside the tilting support shaft 44. Therefore, the holding member 5 is freely tilted with the tilting support shaft 44 as the tilting axis, in other words, the holding member 5 is freely tilted with the first handle base shaft portion 431 as the tilting axis. The tilting range of the holding member 5 is regulated by the stopper member (not shown) and is within the range shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 (described later).

The second handle 54 includes a second handle base shaft portion 541, a pair of left and right second handle portions 542, and a pair of left and right second handle tip portions 543. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second handle base shaft portion 541 is fixed to a pair of handle mounting seats 512 extending from the supported member 51. The second handle base shaft portion 541 passes through the back surface of the holding member 5 opposite to the holding surface 521 and extends in the left-right direction. The pair of left and right second handle portions 542 are continuously bent by 90 ° to the left and right tips of the second handle base shaft portion 541 and extend forward and upward in parallel with each other.

The pair of left and right second handle tip portions 543 are continuously bent by 90 ° at both tips of the second handle portions 432, and extend toward the other end 412 of the swing arm member 41 and extend halfway. A constant separation distance D1 is secured between the second handle 54 and the body receiving portion 52. The separation distance D1 is appropriately set in consideration of safety so that the body of the person being assisted M is not pinched.

The person being assisted M grips the first handle portion 432 of the first handle 43 during the standing operation and the sitting operation. The caregiver can move the care device 1 forward by grasping and pulling the moving handle portion 433 of the first handle 43. Further, the caregiver grips the moving handle portion 433 or the first handle portion 432 of the first handle 43 with one hand, and grips the second handle portion 542 of the second handle 54 with another hand to hold the care device 1. You can move it sideways or make a super-credit turn.

(3. Usage and operation of the assist device 1 of the embodiment)
Next, the method and operation of the assist device 1 of the embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, the case where the care recipient M sitting on the chair C performs the standing motion will be described as an example. If the care device 1 is far away, the caregiver moves the care device 1 closer to the person being assisted M in advance. The person M in the sitting position first draws the care 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 by hand, or lifts the lower end portion of the holding member 5 or the second handle base shaft portion 541 of the second handle 54. Lift with your knees. As a result, the holding member 5 tilts forward. The care recipient M then places 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 body receiving portion 52, and puts out both arms from above the armpit receiving portion 53 to the front. Further, the person being assisted M grips the left and right first handle portions 432 of the first handle 43 with both hands. As a result, the care recipient M is in the sitting position shown in FIG. In the sitting position, the upper body of the care recipient M is in a slightly forward leaning posture. The posture of the holding member 5 at this time is the sitting 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 care recipient M is in a posture of being greatly tilted forward. The posture of the holding member 5 at this time is the posture at the time of transfer. The first handle 43 is arranged on the front side of the holding member 5 in the transfer posture, and the second handle 54 is arranged on the lower side of the holding member 5 in the transfer posture.

Since the sitting motion of the care recipient M is generally the reverse of the standing motion, the description thereof will be omitted. It should be noted that 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 on behalf of the caregiver.

The caregiver can move the care recipient M in the standing posture shown in FIG. 3 together with the care device 1, and transfer the care recipient M to a place other than the chair C. At this time, even if the person being assisted M changes his / her posture and the holding member 5 tilts freely, the first handle 43 does not tilt freely. Therefore, the caregiver can perform a stable movement operation when the caregiver 1 is moved by using the first handle 43. Further, as can be seen by comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, the support surface 521 of the body receiving portion 52 in the transfer posture is closer to horizontal than the support surface 521 in the seated posture. Therefore, the person being assisted M can deposit his / her weight in the holding member 5 and move in a comfortable posture.

The holding member 5 can be freely tilted with respect to the swing arm member 41 at arbitrary timings during the standing operation and the movement of the person being assisted M described above. FIG. 6 is a partial side view illustrating a state in which the holding member 5 is tilted forward. The state of FIG. 6 occurs when, for example, the person being assisted M lifts the lower end portion of the holding member 5 when the assisting device 1 is pulled.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the holding member 5 tilts forward, it approaches the first handle 43. Nevertheless, a separation distance D2 is secured between the fuselage receiving portion 52 and the first handle 43. The separation distance D2 is appropriately set in consideration of safety so that the body of the person being assisted M is not pinched. Further, since the first handle portion 432 of the first handle 43 is arranged to be separated from the body receiving portion 52 to the left and right, it does not approach the body receiving portion 52. Therefore, the body of the person being assisted is not pinched between the holding member 5 and the first handle 43, which is safe.

Further, the second handle 54 tilts integrally with the holding member 5. Therefore, the relative positional relationship between the holding member 5 and the second handle 54 does not change, and the separation distance D1 is always maintained. Therefore, the body of the person being assisted is not pinched between the holding member 5 and the second handle 54, which is safe. Further, the holding member 5 and the second handle 54 freely tilt with the first handle base shaft portion 431 of the first handle 43 as the tilting axis. Therefore, the distance between the second handle 54 and the first handle base shaft portion 431 is maintained at a constant separation distance, which is safe.

(4. Aspects and effects of the assist device 1 of the embodiment)
The assistance device 1 of the embodiment includes a base 2 on which the person being assisted M can be moved, an elevating member 31 supported by the base 2 so as to be vertically movable, and an elevating drive for driving the up and down movement of the elevating member 31. The portion 32, the swing arm member 41 swingably supported by the elevating member 31, the swing drive section 42 that drives the swing of the swing arm member 41, and the swing arm member 41 can be freely tilted. A holding member 5 that is supported and holds the upper body of the person being assisted M, a first handle 43 provided on the swing arm member 41, and a second handle 43 provided on the holding member 6 that tilts integrally with the holding member 6. It was equipped with two handles 54 and.

In the assist device 1 of the embodiment, since the holding member 5 and the first handle 43 are separate bodies, the first handle 43 does not freely tilt even if the holding member 5 tilts freely. Therefore, the caregiver can perform a stable movement operation when the caregiver 1 is moved by using the first handle 43. Further, since the second handle 54 tilts integrally with the holding member 5, the relative positional relationship between the holding member 5 and the second handle 54 does not change. Therefore, the person being assisted M can safely and freely tilt the holding member 5. As described above, the caregiving device 1 of the embodiment is enhanced in practicality by devising the arrangement of the first handle 43 and the second handle 54.

Further, the second handle 54 passes through the back surface of the holding member 5 that does not come into contact with the assisted person M, and extends in the left-right direction of the assisted person M held by the holding member 5. It has a second handle portion 542 provided at both ends of the two-handle base shaft portion 541. According to this, since the second handle base shaft portion 541 can be lifted by the knee of the person being assisted M, the holding member 5 can be easily tilted freely. Further, since the second handle portion 542 can be grasped by the caregiver, the caregiver 1 can be easily moved.

Further, the first handle 43 is fixed to the swing arm member 41 and extends in the left-right direction of the person being assisted M held by the holding member 5, and the first handle base shaft portion 431 and the first handle base shaft portion 431. The holding member 5 has a first handle portion 432 provided at both ends, and the holding member 5 freely tilts with the first handle base shaft portion 431 as a tilting axis. According to this, the distance between the second handle 54 and the first handle base shaft portion 431 is maintained at a constant separation distance, which is safe.

Further, the first handle 43 can be gripped by the care recipient M and the caregiver, and the second handle 54 can be gripped by the caregiver. According to this, the caregiver can operate the care device at two points by grasping the first handle 43 with one hand and the second handle 54 with another hand. Therefore, the movement operability of the care device 1 is improved. Further, since the first handle 43 is shared by the care recipient M and the caregiver, the number of component parts of the care device 1 is reduced.

Further, the holding member 5 swings forward from the sitting posture to be in the transfer posture, the first handle 43 is arranged on the front side of the holding member 5 in the transfer posture, and the second handle 54 is in the transfer posture. It is arranged below the holding member 5 in the posture. According to this, the caregiver can grasp the second handle 54 from the armpit of the care recipient M, and access is easy. Further, since the caregiver can grasp the first handle 43 and the second handle 54 arranged apart from each other in the front-rear direction, the operability of the care device 1 such as turning, lateral movement, and super-credit turning becomes extremely good. Moreover, the position can be easily controlled.

(5. Modifications and applications of embodiments)
It is also possible to omit the rocking portion 4 described in the embodiment and have a simple configuration in which the holding member 5 moves up and down and tilts. Further, the shapes of the first handle 43 and the second handle 54 can be changed as appropriate. This embodiment can be modified and applied in various ways.

1: Assistance device 2: Base 3: Elevating part 31: Elevating member 32: Elevating drive part 4: Swinging part 41: Swinging arm member 42: Swinging drive part 43: 1st handle 431: 1st handle base shaft part 432: 1st handle part 5: Holding member 54: 2nd handle 541: 2nd handle base shaft part 542: 2nd handle part

Claims (4)

A base that can be moved with the person being assisted,
An elevating member that is supported up and down with respect to the base,
An elevating drive unit that drives the vertical movement of the elevating member,
A holding member that is supported by the elevating member so as to be freely tiltable and holds the upper body of the person being assisted.
The first handle provided on the elevating member and
A second handle provided on the holding member and tilted integrally with the holding member with respect to the elevating member and the first handle.
A caregiving device equipped with. A base that can be moved with the person being assisted,
An elevating member that is supported up and down with respect to the base,
An elevating drive unit that drives the vertical movement of the elevating member,
A holding member that is supported by the elevating member so as to be freely tiltable and holds the upper body of the person being assisted.
The first handle provided on the elevating member and
A second handle provided on the holding member and tilting integrally with the holding member is provided.
The second handle is
A second handle base shaft portion that passes through the back surface of the holding member that does not come into contact with the person being assisted and extends in the left-right direction of the person being assisted held by the holding member.
It has a second handle portion provided at both ends of the second handle base shaft portion.
Caregiving device. A base that can be moved with the person being assisted,
An elevating member that is supported up and down with respect to the base,
An elevating drive unit that drives the vertical movement of the elevating member,
A holding member that is supported by the elevating member so as to be freely tiltable and holds the upper body of the person being assisted.
The first handle provided on the elevating member and
A second handle provided on the holding member and tilting integrally with the holding member is provided.
The first handle is
A first handle base shaft portion fixed to the elevating member and held by the holding member extending in the left-right direction of the person being assisted.
It has first handle portions provided at both ends of the first handle base shaft portion, and has.
The holding member freely tilts with the first handle base shaft portion as a tilting axis.
Caregiving device. A base that can be moved with the person being assisted,
An elevating member that is supported up and down with respect to the base,
An elevating drive unit that drives the vertical movement of the elevating member,
A holding member that is supported by the elevating member so as to be freely tiltable and holds the upper body of the person being assisted.
The first handle provided on the elevating member and
A second handle provided on the holding member and tilting integrally with the holding member is provided.
The first handle can be gripped by the person being assisted and the caregiver.
The second handle can be gripped by the caregiver.
Caregiving device.

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