JP7142913B2 - walking aid - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act Publication at an exhibition/Exhibition date: October 10-12, 2018 Exhibition name, venue: 45th International Rehabilitation Equipment Exhibition 3-11 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 1 Tokyo Big Sight East Exhibition Hall

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a walking aid that supports the body of a user such as a sick person, a physically handicapped person, or a person who has difficulty walking.

As such a walking aid, one having a form in which the right and left sides and the front of the body are surrounded by frames is preferably used. As this type of walking aid, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 below has been devised.

The walking aid disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of side frames spaced apart from each other on the left and right sides, and a front frame connecting the front ends of the side frames. In use, hold the handle on the upper end of the left and right side frames to support the body.

Since such a mode of use is adopted, a mechanism is provided for adjusting the height and width to the left and right according to the physique of the user and the place of use. It also has a folding mechanism for compactness when not in use.

The folding mechanism is composed of a structure that rotatably holds a vertical rod positioned at the front end of the side frame relative to the front frame, and a connecting rod that bridges the front portion of the side frame in the left-right direction. The connecting rod can be connected and contracted, and has a lock mechanism that fixes the length at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction. Also, the end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to a portion near the front end of the side frame.

That is, after unlocking the locking mechanism of the connecting rod so that the connecting rod can be expanded and contracted, the side frame is closed, that is, when the side frame is rotated so as to overlap the front frame, the connecting rod shrinks accordingly. A folded state is obtained.

In this way, although the height and width can be adjusted according to the physique of the user, there are some users who are tall in recent years, and there is a demand for heightening the height for tall people.

Increasing the height is theoretically easy, but in practice there is a tendency for looseness to occur more easily. In particular, since the connecting positions of both ends of the connecting rod are close to the front ends of the side frames, stability is of concern.

In addition, aluminum die-cast members are used for the portions that connect both ends of the connecting rods to the side frames, but since these members are positioned close to the axis for rotation as described above, a large load is likely to be applied. . Therefore, if an excessive load is applied, the possibility of damage is likely to occur.

Registered Utility Model No. 3198827

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device that can be used stably without rattling even if the height is increased so that even a tall user can conveniently use the device.

Means for this purpose is a walking aid comprising a pair of laterally spaced side frames and a front frame that rotatably connects the front portions of the side frames so that the side frames can be opened and closed, A connecting rod obliquely bridging between the side frame and the front frame is provided, and both ends of the connecting rod are pivotally supported with respect to the side frame and the front frame so as to be relatively rotatable. The end of the front frame side in is pivotally supported by a fixing portion provided on the front frame,
The end of the side frame side of the connecting rod is pivotally supported by a slider provided on the side frame and slidably held via the slider, and the side frame is held by the slider while the side frame is open. This walking aid is provided with locking means for fixing the relative position with the connecting rod.

In this configuration, the left and right side frames are fixed in an open state by a connecting rod that bridges the front frame obliquely. When folded, a slider provided at the end of the side frame of the connecting rod moves along the side frame by releasing the locking means, and closes the side frame while maintaining the connected state between the side frame and the front frame. Allow movement.

According to this invention, the openable and closable side frame is connected to the front frame by the connecting rod that bridges the front frame at an angle. can be released to Therefore, it is possible to disperse the parts to which the load is applied, and to improve the stability. In particular, even when the height of the walking aid is increased, it is possible to use it stably without rattling.

A perspective view of a walking aid. The top view which shows the folding|folding aspect of a walking aid. A plan view of the front frame. Sectional drawing of a part of a horizontal rod and a tension|strut means. The front view and sectional view at the time of non-correction of a thrust means. The front view and sectional view at the time of correction|amendment of a thrust means. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a separated state of the handle member; FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the separation state of the interval holding portion; FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the mounting structure of the connecting rod. Side view of the slider. Sectional drawing which looked at the slider from the back. FIG. 4 is a plan view of an operation hole that constitutes locking means;

One mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The perspective view of the walking aid 11 is shown in FIG. The walking aid 11 has a form surrounding the left and right sides and the front of the user.

First, the general structure of the walking aid 11 will be described. The walking aid 11 includes a pair of side frames 13 spaced apart from each other in the left and right direction, and a front frame 15 connecting the front portions of the side frames 13 . The front frame 15 is provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the side frame 13 . The side frame 13 and the front frame 15 are basically made of lightweight metal pipes such as aluminum.

The side frame 13 has two extendable legs 31 and 32 which are arranged in front and behind when in use, and the upper ends of the legs 31 and 32 are connected by a handle rod 33 . The pair of legs 31 and 32 are slightly inclined so that the bottom opens. A space holding portion 34 that connects the legs 31 and 32 to each other and holds the space between the legs 31 and 32 is provided at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the pair of legs 31 and 32 .

The upper ends of the legs 31 and 32 having the handle rod 33 are slightly inclined in the direction in which the pair of side frames 13 face each other. The handle rod 33 is integrally formed with a grip 35 having elasticity, flexibility, and anti-slip properties for softening contact with the hand.

The front frame 15 has a plurality of horizontal rods 51 and 52 spaced apart in the vertical direction, specifically two horizontal rods 51 and 52, and these horizontal rods 51 and 52 can extend and contract in the longitudinal direction. The shape of the front frame 15 in a plan view has straight straight portions 51a and 52a protruding forward in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction. It has a shape with inclined portions 51b and 52b.

Of the two horizontal rods 51 and 52, one of the horizontal rods 51 located on the upper side has a circular cross section, and the other horizontal rod 52 has an irregular cross section other than circular, such as an elliptical cross section in the illustrated example. The two horizontal rods 51 and 52 are integrally connected by a vertical rod 53 made of a metal pipe extending in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal rods 51 and 52 . In addition to the vertical rod 53, a tension means 54 is provided for holding the horizontal rods 51 and 52 and for stretching between the horizontal rods 51 and 52 to correct the gap between them.

At both ends of the front frame 15 in the longitudinal direction, holding cylinders 55 are formed to rotatably hold the front legs 31 of the side frames 13 . The holding tube portion 55 extends in the vertical direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the straight portions 51a and 52a. In order to incline the pair of side frames 13 in the horizontal direction so that the lower portions are slightly opened, the linear portions 51a and 52a are appropriately inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction.

The walking aid 11 having the general structure described above can be adjusted in height by changing the lengths of the legs 31 and 32 of the side frame 13, and can be adjusted in the left-right direction by changing the length of the front frame 15. can be adjusted (see phantom lines in FIG. 1). In addition to these adjustment mechanisms, by holding the side frames 13 with the holding cylinders 55 of the front frame 15, the left and right side frames 13 are deformed so as to overlap the front frame 15 as shown in FIG. Folding is also possible.

Next, details of each part will be described.

The legs 31 and 32 of the side frame 13 whose length is adjustable and the horizontal rods 51 and 52 of the front frame 15 are attached to the outer cylinders 36 and 56 which are made of hollow tubular bodies. It is constructed such that cylinders 37 and 57 are nested inside.

Of the legs 31 and 32 of the side frame 13 and the horizontal rods 51 and 52 of the front frame 15, the front frame 15 is shown as an example. One of the horizontal rods 51 having a circular shape incorporates a plate spring 58 in an inner cylinder 57, and the tip of the plate spring 58 is formed with a protrusion 58a. The protruding portion 58a is structured to protrude from the inner cylinder 57 to the outer peripheral side. A plurality of position adjustment holes 59 through which the protrusions 58a pass are formed along the longitudinal direction of the outer cylinder 56 . The positions where the position adjustment holes 59 are formed are the inner side surfaces of the peripheral surfaces of the horizontal rods 51 and 52, that is, the surfaces facing the front surface of the user.

The length adjustment structure of the leg portions 31 and 32 in the side frame 13 is also the same structure as the horizontal rod 51 described above. In the case of the leg portions 31 and 32, the positions of the position adjustment holes 59 are the surfaces of the peripheral surfaces in the direction in which the pair of leg portions 31 and 32 facing each other in the front-rear direction face each other.

Of the horizontal rods 51 and 52 of the front frame 15, the other horizontal rod 52, which has an oval cross section, does not require a leaf spring or a position adjustment hole for fixing the length, unlike the horizontal rod 51. is.

The vertical rods 53 of the front frame 15 are formed at the ends of the straight portions 51a, 52a of the inner cylinder 57 of the horizontal rods 51, 52, respectively. Also, the tension means 54 of the front frame 15 are fixed to the distal end portions of the outer cylinders 56 of the horizontal rods 51 and 52 .

As shown in FIG. 1, the tensioning means 54 consists of a short cylindrical upper fitting portion 61 fitted to the tip of the outer cylinder 56 of one horizontal rod 51 and an outer cylinder 56 of the other horizontal rod 52. It has a short tubular lower fitting portion 62 fitted to the tip portion and a connecting portion 63 for connecting them.

Between the lower fitting portion 62 of the tensioning means 54 and the other horizontal rod 52 to which it is fitted, as shown in FIG. A retaining structure is formed for this purpose. That is, a threaded member 64 is screwed into the horizontal rod 52 from the back surface of the lower fitting portion 62 to prevent it from coming off. The length of the screw member 64 is the length from the outer cylinder 56 to the inner cylinder 57 of the horizontal rod 52 when the head of the screw member 64 is flush with the surface of the lower fitting portion 62 .

A tapping screw is used for the screw member 64 , and the screw member 64 is screwed to the outer cylinder 56 . On the other hand, in the inner cylinder 57, a groove 65 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the inner cylinder 57 to prevent interference with the distal end of the screw member 64 over a range for obtaining a desired expansion/contraction length (see FIG. 5(a)). ) dashed line).

The width of the groove 65 is wider than that of the screw member 64, and the screw member 64 is provided so as to be positioned below the groove 65 in the width direction during non-correction. This is to allow the tensioning means 54 that tensions between the horizontal rods 51 and 52 to function.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper fitting portion 61 and the lower fitting portion 62 of the tensioning means 54 are located at the tip of the outer cylinder 56 and have inner cylinder fitting surfaces 61a and 62a on which the inner cylinder 57 is fitted. and a space is provided between the tip side portion 66, and the outer cylinder 56 is fitted and the outer cylinder 56 is slightly movable in the opposite directions of the pair of horizontal rods 51 and 52. It has a proximal side portion 67 having slotted surfaces 61b and 62b.

A rotatable lever 68 is provided between the distal side portion 66 and the proximal side portion 67 of the upper fitting portion 61 . The lever 68 includes a turning shaft cylinder 68a fitted into one of the horizontal rods 51, and two parallel levers extending from the peripheral surface of the turning shaft cylinder 68a in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the turning shaft cylinder 68a. It has a piece 68b and a cover portion 68c connecting the lever pieces 68b.

An action member 69 is provided between the distal side portion 66 and the proximal side portion 67 of the lower fitting portion 62 . The action member 69 includes a holding tube 69a inserted into the other horizontal rod 52, and two lever pieces 68b of the lever 68 that protrude from the peripheral surface of the holding tube 69a toward the upper fitting portion 61. It has two projecting pieces 69b arranged on the same plane. The size of the holding cylinder 69a is such that it fits into the outer cylinder 56 .

A link member 70 is pivotally supported between the lever pieces 68b and between the projecting pieces 69b so as to be relatively rotatable. The length of the link member 70 and the pivotal positions of both ends of the link member 70 are determined by raising the lever 68 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6(a), the lever 68 is tilted from the non-corrected position aligned with the center line position of the portion having the surfaces 61a and 62a, and the cover portion 68c covers the tip side portion 66. and the base end side portion 67 is closed, a pair of The horizontal rods 51 and 52 are biased in opposite directions to slightly push them apart, that is, they are set to have a positional relationship in which they can be stretched.

5 and 6 (a) are front views, and (b) are side views thereof.

In order to replace the grip 35 at the upper end of the side frame 13, as shown in FIG. A frame 38 is provided. The handle lower frame 38 is made of a metal pipe and has a horizontally extending horizontal rod portion 38a and a vertical rod portion 38b extending upward from the tip of the horizontal rod portion 38a. The base end of the horizontal rod portion 38a is integrally connected to the leg portion 32 located on the rear side. The upper end of the vertical rod portion 38b is integrally connected to the handle rod 33 from below.

As shown in FIG. 7, behind the connection position of the upper end of the vertical rod portion 38b of the handle lower frame 38 in the handle rod 33, a connecting rod having a diameter smaller than that in front thereof and a thickness corresponding to fitting is provided, as shown in FIG. A small diameter portion 39 is formed. On the other hand, a male screw portion 40 is formed on the leg portion 32 above the connecting position of the rear end of the horizontal rod portion 38 a of the handle lower frame 38 .

The handle member 41 integrally formed with the grip 35 is formed of a metal pipe. The handle member 41 has an insertion portion 41a at one end to be inserted into the joining small diameter portion 39, and has a male screw portion at the other end. A contact portion 41b that contacts the contact portion 40 is formed. A grip 35 is integrally formed on the outer circumference including the insertion portion 41a. The tip of the grip 35 protrudes from the end of the insertion portion 41a. The contact portion 41b is provided with a connecting tubular member 42 having a female thread (not shown) on its inner peripheral surface.

Although not shown, it is preferable that the male screw portion 40 and the abutment portion 41b are formed with a fitting structure that fits together.

A function similar to that of the grip 35 described above is also given to the space holding portion 34 described above between the leg portions 31 and 32 . That is, as shown in FIG. 1, an auxiliary grip 43 having elasticity, flexibility, and anti-slip properties like the grip 35 is integrally formed with the space holding portion 34 made of a metal pipe.

Both ends of the interval holding portion 34 are at right angles to the legs 31 and 32 that open toward the lower end, and the space between the ends has an upwardly convex curved shape. The auxiliary grip 43 is formed over substantially the entire upwardly curved portion.

In order to allow the replacement of the auxiliary grip 43 as well, the interval holding portion 34 is detachably provided with respect to the leg portions 31 and 32 . As shown in FIG. 8, the structure for detachably attaching the space holding portion 34 consists of a holder 44 provided on the leg portions 31 and 32, and a space holding portion which penetrates the leg portions 31 and 32 from the outside of the holder 44 to hold the space. It is composed of a bolt 45 screwed into the portion 34 and female threads 46 provided at both ends of the interval holding portion 34 . The holder 44 has a tubular main body portion 44a into which the legs 31 and 32 are fitted, and a reinforcing tubular portion 44b orthogonal to the tubular main body portion 44a into which the end portion of the interval holding portion 34 is fitted.

The pair of side frames 13 rotatably held by the holding cylinder portion 55 of the front frame 15 are opened at right angles to the front frame 15 and opposed to each other, while maintaining the configuration during use and permitting folding. As shown in FIG. 1 , a connecting rod 81 is provided obliquely bridged between the side frame 13 and the front frame 15 . Both ends of the connecting rod 81 are rotatably supported relative to the side frame 13 and the front frame 15, and at least one end of the connecting rod 81 slides relative to the side frame 13 or the front frame 15 via a slider 82. A lock means 83 is provided on the slider 82 for fixing the relative position with the connecting rod 81 when the side frame 13 is opened.

In the illustrated example, one end of the connecting rod 81 is pivotally supported on a slider 82 provided on the side frame 13 , and the other end is pivotally supported on a fixed portion 84 provided on the front frame 15 .

The structures of the connecting rod 81, the slider 82, the locking means 83 and the fixing portion 84 are shown in FIG.

The connecting rod 81 is made of a solid metal rod-like body, and a slider-side pivotal support portion 81b that is pivotally supported with respect to the slider 82 is attached to one end of a linear main body portion 81a at an appropriate angle with respect to the main body portion 81a. It is formed by bending. At the other end of the body portion 81a, a fixed portion-side pivotal support portion 81c that is pivotally supported with respect to the fixed portion 84 is formed by bending the body portion 81a at an appropriate angle. The slider-side pivotal support portion 81b and the fixed-portion-side pivotal support portion 81c extend in roughly opposite directions.

The slider 82 is slidably provided on the horizontal rod portion 38 a of the handle lower frame 38 , and the fixed portion 84 is provided on the inclined portion 51 b of one horizontal rod 51 positioned on the upper side of the front frame 15 . Although the horizontal rod portion 38a of the handle lower frame 38 and one of the horizontal rods 51 of the front frame 15 have different heights in the height direction of the walking aid 11, they are configured as described above. can be relatively small. Moreover, both of them are located close to each other even in a plan view, and particularly the handlebar lower frame 38 has a horizontal rod portion 38a extending linearly.

A slider 82 provided on the horizontal rod portion 38a is slidable along the longitudinal direction of the horizontal rod portion 38a. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, which is a side view of the slider 82, and FIG. 11, which is a view of the slider 82 from the rear, an inverted U-shaped slide holding member 85 covering the horizontal bar portion 38a and a slide holding member A lever member 86 is provided which is pivotally attached to a hanging piece portion 85a which is the lower end portion of 85 and is located below the horizontal rod portion 38a.

The slide holding member 85 has a guide protrusion 85b projecting inward at a portion corresponding to the lower portion of the horizontal rod portion 38a on the inner surface (see FIG. 11), which stabilizes the surface of the horizontal rod portion 38a. It allows you to move freely. A pivot hole 85c is formed in the pair of hanging pieces 85a, and the aforementioned lever member 86 is pivoted between the hanging pieces 85a using the pivot holes 85c.

The lever member 86 has a fulcrum action portion 86a that is pivotally attached via the shaft member 87, and a power point portion 86b that extends rearward from the fulcrum action portion 86a. The fulcrum acting portion 86a has a pair of left and right standing walls 88, and a through hole 88a through which the shaft member 87 is inserted is formed in the standing walls 88. As shown in FIG. Lower ends of the standing walls 88 are connected by a substrate portion 89 .

An elongated hole 90 through which the slider-side pivot portion 81b of the connecting rod 81 is inserted is formed in front of the position of the pivot hole 85c in the base plate portion 89 of the fulcrum acting portion 86a.

Inside the lever member 86, a metal auxiliary member 91 is incorporated. The auxiliary member 91 has a similar shape to the lever member 86, and has a fulcrum acting portion 91a and a power point portion 91b like the lever member 86. As shown in FIG. The auxiliary member 91 is fitted inside the lever member 86 and integrated with the lever member 86 by being pivoted with the shaft member 87 .

A penetrating operation hole 93 having a shape as shown in FIG. The operation hole 93 has a circular wide portion 93a having the same width as the elongated hole 90 of the lever member 86 and a narrow portion 93b narrower than the wide portion 93a.

The width of the wide portion 93a is such that the cross-sectional shape of the slider-side pivotal support portion 81b of the connecting rod 81 described above, which has a circular cross-section as indicated by the phantom line, fits into it. The narrow portion 93b has a size that allows the small-diameter portion 94 formed in the slider-side pivotal support portion 81b of the connecting rod 81 to fit therein. The small-diameter portion 94 is formed in the middle portion of the slider side pivotal support portion 81b in the longitudinal direction over an appropriate length that is thicker than the substrate portion 92 of the auxiliary member 91 and is thinner than other portions. Since the small-diameter portion 94 is provided, stepped portions are formed at the upper end and the lower end of the small-diameter portion 94 .

The wide portion 93a of the operation hole 93 is formed on the front side of the substrate portion 92, and the narrow portion 93b is formed on the rear side thereof so as to communicate with each other.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a slider-side pivotal support portion 81b , which is the end of the side frame 13 of the connecting rod 81, is inserted into the lower surface of the horizontal rod portion 38a of the handle lower frame 38 from below. A fitting hole 95 is formed. The fitting hole 95 has a size corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the connecting rod 81 . The position of forming the fitting hole 95 is such that the pair of side frames 13 are opened to face each other, and the axial center of the slider-side pivotal support portion 81b of the connecting rod 81 is positioned at the center of the wide portion 93a of the substrate portion 92 of the auxiliary member 91. This is the position corresponding to the slider-side pivotal support portion 81b of the connecting rod 81 held by the slider 82 when it is closed.

A spring member 96 is held around a shaft member 87 that pivotally supports a lever member 86 integrated with the auxiliary member 91 . The spring member 96 urges the auxiliary member 91 and the lever member 86 in a direction in which the front thereof is raised. Spring member 96 may be a torsion spring and is provided within lever member 86 . The spring member 96 in the lever member 86 is not in contact with the horizontal rod portion 38a of the handle lower frame 38, so that the slider 82 can slide without any trouble. 11, illustration of the spring member 96 is omitted for the sake of convenience.

As shown in FIG. 9, the fixed portion 84 on which the fixed portion-side pivotal support portion 81c of the connecting rod 81 is pivotally supported is a main body portion having a C-shaped cross section fitted in the inclined portion 51b of the horizontal rod 51 having a circular cross-sectional shape. 84a and projecting pieces 84b formed at both ends of the body portion 84a. The pair of projecting pieces 84b are triangular in plan view, and a spacer 84c is held between the projecting pieces 84b in order to firmly fix the horizontal rod 51 to the horizontal rod 51 without relative rotation and play. A through hole 84d is formed in the projecting piece 84b and the spacer 84c, and an interposition member 97 made of a metal pipe is incorporated in the through hole 84d for rotatably inserting and holding the fixed portion side pivotal support portion 81c of the connecting rod 81. . The length of the interposed member 97 is set slightly longer than the length of the through hole 84d.

A male screw 98 is formed on the fixed portion side pivotal support portion 81c of the connecting rod 81, and a nut 99 is screwed onto the male screw 98 so as to sandwich an interposition member 97, thereby connecting the fixed portion side pivotal portion to the fixed portion 84. A rotatable fixation of 81c is provided.

The walking aid 11 configured as described above is used as follows.

In order to transform the walking aid 11 from the folded state to the mode of use in which the side frames 13 are opened, the side frames 13 are rotated in a direction away from the front frame 15 and opened. As the side frame 13 rotates, the connecting rod 81 and the fixing portion 84 and the slider 82 rotate relative to each other. When the slider-side pivotal support portion 81b moves to a position corresponding to the fitting hole 95 of the horizontal rod portion 38a, the biasing force of the spring member 96 of the lock means 83 acts, and the slider is pushed up into the operation hole 93 of the auxiliary member 91. The side pivot portion 81b is fitted into the fitting hole 95 and fixed in position.

On the other hand, the deformation of folding from the use state pulls up the power point portion 86b of the lever member 86 of the locking means 83 to release the position fixation by the locking means 83 . That is, by pulling up the power point portion 86b of the lever member 86 against the biasing force of the spring member 96, the narrow portion 93b of the operation hole 93 of the auxiliary member 91 engages with the slider-side pivot portion 81b of the connecting rod 81. This is pushed down, and the slider side pivotal support portion 81b is removed from the fitting hole 95. As shown in FIG. As a result, the slider 82, which can freely move on the horizontal rod portion 38a, moves rearward in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal rod portion 38a as the side frame 13 is closed, and folds. become a state.

In this way, it can be easily folded by simply pulling up the lever member 86 of the lock means 83 . Moreover, the lever member 86 of the lock means 83 has the same structure as a brake lever of a bicycle or the like, and can be easily operated by simply gripping it.

In the state of use, the left and right side frames 13 are fixed in an open state by connecting rods 81 obliquely bridging the front frame 15 . Therefore, the pivotal support position of the connecting rod 81 with respect to the side frame 13 can be separated not at the front end of the side frame 13 but at the rear side. As a result, the parts to which the load is applied can be dispersed, the structure can support the load well, and the stability is enhanced.

Moreover, since the slider side pivotal support portion 81b of the connecting rod 81 is inserted into the handle lower frame 38 and fixed in position, the fixing strength is high.

Therefore, even when the height of the walking aid 11 is increased, it is possible to use it stably without rattling.

Since the space holding portion 34 provided in the middle portion of the side frame 13 in the vertical direction has an upwardly convex curved shape, the load can be favorably supported. Even in the case of

In addition to the grip 35 that is mainly used when walking, the space holding part 34 is formed with an auxiliary grip 43, so that it can be conveniently used for support when standing up, for example. Stable support for the user can be realized even in such a case.

Moreover, like the handle member 41 having the grip 35, the space holding part 34 is detachable from the side frame 13. Therefore, for example, when the auxiliary grip 43 deteriorates or when the walking aid 11 is rented. It can be exchanged for a new one.

Like the legs 31 and 32, the length-adjustable front frame 15 has a plurality of horizontal rods 51 and 52, so that high strength can be obtained. Moreover, since the cross-sectional shape of the lower horizontal rod 52 is an irregular cross-section, the strength can be increased from this point as well.

In addition, since the front frame 15 is provided with a tensioning means 54 that tensions between the two horizontal rods 51 and 52 to widen the distance between the two, the deflection of the walking aid 11 when a load is applied is reduced. The occurrence can be actively prevented. For this reason, it is possible to obtain shape stability during use, which greatly contributes to stable use as well as an effect of preventing rattling.

A connecting rod 81 bridging between the front frame 15 and the side frame 13 has one end pivoted on a slider 82 provided on the side frame 13 and the other end pivoted on a fixing portion 84 provided on the front frame 15. Therefore, compared with the case where the sliders 82 are provided at both ends of the connecting rod 81, the structure can be extremely compact and simple.

Moreover, since the slider 82 is provided on the lower handle frame 38 below the handle rod 33 and the grip 35 of the side frame 13, it does not interfere with use as a walking aid. In addition, since the connecting rod 81 is pivotally supported with respect to the slider 82 from below and is pivotally supported with respect to the fixed portion 84 from above, the connecting rod 81 is obliquely provided so that the pivot point is separated from the center of rotation. As a result, it is possible to effectively use the planar space and also to effectively use the space in the vertical direction.

Moreover, the handlebar lower frame 38 provided to detach the grip 35 can be effectively used, and furthermore, the difference in height between the upper end position of the front frame 15 and the handlebar lower frame 38 in the vertical direction is small. Sufficient connection strength can also be obtained by the connection rod 81 .

The above configuration is one configuration for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration described above, and other configurations can be employed.

For example, the connecting rods 81 may be arranged not only in pairs on the left and right but also in the vertical direction.

A slider 82 that allows the end of the connecting rod 81 to slide may be provided on the front frame 15 or may be provided on both the front frame 15 and the side frames 13 .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Walking aid 13... Side frame 15... Front frame 33... Handle rod 34... Spacing part 35... Grip 38... Handle lower frame 43... Auxiliary grip 51, 52... Horizontal rod 54... Tension means 81... Connection rod 82... Slider 83 Lock means 84 Fixing part

Claims (8)

A walking aid comprising a pair of laterally spaced side frames and a front frame rotatably connecting the front portions of the side frames so that the side frames can be opened and closed,
A connecting rod obliquely bridging between the side frame and the front frame,
Both ends of the connecting rod are supported so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the side frame and the front frame,
an end of the front frame side of the connecting rod is pivotally supported by a fixing portion provided on the front frame;
an end of the side frame side of the connecting rod is pivotally supported by a slider provided on the side frame and slidably held via the slider;
A walking aid, wherein the slider is provided with locking means for fixing the relative position with the connecting rod in the state where the side frame is opened. The front frame is provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the side frame,
2. A walking aid according to claim 1 , wherein the end of said side frame side of said connecting rod is connected to a lower handle frame below a handle provided on the upper part of said side frame. The walking aid according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the front frame has a plurality of horizontal rods spaced apart in the vertical direction. 4. The walking aid according to claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of at least one of the horizontal rods is an irregular cross-section other than circular. 4. The walking aid according to claim 3 , wherein the front frame is provided with a tensioning means for tensioning between the horizontal rods. 6. The walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein a space retaining portion that retains a space between the leg portions of the side frame is detachably provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the side frame. vessel. A space holding portion for holding a space between the leg portions of the side frame is provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the side frame,
The walking aid according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the space holding portion has an upwardly convex curved shape. 8. The walking aid according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein an auxiliary grip is formed in said space holding portion.

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