JPH0511988B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wheelchair with a reclinable back frame.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, as a reclining wheelchair, there is a wheelchair as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

This wheelchair 90 has a base frame 91 to which a pair of front wheels 92 and a pair of rear wheels 93 are attached, and a seat 91a is provided on the upper surface of the base frame 91. A back frame 94 that can rotate between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position is pivotally attached to the rear end of the seat 91a, and a back frame 94 that can be rotated between a hanging position and a substantially horizontal position is attached to the front end of the seat 91a. A foot frame 95 is pivotally attached to the foot frame 95, which is rotatable between positions. The extension portion 94a of the back frame 94 and the foot frame 95 are
They are connected via a connecting rod 96, and are configured so that the leg frame 95 also rotates in conjunction with the tilting of the back frame 94.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in a wheelchair with such a conventional configuration, when the back frame 94 tilts backward during reclining, the center of gravity moves to the rear of the base frame 91, which tends to cause instability. .

For this reason, a configuration has been adopted in which the rear wheels are arranged in advance at a rear position to cope with the movement of the center of gravity, resulting in problems such as an increase in the axle spacing between the front and rear wheels and an increase in the turning radius.

In order to improve such problems, the special public
Publication No. 43258 discloses a main body consisting of a back plate with long grooves and motion transmitting arms, a waist plate, and a leg plate with motion passive arms, a rear frame with a back plate support shaft, an upper frame,
A wheelchair is disclosed that is comprised of a machine frame part made up of a front frame and a shape-retaining connecting rod frame, and a dual-purpose mechanism part made up of links connecting the main body part and the machine frame part.

However, although this wheelchair can prevent the center of gravity from changing when reclining without increasing the distance between the axles, it has a reclining structure consisting of a long groove in the back plate and a back plate support shaft in the rear frame that slides in the long groove, and a Due to the structure of the leg plate rotation mechanism, which consists of an arm, a motion passive arm, and a link that connects the two back and forth, the back plate cannot be tilted forward, that is, the wheelchair cannot be folded. There was a problem in that it was inconvenient to store and transport the wheelchair when it was not in use.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a wheelchair that eliminates fluctuations in the center of gravity position between the chair state and the reclined state, and is configured to be foldable.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and includes a pair of side pipes arranged opposite to each other on the left and right sides, and each pair of front wheels and rear wheels is attached to the side pipes. a seat frame having a pair of side pipes disposed above the base frame and facing each other on the left and right; and a seat frame having a pair of side pipes facing each other on the left and right, the upper and lower ends thereof a pair of connecting frames, each of which is pivotally connected to the seat frame and the base frame, a back frame that is pivotally connected to the rear end of the seat frame, and a back frame that is pivotally connected to the front end of the seat frame. A reclinable wheelchair comprising a leg frame, the seat frame, the back frame, and the leg frame being in a substantially horizontal state, the back frame comprising:
The seat frame has a pressing piece and is pivotally connected to the seat frame via a relay member that can take a horizontal position and an upright position so as to be rotatable between a forward-tilted horizontal state and a rear-tilted horizontal state; A pair of left and right support rods are interposed between the lower end of the back frame and the rear end of the base frame, and both ends of each support rod are pivotally connected, and the foot frame is
One end is pivotally connected to the lower end of the back frame via a connecting rod, and the one end has an abutting part that can come into contact with and separate from the pressing piece, and the other end is connected to an interlocking frame that can move forward. The wheelchair is characterized in that a mechanical lock mechanism is interposed between the base frame and the back frame that are connected to each other and fix and maintain the posture of the wheelchair.

<Function> The present invention is constructed as described above, and the base frame, the seat frame, and the pair of connecting frames form a parallel link mechanism, and a part of the lower end of the back frame, the support rod, and the base frame form a parallel link mechanism. , the seat frame, and the connection frame form a five-bar linkage mechanism.

When the frame is in the chair position, the seat frame is parallel to the base frame with a predetermined distance maintained therebetween.

When the back frame is tilted rearward, the lower end of the back frame rises and moves forward using the support rod as a fulcrum.

This causes the seat frame to rise above the chair position and move forward from directly above the base frame. The back frame and the seat frame form the same surface.

Further, as the back frame is tilted, the pressing piece comes into contact with the contact portion of the interlocking frame, moves the interlocking frame forward, and rotates the foot frame horizontally via the connecting rod. This causes the foot frame to be flush with the seat frame when the back frame is in the reclined position.

Furthermore, in order to fold the wheelchair, the relay member is placed in an upright position, the back frame is tilted forward and folded over the seat frame, and the connecting frame is tilted backward to separate the seat frame and base frame. Closest. At this time, the seat frame is
Moves backward due to the backward inclination of the connecting frame,
The other end of the interlocking frame moves forward relatively to horizontally rotate the foot frame, and the support rod tilts forward and folds over the lower end of the back frame, putting the wheelchair in a folded state.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a wheelchair, and the wheelchair 1 includes a base frame 10 to which a pair of front wheels 2 and a rear wheel 3 are attached, a seat frame 20 disposed above the base frame 10, and a seat frame 20 and a base. Connecting frames 30 and 35 whose upper and lower ends are pivotally connected to the frame 10, a back frame 40 which is pivotally connected to the rear end of the seat frame 20, and a back frame 40 whose one end is pivotally connected to the rear end of the base frame 10. A pair of support rods 50 whose other ends are pivotally connected to the back frame 40, a foot frame 60 which is pivotally connected to the front end of the seat frame 20, an interlocking frame 70, and a connecting rod 7.
It is mainly composed of 5.

The base frame 10 is made up of a pair of side pipes 11 arranged opposite to each other on the left and right, and the rear end portions of the side pipes 11 are bent upward. The pair of side pipes 11 are fixed by horizontal bars 12 and 13 and formed into a frame shape, and a pair of front wheels 2 consisting of caster wheels are attached to the front part of the side pipes 11, and a rear wheel serving as the main wheel is attached to the rear part. 3 is installed.

The seat frame 20 includes a pair of side pipes 21 arranged opposite to each other on the left and right, and each side pipe 2.
The pair of side pipes 21 include a relay member 25 pivotally attached to the rear end of the side pipe 21.
It is fixed to form a frame shape.
On the upper surface of the rear end of the side pipe 21, a female thread (not shown) is vertically threaded to engage with a lock screw 27.

In the embodiment, the relay member 25 has a downward U-shaped cross section that can cover the above-mentioned female threaded portion, and has a through hole for a lock screw 27 drilled in the upper surface. . Further, the front end of the relay member 25 is pivotally connected to a predetermined position of the side pipe 21 by a shaft 26, and the rear end is formed so that a back frame 40 and the like can be pivotally connected to it by a shaft 42.

This relay member 25 is normally fixed in a horizontal position parallel to the side pipe 21 by a lock screw 27, and the shafts 26, 42 are attached to the side pipe 21.
It is formed perpendicular to the axis of the The rear end portion is formed so as to be able to stand upright about the shaft 26. The seat frame 20 is provided with a pair of height-adjustable armrests 5.
is provided.

The connecting frames 30 and 35 are each composed of a pair of side pipes 31 and 36 arranged opposite to each other on the left and right, and each of the pair of side pipes 31 and 36 is integrally formed by a horizontal crosspiece (numerals omitted in the figure). ing. The connecting frame 30 has an upper end pivotally attached to a predetermined position of the seat frame 20 by a shaft 33, and a lower end thereof pivotally attached to a predetermined position of the base frame 10 by a shaft 32.

The connecting frame 35 has an upper end pivotally attached to a predetermined position of the seat frame 20 via a shaft 38, and a lower end thereof pivotably attached to a predetermined position of the base frame 10 via a shaft 37. As a result, the base frame 10, the connecting frames 30, 35, and the seat frame 20 form a parallel link mechanism centered around the shafts 32, 33, 37, and 38.

The lower end of the back frame 40 is pivotally attached to the relay member 25 of the seat frame 20 via a shaft 42, and a pair of pressing pieces 41 are fixed at predetermined positions.

The bearing rod 50 is formed by an F-shaped rod member in the embodiment. The pair of support rods 50 have their lower ends pivoted to a predetermined position on the rear end of the base frame 10 via a shaft 51, and their upper ends pivoted to a predetermined position on the lower end of the back frame 40 via a shaft 52. ing.

As a result, the support rod 50, the back frame 4
Part of 0, base frame 10, connection frame 3
5. The seat frame 20 has shafts 51, 52, 37,
A five-bar linkage mechanism is formed with 38 and 42 as axes. A mechanical lock 55 is interposed between the shaft 42 of this five-bar linkage mechanism and the base frame 10.

This mechanical lock 55 is formed to be able to lock the rod going in and out from the cylinder body at any position.
It is pivotably mounted at a predetermined position on the rear end portion by a shaft 57. The tip of the rod is pivotally attached to the back frame 40 by a shaft 42, and its lock release lever is connected to an operating lever 58 provided on the back frame 40 via an operating wire 57.

The foot frame 60 is composed of a pair of side pipes 61 arranged opposite to each other on the left and right sides, and the pair of side pipes 61 are fixed by horizontal bars 62 and 63 to form a frame shape. One end of the foot frame 60 is pivotally attached to the front end of the seat frame 20 by a shaft 64.

Horizontal beam 63 of foot frame 60 and seat frame 2
A lock mechanism 67 for fixing the inclination angle of the foot frame 60 is interposed between the foot frame 60 and the horizontal beam 22 of the foot frame 60, and is configured to be unlocked by operating a release lever (not shown).

On the other hand, at the pivot joint at the lower end of the back frame 40,
An interlocking frame 70 is pivotally mounted by shaft 42 . The interlocking frame 70 has a contact portion 7 at one end thereof.
1 is provided.

One end of a connecting rod 75 is pivotally connected to the other end of the interlocking frame 70 through a shaft 72, and the other end of the connecting rod 75 is pivotally connected to the horizontal beam 62 of the foot frame 60 through a shaft 76. has been done. When the back frame 40 is tilted, the contact portion 71 of the interlocking frame 70 is pressed by the pressing piece 41, and the pressure pushes the lower end of the leg frame 60 forward and upward via the connecting rod 75. It is formed.

Note that reference numeral 80 is a brake mechanism provided at the rear of the base frame 10, and a brake lever 8
1, the rotation of the rear wheel 3 is braked. Cushions (not shown) are attached to the seat frame 20, back frame 40, and foot frame 60, respectively, to form a seat, a backrest, and a footrest.

Next, the operation of changing the aspect of the wheelchair configured in this way will be explained.

FIG. 1 shows the wheelchair 1 in a chair state, with the back frame 40 in a substantially upright state, the base frame 10 and the seat frame 20 being parallel, and the connecting frames 30 and 35 tilted rearward when viewed from the side. A parallelogram is formed.

This parallelogram is maintained in its shape by a mechanical lock 55, and the pressing piece 41 of the back frame 40 and the contact portion 71 of the interlocking frame 70 are separated from each other. The back frame 40 is in a substantially upright state, and the front end of the leg frame 60 is in a hanging state. Note that in the chair state, the pressing piece 41 and the interlocking frame 70 are in a non-interlocking state,
The foot frame 60 can take any position between a hanging state and a substantially horizontal state. Each position can be held by a lock mechanism 67.

To put the wheelchair 1 into the reclining state, first operate the operating lever 58 to lock the mechanical lock 5.
5 and tilt the back frame 40 backward.

At this time, the back frame 40 rotates about the shaft 52, and the back frame 40 acts like a lever to push up the shaft 42.

As a result, the seat frame 20 rises and moves forward due to the rotation of the connecting frames 30 and 35. During this time, the support rod 50 gradually tilts forward about the shaft 51. When the back frame 40 is in a substantially horizontal state, the seat frame 20, the connecting frames 30 and 35, and the base frame 10 form a rectangular shape (see FIG. 3). and,
When the operation lever 58 is released, the mechanical lock 55 is locked and the reclined state is maintained.

Further, as the back frame 40 tilts, the pressing piece 41 contacts and presses the contact portion 71 of the interlocking frame 70, and the interlocking frame 70 tilts.
The other end moves forward. Then, the foot frame 60 is pushed upward via the connecting rod 75, and the foot frame 60 is brought into a substantially horizontal state and substantially flush with the seat frame 20.

Note that the tilt angle of the back frame 40 can be set to any angle between a substantially upright state and a substantially horizontal state, and each tilt angle can be stably maintained by a mechanical lock 55. It is. Further, the tilting angle of the foot frame 60 changes in accordance with the tilting angle of the back frame 40.

To put the wheelchair 1 in the folded state, the lock screw 27 fixing the relay member 25 of the seat frame 20 is removed while the wheelchair 1 is in the chair state. Next, the operator operates the operating lever 58 to unlock the mechanical lock 55, and at the same time, releases the locking mechanism 67 of the foot frame 60 to tilt the back frame 40 forward.

At this time, the connecting frames 30 and 35 are most inclined rearward and are closest to the base frame 10, and the seat frame 20 is the closest to the base frame 10.

Then, the relay member 25 rotates about the shaft 26 and stands approximately upright with respect to the side frame 21, and the back frame 40 is folded onto the seat frame 20 about the shaft 42 of the relay member 25. At this time, the seat frame 20 is connected to the connecting frames 30, 35.
The interlocking frame 70 moves backward by tilting backward.
The other end moves relatively forward and rotates the foot frame 60 in the horizontal direction. And the foot frame 60
forms substantially the same surface as the seat frame 20, and the pressing piece 41 and the contact portion 71 are in the most distant state (see FIG. 4). Further, the support rod 50 is tilted forward and folded over the lower end of the back frame 40.

As a result, the wheelchair 1 is constructed from the bottom: the base frame 10, the connecting frames 30, 35, and the seat frame 2.
0, the foot frame 60, and the back frame 40 are folded closely in this order.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above description and illustrated examples, and its embodiments can be changed without departing from the technical idea of this invention. For example, the foot frame may be provided with a footrest.

<Effects of the Invention> The wheelchair of the present invention has the above configuration, and when used in a reclined state, the back frame moves the seat frame forward and upward using the support rod as a fulcrum by tilting the back frame. Therefore, the position of the center of gravity during use can be the same as the position of the center of gravity when using the chair.

Therefore, it is possible to shorten the distance between the front and rear wheels, and the turning radius of the wheelchair can be reduced.

In addition, the seat frame is in a low position when in the chair state, improving running stability. Furthermore, since the position of the seat frame becomes higher in the reclined state, movement between the bed and the wheelchair can be facilitated.

Furthermore, since the back frame moves the seat frame by lever action using the support rod as a fulcrum,
It is possible to change the appearance of the wheelchair with a light operating force. Further, for this purpose, the user can apply his/her weight to the back frame to tilt the back frame, and then apply his/her weight to the seat frame side to make the back frame stand up.

Furthermore, the foot frame can be brought into a horizontal state as the back frame is tilted, and can be maintained in a horizontal state when the back frame is erected. Therefore, when in the chair state, the foot frame can freely assume a mode between a horizontal state and a hanging state.

In addition, since each frame can be folded close together vertically, it can be extremely compact when folded and can be easily transported by storing it in the trunk of a passenger car. Compared to wheelchairs that have wheels that are folded close together,
The folding operation can be performed with an extremely small operating force, which is effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a side view showing a wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention in a chair state; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1; FIG. The same figure is a side view showing the folded state, and FIG. 5 is a side view showing a conventional reclining wheelchair. 1...Wheelchair, 10...Base frame, 20...
...Seat frame, 30,35...Connection frame,
40... Back frame, 50... Support rod, 6
0... Foot frame, 70... Interlocking frame, 7
5...Connection rod.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A base frame having a pair of side pipes disposed opposite to each other on the left and right and to which each pair of front wheels and rear wheels are attached; A seat frame having a pair of opposing side pipes, and a pair of connections having a pair of side pipes arranged opposite to each other on the left and right, the upper and lower ends of which are pivoted to the seat frame and the base frame, respectively. a frame, a back frame pivotally connected to a rear end of the seat frame, and a foot frame pivotally connected to a front end of the seat frame, the seat frame, the back frame, and the foot frame. The wheelchair is reclinable so that the frame is in a substantially horizontal state, and the back frame has a pressing piece and is pivotally connected to the seat frame via a relay member that can take a horizontal position and an upright position. It is formed to be rotatable between a forward tilted horizontal state and a rearward tilted horizontal state, and a pair of left and right support rods are interposed between the lower end of the back frame and the rear end of the base frame, and each Both ends of the support rods are pivotally connected to each other, and one end of the foot frame is pivotally connected to the lower end of the back frame via a connecting rod, and the one end is in contact with the pressing piece so that it can come into contact with and separate from it. the other end is connected to an interlocking frame movable in the forward direction, and a mechanical lock mechanism is interposed between the base frame and the back frame to fix and maintain the posture of the wheelchair. Characteristic wheelchair.