JPH07236670A - Walking frame - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the clearing of a high difference in level such as sill, edge of tatami, or style, minimize the shock at the clearing, facilitate the backward movement, and also facilitate the directional change and lateral movement, in a walking frame most suitable for a handicapped-person to automatically perform a walk training without a helper particularly in home to recover the function. CONSTITUTION:A first warped-up part 9a and a second warped-up part 9b are formed on the top end side of a sliding stabilizing plate 9 formed by a flexible material on the lower surface of a frame body 1 for supporting the body weight, and on the rear end side, and the lower surface is formed in such a manner as to be partially grounded, whereby even a high difference in level D can be easily cleared, and the directional change and lateral movement can be also facilitated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a walker which is suitable for a person with a handicapped person to independently perform walking training at home without a helper so as to recover their functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an elderly person has a femoral neck fracture, low back pain before injury, kyphosis of the spine, muscle weakness, rheumatism, etc., the walking is assisted by an independent walking. As a walker that is trained to recover its function, for example, a four-point support structure in which the front and left and right sides are enclosed, and the four-point support structure is supported by a leg rod provided on the lower surface of the frame body with the rear part open, or 3 It is called an alternating walker with a three-point support structure that is supported at points (hereinafter, the alternating walker in this specification refers to a walker of a type that performs walking training by alternately extending both lower limbs of a disabled person). There was something. In this alternating walker, the handicapped person holds the weight supporting rod provided on the upper portion of the frame body in an upright posture or puts the body in the upper body receiving portion of the frame body and the left and right weight supporting rods in the armpit. In order to perform walking training, the user leans forward and leans, and moves his body while hanging his weight on the frame.

As another conventional example, the degree of gait disorder is heavier than walking with a cane using a cane, but is less severe than the case of using an alternating walker. In order to carry out walking training under the guidance and supervision, two wheels of a caster structure that can be idled in the horizontal direction on the lower surface of the frame body and two wheels on the rear surface, totaling four wheels in total, are provided. There was a walker equipped with a wheel or wheels of one caster and two wheels in the rear, for a total of three wheels.

By the way, in the above-mentioned alternating walker, the stride of the disabled person is determined by the distance that the upper limb can carry,
If you are not used to it, it will be difficult to handle and the stride will be arbitrary,
Inconvenience, such as requiring a lot of time for training before the rhythmic gait recovers walking to walking with a cane, and the independence of the disabled person is guaranteed, but the caregiver needs to be protected. was there. Therefore, by correcting the inconveniences listed in 1) to (1), it is possible to walk stably in a household with many steps after discharge, such as a sill, tatami rim, etc. One of the applicants has applied for a device for a walker having a slide stabilizer on the lower surface of the frame body as Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-16655 to correct the instability caused by the rotation of the robot.

[0005]

However, in the invention described in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-16655, since the sliding stabilizer provided on the lower surface of the frame body makes full contact with the floor surface, the frictional force is reduced. There are inconveniences such as large direction change and lateral movement cannot be performed easily, it is not easy to get over a tall step such as a frame, the impact when getting over is large, and backward movement cannot be done easily. there were.

Therefore, the present invention, while maintaining stability,
An object of the present invention is to provide a walker that can easily climb over a tall step such as a frame, has a small impact when climbing over, is easy to move backward, and is easy to change direction and move laterally. .

[0007]

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a walker having a slide stabilizing plate on the lower surface of a frame for supporting the weight, the slide stabilizing plate being formed of a flexible material. In addition, the first raised portion is formed on the front end side, the second raised portion is formed on the rear end side, and a part of the lower surface is formed to be groundable.

[0008]

[Function] Since a part of the sliding stabilizer contacts the floor,
You can walk stably. Moreover, since the frictional force of the sliding stabilizer against the walking surface is smaller than that in the case where the entire surface comes into contact, it is possible to walk lightly and easily change the direction and move laterally. Further, since the slide stabilizer has the first raised portion on the front end side and the second raised portion on the rear end side, even if it is a tall obstacle such as a frame. It can be easily overcome by raising the slide stabilizer to the front. Moreover, when overcoming a tall obstacle, the second raised portion provided on the rear end side of the slide stabilizer and the first raised portion provided on the front end cooperate with each other to come into contact with the ground, so that an impact is prevented. Get smaller.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 1 denotes a frame body. The frame body 1 is made of a relatively small diameter and light weight metal pipe or plastic whose surface is resin-processed. The leg rods 2A, 2B are horizontally installed on the upper ends of the leg rods 2A, 2B to support the weight, and the use height H thereof is adjusted.
By vertically supporting a weight supporting rod 2C having a substantially U-shape in plan view, which is provided with supporting short rods 2C ₁ on the front and rear lower faces corresponding to the above, and by horizontally erection approximately in the middle of the leg rods 2A, 2B. A connecting rod 3A for connecting the leg rods 2A and 2B connects opposite left and right side frames 2 and 2 each having an overall shape of a side surface and a vertically long and substantially U-shape, and front portions of the side frames 2 and 2. And a connecting rod 4A as a front frame 4 for The frame body 1 has a height of about 662.0 m as a standard so that the front side and the left and right sides are surrounded and the rear side is opened.
It has a size of m, depth of about 400.0 mm and width of about 450.0 mm.

In order to adjust the working height H of the weight supporting rod 2C with respect to the side frames 2 and 2, the thin rod provided on the lower surface of the supporting rod member 2C ₁ has a small diameter. By inserting the insertion rod 5 slidably into the leg rods 2A, 2B, and pressing the tip end portion of the adjusting screw 6 attached to the leg rods 2A, 2B against the peripheral surface of the insertion rod 5, Adjust the working height H. The use height H is adjusted to an appropriate height according to the age, height, etc. of the disabled person. The height H of use of the weight supporting rod 2C can be set to 900 mm at maximum due to the expansion and contraction.

Reference numeral 7 is an upper body receiving portion surrounded by the left and right side frames 2 and 2 and the front frame 4, and the upper body receiving portion 7 inserts the insertion rod 5 into the rods 2A, 2A; 2B, if necessary. It is also possible to use it by pulling it out from 2B and pushing the frame 1 part by hand. Further, although not shown in the drawing, a chair may be provided on the upper body receiving portion 7 via a hinge.

As shown in FIG. 4, 8 is the leg rods 2A, 2
A; front and rear and left and right four wheel parts, which are rotatably mounted on the lower surfaces of 2B and 2B, and these wheel parts 8
Is a wheel 8a and the leg rod 2 so as to cover the wheel 8a.
A, 2A; 2B, 2B, a support cover 8b having a substantially trapezoidal side surface attached to 2B, and a support piece 8c provided at the center of the lower surface of the support cover 8b so as to rotatably support the wheel 8a. It Of these, the two front wheel parts 8
May have a caster structure which is supported by the leg rods 2A, 2A so as to be horizontally rotatable so as to change the traveling direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, reference numeral 9 is an appropriate fixing means at the front of the lower surface of the frame 1, for example, at the lower surfaces of the two wheel portions 8 mounted on the front two rods 2A, 2A. The sliding stabilizer 9 has a lower surface partially fixed to the ground so that it can be removably attached. The sliding stabilizer 9 is made of a flexible material such as metal such as plastic or aluminum and has a substantially full length on the front end side. A first raised portion 9a is raised with a curvature R that is as large as about 1/3, and a curvature R'which is smaller than the curvature R of the first raised portion 9a on the rear end side.
The second raised portions 9b formed on the respective sides are formed. The sliding stabilizer 9 is formed to have a width of about 8 cm, a length of about 20 cm and a thickness of about 5 mm in order to ensure walking stability.

As described above, the sliding stabilizer 9 is formed so that a part thereof, for example, the lower surface near the second raised portion 9b on the rear end side serves as a grounding portion 9c for grounding as shown in FIG. An inclination angle K of several degrees, for example, about 3 ° in a state where the first rising portion 9a on the tip side is lifted from the walking surface Y.
The sliding stabilizer 9 is attached to the lower surface of the wheel portion 8 while being inclined forward and upward. Then, the sliding stabilizer 9 is attached to the wheel portion 8
The support cover 8 of the wheel 8 is attached to the lower surface of the wheel.
Mounting piece portions 8b ₁ and 8 provided at the front and rear ends of b in the extending direction, respectively.
The slide stabilizing plate 9 is fixed to b ₂ using a mounting screw 10. The ground contact portion 9c has a length of at least about 5 to 8 mm in contact with the walking surface Y in order to ensure sufficient stability with respect to the walking surface Y. The reference numeral 8e designates the support cover 8 as shown in the figure when the wheel portion 8 is attached to the leg rod 2A.
It is a coil spring material that is interposed between b and b and can be used for cushioning.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, 9d is a walking surface Y.
Is a hole formed in the sliding stabilizer 9 in order to cope with the case where the walking surface Y is lightly walked and the walking surface Y is cosmetically finished with vinyl or the like and the friction coefficient with the sliding stabilizer 9 is large and it is difficult to slide. The lower peripheral surface of the wheel 8a of the wheel portion 8 faces the walking surface Y slightly freely from the hole 9d, so that the wheel 8a of the wheel portion 8 comes into contact with the walking surface Y and rotates to stabilize sliding. Friction between the plate 9 and the walking surface Y is reduced, the walker is smoothly moved, and walking is smoothly performed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the ground contact portion 9c of the slide stabilizer 9 is provided behind the wheel 8a. The shape of the hole 9d is formed into a substantially rectangular plane in the figure, but the shape is not limited to this and may be, for example, an elliptical shape, an oval shape, or the like. Anything that can face

An embodiment of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration,
In order to carry out walking training, a person with a disability can measure his or her weight by, for example, holding the weight support rods 2C of the side frames 2 and 2 with both arms in an upright posture by entering the upper body receiving portion 7 of the frame body 1. While walking on the frame 1, or by alternately grasping and pushing the weight supporting rod 2 in the hand, the weight supporting rod 2 is extended to walk. In this case, the wheel portions 8 mounted on the leg rods 2A, 2A in front of the left and right side frames 2, 2,
Since the slide stabilizers 9 and 9 are fixed to the lower surface of 8 by attaching screws 10 to the attachment pieces 8b ₁ and 8b ₂ provided at the front and rear ends of the support cover 8b, the two front slide stabilizers are provided. 9 and 9 are slid with respect to the walking surface Y and, at the same time, the rear two
By rotating the wheel portions 8 mounted on the two leg rods 2B, 2B, it is possible to stably walk in accordance with the walking speed of the handicapped person while being supported in the front / rear and left / right directions. That is, the slide stabilizer 9 is provided with a first raised portion 9a having a width of 8 cm and a length of about 20 cm, the front end side thereof being about 1/3 of the total length, and the second warped portion 9b on the rear end side. As a result of the formation, the tip end side is inclined in a floating state and a part of the ground contact portion 9c is sufficiently grounded to the walking surface Y with a length of 5 to 8 mm. On the other hand, it has a sufficient contact area and can walk stably.

When there is a step D such as a sill or a tatami mat on the walking surface Y in the home, the slide stabilizer 9 is made of a flexible material such as plastic and has a large tip end side. Since the first curved portion 9a having the curvature R is formed and the second curved portion 9b having the small curvature R'is formed at the rear end side, the tip end side has the inclination angle K.
Since it is attached to the lower surface of the wheel portions 8, 8 in a lifted state, it is possible to easily get over the step D and smoothly slide. When the step D is tall like a frame, the slide stabilizers 9 and 9 are mounted in a forwardly inclined state with the inclination angle K as described above, and the tip ends of the slide stabilizers 9 and 9 are attached. Since the curvature R of the first raised portion 9a provided on the rear side is larger than the curvature R'of the second raised portion 9b provided on the rear end side, the walker is attached to the rear end side of the slide stabilizers 9 and 9. The slide stabilizers 9 and 9 roll forward and upward along the curvature R'of the second raised portion 9b provided. As a result,
It is possible to make the floating state on the tip side of the slide stabilizers 9 with respect to the walking surface Y larger than that in the normal walking state as shown in FIG. 6, and to easily get over a tall step D. You can

Moreover, since the sliding stabilizers 9 and 9 are not in full contact with the floor surface Y but in part with each other, when the sliding stabilizer 9 gets over a tall step D, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the tip side of the sliding stabilizer 9 having a large curvature R first comes into contact with the walking surface Y and gradually and smoothly slides on the walking surface Y along with the curvature R, and at the same time, a small curvature R The rear end side having ′ is still placed on the step D, and along with the movement of the front end side, it smoothly and gradually slides along the front wall of the step D and falls. Therefore, although the sliding stabilizers 9 and 9 get over the step D, the impact caused by the fall is alleviated.

Moreover, the direction change of the walker in the direction intended by the handicapped person and the operation of the side slip can be performed easily and surely, and the walk can be surely performed. Further, since the second rising portion 9b is formed on the rear end side of the slide stabilizing plate 9, backward movement is also possible.

The left and right leg rods 2 whose weight is forward when walking
Since the wheel portions 8 and 8 are interposed between the leg rods 2A and 2A and the slide stabilizing plates 9 and 9 when they are applied to A and 2A, the wheel stabilizing portions 9 and 8 are used. , 9 are prevented from being directly transmitted to the frame body 1 and buffered. Further, since the coil spring 8e is interposed between the support cover 8b of the wheel 8a and the leg rods 2A, 2A, the shock applied to the slide stabilizing plates 9, 9 is buffered. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the application of an unreasonable load to the obstacle point of the disabled person.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, one leg rod 2A arranged at the front and the center and the left and right leg rods 2 at the rear are shown.
A frame body 1'is formed from B and 2B, and walking with a three-point support structure including two rear leg rods 2B and 2B and three wheel portions 8 mounted on the lower surface of one front leg rod 2A. In the device, a walker is shown in which a stable sliding plate 9 is fixed to only one front wheel portion 8 of a caster structure which is supported so as to be freely rotatable in the horizontal direction by using the same fixing means as in the above-mentioned embodiment. is there. Also in this embodiment, when there is a step D on the walking surface Y by sliding one front sliding stabilizer 9 on the upper surface of the walking surface Y and rotating the two rear wheel portions 8 and 8, However, people with disabilities do not fall, can perform walking training safely, and can easily change directions.

FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in a walker having a three-point support structure, a wheel portion 8 provided in the central portion in front of the lower surface of the frame 1 '. The slide stabilizers 9 are mounted on the left and right sides of the frame through mounting support parts 30, and two are provided at the two rear corners of the lower surface of the frame 1 '.
This is different from the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in that the two wheel portions 8, 8 are rotatably mounted.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the slide stabilizers 9 and 9 are provided with the holes 9d so that the lower surface of the wheel 8a faces the walking surface Y. The first slanted portion 9a on the front end side is attached to the lower surface of the wheel portion 8 with an inclination angle K of rising upward and is inclined from the walking surface Y. 9d
It is not always necessary to provide a wheel to face the wheel 8a.

[0024]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, according to the present invention, while maintaining stability, it is possible to easily get over a tall step such as a frame, the impact at the time of getting over is small, and further backward movement is easy. Easy to change and move laterally.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a walker according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main part of the same.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a usage state when riding over a tall step.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a case where a vehicle is overriding.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Frame 2 Side Frame 2A Leg Rod 2B Leg Rod 2C Weight Support Rod 4 Front Frame 8 Wheels 8a Wheels 8b Support Cover 8b ₁ Mounting Piece 8b ₂ Mounting Piece 9 Sliding Stabilizer 9c Grounding Section 9d Hole 10 Mounting Screw

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A walker having a slide stabilizing plate on a lower surface of a frame for supporting a weight, wherein the slide stabilizing plate is formed of a flexible material, and has a first rising portion on a tip side thereof. Also, a walker characterized in that a second raised portion is formed on the rear end side and a part of the lower surface is formed so that it can be grounded. 2. The first raised portion is formed by raising about 1/3 of the entire length of the slide stabilizer, and the second raised portion is more than the first raised portion. The walker according to claim 1, wherein the walker has a small curvature. 3. The lower surface of at least two front wheels out of a total of four wheels rotatably mounted on the lower surfaces of leg rods located in front of and behind the side frames of the frame body. The walker according to claim 1, wherein the walker is fixed to the body using a fixing means. 4. The sliding stabilizer is fixed to a front leg rod of the leg rods positioned at the front and rear of the frame body, and a wheel is rotatably fixed to the rear leg rod. The walker according to claim 1. 5. The sliding stabilizer is appropriately fixed to at least one lower surface of one of the three wheels fixed to the center in front of the lower surface of the frame and the two corners at the rear of the lower surface by a fixing means. The walker according to claim 1, which is fixed. 6. The slide stabilizer is mounted on the front center of the lower surface of the frame body, and two wheels are rotatably mounted on the two rear corners of the lower surface of the frame body. The walker according to claim 1. 7. The slide stabilizers are mounted on the left and right of a wheel provided in the central portion of the front side of the lower surface of the frame body, and two wheels are rotatably mounted at two corners on the rear side of the lower surface of the frame body. The walker according to claim 1, which is mounted. 8. The sliding stabilizer is provided with a hole, the lower side of the wheel is exposed to the walking surface through the hole, and the ground contact portion of the sliding stabilizer is located rearward of the lower side of the wheel. The walker according to claim 1, wherein the walker is a walker.