JPH09108145A - Toilet device provided with helping function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a physically weak person to easily and safely stand up and sit alone. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a toilet seat 1 and a supporting frame 2 provided with an unequal four-node link 8 for supporting the toilet seat 1 elevatably and lowerably between an elevated position inclined forward and a horizontal lowered position. A motor-driven driving means 3 for swinging and driving the unequal four-node link 8 of the supporting frame 2 stoppably at a stepless swinging position is provided. At the time of defining the height dimension from a floor surface F of the upper surface 31 of a stool main body A as H and defining the maximum height dimension from the floor surface F of the front end part la of the toilet seat 1 at the elevated position as H', 1.3×H<=H'<=1.7×H is set.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toilet apparatus with an assisting function for the physically handicapped.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A toilet device having an assisting function for a weak person, such as an elderly person, an injured person, a sick person, and a physically handicapped person, who can easily sit and stand up, includes, for example, an upper opening of a toilet body. It is known that a front end of a toilet seat is pivotably attached to a front end of a portion around a horizontal axis center and a rear half of the toilet seat is elastically pushed upward by a spring. Was.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional toilet apparatus with an assisting function, the height position of the front end of the toilet seat hardly changes even if the toilet seat is inclined forward, so that the seat is not seated. It was not possible to push up the buttocks of the person who had been running diagonally forward and upward sufficiently, and it was extremely difficult for some people to stand up.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a stool device with an assisting function, which enables a physically handicapped person to stand up easily and safely by himself (and can easily sit down). With the goal.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a toilet device with an assisting function according to the present invention is provided with a toilet seat, and the toilet seat is provided between a raised position of a forward downward tilt and a horizontal lowered position. A support frame having unequal-sided four-joint links supported so as to be able to move up and down, and an electric drive means for oscillating and driving the unequal-sided four-joint links of the support frame to a stepless swinging position in a stoppable manner. .

The support frame is provided with a pair of left and right side frame parts and a connecting horizontal bar bridging the upper ends of the vertical rod parts of the pair of side frame parts. A vertical rod of the side frame portion, an upper / lower link rod whose rear end is pivotally connected to the vertical rod at a predetermined vertical interval, and a front end of the upper / lower link rod is pivotally connected to the vertical rod at a predetermined vertical interval. It is also preferable that the front link portion is provided with a toilet seat mounting portion.

Further, the electric drive means comprises an electric expansion / contraction drive body, and the electric expansion / contraction drive body has an upper end pivotally attached to the front half of the unequal-sided four-joint link of the support frame or a toilet seat attachment part and an internal thread at the lower end. An upper member having a portion, a lower member having a lower end pivotally attached to the side frame portion of the support frame, and a screw shaft screwed into the female screw portion of the upper member so as to advance and retract, an electric motor, It is also preferable that the lower member is provided with a reduction mechanism that interlocks and connects the electric motor and the screw shaft.

It is also preferable that the upper portion of the front link portion of the unequal-sided four-bar link of the support frame has a vertical length dimension adjusting mechanism. When the height of the upper surface of the toilet body from the floor F is H, and the maximum height of the front end of the toilet seat from the floor at the raised position is H ', 1.3 x H ≤ H'
It is also preferable to set ≦ 1.7 × H.

Further, the electric drive means is composed of an electric expansion / contraction drive body, and a pair of left and right unequal-sided four-bar links upper link rods are connected to each other by a lateral connection rod, and the electric expansion / contraction drive body is supported. It is also desirable that it is attached only to one side of the frame. It is also preferable that the lateral connecting rod is arranged so as to cross the upper rear portion of the toilet body.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below in detail based on the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a stool device with an assisting function according to the present invention.
The toilet seat 1 and the toilet seat 1 are provided to assist the injured person, the sick person, and the physically handicapped person such as the physically handicapped when sitting and standing up when using the toilet. It includes a support frame 2 that is capable of moving up and down, and an electric drive unit 3 that drives the unequal-sided four-joint link 8 (which will be described later) of the support frame 2 to a stoplessly swingable position so as to be stoppable.

The support frame 2 includes a pair of left and right side frame portions 4 and 4 each of which is composed of a horizontal rod portion 4a fixed or placed on the floor and a vertical rod portion 4b connected to the rear end portion of the horizontal frame portion 4a. A connecting horizontal rod 5 bridging the upper ends of the vertical rods 4b of the pair of side frame portions 4 and 4;
Handrail parts 7, 7 attached to the upper portions of the vertical rod parts 4b, 4b of the side frame parts 4, 4.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support frame 2
Includes unequal quadrilateral links 8, 8 that support the toilet seat 1 so as to be able to move up and down between a forwardly inclined upward position and a horizontal downward position. The unequal-sided four-joint link 8 includes a vertical rod portion 4b of the side frame portion 4,
Upper and lower link rods 9 and 10 whose rear end portions are pivotally connected to the vertical rod portion 4b at a predetermined vertical interval S ₁ and upper and lower link rods 9,
The front end portion 10 is composed of a front link portion 11 pivotally connected with a predetermined vertical interval S ₂ . In addition, the predetermined vertical interval S
₁ and S ₂ are set so that S ₁ > S ₂ .

In the front link portion 11 of the unequal-sided four-bar link 8,
The toilet seat mounting portion 12 is provided in series. Specifically, in the horizontal state of the toilet seat 1, the front link portion 11 which is vertical and the toilet seat mounting portion 12 above the front link portion 11 are integrally formed by a pipe member that is L-shaped in a horizontal direction when viewed from the side. . A pivotally supporting portion 13 is projectingly provided at a rear end portion of the toilet seat mounting portion 12, and the rear end portion of the toilet seat 1 is pivotally attached to the pivotally supporting portion 13 so as to be swingable about a horizontal axis in the left-right direction.

Thus, the pair of left and right unequal-sided four-bar links 8 and the upper link rods 9 and 8 are connected to each other by the horizontal connecting rod 6. Further, the electric drive means 3 comprises an electric expansion / contraction drive body 14, and the electric expansion / contraction drive body 14 is attached only to one side of the support frame 2. And, the horizontal connecting rod 6 is the toilet body A
It is arranged so as to cross the upper rear part.

The lateral connecting rod 6 is made of a front view gate type pipe material, and the left and right lower ends thereof are welded to the rear portions of the left and right upper link rods 9, 9. As a result, the electric telescopic drive 14
In the above, only one unequal-sided four-joint link 8 is swung upward, and the other unequal-sided four-joint link 8 is swung upward in an interlocking manner without causing any damage. In this way, the lateral connecting rod 6 improves the rigidity of the unequal-sided four-joint link 8 and prevents the toilet seat 1 from wobbling or tilting to the left or right.

Further, since the horizontal connecting rod 6 crosses over the upper rear portion of the toilet body A, the horizontal connecting rod 6 can be prevented from hitting the toilet seat 1 and the water tank T disposed behind the toilet body A. it can. The vertical rod portion 4b of the side frame portion 4 of the support frame 2 is slightly inclined forward. Thereby, the connecting horizontal rod 5 that connects the upper ends of the left and right vertical rod portions 4b, 4b to each other can be prevented from hitting the water tank T behind the toilet body A.

The electric expansion / contraction drive body 14 has an upper end pivotally attached to the front half of the unequal-sided four-bar link 8 of the support frame 2.
15 and a lower member whose lower end is pivotally attached to the side frame part 4 of the support frame 2.
16 and. A switch 30 for expanding and contracting the electric expansion / contraction driving body 14 is attached to the tip of one handrail portion 7 of the support frame 2 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 2, the height dimension of the upper surface 31 of the toilet body A from the floor surface F is H, and the maximum height dimension of the front end portion 1a of the toilet seat 1 from the floor surface F at the raised position. Is set to H ′, 1.3 × H ≦ H ′ ≦ 1.7 × H is set.

Next, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4, the upper member 15 of the electric expansion / contraction drive member 14 is formed by fixing a nut member 15b to the lower end of a cylindrical inner cylindrical member 15a. That is, the upper member 15 is
It has a female screw portion 17 at the lower end. At the upper end of the inner cylinder 15a,
A boss portion 18 for pivotal connection is provided.

The lower member 16 has a swinging body 22 having a pivoting boss portion 21 at its lower end, and an outer cylinder fixed to the upper end portion of the swinging body 22 and into which the upper member 15 is slidably inserted. body
20, a screw shaft 24 screwed into the female thread portion 17 of the upper member 15 so as to be able to move forward and backward, an electric motor 23 attached to the rocking body 22, and a reduction mechanism 25 that interlocks and connects the electric motor 23 and the screw shaft 24. With.

Specifically, the lower part of the screw shaft 24 is rotatably attached to the rocking body 22 via a bearing 26 and the like. Further, a large number of small spheres 27 for reducing the friction coefficient are interposed between the screw shaft 24 and the nut member 15b. That is, the screw shaft 24 and the nut member
A ball screw is constituted by 15b and the small sphere 27.

The reduction mechanism 25 includes a wheel 28 fixed to the lower end of the screw shaft 24 in an externally fitted manner, and an electric motor 23.
A worm 29 fixed to the output shaft of the worm and meshing with the wheel 28.

The screw shaft 24 is indicated by the arrow B.
When the electric motor 23 is rotationally driven so as to rotate in the direction, the nut member 15b rises and the inner tubular body 15a moves upward from the outer tubular body 20, so that the length K of the electric telescopic drive body 14 increases. To do. As a result, the toilet seat 1 (not shown) can be swung in the direction in which the seat is tilted downward to the front.

When the electric motor 23 is rotationally driven so that the screw shaft rotates in the direction of arrow C, the nut member 15b descends and the inner tubular body 15a is inserted into the outer tubular body 20. The length K of the driver 14 is reduced. As a result, the toilet seat 1 (not shown) can be swung in the horizontal downward position.

It should be noted that when the switch 30 shown in FIG. 1 is swung upward, the electric expansion / contraction drive unit 14 is extended, and when it is swung downward, the electric expansion / contraction drive unit 14 is shortened. Also, switch 30
When the hand is released from, the electric telescopic drive body 14 stops.

Further, limit switches (not shown) for detecting the nut member 15b are attached to the upper and lower ends of the outer tubular body 20. The limit switch is the nut member 15b.
Is detected, the electric motor 23 is connected to the electric circuit so as to stop.

Therefore, the electric expansion / contraction drive unit 14 has a length K.
Stops automatically when the maximum and minimum values are reached. In addition, FIG. 4 shows a state in which the electric expansion / contraction drive body 14 is set to the shortest. Further, the electric expansion / contraction drive body 14 is compact and lightweight, which is optimal when it is installed in a narrow toilet.

Thus, to sit down on this device, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the user sits on the toilet seat 1 in a state where the toilet seat 1 is in the forward and downwardly raised position. At this time, 1.3 × H ≦
Due to the relationship of H ′ ≦ 1.7 × H, since the toilet seat 1 is located at a position slightly lower than the buttocks of the standing person, the buttocks are brought into contact with the toilet seat 1 only by slightly lowering the hips, and the middle waist state is achieved. Can be supported by.

Thereafter, if the switch 30 (not shown in FIG. 2) at the tip of one handrail portion 7 is swung downward,
The electric expansion / contraction driving body 14 shortens at a constant speed, and the toilet seat 1 slowly descends.

As described above, the toilet seat 1 descends and the toilet seat 1
3 becomes horizontal as shown in FIG. 3, and at the same time, a limit switch (not shown) is actuated to automatically stop the electric expansion / contraction drive body 14, and the toilet seat 1 is held in the horizontal lowered position.

Next, after completing the toilet, the switch not shown
When 30 is swung upward, the electric expansion / contraction drive body 14 extends at a constant speed, and the toilet seat 1 slowly rises. After that, as shown in FIG. 2, when the toilet seat 1 reaches the rising position of the front downward tilt, the electric expansion / contraction drive body 14 automatically stops.

At this time, 1.3.times.H.ltoreq.H'.ltoreq.
Due to the relationship of 1.7 × H, the toilet seat 1 rises to a sufficiently high position, so that the buttocks are pushed up to a position close to the standing state. Therefore, even a physically handicapped person can easily stand up by himself.

If 1.3.times.H> H ', the toilet seat 1 does not rise to a sufficiently high position, and relatively large force must be applied when sitting and standing up, which is not suitable for the physically handicapped. When H ′> 1.7 × H, the toilet seat 1 rises to an excessively high position, so that the buttocks cannot be applied to the toilet seat 1 when sitting down, or the entire body of a weak person can stand up when standing up. It is dangerous because it may float up.

When the toilet seat 1 is lowered or raised,
By releasing the switch 30, the toilet seat 1 can be stopped at that position. This is convenient when the user wants to take a break on the way or sit down again, and has the advantage that the toilet seat 1 can be stopped at an arbitrary position where the user can easily stand up.
And the safety is also excellent.

Further, the descending speed and the ascending speed of the toilet seat 1 are substantially constant regardless of the weight of the seated person, and the toilet seat 1 slowly descends or rises, so that the safety is higher.

Also, the unequal scale four-bar link 8 allows the toilet seat 1
Since the whole is pushed forward and upward, the buttocks of the weak can be pushed forward and upward, and it is easier to stand up. Furthermore, since there is no obstacle such as a support post at the front end of the support frame 2, there is an advantage that even if it is installed in a narrow toilet, it does not obstruct the entry and exit of the physically handicapped.

This toilet device does not require a lock mechanism for maintaining the horizontal state, as compared with the conventional toilet device configured to push up the toilet seat by the elastic force of the spring, and It is excellent in that a mechanism for changing the mounting position of the spring member for adjusting the pushing force is unnecessary. In addition, there is an advantage that the toilet seat 1 can be stopped at an arbitrary height position in the middle.

Next, FIGS. 5 to 8 show that the upper portion of the front link portion 11 of the unequal-sided four-bar link 8 of the support frame 2 has a vertical length dimension adjusting mechanism 32. Vertical length adjustment mechanism
The reference numeral 32 includes a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) short tubular bodies 33, 33 for adjusting the vertical length stepwise.

Specifically, the front link portion 11 can be freely inserted into and removed from the body pipe portion 11a, the inner pipe portion 11b fixed to the inside of the upper portion of the body pipe portion 11a so as to project upward, and the inner pipe portion 11b. And the short pipes 33, 33 which are fitted onto the inner pipe portion 11b.
And an upper pipe portion 11c which is continuously fitted to the toilet seat mounting portion 12 and is continuously integrated with the toilet seat mounting portion 12.

Further, in the horizontal state of the toilet seat 1, the front link portion 11 is constructed to be vertical. The other structure is similar to that of FIGS.

However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, if the two short tubular members 33, 33 are fitted onto the inner pipe portion 11b, the vertical length of the front link portion 11 becomes maximum, and the front link portion 11 is lowered. The minimum height dimension H ″ of the front end portion 1a of the toilet seat 1 from the floor surface F at the position is the maximum.

From the state shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
If the short pipe 33 is externally fitted to the inner pipe portion 11b as shown in FIG. 7, the front link portion 11 can be removed.
Has an intermediate length in the vertical direction, and the minimum height dimension H ″ of the front end portion 1a of the toilet seat 1 from the floor surface F in the lowered position also has an intermediate value.

Further, one short cylinder 33 is removed from the state shown in FIG. 7, and the short cylinder 33 is attached to the inner pipe portion 11b as shown in FIG.
If the upper pipe portion 11c is directly fitted to the inner pipe portion 11b without fitting 33, the vertical length of the front link portion 11 becomes a minimum value, and the floor surface of the front end portion 1a of the toilet seat 1 in the lowered position is shown. The minimum height dimension H ″ from F is the minimum.

As described above, the minimum height dimension H "of the front end portion 1a of the toilet seat 1 from the floor surface F can be adjusted in three steps. Therefore, this apparatus can be used in various sizes of the toilet body A. In addition, the height of the toilet seat 1 can be adjusted so as to be easier to use according to the size of the body of the person who is using the body (weak person).

Further, in the horizontal state of the toilet seat 1, since the front link portion 11 is vertical, there is an advantage that the toilet seat 1 is not displaced back and forth even if the height is adjusted. Furthermore, the structure is simple and it can be easily manufactured. Further, the height can be easily adjusted without using a tool.

It should be noted that the number of the short cylinders 33 may be 3 to 5 freely. If so, the minimum height dimension H ″ is 4 to
It can be adjusted in 6 steps.

The present invention can be applied to forms other than the above-mentioned form. For example, the upper end portion of the electric expansion / contraction drive body 14 can be pivotally attached to the toilet seat mounting portion 12. Further, in the illustrated example, a lateral connecting rod 6 that connects the pair of upper link rods 9 and 9 together.
Is a gate type when viewed from the front, but when the bases of the upper link rods 9 and 9 are above the upper surface 31 of the toilet body A, the horizontal connecting rod 6 may be straight.

It is also possible to attach a local cleaning device having a nozzle for injecting cleaning water toward a local part of a person to this device. In that case, a nozzle is provided on the lower surface of the toilet seat mounting portion 12 or the rear portion of the toilet seat 1 (so that the cleaning water is sprayed substantially upward).
Just install it.

[0050]

The present invention has the following remarkable effects by the above-mentioned structure.

According to the stool device with an assisting function of the first aspect, a weak person can easily sit and stand up before and after a stool by himself. In addition, there is no possibility that the toilet seat 1 is unexpectedly lifted in a seated state, and the safety is high. Besides, toilet seat 1
It is also possible to stop at any position during the ascending or descending, which is convenient when it is desired to take a break on the way or to stop at the ascending position where it is easy to stand up. Furthermore, since the toilet seat 1 is slowly lowered or raised when sitting and standing up, the safety is further enhanced, and the physically handicapped can use it with confidence.

According to the toilet device with an assisting function of the second aspect, the toilet seat 1 can be raised to the upper front, and sitting and standing up become easier. In addition, in the front part of the support frame 2,
There is no obstacle for the physically handicapped to move their legs, and even when installed in a small toilet, the physically handicapped can easily move to a position where they can sit.

According to the toilet device with the assistance function of the third aspect, the electric telescopic drive body 14 can be made compact. Therefore, this device can be installed in a small toilet. Further, since the electric expansion / contraction drive body 14 can be easily attached / detached to / from the support frame 2, the assembling at the time of manufacture becomes simple and the repair is convenient.

According to the toilet device with an assisting function of the fourth aspect, this device can be adapted to various types of toilet bowls of various sizes. Therefore, this device can be commonly used for various Western-style toilet bodies. Further, the position for assisting the standing up of the toilet seat 1 can be adjusted according to the physique of the person (weak person) using this device.

According to the toilet device with an assisting function of the fifth aspect, when a person sits down, the weak person slightly lowers his or her hips and the buttocks come into contact with the toilet seat 1, so that they can comfortably sit on their own.
In addition, when standing up, the buttocks of a physically handicapped person can be pushed up to a position close to an upright state, so that they can easily stand up by themselves.

According to the stool device with an assisting function of claim 6, one electric telescopic drive body 14 integrally forms the left and right unequal-sided four-joint links 8 and 8 without causing any trouble. Can be rocked. Therefore, as the strength increases,
It is possible to prevent the toilet seat 1 from wobbling or tilting to the left or right.

According to the stool device with the assistance function of the seventh aspect, the same effect as that of the sixth aspect is obtained, and
The horizontal connecting rod 6 can be prevented from hitting the water tank T disposed behind the toilet seat 1 and the toilet body A.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a raised position in which the toilet seat is tilted forward and downward.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a horizontal lowered position of the toilet seat.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the minimum height dimension of the toilet seat in the lowered position is maximized.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state where the minimum height dimension of the toilet seat in the lowered position is an intermediate value.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which the minimum height dimension of the toilet seat in the lowered position is minimized.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Toilet seat 1a Front end part 2 Support frame 3 Electric drive means 4 Side frame part 4b Vertical rod part 5 Connecting horizontal rod 6 Horizontal connecting rod 8 Unequal four-joint link 9 Upper link rod 10 Lower link rod 11 Front link part 12 Toilet seat mounting part 14 Electric telescopic driver 15 Upper member 16 Lower member 17 Female screw 23 Electric motor 24 Screw shaft 25 Reduction mechanism 31 Top surface 32 Vertical length dimension adjusting mechanism A Toilet bowl body F Floor surface H Height dimension H'Maximum height dimension S ₁ Predetermined vertical spacing S ₂ Predetermined vertical spacing

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akiko Sakata 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City Tohoku Kikai Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiichi Komura 4-chome, Teizukayama, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 1- 23 (72) Inventor, Rizo Imanari, 3-9 Nishiyume, Yao-shi, Komura Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Yasushi Sawada, 3-9, Nishiyumi, Yao-shi Komura, Inc.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A toilet seat (1), a support frame (2) having unequal-sided four-joint links (8, 8) for supporting the toilet seat (1) so as to be able to move up and down between a forwardly inclined upward position and a horizontal downward position, and the support. A stool device with an assisting function, comprising: an electric drive means 3 for oscillating and driving the unequal-sided four-bar links 8 and 8 of the frame 2 in a steplessly oscillating position. 2. The support frame 2 comprises a pair of left and right side frame portions 4, 4.
And a connecting horizontal rod 5 bridging the upper ends of the vertical rods 4b and 4b of the pair of side frame portions 4 and 4, and the unequal-sided four-bar link 8 includes the vertical rods of the side frame portion 4. The portion 4b, the upper and lower link rods 9 and 10 whose rear ends are pivotally connected to the vertical rod portion 4b with a predetermined vertical interval S ₁ and the front ends of the upper and lower link rods 9 and 10 have a predetermined vertical interval. The toilet device with an assisting function according to claim 1, comprising a front link portion (11) pivotally connected by S ₂ , and a toilet seat mounting portion (12) connected to the front link portion (11). 3. The electric drive means 3 comprises an electric expansion / contraction drive body 14, and the electric expansion / contraction drive body 14 is pivotally attached at its upper end to the front half of the unequal-sided four-joint link 8 of the support frame 2 or the toilet seat mounting portion 12. And a lower member 16 having a lower end pivotally attached to the side frame portion 4 of the support frame 2,
A screw shaft 24 that is screwed into the female screw portion 17 of the upper member 15 so as to be able to advance and retract, an electric motor 23, and the electric motor 23.
And the reduction mechanism 25 that connects the screw shaft 24 and
The stool device with an assisting function according to claim 2, which is provided on the lower member 16. 4. The toilet device with assistance function according to claim 2, wherein an upper part of the front link portion 11 of the unequal-sided four-bar link 8 of the support frame 2 has a vertical length dimension adjusting mechanism 32. 5. When the height dimension of the upper surface 31 of the toilet body A from the floor surface F is H, and the maximum height dimension of the front end 1a of the toilet seat 1 from the floor surface F at the raised position is H '. , 1.3 ×
The stool device with a support function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein H ≤ H'≤ 1.7 × H is set. 6. The electric drive means 3 is composed of an electric expansion / contraction drive body 14, and a pair of left and right unequal-sided four-bar links 8 and 9 are connected to each other by a horizontal connection rod 6. The stool device with an assisting function according to claim 2, wherein the electric expansion / contraction driving body 14 is attached only to one side of the support frame 2. 7. The toilet device with an assisting function according to claim 6, wherein the lateral connecting rod 6 is disposed so as to cross the upper rear portion of the toilet body A.