JPH10137297A - Wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the movement from bed or toilet or movement to bed or toilet. SOLUTION: A sitting part 40 arranged between left and right frames 1 and 8 is constituted so that its breadthwise dimension from side to side is narrower than a dimension between the left and right frames 1 and 8. The left and right frames 1 and 8 are mutually linked at a lower part, arm rest parts 4 and 11 are respectively arranged at their upper parts, foot rests 23 and fore wheels 18 composed of caster wheels are arranged at the fore parts of their lower parts, and rear wheels 19 are arranged at their rear parts. The sitting part 40 is arranged so as to be elevated by a lifter 28 arranged under the sitting part 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wheelchair, and more particularly, to a wheelchair in which a lateral width of a seat is smaller than a distance between right and left frames.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a wheelchair constructed by making the width of a seat portion in the left-right direction smaller than the size between left and right frames is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-71108. It has been known.

[0003] In the wheelchair described in the above-mentioned publication, the width of the seat is narrow, and the user can sit on the seat in a straddling manner and arrange the left and right legs on the left and right sides of the seat, respectively. It was easy to move from a bed or toilet to a wheelchair, or from a wheelchair to a bed or toilet or the like.

However, in the above-mentioned wheelchair, if the height of the bed / toilet or the like is different from that of the seat, it is difficult for the wheelchair to move on its own, and the caregiver needs to assist.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair that can be easily moved from a bed or a toilet or to a bed or a toilet.

[0006]

A wheelchair according to the present invention comprises:
The left and right frames interconnected at the bottom,
With the armrest at the top, the footrest and the front wheel consisting of caster wheels at the bottom front,
A wheelchair, wherein a rear wheel is disposed at a rear portion, and a seat portion disposed between the left and right frames has a width in the left-right direction smaller than that between the left and right frames. The seat is arranged to be able to move up and down by an elevating device arranged below the seat.

It is preferable that the front portions of the left and right frames are disposed substantially vertically, and the footrest is disposed behind the front surfaces of the left and right frames.

[0008] Further, rear footrests may be respectively arranged at lower rear portions of the left and right frames.
Further, a protruding portion protruding upward may be formed on a rear upper portion of the seat portion. Furthermore, the rear wheel may be formed of a caster wheel.

[0009]

In the wheelchair according to the present invention, the seat can be raised or lowered by operating the elevating device, so that the height of the bed / toilet or the like can be matched with the height of the seat. Because it is possible, it is easy to move from a bed / toilet or the like to a wheelchair or from a wheelchair to a bed / toilet or the like.

[0010] Furthermore, if the user lifts the seat to allow a part of the weight to be shared by the seat and the user stands over the seat, the caregiver can support the weight of the user with one hand. Since it is not necessary to use or support at all, it is easy for the user to put on and take off clothes, and it is more convenient to use the toilet. Of course, it is also convenient when the user himself / herself attaches / detaches or arranges clothes.

Furthermore, if the user lifts the seat to allow a part of the weight to be shared by the seat and the user stands over the seat, even a person with weak legs can kick the floor and practice walking. It can be used as a walker that can reduce the burden on the knees and hips.

And, of course, when the caregiver pushes, if the foot is placed on the footrest, the foot will not be in the way,
A wheelchair can be run. The footrest can be used for a break during walking practice.

Therefore, in the wheelchair according to the present invention, it is easy to move from the bed / toilet or the like to the bed / toilet, etc., and it is easy to attach / detach and arrange clothes in the toilet / toilet. Also, it can be used as a walker that can reduce the burden on the waist.

If the front portions of the left and right frames are arranged substantially vertically, and the footrests are arranged behind the front surfaces of the left and right frames, work on a wash basin or a sink can be performed. It will be easier.

That is, if the wheelchair is moved forward so as to be in contact with the front of a wash basin, a sink, or the like, the footrest projecting forward in the conventional wheelchair, but in the wheelchair according to the present invention, the left and right frames may be moved. The wheelchairs can be arranged so that the front surfaces of the left and right frames abut on the front of the wash basin or the sink without being protruded from the front, and the user can be extremely close to the wash basin or the sink. Furthermore, if the seat is raised and the weight is given to the seat, the burden on the knees and hips can be reduced and the user can be in a standing position. This is because it is easy to put it inside, and operations such as washing and cooking can be performed easily.

Incidentally, the caster wheels arranged at the lower front portions of the left and right frames, when moving forward, move the trail which is the distance from the center of rotation of the wheel in the horizontal plane direction to the center of rotation of the wheel in the vertical plane, and It moves backward so that it is located rearward from the center of rotation in the horizontal plane.In addition, the caster wheel protrudes slightly forward because a riser is usually formed and recessed in the lower part of the wash basin etc. Even so, the front surfaces of the left and right frames of the wheelchair can be brought close to the front surface of the wash basin or the like without any trouble.

Also, on the lower rear portions of the left and right frames,
By disposing the rear footrest, when the wheelchair runs backward, the foot can be run without disturbing by placing the foot on the rear footrest. Of course, you can rest on your back footrest while practicing walking backwards.

Further, in the case where a protruding portion protruding upward is formed in the upper portion on the rear side of the seat portion, the user grasps the protruding portion by hand when moving from a bed or the like to the seat portion of the wheelchair by itself. The movement can be facilitated.

Furthermore, if the rear wheels are made of caster wheels, all of the front and rear wheels are caster wheels, so that the wheelchair can be easily moved back and forth, right and left, and the seat can be raised to reduce the weight. If the user is allowed to stand on the seat by leaving the part on the seat, the load on the legs can be further reduced and the user can use the walker as a walker. Of course, if the height of the seat portion is reduced, it is possible to practice walking with the entire weight on the legs.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the wheelchair C1 of the embodiment has a width in the left-right direction between the right and left frames 1.8 made of metal pipes, which is larger than the width between the left and right frames 1.8. The seat 40 is made narrower.

The left and right frames 1 and 8 respectively include a front vertical section 2.9 arranged substantially vertically on the front side, and a rear vertical section 3/10 arranged substantially vertically on the rear side. , And furthermore, the upper horizontal portion 4.1 arranged in a substantially horizontal direction
1, a middle horizontal part 5.12 and a lower horizontal part 6.13.

At the upper end of each of the rear vertical portions 3 and 10, grip portions 3a and 10a for the caregiver to press the wheelchair C1 are formed. In addition, a backrest 49 in which a cloth material or the like is wound around each other is disposed above the rear vertical portions 3 and 10.

The upper horizontal portions 4 and 11 have upper ends of the front vertical portions 2 and 9 bent rearward to be connected to substantially vertical intermediate portions of the rear vertical portions 3 and 10 and have a cushion material on the upper surface. 4a
11a is fixed to form an armrest.

Each of the middle horizontal portions 5 and 12 has a front and rear end which is a front vertical portion 2.
・ A front part 5a ・ 12a connected to each rear vertical part 3 ・ 10 near the middle of the vertical direction of 9 and a rear vertical part 3 ・ 10 and connected to each other in an inverted U-shape when viewed from above Rear 5
b.12b.

Each of the lower horizontal portions 6 and 13 is connected to the lower end of each of the front vertical portions 2.9 and each of the rear vertical portions 3 and 10, and the rear ends thereof are connected to each other to form the frame 1.8. Are connected to each other to form a rear frame 16.

The left and right frames 1 and 8 are connected to each other by a front connection frame 15 and a rear connection frame 16 arranged at the lower end of the front vertical section 2.9.
In the embodiment, the rear portions 5b and 12 of the middle horizontal portions 5 and 12 are used.
The left and right frames 1 and 8 are also connected to each other.

On the left and right side surfaces of the wheelchair C1, a cloth material or the like is provided in a space surrounded by the front vertical section 2.9, the rear vertical section 3.10, the armrest sections 4.11, and the middle horizontal section 5.12. May be provided.

At the lower end of each of the front vertical sections 2 and 9, a front wheel 18 made of a caster wheel is disposed, and at the lower portion of each of the rear vertical sections 3 and 10, the rear wheel is rotatably provided. 19
Is arranged. In addition, each of the middle horizontal portions 5 and 12 is provided with a stop lever 2 by tilting the operation lever 21a.
A brake device 21 for pressing the rear wheel 1b against the rear wheel 19 to prevent the rear wheel 19 from rotating is provided.

Further, a front footrest 23 is provided on the front side and a rear footrest 24 is provided on the rear side of each of the lower horizontal portions 6 and 13. Each footrest 23/24 has a cylindrical portion 23a / 24a through which each lower horizontal portion 6/13 is inserted, a flat portion 23c / 24c on which a foot is placed,
It is provided with. In each of the cylindrical portions 23a and 24a,
Guide grooves 23b and 24b for inserting pins 6a and 13a protruding from the lower horizontal portions 6 and 13 are formed. Then, each of the footrests 23 and 24 is rotated to
a and 13a are respectively brought into contact with both end surfaces of the guide grooves 23b and 24b, so that the flat portions 23c and 24c are arranged in a substantially vertical direction (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and between the left and right frames 1.8. And a use position (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) to be arranged in a substantially horizontal direction.

In the case of the embodiment, the front footrests 23 are arranged on the rear side of the front vertical parts 2.9.

The seat 40 has a rectangular parallelepiped main body 40a,
A projecting portion 40b projecting upward at the rear end of the main body 40a. A guide rod 40c fixed to the support plate 26 described later and inserted into the cylindrical guide 33 is provided on the rear side of the lower surface of the main body 40a. The guide rod 40c is for preventing the seat portion 40 from rotating when the seat portion 40 moves up and down. In addition, a cushion material is provided inside the upper surface side of the main body 40a and the protruding portion 40b so that the sitting comfort is good.
Further, in the case of the embodiment, the front surface of the seat portion 40 substantially coincides with the front surface of the front vertical portions 2.9 of the left and right frames 1.8.

Below the seat 40, a narrow supporting plate 26 is arranged so as to connect the front connecting frame 15 and the rear connecting frame 16, and on the upper surface of the supporting plate 26,
An elevating device 28 for elevating and lowering the seat portion 40, and the above-described cylindrical guide 33 disposed behind the elevating device 28
And are fixedly arranged.

In the case of the embodiment, the lifting / lowering device 28 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus utilizes hydraulic pressure, and includes a hydraulic cylinder 29, a hydraulic pump 30, and an oil tank 31.

The hydraulic cylinder 29 is configured such that the upper end of a rod 29d connected to a piston 29c in a cylinder 29a arranged vertically is connected near the center of the seat body 40a.

The hydraulic pump 30 is a reciprocating piston type. As shown in FIG. 4, a cylinder 30a having an inner diameter smaller than that of the cylinder 29a of the hydraulic cylinder 29 is connected to a rod 30d and a pinton sliding in the cylinder 30a. 30c.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hydraulic circuit of the lifting device 28 includes a discharge line 42, a supply line 43, and an inflow line 4.
4. The discharge pipe 42 is configured by connecting the inflow chamber 29b in the cylinder 29a of the hydraulic cylinder 29 and the oil tank 31 and disposing an on-off valve 45,
This is for discharging the oil O in the inflow chamber 29b to the oil tank 31 when the on-off valve 45 is opened. The supply line 43 supplies the oil O from the oil tank 31 to the cylinder 30 of the hydraulic pump 30.
The check valve 46 is provided to guide the oil O to the inflow chamber 30b in FIG. The inflow line 44 is provided with oil O from the inflow chamber 30b.
Into the inflow chamber 29b of the hydraulic cylinder 29, so that the oil O does not flow back into the inflow chamber 30b.
A check valve 47 is arranged.

The on-off valve 45 is provided with a wire 38 connected to the operation lever 37 which is swingably disposed on the lower surface of the armrest 11.
When the operation lever 37 is gripped so as to approach the armrest 11, the valve is opened, and when the operation lever 37 is stopped, the valve is closed by a built-in return spring (not shown). Have been. Note that a return spring (not shown) is also attached to the operation lever 37 so that the operation lever 37 returns when the grip is released.

In the hydraulic pump 30, a piston rod 30d is connected to a wire 36 connected to an operation lever 35 swingably disposed on the lower surface of the armrest portion 11, and
When the operation lever 35 is gripped so as to approach the armrest 11, the piston 3 is moved to reduce the volume of the outflow chamber 30b.
0c is raised, and the gripping of the operation lever 35 is stopped.
0c is reset. Note that a return spring (not shown) is also attached to the operation lever 35 so that the operation lever 35 returns when the grip is released.

Each of the wires 36 and 38 is covered with a cylindrical cover (not shown), and the cover is held at a predetermined position on each of the frames 1 and 8 so as not to interfere with a user during use. And connected to the lifting device 28.

The lifting device 28 is operated by gripping the operating lever 35, whereby the piston 30c of the hydraulic pump 30 is raised, and the oil O flowing from the oil tank 31 is transferred from the outflow chamber 30b to the inflow pipe 30b. Since it is possible to flow into the inflow chamber 29b of the hydraulic cylinder 29 via 44 and raise the fixed rod 29d of the hydraulic cylinder 29, the seat 40 can be raised. Seat 4
In order to raise 0 further higher, the grip of the operation lever 35 may be repeated many times.

The cylinder 29a of the hydraulic cylinder 29
Since the inner diameter of the cylinder 30a of the hydraulic pump 30 is configured to be smaller than the inner diameter of the hydraulic pump 30, even with a small operating force of the operating lever 35, a large lifting force of the piston rod 29d can be secured. Even if the user sits with weight on the seat 40, the seat 40 can be easily raised.

When the grip of the operation lever 35 is stopped, the inflow chamber 29b of the hydraulic cylinder 29 is connected to the on-off valve 45.
Is not opened, the discharge line 42 is closed,
In addition, since the backflow of the oil O to the hydraulic pump 30 side is prevented by the check valve 47, the volume of the seat
Will maintain that height.

Thereafter, when the operating lever 37 is gripped, the on-off valve 45 is opened, so that the oil O flows from the inflow chamber 29b of the hydraulic cylinder 29 to the oil tank 31 via the discharge pipe 42, and the inflow chamber 29b Of the seat 40
Will fall. Then, when it is desired to stop the seat portion 40 at a predetermined height position, the grip of the operation lever 37 may be stopped.

In the wheelchair C1 of the embodiment, as described above, the operation of the operating levers 35 and 37 causes the lifting device 2 to move.
By actuating 8, the seat 40 can be adjusted to a predetermined height, and the height of the bed or the like and the height of the seat 40 can be matched, so that from the bed or the like to the wheelchair C1, or Movement from the wheelchair C1 to a bed or the like becomes easy.

The case of moving from the bed to the Western-style toilet will be described. First, the elevating device 28 is operated so that the seat portion 40 matches the height of the bed, and the front side of the wheelchair C1 contacts the bed. . Next, the user moves on the seat 40 so as to get on the wheelchair C1 backward.
Thereafter, the height of the seat portion 40 is readjusted, and then the wheelchair C1 is moved so that the front side of the wheelchair C1 is close to the front side of the Western-style toilet, and is arranged. Then, after the seat portion 40 is made to coincide with the height of the toilet, if the pants and the like are lowered and moved to the toilet, the toilet can be easily used. afterwards,
When returning to the bed, an operation reverse to that described above may be performed.
In addition, in the case of men's small business, it is sufficient to get on the wheelchair C1 forward, raise the seat 40 near the toilet, and raise the waist.

Incidentally, when using the toilet, in the conventional wheelchair, the user is moved 90 ° sideways on the front side of the Western-style toilet to move the user, and the toilet space is used widely. However, in this wheelchair C1, it is possible to use the wheelchair by arranging it so that the front approaches the front of the Western-style toilet, and it is not necessary to arrange the wheelchair C1 sideways on the front side of the Western-style toilet, The toilet can be used even if the width of the toilet is narrow, and it can be easily used even at home.

When it is not possible to put on or take off clothes alone in a toilet or the like, a part of the weight is
If the user raises the seat portion 40 so that the user can stand on the seat 40 and the user stands on the seat portion 40, the caregiver does not need to support the weight of the user with one hand or at all. Therefore, the user can easily put on and take off the clothes and prepare the clothes, and the use of the toilet and the like becomes more convenient.

Furthermore, the user lifts the seat 40 so that a part of the body weight can be shared with the seat 40 so that the user can use the seat 4.
If the user straddles zero, even a person with weak legs can kick on the floor and practice walking, and can also be used as a walker that can reduce the burden on the knees and hips.

By the way, at the time of walking practice, the front and rear footrests 23 and 24 are arranged at the storage positions, and the left and right feet of the user are connected to the lower horizontal parts 6.13 on the left and right sides of the support plate 26 and the front and rear connection frames 15. 16 between them.

When the caregiver pushes the wheelchair C1, if the foot is placed on the flat portion 23c of the front footrest 23 located at the use position, the wheelchair C1 is driven without the foot getting in the way. be able to. The front footrests 23 can also be used for a break during walking practice.

Therefore, in the wheelchair C1 of the embodiment,
Use as a walker that makes it easy to move from a bed or toilet, or to a bed or toilet, as well as to easily put on and take off clothes in the toilet, etc., and further reduce the burden on the knees and waist. It is also possible.

In the wheelchair C1 according to the embodiment, the front vertical portions 2.9 on the front side of the left and right frames 1.8 are disposed substantially vertically, and the front footrests 23 are connected to the front vertical portions 2. -It is arranged behind 9.

Therefore, if the wheelchair C1 is moved forward so as to be in contact with the front of the wash basin 50 or the like (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2), the front footrests 23, 23 can be mounted on the left and right frames 1.8. The wheelchair C1 can be arranged so as not to protrude from the front surface and to make the front vertical portions 2.9 of the left and right frames 1.8 abut against the front surface of the wash basin 50 or the like.
If the user can get very close to the wash basin 50 and the like, and further raise the seat portion 40 to allow the weight to sit on the seat portion 40, the burden on the knees and waist can be reduced, and the user's hand, face, etc. Can easily be put in the inside of the wash basin 50 or the like, so that work such as a wash basin can be easily performed.

By the way, the caster wheels 18 arranged at the lower front portions of the left and right frames 1 and 8 move forward from the center of rotation of the wheels 18a in the horizontal plane when the wheels 18a move forward.
Trail T, which is the distance to the center of rotation in the vertical plane
Is moved rearward so as to be disposed rearward from the center of rotation of the wheel 18a in the horizontal plane direction. Further, a lower portion of the wash basin 50 or the like usually has a cast-in portion 50a formed therein so that the caster is recessed. Even if the wheel 18 protrudes slightly forward, there is no problem, and the left and right frames 1 and
8 can be approached so as to contact the front of the wash basin 50 or the like. Of course, the caster wheel 18 may be further arranged on the rear side so as not to protrude from the front vertical sections 2.9 at all.

In the wheelchair C1 of the embodiment, the rear footrests 24
When the wheelchair C1 is run backward, if the foot is placed on the flat portion 24c of the footrest 24 after the use position, the wheelchair C1 can be run without disturbing the foot. Of course, even when practicing walking backwards, it is also possible to rest after placing the foot in the use position and resting the foot on the footrest 24.

Further, in the wheelchair C1 of the embodiment, a protruding portion 40b which protrudes upward is formed at an upper portion on the rear side of the seat portion 40, and when moving from a bed or the like to the seat portion 40 of the wheelchair C1 by itself, Since the user can grasp the protruding portion 40b by hand, the movement is facilitated.

Further, in the wheelchair C1 of the embodiment,
When raising and lowering the seat 40 by operating the elevating device 28, the operation can be performed by operating the two operation levers 35 and 37 provided on the armrests 4.11, so that even if the user himself is sitting on the seat 40, The seat 40 can be easily moved up and down.

In the wheelchair C1 of the embodiment, the lifting device 28 using hydraulic pressure is shown. However, water or air may be used, and a fluid pressure generating device such as a hydraulic pump may be replaced with an electric pump. May be configured. Of course, when an electric pump is used, it becomes necessary to mount a battery or the like on the wheelchair C1. Furthermore, the lifting / lowering device 28 may be configured by a rack and pinion mechanism or a ball screw mechanism using an electric motor.

In the embodiment, the rear wheel 19 is constituted by the large-diameter wheel 19a provided with the gripping wheel 19b which is gripped when the user travels. However, the rear wheel 19 has the wheelchair C2 shown in FIG. As described above, if the rear wheel is constituted by the caster wheel 18, the front wheel and the rear wheel are all caster wheels 18, so that the wheelchair C2 can be easily moved back and forth, right and left, and the seat 40 can be raised to reduce the weight. If a part of the part is left in the seat and the user stands across the seat 40, the load on the legs can be further reduced, and the user can use the walker as a walker. Of course, if the height of the seat portion 40 is reduced, walking exercise with the entire weight on the legs can be performed, and the wheelchair C2 may be configured as described above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the wheelchair of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the wheelchair of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hydraulic circuit of the lifting device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a wheelchair showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... left frame, 8 ... right frame, 4.11 ... armrest part, 18 ... (caster wheel) front wheel, 19 ... rear wheel, 23 ... front footrest, 24 ... rear footrest, 28 ... elevating device, 40 ... seat part, C1, C2: Wheelchair.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takuji Amano 1-22, Haruki-shaped white clay, Togo-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi Prefecture 1922

Claims (5)

[Claims] The left and right frames connected to each other at a lower portion have an armrest at an upper portion, a footrest and a front wheel formed of caster wheels at a lower front portion, and a rear wheel at a rear portion. A wheelchair, wherein a seat portion provided between the left and right frames is configured to have a width in a left-right direction smaller than a size between the left and right frames, A wheelchair, wherein the part is arranged to be able to move up and down by an elevating device arranged below the seat. 2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein front sides of the left and right frames are disposed substantially vertically, and the footrest is disposed rearward of a front surface of the left and right frames. . 3. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein rear footrests are arranged at lower rear portions of the left and right frames, respectively. 4. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion protruding upward is formed at a rear upper portion of the seat. 5. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the rear wheel is a caster wheel.