KR20230106878A - Walking assistance apparatus for the old and the weak - Google Patents

Abstract

A walking aid for the elderly is disclosed. A walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main frame unit to which wheels are mounted at a lower end; A holder installed on the upper part of the main frame part, on which the user grips the arm, and whose inclination is changed according to the inclination of the ground on which the wheel is placed, wherein the holder extends forward from the upper part of the main frame part Doedoe is rotatably coupled to the main frame portion, the mounting frame to which the pad portion to which the arm is mounted is mounted; a handle formed at the front end of the mounting frame; An inclination sensor for measuring the inclination of the ground, one end installed in the main frame and the other end installed in the mounting frame, a cylinder whose length is changed according to the sensing value of the inclination sensor, and a controller for controlling the cylinder; It includes; a tilt control unit that includes. According to the present invention, as a walking aid that helps an elderly person or patient who has difficulty walking on their own to walk while relying on their body, the angle of the holder on which the user's arm is supported changes according to the inclination of the ground, and the user's A walking aid for the elderly that can be folded with a single click of a button is provided.

Description

Walking aid for the elderly {WALKING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS FOR THE OLD AND THE WEAK}

The present invention relates to a walking aid for the elderly, and more particularly, to a walking aid that helps an elderly person or patient who has difficulty walking on their own to walk while relying on their own body, wherein the user's arms are moved according to the inclination of the ground. The present invention relates to a walking aid for the elderly that can change the angle of the mounting portion and can be easily folded.

In general, walking aids are used for rehabilitation treatment of patients who cannot walk normally by themselves, such as when lower body muscles and joints are weakened or damaged, when a leg is fractured, or to assist the behavior of the elderly.

Types of walking aids include a grip type designed to move while holding a handle, such as a cane or crutches, while temporarily supporting body weight while walking, and a walking aid that has wheels installed at the bottom to move while holding the handle or supporting the arms and shoulders. Various types of devices such as mold assistive devices are widely used.

As for the composition of the population in modern society, the elderly aged 65 years or older are continuously increasing, and the elderly are continuously increasing the population of walking aids due to the weakening of the knee joint. In particular, the walking assist device has a structure in which a pedestrian walks while pushing while relying on his or her weight, so that it can more easily assist the movement of a pedestrian, and thus the demand for it is gradually increasing.

Accordingly, the walking assist device does not stop at simply assisting the user's walking, and technology capable of increasing the user's convenience and safety is continuously being researched.

However, in the conventional walking aid, when the user walks on a slope such as uphill or downhill, the user maintains the same posture, unlike the change in inclination of the ground, by the fixed armrest positioning unit. As a result, walking assistance is not smooth on uphill and downhill roads, and it may cause safety problems for users who are elderly or weak.

On the other hand, the conventional walking aid is manufactured in a simple structure and provided to maintain a fixed state. In the case of a stroller or wheelchair, it is foldable and can be loaded into a vehicle. However, in the case of a walking aid, it is difficult or impossible to put it in a vehicle when a walking aid needs to be boarded in a vehicle while using the walking aid due to a fixed frame.

Republic of Korea Registered Utility Model No. 20-0464815 (2013.01.14. Registration) "folding walker" Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-2045427 (2019.11.11. registration) "Foldable walking aid"

A walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention is a walking aid that helps an elderly person or a patient who has difficulty walking on their own to walk while relying on their own body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a walking aid for the elderly in which an angle of a holding portion is changed.

In addition, an object of the walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a walking aid for the elderly that can be folded with a user's one-click button.

The tasks of the present invention are not limited to the technical tasks mentioned above, and other technical tasks not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

A walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main frame unit to which wheels are mounted at a lower end; A holder installed on the upper part of the main frame, on which the user holds the arm, and whose inclination changes according to the slope of the ground on which the wheel is placed, wherein the holder extends forward from the upper part of the main frame Doedoe is rotatably coupled to the main frame portion, the mounting frame to which the pad portion to which the arm is mounted is mounted; a handle formed at the front end of the mounting frame; An inclination sensor for measuring the inclination of the ground, one end installed in the main frame and the other end installed in the mounting frame, a cylinder whose length is changed according to the sensing value of the inclination sensor, and a controller for controlling the cylinder; It includes; a tilt control unit that includes.

Here, the cylinder part may include a cylinder having one end rotatably installed in the main frame part and a piston having one end rotatably coupled to the mounting frame and inserted into the cylinder.

Here, the pad part is fixed to a pad fixing part capable of sliding along the longitudinal direction of the mounting frame and the pad fixing part, and a user's arm can be supported thereon.

Here, the main frame unit, the front wheel frame; rear wheel frame; and a hinge joint connecting the front wheel frame, the rear wheel frame, and the mounting frame to mutual angular displacement, wherein the hinge joint mutually rotates the front wheel frame, the rear wheel frame, and the mounting frame to be folded. A locking member may be movable between an unlocking position that permits unlocking and a locking position in which the front wheel frame, the rear wheel frame, and the mounting frame are maintained in unfolded states.

Here, the locking member may allow a predetermined angle change with respect to the front wheel frame and the rear wheel frame of the mounting frame in the locked position.

According to embodiments of the present invention, at least the following effects are provided.

According to the walking aid for the elderly according to the present invention, the angle of the holder on which the user's arm is supported changes according to the inclination of the ground, thereby reducing the load applied to the user and allowing the user to walk in a more comfortable posture.

In addition, the angle of the holder on which the user's arm is placed is changed according to the inclination of the ground, so that the user's safety is further increased.

In addition, the angle of the mounting portion can be changed with a relatively simple structure.

In addition, the angle of the mounting portion is automatically changed according to the inclination of the ground, so that the user can walk more stably and comfortably.

In addition, when using or not using the walking aid and storing it, the folding or unfolding operation can be conveniently and easily performed by the pedestrian himself.

Effects according to the present invention are not limited by the contents exemplified above, and more various effects are included in the present specification.

1 is a perspective view of a walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 and 3 are exploded views of a walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an explanatory view of a mounting portion of a walking aid for the elderly and weak according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a schematic device diagram of a tilt control unit of a walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 to 8 are explanatory views of the operation of the holding unit of the walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is an explanatory diagram of a folding process of a walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a modified example of a main frame part of a walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Since the present invention can apply various transformations and have various embodiments, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. Effects and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will become clear with reference to the embodiments described later in detail together with the drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various forms, and includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

Prior to the description, the terms described in the detailed description will be described. In the following embodiments, terms such as first and second are used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component without limiting meaning. Accordingly, it goes without saying that the first element mentioned below may also be the second element within the technical spirit of the present invention. Also, expressions in the singular number include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, terms such as 'include' or 'have' mean that features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification exist, and that one or more other features or components are present. It does not preclude the possibility of being added.

In addition, in the drawings, the size of components may be exaggerated or reduced for convenience of explanation. For example, since the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of description, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the illustrated bar.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components are assigned the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions thereof will be omitted.

A walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention is a walking aid that helps an elderly person or a patient who has difficulty walking on their own to walk while relying on their own body. The present invention relates to a walking aid for the elderly and weak that is foldable with a single click of a button by a user.

1 is a perspective view of a walking aid for the elderly and weak according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded views of the walking aid for the elderly and weak according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A walking aid 1000 for the elderly and weak according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main frame part 100, a holding part 200, and a tilt adjusting part 300.

The main frame unit 100 forms the overall frame of the walking aid 1000 for the elderly and infirm according to the present embodiment. The main frame unit 100 includes a front wheel frame 110, a rear wheel frame 120, and a hinge joint 130. Details of the main frame unit 100 will be described later.

4 is an explanatory view of a mounting portion of a walking aid for the elderly and weak according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The holding unit 200 is a configuration that allows the user to move while pushing in a dispersed state by holding the user's weight for assistance in walking. The holding part 200 includes a holding frame 210, a handle 220, and a pad part 230.

The mounting frame 210 extends forward from the top of the main frame unit 100 and is rotatably coupled to the main frame unit 100 . A connection structure between the mounting frame 210 and the main frame unit 100 will be described later. Here, the mounting frame 210 is supported by being coupled to the other end of the cylinder part 320, one end of which is coupled to the main frame part 100.

A handle 220 extends upward from the front of the mounting frame 210 so that a user can grip it, and a pad unit 230 is mounted in one area along the longitudinal direction of the mounting frame 210 . Therefore, when the user grips the handle 220, the arm part is naturally seated on the pad part 230, and the user's weight can be easily distributed while feeling comfortable. The pad part 230 includes a pad fixing part 231 and a pad 232, wherein the pad fixing part 231 is provided to be slidably movable along the longitudinal direction of the mounting frame 210, and the pad 232 is fixed to the pad fixing part 231. The pad fixing part 231 is provided to be movable on the mounting frame 210, and the position can be easily adjusted according to the user's body structure.

5 is a schematic device diagram of an inclination adjusting unit of a walking aid for the elderly and infirm according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. .

The inclination adjusting unit 300 adjusts the inclination of the mounting unit 200 according to the inclination of the ground on which the main frame unit 100 is placed. The tilt adjusting unit 300 includes a tilt sensor 310, a cylinder unit 320, and a control unit 330.

The cylinder unit 320 includes a cylinder 321 rotatably installed in either the main frame unit 100, specifically, the front wheel frame 110 or the rear wheel frame 120 through a hinge or the like, and one end of the mounting frame ( 210) is rotatably coupled through a hinge or the like and includes a piston 322 whose other end is inserted into the cylinder 321. In this embodiment, the cylinder 321 is coupled to one end of the front wheel frame 110 as an example.

Insertion/retraction of the piston 322 may be controlled by the control unit 330 . Specifically, the sensed value of the inclination sensor 310 is transmitted to the controller 330, and the controller 330 controls the degree of insertion/extraction of the piston 322 according to the received sensed value. For example, when the main frame unit 100 moves along an uphill road, the gradient of the uphill road is transmitted to the controller 330, and the controller 330 tilts downward based on the connection position with the main frame unit 100. By doing so, that is, by allowing more pistons 322 to be inserted, it is possible to allow the user to walk more comfortably. In addition, when the main frame unit 100 moves along a downhill road, the gradient of the downhill road is transmitted to the controller 330, and the controller 330 tilts upward based on the connection position with the main frame unit 100. By doing so, it is possible for the user to walk more comfortably. That is, in this case, the controller 330 may allow the piston 322 to be drawn out more. At this time, the control unit 330 stores the insertion/withdrawal value of the piston 322 corresponding to the gradient in advance, and controls the insertion/withdrawal degree of the piston 322 to a preset value according to the received sensing value. .

Therefore, the angle of the holder 200 on which the user's arm is placed is changed according to the inclination of the ground, thereby increasing the user's safety. and can walk comfortably.

Meanwhile, as described above, the main frame unit 100 includes a front wheel frame 110, a rear wheel frame 120, and a hinge joint 130.

The front wheel 111 is mounted at the lower end of the front wheel frame 110, the rear wheel 121 is mounted on the rear wheel frame 120, and the front wheel 111 and the rear wheel 121 are respectively the front wheel frame 110 and the rear wheel frame 120. ) may be provided to be foldable.

9 is an explanatory view of a folding process of a walking aid for the elderly and weak according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the upper end of the front wheel frame 110, the upper end of the rear wheel frame 120, and the rear end of the mounting frame 210 are coupled to each other by a hinge joint 130. Accordingly, the front wheel frame 110, the rear wheel frame 120, and the mounting frame 210 are rotatably coupled to each other so that mutual angular displacement is possible.

The hinge joint 130 includes a locking member, and the locking member is provided to be movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. Specifically, when the locking member is in the locking position, mutual rotation of the front wheel frame 110, the rear wheel frame 120, and the mounting frame 210 is restricted, so that they are fixed in a folded or unfolded state. In addition, when the locking member is in the unlock position, mutual rotation is allowed so that the front wheel frame 110, the rear wheel frame 120, and the mounting frame 210 are folded. At this time, movement between the unlock position and the lock position of the lock member can be achieved by the user pressing the lock member. As an example, the locking member is a protruding button type, and the user can selectively change the locking and unlocking states by pressing the corresponding button.

Meanwhile, when the locking member is in the locking position, a predetermined angle may be changed with respect to the mounting frame 210 . That is, the front wheel frame 110 and the rear wheel frame 120 are fixed and do not move, but the mounting frame 210 may be provided to allow a predetermined angle change with respect to the front wheel frame 110 and the rear wheel frame 120.

As described above, the inclination of the mounting frame 210 is adjusted by the inclination control unit 300 according to the inclination of the ground. When a user uses a walking aid, the front wheel frame 110, the rear wheel frame 120, and the mounting frame 210 are in a unfolded state, and the locking member is positioned in a locked position so that mutual rotation is not allowed. However, in this case, since the inclination of the holding portion 200 is not changed, even when the locking member is in the locked position, the inclination of the holding portion 200 is adjustable within a predetermined angle range. Even when the main frame unit 100 is placed on an uphill or downhill road, since the inclination of the mounting unit 200 does not change at a large angle, this can be tolerated.

Alternatively, as a modified example, two locking members are provided, a first locking member enabling mutual rotation between the front wheel frame 110 and the rear wheel frame 120, and rotation between the main frame unit 100 and the mounting frame 210. It may be provided as a second locking member that enables. Therefore, when the first locking member is in the locked position, rotation between the front wheel frame 110 and the rear wheel frame 120 is not allowed, and when the second locking member is in the locked position, the main frame portion 100 of the mounting frame 210 ) may be provided to allow a predetermined angle change for

That is, if the front wheel frame 110, the rear wheel frame 120, and the mounting frame 210 are rotatable with each other and are provided to be folded, and the angle of the mounting frame 210 can be changed during use, the front wheel frame 110 and the rear wheel frame The coupling structure of the 120 and the mounting frame 210 is not limited.

10 is a modified example of a main frame part of a walking aid for the elderly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the front wheel frame 110 is provided longer than the rear wheel frame 120, so that the front wheel 111 and the rear wheel 121 do not collide with each other when folded to prevent wheel damage and minimize the volume. However, it is not necessarily limited thereto, and the rear wheel frame 120 may be provided longer than the front wheel frame. Alternatively, regardless of the lengths of the rear wheel frame 120 and the front wheel frame 110, the front wheel 111 and the rear wheel 121 may be coupled so as not to interfere with each other.

In this embodiment, the front wheel frame 110 and the rear wheel frame 120 are provided to be folded forward/backward on the drawing. However, as shown in the drawing, the front wheel frame 110 and the rear wheel frame 120 may be provided to be folded up/down. In addition, a link structure may be installed between the front wheel frame 110 and the rear wheel frame 120 to make the frame more robust while being foldable.

On the other hand, one of the front frame 110 and the rear frame 120 may be equipped with a case 130 having an inclination sensor 310, etc., and also equipped with a chair 140 on which the user can sit and take a break. It can be.

Therefore, according to the present invention, as a walking aid that helps the elderly or patients who have difficulty walking on their own to walk while relying on their own bodies, the angle of the holder on which the user's arms are supported changes according to the inclination of the ground, Provided is a walking aid for the elderly that can be folded with a user's single button click.

The use of all examples or exemplary terms (eg, etc.) in the present invention is simply to explain the present invention in detail, and the scope of the present invention due to the examples or exemplary terms is not limited unless it is limited by the claims. It is not limited. In addition, those skilled in the art can recognize that various modifications, combinations, and changes can be made according to design conditions and factors within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof.

Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments and should not be determined, and not only the claims to be described later, but also all ranges equivalent to or equivalently changed from these claims fall within the spirit of the present invention. would be considered to be in the category.

1000: walking aid for the elderly
100: main frame part 110: front wheel frame
111: front wheel 120: rear wheel frame
121: rear wheel 130: case
140: chair 200: mounting unit
210: mounting frame 220: handle
230: pad part 231: pad fixing part
232: pad 300: tilt control unit
310: inclination sensor 320: cylinder part
321: cylinder 322: piston
330: control unit

Claims (5)

Main frame portion to which wheels are mounted at the bottom;
A holding part installed on the upper part of the main frame part, on which an arm is placed when the user grips it, and whose inclination is changed according to the inclination of the ground on which the wheel is placed;
The holding part,
a mounting frame extending forward from the top of the main frame unit, rotatably coupled to the main frame unit, and having a pad unit on which an arm is mounted;
a handle formed at the front end of the mounting frame;
An inclination sensor for measuring the inclination of the ground, one end installed in the main frame and the other end installed in the mounting frame, a cylinder whose length is changed according to the sensing value of the inclination sensor, and a controller for controlling the cylinder; A tilt control unit comprising;
A walking aid for the elderly comprising a.
According to claim 1,
The cylinder part,
A walking aid for the elderly comprising a cylinder having one end rotatably installed in the main frame part and a piston having one end rotatably coupled to the mounting frame and inserted into the cylinder.
According to claim 2,
The pad part,
A walking aid for the elderly and weak, comprising: a pad fixing part that is slidably movable along the longitudinal direction of the holding frame; and a pad fixed to the pad fixing part and on which a user's arm is supported.
According to claim 1,
The main frame part,
front wheel frame;
rear wheel frame; and
A hinge joint connecting the front wheel frame, the rear wheel frame, and the mounting frame to each other for mutual angular displacement,
The hinge joint is between an unlock position allowing mutual rotation of the front wheel frame, the rear wheel frame, and the mounting frame to be folded, and a locked position maintaining the unfolded state of the front wheel frame, the rear wheel frame, and the mounting frame. A walking aid for the elderly comprising a movable locking member.
According to claim 4,
the locking member
A walking aid for the elderly and weak that permits a predetermined angle change with respect to the front wheel frame and the rear wheel frame of the mounting frame in the locked position.

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