WO2002034193A1

WO2002034193A1 - Wheelchair

Info

Publication number: WO2002034193A1
Application number: PCT/JP2001/009262
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tamito Kihara; Takatoshi Arimoto
Original assignee: Tsukasako, Kikunori; Ota, Satoshi; Shimabukuro, Akiharu
Priority date: 2000-10-24
Filing date: 2001-10-22
Publication date: 2002-05-02
Also published as: JP2002126008A; TW514524B

Abstract

A wheelchair (1), comprising a seat face lifter having a base bottom part (40) suspended between front and rear X-shaped frames (31) rotatably about the crossing parts of the X-shaped frames (31), an extension member (50) fitted to the base bottom part (40), a seat face support part (60) attached to the upper part of the extension member (50) and foldable in lateral direction, seat face side-edge part bars (70) installed on the right and left sides of the seat face support part (60), connection bars (32) longitudinally connecting the upper end parts of the pair of front and rear X-shaped frames (31) to each other, and a quadric link mechanism (80) for connecting the seat face edge- part bars (70) to the connection bars (32), whereby physical loads on a helper and a helped person can be reduced when the helped person is supported in supportedly stood state since a seat face is moved forward while rising when the extension member (50) is extended.

Description

Specification

Wheelchair technology

The present invention relates to a wheelchair with a seat elevating device used in medical and welfare and nursing care sites. Background art

Elderly, sick, or physically handicapped people using wheelchairs (hereinafter referred to as “care recipients”) are moved from a bed to a wheelchair or dropped from a wheelchair and laid on a bed. Is an extremely burdensome task for those who help them (hereinafter referred to as "helpers"). Therefore, in the fields of medical welfare and nursing care, the following devices and tools have been used to reduce the physical burden on caregivers.

Such devices and tools include, for example, a multi-functional bed with a bed surface elevating function and a reclining function, a support par that can be attached to the bed edge, and a space between the bed and the wheelchair seating surface. A plate-shaped moving bridge (bed-through), a support belt that connects the torso's torso to the caregiver's shoulder, a wheelchair with a handrail attachment / detachment function, and a backrest reclining function. There are a wheelchair with a seat attached to a mobile elevator and a wheelchair dedicated to bathing and toilets.

However, the above-mentioned multi-functional bed or moving bridge is convenient for changing the care recipient on the bed to a wheelchair almost horizontally in a lying posture or an upright posture. When supporting the upper body to stand up or dropping off from a wheelchair, the caregiver's upper body and lower back place a considerable burden. Even when using a sabot belt, the weight of the care recipient must be supported by the upper body of the care recipient. However, the burden on the caregiver is considerably increased. In the case of care assistance, mainly because the care recipient supports the body with its own power. However, if the physical and / or muscular strength of the care recipient is weak, it cannot be used effectively.

In addition, even if a wheelchair has a function of attaching and detaching handrails and a function of reclining the backrest, if the care recipient is to be supported upright or to sit down slowly from that position, considerable care should be taken for the caregiver. Burdensome. Bathing 'Wheelchairs dedicated to toilets have the inconvenience of limited use. Wheelchairs with seats attached to forklift-type lifting devices are large, heavy, and expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. In particular, the caregiver is raised from the bed to support the patient, and is allowed to sit in a wheelchair slowly from that position, and conversely, from the wheelchair. By raising and lowering the wheelchair's seat with a simple lifting function, the participant's body weight is supported by the wheelchair, and the physical burden on the caregiver is reduced. It is intended to do so. That is, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a wheelchair with a seat-surface elevating device that can smoothly ascend and descend so as to reduce the burden on both the caregiver and the care recipient. Disclosure of the invention

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a wheelchair according to the present invention (a configuration according to claim 1) includes a pair of left and right side frames, and a pair of side frames which are disposed below a seating surface and which fold the side frames. A pair of front and rear X-shaped frames that are freely connected; a connection bar that connects upper end portions of the pair of X-shaped frames in the front-rear direction; and a front and rear X with a cross axis of the X-shaped frame as a support axis. A base portion suspended between the V-shaped frames, a telescopic member mounted on the base portion and expanding and contracting in the vertical direction, and a seat mounted on the upper portion of the telescopic member and held so as to be freely foldable in the left-right direction. A seat support, a seat side edge par attached to the left and right ends of the seat support and supporting left and right side edges of the seat, the seat side edge bar and the connection bar. A four-bar link mechanism for coupling By shrinking the member, the seat support part descends and the seat side edge bar overlaps the connecting par, By extending the telescopic member, the seating surface support portion is characterized as rising forward and protruding forward.

That is, in the present invention, a seat lifting device is attached to a wheelchair using an X-shaped frame provided to fold the side frame in the left-right direction. The seat elevating device has a telescopic member attached to the base suspended from the X-shaped frame, and a foldable seat surface support at the top of the telescopic member to support the seat surface. By connecting the bar on the side of the seating surface attached to the left and right sides of the X-shaped frame and the connecting bar connecting the upper ends of the X-shaped frame via a four-bar linkage, The surface support is configured to move up and down. The use of this seat elevation device allows the care recipient and the caregiver to support the care recipient when slowly lifting it from a standing position to a wheelchair. The physical burden on the elderly will be greatly reduced. In addition, since the entire seat can be raised and lowered with one telescopic member, the structure of the seat lifting device is simple and compact, and the weight and cost of the wheelchair can be reduced.

In the present invention, the expansion and contraction member may include a fluid pressure cylinder using hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure, and a piston that can protrude and retract in the axial direction of the fluid pressure cylinder. According to this configuration, even if the means for pressurizing and driving the fluid is small, sufficient seating surface support force and smooth lifting / lowering operation can be obtained.

Further, in the present invention, the elastic member may be hingedly connected to a left-right rotating shaft provided on a base portion and held swingably in a front-rear direction. According to this configuration, the inclination angle of the elastic member follows the elevation of the seat surface, so that the elevating operation becomes smoother even when the seat surface protrudes forward or inclines.

Further, in the present invention, the seat surface support portion is hingedly connected to a left-right rotation shaft provided on an upper part of an elastic member, and is held movably in the front-rear direction. And a pair of left and right wing portions hingedly connected to a pair of left and right pivot shafts provided in the front and rear direction and held rotatably in the left and right direction. According to this configuration, the wheelchair can be When folded in the opposite direction, the seating surface and the seating surface support portion are also smoothly folded together.

Further, in the present invention, the four-joint link mechanism may further include: a seat-side edge bar; a connection bar; a short arm for hinge-connecting the front of the seat-side edge bar and the connection bar; It may be composed of a long arm for hinge-connecting the rear part of the connection bar at the surface side edge. According to this configuration, when the elastic member expands and the seat surface support portion and the seat surface side edge bar are lifted, the rear portion inclines so as to be higher than the front portion and squeezes forward. As a result, the support position of the care recipient can be more easily supported by the seat, and the physical load on the care recipient and the caregiver can be further reduced.

Another configuration of the wheelchair according to the present invention (the configuration according to claim 6) is a pair of left and right side frames, which are disposed below the seating surface and connect the two side frames in a foldable manner. A pair of front and rear X-shaped frames, a connecting bar for connecting upper end portions of the pair of X-shaped frames in the front-rear direction, and a front and rear X-shaped frame with a cross axis of the X-shaped frame as a supporting axis. A base member suspended between the base member; a telescopic member fixed on the base portion and extending and contracting in the vertical direction; a guide member mounted on the base portion so as to be parallel to the telescopic member; A seat support fixed to the top of the guide member and held in a freely foldable manner in the left-right direction, and attached to the left and right ends of the seat support to support the left and right side edges of the seat. A seat-side edge bar; When the member is contracted, the seat support is lowered and the seat side edge bar is overlapped on the connection par, and the seat support is guided by the guide member by extending the elastic member. Is characterized as rising.

Also in this invention, similarly to the invention according to the first aspect of the present invention, a seat lifting device is attached to a wheelchair using an X-shaped frame. However, the configuration of the seat lifting device is slightly different from that of the seat lifting device according to the first aspect of the present invention. That is, in this configuration, the seating surface support portion is supported via the elastic member fixed on the base portion and the guide member. -The seat support part moves up and down according to the expansion and contraction of the telescopic member. There is no four-bar link mechanism between them, and the elevating posture of the seat support is guided by guide members. As a result, the seat supporting portion rises linearly without protruding forward. The guide member can be formed by, for example, a guide pipe fixed on the base portion, a guide shaft fixed to the seat support portion and inserted into the guide pipe.

Even if such a configuration is adopted, when the care recipient is slowly seated in the wheelchair or is lifted from the wheelchair, the physical load on the care recipient and the helper is significantly reduced. be able to. In addition, since the entire seat can be raised and lowered with a single telescopic member, the structure of the seat lifting device is simple and compact, and the weight and weight of the wheelchair can be reduced. .

Furthermore, the configuration of the elastic member / seat surface support described in the invention according to claim 1 can also be adopted for the elastic member / seat support in the present invention.

Further, a further configuration of the wheelchair of the present invention is characterized in that the armrest portion of the side frame is held rotatably in the vertical and horizontal directions with its rear end as a fulcrum. According to this configuration, the armrest can be rotated to a position that does not interfere with the care recipient or the caregiver, if necessary, when the care recipient is seated in the wheelchair or stands up from the wheelchair. Therefore, the physical load on the care recipient and the caregiver is further reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front view of a wheelchair according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a seat surface is lowered.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the wheelchair, showing a state where a seat surface is lowered. FIG. 3 is a front view of the wheelchair, showing a state where a seat surface is raised. FIG. 4 is a side view of the wheelchair, showing a state where a seat surface is raised. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where the wheelchair is folded.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a wheelchair related to a -second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a seat surface is lowered. FIG. 7 is a side view of the wheelchair shown in FIG. 6, showing a state where a seat surface is lowered.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the wheelchair shown in FIG. 6, showing a state in which the seat surface is raised.

5 Fig. 9 is a partial side view of the side frame with the armrest rotatable.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 show a wheelchair 1 with a seat elevation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are front and side views of the wheelchair 1, respectively, showing a state in which the seat surface is lowered. 3 and 4 are a front view and a side view of the wheelchair 1, respectively, showing a state in which the seat surface is raised. FIG. 5 is a front view of the wheelchair 1 in a folded state. 5 First, the basic structure of the wheelchair 1 will be described. The wheelchair 1 has a pair of left and right side frames 20. Main wheels 21 and casters 22 are attached to each side frame 20. Each of the side frames 20 includes a back support 24 having an assisting drip 23 at the upper end, a front support 26 formed to be continuous with the armrest 25, and a back support 24. The lower connecting member 27 and the middle connecting member 28 that connect the front connecting column 26 to the front side support 26 in the front-rear direction, and the footrest 29 provided at the front extension of the lower connecting member 27, etc. It has been. The left and right side frames 20 are connected to each other via a backrest 30 attached to the back support 24, and a pair of X-shaped frames provided opposite to each other below the seating surface. It is connected so that it can be folded in the left-right direction (width direction) via 3 1.

The lower ends of the X-shaped frames 31 are rotatably attached to the lower connecting members 27 of the side frames 20, respectively. In addition, the upper ends of the front and rear X-shaped frames--31 are connected to each other in the front-rear direction by a connection par 32. _ „And when the X-shaped frame 31 is opened in the left and right direction, the left and right connecting bars 32 The left and right side frames 20 are locked along the middle connecting member 28, respectively, and are fixed so that they can be seated. As shown in FIG. 5, when the X-shaped frame 31 is closed vertically, the left and right connecting pars 32 are released from the locked state and lifted upward, and both side frames 20 are closed. Are combined.

In the present embodiment, a wheelchair lifting device is attached to a wheelchair 1 having the above basic structure. The seat lifting device according to the illustrated embodiment includes a base portion 40 suspended between the front and rear X-shaped frames 31, a telescopic member mounted on the base portion 40 and expanding and contracting in the vertical direction. 50, a seat support 60 attached to the upper part of the elastic member 50 and held so as to be freely foldable in the left-right direction, and a seat fixed to the left and right of the seat support 60. The seat side edge bar 70 supporting the left and right side edges is provided, and a four-joint link mechanism 80 connecting the seat side edge bar 70 and the connection bar 32 is provided.

The base portion 40 is, for example, one in which a locking plate 42 is raised relative to a front end and a rear end of an elongated bottom plate 41 in the front-rear direction. The upper part of each locking plate 42 is hingedly connected to the cross axis of the front and rear X-shaped frames 31, and is held swingably in the left-right direction using the cross axis as a support axis.

An elastic member 50 that expands and contracts using, for example, hydraulic pressure, air pressure, gas pressure, or the like is attached to the base portion 40. In this example, a hydraulic pump 51, a hydraulic cylinder 52, a piston 53 that reciprocates in a hydraulic cylinder 52 and protrudes upward, a battery 54 that drives the hydraulic pump 51, a hydraulic pump 51, and a hydraulic pump 51 An oil supply tube 55 communicating with the cylinder 52 and an appropriate hand switch (not shown) for operating the hydraulic pump 51 are provided. The expansion member 50 is provided by the hydraulic cylinder 52 and the piston 53. It is configured. The hydraulic cylinder 52 is hingedly connected to a left-right rotation shaft provided on the bottom plate 41 of the base 40, and is held so as to be able to swing in a predetermined range in the front-rear direction.

The seat supporting portion 60 includes a central base portion 61 hinged to the upper portion of the elastic member 50, and a pair of left and right wing portions 62 hinged to the central base portion 61-. ― ^

The center base 61 is provided on the left and right sides of the piston 53 of the elastic member 50. Board 63 connected hingedly to the rotating shaft in the opposite direction, wing support pieces 64 raised from the left and right side edges of the board 63, and a wing mounting portion provided near the upper center of the board 63 6 and 5 are provided. The central base 61 is held so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction with respect to the piston 53. The wing mounting portion 65 is provided with pivot shafts in the front-rear direction at both left and right ends, and the left and right wing portions 62 are hinged to the pivot shafts. The wing portion 62 is an elongated plate-shaped or rod-shaped member. When the both wings 62 are deployed to the left and right, the wings 62 are supported by the wing support pieces 64 of the central base 61 with the tips of the wings 62 slightly higher than the center.

At the tip of each wing portion 62, a seat-side edge bar 70 extending in the front-rear direction is attached. The seat-side edge par 70 is a rod-shaped member having substantially the same length as the connecting par 32 for connecting the upper ends of the X-shaped frame 31 described above. The seat side edge bar 70 is connected to the tip of the wing portion 62 so as to be rotatable about its own axis. A seat member 71 serving as a seat surface is attached between the left and right seat surface side edge pars 70, and covers the upper surface of the wing portion 62.

As shown in FIG. 4, each seat side edge bar 70 is connected to the connection bar 32 via two link members including a short arm 81 and a long arm 82. Thus, a four-bar link mechanism 80 having four link connecting portions is configured.

Since this seat-surface elevating device has the above-described configuration, the seat-surface elevating operation is performed as follows by expanding and contracting the elastic member 50.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the elastic member 50 is contracted to lower the seat surface support portion 60 and the seat surface side edge par 70, the seat surface side edge par 7 The short arm 8 1 and the long arm 8 2 connecting the 0 and the connecting bar 32 are folded back, and the seat side edge bar 70 is placed on the connecting bar 32, and the seat Is held in the sitting position.

-As shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 4, when the telescopic member 50 is extended to raise the seat support part 60 and the seat side edge bar 70, the seat side Connected to edge bar 70 The short arm 81 and the long arm 82 connecting the par 3 2 stand up. Since the short arm 81 is attached to the front side and the long arm 82 is attached to the rear side, the lifted seat side edge bar 70 is provided with a turning radius of the short arm 81 and the long arm 82. And leaning forward 5 while leaning forward. At the same time, the elastic member 50 hinged to the base 40 also leans forward.

When the seat surface rises in this way and approaches forward in a forward leaning state, it becomes possible to support a care recipient in a standing posture while depositing part of its weight in the wheelchair 1. This makes it easier for the care recipient to sit slowly in the wheelchair 1 and to cause the caregiver to slowly relax from the wheelchair 1, thereby reducing the physical load on both the care recipient and the helper.

At this time, apply a brake to wheelchair 1

It is safe to keep 2 2 from rolling. As the brake, a normal brake attached to a conventional wheelchair 1 or the like can be used.

If you set the expansion / contraction length of the elastic member 50 at the position where the seat surface is lowered or raised, for example, by setting the expansion / contraction limit position of the elastic member 50 as appropriate, the weight applied to the seat surface will It is supported by the front and rear X-shaped frames 31 and the left and right side frames 20 through the member 50 and the base 40. Therefore, a dynamically stable support state can be obtained both when the seat surface is lowered and when the seat surface is raised.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, when the wheelchair 1 is folded, the X-shaped frames 31 are closed vertically, and the position of the connection par 32 is raised. At the same time, the seat surface and the wing portion 62 of the seat surface support portion 60 are also folded from the left and right, and the position of the seat side edge bar 70 is also increased. And the seat side edge par 70 and the connecting par

The short arm 81 and the long arm 82 that connect the third arm 32 are raised at an appropriate angle in accordance with the separation distance between the seat side edge part par 0 and the connection bar 32. Therefore, the seat lifting device can cope with the folding operation of the wheelchair 1 without any trouble. In addition, the left and right widths of the base 40 and the central base 61 of the seat support 60 are small, so that it is disadvantageous to make the folding key of the wheelchair 1 smaller. It may be. According to the wheelchair 1 with the seat lifting device described above, the seat can be raised and lowered smoothly by a simple and compact mechanism. Therefore, when supporting the care recipient in a standing posture, the seat is raised, so that part of the weight of the care recipient is deposited on the seat, and the physical burden on the care recipient and the helper is reduced. be able to. Also, since the mechanism for raising and lowering the seating surface is compact and rational, the device itself is lightweight and can be manufactured at a low cost. It is also possible to adopt a telescopic member 50 using gas pressure, air pressure, an electric motor, or the like, or to form the base 40 in a box shape.

Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 show a wheelchair 10 with a seat lifting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 6 and 7 are a front view and a side view of the wheelchair 10, respectively, showing a state in which the seat surface is lowered. FIG. 8 is a side view of the wheelchair 10 in a state where the seat surface is raised.

The wheelchair 10 also has the same basic structure as the wheelchair 1 shown in the first embodiment, but the configuration of the seat lifting device is slightly different from that of the above-described embodiment. The surface elevating device includes a base portion 40 suspended between the front and rear X-shaped frames 31, a telescopic member 50 mounted on the base portion 40, and a guide member 90. A seat support 60 attached to the upper part of the telescopic member 50 and the guide member and held so as to be freely foldable in the left-right direction, and left and right side edges of the seat fixed to the left and right of the seat support 60. And a seat-side edge bar 70 supporting the portion.

The base 40 includes a bottom plate 41 elongated in the front-rear direction, and a locking plate 42 rising up from the front end and the rear end. The upper part of each locking plate 42 is hinged to the cross axis of the front and rear X-shaped frames 31 respectively. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 4_0 with respect to the intersecting axis _ of the X-shaped frame 3 is restricted at the extended end of the intersecting axis in order to restrict swinging to the right. Swing stopper 4 3 Is attached. The swing stopper is fixed to the locking plate 42 of the base 40, and engages with the X-shaped frame 31 so as to sandwich the intersection of the X-shaped frame 31 from the left and right. ing. As a result, the movement of the base 40 is regulated within a certain range. In this case, there is no problem in closing the X-shaped frame 31 vertically.

The swing stopper may be attached to one of the front and rear X-shaped frames 31, or may be attached to both. Further, it may be attached so as to sandwich the intersection of the X-shaped frame 31 from the front, or may be attached so as to sandwich it from the later method.

An elastic member 50 and a guide member are mounted on the bottom plate 41 of the base 40 in parallel. The elastic member 50 is composed of, for example, a hydraulic cylinder 52 and a piston 53 that are operated by hydraulic pressure, as in the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder 52 is fixed to the bottom plate 41 so as to be substantially upright with respect to the bottom plate 41 of the base 40. Further, in this embodiment, a pump 51 and an operation lever 56 for expanding and contracting the elastic member are attached near one foot of one side frame 20.

The guide member is composed of, for example, a hollow guide pipe 91 and a guide shaft 92 inserted into and out of the guide pipe. The guide pipe is fixed to the bottom plate 41 so as to be parallel to the elastic member.

In addition, the hydraulic cylinder 52 of the extendable member 50 and the guide pipe of the guide member are also fixed by a spacer 93 attached at a position near the cross axis of the X-shaped frame 31. Thereby, the hydraulic cylinder 52 and the guide pipe are reinforced so as to be immovable with respect to each other and also to the base portion 40.

The seat support 60 includes a central base 61 and a pair of left and right wings 62. The structures of the central base 61 and the wings 62 are almost the same as those shown in the first embodiment. ! In the above, the substrate 63 of the central base 61 is composed of the piston 53 of the elastic member 50 and the guide. Each member is fixed to the upper part of the guide shaft. Therefore, the central base 61 is kept in a state of not swinging with respect to the piston 53 and the guide shaft.

As in the first embodiment, a seat-side edge bar 70 extending in the front-rear direction is attached to the tip of each wing portion 62. A seat member 71 serving as a seating surface is attached between the left and right seating surface side edge pars 70, and covers the upper surface of the wing portion 62. However, in this embodiment, there is no connecting member such as the four-joint link mechanism 80 between the seating surface side edge part 70 and the connecting part 32. That is, the seat surface side edge par 70 is held in a state where it can move up and down independently of the connecting par 32. Therefore, the seat surface side edge par 70 does not need to be held so as to rotate around its own axis.

According to the seat-surface elevating device configured as described above, the seat-surface elevating operation is performed as follows according to the expansion and contraction of the elastic member 50.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in a state in which the elastic member 50 is contracted, the guide member is also shortened, and the seat side edge par 70 is placed on the connecting bar 32. The seat support 60 descends to the position, and the seat is held at the seating position. On the other hand, when the telescopic member 50 is extended as shown in FIG. 8, the seat surface support part 60 rises linearly in the direction in which the telescopic member 50 extends. The guide member supports the seat surface support portion 60 while extending in conjunction with the expansion / contraction member 50, and prevents the seat surface from tilting or swinging when ascending or descending.

That is, the wheelchair 10 according to this embodiment does not have the function of the seat surface protruding forward as shown in the first embodiment, but the structure of the seat surface lifting device is simplified. However, there is an advantage that the weight and cost of a wheelchair can be reduced. And even when such a seat elevating device is adopted, when the care recipient is slowly seated in the wheelchair or is lifted from the wheelchair, part of the weight of the care recipient is deposited in the wheelchair 1, The physical load on the care recipient and the caregiver can be reduced.

Next, the movable mechanism of the elbow_hook portion that can be added to the wheelchair of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this mechanism, the armrest portion 25 is separated from the side frame 20 main body, and the armrest portion 25 is attached so as to be rotatable with respect to the side frame 20 main body. The armrest 25 is connected to the back column 24 via a biaxial hinge 110 attached to the rear end, and is connected to the middle section via a detachable tool 120 attached to the front end. It is detachably hooked to the member 28.

The biaxial hinge 110 is, for example, a longitudinal hinge 111 fixed to the dorsal column 24 and a horizontal hinge 111 connecting the rear end of the armrest 25 to the longitudinal hinge 111. It is composed of This makes it possible to simultaneously or continuously perform the operation of lifting the armrest 25 upward and the operation of deploying it to the side. However, the form and detailed structure of each hinge are not particularly limited. Further, a pole hinge or the like that can rotate in an arbitrary direction may be used instead of the two types of hinges.

On the other hand, the attachment / detachment tool 120 includes an armrest receiving portion 1 21 fixed to the middle-stage connecting member 28, and a locking pin 1 2 2 which projects from the armrest receiving portion 1 2 1 toward the side surface of the armrest portion 25. An elastic member 1 2 3 for urging the locking pin 1 2 2 in the protruding direction, a detachable lever 1 2 4 for retracting the locking pin '1 2 2 against the urging force of the elastic material 123, etc. Be composed. When the armrest portion 25 is made of a pipe material having a circular cross section, it is preferable to provide a concave surface corresponding to the circular cross section in the armrest receiving portion 121 so as to stabilize the armrest portion 25. The hook pins 122 projecting from the hook receiving portions 121 are hooked into appropriately shaped hook holes (not shown) formed on the side surfaces of the armrest portion 25. A tapered surface may be formed at the tip of the locking pin 122 so that the locking pin 122 is naturally pushed in when the armrest 25 is fixed. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic material 123 uses a tension coil panel fitted to the locking pin 122, but the compression coil panel, the plate panel, or the like is used in accordance with the shape of the locking pin 122. Panel materials or synthetic resin, rubber or other elastic materials can also be used. The detachable lever 124 is rotatably attached to the armrest receiving portion 121 in a state of being engaged with the retaining pin 122.

-In such a configuration, it is recommended to provide a movable mechanism for the hanging part 25. In order to allow the care recipient to sit or stand up, an armrest is used as necessary. 25 can be rotated to a position where it does not interfere with the care recipient or the caregiver. Therefore, the physical burden on the care recipient and the caregiver is further reduced. Industrial applicability

The wheelchair of the present invention is provided with a compact seat elevation device that does not impair the operability and mobility of the wheelchair. And, with this seat surface lifting device, the seat surface of the wheelchair can be raised and lowered smoothly with small power. Therefore, in a daily life situation where the caregiver accompanies the caregiver who needs a wheelchair, the caregiver is allowed to sit comfortably in a wheelchair from a standing position, or lift up from a wheelchair to support and stand up. When this is done, the physical burden on the care recipient and the caregiver can be greatly reduced.

It also has a great effect on facilitating daily occupational movements for people with minor disabilities and sick persons who do not need much assistance. Such wheelchairs can be widely used in medical and welfare and nursing care settings.

Furthermore, the seat lift device provided in this wheelchair can be attached to a conventional general wheelchair by only slightly modifying it. Therefore, even large-scale medical institutions and welfare establishments that use many wheelchairs can use existing wheelchairs at low cost. The present application is an application based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-324224, filed in Japan, the contents of which are incorporated into the present application by referring to it. .

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A pair of left and right side frames,

A pair of front and rear X-shaped frames which are arranged below the seating surface and foldably connect the both side frames;

A connecting bar connecting the upper ends of the pair of X-shaped frames in the front-rear direction, and a base suspended between the front and rear X-shaped frames around a cross axis of the X-shaped frames as a support axis;

A telescoping member mounted on the base and expanding and contracting in the vertical direction;

A seat surface support portion attached to an upper portion of the elastic member and held so as to be freely foldable in the left-right direction;

A seat side edge bar attached to the left and right ends of the seat support to support the left and right side edges of the seat;

A four-joint link mechanism for connecting the seat-side edge par and the connection par with each other. When the telescopic member is contracted, the seat-face support is lowered, and the seat-side edge bar overlaps the connection bar. A wheelchair configured to be in a state, in which the seat supporting portion rises and protrudes forward by extending the elastic member.

2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the telescopic member is composed of a hydraulic cylinder using hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure and a piston that can protrude and retract in the axial direction of the hydraulic cylinder. .

3. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the telescopic member is hingedly connected to a left-right rotation shaft provided on a base portion and held so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction. .

4. The seating surface support is hinged to the left and right pivots provided on the upper part of the telescopic member and held in a swingable manner in the front-rear direction. And a pair of left and right upright portions _ which are hingedly connected to the respective fore-and-aft rotation shafts and held in the right and left directions. Wheelchair according to item.

5. The four-joint link mechanism includes a seat-side edge bar, a connecting par, a short arm for hinge-connecting the seat-side edge par and the front of the connecting bar, and a seat-side edge bar. 2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, comprising a long arm that hinges a rear portion of the connection bar.

5 6. A pair of left and right side frames,

A pair of front and rear X-shaped frames that are arranged below the seating surface and foldably connect the two side frames;

A connecting bar connecting the upper ends of the pair of X-shaped frames in the front-rear direction, and 0 a base suspended between the front and rear X-shaped frames around a cross axis of the X-shaped frame as a supporting axis;

A telescopic member fixed on the base and expanding and contracting in the vertical direction;

A guide member mounted on the base so as to be parallel to the telescopic member; a seating surface supporting portion fixed to an upper portion of the telescopic member and the guide member and held in a freely foldable manner in the left-right direction;

A seat side edge bar which is attached to both left and right ends of the seat surface support portion and supports left and right side edges of the seat surface;

By contracting the expandable member, the seat support portion is lowered and the seat side edge portion par is overlapped on the connection bar, and the seat support portion is guided by the guide member by extending the expandable member. A wheelchair configured to rise.

7. The telescopic member according to claim 6, wherein the elastic member is hinged to a left-right rotating shaft provided on a base portion and held so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction. wheelchair.

8. The wheelchair according to claim 6, wherein the elastic member comprises a hydraulic cylinder using hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure or the like, and a piston that can protrude and retract in the axial direction of the hydraulic cylinder. .

9. The seat support is hinged to the left and right pivots provided at the top of the telescopic member and hinged to the front and rear sides. It is hinged to a pair of left and right pivot shafts in the front-rear direction, 7. The wheelchair according to claim 6, comprising a pair of left and right wing portions held at that time.

10. The wheelchair according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the armrest portion of the side frame is held rotatably upward and downward and left and right with the rear end as a fulcrum. .