JP2008132194A - Walking aid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheeled easily movable walking aid which enables travelling to be stably stopped by protruding legs for contacting the ground for braking the travelling when a load greater than predetermined value acts, and one side of the walking aid itself to self-travel a predetermined distance by applying body weight to only either one side of frames having a right and left alternating moving mechanism and by releasing the load acting on the other side to carry out right and left separate stable supports and aiding of walking. <P>SOLUTION: In the wheeled walking aid having frames in right and left sides in which wheel frames 11 and movable frames 2 having grippers 3 for securing ground contacting legs 8 to their lower ends are vertically movably coupled via elastomers 7 and foot portions have double structures such that the ground contacting legs 8 move downward to contact a road surface when the load greater than a predetermined value act; right and left frames 1R, 1L having mechanisms travelling the predetermined distance, while the ground contacting legs 8 move upward by the biasing force of the elastomers 7 when the weight load is released after the ground contacting legs 8 contact the ground, are pivotaly supported horizontally rotatably and vertically movably by a connecting arm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a walker used for walking assistance or training.

Conventional walker uses a U-shaped frame with casters to move forward while supporting the body, or a four-legged frame without casters to support the body and lift the entire frame when moving forward There are those that move forward by moving left and right alternately by two legs, but the walker that moves forward by moving left and right alternately includes a four-wheel caster as in Patent Document 3, and alternates left and right. A device having a structure for easily switching the presence or absence of a mechanism is disclosed. However, this structure only includes a caster, and does not include a mechanism for advancing a walker or the cane as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 previously filed by the present invention and the present applicant.
Utility Model Registration No. 3116855 Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-295870 Published Utility Model Publication No. Hei 3-101939

  The present invention is a walker with wheels that can be moved easily, but when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied, a grounding leg that brakes the running protrudes to stably stop the running, and has a mechanism for alternately moving left and right. When you put your weight on only one side of the frame and unload the other side, one side of the walker itself will run a certain distance, and within the specified range, the left and right sides will be supported separately and assist in walking. It is an object to provide a walker that alternately performs.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first invention is such that a wheel frame 11 having wheels and a movable frame 2 having a gripping portion 3 for locking the grounding leg 8 to the lower end are movable up and down via an elastic body 7. In a walking aid having left and right frames that have a double foot structure so that the grounding leg 8 moves down and touches the road surface when a load exceeding a predetermined level is applied. When the load is released after the ground contact, the left and right frames 1L and 1R having a mechanism for self-propelling a certain distance while the ground contact leg 8 moves upward by the urging force of the elastic body 7 are rotatably connected by the connecting arm. It is a walker. The connection is, for example, a universal joint or a pivot connection that can be horizontally rotated and moved up and down. Of these, the pivot connection is most preferable for achieving the object of the present invention. .

  Further, the second invention is the walker according to the first invention, wherein the left frame 1L or the right frame 1R is independently and stably supported by a plurality of wheels.

  Further, in the third aspect of the invention, the self-propelled mechanism causes the shaft gear 10 provided on the axle 12a of the main wheel 12 engaged with the rack 9 provided on the ground leg 8 via the one-way bearing 10a to move the rack 9 upward. In the case of forward rotation with respect to the resulting axle 12a, the rotation is transmitted to the axle 12a, and in the case of backward rotation with respect to the axle 12a caused by the downward movement of the rack 9, the wheel 12 rotates idly and moves to the axle 12a. The walker according to the first aspect of the present invention has a structure that does not transmit rotation.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, the left and right frames 1L and 1R can be moved relative to each other by moving the seat plate 20 to the reinforcing arm 4 or the wheel frame 11 constituting the left and right frames 1L and 1R. This is a lost walker according to the first invention.

  In the fifth invention, the connection between the left and right frames 1L and 1R and the connection arm is a pivot connection that can be horizontally rotated and moved up and down to limit the single vertical movement of the movable frame 2 or the left and right of the connection arm. In order to eliminate the relative vertical movement of the movable frame 2, the walker according to the first invention or the fourth invention, wherein a stopper is provided on the pivot shaft of the pivot connection.

  With the above configuration, in the first invention, after the grounding leg is grounded by applying a load to each of the left and right frames separately, when the load is released, the grounding leg moves upward and self-propels for a certain distance. Therefore, by allowing the left and right frames to alternately support and assist walking, the user does not need to move it forward while being supported by the walker, but is able to guide the foot to the walker. Can be carried forward.

  In the second aspect of the invention, the left and right frames that are independently and independently stand are connected to each other, so that this walker can be used stably in any connected form. It can be used as an assisting tool when standing up after being opened in the shape of a letter, folded into a Z shape and also used for standing assistance, compact storage, or walking in a narrow place in the form of a parallelogram. You can also.

  Further, according to the fourth and fifth inventions, when the left and right frame reinforcement arms are fixed by the seat plate and the left and right pivotal connection of the connection arm are fixed by the stopper, the front and rear and the upper and lower sides of the left and right frame are fixed to be self-propelled. It can also be used as a type walker, and if the wheel frame of the left and right frames is fixed with a seat plate and the downward movement of either the left or right movable frame is suppressed with a stopper, the front and rear are synchronized and only one side is self-propelled It can also be used as a one-handed walker.

  In the fixed walker and one-handed walker that eliminates the relative back-and-forth movement of the left and right frames described above, it is dangerous to move backward, but according to the third invention, The one-way bearing interposed between the shaft gears transmits the rotation only when the shaft gear rotates forward with respect to the axle. Conversely, the rotation is transmitted even when the axle side rotates backward with respect to the shaft gear. Therefore, when the walker reverses and the main wheel rotates backward, the backward rotation is transmitted to the shaft gear, and the gradual braking is performed to lower the grounding leg together with the rack against the urging force of the elastic body. Therefore, the walker can be stopped safely by touching the grounding leg after moving a certain distance while receiving a gradually increasing braking force.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
The walker 1 has an upper end inserted integrally with the movable frame 2 having the grip portion 3, and the grounded leg 8 that is stopped is connected to the wheel frame 11 through the elastic body 7 so as to be movable up and down, and a load exceeding a predetermined value is applied. The foot has a double structure so that the grounding leg 8 moves down and touches the road surface when it is hooked, and when the load is released after the grounding leg 8 is grounded, the grounding leg 8 moves upward and self-propels for a certain distance. The front posts 2a of the left and right movable frames 2 are horizontally rotated and moved up and down on the left and right frames 1L and 1R, which are independently self-supporting with the upper and lower connection arm sheath tubes 5a and 6a at the left and right ends of the upper and lower connection arms 5 and 6, respectively. It is structured to be pivotally connected so that it can be freely inserted.

  The wheel frame 11 is composed of a double main wheel 12, a single front wheel 13, a rear wheel 14 and front and rear wheel frame sheath pipes 11a11b, which are spaced apart from each other so that the left and right frames 1L and 1R can stand alone and stably. The grounding legs 8 are slidably inserted into the front and rear wheel frame sheath tubes 11a and 11b. On the other hand, the grounding leg 8 is inserted into the lower part of the front and rear posts 2a and 2b of the movable frame 2 by a height adjusting pin 21 and stopped, and a non-slip rubber or resin stone cap 8a is fitted to the lower end. The inner surfaces of the front and rear wheel frame sheath tubes 11a and 11b are slid together with the movable frame 2. The grounding leg 8 is integrated with the height adjusting pin 21 so that the grounding leg 8 is coiled between the flange part at the lower end of the rear post 2b and the upper end flange part of the rear wheel frame sheath tube 11b. A spring is sandwiched to act as an elastic body 7 that biases the movable frame 2.

  Therefore, when a load exceeding a predetermined value is not applied to the movable frame 2, the grounding leg 8 is lifted by the wheel frame 11 and floats from the ground as shown in FIG. When the load is applied, the grounding leg 8 is moved down against the urging force of the coil spring, which is the elastic body 7, as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the grounding leg 8 located between the two wheels of the main wheel 12 attached to the wheel frame 11, the shaft gear 10 provided on the axle 12a connecting the two wheels and the grounding leg. Since the rack 9 provided in FIG. 8 has a meshing structure, the shaft gear 10 is fitted to the axle 12a via the one-way bearing 10a and transmits the rotation only counterclockwise to the axle 12a. When the grounding leg 8 moves downward, the shaft gear 10 can rotate without being transmitted even if it meshes with the rack 9, and can transmit the rotation only when it moves upward. From the same principle, even if the shaft gear 10 and the rack 9 are engaged, the main wheel 12 freely moves forward to rotate the axle 12a counterclockwise, but the ground leg 8 is biased by the elastic body 7 backward. It moves only until it is grounded while being lowered against the ground and gradually braked.

  Further, the front post 2a of the left and right movable frames 2 is provided with an upper stopper 25 and an intermediate stopper 26 above and below the upper connecting arm sheath tube, and the upper stopper 25 limits the downward movement of the movable frame 2, By sandwiching the upper connecting arm sheath tube 5a by the middle stopper 26, the vertical movements of the left and right movable frames 2 that move up and down independently are synchronized. In addition, a lower stopper 27 is provided below the front wheel frame sheath tube 11a of the grounding leg 8 integrally connected to the front posts 2a of the left and right movable frames 2, and restricts the upward movement of the grounding leg 8 so as to limit the vertical width of one stroke. And the self-run distance.

  Further, the seat plate 20 is provided with a seat by a fixed connection that sandwiches the left and right reinforcing arms 4 by a seat plate fixing tool 20a provided therein, and the upper connecting arm 5 and the lower connecting arm 6 are reinforced and the left and right wheel frames 11 are provided. Further, it functions as a parking brake for fixing the wheel frame 11 and the reinforcing arm 4 in such a manner that the grounding leg 8 is grounded.

  Further, the height adjustment pin 21, the width adjustment pin 22, and the length adjustment pin 23 adjust the height, width, and depth, respectively, and the angle adjustment pin 24 and the contact height adjustment pin 3 c adjust the elbow arm or armpit of the grip portion 3. Adjust the angle and height of 3b. The elbow arm or armrest 3b has an arm or armpit by adjusting the angle and height with the horizontal portion facing forward, and rotated 180 degrees so that the horizontal portion is rearward and the vertical portion is frontward. By adjusting it, it serves as an armrest, which reinforces gripping of the grip 3a and keeps the user's support stable.

  Now, if the walker 1 is placed in a natural state, the left and right frames 1L and 1R that are independently self-supported by eight wheels are respectively connected to the upper and lower connecting arms 5 and 6 so as to be horizontally rotatable. Can move back and forth or diagonally. Next, if the user simply puts his / her hands on the left and right grips 3 of the walker 1, the grounding leg 8 moves down, but is still floating from the road surface, so the walker 1 remains unchanged. You can move forward easily. However, when the vehicle moves backward, the shaft gear 10 of the main wheel 12 meshes with the rack 9, so that the grounding leg 8 operates to be lowered, and the urging force generated in the coil spring which is the elastic body 7 compressed at that time is controlled. The walker 1 stops when the grounding leg 8 comes in contact with the road surface while becoming power and gradually increasing as it moves backward.

  Further, even if a user standing in the center and standing in the center of the walker 1 deposits his / her body weight to the walker 1 via the left and right grips 3, the grounding leg 8 is attached with a coil spring which is an elastic body 7. It is moved down integrally with the grip portion 3 and the movable frame 2 against the force to be grounded. This state is a stable state in which the eight wheels and the four grounding legs 8 are in contact with the road surface and do not move, so that the user can rest on the spot with his / her weight left in the walker 1.

  Next, if you hold the left and right grips 3 and leave the weight you have left for the entire walker 1 alone in one stable frame, the other frame that has been unloaded is the two that belong to it. The grounding leg 8 is moved away from the road surface by the urging force of the coil spring, which is the elastic body 7, to return to a state where it can run. At this time, the rack 9 provided on the grounding leg 8 rotates the shaft gear 10 meshing with the rack 9 forward as the grounding leg 8 rises, and the upper end of the rack 9 or the lower stopper 27 is the rear wheel frame sheath tube 11b. Alternatively, a rotational force is continuously applied to the main wheel 12 that rotates with the shaft gear 10 until it abuts the lower end of the front wheel frame sheath tube 11b, and only one of the frames is advanced.

  Here, if the weight is transferred to one of the forward frames and the same thing is repeated in sequence, the frame on the opposite side of the frame where the weight has been stored will move forward alternately. While supported, the foot can be rhythmically carried forward to be guided to the walker 1.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right movable frames 2 do not relatively move forward and backward by passing the seat plate 20 to the left and right reinforcing arms 4 and holding and fixing the seat plate 20 at four locations by the seat plate fixture 20a. The left and right movable frames 2 do not move up and down relatively by holding the left and right upper connecting arm sheath tubes 5a between the left and right upper and middle stoppers 25 and 26, and the fixed type in which the movements of the left and right frames 1L and 1R are synchronized and fixed. A walker is obtained.

  Further, if only the left and right wheel frames 11 are fixed, the left and right movable frames 2 can be allowed to move relative to each other. As shown in FIG. If restrained by the upper stopper 25, a one-handed walker is obtained that moves forward by moving the other movable frame 2 up and down while keeping the paralyzed arm on the elbow arm or side pad 3 b of the movable frame 2. be able to.

  Also, since the left and right front posts 2a are horizontally inserted into the upper and lower connecting arm sheath tubes 5a and 5b, the walker 1 is folded into a Z shape as viewed from above as shown in FIG. And is stored compactly. In FIG. 6, the wheel frame 11 and the reinforcing arm 4 on one side are fixed so that the grounding leg 8 is in a grounded state by the seating plate fixing tool 20a of the seating plate 20, so that the walker 1 is in the parking state. It has become.

  Further, in the case of this embodiment, the walker 1 moves forward by every segment according to the user's stride by adjusting the vertical position of the lower stopper 27 of the grounding leg 8, so that it matches the walking ability of the user. A self-propelled walker 1 that can be used with peace of mind. If the upper stopper 25 restricts the downward movement, the grounding leg 8 is kept floating and can be used like a conventional wheeled walker, so the walker 1 can be used in accordance with the walking ability and environment of the user. It can also be used properly as appropriate.

  The walker 1 can be used as a stable chair because the four grounding legs 8 protrude when the weight is applied to the seat plate 20 attached to the left and right reinforcing arms 4. Because the structure is such that when the body weight is removed by standing up by the one-way bearing 10a mechanism, the user can pull the walker 1 back to the assistant, or the user can drag back. You can stand up straight without any trouble.

  By the way, according to said embodiment, although the wheel part with a self-propelled mechanism was one place on one side, in other embodiment, you may provide multiple wheel parts with a self-propelled mechanism per one side.

It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of this invention walker. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the main wheel which shows the state which the grounding leg floated. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the main wheel which shows the state which the grounding leg grounded. It is a perspective view which shows the state which fixed the left-right frame of the walker. It is a perspective view which shows the state which fixed only the right-and-left wheel frame of the walker. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the walker was folded.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Walker 1L Left frame 1R Right frame 2 Movable frame 2a Front post 2b Rear post 3 Gripping part 3a Grip 3b Elbow arm or armrest 3c Contact height adjustment pin 4 Reinforcement arm
5 Upper connection arm 5a Upper connection arm sheath tube 6 Lower connection arm 6a Lower connection arm sheath tube 7 Elastic body
8 Grounding legs 8a Stone cap
9 racks
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Shaft gear 10a One-way bearing 11 Wheel frame 11a Front wheel frame sheath pipe 11b Rear wheel frame sheath pipe 12 Main wheel 12a Axle 12b Bearing 13 Front wheel
14 Rear wheel
20 Seat plate 20a Seat plate fixture
21 Height adjustment pin
22 Width adjustment pin
23 Length adjustment pin
24 Angle adjustment pin
25 Upper stopper
26 Middle stopper
27 Lower stopper

Claims (5)

A wheel frame (11) having wheels and a movable frame (2) having a grip portion (3) for locking the grounding leg (8) to the lower end are connected via an elastic body (7) so as to freely move up and down. In a walking aid having left and right frames with a double foot structure so that the grounding leg (8) moves down and contacts the road surface when a load is applied, the grounding leg (8) When the load is released after contact with the ground, the left and right frames (1L) and (1R) having a mechanism for self-propelling a certain distance while the grounding leg (8) moves upward by the biasing force of the elastic body (7) are connected. A walker that is pivotably connected by an arm. The walker according to claim 1, wherein the left frame (1L) or the right frame (1R) is independently and stably supported by a plurality of wheels. The self-propelled mechanism has a shaft gear (10) provided via a one-way bearing (10a) on an axle (12a) of a main wheel (12) meshing with a rack (9) provided on a grounding leg (8). (9) In the case of forward rotation with respect to the axle (12a) caused by the upward movement, the rotation is transmitted to the axle (12a), and the axle (12a) caused by the downward movement of the rack (9) is transmitted. On the other hand, in the case of rearward rotation, the walker according to claim 1, wherein the walker has a structure that idles and does not transmit rotation to the axle (12a). The left and right frames (1L) and (1R) are mounted by fixing and attaching a seat plate (20) to the reinforcing arm (4) or the wheel frame (11) constituting the left and right frames (1L) and (1R). The walker according to claim 1, wherein the relative back-and-forth movement is eliminated. The left and right frames (1L) and (1R) and the connecting arm are connected to each other in a pivotal connection that can be horizontally rotated and moved up and down to limit the single vertical movement of the movable frame (2) or the left and right movable parts. The walker according to claim 1 or 4, wherein a stopper is provided on a pivot shaft of the pivot connection in order to eliminate relative vertical movement of the frame (2).

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