JP2009078117A

JP2009078117A - Wheelchair easy in going over step height

Info

Publication number: JP2009078117A
Application number: JP2007298751A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Kousuke Oda; 鴿介小田
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-09-06
Filing date: 2007-11-19
Publication date: 2009-04-16

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe wheelchair and a high performance wheelchair capable of remarkably reducing a workload of a helper in a conventional wheelchair, wherein a user can independently go over a step height, by largely improving step height going-over performance more than conventional performance, without impairing rotating maneuverability. <P>SOLUTION: One auxiliary wheel 2 having an intermediate diameter larger than its caster outer diameter is installed in a rear wheel-driving standard wheelchair so that its lower end part comes in front of a central part of right-left grounding points of an advancing caster 4 by floating from a travel road surface. Since the auxiliary wheel 2 strikes on the step height before the caster 4 even in any case of an advance and a retreat, the step height going-over performance is largely improved more than conventional performance by small propulsion. Further, this wheelchair has a safety bar 5 of sufficiently extending a pair of right-left tipping levers backward for preventing backward overturning. A conventional step height going-over height limit is improved by installing the auxiliary wheel 2 in a motor-driven wheelchair. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、車椅子に、中径の一個の補助車輪を走路面から浮かせて、キャスター前方に装着することで、段差越え性能が従来のものより大幅に改善される手動車椅子及び電動車椅子に関するものである。 The present invention relates to a manual wheelchair and an electric wheelchair in which a stepping performance is significantly improved over a conventional wheelchair by mounting a single auxiliary wheel with a medium diameter on the wheelchair and mounting it in front of the caster. is there.

歩行障害者の移動選択肢は、軽度の場合は手動車椅子による自力移動か、重度の場合は介助者による介護移送を受けるか、若しくは電動車椅子を利用するかである。いずれの場合にも共通する移動障害は、平坦路面に突如出現する段差越えであり、介助者なしの自力越えの場合は、段差が２ｃｍほどを越えると段差越えは、著しく困難となる。 The movement options for the walking handicapped person are self-moving by a manual wheelchair in the case of mildness, receiving care transfer by an assistant in the case of severeness, or using an electric wheelchair. The movement obstacle common to both cases is over the step that suddenly appears on the flat road surface. In the case of exceeding the self-power without an assistant, the step over becomes extremely difficult when the step exceeds about 2 cm.

段差越えに対して、前輪駆動標準型のものは、駆動輪が大径であることから後輪駆動標準型のものより高い段差（それでも精精４ｃｍ）を越えるが、前輪がキャスターでないことから車椅子の転回操縦性は著しく低下する（例えば、特許文献１参照）。 In contrast to the step difference, the front wheel drive standard type has a larger diameter than the rear wheel drive standard type because the drive wheel has a large diameter (still 4cm), but the front wheel is not a caster. Is significantly reduced (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

特開2004−202264（要約、特許請求の範囲、代表図面）JP2004-202264 (Abstract, Claims, Representative Drawing)

そり型のものは、構造が比較的簡単にできる特徴を持つが、段差越えの力学的原理はすべり摩擦になることから、大きな推進力が必要となる欠陥がある（例えば、特許文献２参照）。 The sled type has a feature that the structure can be made relatively simple, but the mechanical principle over the step is sliding friction, so there is a defect that requires a large driving force (for example, see Patent Document 2). .

特開平11-244339（要約、特許請求の範囲、代表図面）JP 11-244339 (abstract, claims, representative drawings)

パワーアシスト方式の段差越え装置装着型のものは、モータ・油圧駆動型及び介助者操作型があるが、何れも装置が大掛かりになる欠陥がある（例えば、特許文献３参照）。特に後者の場合は、ユーザーが単独では行動できない制約を伴う。 The power assist type step-over type mounting type includes a motor / hydraulic drive type and an assistant operation type, all of which have a defect that makes the apparatus large (see, for example, Patent Document 3). Especially in the latter case, there is a restriction that the user cannot act alone.

特開2004-130031（要約、特許請求の範囲、代表図面）JP2004-130031 (Abstract, Claims, Representative Drawing)

以上より、従来の段差越え車椅子は、構造が比較的簡単なそり型、及び前輪駆動標準型のものは、低い段差越え限界のほか、転回操縦性が損なわれる一方、構造が比較的複雑なパワーアシスト方式ものは、外部からの動力の供給や操作介助者の存在が欠かせない等の諸問題がある。 As described above, the conventional wheelchairs with a step difference between the sled type and the front wheel drive standard type have a low step difference limit, and the turning maneuverability is impaired, while the structure has a relatively complicated power. The assist type system has various problems such as external power supply and the presence of an operation assistant.

従って、求められる段差越えが容易な車椅子の課題は、安全で、転回操縦性を損なうことなく、段差越え性能が従来のものより大幅に改善されることで、ユーザーは単独で段差越え出来、従来の車椅子における介助者の作業量を著しく軽減出来る高性能な車椅子を提供することである。 Therefore, the challenge for wheelchairs that can easily be stepped over is the safety, and the ability to step over is greatly improved compared to the conventional one without sacrificing turning maneuverability. It is to provide a high-performance wheelchair that can remarkably reduce the amount of work of an assistant in a wheelchair.

後輪駆動標準型車椅子に、キャスター外径よりも大きな中径の一個の補助車輪を、走路面から浮かせて、その車輪下端部が、前進するキャスターの左右接地点の中央部の前方に来るように装着することで、段差越え性能が従来のものより大幅に改善される。 In the rear wheel drive standard wheelchair, a single auxiliary wheel with a medium diameter larger than the outer diameter of the caster is lifted from the road surface so that the lower end of the wheel comes in front of the center of the left and right ground contact points of the moving caster By mounting on, the step-passing performance is greatly improved over the conventional one.

補助車輪の支持枠の支持体を剛体にすると剛性は高まり、車輪下端部の、走路面からの離隔高さは、ユーザーの体力に応じて、その車軸をスライドすることで調整される。 When the support body of the support frame of the auxiliary wheel is made rigid, the rigidity is increased, and the separation height of the lower end of the wheel from the road surface is adjusted by sliding the axle according to the physical strength of the user.

補助車輪の支持枠の支持体に、ばね材料を採用しての適正な設計条件下では、補助車輪の走路面からの離隔高さは、ユーザーの体力に応じて自動調整される。 Under appropriate design conditions using a spring material for the support body of the support frame of the auxiliary wheel, the separation height of the auxiliary wheel from the road surface is automatically adjusted according to the physical strength of the user.

本車椅子は、後方転倒防止安全対策のために左右一対のティッピングレバーを後方に十分延長し、且、その可搬性を高めるために、蝶番構造による折り畳みが可能で、本補助輪への着衣等の巻き込み防止カバーを有する。 This wheelchair has a pair of left and right tipping levers that are fully extended backwards for safety measures to prevent falling down, and can be folded by a hinge structure to improve its portability, such as clothing on this auxiliary wheel. Has an entrainment prevention cover.

本補助車輪を電動車椅子に装着すれば、その従来の段差越え高さの限界は改善される。 If this auxiliary wheel is attached to an electric wheelchair, the conventional limit of the height beyond the step is improved.

本発明の段差越え装置は、補助車輪一個と、その支持部材からなる極めて簡単な構造ながら、後輪駆動標準型車椅子の転回操縦性を損なうことなく、前進及び後退のいずれの場合にも、段差に対して該補助車輪がキャスターに先駆けて当たることで、従来のものより小さな推進力でより高い段差越えが可能となる段差越えが容易な車椅子を提供できる。 The step-passing device of the present invention has a very simple structure consisting of one auxiliary wheel and its supporting member, but the step difference in both forward and backward movements without impairing the turning maneuverability of the rear wheel drive standard type wheelchair. On the other hand, when the auxiliary wheel hits the caster prior to the caster, it is possible to provide a wheelchair that can easily go over a step with a smaller driving force than a conventional one.

本補助車輪の支持枠の支持体を剛体にすると、段差越え装置の剛性は高まり、車輪下端部の、走路面からの離隔高さは、ユーザーの体力に応じて、その車軸をスライドすることで調整出来る。 If the support body of the support frame of the auxiliary wheel is made rigid, the rigidity of the step-passing device is increased, and the height of the separation of the lower end of the wheel from the road surface is determined by sliding the axle according to the user's physical strength. You can adjust.

本補助車輪の支持枠の支持体に、ばね材料を採用しての適正な設計条件下では、本補助車輪の走路面からの離隔高さは、ユーザーの体力に応じて自動調整されるので、その調整作業は必要でなくなるほか、補助車輪２の支持枠１０の構造は、より簡単になる利点が生じる。 Under appropriate design conditions using a spring material for the support of the support frame of the auxiliary wheel, the separation height of the auxiliary wheel from the road surface is automatically adjusted according to the user's physical strength. The adjustment work is not necessary, and the structure of the support frame 10 of the auxiliary wheel 2 has the advantage of being simpler.

該段差越えが容易な車椅子は、段差越え性能が高いことから、ユーザーが介助者に頼ることなく、単独で段差越えできるため、ユーザーの移動範囲が著しく拡大できる。従って、従来の車椅子における介助者の作業量を大いに軽減出来ることが期待出来る。 Since the wheelchair that can easily go over the step has high step-passing performance, the user can go over the step independently without relying on an assistant, so that the range of movement of the user can be significantly expanded. Therefore, it can be expected that the work amount of the assistant in the conventional wheelchair can be greatly reduced.

本補助車輪を電動車椅子に装着することで、従来の電動車椅子の段差越え高さの限界が改善される。 By attaching the auxiliary wheel to the electric wheelchair, the limit of the height beyond the step of the conventional electric wheelchair is improved.

図１の（ａ）及び（ｂ）はそれぞれ、後輪駆動標準型車椅子の正面図及び右側面図の概略を示したものであり、ユーザーが両手でハンドリム７を前下方に押しやることで、７に直結された駆動輪６が回って、車椅子は走行する。その前車輪である小径キャスター４が、キャスターブラケット１の鉛直回転軸に対して後退保持されていることから、後輪駆動標準型車椅子は転回性能に優れるが、その段差越え高さは、ユーザーの体力にもよるが概ね２ｃｍが限界のようである。従って、本発明では、車椅子の転回高性能特性を損なうことなく高性能な段差越え車椅子を提供することが求められる。 (A) and (b) of FIG. 1 are schematic views of a front view and a right side view of a rear wheel drive standard wheelchair, respectively. When the user pushes the hand rim 7 forward and downward with both hands, The wheel 6 is directly connected to the wheel and the wheelchair travels. Since the small-diameter caster 4 which is the front wheel is held backward with respect to the vertical rotation axis of the caster bracket 1, the rear wheel drive standard type wheelchair is excellent in turning performance. Although it depends on physical strength, 2cm seems to be the limit. Therefore, in this invention, it is calculated | required to provide a high-performance step-over wheelchair without impairing the rolling high-performance characteristics of the wheelchair.

図２の（ａ）及び（ｂ）はそれぞれ、図１に示す後輪駆動標準型車椅子に装着する補助輪セットの正面図及び右側面図の概略を示したものであり、それは、キャスター外径よりも大きい中径の補助車輪２、その支持枠１０、支持体１１及びフレーム固定具１２より構成される剛体構造を採っている。接地摩擦力の大きな補助車輪２を、円滑且つ剛性豊かに回転させるために、その車軸は、堅牢な四角枠構造の支持枠１０の下部中央に、玉軸受を介して装着されている。支持枠１０の左右の支持体１１は、フレーム固定具１２を介してボディーフレーム９に締結される。さらに、本補助輪セットは蝶番構造による折り畳みが可能である。なお、補助車輪２への着衣等の巻き込みを防止するため、本補助輪セットは防止カバー１３を有する。 2 (a) and 2 (b) show the outline of the front view and the right side view of the auxiliary wheel set to be mounted on the rear wheel drive standard type wheelchair shown in FIG. It employs a rigid body structure composed of an auxiliary wheel 2 having a larger medium diameter, its support frame 10, support 11 and frame fixture 12. In order to rotate the auxiliary wheel 2 having a large ground friction force smoothly and with high rigidity, its axle is mounted via a ball bearing at the center of the lower part of the support frame 10 having a solid square frame structure. The left and right supports 11 of the support frame 10 are fastened to the body frame 9 via a frame fixture 12. Further, the auxiliary wheel set can be folded by a hinge structure. The auxiliary wheel set includes a prevention cover 13 in order to prevent the clothing such as clothes from being caught in the auxiliary wheel 2.

図３の（ａ）及び（ｂ）はそれぞれ、図２の補助輪セットを、図１の後輪駆動標準型車椅子に組み込んだ本段差越えが容易な車椅子の正面図及び右側面図の概略を示したものである。同図（ａ）に示すように、補助車輪２の下端部は、キャスター接地点より進行方向の前方において、走路面より２ｃｍほど高く浮かせた状態で離隔装着される。この離隔高さ２ｃｍは、ユーザーの体力に応じて車軸をスライド調整後固定される。 3 (a) and 3 (b) are schematic views of a front view and a right side view of a wheelchair in which the auxiliary wheel set of FIG. 2 is incorporated in the standard rear wheel drive wheelchair of FIG. It is shown. As shown in FIG. 2A, the lower end of the auxiliary wheel 2 is mounted separately in a state of being floated about 2 cm higher than the road surface in front of the caster contact point in the traveling direction. This separation height of 2 cm is fixed after adjusting the slide of the axle according to the physical strength of the user.

本車椅子は、前進の場合、補助車輪２がキャスター４に先駆けて段差３当たることより、段差越えの力学的原理は、段差３のかど回りの転がり運動になることで、従来のものより小さな推進力でより高い段差越えが可能となる訳である。この運動特性は後退の場合にも同様であるので、本車椅子は、走路面に露出した配管等の単独孤立段差の後退時にも容易に段差越えできる。 When the wheelchair is moving forward, the auxiliary wheel 2 hits the step 3 ahead of the caster 4, and the mechanical principle over the step is a rolling motion around the corner of the step 3, which is a smaller propulsion than the conventional one. A higher step can be overcome with force. Since this motion characteristic is the same when retreating, the wheelchair can easily cross the step even when a single isolated step such as a pipe exposed on the road surface is retreated.

図４は、車椅子の種類に対する段差越え高さの数値例を示したものである。図中のAに示す本段差越えが容易な車椅子（支持体１１は剛体、離隔高さは３ｃｍ）の段差越え高さは９ｃｍにもなり、従来のB,CおよびDの場合に比べてそれは著しく大きいことが分る。しかしながら、本段差越えが容易な車椅子は、その前輪キャスターが上がることから、本車椅子の後方転倒を防止するために、左右一対のティッピングレバー８を後方に十分延長した安全棒５の装備が欠かせない。 FIG. 4 shows a numerical example of the height beyond the step for the type of wheelchair. The wheelchair (the support 11 is a rigid body, the separation height is 3 cm) and the height over the step is 9 cm as shown in A in the figure, compared to the conventional B, C and D cases. You can see that it is significantly larger. However, a wheelchair that can easily cross the step is equipped with a safety bar 5 that has a pair of left and right tipping levers 8 extended rearward in order to prevent the wheelchair from tipping over. Absent.

補助車輪２の支持枠１０の支持体１１に、ばね材料を採用しての適正な設計条件下では、補助車輪２の走路面からの離隔高さは、ユーザーの体力に応じて自動的に調整される。 Under appropriate design conditions using a spring material for the support 11 of the support frame 10 of the auxiliary wheel 2, the separation height of the auxiliary wheel 2 from the road surface is automatically adjusted according to the physical strength of the user. Is done.

後輪駆動標準型車椅子の概略である。It is the outline of a rear wheel drive standard type wheelchair. 本補助輪セットの概略である。It is an outline of this auxiliary wheel set. 本段差越えが容易な車椅子の概略である。It is an outline of a wheelchair that can easily cross this step. 車椅子の種類に対する段差越え高さの比較を示したものである。This shows a comparison of the height over the steps for the types of wheelchairs.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１キャスターブラケット
２補助車輪
３段差
４キャスター
５安全棒
６駆動輪
７ハンドリム
８ティッピングレバー
９ボディーフレーム
１０支持枠
１１支持体
１２フレーム固定具
１３防止カバー

1 Caster bracket
2 Auxiliary wheels
3 steps
4 casters
5 Safety stick
6 Drive wheels
7 Hand rim
8 Tipping lever
9 Body frame 10 Support frame 11 Support body 12 Frame fixture 13 Prevention cover

Claims

後輪駆動標準型車椅子に、そのキャスター外径よりも大きな中径の一個の補助車輪を走路面から浮かせて、その車輪下端部が、前進するキャスターの左右接地点の中央部の前方に来るように装着した段差越えが容易な車椅子。 In the rear wheel drive standard wheelchair, one auxiliary wheel with a medium diameter larger than the outer diameter of the caster is lifted off the road surface so that the lower end of the wheel comes in front of the center of the left and right grounding point of the moving caster A wheelchair that can be easily mounted over the steps.

補助車輪の支持枠の支持体を剛体にすると、車輪下端部の、走路面からの離隔高さは、その車軸をスライドすることで調整される請求項１記載の段差越えが容易な車椅子。 2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein when the support body of the support frame of the auxiliary wheel is made rigid, the separation height of the lower end of the wheel from the road surface is adjusted by sliding the axle.

補助車輪の支持枠の支持体に、ばね材料を採用しての適正な設計条件下では、車輪下端部の、走路面からの離隔高さは、ユーザーの体力に応じて自動調整される請求項１記載の段差越えが容易な車椅子。 Claims: The height of the separation of the lower end of the wheel from the road surface is automatically adjusted according to the physical strength of the user under appropriate design conditions using a spring material for the support of the support frame of the auxiliary wheel. 1. A wheelchair that can easily be stepped over.

本車椅子の後方転倒防止安全対策のために、左右一対のティッピングレバーを後方に十分に延長した安全棒を有する請求項１記載の段差越えが容易な車椅子。 The wheelchair with easy overstepping according to claim 1, further comprising a safety rod having a pair of left and right tipping levers sufficiently extended rearward for safety measures to prevent the wheelchair from falling backward.

可搬性を高めるために、蝶番構造による折り畳みが可能な請求項１記載の段差越えが容易な車椅子。 The wheelchair with easy step over steps according to claim 1, wherein the wheelchair can be folded by a hinge structure to enhance portability.

本補助車輪を電動車椅子に装着することで、従来の段差越え高さの限界が改善される段差越えが容易な電動車椅子。

An electric wheelchair that can be easily stepped over by using this auxiliary wheel attached to the electric wheelchair.