WO2011058445A1

WO2011058445A1 - Transfer supporting device

Info

Publication number: WO2011058445A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/003125
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masayuki Shibata
Original assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2009-11-16
Filing date: 2010-11-15
Publication date: 2011-05-19
Also published as: JP2011104033A; JP5035326B2

Abstract

A transfer supporting device includes: a trolley (1); an arm portion (2) that is pivotably attached to the trolley (1); a body holding portion (3) provided on the arm portion (2) to hold a care receiver (M); a driving force source (15) that pivots the arm portion (2); and a driving force transmission mechanism (D) that transmits the driving force of the driving force source (15) while the care receiver (M) is being transferred, and that does not transmit the driving force of the driving force source (15) to at least one of the arm portion (2) and the body holding portion (3) while the care receiver (M) is not being transferred.

Description

TRANSFER SUPPORTING DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a transfer supporting device, and more particularly to a transfer supporting device that avoids interference with a care receiver.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] It is not easy for a care receiver who finds it difficult to walk independently to transfer him/herself from a bed to a wheelchair alone and independently, and therefore a help by a caregiver is normally required. However, assisting the transfer operation places a heavy physical load on the caregiver and a heavy psychological load on the care receiver, and therefore, in recent years, devices for supporting the transfer of a care receiver who finds independent walking difficult have been developed.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-570 (JP-A-9-570) describes a posture changing device including a frame, an arm that is free to rotate relative to the frame, and a chest pad mounted on a tip end of the arm. When the posture changing device is used to change the posture of a patient, first, the arm is lowered such that the chest pad approaches a chest portion of the patient to put a support member that supports an upper body and a buttocks portion of the patient onto the patient. The operation to lower the arm in order to bring the chest pad close to the patient is basically stopped using a hand switch, but as a precaution, the operation may also be stopped using a vibration switch attached to the arm. More specifically, even in a case where the arm lowering operation is not stopped appropriately such that the arm reaches a thigh of the patient, the vibration switch is activated upon contact with the thigh, whereby an operation of an arm driving mechanism is stopped automatically.

[0004] However, when the vibration switch is not attached appropriately, there may be a case where the contact between the arm and the thigh of the patient is not detected appropriately. Further, with the method employing the vibration switch described above, the operation of the arm driving mechanism may not be stopped at all due to a fault in the vibration switch. To compensate for this problem, a constitution serving as a backup in case of a fault in the vibrating switch may be installed, but in so doing, increases occur in the complexity and cost of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention provides a transfer supporting device that avoids interference with a care receiver.

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is related to a transfer supporting device that includes: a trolley; an arm portion that is pivotably attached to the trolley; a body holding portion provided on the arm portion to hold a care receiver; a driving force source that pivots the arm portion; and a driving force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the driving force source while the care receiver is being transferred, and that does not transmit the driving force of the driving force source to at least one of the arm portion and the body holding portion while the care receiver is not being transferred.

[0007] According to the above aspect, interference between an interference part and the care receiver can be avoided. Note that in this specification, "interference" means an operation that causes or may cause suffering to the care receiver.

[0008] In the above aspect, the driving force transmission mechanism may include: a driving portion provided on the trolley; a driven portion provided on the body holding portion; and a coupling portion that couples the driving portion and the driven portion such that while the care receiver is being transferred, the driving portion and the driven portion contact each other, whereby the driving force of the driving force source is transmitted to the arm portion, and while the care receiver is not being transferred the driving portion and the driven portion separate from each other, whereby the driving force of the driving force source is not transmitted to the arm portion. The coupling portion may couple the driving portion and the driven portion such that while the care receiver is not being transferred, the driving portion and the driven portion are separated from each other by a reaction force exerted on the body holding portion from the care receiver, that is larger than the gravitational force exerted on the arm portion.

[0009] According to the above aspect, the driving force transmission mechanism can be realized through a simple constitution.

[0010] In the above aspect, the coupling portion may couple the driving portion and the driven portion such that when the body holding portion does not contact the care receiver, a gravitational force exerted on the arm portion causes the driving portion and the driven portion to contact each other. The coupling portion may couple the driving portion and the driven portion such that while the care receiver is being transferred, a gravitational force exerted on the arm portion and the care receiver causes the driving portion and the driven portion to contact each other.

[0011] According to the above aspect, in a state where the body holding portion is not holding anything, the driving portion and the driven portion are caused to contact each other by the gravitational force exerted on the arm portion, whereas in a state where the body holding portion is holding the person, the driving portion and the driven portion are caused to contact each other by the gravitational force exerted on the arm portion and the person.

[0012] In the above aspect, the driving portion may include a projecting portion. The driven portion may include a second contact surface capable of contacting a first contact surface of the projecting portion. The coupling portion may couple the driving portion and the driven portion such that while the care receiver is being transferred, the first contact surface and the second contact surface contact each other, and while the care receiver is not being transferred, the first contact surface and the second contact surface separate from each other.

[0013] In the above aspect, the transfer supporting device may further include notifying means for notifying an operator of the transfer supporting device or the care receiver that an avoidance, by the driving force transmission mechanism, of transmitting the driving force of the driving force source to at least one of the arm portion and the body holding portion has started.

[0014] According to the above aspect, a warning can be issued to a caregiver or the care receiver who performs an erroneous operation.

[0015] In the above aspect, the notifying means may include: a first corrugated surface provided on the trolley; and a second corrugated surface that is provided on the body holding portion and grinds against the first corrugated surface when the avoidance, by the driving force transmission mechanism, of transmitting the driving force of the driving force source to at least one of the arm portion and the body holding portion has started.

[0016] According to the above aspect, sound or vibration is generated when the first corrugated surface grinds against the second corrugated surface. By forming the notifying means using this type of mechanical means, a transfer supporting device having low power consumption can be realized.

[0017] In the above aspect, the arm portion may include a first arm and a second arm. The driving force transmission mechanism may be disposed between the first arm and the second arm.

[0018] In the above aspect, the driving force transmission mechanism may be formed on one end of the arm portion or between respective ends of the arm portion.

[0019] In the above aspect, the body holding portion may be pivoted in a vertical direction by the arm portion. The direction for causing the body holding portion to approach the care receiver may be a downward direction. The direction for raising the care receiver may be an upward direction.

[0020] According to the above aspect, a transfer supporting device that can avoid the interference between an interference part and the care receiver can be achieved.

[0021] In the above aspect, the body holding portion may hold a chest portion and an abdomen portion of the care receiver. A part in which the body holding portion contacts the care receiver may be a thigh portion of the care receiver. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are used to represent like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a transfer supporting device according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a body holder;

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the transfer supporting device;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing an operation of the transfer supporting device;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing an operation of the transfer supporting device;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a driving force transmission mechanism;

FIGS. 7 A and 7B are illustrative views showing an operation of the driving force transmission mechanism;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrative views showing an operation of the transfer supporting device;

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D are exploded perspective views showing a driving force transmission mechanism according to a second embodiment;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are enlarged side views showing a driving force transmission mechanism according to a third embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a driving force transmission mechanism according to a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0023] A first embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8B.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, a transfer supporting device 100 according to this embodiment includes, as a main constitution, a trolley 1, an arm portion 2 mounted on the trolley 1 so that it can be tilted freely relative to the trolley 1, and a body holder 3 attached to the arm portion 2 as a body holding portion that holds a care receiver M.

[0025] The trolley 1 includes a trolley main body 6 and wheels 7 provided at four corners of a bottom surface of the trolley main body 6. A base portion 8 that supports the arm portion 2 is mounted on the trolley main body 6.

[0026] The arm portion 2 includes a first arm 9 and a second arm 10. The first arm 9 is supported on the base portion 8 via a first joint portion 11. The first arm 9 can be rotated about a yaw axis and a pitch axis relative to the base portion 8 at the first joint portion 11. Note that the "yaw axis" denotes a parallel axis to a vertical direction, or in other words a parallel axis to an vertical direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1, while the "pitch axis" denotes a parallel axis to a horizontal direction, or in other words a parallel axis to a perpendicular direction to the paper surface of FIG. 1. The base portion 8 is provided with a first motor 12 serving as a drive source that drives the first arm 9 to rotate about the yaw axis, and the first joint portion 11 is provided with a second motor 13 serving as a drive source that drives the first arm 9 to rotate about the pitch axis.

[0027] The second arm 10 is supported on the first arm 9 via a second joint portion 14. The second arm 10 can be rotated about the pitch axis relative to the first arm 9 at the second joint portion 14. The second joint portion 14 is provided with a third motor 15 serving as a drive source that drives the second arm 10 to rotate about the pitch axis.

[0028] The body holder 3 is used to hold the body of the care receiver M. In this embodiment, the body holder 3 holds an upper body of the care receiver M. The body holder 3 is attached detachably to the second arm 10 via an attachment portion 16 and a fourth joint portion 17, in this order. The body holder 3 and the attachment portion 16 can be rotated about a roll axis relative to the second arm 10 at the fourth joint portion 17. Note that the "roll axis" denotes a parallel axis to a longitudinal direction of the second arm 10. The fourth joint portion 17 is provided with a fourth motor 18 serving as a drive source that drives the attachment portion 16 to rotate about the roll axis.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the body holder 3 includes a trunk supporting portion 19 that supports a chest portion and an abdomen portion of the care receiver M, a chin supporting portion 20 that supports a chin portion of the care receiver M, and a pair of armpit supporting portions 23 that supports armpit portions of the care receiver M. The trunk supporting portion 19 includes a chest supporting portion 21 that supports the chest portion of the care receiver M and an abdomen supporting portion 22 that supports the abdomen portion of the care receiver M. The armpit supporting portions 23 are provided in a pair and formed to project from the trunk supporting portion 19 to the care receiver M side. The respective armpit supporting portions 23 are formed at a sufficient length to pass under the armpits of the care receiver M and extend to a back side of the care receiver M during transfer support of the care receiver M. The trunk supporting portion 19 has a sufficient length in an vertical direction, or in other words a parallel direction to a direction extending along a spine of the care receiver M, to be able to support the chest portion and the abdomen portion of the care receiver M over a wide range. A trunk support lower end portion 24 forming a lower end of the trunk supporting portion 19 corresponds to a lower end of the body holder 3.

[0030] Next, a control block diagram shown in FIG. 3 will be described. A control device 50 is constituted by a microcomputer including a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 51 serving as calculating means, a Read-Only Memory (ROM) 52 serving as storing means for storing a control program, and a Random Access Memory (RAM) 53 serving as storing means for storing processing data and the like temporarily. As shown in FIG. 3, the respective motors (the first motor 12, second motor 13, third motor 15, and fourth motor 18) are connected to the control device 50 via a drive circuit 54. The respective motors are thus driven on the basis of control signals transmitted to the drive circuit 54 from the control device 50. Further, an operating handle 55 is connected to the control device 50 as control content input means used by a caregiver or the care receiver M for inputting control content to be executed on the respective motors by the control device 50 into the control device 50. On the basis of the control content input via the operating handle 55, the control device 50 controls the respective motors. With the constitution described above, the caregiver or the care receiver M can control a position and an attitude of the arm portion 2 and the body holder 3 freely by operating the operating handle 55 appropriately.

[0031] Next, referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, an outline of an operation of the transfer supporting device 100 will be described. A flow extending from a state in which the care receiver M is sitting on a bed B, as shown in FIG. 4, to a state in which the care receiver is lifted into a standing position, as shown in FIG. 1, will be described below.

[0032] First, as shown in FIG. 4, a caregiver, not shown in the drawings, moves the transfer supporting device 100 to the front of the care receiver M who is sitting on the bed B and simultaneously lifts the soles of the feet of the care receiver M onto the trolley main body 6 of the trolley 1. Next, the caregiver operates the operating handle 55 (see also FIG. 3) to position the body holder 3 diagonally above a thigh portion of the care receiver M. At this time, the armpit supporting portions 23 have not been passed under the armpits of the care receiver M and the trunk support lower end portion 24 of the trunk supporting portion 19 of the body holder 3 is positioned at a gap G relative to the thigh portion of the care receiver M.

[0033] Next, the caregiver operates the operating handle 55 to shift from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the state shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, first, the caregiver lowers the body holder 3 close to the care receiver M such that the armpit supporting portions 23 are inserted under the armpits of the care receiver M, as shown in FIG. 5. The caregiver then operates the body holder 3 further toward the care receiver M such that the trunk supporting portion 19 of the body holder 3 closely contacts the trunk of the care receiver M. After confirming that the trunk supporting portion 19 of the body holder 3 is closely in contact with the trunk of the care receiver M, the caregiver immediately stops moving the body holder 3 toward the care receiver M side. Next, the caregiver operates the operating handle 55 to make fine position adjustments of the body holder 3 such that the chin of the care receiver M is supported by the chin supporting portion 20 (see also FIG. 2), the chest of the care receiver M is supported by the chest supporting portion 21, the abdomen portion of the care receiver M is supported by the abdomen supporting portion 22, and the armpit portions of the care receiver M are supported by the armpit supporting portions 23.

[0034] Next, the caregiver operates the operating handle 55 to shift from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG 1. More specifically, the caregiver operates the operating handle 55 to rotate the body holder 3 about the second joint portion 14 in counter-clockwise (anticlockwise) direction of FIG. 5. As a result, the care receiver M supported by the body holder 3 is lifted into the standing state shown in FIG. 1 by the body holder 3.

[0035] Next, the caregiver transfers the transfer supporting device 100 to the front of a wheel chair while the care receiver M is carried on the transfer supporting device 100, as shown in FIG. 1. An operation for lowering the care receiver M into the wheelchair and removing the body holder 3 from the care receiver M is executed by an opposite procedure to the content described above.

[0036] The constitution and an operation of the transfer supporting device 100 were described broadly above. Next, referring to FIG. 6, the constitution of a driving force transmission mechanism D will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the driving force transmission mechanism D is provided on the second joint portion 14 that couples the first arm 9 and the second arm 10 of the arm portion 2. The driving force transmission mechanism D transmits a driving force of each motor (the second motor 13 and third motor 15) to the body holder 3 while the care receiver M is being transferred from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG. 1, for example. On the other hand, when the body holder 3 contacts the care receiver M and the arm portion 2 is driven in a direction for causing the body holder 3 to approach the care receiver M further, the driving force transmission mechanism D does not transfer the driving force of the motors (the second motor 13 and third motor 15) to the body holder 3. By employing the driving force transmission mechanism D, interference between the body holder 3 and the care receiver M can be avoided reliably. The second joint portion 14 provided with the driving force transmission mechanism D will be described in detail below.

[0037] As described above, the first arm 9 and the second arm 10 shown in FIG. 1 are coupled by the second joint portion 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the second joint portion 14 is constituted by a pair of bearings 25 formed on a tip end of the first arm 9, a pair of bearings 26 formed on a base end of the second arm 10, a shaft 27 inserted straight through shaft holes formed in the bearings 25, 26 in a state where the bearings 25, 26 are positioned to be mutually coaxial, and a driving portion 28 that is driven to rotate reciprocally by the third motor 15, not shown in the drawing (see FIG. 1). The driving portion 28 is constituted by a bearing 29 and a projection 30 molded integrally with the bearing 29. The driving portion 28 is mounted on the second joint portion 14 such that the bearing 29 is coaxial with the bearings 25 of the first arm 9 and the bearings 26 of the second arm 10. In other words, the aforementioned shaft 27 is inserted straight through the shaft holes in the bearings 25 of the first arm 9, the shaft holes in the bearings 26 of the second arm 10, and a shaft hole formed in the bearing 29 of the driving portion 28, all of which are positioned coaxially. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the bearing 29 of the driving portion 28 is sandwiched between the bearings 26 of the second arm 10, while the bearings 26 of the second arm 10 are sandwiched between the bearings 25 of the first arm 9.

[0038] The projection 30 of the driving portion 28 has a first contact surface 30a, and the second arm 10 has a second contact surface 10a. In a state where the driving portion 28 and the second arm 10 are coupled using the shaft 27, as described above, the first contact surface 30a formed on the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 and the second contact surface 10a formed on the second arm 10 are capable of opposing each other via a gap and contacting each other, depending on relative angular positions of the driving portion 28 and the second arm 10. Here, a direction in which the second arm 10 approaches the care receiver M corresponds to clockwise direction in FIG. 6, as indicated by an arrow having a reference symbol X (also clockwise direction in FIG. 5).

[0039] In this embodiment, the trolley 1 may correspond to a trolley of the invention, the arm portion 2 may correspond to an arm portion of the invention, the body holder 3 may correspond to a body holding portion of the invention, the third motor 15 may correspond to a drive source of the invention, the second joint portion 14 may correspond to a coupling portion of the invention, the driving portion 28 on the first arm 9 side of the second joint portion 14 may correspond to a driving portion of the invention, and the second arm 10 side of the second joint portion 14 may correspond to a driven portion of the invention. Further, the driving force transmission mechanism D including the driving portion 28 on the first arm 9 side of the second joint portion 14, the second arm 10 side of the second joint portion 14, and the second joint portion 14 may correspond to a driving force transmission mechanism of the invention.

[0040] In this embodiment, "downward direction movement of the body holder 3" denotes "downward direction movement of the body holder 3 relative to the projection 30 of the driving portion 28", and similarly, "upward direction movement of the body holder 3" denotes "upward direction movement of the body holder 3 relative to the projection 30 of the driving portion 28".

[0041] In other words, the driving force transmission mechanism D is constituted such that the second arm 10 (driven portion) is free in a rising direction and restrained in a falling direction relative to the driving portion 28 (driving portion), i.e. the site that is directly coupled to the third motor 15. To put it another way, the transfer supporting device 100 is structured such that the body holder 3 can move freely at least in the rising direction.

[0042] Next, an operation of the driving force transmission mechanism D will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B. FIG. 7A is a perspective view obtained by partially enlarging FIG. 8A, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view obtained by partially enlarging FIG 8B. FIG. 8A is a view obtained by slightly reducing FIG. 5.

[0043] In the state shown in FIG. 8A, the body holder 3 is stationary while a slight gap remains between the trunk support lower end portion 24 of the trunk supporting portion 19 and the thigh portion of the care receiver M. FIG. 7A shows the condition of the driving force transmission mechanism D at this moment. In this stationary state, the driving portion 28 is immobilized by a rotation holder force of the third motor 15 (see also FIG. 8A), and is therefore incapable of rotating. Meanwhile, clockwise rotary torque indicated by a reference symbol X is exerted on the second arm 10 about the shaft 27 due to a gravitational force corresponding to the total weight of the body holder 3 and the second arm 10. However, since the driving portion 28 is stationary, as noted above, and the second arm 10 is formed to be capable of contacting the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 in a direction indicated by the reference symbol X, the second arm 10 remains stationary together with the driving portion 28 while being supported by the projection 30 of the driving portion 28.

[0044] In the state shown in FIG. 8A, it is assumed that the caregiver has operated the operating handle 55 mistakenly such that the body holder 3 is lowered further. Accordingly, the driving force of the third motor 15 causes the driving portion 28 to start rotating clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 7A such that the trunk support lower end portion 24 of the trunk supporting portion 19 of the body holder 3 contacts the thigh portion of the care receiver M. As a result of this contact, the body holder 3 receives a reaction force equal to a gravitational force acting on the body holder 3 itself from the thigh portion of the care receiver M. As a result of this reaction force, the body holder 3 shifts from a state of being supported by the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 to a state of being supported by the thigh portion of the care receiver M.

[0045] Further, it is assumed that the caregiver continues to perform this erroneous operation. Accordingly, the driving portion 28 is rotated further in the clockwise direction by the driving force of the third motor 15. However, the first contact surface 30a of the projection 30 on the driving portion 28 and the second contact surface 10a of the second arm 10 are formed to be capable of separating from each other, and moreover, the second contact surface 10a of the second arm 10 is capable of contacting the first contact surface 30a of the projection 30 on the driving portion 28 in a direction approaching the care receiver M. Therefore, the second arm 10 is simply placed on top of the driving portion 28. Hence, the driving portion 28 cannot rotate while leading the second arm 10 after the second arm 10 has already shifted from the state of being supported by the driving portion 28 to the state of being supported by the thigh portion of the care receiver M. And therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the second arm 10 is left in position regardless of the rotation of the driving portion 28. As a result, , a gap g is formed between the first contact surface 30a of the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 and the second contact surface 10a of the second arm 10. Hence, even when the caregiver operates the operating handle 55 mistakenly such that the body holder 3 is lowered further, the second arm 10 is simply placed on top of the driving portion 28, as shown in FIG. 7 A, and therefore the driving force of the third motor 15 is not transmitted to the body holder 3. In FIG. 7A, the driving force of the third motor 15 when the driving portion 28 rotates clockwise is not transmitted to the body holder 3 regardless of the position of the body holder 3 and the second arm 10. As a result, interference between the body holder 3 and the thigh portion of the care receiver M can be avoided.

[0046] When the caregiver operates the operating handle 55 to shift from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG. 1, on the other hand, the driving portion 28 raises the second arm 10 while supporting the second arm 10 from below, as shown in FIG. 7A, and therefore the driving force of the third motor 15 is transmitted to the body holder 3 via the second arm 10 normally.

[0047] According to this embodiment, the driving force transmission mechanism D transmits the driving force of the third motor 15 to the body holder 3 during transfer of the care receiver M but does not transmit the driving force of the third motor 15 to the body holder 3 when the care receiver M is not being transferred.

[0048] When the second arm 10 does not receive the aforementioned reaction force from the thigh portion of the care receiver M, the second arm 10 rotates in conjunction with the driving portion 28 due to the gravitational force generated in the second arm 10 itself, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0049] Further, when the lifted care receiver M is lowered, a gravitational force corresponding to the bodyweight of the care receiver M acts strongly on the body holder 3, and therefore, in this case also, the second arm 10 rotates in conjunction with the driving portion 28.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the driving force transmission mechanism D is provided on the second joint portion 14, but a constitution in which the driving force transmission mechanism D is provided on the first joint portion 11 as shown in FIG. 1 may be employed instead.

[0051] Next, referring to FIGS. 9A to 9D, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. Note that, constitutional elements corresponding to the constitutional elements of the first embodiment described above have been allocated identical reference symbols. The following description focuses on differences with the first embodiment, and duplicate description has been omitted.

[0052] FIG. 9A is an exploded perspective view of the driving force transmission mechanism D according to this embodiment. FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing the driving force transmission mechanism D in an assembled state. FIG. 9C is a C-C line sectional view of FIG. 9B. FIG. 9D is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 9C. In this embodiment, a notification mechanism H is provided as notifying means capable of notifying the caregiver or the care receiver M that an operation to avoid interference between the body holder 3 and the care receiver M has been started by the driving force transmission mechanism D.

[0053] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 A, the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 according to this embodiment is formed with a slightly narrower width in the axial direction of the shaft 27 than the projection 30 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG 9C, a pair of thin plate portions 10b sandwiching the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 in the axial direction of the shaft 27 are formed on the second arm 10. As shown in FIG. 9D, a first corrugated surface 30c on which triangles appear to be arranged in a row when seen in cross-section is formed on a side face 30b of the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 on the trolley 1 side in FIG. 9B. The side face 30b is substantially perpendicular to an axial center of the shaft 27. Meanwhile, a second corrugated surface 30d on which, similarly to the first corrugated surface 30c, triangles appear to be arranged in a row when seen in cross-section is formed on an inner surface 10c of the thin plate portions 10b of the second arm 10 on the body holder 3 side. Similarly to the side face 30b, the inner surface 10c is substantially perpendicular to the axial center of the shaft 27. The side face 30b and the inner surface 10c are parallel to each other. The thin plate portions 10b and the inner surface 10c face each other in the axial direction of the shaft 27. Further, when the first contact surface 30a of the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 separates from the second contact surface 10a of the second arm 10 such that the projection 30 moves in a direction indicated by a thick line arrow in FIG. 9C, the first corrugated surface 30c and the second corrugated surface lOd are grind against each other. In other words, a gap between the side face 30b of the projection 30 and the inner surface 10c of the thin plate portions 10b of the second arm 10 is adjusted so that the first corrugated surface 30c and the second corrugated surface lOd are capable of grinding against each other when the first contact surface 30a of the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 separates from the second contact surface 10a of the second arm 10 and the projection 30 moves in the direction indicated by the thick line arrow in FIG 9C.

[0054] In this embodiment, the notification mechanism H is constituted by the first corrugated surface 30c and the second corrugated surface lOd.

[0055] With this constitution, when an operation to avoid interference between the body holder 3 and the care receiver M is begun by the driving force transmission mechanism D, the projection 30 of the driving portion 28 is dislodged in the direction of the thick line arrow in FIG 9C from a state in which the projection 30 is accommodated in the second arm 10, and at this time, the first corrugated surface 30c and second corrugated surface lOd grind against each other. As a result of the grinding, sufficient degree of vibration is generated in the thin plate portions 10b for the caregiver or care receiver M to notify. Likewise, the vibration generated in the thin plate portions 10b by the grinding causes a sound that is loud enough to be noticed by the caregiver or the care receiver M to be generated by the vibration.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first corrugated surface 30c may correspond to a first corrugated surface of the invention, and the second corrugated surface lOd may correspond to a second corrugated surface of the invention.

[0057] Next, referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, a third embodiment of the invention will be described. Note that, constitutional elements corresponding to the constitutional elements of the first embodiment described above have been allocated identical reference symbols. The following description focuses on differences with the first embodiment, and duplicate description has been omitted.

[0058] In the first embodiment, the driving force transmission mechanism D is provided on the second joint portion 14, as shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, however, the driving force transmission mechanism D is provided on a longitudinal direction midway portion of the second arm 10 of the arm portion 2. The second arm 10 provided with the driving force transmission mechanism D will be described in detail below.

[0059] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG 10A, the second arm 10 of the arm portion 2 is constituted by two arms, namely a base end side second arm 60 and a tip end side second arm 61. The base end side second arm 60 is supported on the first arm 9 by the second joint portion 14 shown in FIG. 1. Meanwhile, the tip end side second arm 61 supports the body holder 3 shown in FIG. 1. A base end side inclined surface 60a is formed on a surface of the base end side second arm 60 that opposes the tip end side second arm 61. Similarly, a tip end side inclined surface 61a is formed on a surface of the tip end side second arm 61 that opposes the base end side second arm 60. The inclines of the base end side inclined surface 60a and the tip end side inclined surface 61a are set precisely in directions for satisfying a vertical relationship according to which the tip end side second arm 61 forms an upper side of the base end side second arm 60. To put it more simply using FIG. 10A, the base end side inclined surface 60A and the tip end side inclined surface 61a are inclined from an upper left side of the paper surface to a lower right side of the paper surface. A link member 62 projecting from the tip end side second arm 61 toward the base end side second arm 60 is supported rotatably by a rotary shaft 63 of the base end side second arm 60, and the base end side second arm 60 and tip end side second arm 61 are coupled to each other by the link member 62.

[0060] In this embodiment, the base end side second arm 60 may correspond to the driving portion of the invention, the tip end side second arm 61 may correspond to the driven portion of the invention, and the link member 62 and rotary shaft 63 may correspond to the coupling portion of the invention. Further, the base end side second arm 60, the tip end side second arm 61, and the driving force transmission mechanism D including the link member 62 and the rotary shaft 63 may correspond to the driving force transmission mechanism according to the invention.

[0061] In this state, when the caregiver operates the operating handle 55 mistakenly such that the body holder 3 is lowered excessively, the aforementioned reaction force eventually acts on the body holder 3 such that the tip end side second arm 61 shifts from a state of being supported by the base end side inclined surface 60a to a state of being supported by the thigh portion of the care receiver M. Due to the aforementioned vertical relationship in which the tip end side inclined surface 61a of the tip end side second arm 61 forms the upper side of the base end side inclined surface 60a of the base end side second arm 60, the tip end side second arm 61 starts to rotate in counter-clockwise direction relative to the base end side second arm 60, as shown in FIG. 10B. As a result of this relative counter-clockwise rotation of the tip end side second arm 61, interference between the body holder 3 and the thigh portion of the care receiver M can be avoided.

[0062] Note that in this embodiment, the driving force transmission mechanism D is provided on a longitudinal direction midway portion of the second arm 10 of the arm portion 2, but a constitution in which the driving force transmission mechanism D is provided on a longitudinal direction midway portion of the first arm 9 of the arm portion 2 may be employed instead.

[0063] Next, referring to FIG. 11, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. Note that, constitutional elements corresponding to the constitutional elements of the first embodiment described above have been allocated identical reference symbols. The following description focuses on differences with the first embodiment, and duplicate description has been omitted.

[0064] In the first embodiment, the driving force transmission mechanism D is provided on the second joint portion 14, as shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, however, the driving force transmission mechanism D is provided on the attachment portion 16. The attachment portion 16 provided with the driving force transmission mechanism D will be described in detail below.

[0065] In this embodiment, a slide mechanism S is provided between the attachment portion 16 and the trunk supporting portion 19 of the body holder 3 so as to be parallel to a longitudinal direction of the trunk supporting portion 19. The slide mechanism S enables the body holder 3 to slide freely in an vertical direction relative to the attachment portion 16. In other words, the body holder 3 can slide freely relative to the attachment portion 16 in a parallel direction to the spine of the care receiver M. To put it another way, the body holder 3 can slide freely relative to the attachment portion 16 in a direction heading away from or approaching the thigh portion of the care receiver M.

[0066] Further, the attachment portion 16 is formed with a supporting portion

16a for supporting the body holder 3, and a support surface 16b capable of contacting a supported surface 19a formed on the trunk supporting portion 19 of the body holder 3 from a lower side, or in other words the thigh portion side of the care receiver M, is formed on an upper surface of the supporting portion 16a.

[0067] In this embodiment, the attachment portion 16 may correspond to the driving portion of the invention, the body holder 3 may correspond to the driven portion of the invention, and the slide mechanism S may correspond to the coupling portion of the invention. Further, the attachment portion 16, the body holder 3, and the driving force transmission mechanism D including the slide mechanism S may correspond to the driving force transmission mechanism of the invention.

[0068] When the caregiver operates the operating handle 55 mistakenly from the state shown in FIG. 11 such that the body holder 3 is lowered excessively, the aforementioned reaction force eventually acts on the body holder 3 such that the body holder 3 shifts from a state of being supported by the attachment portion 16, as shown in FIG. 11, to a state of being supported by the thigh portion of the care receiver M. Due to a vertical relationship according to which the supported surface 19a formed on the trunk supporting portion 19 of the body holder 3 forms the upper side of the support surface 16b formed on the supporting portion 16a of the attachment portion 16, an operation in which the attachment portion 16 is lowered on its own relative to the body holder 3 is permitted. By permitting this operation in which the attachment portion 16 is lowered on its own relative to the body holder 3, interference between the body holder 3 and the thigh portion of the care receiver M can be avoided. Note that the term "on its own" is referred to as "on its own assuming that description is focused solely on two constitutional elements, i.e. the body holder 3 and the attachment portion 16".

[0069] While the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments or constructions. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various elements of the disclosed invention are shown in various example combinations and configurations, other combinations and configurations, including more, less or only a single element, are also within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A transfer supporting device characterized by comprising:

a trolley;

an arm portion that is pivotably attached to the trolley;

a body holding portion provided on the arm portion to hold a care receiver;

a driving force source that pivots the arm portion; and

a driving force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the driving force source while the care receiver is being transferred, and that does not transmit the driving force of the driving force source to at least one of the arm portion and the body holding portion while the care receiver is not being transferred.

2. The transfer supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the driving force transmission mechanism includes:

a driving portion provided on the trolley;

a driven portion provided on the body holding portion; and

a coupling portion that couples the driving portion and the driven portion such that while the care receiver is being transferred, the driving portion and the driven portion contact each other, whereby the driving force of the driving force source is transmitted to the arm portion, and while the care receiver is not being transferred the driving portion and the driven portion separate from each other, whereby the driving force of the driving force source is not transmitted to the arm portion,

wherein the coupling portion couples the driving portion and the driven portion such that while the care receiver is not being transferred, the driving portion and the driven portion are separated from each other by a reaction force exerted on the body holding portion from the care receiver, that is larger than the gravitational force exerted on the arm portion.

3. The transfer supporting device according to claim 2, wherein: the coupling portion couples the driving portion and the driven portion such that when the body holding portion does not contact the care receiver, a gravitational force exerted on the arm portion causes the driving portion and the driven portion to contact each other; and

the coupling portion couples the driving portion and the driven portion such that while the care receiver is being transferred, a gravitational force exerted on the arm portion and the care receiver causes the driving portion and the driven portion to contact each other.

4. The transfer supporting device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein:

the driving portion includes a projecting portion;

the driven portion includes a second contact surface capable of contacting a first contact surface of the projecting portion; and

the coupling portion couples the driving portion and the driven portion such that while the care receiver is being transferred, the first contact surface and the second contact surface contact each other, and while the care receiver is not being transferred, the first contact surface and the second contact surface separate from each other.

5. The transfer supporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising notifying means for notifying an operator of the transfer supporting device or the care receiver that an avoidance, by the driving force transmission mechanism, of transmitting the driving force of the driving force source to at least one of the arm portion and the body holding portion has started.

6. The transfer supporting device according to claim 5, wherein the notifying means includes:

a first corrugated surface provided on the trolley; and

a second corrugated surface that is provided on the body holding portion and grinds against the first corrugated surface when the avoidance, by the driving force transmission mechanism, of transmitting the driving force of the driving force source to at least one of the arm portion and the body holding portion has started.

7. The transfer supporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: the arm portion includes a first arm and a second arm; and

the driving force transmission mechanism is disposed between the first arm and the second arm.

8. The transfer supporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the driving force transmission mechanism is formed on one end of the arm portion or between respective ends of the arm portion.

9. The transfer supporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: the body holding portion is pivoted in a vertical direction by the arm portion;

the direction for causing the body holding portion to approach the care receiver is a downward direction; and

the direction for raising the care receiver is an upward direction.

10. The transfer supporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: the body holding portion holds a chest portion and an abdomen portion of the care receiver; and

a part in which the body holding portion contacts the care receiver is a thigh portion of the care receiver.