Mobile Device

Abstract

This moving device (10) is provided with a body frame (20) and a front frame (40) removably mounted on the body frame (20). The body frame (20) is provided with: a seat (23) which has a hole opening in the vertical direction (Z), and on which a user (U) sits; and a cart (21) which is disposed below the seat (23) and opens at the back. The front frame (40) is provided with a front rest part (41) which is disposed above and in front of the body frame (20), and against which the user (U) sitting on the seat (23) leans.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to mobile devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Non-Patent Document 1 describes that in an aging society, there is an urgent need to reduce the burden on caregivers and attendants who support patients and those in need of care.

[0003] In addition, in general, nursing equipment such as nursing lifts and wheelchairs are widely used to reduce the burden on caregivers and attendants. For example, when a patient or a person requiring care who is lying in bed needs to use the toilet, the patient or the person requiring care transfers from the bed to a nursing equipment such as a nursing lift or wheelchair, and then moves to the toilet seat. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Prefectural Labor Bureaus, and Labor Standards Inspection Offices, "Preventing Occupational Accidents in Social Welfare Facilities," Japan Association of Occupational Safety and Health Consultants, October 2013 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the above-mentioned care tools require the support of a caregiver or attendant when moving a patient or person requiring care, which poses an excessive physical burden on the caregiver or attendant.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a mobility device that can reduce the physical burden on a caregiver or assistant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means. A mobility device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body frame and a front frame removably attached to the main body frame, the main body frame having holes opening in the vertical direction, a seat on which a user sits, and a cart positioned below the seat and opening to the rear, and the front frame is positioned above and in front of the main body frame and comprises a front rest against which the user seated on the seat leans. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a mobility device capable of reducing the physical burden on a caregiver or attendant can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of a movement device according to an embodiment of the present invention when used on a bed. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a side view of a mobility device in use in a toilet according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a top view of a mobile device in relation to a toilet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a side view of a moving device according to an embodiment of the present invention in use; [Diagram 5] 1 is a front view of a moving device according to an embodiment of the present invention when in use; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view of the movement device according to the embodiment of the present invention during use, showing the front frame in an open state. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a top view of the movement device according to one embodiment of the present invention when in use, showing the front frame in an open state. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are top views of a front frame of a movement device according to an embodiment of the present invention, comparing the open state (solid lines) and the closed state (dashed lines) of the front frame. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a top view of the movement device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing the front frame in an open state. [Figure 10]FIG. 2 is a top view of a moving device in use according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a top view of a moving device in use according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a top view of a moving device in use according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 1 is a side view of a moving device according to an embodiment of the present invention in use; [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a top view of a moving device according to a first modified example of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a top view of a moving device according to a second modified example of the present invention. [Figure 16] 16 is an example of a seat attached to the moving device shown in FIG. 15. [Figure 17] 13 is a seat surface employed in a movement device according to a third modified example of the present invention. [Figure 18] 13 is a seat surface employed in a movement device according to a fourth modified example of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a side view of a moving device according to a fifth modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A mobile device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, the mobility device 10 includes a main frame 20 and a front frame 40. The mobility device 10 is used to reduce the physical burden on a caregiver or attendant (caregiver) when moving a patient or a person requiring care. The mobility device 10 is primarily intended to be used when moving a patient or a person requiring care (user U) from a bed 100 to a toilet 200, but may also be used for simple transportation.

[0011] In the following description, the vertical direction when the mobile device 10 according to this embodiment is placed on a flat surface is referred to as the up-down direction Z. When a user U is using the mobile device 10, the front-to-back direction of the user U is simply referred to as the front-to-back direction X, and the left-to-right direction of the user U is simply referred to as the left-to-right direction Y. The front, rear, left side, and right side refer to the front, rear, left side, and right side, respectively, when the user U is using the mobile device 10.

[0012] (Main frame 20) The main body frame 20 includes a cart 21, a first connecting portion 22, a seat surface 23, and a footrest 24.

[0013] The dolly 21 has one front part 25, two rear parts 26 arranged at a distance from each other on the left and right, and a plurality of wheels 27. The front part 25 extends in the left-right direction Y. The rear parts 26 extend in the front-rear direction X. The left and right ends of the front part 25 are connected to the front end of the rear part 26. The two rear parts 26 are spaced apart from each other. That is, the dolly 21 has a first opening 21a that opens to the rear. The wheels 27 are attached to each of the two rear parts 26. The wheels 27 may be casters, or may be omniwheels or the like that can move in the left-right direction Y, and may be selected as appropriate.

[0014] The height of the cart 21 is set in consideration of the distance between the bottom end of the bed 100 used by the user U and the floor, and is a dimension that allows the cart 21 to be inserted between the bottom end of the bed 100 and the floor. Furthermore, the distance in the left-right direction Y between the rear ends of the cart 21 (the size of the first opening 21a in the left-right direction Y) is set to be at least larger than the width of a typical toilet seat.

[0015] The first connecting portion 22 connects the cart 21 and the seat surface 23. The first connecting portion 22 has two first members 28 arranged separately on the left and right. Each first member 28 has a body portion 29 and an arm portion 30. The body portion 29 extends in the up-down direction Z. The arm portion 30 extends in the front-rear direction X. The arm portion 30 extends rearward from the upper end of the body portion 29. The arm portion 30 supports the seat surface 23. Each first member 28 can be formed, for example, by a metal pipe. The body 29 and the arm 30 may be formed by bending a single pipe. The pipe forming the body 29 and the pipe forming the arm 30 may be different pipes, and the first member 28 may be formed by welding the two pipes.

[0016] The position of the arm 30 in the vertical direction Z is higher than the elevated bedding (bed 100) used by the user U. The position of the arm 30 in the vertical direction Z is preferably at a height that allows it to be placed in contact with the upper surface of the bed 100 (including a mattress or futon, if one is laid out). The first connecting portion 22 preferably includes an adjustment mechanism (not shown). The adjustment mechanism adjusts the height of the seat surface 23. As the adjustment mechanism, for example, a configuration that raises and lowers the arm portion 30 relative to the torso portion 29 can be adopted. As this type of adjustment mechanism, for example, a cylinder provided on the torso portion 29 with a rod that extends and contracts in the vertical direction Z can be adopted. In this case, the position of the arm portion 30 in the vertical direction Z can be adjusted according to the height of the bed 100. Therefore, the versatility of the movement device 10 is improved.

[0017] The seat 23 is disposed above the cart 21. The seat 23 has a second opening 23a, i.e., a hole that opens in the up-down direction Z. The seat 23 is a plate-like member extending horizontally. The seat 23 is attached to the upper side of the arm 30. The second opening 23a opens toward the rear. The seat 23 is U-shaped in a plan view. The seat 23 can be attached to the first connecting portion 22 (arm 30) by, for example, fixing with a bolt. The seat 23 may be detachable from the first connecting portion 22. The seat 23 is made of, for example, resin. The footrest 24 is disposed in front of and below the seat surface 23. The footrest 24 is located in front of the cart 21. The feet of a user U seated on the seat surface 23 are placed on the footrest 24. The footrest 24 is connected to the first connecting portion 22.

[0018] (Previous frame 40) The front frame 40 includes a front rest portion 41 and a second connecting portion 42. The front rest portion 41 is disposed above and in front of the main frame 20. The user U seated on the seat surface 23 leans against the front rest portion 41. The user U places his / her arms on the front rest portion 41. For the comfort of the user U, the surface of the front rest portion 41 may be covered with synthetic leather or the like and provided with cushioning properties.

[0019] The second connecting portion 42 connects the main body frame 20 and the front rest portion 41. The lower end of the second connecting portion 42 is connected to the main body frame 20. The upper end of the second connecting portion 42 is connected to the front rest portion 41. The second connecting portion 42 has two second members 43 arranged separately on the left and right. Each second member 43 extends in the up-down direction Z. A space (insertion portion 44) is provided between the two second members 43 so that the user U can insert his / her feet. Each second member 43 can be formed, for example, from a metal pipe.

[0020] 8 and 9, the front frame 40 is detachably attached to the main body frame 20. Here, the front frame 40 being detachable from the main body frame 20 includes a configuration in which the front frame 40 is completely separable from the main body frame 20. The front frame 40 being detachable from the main body frame 20 further includes a configuration in which, with a portion of the front frame 40 fixed to the main body frame 20, only the remaining portion of the front frame 40 is detachable from the main body frame 20.

[0021] 5 to 9, in this embodiment, the main body frame 20 has mounting portions 31 spaced apart on the left and right. The main body frame 20 has two mounting portions 31. The mounting portions 31 are provided on the first connecting portion 22, for example. In this embodiment, the mounting portions 31 are formed by holes arranged at the upper end of the body portion 29. The front frame 40 is attached to the attachment portions 31. The second connecting portions 42 of the front frame 40 are attached to the attachment portions 31. In this embodiment, the lower ends of the second members 43 are attached to the respective attachment portions 31.

[0022] The front frame 40 can be opened and closed so as to rotate around an axis in the vertical direction Z, with one of the mounting parts 31 as a fulcrum. In this embodiment, while one of the two second members 43 remains inserted into one of the two mounting parts 31, the other of the two second members 43 can be attached and detached to the other of the two mounting parts 31. As a result, when the second member 43 is removed from the other of the two mounting parts 31, the front frame 40 becomes rotatable around an axis extending in the vertical direction Z, with the second member 43 inserted into one of the two mounting parts 31 as the axis. Hereinafter, the state in which the front frame 40 is freely rotatable as described above and the front frame 40 is rotated will be referred to as the open state, and the state in which the two second members 43 are respectively attached (fixed) to the two mounting portions 31 will be referred to as the closed state.

[0023] (How to move) An example of a method (procedure) for a caregiver to move the user U will be described below. It is assumed that the user U is lying on the bed 100 in an initial stage.

[0024] First, the caregiver pushes the mobility device 10 up to the front of the bed 100 and places it on the side of the bed 100 . Second, the caregiver moves the user U to one side of the bed 100 (the side opposite to the side where the transfer device 10 is inserted). 10, thirdly, the caregiver inserts the moving device 10 into the bed 100 from the rear side of the moving device 10. At this time, the seat 23 is located above the bed 100, and the cart 21 is located below the bed 100 (bed). Furthermore, at this time, the seat 23 is located near the buttocks of the user U. Note that it is preferable that a cloth 101 for moving the user U, such as a sheet of the bed 100, is placed on the seat.

[0025] Fourthly, as shown in FIG. 11, the caregiver places the front frame 40 in an open state. Fifthly, the caregiver rotates the user U around the buttocks as a fulcrum, and places the user U's legs in the front side of the moving device 10 and the buttocks on the seat surface 23. At this time, it is preferable for the caregiver to use the cloth 101 described above. As shown in FIG. 12, sixthly, the caregiver closes the front frame 40 while keeping the user U in a position where the feet do not hit the front frame 40. Seventh, the caregiver raises the upper body of the user U and positions the user U's hands so that they come into contact with the upper side of the front rest portion 41.

[0026] Eighth, the caregiver moves the transfer device 10 up to the seat of the toilet 200. Ninth, the caregiver moves the moving device 10 from the rear of the moving device 10 so that the toilet seat is aligned with the first opening 21a of the dolly 21. At this time, the caregiver fine-tunes the position of the moving device 10 so that the seat surface 23 is positioned above the toilet seat. As a result, the second opening 23a of the seat surface 23 is positioned above the toilet seat. Tenth, the caregiver confirms that the user U has finished using the toilet and moves him / her to the bed 100. (Since the procedure simply involves the reverse of steps 1 to 9, the method for moving the user U from the toilet 200 to the bed 100 will be omitted.)

[0027] In the above procedure, the caregiver opens and closes the front frame 40, but this may not be necessary. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when moving a relatively small user U, the caregiver bends the legs of the user U in a Z-shape in side view when rotating the user U around the buttocks. Then, when the legs of the user U are positioned in front of the moving device 10 and the buttocks are placed on the seat surface 23, the caregiver extends the legs of the user U by inserting them into the insertion portions 44. In this way, the caregiver can omit the opening and closing of the front frame 40.

[0028] As described above, according to the moving device 10 according to one embodiment, the seat 23 and the cart 21 are arranged to sandwich the bed 100 from above and below. This allows a patient or a person in need of care lying on the bed 100 to be moved to the seat 23 without being lifted, and the patient or the person in need of care to be seated on the seat 23 while the arms of the patient or the person in need of care are placed on the front rest 41. Furthermore, the cart 21 is attached below the main frame 20, opens to the rear, is U-shaped when viewed from above, and has a seat 23 with a hole, so that a patient or a person requiring care can be moved onto the toilet seat of the toilet 200 while still on the mobility device 10, and the patient or person requiring care can relieve themselves there. Therefore, the patient or person requiring care can be moved between the bed 100 and the toilet 200 without ever having to be lifted, reducing the physical burden on the caregiver or attendant.

[0029] Furthermore, the front frame 40 can be opened and closed so as to rotate about an axis in the vertical direction Z, with the mounting portion 31 as a fulcrum. Therefore, by positioning the moving device 10 so that the seat 23 is inserted between the back or buttocks of the patient or person requiring care and the bed 100, and rotating the patient or person requiring care around the buttocks of the patient or person requiring care as a fulcrum, the patient or person requiring care can be easily moved to and seated on the seat 23 without having to be lifted, thereby reducing the physical burden on the caregiver or attendant.

[0030] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0031] As in the movement device 10A according to the first modified example shown in Fig. 14, the auxiliary seat surface 23A may be removably attached to the seat surface 23. The auxiliary seat surface 23A is provided so as to fill the second opening 23a. In this case, for example, it is preferable to attach the auxiliary seat surface 23A to the seat surface 23 when the movement device 10A is used for movement, and to remove the auxiliary seat surface 23A from the seat surface 23 when the movement device 10A is attached to the toilet 200.

[0032] As in the case of a moving device 10B according to a second modified example shown in FIG. 15, the seat 23 may be provided detachably to the main body frame 20. In this case, the moving device 10B may be provided with a plurality of types of seats 23, 23B. In addition to the seat 23 having a U-shape in a plan view as described above, the moving device 10B may also adopt a seat 23B that does not have a second opening 23a, as shown in FIG. 16. In this case, for example, it is preferable to attach the seat 23B when moving by the moving device 10, and to replace it with the seat 23 when the moving device 10B is assembled to the toilet 200.

[0033] The seat 23 may be U-shaped and open forward, like the seat 23C employed in a moving device (not shown) according to a third modified example shown in Fig. 17. In this case, since the front of the seat 23C is open, it is possible to prevent the seat 23C from becoming dirty due to splashing urine, and maintenance efficiency is improved. Like the seat surface 23D used in the moving device (not shown) of the fourth modified example shown in Figure 18, the seat surface 23D may be O-shaped, opening neither forward nor backward, but only in the vertical direction Z.

[0034] Like a mobility device 10C according to a fifth modified example shown in FIG. 19, the mobility device 10C may include a backrest portion 51, a handrail portion 52, and a drive device 53.

[0035] The backrest 51 is detachably provided at the rear end of the main body frame 20. The backrest 51 is formed, for example, from a metal pipe. This makes it possible to support the back of the user U even when the user U has difficulty in leaning forward while seated on the seat surface 23 of the mobility device 10C. Furthermore, when the user U is placed on the mobility device 10C, the backrest 51 can be removed.

[0036] The handrail section 52 is detachably provided on at least one of two ends in the left-right direction Y of the main frame 20. The handrail section 52 is formed, for example, of a metal pipe. This prevents the user U from falling off the mobility device 10 even if the user U loses balance while seated on the seat 23 of the mobility device 10C. Furthermore, when the user U gets on the mobility device 10C, the handrail portion 52 can be removed.

[0037] The driving device 53 is, for example, a motor that drives the wheels 27 attached to the cart 21. The driving device 53 is connected to a control unit (not shown) and an operation unit (not shown). The control unit is a control device that controls the power supplied to the motor. The operation unit is used by the caregiver to input a signal for controlling the driving device 53 to the control unit. The operation unit is attached, for example, to either the left or right end of the front rest portion 41 of the front frame 40.

[0038] The backrest portion 51 and the handrail portion 52 prevent a patient or a person requiring care from falling off the seat surface 23 when the patient or the person requiring care is placed on the mobility device 10 and transported, thereby improving safety. When a patient or a person requiring care is placed on the transportation device 10C and transported, the transportation device 10C does not need to be moved manually by the driving device 53. This reduces the physical burden on the caregiver or attendant. It should be noted that only one or two of the backrest portion 51, the handrail portion 52, and the movement device 10C may be provided.

[0039] The adjustment mechanism may be omitted. The footrest 24 may be omitted.

[0040] In addition, within the scope of the invention, the components in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with well-known components, and the above-described modified examples may be combined as appropriate. [Industrial Applicability]

[0041] According to the present invention, a mobility device capable of reducing the physical burden on a caregiver or assistant can be provided, and thus has high industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 10, 10A, 10B, 10C mobile equipment 20 Main frame 21 Trolley 23, 23B, 23C, 23D Seat 24 Footrest 31 Mounting part 40 Previous Frame 41 Front rest U user Z vertical direction

Claims

1. A body frame, A front frame detachably attached to the main body frame, The main body frame includes: A seat surface on which a user sits, the seat surface having a hole opening in the vertical direction; A bogie is disposed below the seat and opens rearward, A space between the seat surface and the cart in the main body frame is open toward the rear, and a bed can be inserted into the space from the rear. The front frame is a front rest portion disposed above and in front of the main body frame, on which the user seated on the seat surface can lean; The main body frame has two mounting portions disposed separately on the left and right sides, the front frame includes two members attached to the two mounting portions, and is capable of being opened and closed so as to rotate about an axis in the vertical direction with one mounting portion as a fulcrum while one of the two members is attached to one of the two mounting portions and the other of the two members is removed from the other of the two mounting portions, A moving device in which, when the front frame is in an open state, the front frame is positioned forward relative to the main body frame, and the other member is positioned closer to the other mounting portion in the left-right direction than the one member.

2. The transportation device according to claim 1 , wherein the seat surface is detachably attached to the main body frame.

3. The transportation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body frame has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the seat surface.

4. 4. The mobility device of claim 1, further comprising a footrest disposed forward and below the seat surface.

5. 5. A mobility device according to any preceding claim, not comprising a backrest.

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