A wheelchair with a liftable seat

Abstract

The present invention provides a wheelchair with a liftable seat, comprising a wheel set mechanism, a seat mechanism and a liftable hydraulic mechanism. The seat mechanism is mounted on the hydraulic mechanism, so that the seat mechanism can be lifted and lowered following the hydraulic mechanism. The wheelchair of the present invention can be used to assist users with weak or unsuitable lower limbs in moving, especially getting off a seat and sitting on the wheelchair, or getting off the wheelchair and sitting on a seat, or moving from one seat to another. The wheelchair of the present invention has good self-help performance, which can greatly reduce the workload of the accompanying personnel. Even without the assistance of others, the user can operate and use it by himself / herself.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of wheelchairs, and particularly relates to a wheelchair with a liftable seat. Background Art

[0002] As Chinese society gradually ages, the care of the elderly has attracted increasing social attention. This care is not only physical care, but sometimes more importantly, psychological care. For the elderly or patients with limited mobility, especially those with limited lower limb mobility, such as the elderly with weak lower limbs or patients who have just had surgery on their lower limbs, if they stay in bed all day and cannot even take care of basic urination and defecation, it will not only cause inconvenience, discomfort, and unhealthiness physically, but also more easily cause a sense of humiliation and even depression psychologically.

[0003] A wheelchair is a type of device used to assist people with limited lower limb mobility in moving. When using a traditional wheelchair, the user generally needs to sit on the wheelchair by himself or with the assistance of others, and then move the wheelchair by turning the wheels himself or being pushed by others. However, for people with weak lower limbs, it is very troublesome to sit on the wheelchair by themselves. For example, when the user needs to sit on the wheelchair seat or get off the wheelchair seat, since the opening of the wheelchair seat faces forward, the user generally needs to hold the armrest of the wheelchair for leverage, support the body with both feet and turn around to face away from (when getting on the wheelchair) or face (when getting off the wheelchair) the opening of the seat, and then sit on or get off the wheelchair from the front of the seat. This process still requires the user's lower limbs to have a considerable amount of strength, and the turning process is very unsafe. Therefore, for people with weak lower limbs, traditional wheelchairs cannot meet their requirements for self-help movement, such as going to the toilet by themselves or moving without the assistance of others.

[0004] In response to this, there has emerged a type of wheelchair in the prior art, such as Figure 1As shown, the opening direction of its seat faces backward, and the seat can be disassembled or unfolded to both sides. There is a support plate in front of the seat. When in use, push the self-help wheelchair backward against the edge of a seat (such as a bed, chair, toilet, etc.). The user supports both hands on the support plate to lift the hips slightly with the help of the force, and then installs or folds up the seat under the hips. The user can sit down on the wheelchair seat. Since the support plate can be used to borrow force, during the above process of sitting on the wheelchair, the main force of the user is concentrated on the upper limbs, while only a very small force needs to be exerted on the lower limbs, and the user does not need to turn around, greatly increasing the convenience and safety of the wheelchair. However, the self-help performance of this kind of wheelchair is still poor, and it requires the assistance of others to install or fold up the seat. Moreover, since the height of the wheelchair seat needs to adapt to the height of the seat, although this height can be adjusted, it is generally adjusted before use and cannot be adjusted during use. Therefore, it is very inconvenient for the user to move between seats of different heights. For example, if the user wants to move from the bed to the toilet with the help of a wheelchair, since the heights of the bed and the toilet are often different, for the user, there is always an inconvenient process when getting on or off the wheelchair.

[0005] Therefore, those skilled in the art are committed to developing a wheelchair that is convenient for users with weak lower limb strength to get on and off, and the seat can be lifted and lowered during use. Moreover, it has good self-help performance, can reduce the workload of caregivers, and even when there is no assistance from others, the user can operate and use it by himself. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair with a liftable seat, which is used to assist users with weak or unsuitable lower limb strength to move, especially to get off a seat and sit on the wheelchair, or to get off the wheelchair and sit on a seat, or to move from one seat to another.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the wheelchair with a liftable seat of the present invention includes: a wheel set mechanism for making the wheelchair easy to move; a seat mechanism for providing a supporting force for the user's body, and the user enters the seat mechanism from the rear of the wheelchair; and a liftable hydraulic mechanism. Among them, the seat mechanism is installed on the hydraulic mechanism so that the seat mechanism can be lifted and lowered along with the hydraulic mechanism.

[0008] The wheel set mechanism includes a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, namely a left front wheel, a right front wheel, a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel. The left front wheel and the right front wheel are respectively installed on the left front wheel mounting rod and the right front wheel mounting rod, the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel are respectively installed on the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod, and the left front wheel mounting rod and the right front wheel mounting rod are respectively fixedly connected to the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod.

[0009] Further, the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod are generally L-shaped and are arranged in parallel on the left and right sides of the wheelchair, including a horizontal section extending substantially in the horizontal direction and a vertical section extending substantially in the vertical direction. The left front wheel mounting rod and the right front wheel mounting rod are arranged in parallel and are respectively fixed to the vertical sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod. The left rear wheel and the right rear wheel are respectively mounted at the rear ends of the horizontal sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod. The left front wheel and the right front wheel are respectively mounted at the front ends of the left front wheel mounting rod and the right front wheel mounting rod.

[0010] Further, the left front wheel and the right front wheel are large wheels, with sizes similar to the tires of ordinary bicycles and diameters ranging from 40 to 80 cm. Left hand push rings and right hand push rings are respectively mounted on the outer sides of the hubs of the left front wheel and the right front wheel. When the user is sitting on the wheelchair, the wheelchair can be moved by pushing the two push rings with both hands.

[0011] Further, the left front wheel and the right front wheel can also be small wheels, preferably universal wheels, with sizes similar to the tires of supermarket trolleys and diameters ranging from 4 to 20 cm. Setting the front wheels as small wheels reduces the width and / or length of the wheelchair, so it is more suitable for narrow spaces, such as narrow bathrooms. In this case, when the user is sitting on the wheelchair, they cannot move the wheelchair by pushing it with both hands on their own, but can move the wheelchair by rubbing the ground with their feet (but this requires a certain amount of strength in the user's lower limbs), or the wheelchair can be moved by others. Or preferably, locking devices are mounted on the left front wheel and the right front wheel. When the locking devices are in the locked state, the wheels cannot roll.

[0012] Further, the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel are small wheels, preferably universal wheels, with sizes similar to the tires of supermarket trolleys and diameters ranging from 4 to 30 cm. Preferably, locking devices are mounted on the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel. When the locking devices are in the locked state, the wheels cannot roll.

[0013] Further, the left front wheel mounting rod and the right front wheel mounting rod are fixed to the vertical sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod in a detachable manner, such as by threaded connection or pin connection. In this way, the front wheels can be selected to mount large wheels or small wheels according to different application scenarios and can also be conveniently replaced.

[0014] The wheel set mechanism further includes at least one brake, preferably a pair of brakes, namely a left brake and a right brake, for braking during the progress of the wheelchair.

[0015] Further, the structure of the brake is similar to that of a bicycle. For example, disc brakes or V-brakes are used. The handle of the brake is fixed at a position convenient for the user to operate, such as on the lifting rod of a hydraulic mechanism or on the connecting piece of a seat mechanism. The brake pads are fixed on one side or both sides of the hub of the front wheel. When the user toggles the brake handle, the brake wire is pulled, so that the brake pads act on the front wheel to achieve braking.

[0016] Furthermore, the brakes can also adopt pressing plate brakes. The left brake and the right brake are respectively fixed on the vertical sections on the left and right sides of the table board frame of the table board mechanism, and the vertical sections on the left and right sides of the table board frame are respectively connected to the vertical sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod, so that the table board is located in front of the hydraulic mechanism but cannot move up and down with the hydraulic mechanism. The left brake and the right brake are respectively located above the tops of the left front wheel and the right front wheel and slightly higher than the tops of the left front wheel and the right front wheel. When the user toggles the handle of the left brake or the right brake, it drives the brake pads to approach and rub against the left front wheel or the right front wheel, thereby achieving braking. The structure of this kind of brake is simpler, avoiding the use of complex and expensive disc brakes or V-brakes, thus reducing the cost.

[0017] The hydraulic mechanism is generally an inverted hydraulic device, including an oil cylinder, a lifting rod, a pressurizing element and a pressure relief element. The so-called "inverted" here is relative to the placement state of a general hydraulic device in the prior art. For example, a jack is a typical hydraulic device used to lift heavy objects. Generally, its oil cylinder is located at the lower part, the lifting rod is located above the oil cylinder, and a pressurizing element (typically a piston driven by a lever) and a pressure relief element (typically a pressure relief valve) are installed on the lower oil cylinder. By pressing the lever multiple times to pressurize the oil cylinder, the lifting rod is gradually lifted; at this time, if the pressure relief element is opened to relieve the pressure of the oil cylinder, the lifted lifting rod will descend and gradually return to the lowest position; and if the pressure relief element is closed again during the descent of the lifting rod, the lifting rod will stop descending and basically remain at the height when the pressure relief element is closed. The structure and principle of the hydraulic mechanism of the present invention are substantially the same as those of hydraulic devices such as jacks, but are innovatively set in an inverted state. This is because if it is set in a general placement state, its pressurizing element and pressure relief element are both located at the lower part of the wheelchair and need to be operated by the user's lower limbs, which is inconvenient for users with weak lower limbs; and if the pressurizing element and pressure relief element are to be set to the upper part of the wheelchair, it is necessary to use oil pipes to guide, which not only increases the complexity of the structure, thus increasing the failure rate, but also the oil pipes will pose a certain obstacle to the user. Therefore, the present invention sets the hydraulic device in an inverted state, that is, the oil cylinder is located above the lifting rod, so that the pressurizing element and the pressure relief element installed on the oil cylinder are located at the upper part of the wheelchair, facilitating the use of both hands by users with weak lower limbs to control. Of course, this kind of control can also be electric, that is, an electric-controlled seat-liftable wheelchair is realized.

[0018] Furthermore, the lifting rod is preferably a pair, that is, a left lifting rod and a right lifting rod, which are arranged in parallel on the left and right sides of the wheelchair, and their lower ends are respectively connected to the upper ends of the vertical sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod.

[0019] Furthermore, the oil cylinder is horizontally arranged above the lifting rod, and a pressurizing element and a pressure relief element are provided on the oil cylinder, corresponding to the lever and the pressure relief valve of a jack.

[0020] Furthermore, the pressurizing element is arranged in the form of a pressing plate. Each time the user presses the pressing plate by hand, the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod can be lifted simultaneously to a certain extent, so that the seat mechanism installed thereon is also lifted. By pressing the pressing plate repeatedly for multiple times, the seat mechanism can be gradually lifted to the height required by the user.

[0021] Furthermore, the pressure relief element is arranged in the form of a toggle button. By toggling the toggle button, the lifted lifting rod and the seat mechanism can be lowered and reset to the lowest height.

[0022] Furthermore, a horizontal connecting pipe is also provided between the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod, which is used to balance the liquid level and hydraulic pressure between the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod, ensure that the lifting height of the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod is the same each time, and avoid causing left and right tilting.

[0023] The structure and working principle of the hydraulic mechanism are as follows: The oil cylinder contains oil; the pressurizing element includes a small piston and a spring, and the small piston is connected to the oil cylinder through a first check valve; the lifting rod includes a large piston, which is connected to the small piston through a second check valve and is connected to the oil cylinder through a pressure relief element. The pressurizing element automatically lifts upward under the action of the spring tension, driving the small piston downward. The oil in the oil cylinder is sucked to the upper part of the small piston through the oil pipe and the first check valve. When the user presses the pressurizing element, the small piston is driven upward, and the oil path between the oil cylinder and the small piston is blocked by the first check valve. The oil in the upper part of the small piston can only be pressed into the upper part of the large piston through the oil path between the small piston and the large piston and the second check valve. Due to the lever effect, the pressure applied by the user to the pressurizing element can increase the pressure in the upper part of the small piston by several times, and the area of the large piston is dozens of times that of the small piston; according to Pascal's principle, the area ratio of the large piston to the small piston is the same as the pressure ratio. It can be seen that the pressure on the user's hand is amplified several times through the pressurizing element to the small piston, and the force from the small piston to the large piston is amplified dozens of times, that is, a total amplification of hundreds of times or more. Therefore, it can easily lift the seat mechanism installed on the lifting rod and the user sitting on it. When the seat is lifted, if the pressure relief element is opened, the oil is squeezed back into the oil cylinder under the action of the weight of the seat mechanism and the user himself, causing the lifted lifting rod to descend and gradually reset to the initial lowest height.

[0024] Furthermore, the hydraulic mechanism can also include only one lifting rod, which is arranged approximately in the middle in the left-right width direction of the wheelchair, that is, located between the user's legs in the use state. Although this setting will impose certain restrictions on the user's legs, its structure is simpler than the above structure and the cost is low.

[0025] The seat mechanism is generally a left-right symmetric structure, including a connecting piece, a seat mounting piece and a seat board.

[0026] Further, there are a pair of connecting members, namely a left connecting member and a right connecting member, which are respectively installed on the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod, extend rearward, and can move up and down following the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod.

[0027] Further, there are also a pair of seat mounting members, namely a left seat mounting member and a right seat mounting member, which are respectively connected to the left connecting member and the right connecting member through a left pivot and a right pivot, and extend rearward.

[0028] Further, there are also a pair of seat plates, namely a left seat plate and a right seat plate, which are respectively installed on the left seat mounting member and the right seat mounting member and extend towards the center of the wheelchair. When the seat plates are in the retracted state, the left seat plate and the right seat plate move closer to the center of the wheelchair to form a complete seat, providing support for the user's buttocks.

[0029] Further, the left seat mounting member and the right seat mounting member can respectively pivot outward to the left and to the right around the left pivot and the right pivot, so that the left seat plate and the right seat plate change to the unfolded state. Preferably, springs are respectively installed on the left pivot and the right pivot, and the tension of the springs causes the left seat plate and the right seat plate to always tend to remain in the retracted state; preferably, there are further limit components (such as buttons or toggles) on the left pivot and the right pivot for locking the pivoting of the left pivot and the right pivot, thereby locking the retracted state or the unfolded state of the seat plates. For example, when the seat plates are in the retracted state, the limit components can keep them in the retracted state to prevent the seat plates from unfolding when the user sits on the seat plates and causing the user to fall; when the limit is released, the seat plates can change to the unfolded state. When the seat plates are in the unfolded state, the limit components can keep them in the unfolded state; at this time, if the limit is released, the seat plates will automatically change to the retracted state under the action of the spring tension. The advantage of such a setting is that the seat plates can be automatically retracted without the user having to operate with both hands, further improving the self-service performance of the wheelchair.

[0030] Further, the rear ends of the left seat mount and the right seat mount are respectively connected with a left backrest baffle and a right backrest baffle through a left back pivot and a right back pivot. When in the closed state, they can provide certain support for the user's back. The left backrest baffle and the right backrest baffle can respectively pivot forward around the left back pivot and the right back pivot to be substantially parallel, changing to the open state. Preferably, springs are respectively installed on the left back pivot and the right back pivot. The tension of the springs causes the left backrest baffle and the right backrest baffle to always tend to remain in the closed state, that is, the left backrest baffle and the right backrest baffle can automatically close, providing a certain support for the user's back, which is more comfortable and safe. In addition, the advantage of such setting of the left backrest baffle and the right backrest baffle is that they can avoid certain obstacles that appear behind the wheelchair. For example, when the user goes to the toilet, as the wheelchair moves backward, when the two baffles touch the water tank of the toilet, they will automatically pivot forward to avoid the water tank; after the user finishes using the toilet, as the wheelchair moves forward, when the water tank no longer blocks the two baffles, the baffles will automatically return to the closed state.

[0031] Further, the wheelchair with a liftable seat of the present invention may further include a table board mechanism, which includes a table board frame and a table board mounted thereon.

[0032] Further, the table board frame includes a pair of parallel vertical segments, which are respectively installed at the front positions of the left lift rod and the right lift rod, so that the table board is located in front of the oil cylinder and can be lifted and lowered along with the hydraulic mechanism; or are respectively connected to the vertical segments of the left rear wheel mount rod and the right rear wheel mount rod, so that the table board is located in front of the hydraulic mechanism but cannot be lifted and lowered along with the hydraulic mechanism. In addition to placing items, the table board can also provide certain support for the user's hands when the user sits on the wheelchair or gets off the wheelchair (but mainly supported by the oil cylinder), so as to facilitate the user to slightly lift the buttocks. Preferably, the top of the table board is at the same height or equivalent to the top of the oil cylinder.

[0033] Further, the wheelchair with a liftable seat of the present invention may further include a pedal mechanism, which includes a pedal frame and pedals mounted thereon.

[0034] Further, the left and right ends of the pedal frame are respectively installed at the lower positions of the vertical segments of the left rear wheel mount rod and the right rear wheel mount rod, so that the pedals are approximately located at the positions of the user's feet when in use, facilitating the user to rest the feet.

[0035] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides an operation method for the above-mentioned wheelchair, specifically including the operation method for the user to sit on the wheelchair from a seat (such as a bed, a chair, a toilet, etc.), the operation method for the user to get off the wheelchair and sit on a seat, and the operation method for the user to move from one seat to another seat.

[0036] The operation method for a user to sit on a wheelchair from a seat includes the following steps: (1) By adjusting the hydraulic mechanism, adjust the height of the seat plate to be slightly higher than the height of the seat; (2) Pivot the seat mounting parts outward to the left and right sides of the wheelchair respectively, so that the seat plate is in the unfolded state; (3) Move the wheelchair backward to the edge of the seat, so that the oil cylinder approaches the user from the front; (4) The user supports both hands on the oil cylinder and / or the table board to lift the buttocks by leveraging the force; (5) Pivot the seat mounting parts inward to the left and right sides of the wheelchair respectively, so that the seat plate is in the folded state and is located under the buttocks of the user; (6) The user can sit down on the wheelchair and then move the wheelchair away.

[0037] Optionally, the above steps can also be completed without supporting both hands on the oil cylinder and / or the table board to leverage the force. Instead, replace steps (4) and (5) above with: (4) The user uses one buttock as a support to lift the other buttock; pivot the seat mounting part corresponding to the other buttock inward to the wheelchair, so that the seat plate corresponding to the other buttock is located under the other buttock and sit down; (5) The user uses the other buttock as a support to lift one buttock; pivot the seat mounting part corresponding to one buttock inward to the wheelchair, so that the seat plate corresponding to one buttock is located under one buttock.

[0038] The operation method for a user to get off a wheelchair and sit on a seat includes the following steps: (1) By adjusting the hydraulic mechanism, adjust the height of the seat plate to be slightly higher than the height of the seat; (2) Move the wheelchair backward to the edge of the seat, so that the seat plate is located above the seat; (3) The user supports both hands on the oil cylinder and / or the table board to lift the buttocks by leveraging the force; (4) Pivot the seat mounting parts outward to the left and right sides of the wheelchair respectively, so that the seat plate is in the unfolded state; (5) The user can get off the wheelchair and sit on the seat.

[0039] Optionally, the above steps can also be completed without supporting both hands on the oil cylinder and / or the table board to leverage the force. Instead, replace steps (3) and (4) above with: (3) The user uses one buttock as a support to lift the other buttock; pivot the seat mounting part corresponding to the other buttock outward to the wheelchair, so that the other buttock is directly located above the seat and sit down; (4) The user uses the other buttock as a support to lift one buttock; pivot the seat mounting part corresponding to one buttock outward to the wheelchair, so that one buttock is directly located above the seat.

[0040] Obviously, if a user wants to use the wheelchair of the present invention to move from one seat to another, the operation method includes the combination of the above two processes, that is, first sit on the wheelchair from the first seat, and when moving the wheelchair to the second seat, then get off the wheelchair and sit on the second seat. Typically, for example, a user with lower limb disabilities can easily complete the movement from the bed in the bedroom to the toilet seat in the bathroom without the assistance of others.

[0041] In summary, the wheelchair with a liftable seat provided by the present invention has at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0042] (1) Innovatively, the hydraulic device is set upside down, so that the pressurizing element and the pressure-relieving element are located at the upper part of the wheelchair, which is convenient for users with weak lower limbs to control with both hands and can also be electrically controlled.

[0043] (2) The oil cylinder can not only provide oil and hydraulic pressure for the hydraulic device, but also provide support for the user's upper limbs and upper body when the user gets on and off the wheelchair.

[0044] (3) The seat is separately provided as a pair of seat boards, which can be in two states of being folded and unfolded, and can be automatically folded when needed, greatly enhancing the self-service performance of the wheelchair, and users can operate and use it by themselves even without the assistance of others.

[0045] (4) The left back baffle and the right back baffle can be automatically closed or pivoted forward. On the one hand, it provides a certain degree of support for the user's back, making it more comfortable and safe. On the other hand, it can automatically avoid certain obstacles behind the wheelchair.

[0046] (5) A pair of front wheels can be large wheels or small wheels, and are connected in an easily detachable manner, facilitating selection and replacement in different scenarios. Description of the Drawings

[0047] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the use process of a wheelchair in the prior art;

[0048] Figure 2 is a right rear view of the wheelchair of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 3 is a right front view of the wheelchair of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic mechanism of the wheelchair of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure and principle of the hydraulic mechanism of the wheelchair of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 6is a right rear view of a wheelchair according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 7 is a right rear view of a wheelchair according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Among them, 1 - wheel set mechanism, 11 - left front wheel, 12 - right front wheel, 13 - left rear wheel, 14 - right rear wheel, 15 - left brake, 16 - right brake, 17 - left hand push ring, 18 - right hand push ring, 19 - left rear wheel mounting rod, 10 - right rear wheel mounting rod, 111 - left front wheel mounting rod, 112 - right front wheel mounting rod;

[0055] 2 - hydraulic mechanism, 21 - oil cylinder, 22 - pressurizing element, 23 - left lifting rod, 24 - right lifting rod, 25 - pressure relief element, 26 - connecting pipe, 27 - large piston, 28 - small piston, 29 - second check valve, 20 - first check valve;

[0056] 3 - seat mechanism, 31 - left connecting piece, 32 - right connecting piece, 33 - left pivot, 34 - right pivot, 35 - left seat mounting piece, 36 - right seat mounting piece, 37 - left back pivot, 38 - right back pivot, 39 - left back baffle, 30 - right back baffle, 311 - left seat plate, 312 - right seat plate;

[0057] 4 - table board mechanism, 41 - table board frame, 42 - table board;

[0058] 5 - pedal mechanism, 51 - pedal frame, 52 - pedal. Detailed implementation manners

[0059] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. The following embodiments are implemented on the premise of the technical solution of the present invention, and detailed implementation manners and specific operation processes are given. However, the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0060] The front, rear, left, right and other directions defined by the present invention are determined according to the orientation of the user's body when actually using the wheelchair under normal circumstances. For example, generally, when the user is sitting in the wheelchair and moving forward, the direction facing the user is the front, the direction facing away from the user is the rear, the direction on the user's left hand side is the left, and the direction on the user's right hand side is the right.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the seat - liftable wheelchair of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 generally has a left - right symmetric structure, including a wheel set mechanism 1, a hydraulic mechanism 2 and a seat mechanism 3, and may further include a table board mechanism 4 and / or a pedal mechanism 5.

[0062] The wheel set mechanism 1 includes a pair of front wheels 11, 12 and a pair of rear wheels 13, 14, namely the left front wheel 11, the right front wheel 12, the left rear wheel 13 and the right rear wheel 14. The left front wheel 11 and the right front wheel 12 are respectively installed on the left front wheel mounting rod 111 and the right front wheel mounting rod 112, and the left rear wheel 13 and the right rear wheel 14 are respectively installed on the left rear wheel mounting rod 19 and the right rear wheel mounting rod 10.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the pair of front wheels 11, 12 are large wheels, the size of which is similar to that of a bicycle tire; while the pair of rear wheels 13, 14 are small wheels, the size of which is similar to that of a supermarket trolley tire, preferably a swivel wheel, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown. On the outer sides of the hubs of the left front wheel 11 and the right front wheel 12, a left hand push ring 17 and a right hand push ring 18 are respectively installed. When the user sits on the wheelchair, the wheelchair can move forward or backward by pushing the hand push rings with both hands.

[0064] The wheel set mechanism 1 further includes at least one brake 15, 16, preferably a pair of brakes 15, 16, namely the left brake 15 and the right brake 16. In a preferred embodiment, the structure of the brakes 15, 16 is similar to that of a bicycle brake, which is a disc brake or a V-brake, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown. When the user pulls down the brake handle backward, the brake wire is pulled to make the brake pads act on the front wheels to achieve braking. In this case, the brake handle should be fixed at a position convenient for the user to operate, such as on the left lifting rod 23 and the right lifting rod 24 of the hydraulic mechanism 2, or on the left connecting member 31 and the right connecting member 32 of the seat mechanism 3 ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown). In another preferred embodiment, the structure of the brakes 15, 16 is simpler, which is a pressing plate brake, such as Figure 6 shown. The left brake 15 and the right brake 16 are respectively fixed on the vertical sections on the left and right sides of the table board frame 41 of the table board mechanism 4. The vertical sections on the left and right sides of the table board frame 41 are respectively connected to the vertical sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod 19 and the right rear wheel mounting rod 10. The positions of the left brake 15 and the right brake 16 are slightly higher than the tops of the left front wheel 11 and the right front wheel 12. When the user pulls the handle of the left brake 15 or the right brake 16, the brake pads are driven to approach and rub the left front wheel 11 or the right front wheel 12, thereby achieving braking.

[0065] In yet another preferred embodiment, the pair of front wheels 11, 12 and the pair of rear wheels 13, 14 are both small wheels, preferably swivel wheels, such as Figure 7As shown. This setting reduces the width and / or length of the wheelchair, making it more suitable for narrow spaces such as narrow bathrooms. In this case, when the user is sitting in the wheelchair, they cannot move the wheelchair forward or backward by pushing with their hands, but can use their feet to rub the ground to move the wheelchair forward or backward (this requires a certain amount of strength in the user's lower limbs), or the wheelchair can be pushed forward or backward by others. Preferably, at least one pair of the pair of front wheels 11, 12 and the pair of rear wheels 13, 14 is equipped with a locking device, and the wheels cannot roll when the locking device is in the locked state. For example, Figure 7 shows a situation where a pair of front wheels 11, 12 are equipped with a locking device.

[0066] The hydraulic mechanism 2 is generally an inverted hydraulic device, as Figure 4 shown, including an oil cylinder 21, lifting rods 23, 24, a pressurizing element 22, and a pressure relief element 25. As Figure 4 shown, in a preferred embodiment, the lifting rods 23, 24 are a pair, namely a left lifting rod 23 and a right lifting rod 24, and their lower ends are respectively connected to the upper ends of the vertical sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod 19 and the right rear wheel mounting rod 10. The oil cylinder 21 is arranged above the pair of lifting rods 23, 24, and the pressurizing element 22 and the pressure relief element 25 are provided on the oil cylinder 21. The pressurizing element 22 is set in the form of a pressing plate. Each time the user presses this pressing plate with their hand, the pair of lifting rods 23, 24 can be slightly lifted, so that the seat mechanism 3 mounted on it is also lifted. By operating the pressing plate repeatedly for many times, the seat mechanism 3 can be gradually lifted to the height required by the user; the pressure relief element 25 is set in the form of a toggle button. By toggling this toggle button, the lifted lifting rods 23, 24 can be lowered and gradually reset to the initial lowest height; and if the pressure relief element 25 is closed again during the lowering process of the lifting rods 23, 24, the lifting rods 23, 24 will stop descending and basically remain at the height when the pressure relief element 25 is closed. Preferably, a connecting pipe 26 is also provided between the left lifting rod 23 and the right lifting rod 24 to balance the liquid level and hydraulic pressure between the left lifting rod 23 and the right lifting rod 24, ensure that the lifting height of the left lifting rod 23 and the right lifting rod 24 is the same each time, and avoid causing left and right tilting. In another preferred embodiment (not shown in the figure), the hydraulic mechanism 2 only includes one lifting rod, which is centrally arranged, that is, it is located between the user's legs in the use state. Although this setting will impose certain restrictions on the user's legs, its structure is Figure 4 simpler than that shown.

[0067] The structure and working principle of the hydraulic mechanism 2 are as Figure 5As shown in the figure, the oil cylinder 21 contains hydraulic fluid; the pressurizing element 22 includes a small piston 28 and a spring, and is communicated with the oil cylinder 21 through a first check valve 20; the lifting rods 23 and 24 include a large piston 27, and are communicated with the small piston 28 through a second check valve 29 and with the oil cylinder 21 through a pressure relief element 25. The working principle of the hydraulic mechanism 2 is as follows: under the action of the spring tension, the pressurizing element 22 automatically lifts upward, driving the small piston 28 downward. The hydraulic fluid in the oil cylinder 21 is sucked to the upper part of the small piston through a oil pipe and the first check valve 20. When the user presses the pressurizing element 22, the small piston 28 is driven upward, and the oil path between the oil cylinder 21 and the small piston 28 is blocked by the first check valve 20. The hydraulic fluid in the upper part of the small piston 28 is pressed into the upper part of the large piston 27 through the oil path between the small piston 28 and the large piston 27 and the second check valve 29. Due to the lever effect, the pressure applied by the user to the pressurizing element 22 can increase the pressure in the upper part of the small piston 28 by several times, and the area of the large piston 28 is dozens of times that of the small piston 27; according to Pascal's principle, the area ratio of the large piston 28 to the small piston 27 is the same as the pressure ratio. It can be seen that the pressure on the user's hand is amplified several times from the pressurizing element 22 to the small piston 27, and from the small piston 27 to the large piston 28, it is amplified dozens of times, that is, a total amplification of a hundred times or more. Therefore, it can easily lift the seat mechanism 3 installed on the lifting rods 23 and 24 and the user sitting on it. When the seat is lifted, if the pressure relief element 25 is opened, the hydraulic fluid is squeezed back into the oil cylinder 21 under the action of the weight of the seat mechanism 3 and the user himself, so that the lifted lifting rods 23 and 24 descend and reset to the initial lowest height.

[0068] The seat mechanism 3 is generally a left-right symmetric structure, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, it includes connecting members 31, 32, seat mounting members 35, 36, and seat plates 311, 312. Preferably, the connecting members 31, 32 are a pair, namely the left connecting member 31 and the right connecting member 32, which are respectively installed on the left lifting rod 23 and the right lifting rod 24 and can be lifted and lowered with the left lifting rod 23 and the right lifting rod 24. The seat mounting members 35, 36 are also a pair, namely the left seat mounting member 35 and the right seat mounting member 36, which are respectively connected to the left connecting member 31 and the right connecting member 32 through the left pivot 33 and the right pivot 34. The seat plates 311, 312 are also a pair, namely the left seat plate 311 and the right seat plate 312, which are respectively installed on the left seat mounting member 35 and the right seat mounting member 36. When the seat plates 311, 312 are in the retracted state, they form a complete seat for the user to support the buttocks. The left seat mounting member 35 and the right seat mounting member 36 can respectively pivot outward to the left and right sides around the left pivot 33 and the right pivot 34, so that the seat plates 311, 312 become in the unfolded state. Preferably, the rear ends of the left seat mounting member 35 and the right seat mounting member 36 are respectively installed with a left backrest baffle 39 and a right backrest baffle 30 through the left back pivot 37 and the right back pivot 38. When in the closed state, they can provide a certain support for the user's back. The left backrest baffle 39 and the right backrest baffle 30 can respectively pivot forward around the left back pivot 37 and the right back pivot 38 to be substantially parallel, thus becoming in the open state. Springs are respectively installed on the left back pivot 37 and the right back pivot 38, and the tension of the springs makes the left backrest baffle 39 and the right backrest baffle 30 always tend to remain in the closed state.

[0069] The table board mechanism 4 includes a table board frame 41 and a table board 42 installed thereon. The vertical sections on the left and right sides of the table board frame 41 are respectively installed in front of the left lifting rod 23 and the right lifting rod 24, so that the table board 42 is located in front of the oil cylinder 22 and can be lifted and lowered with the hydraulic mechanism 2 (as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown); or are respectively connected to the vertical sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod 19 and the right rear wheel mounting rod 10, so that the table board 42 is located in front of the hydraulic mechanism 2 but cannot be lifted and lowered with the hydraulic mechanism 2 (as Figure 6 shown). In addition to placing items, the table board 42 can also provide a certain support for the user's hands when the user sits on the wheelchair or gets off the wheelchair (but mainly supported by the oil cylinder 21), so as to facilitate the user to slightly lift the buttocks.

[0070] The pedal mechanism 5 is as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, and includes a pedal frame 51 and a pedal 52 installed thereon. The left and right ends of the pedal frame 51 are respectively installed at the front lower positions of the left rear wheel mounting rod 19 and the right rear wheel mounting rod 10, so that the pedal 52 is roughly located at the position of the user's feet during use, facilitating the user to rest the feet.

[0071] Next, taking Figure 2and Figure 3 Taking the wheelchair shown in Figure 3 as an example, the operation method of the wheelchair of the present invention will be described. Specifically, it is the method for a user to sit on the wheelchair from a seat (such as a bed, chair, toilet, etc.) and the method for getting off the wheelchair and sitting on the seat.

[0072] The method for a user to sit on the wheelchair from a seat includes the following steps: (1) By adjusting the hydraulic mechanism 5, adjust the height of the seat plates 311 and 312 to be slightly higher than the height of the seat; (2) Pivot the seat mounting members 35 and 36 outwardly to the left and right sides of the wheelchair respectively, so that the seat plates 311 and 312 are in the unfolded state; (3) Move the wheelchair backward to the edge of the seat, so that the oil cylinder 22 approaches the user from the front; (4) The user supports both hands on the oil cylinder 22 and / or the table board 42 to lift the hips by borrowing strength; (5) Pivot the seat mounting members 35 and 36 inwardly to the inner sides of the wheelchair respectively, so that the seat plates 311 and 312 are in the folded state and are located under the user's hips; (6) The user can sit down on the wheelchair and then move the wheelchair.

[0073] Optionally, the above steps may not be completed by supporting both hands on the oil cylinder 22 and / or the table board 42 to borrow strength. Instead, steps (4) and (5) are replaced with: (4) The user uses one hip as a support to lift the other hip; pivot the seat mounting member 35 or 36 corresponding to the other hip inwardly to the inner side of the wheelchair, so that the seat plate 311 or 312 corresponding to the other hip is located under the other hip and sit down; (5) The user uses the other hip as a support to lift one hip; pivot the seat mounting member 36 or 35 corresponding to one hip inwardly to the inner side of the wheelchair, so that the seat plate 312 or 311 corresponding to one hip is located under one hip.

[0074] The method for a user to get off the wheelchair and sit on the seat includes the following steps: (1) By adjusting the hydraulic mechanism 5, adjust the height of the seat plates 311 and 312 to be slightly higher than the height of the seat; (2) Move the wheelchair backward to the edge of the seat, so that the seat plates 311 and 312 are located above the seat; (3) The user supports both hands on the oil cylinder 22 and / or the table board 42 to lift the hips by borrowing strength; (4) Pivot the seat mounting members 35 and 36 outwardly to the left and right sides of the wheelchair respectively, so that the seat plates 311 and 312 are in the unfolded state; (5) The user can sit down to get off the wheelchair and sit on the seat.

[0075] Optionally, the above steps may also be completed without relying on the hands to support on the oil cylinder 22 and / or the table board 42 for leverage. Instead, steps (3) and (4) above are replaced with: (3) The user uses one hip as a support and raises the other hip; pivots the seat mounting member 35 or 36 corresponding to the other hip towards the outside of the wheelchair so that the other hip is directly above the seat and sits down; (4) The user uses the other hip as a support and raises one hip; pivots the seat mounting member 36 or 35 corresponding to one hip towards the outside of the wheelchair so that one hip is directly above the seat.

[0076] From the above description, it is obvious that the method for a user to move from one seat to another using the wheelchair of the present invention includes the combination of the above two processes, that is, first sitting on the wheelchair from the first seat, and when the wheelchair is moved to the second seat, getting off the wheelchair and sitting on the second seat.

[0077] The preferred specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. It should be understood that those of ordinary skill in the art can make many modifications and variations based on the concept of the present invention without creative labor. Therefore, all technical solutions that can be obtained by those skilled in the art in the technical field based on the concept of the present invention through logical analysis, reasoning or limited experiments on the basis of the prior art should be within the protection scope determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A wheelchair with a liftable seat, characterized in that, The wheelchair includes: A wheel set mechanism for facilitating the movement of the wheelchair; A seat mechanism for providing support for the user's body, and the user enters the seat mechanism from the rear of the wheelchair; And a liftable hydraulic mechanism, and the seat mechanism is mounted on the hydraulic mechanism so that the seat mechanism can follow the hydraulic mechanism to lift and lower; The hydraulic mechanism includes an oil cylinder, a lifting rod, a pressurizing element and a pressure relief element; the oil cylinder is arranged above the lifting rod, and the pressurizing element and the pressure relief element are arranged on the oil cylinder; The lifting rods are a pair, namely a left lifting rod and a right lifting rod, which are arranged in parallel on the left and right sides of the wheelchair; The pressurizing element is in the form of a pressure plate. When the user presses the pressure plate, the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod can be lifted simultaneously; The pressurizing element includes a small piston and a spring. The small piston is communicated with the oil cylinder through a first check valve; the lifting rod includes a large piston, and the large piston is communicated with the small piston through a second check valve and is communicated with the oil cylinder through the pressure relief element; The pressure relief element is in the form of a knob. When the user toggles the knob, the lifted lifting rod can be lowered and gradually reset to the lowest height; if the knob is closed again during the lowering process of the lifting rod, the lifting rod will stop lowering and basically remain at the height when the knob is closed.

2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein A horizontal connecting pipe is arranged between the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod.

3. The wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wheel set mechanism includes a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, namely a left front wheel, a right front wheel, a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel.

4. The wheelchair according to claim 3, characterized in that, The left front wheel and the right front wheel are respectively arranged on the wheel set mechanism through a left front wheel mounting rod and a right front wheel mounting rod. The left rear wheel and the right rear wheel are respectively arranged on the wheel set mechanism through a left rear wheel mounting rod and a right rear wheel mounting rod. The left front wheel mounting rod and the right front wheel mounting rod are respectively fixedly connected to the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod.

5. The wheelchair according to claim 4, characterized in that, The left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod are generally L-shaped, and are arranged in parallel on the left and right sides of the wheelchair, each including a horizontal section extending substantially in the horizontal direction and a vertical section extending substantially in the vertical direction; the left front wheel mounting rod and the right front wheel mounting rod are arranged in parallel and are respectively fixedly connected to the vertical sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod; the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel are respectively mounted at the rear ends of the horizontal sections of the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod; the left front wheel and the right front wheel are respectively mounted at the front ends of the left front wheel mounting rod and the right front wheel mounting rod.

6. The wheelchair according to claim 3, characterized in that, The diameters of the left front wheel and the right front wheel are between 40 - 80 cm.

7. The wheelchair according to claim 6, characterized in that, Left and right hand push rings are respectively mounted on the outer sides of the hubs of the left front wheel and the right front wheel.

8. The wheelchair according to claim 3, wherein The left front wheel and the right front wheel are universal wheels with diameters between 4 - 20 cm.

9. The wheelchair according to claim 8, characterized in that, The left front wheel and the right front wheel are respectively equipped with locking devices. When the locking devices are in the locked state, the left front wheel and the right front wheel cannot roll.

10. The wheelchair according to claim 3, wherein, The left rear wheel and the right rear wheel are universal wheels with diameters between 4 - 30 cm.

11. The wheelchair according to claim 10, wherein The left rear wheel and the right rear wheel are each equipped with a locking device. When the locking device is in the locked state, the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel cannot roll.

12. The wheelchair according to claim 4, wherein The left front wheel mounting rod and the right front wheel mounting rod are respectively fixedly connected to the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod in a detachable manner.

13. The wheelchair according to claim 12, characterized in that, The detachable fixed connection method is a threaded connection or a pin connection.

14. The wheelchair according to claim 5, characterized in that, The wheel set mechanism includes at least one brake.

15. The wheelchair according to claim 14, characterized in that, The wheel set mechanism includes a pair of brakes, namely a left brake and a right brake.

16. The wheelchair according to claim 14, wherein The brake is a disc brake or a V-brake.

17. The wheelchair according to claim 14, wherein, The handle of the brake is fixed on the lifting rod of the hydraulic mechanism.

18. The wheelchair according to claim 14, wherein The seat mechanism includes a connecting member, a seat mounting member, and a seat plate.

19. The wheelchair according to claim 18, wherein, The handle of the brake is fixed on the connecting member of the seat mechanism.

20. The wheelchair according to claim 18, characterized in that, The connecting members are a pair, namely a left connecting member and a right connecting member, which are respectively installed on the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod and extend rearward, and can move up and down following the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod.

21. The wheelchair according to claim 20, wherein, The seat mounting members are also a pair, namely a left seat mounting member and a right seat mounting member, which are respectively connected to the left connecting member and the right connecting member through a left pivot shaft and a right pivot shaft and extend rearward.

22. The wheelchair according to claim 21, characterized in that, The seat plates are also a pair, namely a left seat plate and a right seat plate, which are respectively installed on the left seat mounting member and the right seat mounting member and extend toward the center of the wheelchair, so that the seat plates form a retracted state.

23. The wheelchair according to claim 22, wherein, The left seat mounting member and the right seat mounting member can respectively pivot outward to the left and right around the left pivot shaft and the right pivot shaft, so that the left seat plate and the right seat plate form an unfolded state.

24. The wheelchair according to claim 23, characterized in that, Springs are respectively installed on the left pivot shaft and the right pivot shaft. The tension of the springs causes the left seat plate and the right seat plate to always tend to maintain the retracted state.

25. The wheelchair according to claim 24, wherein, The left pivot shaft and the right pivot shaft also include limiting components for locking the pivoting of the left pivot shaft and the right pivot shaft, thereby locking the retracted state or the unfolded state of the left seat plate and the right seat plate.

26. The wheelchair according to claim 21, wherein The rear ends of the left seat mounting member and the right seat mounting member are respectively connected with a left back baffle and a right back baffle through a left back pivot shaft and a right back pivot shaft; the left back baffle and the right back baffle extend toward the center of the wheelchair to form a closed state; the left back baffle and the right back baffle can respectively pivot forward around the left back pivot shaft and the right back pivot shaft to be substantially parallel to form an open state.

27. The wheelchair according to claim 26, wherein, Springs are respectively installed on the left back pivot shaft and the right back pivot shaft. The tension of the springs causes the left back baffle and the right back baffle to always tend to maintain the closed state.

28. The wheelchair according to claim 15, characterized in that, The wheelchair further includes a table board mechanism, and the table board mechanism includes a table board frame and a table board installed thereon.

29. The wheelchair according to claim 28, characterized in that, The table board frame includes a pair of parallel vertical segments, which are respectively installed in front of the left lifting rod and the right lifting rod, so that the table board is located in front of the oil cylinder and can move up and down with the hydraulic mechanism.

30. The wheelchair according to claim 29, characterized in that, The top of the table board is at the same height as the top of the oil cylinder.

31. The wheelchair according to claim 28, characterized in that, The table board frame includes a pair of vertically arranged vertical segments, which are respectively connected to the vertical segments of the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod, so that the table board is located in front of the hydraulic mechanism but cannot be lifted or lowered with the hydraulic mechanism.

32. The wheelchair according to claim 29 or 31, characterized in that, The brake is a pressing plate brake, and the left brake and the right brake are respectively fixed to the vertical segments on the left and right sides of the table board frame of the table board mechanism.

33. The wheelchair according to claim 32, wherein The left brake and the right brake are respectively located above the tops of the left front wheel and the right front wheel and slightly higher than the tops of the left front wheel and the right front wheel; when the user toggles the handle of the left brake or the right brake, the handle drives the brake pads to approach and rub the left front wheel or the right front wheel, thereby achieving braking.

34. The wheelchair according to claim 5, wherein, The wheelchair further includes a pedal mechanism, and the pedal mechanism includes a pedal frame and pedals mounted thereon.

35. The wheelchair according to claim 34, characterized in that, The left and right ends of the pedal frame are respectively mounted at the lower positions of the vertical segments of the left rear wheel mounting rod and the right rear wheel mounting rod, so that the pedals are roughly located at the positions of the user's feet when in use.

36. The operating method of the wheelchair according to claim 24 or 25, for allowing the user to sit on the wheelchair from a seat, characterized in that, The operation method includes the following steps: (1) By adjusting the hydraulic mechanism, adjust the height of the seat plate to be slightly higher than the height of the seat. (2) Pivot the seat mounting members outward to the left and right sides of the wheelchair respectively, so that the seat plate is in the unfolded state. (3) Move the wheelchair backward to the edge of the seat, so that the oil cylinder approaches the user from the front. (4) The user supports both hands on the oil cylinder to lift the buttocks by leveraging the force. (5) Pivot the seat mounting members inward to the inside of the wheelchair respectively, so that the seat plate is in the folded state and located under the user's buttocks. (6) The user can sit on the wheelchair and then move the wheelchair.

37. The operation method of the wheelchair according to claim 36, characterized in that, Replace steps (4) and (5) with: (4) The user uses one buttock as a support to lift the other buttock; pivot the seat mounting member corresponding to the other buttock inward to the inside of the wheelchair, so that the seat plate corresponding to the other buttock is located under the other buttock and sit down. (5) The user uses the other buttock as a support to lift the one buttock; pivot the seat mounting member corresponding to the one buttock inward to the inside of the wheelchair, so that the seat plate corresponding to the one buttock is located under the one buttock.

38. The operating method of the wheelchair according to claim 24 or 25, for enabling the user to get off the wheelchair and sit on the seat, characterized in that, The operation method includes the following steps: (1) By adjusting the hydraulic mechanism, adjust the height of the seat plate to be slightly higher than the height of the seat. (2) Move the wheelchair backward to the edge of the seat, so that the seat plate is located above the seat. (3) The user supports both hands on the oil cylinder to lift the buttocks by leveraging the force. (4) Pivot the seat mounting members outward to the left and right sides of the wheelchair respectively, so that the seat plate is in the unfolded state. (5) The user can get off the wheelchair and sit on the seat.

39. The operating method of the wheelchair according to claim 38, characterized in that, Replace steps (3) and (4) with: (3) The user uses one hip as a support and raises the other hip; pivot the seat mounting member corresponding to the other hip outwardly with respect to the wheelchair so that the other hip is directly above the seat and sit down; (4) The user uses the other hip as a support and raises the one hip; pivot the seat mounting member corresponding to the one hip outwardly with respect to the wheelchair so that the one hip is directly above the seat.

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