Walker

Abstract

The present invention provides a walker having an upper structure that can improve functionality and designability and can be reduced in weight. This walker (1) is provided with a lower structure (2), a support body (3), and an upper structure (4), and is characterized in that the upper structure (4) is provided with an upper base body (4A), a composite function body (5) having an armrest portion (5A) and an underarm support portion (5B), and a rotation linkage body (6). The rotary linkage body (6) is provided with a rotary shaft (60) extending in the front-rear direction of the walker (1) and a back support (7) provided on the rear end side of the rotary shaft (60), the armrest portion (5A) is provided with a first bearing hole (50) and a second bearing hole (51), and the rear end side of the upper base body (4A), which is the rotation center axis of the armpit support portion (5B), is inserted into the first bearing hole (50) of the composite function body (5), and the rear end side of the lower base body (4A) is inserted into the second bearing hole (51) of the composite function body (5). The composite function body (5) is mounted so as to be rotatable about the rotation center axis, and a rotation shaft (60) of the rotation linkage body (6) is rotatably mounted in a second bearing hole (51) of the composite function body (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a walker having a composite functional body, wherein the composite functional body has an armrest portion and an underarm support portion as an upper structure. Background Art

[0002] A walking assistance device (walker) is known, which comprises: a lower structure; a support body, which is arranged in a manner extending upward from the lower structure; and an upper structure, which is arranged on the upper side of the support body, the lower structure having a moving unit such as wheels, and the upper structure having constituent parts such as an elbow support part (armrest), an underarm support unit (underarm support), and a back contact unit (back support) (see patent document 1).

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-216183 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] In the above-mentioned walker, since the armrests, the underarm supports, and the back supports constituting the upper structure are provided independently and without any connection, there are problems in terms of functionality, design, and weight reduction of the upper structure.

[0008] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a walker having an upper structure, wherein the upper structure is constructed by linking handrails, underarm supports, and back supports, thereby improving functionality and design and achieving weight reduction.

[0009] Technical Solution

[0010] The walker of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises: a lower structure; a support body, which is arranged in a manner extending upward from the lower structure; and an upper structure, which is arranged on the upper side of the support body, the lower structure comprises a lower base and a moving unit arranged on the lower base, the upper structure comprises an upper base, a composite functional body having an armrest portion and an underarm support portion, and a rotating linkage body, the rotating linkage body comprises: a rotating axis, which extends in the front-rear direction of the walker; and a back support member, which is arranged on the rear end side of the rotating axis, the composite functional body comprises in the armrest portion: a first bearing hole, into which the rear end side of the upper base, which becomes the rotation center axis of the underarm support portion, is inserted; and a second bearing hole, into which the rotation axis of the rotating linkage body is rotatably inserted, the walker is constructed as follows: the rotation center axis is inserted into the first bearing hole of the composite functional body, the composite functional body is installed to be rotatable with the rotation center axis as the rotation center, and the rotation axis of the rotating linkage body is rotatably installed in the second bearing hole of the composite functional body, so that the back support member and the rotation axis rotate in a linked manner.

[0011] According to the present invention, a walker having an upper structure can be provided, wherein a rotating linkage body having a back support member and a composite functional body having an armrest portion and an underarm support portion are linked to each other, thereby improving functionality and design and achieving weight reduction.

[0012] In addition, the walker is characterized in that the upper base body comprises: an upper front part, which extends from the upper side of the support body to the left and right directions; an upper left part, which is arranged in a manner extending from the left end side of the upper front part to the rear, and functions as a rotation center axis of the left side; and an upper right part, which is arranged in a manner extending from the right end side of the upper front part to the rear, and functions as a rotation center axis of the right side. As a composite functional body, it comprises a left composite functional body and a right composite functional body, the left composite functional body having an armrest portion extending to the left and right front and rear directions and an underarm support portion arranged in a manner extending upward from the right end side of the armrest portion, the right composite functional body having an armrest portion extending to the left and right front and rear directions and an underarm support portion arranged in a manner extending upward from the left end side of the armrest portion, as a rotation linkage body, it comprises a left rotation linkage body and a right rotation linkage body, and the walker is constructed as follows: the rotation center of the left side The shaft is inserted into the first bearing hole of the left composite functional body, and the left composite functional body is installed to be able to rotate with the left rotation center axis as the rotation center, and the rotation axis of the left rotation linkage body is rotatably installed in the second bearing hole of the left composite functional body, so that the back support and the rotation axis rotate in a linked manner. The walker is constructed as follows: the right rotation center axis is inserted into the first bearing hole of the right composite functional body, and the right composite functional body is installed to be able to rotate with the right rotation center axis as the rotation center, and the rotation axis of the right rotation linkage body is rotatably installed in the second bearing hole of the right composite functional body, so that the back support and the rotation axis rotate in a linked manner. Therefore, a walker with an upper structure can be provided, in which the left and right components of the upper structure are respectively constructed in a related manner, thereby improving functionality and design, and also achieving lightweight.

[0013] Furthermore, the walker is characterized in that the rotation linkage body has a handle on the front end side of the rotation axis, and the handle, the back support, and the rotation axis are configured to rotate in a linked manner, thereby providing a walker with excellent functionality.

[0014] In addition, the walker is characterized in that the first bearing hole is arranged on the side of the armpit support portion of the armrest portion in a manner extending in the front-to-rear direction, and the second bearing hole is arranged on the side of the armrest portion opposite to the armpit support portion in a manner extending in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, a walker that can efficiently perform the rotation movement of the composite functional body and the rotation movement of the rotating linkage body can be realized. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the walker from the rear.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the walker as seen from the front.

[0017] Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing the frame (skeleton) of the walker.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a top view of the walker.

[0019] Figure 5 It is an exploded perspective view showing a complex functional body.

[0020] Figure 6 It is a three-dimensional diagram for explaining the adjustment of the interval between the left and right composite functional bodies.

[0021] Figure 7 It is a front view explaining the open position and the closed position of the left and right back supports.

[0022] Figure 8 It is a perspective view explaining the open position and the closed position of the left and right back supports. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the walker 1 of the embodiment includes: a lower structure 2 ; a support 3 provided so as to extend upward from the lower structure 2 ; and an upper structure 4 provided on the upper side of the support 3 .

[0024] It should be noted that in this specification, up, down, left, right, front, and back are defined as Figure 1 , Figure 2 Directions shown.

[0025] The lower structure 2 includes a lower base 2A, a moving unit 2B, a knee support 2C, and a shin support 2D.

[0026] The lower base 2A is configured, for example, in a concave shape, with an upper open portion of the concave being located at the rear of the walker 1 and a lower closed portion of the concave being located at the front of the walker 1 .

[0027] The lower base 2A may be composed of, for example, a lower base frame 2F and a cover sponge tube 2T as a covering member, wherein the lower base frame 2F is composed of a concave metal tube or the like (see Figure 3 ), the cover sponge tube 2T is arranged in a manner to cover the outer peripheral surface of the lower base frame 2F, or the lower base 2A can also be composed of the lower base frame 2F itself.

[0028] It should be noted that the lower base frame 2F is formed by, for example, connecting a plurality of pipes together, or by bending a pipe.

[0029] In other words, the lower base 2A comprises: a lower front portion 21 extending from the lower side of the support body 3 in the left-right direction; a lower left portion 22 extending from the left end side of the lower front portion 21 to the rear; and a lower right portion 23 extending from the right end side of the lower front portion 21 to the rear.

[0030] The lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 is formed by a bearing hole 3C (see FIG. Figure 3 ) and is arranged in a manner extending in the left-right direction, thereby, the support body 3 is constructed to be able to rotate rearwardly with the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 as the center axis.

[0031] The mobile unit 2B, for example, has the following structure, that is, the mobile unit 2B has: a left front universal wheel 24 arranged on the left front side of the lower base frame 2F of the lower base 2A; a right front universal wheel 25 arranged on the right front side of the lower base frame 2F; a left rear universal wheel 26 arranged on the left rear side of the lower base frame 2F; a right rear universal wheel 27 arranged on the right rear side of the lower base frame 2F; a left center fixed wheel 28 arranged on the left center side between the left front side and the left rear side of the lower base frame 2F; and a right center fixed wheel 29 arranged on the right center side between the right front side and the right rear side of the lower base frame 2F.

[0032] It should be noted that a universal wheel refers to a structure in which a wheel is rotatable on a moving surface such as the ground about a vertical axis orthogonal to the rotation center line of the wheel, and refers to a structure called a universal caster, for example.

[0033] The term "fixed wheel" refers to a structure in which the wheel cannot rotate on the moving surface about a vertical axis orthogonal to the rotation center line of the wheel, and refers to a structure called a fixed caster, for example.

[0034] It should be noted that, Figure 3 As shown, the wheels 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 are mounted on the lower base frame 2F via mounting members 2BF provided on the lower surface of the lower base frame 2F.

[0035] The relationship between the diameters of the wheels constituting the mobile unit 2B is set, for example, as follows: left front universal wheel 24 = right front universal wheel 25 < left center fixed wheel 28 = right center fixed wheel 29 < left rear universal wheel 26 = right rear universal wheel 27 .

[0036] Thus, the lower left portion 22 and the lower right portion 23 of the lower base 2A are configured to extend obliquely downward from the front toward the rear.

[0037] The knee support 2C is composed of, for example, a left knee support 2CL and a right knee support 2CR. The left knee support 2CL and the right knee support 2CR are respectively provided with a knee support member mounting portion 30 connected to the lower portion of the support body 3 via a support post 35 (see FIG. Figure 3 ) and a knee support member 31, mounted on the knee support member mounting portion 30.

[0038] The knee support member 31 is formed of a cushioning material such as a cylindrical sponge member, for example.

[0039] The knee support members 31 are respectively mounted on left and right knee support member mounting portions 30 and 30 provided so as to extend in the left-right direction from the upper end of the support column 35, thereby constituting the left knee support 2CL and the right knee support 2CR.

[0040] When the user using the walker 1 bends his knees, the knee support 2C protects the user's knees and calves, and provides an effect of preventing the user from colliding with the lower base 2A or the support body 3 and preventing the user from falling.

[0041] The shin support 2D is composed of, for example, a left shin support 2DL and a right shin support 2DR, each of which is configured to include: a shin support member mounting portion 32 connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower base 2A; and a shin support member 33 detachably mounted on the shin support member mounting portion 32.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, the shin support member mounting portion 32 is formed of a vertical plate located rearward of the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 and having a plate surface extending in parallel with the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 and in the left-right and up-down directions.

[0043] The left shin support member mounting portion 32 is constructed such that one end thereof is connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower left portion 21 by welding or the like, and the other end thereof is connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 (near the left side surface of the lower inner column 3A) via a support piece 36 .

[0044] In addition, the right shin support component mounting portion 32 is constructed as follows: one end thereof is connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower right portion 21 by welding or the like, and the other end thereof is connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 (near the right side surface of the lower inner column 3A) via a support plate 36.

[0045] The shin support member 33 is formed of a cushioning member such as a cylindrical sponge. The shin support member 33 is provided with a slit 37 for disassembly, which extends from the circumference of the cylindrical sponge member toward the center of the cylinder and reaches both end faces of the cylinder (see FIG. Figure 1 , Figure 2 ).

[0046] Furthermore, the shin support members 33 are detachably mounted to the left and right shin support member mounting portions 32, 32, respectively, thereby constituting the left shin support 2DL and the right shin support 2DR.

[0047] That is, the shank support member 33 is attached to the shank support member attaching portion 32 so that the shank support member attaching portion 32 is inserted into the attaching and detaching slit 37 of the shank support member 33 .

[0048] The shin support 2D is provided to prevent the shin of the user from colliding with the lower base 2A or the support body 3 when the user who is using the walker 1 loses balance.

[0049] The support body 3 is rotatably supported by the lower base frame 2F via a bearing hole 3C with the lower front portion 21 of the support body 3 as a rotation center axis so as to be able to fall backward.

[0050] It should be noted that if Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the walker 1 is configured to be changeable between a state when the walker 1 is in use (state in use) and a state in which the walker 1 is folded (folded state) (not shown).

[0051] Furthermore, when the walker 1 is in use, the support body 3 is locked by, for example, a locking mechanism (not shown) so as to maintain a state in which it is slightly tilted rearward and stands upward from the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 .

[0052] In addition, the support body 3 is configured to fall backward to a folded state when the locking mechanism (not shown) is released. In this case, the support body 3 may or may not be provided with a locking mechanism that maintains the support body 3 set to the folded state in the folded state.

[0053] The support body 3 is configured to be able to change height. For example, the support body 3 is configured to include a lower inner column 3A and an upper outer column 3B, and the upper outer column 3B is movable in the vertical direction and locked at a predetermined height position by a locking mechanism (not shown).

[0054] For example, the support body 3 is configured to have a gas spring provided therein, and the gas spring functions as a lifting mechanism for the upper outer column 3B.

[0055] As the gas spring, a gas spring with a locking mechanism is used, and the support body 3 is configured so that by operating a lever switch 3S (see Figure 2 ), the locking mechanism of the gas spring is released so that the upper outer column 3B can be raised and lowered.

[0056] The upper structure 4 includes an upper base 4A, a chest support 4B, a complex functional body 5 , and a rotation linkage body 6 .

[0057] The upper base 4A is configured, for example, similarly to the lower base 2A, in a concave shape, with the concave upper open side portion located at the rear of the walker 1 and the concave lower closed portion located at the front side of the walker 1 .

[0058] The upper base 4A may be composed of, for example, an upper base frame 4F and a cover sponge tube 4T as a covering material, wherein the upper base frame 4F is composed of a metal tube formed into a concave shape (see Figure 3 ), the cover sponge tube 4T is arranged in a manner to cover the outer peripheral surface of the upper base frame 4F, or the upper base 4A can also be composed of the lower base frame 4F itself.

[0059] It should be noted that the upper base frame 4F is formed by, for example, connecting a plurality of pipes together, or by bending a pipe.

[0060] In other words, the upper base 4A comprises: an upper front portion 41 extending from the upper side of the support body 3 in the left-right direction; an upper left portion 42 extending from the left end side of the upper front portion 41 toward the rear; and an upper right portion 43 extending from the right end side of the upper front portion 41 toward the rear.

[0061] The upper base frame 4F of the upper front portion 41 is formed by penetrating the bearing hole 3D (see FIG. Figure 3 ) and is arranged in a manner extending in the left-right direction, thereby, the upper base 4A is supported in a rotatable manner in a bearing hole 3D formed on the upper side of the support body 3.

[0062] It should be noted that the upper structure 4 is constructed as follows: the upper base frame 4F of the upper front part 41 of the upper base 4A is rotated with the upper base frame 4F as the rotation axis, and can be moved to the left and right side positions of the support body 3. The upper base 4A is supported to be rotatable in the bearing hole 3D formed at the upper end of the support body 3.

[0063] For example, the upper base 4A, which is fixed in a horizontal or substantially horizontal position by a locking mechanism not shown in the figure when in use, is constructed as follows: by releasing the locking mechanism, the upper base frame 4F with the upper front part 41 as the rotation axis (rotation center) is rotated so that the upper left part 42 and the upper right part 43 can be moved to the lateral position of the support body 3.

[0064] The chest support 4B is composed of, for example, a left chest support 4BL and a right chest support 4BR, each of which is configured to include an upper base frame 4F having an upper front portion 41 and functioning as a chest support member mounting portion, and a chest support member 40 mounted on the upper base frame 4F of the upper front portion 41.

[0065] The chest supporting member 40 is formed of a cushioning material such as a cylindrical sponge member, for example.

[0066] Furthermore, chest support members 40 are respectively attached to left and right upper base frames 4F provided so as to extend in the left-right direction from the upper end side of the upper outer column 3B, thereby constituting a left chest support 4BL and a right chest support 4BR.

[0067] The chest support 4B is provided to prevent a situation in which the chest of the user collides with the upper front portion 41 of the upper base 4A when the user loses balance while using the walker 1 .

[0068] The composite functional body 5 is provided with an armrest portion 5A and an underarm support portion 5B, and functions as an armrest and an underarm support.

[0069] The armrest portion 5A is, for example, composed of a plate-like portion extending in the left and right, front and back directions, and is provided with a first bearing hole 50 and a second bearing hole 51. The first bearing hole 50 is for inserting the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42 and the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 which serve as the rotation center axis of the armpit support portion 5B, and the second bearing hole 51 is for rotatably inserting the rotating shaft 60 of the rotating linkage body 6.

[0070] The armpit support portion 5B is configured to include, for example, a plate-like portion extending upward from the right edge or left edge of the armrest portion 5A; and an armpit support member 53 provided at the armpit support member installation portion 52 (see Figure 5 ), the armpit support member setting portion 52 is set at the upper end portion of the plate-like member (refer to Figure 3 ).

[0071] The armpit supporting member 53 is formed of a cushioning material such as a sponge member extending in the front-rear direction and having an elliptical cross-section, for example.

[0072] It should be noted that the complex functional body 5 includes a complex functional body 5L on the left and a complex functional body 5R on the right.

[0073] The left-side complex functional body 5L is composed of an armrest portion 5A extending in the left-right and front-back directions and an armpit support portion 5B extending upward from the right end side of the armrest portion 5A.

[0074] The right-side complex functional body 5R includes an armrest portion 5A extending in the left-right and front-back directions, and an armpit support portion 5B extending upward from the left end of the armrest portion 5A.

[0075] The composite functional body 5L on the left and the composite functional body 5R on the right are, for example, configured with a main component 5F having a plate-like portion of a light-weight and highly rigid armrest portion 5A and a plate-like portion of an underarm support portion 5B formed of a metal such as aluminum or a resin. The main component 5F having the plate-like portion of the light-weight and highly rigid armrest portion 5A and the plate-like portion of the underarm support portion 5B is, for example, configured with an integrally molded product having a hollow portion or an assembly having a hollow portion.

[0076] And, for example Figure 5 As shown, the composite functional body 5L on the left side or the composite functional body 5R on the right side is constructed as follows: after the underarm support component 53 is set at the underarm support component setting portion 52 set at the upper end of the main component 5F, the peripheral surfaces of these main components 5F and the underarm support component 53 except the front end face and the rear end face are covered with a cushioning member such as a cover sponge 5t.

[0077] Moreover, the front end surfaces of these main components 5F and the underarm support member 53 are covered with a cushioning member such as a cover sponge 5f as a front end mask, and the rear end surfaces of these main components 5F and the underarm support member 53 are covered with a cushioning member such as a cover sponge 5r as a rear end mask.

[0078] The cover sponge 5f has a communicating hole 5i communicating with the first bearing hole 50 and a communicating hole 5h communicating with the second bearing hole 51 , and the cover sponge 5r has a communicating hole 5h communicating with the second bearing hole 51 .

[0079] The composite functional body 5 configured as described above is configured to include a lightweight and highly rigid main component 5F, and thus can contribute to weight reduction of the walker 1 .

[0080] Furthermore, since the portion that contacts the user's armpit is formed of the cushioning material (the cover sponge 5t and the armpit supporting member 53), when the user is about to fall, the impact on the user's armpit can be mitigated.

[0081] Furthermore, since the periphery of the main component 5F is covered with the cushioning member (cover sponges 5t, 5f, 5r), the composite functional body 5 having excellent skin touch on the forearm and upper arm and excellent touch on the trunk when the user walks and high design properties can be obtained.

[0082] The rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left part 42 is inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the left composite functional body 5L, and the left composite functional body 5L is configured to be able to rotate with the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left part 42 inserted into the first bearing hole 50 as the rotation center axis.

[0083] Similarly, the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 is inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the composite functional body 5R on the right side, and the composite functional body 5R on the right side is configured to be able to rotate with the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 inserted into the first bearing hole 50 as the rotation center axis.

[0084] That is, the composite functional body 5L on the left side is supported to be rotatable at the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42 via the first bearing hole 50, and similarly, the composite functional body 5R on the right side is supported to be rotatable at the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 via the first bearing hole 50.

[0085] The rotating linkage body 6 is constructed to include: a rotating shaft 60 extending in the front-to-back direction of the walker 1; a back support 7 arranged on the rear end side of the rotating shaft 60; and a handle 8 arranged on the front end side of the rotating shaft 60. By rotatably mounting the rotating shaft 60 on the second bearing hole 51 of the composite functional body 5, the back support 7, the handle 8 and the rotating shaft 60 are rotated in a linked manner.

[0086] It should be noted that the rotating linkage body 6 is constructed to include: a base frame 6F, which is composed of a metal tube that forms a rotating shaft 60, a supporting portion 70 of a back support member 7 arranged on the rear end side of the rotating shaft 60, and a handle 8 arranged on the front end side of the rotating shaft 60; and a back support member 71, which is arranged on the rear end side of the base frame 6F.

[0087] It should be noted that the base frame 6F is formed by, for example, connecting a plurality of pipes together, or by bending a pipe.

[0088] In addition, the exposed portion of the base frame 6F may be covered with a cushioning member such as a cover sponge tube 6T, or may be left exposed.

[0089] At least the portion of the rotating shaft 60 inserted into the second bearing hole 51 is formed of a metal pipe or the like.

[0090] The back support 7 is configured to include, for example, a back support member 71 provided so as to be able to face the back of the user, and a support portion 70 that supports the back support member 71 .

[0091] The back support member 71 is composed of a cushioning member such as a cylindrical sponge member installed on the rear end side of the support portion 71. For the support portion 70 arranged in a manner extending from the rear end of the rotating shaft 60, at least the rear end side for installing the back support member 71 is composed of a metal pipe or the like.

[0092] In addition, the handle 8 is preferably configured to include a grip body 80 formed of a metal pipe or the like, and a cushioning member such as a cover sponge tube 6T that covers the periphery of the grip body 80 .

[0093] It should be noted that the rotational interlocking body 6 includes a left rotational interlocking body 6L and a right rotational interlocking body 6R.

[0094] That is, the left rotating linkage body 6L is constructed to include: a rotating shaft 60; a left back support 7L, which is arranged on the rear end side of the rotating shaft 60; and a left handle 8L, which is arranged on the front end side of the rotating shaft 60. By rotatably inserting the rotating shaft 60 into the second bearing hole 51 of the left composite functional body 5L, the left back support 7L, the left handle 8L and the rotating shaft 60 rotate in a linked manner.

[0095] Similarly, the right-side rotating linkage body 6R is constructed to include: a rotating shaft 60; a right-side back support 7R, which is arranged on the rear end side of the rotating shaft 60; and a right-side handle 8R, which is arranged on the front end side of the rotating shaft 60. By rotatably inserting the rotating shaft 60 into the second bearing hole 51 of the right-side composite functional body 5R, the right-side back support 7R, the right-side handle 8R and the rotating shaft 60 rotate in a linked manner.

[0096] The relationship among the upper base 4A, the complex functional body 5 and the rotation linkage body 6 is as follows.

[0097] That is, it becomes the following structure: the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left part 42 and the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right part 43 which function as the rotation center axis of the composite functional body 5 are inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the composite functional body 5, and the composite functional body 5 is installed to be able to rotate around the rotation center axis, and the rotation axis 60 of the rotating linkage body 6 is rotatably installed in the second bearing hole 51 of the composite functional body 5.

[0098] Specifically, it is constructed as follows: the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42 of the upper base 4A is made to function as the rotation center axis of the left-side composite functional body 5L, and therefore, the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42 is inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the left-side composite functional body 5L, and the left-side composite functional body 5L is installed to be able to rotate about the rotation center axis formed by the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42, and the rotation axis 60 of the left-side rotating linkage body 6L is rotatably installed in the second bearing hole 51 of the left-side composite functional body 5L.

[0099] Similarly, the following structure is achieved: the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 of the upper base 4A is made to function as the rotation center axis of the right-side composite functional body 5R, so that the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 is inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the right-side composite functional body 5R, and the right-side composite functional body 5R is installed to be able to rotate about the rotation center axis formed by the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 as the rotation center, and the rotation axis 60 of the right-side rotating linkage body 6R is rotatably installed in the second bearing hole 51 of the right-side composite functional body 5R.

[0100] That is, the structure is such that even if the rotationally linked bodies 6L and 6R are rotated, the complex functional bodies 5L and 5R do not rotate, but when the complex functional bodies 5L and 5R are rotated, the rotationally linked bodies 6L and 6R are also linked.

[0101] In this way, a walker 1 having an upper structure 4 can be provided, wherein the upper structure 4 is constructed by associating a rotating linkage body 6 having a back support 7 and a composite functional body 5 having an armrest portion 5A and an underarm support portion 5B, thereby improving functionality and design and achieving weight reduction.

[0102] In addition, by rotating the back support 7R of the rotating linkage body 6R and the back support 7L of the rotating linkage body 6L, the back supports 7L and 7R can be opened and closed, and by rotating the composite functional bodies 5L and 5R, the body width between the composite functional bodies 5L and 5R can be easily set in accordance with the user.

[0103] That is, a walker 1 having excellent functionality and design, being lightweight and compact can be obtained, which walker 1 has the following structure: the back supports 7L, 7R which serve as the opening and closing entrances and exits for the walker operating position H can be easily opened and closed, and the body width adjustment operation between the complex functional bodies 5L, 5R which match the physique of the user can be easily performed.

[0104] In addition, if Figure 5As shown, the composite functional body 5 comprises a main component 5F formed on an L-shaped plate constituting the skeleton of the composite functional body 5, and the main component 5F comprises an armrest portion 5A formed by the horizontal plate portion of the L-shape and an armpit support portion 5B formed by the vertical plate portion of the L-shape.

[0105] Furthermore, the composite functional body 5 is constructed as follows: by inserting a tube of an upper base frame 4F constituting an upper left portion 42 and an upper right portion 43 into a first bearing hole 50 provided on the side of an underarm support portion 5B of an armrest portion 5A, the upper base frame 4F is used as a rotation center axis of the composite functional body 5 that functions as an armrest and an underarm support.

[0106] Moreover, the composite functional body 5 adopts the following structure: the second bearing hole 51 provided on the top end side of the armrest portion 5A (the extended end side of the armrest portion 5A in the left-right direction, in other words, the side of the armrest portion 5A opposite to the armpit support portion 5B side) is used as a bearing to support the rotating shaft 60 of the rotating linkage body 6 as a rotatable bearing.

[0107] That is, a composite functional body 5 is adopted with the following structure: the first bearing hole 50 is arranged in a manner extending in the front-rear direction on the side of the armpit support portion 5B of the armrest portion 5A, and the second bearing hole 51 is arranged in a manner extending in the front-rear direction on the side of the armrest portion 5A opposite to the armpit support portion 5B side.

[0108] Therefore, according to the composite functional body 5 of this structure, at the walking device operating position H (refer to Figure 2 , Figure 4 ), an underarm support portion 5B is arranged on the user side operating the walker 1, and an armrest portion 5A is arranged on the outer side of the underarm support portion 5B when viewed from the walker operating position H, whereby the rotating linkage body 6 also rotates in conjunction with the rotating movement of the composite functional body 5. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a walker 1 of an appropriate size only by adjusting the composite functional body 5 as the basis of the linkage in accordance with the torso width of the user.

[0109] For example, in the case of a user with a small torso width dimension, Figure 6 As shown in (a), the interval between the left and right complex functional bodies 5L and 5R can be set to an interval a corresponding to a user with a small torso width.

[0110] Furthermore, in the case of a user with an average torso width, if Figure 6 As shown in (b), the interval between the left and right complex functional bodies 5L and 5R can be set to an interval b corresponding to a user with an average torso width.

[0111] In addition, in the case of a user with a large torso width, Figure 6 As shown in (c), the interval between the left and right complex functional bodies 5L and 5R can be set to an interval c corresponding to a user with a large torso width.

[0112] That is, the following structure is adopted in the embodiment: a first bearing hole 50 and a second bearing hole 51 are provided in the armrest portion 5A of the composite functional body 5, the first bearing hole 50 is formed on the inner side (hollow portion) of the armrest portion 5A of the main component 5F in a manner extending from the front end of the armrest portion 5A toward the rear, for setting a rotation center axis (the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42, the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43), and the second bearing hole 51 is formed on the inner side (hollow portion) of the armrest portion 5A of the main component 5F in a manner penetrating the front end and the rear end of the armrest portion 5A, thereby supporting the rotating shaft 60 to be rotatable.

[0113] Therefore, compared with a configuration in which the bearing component for supporting the rotation center axis of the composite functional body 5 that functions as an armrest and an underarm support and the bearing component for supporting the rotation axis 60 of the rotating linkage body 6 in a rotatable manner are arranged in different locations, the number of components can be reduced, the configuration can be simplified, and a walker 1 that is functional, well-designed, lightweight, and compact can be realized.

[0114] According to the walker 1 of the embodiment, the rotation linkage body 6 having the back support 7 and the composite functional body 5 having the armrest portion 5A and the armpit support portion 5B are linked to each other, so that the functionality and design of the upper structure 4 can be improved and the weight can be reduced.

[0115] That is, it is possible to provide the walker 1 including the upper structure 4 which can improve functionality and design and can also achieve weight reduction.

[0116] It should be noted that the base frame 6F of the rotating linkage body 6 is installed on the complex functional body 5 so that when the walker 1 is in use, the support part 70 of the back support 7 and the handle body 80 of the handle 8 are located above the position of the rotating shaft 60.

[0117] Furthermore, when the walker 1 is in use, the person rotates the left rotation linkage body 6L to the left and rotates the right rotation linkage body 6R to the right, thereby Figure 7 (a) Figure 8 As shown in (a), the back supports 7L, 7R and the handles 8L, 8R are set in the open position, which is a position rotated in a direction away from each other. That is, the user is set to a state where the user can enter and exit the walker operating position H.

[0118] Similarly, when the walker 1 is in use, the person rotates the left-side rotation linkage body 6L clockwise and rotates the right-side rotation linkage body 6R counterclockwise, thereby Figure 7 (b) Figure 8 As shown in (b), the back supports 7L, 7R and the handles 8L, 8R are set in a position rotated in a direction approaching each other, that is, a closed position. That is, the user is set to a state where the user cannot enter or exit the walker operating position H.

[0119] Here, the walker 1 is constructed such that the closed position of the back supports 7L, 7R is a position in which the rear entrance to the walker operating position H is blocked and the back supports 7L, 7R are set to a position in which the back of the user can be supported, i.e., a supporting position, and the open position of the back supports 7L, 7R is a position in which the rear entrance to the walker operating position H is opened and the back supports 7L, 7R are set to a position in which the back of the user cannot be supported, i.e., a non-supporting position.

[0120] The walker 1 is configured such that the closed positions of the handles 8L and 8R are set as the operating positions when the user operates the walker 1 , and the open positions of the handles 8L and 8R are set as the non-operating positions when the user operates the walker 1 .

[0121] That is, the walker 1 is constructed as follows: a person operates the back supports 7L, 7R or the handles 8L, 8R of the rotating linkage bodies 6L, 6R to rotate the rotating shafts 60, 60, whereby the back supports 7L, 7R7 are at least set to a closed position for locking the rear entrance to the walker operating position H and an open position for opening the rear entrance to the walker operating position H.

[0122] In other words, the walker 1 is constructed such that a person operates the back supports 7L, 7R or the handles 8L, 8R of the rotating linkage bodies 6L, 6R to rotate the rotating shafts 60, 60, whereby the back supports 7L, 7R7 are at least set to a position capable of supporting the user's back, i.e., a supporting position, or a position unable to support the user's back, i.e., a non-supporting position.

[0123] That is, a walker 1 having rotating linkage bodies 6L, 6R can be provided, wherein the handle 8, the back support 7, and the rotating shaft 60 rotate in a linked manner, the rotating linkage bodies 6L, 6R have excellent functionality, and the back support 7L, 7R that serves as the opening and closing entrance and exit of the walker operating position H can be easily opened and closed.

[0124] It should be noted that, preferably, the walker 1 is constructed such that a friction resistance component, such as a plunger and a recess (not shown), is provided between the rotating shaft 60 and the bearing hole 51 to apply resistance to the rotational movement of the rotating shaft 60, and the handle 8 and the back support 7 are not easily rotated from the position when set in the open position or the closed position.

[0125] The following effects can be obtained by including the rotational linkage body 6 having the configuration described above.

[0126] The rear entrance to the walker operating position H can be opened and closed by operating the handle 8 or the back support 7 of the rotating interlocking body 6 to rotate the rotating interlocking body 6 .

[0127] For example, the user operates the back support 7 to rotate the rotation linkage 6 , whereby the back support 7 is set to the open position and the rear entrance of the walker operating position H is opened, so that the user can move to the walker operating position H of the walker 1 from the rear entrance.

[0128] Furthermore, the user who has reached the walker operating position H holds the handle 8 at the walker operating position H to rotate the rotating linkage 6, whereby the back support 7 is set to the closed position. Therefore, the back support 7 is set to the support position, and the rear entrance to the walker operating position H is blocked. In this state, the user can operate the walker 1 by holding the handle 8 set to the operating position, which is the closed position.

[0129] Furthermore, when the user loses his / her balance during operation and is about to fall backward, the back support member 7 set at the support position supports the user's back, thereby preventing the user from falling.

[0130] Furthermore, the complex functional body 5 (the complex functional body 5L on the left side and the complex functional body 5R on the right side) is configured to be rotatable in the left-right direction within a predetermined rotation range.

[0131] In this case, for the rotating support portion of the composite functional body 5, by constructing a force applying mechanism such as a spring that applies force in a rotational direction approaching each other, the composite functional body 5L on the left and the composite functional body 5R on the right can naturally and steplessly adjust the interval between the composite functional body 5L on the left and the composite functional body 5R on the right in a direction approaching each other in a manner corresponding to the body shape of the user.

[0132] In this case, for example, the following structure can be adopted: one end of the torsion coil spring is fixed to the inner surface of the second bearing hole 50, the rotation center axis of the composite functional body 5 passes through the first bearing hole 50 and through the coil hole of the torsion coil spring, and the other end of the torsion coil spring is fixed to the rotation center axis.

[0133] In addition, the interval between the composite functional body 5L on the left and the composite functional body 5R on the right may be adjusted by configuring the composite functional body 5L and the composite functional body 5R on the right to be fixed in multiple stages using a fixing unit such as a locking pin.

[0134] As described above, since the interval between the left complex functional body 5L and the right complex functional body 5R can be adjusted, it is possible to provide a walker 1 that can cope with users of various body shapes.

[0135] It should be noted that in the embodiment, as the rotating linkage body 6, an example is shown of a rotating linkage body constructed in the following manner: it has a rotating shaft 60 extended in the front-to-back direction of the walker 1, a handle 8 arranged on the front end side of the rotating shaft 60, and a back support member 7 arranged on the rear end side of the rotating shaft 60. The rotating shaft 60, the handle 8 and the back support member 7 rotate in a linked manner with the center line of the rotating shaft 60 as the rotation center, but the rotating linkage body can also be a structure without the handle 8.

[0136] That is, the rotation linkage body may be configured to include a rotation shaft 60 extending in the front-rear direction of the walker 1 and a back support 7 provided at the rear end of the rotation shaft 60 , wherein the rotation shaft 60 and the back support 7 rotate in conjunction with each other about the center line of the rotation shaft 60 as the rotation center.

[0137] It should be noted that, in this case, the handle may be provided on the upper base 4A in a fixed state, for example. That is, in the present invention, the configuration of providing the handle on the rotation linkage body is not an essential configuration.

[0138] Even with this configuration, a walker with good usability can be provided in which a person can open and close the back support 7 by rotating the back support 7 and can move to the walker operating position H from the rear side of the walker 1 .

[0139] In this case, for example, in the presence of a caregiver, after confirming that the user has moved to the walker operating position H, the user can use the walker more safely by the caregiver closing the back support 7 .

[0140] Even in the configuration in which the handle is fixed to the upper base 4A, for example, if an opening and closing lever (not shown) or an electric device for opening and closing the back support 7 is provided on the front side of the walker, the user himself can close the back support 7 after moving to the walker operating position H.

[0141] Explanation of symbols

[0142] 1: walker; 2: lower structure; 2A: lower base; 2B: mobile unit; 3: support body;

[0143] 4: upper structure; 4A: upper base; 5: composite functional body; 5A: handrail part;

[0144] 5B: underarm support part; 6: rotating linkage; 7: back support; 8: handle;

[0145] 41: upper front; 42: upper left (rotation center axis on the left side);

[0146] 43: upper right part (rotation center axis on the right side); 50: first bearing hole; 51: second bearing hole;

[0147] 60: Rotation axis of the rotating linkage.

Claims

1. A walker, characterized in that: have: a lower structure; a support body, arranged in a manner extending upward from the lower structure; and an upper structure, arranged on the upper side of the support body, The lower structure includes a lower base and a moving unit provided on the lower base. The upper structure includes an upper base, a composite functional body having an armrest portion and an underarm support portion, and a rotating linkage body. The rotating linkage body comprises: a rotating shaft extending in the front-rear direction of the walker; and a back support member provided on the rear end side of the rotating shaft. The composite functional body has, in the armrest portion, a first bearing hole into which the rear end side of the upper base body serving as the rotation center axis of the armpit support portion is inserted; and a second bearing hole into which the rotation axis of the rotation linkage body is rotatably inserted. The walker is constructed as follows: a rotation center axis is inserted into a first bearing hole of a composite functional body, the composite functional body is installed to be rotatable with the rotation center axis as the rotation center, and a rotation axis of a rotating linkage body is rotatably installed in a second bearing hole of the composite functional body, so that the back support and the rotation axis rotate in a linked manner.

2. The walker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper base body comprises: an upper front portion extending from the upper side of the support body to the left and right directions; an upper left portion extending from the left end side of the upper front portion to the rear and functioning as a rotation center axis on the left side; and an upper right portion extending from the right end side of the upper front portion to the rear and functioning as a rotation center axis on the right side. As a composite functional body, there are a composite functional body on the left side and a composite functional body on the right side, wherein the composite functional body on the left side has an armrest portion extending in the left-right front-back direction and an armpit support portion extending upward from the right end side of the armrest portion, and the composite functional body on the right side has an armrest portion extending in the left-right front-back direction and an armpit support portion extending upward from the left end side of the armrest portion, As the rotation linkage body, there are a left rotation linkage body and a right rotation linkage body, The walker is configured as follows: the left rotation center axis is inserted into the first bearing hole of the left composite functional body, the left composite functional body is installed to be rotatable with the left rotation center axis as the rotation center, and the rotation axis of the left rotation linkage body is rotatably installed in the second bearing hole of the left composite functional body, so that the back support and the rotation axis rotate in linkage, The walker is constructed as follows: the right-side rotation center axis is inserted into the first bearing hole of the right-side composite functional body, the right-side composite functional body is installed to be able to rotate with the right-side rotation center axis as the rotation center, and the rotation axis of the right-side rotation linkage body is rotatably installed in the second bearing hole of the right-side composite functional body, so that the back support and the rotation axis rotate in a linked manner.

3. The walker according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The rotation linkage body includes a handle on the front end side of the rotation shaft, and is configured so that the handle, the back support, and the rotation shaft rotate in linkage.

4. The walker according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first bearing hole is arranged in a manner extending in the front-rear direction on the side of the armpit support portion of the armrest portion. The second bearing hole is provided on the side of the armrest portion opposite to the side of the armpit supporting portion so as to extend in the front-rear direction.

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