A telescopic mechanism for a walking aid handrail and a walking aid using the telescopic mechanism

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of walking aid technology, specifically to a telescopic mechanism for handrails and a walking aid using this mechanism. The utility model discloses a telescopic mechanism for handrails and a walking aid using this mechanism, comprising an outer tube, an inner tube disposed inside the outer tube, and a switching mechanism for controlling the relative sliding or fixing of the inner and outer tubes. The upper end of the outer tube has an extension portion, one side of which has a through cavity for accommodating the inner tube, and the other side of which has a sliding cavity opening along the length of the inner tube. A through hole connects the through cavity and the sliding cavity. The switching mechanism includes a sliding button slidably disposed within the sliding cavity and a switching component. The sliding button has a positioning groove adapted to the switching component. This utility model allows for different height settings for the handrail, expanding the user base of the walking aid while ensuring its stability and safety during long-term use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of walking aid technology, specifically to a telescopic mechanism for a walking aid handrail and a walking aid using the telescopic mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] Chinese patent application number 200520067128.6 discloses a ball-positioned telescopic handle, which includes a sleeved tube and a handle. A groove is opened on the end of the outer tube near the handle, and a button is inserted in the groove. The other end of the button is connected and fixed to one end of the pull rod. A sleeve is inserted at the other end of the outer tube. A positioning hole is opened on the tube wall of the sleeve, and a set of positioning grooves are formed on the outer wall of the inner tube corresponding to the position of the positioning hole.

[0003] In the above technical solution, when the ball exits from the positioning groove and fully enters the positioning hole, the inner and outer tubes are unlocked. When the ball is simultaneously in both the positioning groove and the positioning hole, the inner and outer tubes are positioned. However, since the outer surface of the ball is not assisted by external force when it moves from the state of being fully in the positioning hole to the state of being simultaneously in both the positioning groove and the positioning hole, the user needs to shake the tube and grip the handle to achieve the ideal effect mentioned in the above technical solution. Furthermore, the positioning of the inner and outer tubes by the ball requires... The ball's size is larger than the positioning groove but smaller than the positioning hole. The ball is secured by its outer spherical surface abutting against the opening of the positioning groove, thus locking the ball between the relative sliding gaps of the inner and outer tubes. However, after prolonged use, it is difficult to ensure that the ball size of the positioning component (i.e., the ball bearing) still meets the standard. When the ball size is smaller than the initial size, the ball may roll completely into the positioning groove and fail to lock between the relative sliding gaps of the inner and outer tubes. This prevents the two nested tubes from locking together, affecting the performance. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a structurally stable and reliable telescopic mechanism for a walker's handrail and a walker using the telescopic mechanism.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model discloses a telescopic mechanism for a walker's handrail, comprising an outer tube with a hollow structure and an inner tube coaxially disposed inside the outer tube and capable of relative axial movement with respect to the outer tube. The outer wall of the inner tube is provided with at least two limiting recesses spaced apart along the axial direction. A locking mechanism, disposed on one side of the side wall of the outer tube, includes, A blind hole, the length direction of which is parallel to the axis of the outer tube, and a lateral through hole provided in the wall of the blind hole adjacent to the outer tube, the lateral through hole being used to connect the blind hole to the limiting recess; A locking element is provided in the lateral through hole and can move in the lateral through hole in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the inner tube. The control component is slidably disposed within the blind hole. The sidewall of the control component forms a push part and a clearance part that are spaced apart. When the push part contacts the locking component, the locking component part cooperates with the limiting recess of the inner tube to restrict the axial position of the inner tube and the outer tube. When the clearance part cooperates with the locking component, the locking component part separates from the limiting recess of the inner tube, allowing the inner tube and the outer tube to move axially relative to each other.

[0006] The limiting recess can be any existing groove-shaped structure or hole-shaped structure.

[0007] In the initial state, the control member is located on the upper side of the blind hole, and the locking member is simultaneously located in the limiting recess, the lateral through hole, and the thrust portion. When the height of the walker armrest needs to be adjusted, the control member is manually pressed until the clearance portion inside the control member is opposite to the locking member. The force between the inner wall of the limiting recess of the inner tube and the outer surface of the locking member causes the locking member to move into the clearance portion, thereby separating the locking member from the inner tube. At this time, the inner tube is adjusted according to the limiting recess corresponding to the required height of the walker armrest. The relative position of the inner tube inside the outer tube is sufficient; after the height of the walker armrest is adjusted, the control component is moved upward. Since the surface area of ​​the relief part covering the locking component is less than half of the surface area of ​​the locking component, the force between the edge of the relief part and the thrust part connection and the outer circular surface of the locking component causes the locking component to move into the limiting recess, thereby making the locking component simultaneously located in the limiting recess, the lateral through hole and the thrust part, so that the position of the inner tube inside the outer tube is fixed again after the height of the walker armrest is adjusted.

[0008] This invention utilizes an interactive mechanism between the control component and the locking component to switch the contact relationship between the yielding part and the pushing part and the locking component. By applying a component force at the contact point between the control component and the locking component, a stable force is provided for the locking component during movement, avoiding the need for the user to shake the entire main body to move the locking component into the limiting recess. This enables convenient adjustment of the walker's armrest. The continuous application of a component force by the yielding part and the pushing part to the contact point on the outer surface of the locking component ensures the stability of the locking component within the limiting recess. This eliminates the need for additional tools and prevents locking failure due to wear of the locking component, ensuring the stability and safety of the walker's armrest during long-term use. This invention has the advantage of ensuring the stability and safety of the locking component during long-term use.

[0009] The lateral through hole and the locking component can be any existing combination that limits the locking component and allows it to reciprocate through the inner wall of the lateral through hole. For example, the locking component can be a roller, a ball, or a cylinder with hemispherical contact surfaces on both sides of the axial direction. The lateral through hole can be configured as a channel with a rectangular radial section and a circular section at the maximum radius or a circular axial section.

[0010] Preferably, the upper end of the outer tube is detachably connected to an extension, the extension having a through cavity coaxial with the outer tube and allowing the inner tube to pass through, the blind hole being located on one side of the extension, and the lateral through hole connecting the through cavity and the blind hole.

[0011] The detachable extension facilitates the assembly or modification of existing outer tubes, thus expanding the applicability of the mechanism; the inner wall of the cavity provides radial restraint and protection for the inner tube.

[0012] The extension can be an assembled structure with a cross-section larger than that of the outer tube, such as a bushing or a shaft sleeve.

[0013] Preferably, the lower end of the extension has a reduced diameter section, which fits inside the outer tube and is located between the inner wall of the outer tube and the outer wall of the inner tube.

[0014] The reduced diameter section allows the extension to slide smoothly and precisely into the outer tube without the need for complicated tools or additional assembly steps, significantly improving assembly efficiency, reducing operational difficulty, and ensuring a tight fit between the extension and the outer tube, thus guaranteeing a stable connection between the outer and inner tubes.

[0015] Preferably, both the pushing part and the yielding part are groove-shaped structures formed on the side of the control member, and the depth of the pushing part is less than the depth of the yielding part.

[0016] By utilizing the force component at the contact point between the control component and the locking component, a stable force is provided for the movement of the locking component, ensuring the stability of the locking component within the limiting recess. This prevents relative movement between the inner and outer tubes during use due to the large dimensional difference between the locking component, the lateral through hole, and the limiting recess, which would affect the stability and safety during use.

[0017] Preferably, the driving part includes, The first push surface is parallel to the axis of the inner tube and can be tangent to the outer circular surface of the locking member; The second push surface is connected to the lower side of the first push surface and is inclined from top to bottom toward the inner tube side, so as to abut against the lower side of the outer circular surface of the locking member.

[0018] The first and second thrust surfaces of the thrust section are used to limit one end of the moving direction of the locking member, thereby counteracting the reaction force between the inner tube limiting recess and the outer circle surface of the locking member, preventing relative movement between the inner tube and the outer tube, and affecting the use.

[0019] Preferably, the second pushing surface is a plane.

[0020] Compared to setting the second push surface as an arc surface, the contact position of the second push surface can adapt to the outer surface of the locking component, so that the lateral distance of the switch can be adapted, avoiding the locking failure problem caused by the wear of the locking component.

[0021] Preferably, the second push surface is an arc surface, and the arc surface of the second push surface fits into the outer circular surface of the locking member.

[0022] By increasing the contact area between the thrust part and the locking part, the contact area is changed from line contact between the plane and the outer circle of the locking part to surface contact. This improves the support and compression effect of the control part on the locking part, prevents stress concentration points between the locking part and the control part, and avoids a significant increase in deformation, which would reduce the load-bearing capacity of the workpiece and make it unable to withstand the designed load.

[0023] Preferably, an elastic element is provided between the lower end of the control element and the bottom wall of the blind hole.

[0024] The elastic element enables the control element to automatically reset to the top dead center after the downward pressure is lost, improving the convenience of human use; the elastic element can be any existing workpiece that uses its own physical properties to reset the control element, such as pressure spring, air spring, etc.

[0025] Preferably, the upper end of the control element extends upwardly with a pressing block, the pressing block comprising... The vertical part coincides with the sliding direction of the control component; A horizontal section is located at the upper end of the vertical section, and the upper surface of the horizontal section is provided with anti-slip texture.

[0026] The horizontal part on the pressing block facilitates manual operation and reduces the difficulty for users when pressing the control components. The anti-slip texture is used to prevent the user from slipping on the horizontal part of the control components when pressing them, thereby improving the user experience.

[0027] A walking aid including a telescopic mechanism for the walking aid handrail, further includes a support frame, rollers for reducing friction when the support frame is in motion, handrails, and a seat cushion for resting. The lower end of the outer tube is located on the support frame, the handrail is located at the upper end of the inner tube, and a storage bag is provided on the underside of the seat cushion.

[0028] This invention allows for different height settings for the handrails of walking aids, expanding the user base of walking aids while ensuring their stability and safety during long-term use. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the walking aid with a telescopic mechanism for the walking aid handrail in this utility model.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the telescopic mechanism in this utility model.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of another working state of the telescopic mechanism in this utility model.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the bushing structure of this utility model.

[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the sliding button of this utility model.

[0034] In the diagram: 11. Outer tube; 12. Bushing; 13. Sliding button; 14. Unloading groove; 15. Thrust groove; 16. Pressure spring; 17. Through cavity; 18. Blind hole; 19. Lateral through hole; 20. Inner tube; 21. Limiting recess; 22. Roller; 23. Pressing block; 30. Support frame; 31. Roller; 32. Seat cushion; 33. Storage bag; 34. Armrest; 15a. First push surface; 15b. Second push surface. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0036] Example 1 Depend on Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, this embodiment discloses a telescopic mechanism for a walker's handrail, including an outer tube 11, an inner tube 20 disposed inside the outer tube 11, an extension disposed on the upper side of the outer tube 11, and a locking mechanism for controlling the relative sliding or fixing between the inner tube 20 and the outer tube 11. Figure 4As shown, the extension is a bushing 12. A cavity 17 for accommodating the inner tube 20 is provided through one side of the bushing 12, and a blind hole 18 opening along the length of the inner tube 20 is provided on the other side of the bushing 12. A lateral through hole 19 connects the cavity 17 and the blind hole 18. The locking mechanism includes a control component slidably disposed within the blind hole 18 and a locking component disposed within the lateral through hole 19. The control component and the locking component are a sliding button 13 and a roller 22, respectively. The cross-sectional shape of the lateral through hole 19 is rectangular, adapted to the roller. The sliding button 13 has a pushing part and a yielding part adapted to the roller 22, respectively. The pushing part and the yielding part are a thrust groove 15 and a relief groove 14, respectively. Figure 5 As shown, the thrust groove 15 includes a first thrust surface 15a and a second thrust surface 15b. The first thrust surface 15a is tangent to the radius height of the outer circle of the roller 22. The second thrust surface 15b is connected to the lower side of the first thrust surface 15a and abuts against the lower side of the outer circle of the roller 22. The second thrust surface 15b is a plane. The depth of the thrust groove 15 along the direction away from the inner tube 20 is less than the depth of the unloading groove 14 in the same direction. A pressure spring 16 is provided between the sliding button 13 and the bottom wall of the blind hole 18. A pressing block 23 extends from the upper side of the sliding button 13. The pressing block 23 includes a vertical part that coincides with the sliding direction of the sliding button 13 and a horizontal part provided on the upper side of the vertical part. The upper surface of the horizontal part of the pressing block 23 is provided with anti-slip texture.

[0037] The inner tube 20 has a limiting recess that is adapted to the roller 22. The limiting recess can be any existing groove-shaped structure or hole-shaped structure. The limiting recess 21 has several sets and is arranged in an array along the length direction of the inner tube 20.

[0038] When the outer tube 11 and the inner tube 20 are locked, the roller 22 is simultaneously located in the limiting recess 21, the lateral through hole 19, and the thrust groove 15.

[0039] When the outer tube 11 and the inner tube 20 are in the unlocked state, the roller 22 is simultaneously located in the lateral through hole 19 and the stress relief groove 14.

[0040] It is worth noting that the cross-sectional height of the lateral through hole 19 along the side away from the inner tube 20 is the same as the height of the roller 22 in the same direction. The height of the roller 22 is greater than the height of the limiting recess 21 along the length of the inner tube 20. The surface area of ​​the unloading groove 14 surrounding the roller 22 is less than half of the surface area of ​​the roller 22.

[0041] In the initial state, by Figure 1As shown, the sliding button 13 is located on the upper side of the blind hole 18, and the roller 22 is simultaneously located in the limiting recess 21, the lateral through hole 19, and the thrust groove 15. When the height of the armrest needs to be adjusted, the anti-slip texture on the upper side of the pressing block 23 is manually pressed. The pressing block 23 drives the sliding button 13 to move downward and compress the pressure spring 16 until the unloading groove 14 in the sliding button 13 is opposite to the roller 22. The force between the inner wall of the limiting recess 21 and the outer surface of the roller 22 causes the roller 22 to move into the unloading groove 14, thereby separating the roller 22 from the inner tube 20, completing the unlocking process. Figure 2 As shown, at this time, the relative position of the inner tube 20 inside the outer tube 11 can be adjusted according to the limiting recess 21 corresponding to the required handrail height.

[0042] After the armrest height is adjusted, the pressure spring 16 returns to its original deformation, causing the sliding button 13 to move upward. Since the surface area of ​​the unloading groove 14 covering the roller 22 is less than half the surface area of ​​the roller 22, the force between the edge of the connection between the unloading groove 14 and the thrust groove 15 and the outer surface of the roller 22 causes the roller 22 to move into the limiting recess 21. This causes the roller 22 to be simultaneously located in the limiting recess 21, the side through hole 19, and the thrust groove 15, thereby re-fixing the position of the inner tube 20 inside the outer tube 11 after the armrest height is adjusted.

[0043] A walking aid using the above-mentioned telescopic handrail mechanism includes a support frame 30, rollers 31 for reducing friction when the support frame is in motion, a handrail 34, and a seat cushion 32 for resting. The seat cushion 32 has a storage bag 33 on its lower side. The lower end of the outer tube 11 is located on the support frame 30, and the handrail 34 is located on the upper end of the inner tube 20. In use, the bushing 12 is installed on the upper end of the outer tube 11 by fixing bolts. The pressing block 23 is pressed down and the inner tube 20 with the handrail 34 is passed through the through cavity 17 of the bushing 12. After releasing the pressing block 23, the sliding button 13 fixes the inner tube 20 through the roller 22.

[0044] Example 2 The only difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the second pushing surface 15b is an arc surface that fits against the outer circular surface of the roller 22.

[0045] Example 3 The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the locking element is a ball (not shown in the figure), and the cross-sectional shape of the lateral through hole 19 is a circle that is adapted to the ball.

[0046] Example 4 The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 3 is that the locking member is a cylinder with hemispherical contact surfaces on both sides of the axial direction (not shown in the figure), and the cross-sectional shape of the lateral through hole 19 is a circle that matches the cross-section of the cylinder.

Claims

1. A telescopic mechanism for a walker's handrail, comprising a hollow outer tube and an inner tube coaxially disposed within the outer tube and capable of relative axial movement with respect to the outer tube, wherein the outer wall of the inner tube is provided with at least two axially spaced limiting recesses, characterized in that: A locking mechanism, disposed on one side of the side wall of the outer tube, includes, A blind hole, the length direction of which is parallel to the axis of the outer tube, and a lateral through hole provided in the wall of the blind hole adjacent to the outer tube, the lateral through hole being used to connect the blind hole to the limiting recess; A locking element is provided in the lateral through hole and can move in the lateral through hole in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the inner tube. The control component is slidably disposed within the blind hole. The sidewall of the control component forms a push part and a clearance part that are spaced apart. When the push part contacts the locking component, the locking component part cooperates with the limiting recess of the inner tube to restrict the axial position of the inner tube and the outer tube. When the clearance part cooperates with the locking component, the locking component part separates from the limiting recess of the inner tube, allowing the inner tube and the outer tube to move axially relative to each other.

2. The telescopic mechanism for the handrail of a walking aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the outer tube is detachably connected to an extension, the extension having a through cavity coaxial with the outer tube and allowing the inner tube to pass through, the blind hole being located on one side of the extension, and the lateral through hole connecting the through cavity and the blind hole.

3. The telescopic mechanism for the handrail of a walking aid according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lower end of the extension has a reduced diameter section, which fits inside the outer tube and is located between the inner wall of the outer tube and the outer wall of the inner tube.

4. The telescopic mechanism for the handrail of a walking aid according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: Both the pushing part and the yielding part are groove-shaped structures formed on the side of the control member, and the depth of the pushing part is less than the depth of the yielding part.

5. The telescopic mechanism for the handrail of a walking aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The propulsion unit includes, The first push surface is parallel to the axis of the inner tube and can be tangent to the outer circular surface of the locking member; The second push surface is connected to the lower side of the first push surface and is inclined from top to bottom toward the inner tube side, so as to abut against the lower side of the outer circular surface of the locking member.

6. The telescopic mechanism for the handrail of a walking aid according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second pushing surface is a plane.

7. The telescopic mechanism for the handrail of a walking aid according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second pushing surface is an arc surface, and the second pushing surface is in contact with the outer circular surface of the locking member.

8. The telescopic mechanism for a walker's handrail according to claim 1, characterized in that: An elastic element is provided between the lower end of the control component and the bottom wall of the blind hole.

9. The telescopic mechanism for the handrail of a walking aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the control element extends upwards with a pressing block, the pressing block comprising... The vertical part coincides with the sliding direction of the control component; A horizontal section is located at the upper end of the vertical section, and the upper surface of the horizontal section is provided with anti-slip texture.

10. A walking aid comprising a telescopic mechanism for a walking aid handrail as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that: It also includes a support frame and a handrail, with the lower end of the outer tube located on the support frame and the handrail located at the upper end of the inner tube.

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