Wheelchair tire cover

Abstract

To provide a tire cover to be easily handled by a user of a wheelchair.SOLUTION: A tire cover 10 for covering a peripheral surface of a tire 32 of a wheelchair 30 comprises: a cover body 12 including a belt-shaped sheet 14, and rubber attached to both end edges of the belt-shaped sheet 14 so as to be contracted in a longitudinal direction of the belt-shaped sheet 14; and fixing parts 16 respectively arranged at an end part of the cover body 12 in the longitudinal direction, being long in a direction to cross with the cover body 12, and also being the fixing parts 16 respectively including a shape memory plate 20 stored in a memory in a winding shape. The fixing part 16 is wound around a ring body 36 composed of the tire 32 and a rim 34 of the wheelchair 30, so as to allow the tire cover 10 to be fixed to the tire 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present specification discloses a tire cover for covering a tire of a wheelchair. [Background technology]

[0002] When a wheelchair is used outdoors, dirt such as soil, water, and dust adheres to the wheelchair tires. If the wheelchair is used indoors with such dirt still attached, there is a risk that the floor surface of the room will become dirty. Therefore, tire covers that cover the wheelchair tires when necessary have been proposed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a band-shaped tire cover having an adhesive portion. The tire cover of Patent Document 1 is fixed to a tire of a wheelchair by using an adhesive. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-102290 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the case of tire covers that use adhesives as in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that the adhesive parts of the tire cover will stick together during handling, making it difficult to properly unfold the tire cover. In particular, some wheelchair users have disabilities not only in their lower limbs but also in their hands. For such users, it is difficult to properly handle tire covers that have adhesive parts.

[0006] Therefore, this specification discloses a tire cover that is easier for wheelchair users to handle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The tire cover disclosed in this specification is a tire cover that covers the circumferential surface of a wheelchair tire, and is characterized in that it comprises a cover body including a strip-shaped sheet and rubber attached to both end edges of the strip-shaped sheet so as to shrink in the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped sheet, and a fixing part provided at the longitudinal end of the cover body, which is elongated in a direction intersecting the cover body and includes a shape memory plate that is memorized in a wound shape, and the tire cover is fixed to the tire by wrapping the fixing part around a ring formed by the tire and rim of the wheelchair. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the tire cover disclosed in this specification, the fixing part automatically deforms due to shape memory, making it easier for wheelchair users to handle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a tire cover. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure for attaching a tire cover. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a tire cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A tire cover 10 for a wheelchair 30 will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the tire cover 10. This tire cover 10 covers and protects a tire 32 of a wheelchair 30. It is assumed that the user of the wheelchair 30 will attach the tire cover 10 to the tire 32 while remaining in the wheelchair 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the wheel of the wheelchair 30 has a rim 34 and a rubber-like tire 32 attached to the outside of the rim 34. In the following description, the annular member formed by the rim 34 and the tire 32 will be referred to as an "annular body 36."

[0011] The tire cover 10 has a cover body 12 and a fixing part 16. The cover body 12 includes a strip-shaped sheet 14 for covering the circumferential surface (i.e., the ground contact surface) of the tire 32. The strip-shaped sheet 14 has at least a length and width that can cover the ground contact surface of the tire 32 (i.e., a length greater than the entire circumference of the tire 32 and a width greater than the ground contact width of the tire). The strip-shaped sheet 14 is made of, for example, cloth or a vinyl sheet. Note that the strip-shaped sheet 14 is easily soiled because it comes into contact with the ground contact surface of the tire. Therefore, the strip-shaped sheet 14 may be made of a material that does not absorb dirt or a material that is easily washable.

[0012] Rubber (not shown) that shrinks in the longitudinal direction of the strip sheet 14 is sewn to both widthwise end edges of the strip sheet 14. Due to the elasticity of the rubber, the widthwise ends of the cover body 12 shrink more than the widthwise center. As a result, when the cover body 12 is fitted around the tire 32, the cover body 12 is less likely to come off the tire 32.

[0013] The fixing parts 16 are portions for attaching the cover body 12 to the tire 32. In this example, the fixing parts 16 are attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cover body 12. The fixing parts 16 are strip-shaped members extending in a direction intersecting with the cover body 12. The longitudinal dimension of the fixing parts 16 is long enough to be wound around the ring body 36.

[0014] The fixing part 16 includes a shape memory plate 20 memorized in a wound shape. The shape memory plate 20 is a plate material called a "snap band". Before a force is applied, the shape memory plate 20 is stretched straight as shown in state S1 of FIG. 1, but when a force that bends it in one direction is applied, the plate material automatically curls up as shown in state S2 of FIG. 1. The shape memory plate 20 can be made of a metal strip such as tinplate. In this case, the shape memory plate 20 has a warped shape that is convex toward the back surface 20b side in the width direction, and is further made to curl up in the length direction. The fixing part 16 is made by covering the shape memory plate 20 with a covering member such as cloth.

[0015] Next, the procedure for attaching such a tire cover 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Although the user of the wheelchair 30 is not shown in Fig. 2, the tire cover 10 is attached by the user while the user remains seated in the wheelchair 30.

[0016] When attaching the tire cover 10 to the tire 32 of the wheelchair 30, the user first inserts one of the fixing parts 16 of the tire cover 10 (hereinafter referred to as the "leading fixing part 16f" or "fixing part 16f") into the gap between the frame 38 and the wheel 31 of the wheelchair 30. In this state, the user presses the fixing part 16f in the direction in which it wraps around the ring body 36. In response to this pressing force, the fixing part 16f automatically deforms and wraps around the ring body 36. Then, as a result of this wrapping, the fixing part 16f is fixed to the ring body 36.

[0017] Once in this state, the user moves the wheelchair 30 forward while aligning the cover body 12 of the tire cover 10 along the contact surface of the tire 32. Then, by rotating the wheel once in this state, the entire circumference of the tire 32 is covered with the cover body 12. As described above, this cover body 12 has the rubber 18 wrapped around both sides, so that the cover body 12 is unlikely to come off the tire 32 when it is aligned along the tire 32.

[0018] Once the entire circumference of the tire 32 is covered with the cover body 12, the user wraps the fixing part 16 opposite the leading fixing part 16f (hereinafter referred to as the "terminal fixing part 16s" or "fixing part 16s") around the ring body 36. This wrapping operation is substantially the same as the wrapping operation of the leading fixing part 16f.

[0019] As is clear from the above description, according to this example, the fixing part 16 is automatically attached to the ring body 36 by simply applying a slight force to the fixing part 16. Also, according to this example, the tire 32 can be covered with the cover body 12 by moving the wheelchair 30 forward with the cover body 12 aligned along the ground contact surface of the tire 32. As a result, even if the user cannot freely move his / her hands, the tire cover 10 can be easily attached to the tire 32 while remaining in the wheelchair 30.

[0020] In addition, the tire cover 10 of this example does not use an adhesive, so it is possible to prevent the adhesive from adhering to the tire 32 and the rim 34. In addition, tire covers that use adhesive, as described in Patent Document 1, are difficult to use repeatedly because the adhesive strength of the adhesive quickly decreases. On the other hand, the shape memory plate 20 can be repeatedly changed between a straight state and a wrapped state. Therefore, the tire cover 10 of this example can be used repeatedly.

[0021] When removing the tire cover 10 from the tire 32, the user removes the two fixing parts 16s, 16f from the tire 32 by peeling the fixing part 16s and the leading fixing part 16f off the ring body 36, or by grabbing and pulling the cover body 12 from the tire 32 while the fixing parts 16s, 16f are not touching the floor. Thereafter, the user removes the entire tire cover 10 from the ring body 36 while moving the wheel as necessary.

[0022] As is clear from the above description, according to this embodiment, not only the installation work of the tire cover 10 but also the removal work can be easily performed by the user while remaining seated in the wheelchair 30.

[0023] The configuration described above is an example, and may be modified as appropriate as long as the configuration described in claim 1 is included. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the fixing portion 16 may be provided only at one end of the cover body 12, not at both ends. In this case, other fixing means may be provided to maintain the attached state of the tire cover 10. As the other fixing means, for example, a hook and loop fastener may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a male or female first hook and loop fastener 40f may be provided on the surface of one end side of the cover body 12, and a female or male second hook and loop fastener 40s may be provided on the back surface of the other end side of the cover body 12. In this case, after the cover body 12 is wrapped around the entire circumference of the tire 32, the second hook and loop fastener 40s may be bonded to the first hook and loop fastener 40f. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 10 tire cover, 12 cover body, 14 belt-shaped sheet, 16 fixing part, 18 rubber, 20 shape memory plate, 30 wheelchair, 31 wheel, 32 tire, 34 rim, 36 ring body, 38 frame, 40f first hook-and-loop fastener, 40s second hook-and-loop fastener.

Claims

[Claim 1] A tire cover that covers the circumferential surface of a wheelchair tire, A cover body including a belt-like sheet and rubber attached to both end edges of the belt-like sheet so as to contract in the longitudinal direction of the belt-like sheet; A fixing portion provided at a longitudinal end of the cover body and elongated in a direction intersecting the cover body, the fixing portion including a shape memory plate memorized in a wound shape; The tire cover is fixed to the tire by wrapping the fixing part around a ring formed of the tire and the rim of the wheelchair. A tire cover characterized by:

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