Wheelchair that enables defecation

Abstract

To provide a wheelchair that enables defecation in which an area of a seat surface part does not become smaller during movement of the seat surface part and which allows a user to perform a defecation motion in a stable manner.SOLUTION: A wheelchair that enables defecation includes: a pair of divided seat surface parts 2 that is movable in the lateral direction; an inner frame 4 that is provided on the wheelchair 1 to limit the outer position in the lateral direction during movement of the divided seat surface parts 2; an outer frame 6 that is provided to limit the inner position in the lateral direction during movement of the divided seat surface parts 2; an inner locking part 8 that is provided on the divided seat surface parts 2 and engaged with the inner frame 4 to limit movement to the outer direction of the divided seat surface parts 2; and an outer locking part 10 that is provided on the divided seat surface parts 2 and engaged with the outer frame 6 to limit movement to the inner direction of the divided seat surface parts 2. The wheelchair can take a normal seat surface part state in which the divided seat surface parts 2 get close together, and a defecation-enabled state in which the divided seat surface parts 2 are separated from each other to form an opening 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an excretion-enabled wheelchair in which an opening is formed in the center of the seat of the wheelchair to allow a user to perform excretion actions. [Background technology]

[0002] As the above-mentioned excretion-enabled wheelchair, the invention of a folding wheelchair with an opening in the seat, described in Patent Document 1, is known. This invention is equipped with a folding mechanism that folds the left and right base frames, and a pair of left and right dials that slide the pair of left and right seat bodies from the center of the seat to the ends, and is configured so that by turning these dials, an opening can be formed in the center of the seat through which excretion can be performed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-000264 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the invention of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the task of turning the left and right dials to slide the pair of left and right seat bodies remains a difficult task for either the wheelchair user or the caregiver. In addition, the structure for rolling up the seat body is complicated, which makes it prone to malfunction. Furthermore, because the seat body is rolled up, providing an opening in the center of the seat reduces the area of ​​the seat on both sides, which makes the chair unstable when the user leans to one side and tilts their center of gravity, making it easier for the user to fall over.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair with excretion capability in which the area of ​​the seat portion does not become smaller when the seat portion is moved, allowing the user to stably perform excretion movements. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair with excretion capability which has a simple and inexpensive structure, is less prone to malfunction, and has an opening formed in the center of the seat portion to allow the user to perform excretion actions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The excretion-enabled wheelchair according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises: A pair of split seat sections that are split in the lateral direction of the wheelchair and can move in the lateral direction; A body inner limiting portion provided on the wheelchair for limiting the lateral outward position of the divided seat portion during movement; A body outer limiting portion provided on the wheelchair for limiting the lateral inner position of the divided seat portion during movement; a seat portion inner limiting portion provided on the split seat portion and engaging with the main body inner limiting portion to limit the outward movement of the split seat portion; a seat portion outer limiting portion provided on the split seat portion and engaging with the main body outer limiting portion to limit the inward movement of the split seat portion; having a normal seating state in which the split seating parts are close to each other by moving each of the split seating parts inward; an excretion-enabled state in which the divided seat parts are moved outwardly so that the divided seat parts are separated from each other to form an opening through which excretion can be performed; The present invention is characterized in that it is configured to be able to take the above-mentioned.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is the excretion-enabled wheelchair according to the first aspect, The main body inner limiting portion is composed of an inner frame extending in the front-rear direction and located at an inner position of the wheelchair, The body outer limiting portion is composed of an outer frame that is present at an outer position of the wheelchair and extends in the front-rear direction, In the wheelchair, the pair of split seat sections are supported by the inner frame and the outer frame.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is the excretion-enabled wheelchair according to the first or second aspect, The divided seating surface portion is A cushion portion; A slide base portion on which the seat inner limiting portion and the seat outer limiting portion are protruded; The present invention is characterized in that it has

[0009] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the excretion-enabled wheelchair according to the second aspect, The divided seat surface portion has an intermediate movement suppressing portion that abuts against the inner frame to suppress inward movement.

[0010] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the excretion-enabled wheelchair according to the second aspect, The divided seating surface portion is A cushion portion; a slide base portion on which the seat inner limiting portion and the seat outer limiting portion are protruded, The wheelchair, a front support frame and a rear support frame extending laterally and supporting the inner frame and the outer frame, The slide base part is a front engagement portion that engages with the front support frame and allows the front support frame to slide in a lateral direction; a rear engagement portion that engages with the rear support frame and allows the rear support frame to slide in a lateral direction; The present invention is characterized in that it has the following features:

[0011] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the excretion-enabled wheelchair according to the first or second aspect, The split seat portions are characterized in that they can be moved inward or outward manually. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an excretion-enabled wheelchair in which the area of ​​the seat does not become smaller when the seat moves, and the user can stably perform excretion. It is also possible to provide an excretion-enabled wheelchair that has a simple and inexpensive structure, is less prone to malfunction, and has an opening formed in the center of the seat for the user to perform excretion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the wheelchair according to the embodiment with the divided seat portion closed. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of the wheelchair according to the embodiment with the divided seat portion open. FIG. [Diagram 3] 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the divided seat portion is removed from the frame portion. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the slide base portion. [Diagram 5] 13A is a layout diagram of the inner frame and the outer frame when the sliding base part is closed, and FIG. 13B is a layout diagram of the inner frame and the outer frame when the sliding base part is open. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an excretion-enabled wheelchair (hereinafter, appropriately abbreviated as wheelchair 1) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an oblique view showing the wheelchair 1 with the split seat portions 2, 2 closed to form a normal seat portion without an opening 40 (see Figure 2) in the center, Figure 2 is an oblique view showing the wheelchair 1 with the split seat portions 2, 2 opened to form an opening 40 in the center during excretion, and Figure 3 is an oblique view showing the wheelchair 1 with the left split seat portion 2 removed from each frame.

[0015] In the description of wheelchair 1 in this specification, the lateral direction (left-right direction) of wheelchair 1 is the direction indicated by arrow X in Fig. 1. The front-rear direction (vertical direction) of wheelchair 1 is the direction perpendicular to the lateral direction in a plan view, and is the direction indicated by arrow Y in Fig. 1. Moreover, the height direction (up-down direction) of wheelchair 1 is the direction indicated by arrow Z in Fig. 1.

[0016] <Wheelchair 1 body> This wheelchair 1 has a pair of left and right main body frames 30, 30 that support the seating surface and extend in the front-rear direction, a pair of left and right back frames 31, 31 that extend upward from the rear of the main body frames, and a backrest 38 is fixed between the back frames 31, 31. Armrests 39, 39 are attached to the back frames 31, 31. A pair of rear lower frames 32, 32 are fixed downwardly to the center of the main body frames 30, 30 in the fore-and-aft direction, and rear wheels 25 are attached to the tips of the rear lower frames 32, 32. A pair of front lower frames 33, 33 are fixed to the front of the main body frames 30, 30, and front wheels 24 are attached to the tips of the front lower frames 33, 33. A pair of left and right lower connecting frames 43, 43 are provided between the base ends of the rear wheels 25 and the base ends of the front wheels 24.

[0017] A pair of left and right foot frames 34,34 are provided in front of the main body frames 30,30, and the lower tip side of the foot frames 34,34 forms the base tube portion 26,26. An extension rod portion 27,27 that can extend and retract in the vertical direction relative to the base tube portion 26,26 is provided. The extension and retraction fixed position of the extension rod portion 27,27 in the vertical direction is adjusted by an extension and retraction fixing portion 28,28. The extension and retraction fixing portion 28,28 is provided on the front lower frame 33,33, and has an up and down fixing operation lever 29,29. Meanwhile, the rear wheel fixing parts 22, 22 are fixed to L-shaped connecting frames 44, 44 provided between the lower rear frames 32, 32 and the lower connecting frames 43, 43. The rear wheel fixing parts 22, 22 have rear wheel fixing operation levers 23, 23 and pressure contact stop parts 45, 45.

[0018] The lower ends of the telescopic rods 27, 27 are connected to the rotating shafts 47, 47 of the footrests 35, 35, and by rotating the footrests 35, 35 around the rotating shafts 47, 47, the footrests 35, 35 can be moved between a foot-resting position parallel to the ground and a retracted position. The base ends of band-shaped foot support bodies 37, 37 are fixed to the vertical middle positions of the foot frames 34, 34, and the tips of the foot support bodies 37, 37 are fixed to the inner edge positions of the foot rests 35, 35, respectively.

[0019] <Main body base part 46> The wheelchair 1 according to this embodiment has a pair of split seat sections 2, 2 that are movable laterally, and a main body base section 46. Note that the main body base section 46 refers to the base section on the wheelchair 1 side. 3, the main body base portion 46 has a pair of main body inner limiting portions 3, 3 for limiting the lateral outer position of the split seating portions 2, 2, and a pair of main body outer limiting portions 5, 5 for limiting the lateral inner position of the split seating portions 2, 2. The split seating portions 2, 2 abut against the main body inner limiting portions 3, 3 to limit their positions, thereby determining the width by which the split seating portions 2, 2 protrude outward. Similarly, the split seating portions 2, 2 abut against the main body outer limiting portions 5, 5 to limit their positions, thereby determining the inner position of the split seating portions 2, 2. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the main body inner limiting portions 3,3 are composed of a pair of left and right inner frames 4,4 extending in the front-rear direction, and the main body outer limiting portions 5,5 are composed of outer frames 6,6 extending in the front-rear direction.

[0020] In this configuration, the main body frames 30, 30 located on the outermost sides of the wheelchair 1 are also used as the outer frames 6, 6. In addition, a front support frame 17 and a rear support frame 18 extending in the left-right direction are provided for the pair of main body frames 30, 30 according to the front-to-rear length required for the divided seat sections 2, 2. The front support frame 17, rear support frame 18, main body frames 30, 30, and inner frames 4, 4 form a main body base section 46 in the shape of two frames extending in the front-to-rear direction bridged within a rectangular outer frame.

[0021] <Split seat part 2> As shown in FIG. 3, the divided seat portions 2,2 have cushion portions 11,11 and slide base portions 12,12. The sliding base portions 12, 12 are members for sliding the divided seat portions 2, 2 in the left-right direction relative to the wheelchair 1. The split seat portions 2,2 have seat portion inner limiting portions 7 which limit the outward movement of the split seat portions 2,2 by engaging with the main body inner limiting portions 3,3, and seat portion outer limiting portions 9 which limit the inward movement of the split seat portions 2,2 by engaging with the main body outer limiting portions 5. The seat portion inner limiting portion 7 is constituted by an inner locking portion 8 which protrudes downward from the slide base portions 12,12, and the seat portion outer limiting portion 9 is constituted by an outer locking portion 10 which protrudes downward from the slide base portions 12,12.

[0022] The locking form of the inner locking portion 8 with the inner frame 4 and the locking form of the outer locking portion 10 with the outer frame 6 can be, for example, abutting or fitting. In general, it is preferable that the locking form between the inner locking portion 8 and the outer locking portion 10 be a fitting structure. As such a fitting structure, for example, one having a peripheral wall with a cross section of an arcuate shape that fits into a part of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular frame of the inner frame 4 and the outer frame 6 as shown in Fig. 3 can be used.

[0023] 3, a front engagement portion 19 is provided on the front end surface of the sliding base portions 12, 12, and the front engagement portion 19 has a fitting portion that allows the sliding movement in the lateral direction while engaging with the front support frame 17. Similarly, a rear engagement portion 20 is provided on the rear end surface of the sliding base portions 12, 12, and the rear engagement portion 20 has a fitting portion that allows the sliding movement in the lateral direction while engaging with the rear support frame 18. Each fitting portion may have, for example, a peripheral wall with an arc-shaped cross section that engages with part of the outer circumferential surface of the tubular frame of the front support frame 17 and the rear support frame 18. The divided seat portions 2,2 are supported by the front support frame 17, the rear support frame 18, the main body frames 30,30 and the inner frames 4,4.

[0024] Further, the slide base parts 12, 12 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are provided with an intermediate movement suppressing part 14. As shown in Fig. 3, in this embodiment, the intermediate movement suppressing part 14 is constituted by intermediate locking parts 15, 15 provided on the lower surface of the flat plate part 12a of the slide base parts 12, 12. The intermediate locking parts 15, 15 have an engagement surface for the inner frames 4, 4, and are configured to suppress excessive inward movement by at least hitting the inner frames 4, 4, and to stably maintain the closed state of the divided seat parts 2, 2 in cooperation with the outer locking part 10. Further, in order to move the divided seat parts 2, 2 outward and create an opening 40 in the center, a force is applied outward to move them so as to release the engagement between the intermediate locking parts 15, 15 and the outer locking parts 10, 10, respectively, and the inner locking parts 8, 8 are fitted into the inner frames 4, 4, etc., so that the outwardly moved state can be maintained.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a sliding base part 12 having a configuration partially different from the sliding base parts 12, 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and is a view of the left sliding base part 12 as viewed from below. The sliding base part 12 according to this modified example also has an inner engagement part 8, an outer engagement part 10, a front engagement part 19, and a rear engagement part 20, which is the same as the configuration of the sliding base parts 12, 12 shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0026] 1 to 3 is that the inner locking portion 8 has a plate wall that contacts the inner frame 4 (not shown in FIG. 4) and a fitting portion 8a that receives the inner frame 4. The second difference is that the intermediate locking portion 15 is omitted, and openings 41 or notches are provided in each portion of the sliding base portion 12 to reduce the weight of the sliding base portion 12.

[0027] <An example of operation> An example of the operation of the wheelchair 1 will now be briefly described with reference to FIG. When using this wheelchair 1 to perform excretion, the wheelchair 1 is moved so that the toilet bowl is located below the split seat parts 2,2, or a simple toilet bowl is placed below the split seat parts 2,2. Then, with the help of a caregiver, for example, the user's buttocks are moved to the left side of the split seat parts 2,2, and while the right side of the user's buttocks is lifted, the right side of the split seat part 2 is moved outward to the right, creating a movement width L to the right side of the split seat part 2. Next, the user's buttocks are moved to the right side of the split seat parts 2,2, and while the left side of the user's buttocks is lifted, the left side of the split seat part 2 is moved outward to the left, creating an opening 40 with a movement width 2L in the center of the split seat parts 2,2, and the excretion is performed. After the excretion, both of the split seat parts 2,2 are returned to their adjacent positions to return to the seat part state, and the user is seated.

[0028] In this case, the width of the moved split seat section 2 is the same as that of the original split seat section 2, so the user's buttocks can be stably supported when moving the body left and right while the body is supported by the armrests 39, 39. In addition, the left and right movement of the sliding base sections 12, 12 can also be performed manually, so the manufacturing cost of the wheelchair 1 can be reduced compared to a configuration configured using an electric motor. In addition, the rear wheels 25, 25 can be locked (fixed) by the rear wheel fixing parts 22 as appropriate to prevent the wheelchair 1 from moving. For example, when transferring from a bed to the wheelchair 1, it is dangerous if the seat part moves, so the rear wheel fixing parts 22, 22 are locked. The rear wheel fixing parts 22, 22 are also locked during excretion actions.

[0029] With this wheelchair 1, the height position of the footrests 35, 35 can be adjusted to a desired position using the extendable fixing parts 28. By adjusting the height of the footrests 35, 35 in this manner, the user can bend forward to assume a posture or position that makes it easy to excrete. Also, while the seat width of a normal wheelchair is about 40 cm, excretion wheelchairs are generally wider, for example set to about 50 cm. In this case, the gap between the footrests 35, 35 may become too large and the feet may get stuck, so foot holders 37, 37 are provided as belts to prevent the feet from getting stuck in the gap.

[0030] In the above embodiment, a configuration is shown in which the seat portion inner limiting portion 7 and the seat portion outer limiting portion 9 are provided separately at predetermined positions of the split seat portions 2,2, but a configuration in which the seat portion inner limiting portion 7 and the seat portion outer limiting portion 9 are provided as a single portion in the center of the split seat portions 2,2 can also be adopted. In addition, in the above embodiment, the main body inner limiting portion 3 is constituted by the inner frame 4, and the main body outer limiting portion 5 is constituted by the outer frame 6, but each limiting portion can also be provided separately from the various frames that constitute the wheelchair 1, such as the outer frame 6.

[0031] Although the present invention has been described above by way of examples of the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiments. The technical scope of the present invention should be determined based on the claims, and it goes without saying that various modifications, additions to the configuration, or improvements can be made within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1: Wheelchair 2: Split seat part 3: Body inner limiting part 4: Inner frame (an example of the inner body restriction part) 5: Body outer limiting part 6: Outer frame (an example of the outer limiting part of the main body) 7: Seat inner limit part 8: Inner locking part (an example of the inner limiting part of the seat) 9: Seat part outer limit part 10: Outer locking portion (an example of the outer limiting portion of the seat surface) 11: Cushion section 12: Slide base part 14: Intermediate movement suppressor 15: Intermediate locking portion (an example of an intermediate movement suppression portion) 17: Front support frame 18: Rear support frame 19: Front engagement part 20: Rear engagement part 30: Main body frame (an example of an outer frame) 40: Opening X: Lateral direction (left / right direction) Y: Front-back direction (vertical direction) Z: Height direction (up and down direction)

Claims

1. A pair of split seat sections that are split in the lateral direction of the wheelchair and can move in the lateral direction; A body inner limiting portion provided on the wheelchair for limiting the lateral outward position of the divided seat portion during movement; A body outer limiting portion provided on the wheelchair for limiting the lateral inner position of the divided seat portion during movement; a seat portion inner limiting portion provided on the split seat portion and engaging with the main body inner limiting portion to limit the outward movement of the split seat portion; a seat portion outer limiting portion provided on the split seat portion and engaging with the main body outer limiting portion to limit the inward movement of the split seat portion; having a normal seating state in which the split seating parts are close to each other by moving each of the split seating parts inward; an excretion-enabled state in which the divided seat parts are moved outwardly so that the divided seat parts are separated from each other to form an opening through which excretion can be performed; An excretion-enabled wheelchair, characterized in that it is configured to be able to take the above.

2. The main body inner limiting portion is composed of an inner frame extending in the front-rear direction and located at an inner position of the wheelchair, The body outer limiting portion is composed of an outer frame that is present at an outer position of the wheelchair and extends in the front-rear direction, 2. The excretion-enabled wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the pair of split seat sections are supported by the inner frame and the outer frame.

3. The divided seating surface portion is A cushion portion; A slide base portion on which the seat inner limiting portion and the seat outer limiting portion are protruded; 3. The excretion-enabled wheelchair according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

4. 3. The excretion-enabled wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the divided seat portion has an intermediate movement suppressing portion that abuts against the inner frame to suppress inward movement.

5. The divided seating surface portion is A cushion portion; a slide base portion on which the seat inner limiting portion and the seat outer limiting portion are protruded, The wheelchair, a front support frame and a rear support frame extending laterally and supporting the inner frame and the outer frame, The slide base part is a front engagement portion that engages with the front support frame and allows the front support frame to slide in a lateral direction; a rear engagement portion that engages with the rear support frame and allows the rear support frame to slide in a lateral direction; The excretion-enabled wheelchair of claim 2 .

6. 3. The excretion-enabled wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the divided seat portion is manually moved inward or outward.

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