Walker

Abstract

To provide a walker which enables freer activities of a user while ensuring safety.SOLUTION: A walker 10 includes a frame 11, a pair of facing parts 20 which are provided on the frame 11 and face a side of a lumbar part of a user, and a pair of supporting parts 30 which protrude from the pair of facing parts 20 to the lumbar part of the user and sandwich the lumbar part. At least one of the supporting parts 30 has a pressing mechanism for making pressing force act toward the lumbar part. The walker 10 further includes an armrest 13, a brake release bar 14 which is a part of a brake mechanism, and a frame handle 15 positioned in the vicinity of the brake release bar 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a walker. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a walker safety device that is attached to a wheeled walker. This safety device has a waist support structure, a safety belt, and a connecting structure. The user wears the waist support structure around the waist, and attaches the connecting structure at the end of the safety belt to the frame of the walker. In the event that the user's knee buckles during walking training using the walker, the user's weight can be supported by the frame of the walker via the waist support structure and the safety belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2023-17500 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional walkers are not designed to accommodate users doing standing tasks such as housework, and there is room for improvement. One aspect of the present invention provides a walker that allows a user greater freedom of movement while ensuring safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A walker according to one aspect of the present invention includes a frame, a pair of opposing parts provided on the frame and facing sides of a user's waist, and a pair of support parts protruding from the pair of opposing parts toward the waist and sandwiching the waist. At least one of the pair of support parts has a pressing mechanism that applies a pressing force toward the waist.

[0006] The "pressing force" here means a force that presses the side of the user's lower back in a substantially horizontal direction. The pressing force may be in the same direction as the horizontal direction, or in a direction slightly inclined relative to the horizontal direction (for example, a direction slightly inclined diagonally upward).

[0007] A walker according to another aspect of the present invention includes a frame and a rotating frame that is horizontally rotatable relative to the frame and supports the waist of a user in a standing position.

[0008] The "standing posture" referred to here may be such that the user's knees are bent to some extent, and any posture that allows walking is acceptable. "Support" includes the case where the user's lower back is supported via an intermediary object. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the above aspect, a walker can be provided that allows the user to move more freely while ensuring safety. A user whose lower back is supported by the support section against the sides can take both hands off the walker and perform housework or other standing tasks. The rotating frame flexibly follows the user's lower back, which rotates and swings slightly as the user walks, and stably supports the user. The user, whose lower back is supported by the rotating frame in a standing position, can move using the walker and even turn around, allowing for a high degree of freedom in performing standing tasks. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010]

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[0011] [First embodiment] The features (1) to (4) of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. (1) A walker includes a frame, a pair of opposing parts provided on the frame and facing the sides of a user's waist, and a pair of support parts protruding from the pair of opposing parts toward the waist and sandwiching the waist. At least one of the pair of support parts has a pressing mechanism that applies a pressing force toward the waist.

[0012] The inventors have found that there has been no walker available to date that adequately supports the freedom of movement and independence of users, such as elderly people who are at risk of falling.

[0013] In the market positioning map in Figure 6, the right side of the horizontal axis means that the walker is lightweight and compact, while the left side means that it is heavy and bulky. The upper side of the vertical axis means that the walker supports the user's waist, while the lower side means that the user needs to support their own weight with both hands.

[0014] Conventionally, walkers that fall into the lower right quadrant of Figure 6 include fixed walkers and four-wheel walkers. These are lightweight and relatively inexpensive, and are used in ordinary households, but to reduce the risk of falling, the user must keep both hands on the handles or armrests of the walker. For users, taking their hands off the handles increases the risk of falling, making it difficult to use their hands for other tasks (such as housework), which significantly restricts their activities.

[0015] As a walker that corresponds to the upper left quadrant of FIG. 6, there is a rehabilitation walker as disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1. The walker has handles or armrests on which the user places both hands, as well as a band that applies a force to lift the user's waist or buttocks upward. This type of walker is intended for training the user to walk and is mainly used in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, but it is still desirable for the user to keep both hands on the handles. In addition, the mechanism for holding the waist is complicated, so the walker tends to be expensive, and the effort of attaching such a holding mechanism to the user's waist is also cumbersome.

[0016] The inventors felt that these conventional walkers were specialized in preventing falls and assisting walking, and did not fully support the user's freedom of movement and independence. By enabling users, such as the elderly, to perform household chores essential to daily life, such as cooking, cleaning, and hanging out laundry, they can maintain their self-esteem, stay healthy both physically and mentally, and live an independent life. The present inventors then discovered that there was a market need for a walker that fits into the upper right quadrant of FIG. 6, and after extensive research and development, arrived at the above-mentioned configuration (1).

[0017] According to the walker of (1) above, the user, whose lower back is supported by the support, can maintain a stable standing posture even if he or she takes both hands off the walker, and can use both hands to perform standing tasks such as cooking and cleaning. While the user takes their hands off the walker, the walker continues to support the lower back of the user, supporting the user in standing tasks and walking. Compared to performing housework while sitting on a working chair or crawling on the floor, the walker makes it easier to work in the kitchen, which is designed at a height for standing tasks, and to hang out laundry, and it also contributes to improving the health of the user's legs and lower back.

[0018] It is expected that many users will feel pain or discomfort when the abdomen or back is supported under pressure, and that a long adjustment margin will be required due to the large individual differences in the user's body shape and the degree of curvature of the waist. In contrast, the inventor has found that the sides of the lower back are protected by the pelvis and are suitable for pressure support. Furthermore, through additional research by the inventor (interviews with potential users), it has been found that users suffering from hernias may experience reduced lower back pain if the sides of the lower back are supported under pressure, reducing the strain on the legs in a standing position.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the walker of (1) above, the user can easily and quickly place his / her hips between the pair of support parts, i.e., put on the walker, even by himself / herself. Compared to conventional walkers for rehabilitation, the ease of putting on the walker is far superior. Therefore, the walker described above in (1) encourages independent activity in users such as the elderly, and contributes to extending the user's healthy lifespan.

[0020] (2) In the walking aid of (1) above, the frame may support the pair of support parts so as to be rotatable horizontally around the user.

[0021] According to the walking frame of (2) above, the user can easily change direction while performing standing work. The user can efficiently perform standing work while changing direction, especially in a small space such as a kitchen (see FIG. 4).

[0022] (3) In the walker described above in (1) or (2), the frame may have a rotating mechanism that allows the frame to move along with the user's walking, and a braking mechanism that applies a braking force to the rotating mechanism while the user takes their hands off the walker.

[0023] According to the walker of (3) above, while the user takes his / her hands off the walker, the brake force generated by the brake mechanism fixes the frame so that it does not move. This reduces the risk of the user falling, and the user can safely take his / her hands off the walker to carry out work.

[0024] (4) The walker comprises a frame and a rotating frame that is rotatable horizontally relative to the frame and supports the waist of a user in a standing position.

[0025] According to the walker of (4) above, the rotating frame flexibly follows the user's waist, which rotates and swings slightly as the user walks, and stably supports the user. The user, whose waist is supported by the rotating frame in a standing position, can move using the walker and even turn around, allowing the user to perform standing tasks with a high degree of freedom.

[0026] The first embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a side view of a lightweight, compact walker 10 that enables a user to stand and work or walk with both hands removed from the walker (hands free).

[0028] The walker 10 comprises a frame 11 extending in the vertical direction, a pair of opposing parts 20 provided on the frame 11 facing the sides of the user's waist, and a pair of support parts 30 protruding from the pair of opposing parts 20 toward the user's waist and sandwiching the waist.

[0029] 1 shows only the opposing part 20 and the support part 30 arranged on the left side of the user, but the opposing part 20 and the support part 30 are also arranged on the right side of the user (the back side of the paper). The opposing parts 20, 20 and the support parts 30, 30 arranged on the left and right of the user are arranged side by side with a gap in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 (the direction from the left side to the right side of the user), that is, they are arranged on approximately the same line with a gap.

[0030] As described below, at least one of the pair of support parts 30, 30 has a pressing mechanism that applies a pressing force toward the waist of the user.

[0031] The walker 10 further has an armrest 13 (or armrest), a brake release bar 14 which is part of the brake mechanism, and a frame handle 15 located near the brake release bar 14 (in this embodiment, located directly below the brake release bar 14).

[0032] 2, the brake release bar 14 and the frame handle 15 may be configured so that a user can grasp them simultaneously. The brake release bar 14 and the frame handle 15 may be separate bars that extend horizontally in front of the user. Alternatively, the brake release bar 14 may protrude from the frame handle 15.

[0033] Returning to Fig. 1, the walker 10 further includes a rotation mechanism 12 that is provided under the frame 11 and enables the frame 11 to move with the user's walking. The rotation mechanism 12 is a wheel in this embodiment, but may alternatively be a caterpillar or other rotation mechanism.

[0034] While the user releases the brake release bar 14, the frame 11 is fixed so as not to move by a braking force generated by the brake mechanism (for example, the force of pressing a friction pad (not shown) against the wheel 12). While the user places his / her hands on the brake release bar 14, the braking force is released and the frame 11 moves with the user's walking.

[0035] Fig. 3(A) is a schematic plan view of the walker as seen from above. As shown on the left side of Fig. 3(A), opposing parts 20, 20 and supporting parts 30, 30 are provided on substantially the same line on both sides of the waist of the user's torso B.

[0036] A semicircular rail 20a fixed to a frame 11 (see FIG. 1) has a pair of opposing portions 20, 20 at both ends.

[0037] In this embodiment, a semicircular slider 30a (an example of a rotating frame) is provided so as to overlap the inside of the semicircular rail 20a.

[0038] In this embodiment, the pair of support parts 30, 30 are fixed to both ends of a semicircular arc-shaped slider 30a, protrude inward, and sandwich the sides of the user's torso B from both sides.

[0039] Each support portion 30 has a contact portion 31 that contacts the side of the user's torso B, and a pressing mechanism 32 that applies a pressing force toward the user's torso B. The contact portion 31 may be a pad having cushioning properties. In this embodiment, a lightweight elastic body (spring) that generates an elastic repulsive force is used as the pressing mechanism 32.

[0040] Alternatively, the support portion 30 may be an air cushion having the functions of both the contact portion and the pressing mechanism, or another pressing mechanism (for example, a mechanism using an electric motor) may be employed.

[0041] In this embodiment, as shown on the right side of Fig. 3(A), the semicircular arc-shaped slider 30a is capable of sliding horizontally (rotating around the user's torso B) relative to the rail 20a. When the user's torso B supported by the supports 30, 30 changes direction while remaining in an upright position, the frame 11 (see Fig. 1) and the rail 20a remain in place without moving, and the slider 30a rotates together with the rotation of the user's torso B.

[0042] The right side of Fig. 3(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the left side of Fig. 3(B). As shown on the right side of Fig. 3(B), a bearing 25 is provided between the rail 20a and the slider 30a, which allows the slider 30a to move relatively on the rail 20a. The configuration for enabling the slider 30a (rotating frame) to move relatively to the rail 20a (frame) is not limited to the configuration using the bearing 25 in FIG. 3(B). As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view on the left side of Fig. 3(C), a convex portion fixed to the slider 30a may be configured to slide within a concave portion or groove provided in the rail 20a. Alternatively, as shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view on the right side of Fig. 3(C), a roller 30c may be provided on the convex portion fixed to the slider 30a.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of rollers 20c may be provided on a rail 20a at intervals in the circumferential direction, and a protrusion 30b provided on a slider 30a and extending in the circumferential direction may be rotatably supported by the rollers 20c. In the example of FIG. 10, the slider 30a is supported by pairs of upper and lower rollers 20c, 20c provided at multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the rail 20a, thereby allowing the slider 30a to rotate smoothly relative to the rail 20a. The rail 20a and the slider 30a are not limited to being semicircular (extending circumferentially through an angle of 180 degrees when viewed in a plane), but may extend circumferentially through an angle greater than 180 degrees or less than 180 degrees when viewed in a plane.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4, the user can move around in a narrow space such as a kitchen (the gap between the gas stove and sink and the countertop) using the walker, turn around, and perform standing work with a high degree of freedom.

[0045] For example, the user moves from the right side of Fig. 4 to the left side (in front of the kitchen counter) using the walker, then releases the walker, turns to the right side and performs standing work at the kitchen counter, then moves further to the left side (in front of the sink) and performs standing work at the sink in the opposite direction to when at the kitchen counter. During this time, the direction of the rail 20a does not change, and the slider 30a rotates and changes direction by 180 degrees, continuing to support the user's lower back. Next, the user turns to the right side and moves forward to move in front of the gas stove, where he or she performs standing work.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, the user can hang out laundry with both hands with a high degree of freedom. Such standing work, which was very difficult when sitting on a working chair or crawling on the floor, can be easily performed by using the walker 10. Although not shown, the user can also easily clean with a vacuum cleaner (e.g., a stick vacuum cleaner). Since there is no need to always hold the walker 10 with one hand, the user can change the hand that holds the vacuum cleaner or the direction in which the tip of the vacuum cleaner is extended, allowing for efficient cleaning with a high degree of freedom.

[0047] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, while Fig. 3(A) shows an example in which both of the support parts 30, 30 have the pressing mechanism 32, only one of the support parts 30 may have the pressing mechanism 32. In this case, the other support part 30 may be a contact part 31 that does not incorporate a pressing mechanism. Instead of providing the support portion 30 on the slider 30a, the slider 30a (rotating frame) may directly support the lower back of the user in a standing position.

[0048] FIG. 3(A) shows an example in which a semicircular rail 20a is used to guide the slider 30a over its entire length. Alternatively, however, a configuration in which the slider 30a moves relative to only a portion of the rail components may be adopted to reduce weight.

[0049] 1 may be provided with a height adjustment mechanism, and may be extendable and contractable in the vertical direction by operating the adjustment mechanism. This configuration also makes it easy for a user to bend down to access a low position (for example, the bottom shelf of a refrigerator).

[0050] 1 may have a connecting member for connecting to the armrest on the opposite side (the back side of the page) and may be U-shaped in plan view. The connecting member located in front of the user may be used as a table. The brake release bar 14 is preferably positioned higher than the armrest 13 and the connecting member to make it easier for the user to place their hands on it.

[0051] It is also conceivable that the pair of opposing parts 20, 20 and the pair of support parts 30, 30 are assembled (unitized) to be detachably attached to an existing walker. Specifically, the following embodiments are conceivable.

[0052] A walker attachment that is detachable from a frame, A pair of opposing parts fixed to the frame and facing sides of a user's waist; A pair of support parts protruding from the pair of opposing parts toward the waist part and sandwiching the waist part, An attachment for a walker, wherein at least one of the pair of support parts has a pressing mechanism that applies a pressing force toward the waist part.

[0053] [Second embodiment] The features (5) to (8) of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. (5) A walker comprising a frame and a rotating frame that can rotate horizontally relative to the frame and supports the waist of a user in a standing position may further comprise a belt attached to the rotating frame that applies a tightening force to the waist of the user.

[0054] The "belt" referred to here may be a type that has a hook-and-loop fastener and can encircle the user and maintain a tightening force applied to the waist.

[0055] According to the walker of (5) above, the user's waist is fastened by the belt attached to the rotating frame, and the user's weight is partially supported by the walker. The user can take both hands off the walker and safely perform standing tasks such as housework. The user's movements are firmly transmitted to the rotating frame via the belt. This allows the user to change direction more smoothly.

[0056] (6) In the walking aid of (5) above, the rotating frame may have a belt guide that supports and guides the belt in the horizontal direction.

[0057] Here, "supporting while guiding the belt in the horizontal direction" includes the case where the belt is supported by the belt guide in a state where it can move horizontally relative to the belt guide (for example, the belt is inserted into a guide hole of the belt guide). "Supporting while guiding the belt in the horizontal direction" includes the case where the belt tightened around the waist of the user is supported integrally with the rotating frame via the belt guide (the tightening force of the belt also acts on the belt guide).

[0058] According to the walker of (6) above, a user can easily and quickly put on the walker by himself. Unlike a band that applies an upward lifting force to the user's waist or buttocks, this belt is supported by a belt guide at the height of the user's waist in a standing position, so the user can easily wrap the belt around his or her waist. Therefore, this walker is much easier to put on than conventional rehabilitation walkers.

[0059] (7) In the walking aid described above in (5) or (6), the belt may have a tightening force adjustment mechanism that can be operated on the abdominal side of the user.

[0060] According to the walking aid of (7) above, the user can easily adjust the fastening force of the belt.

[0061] (8) In any of the walkers described above in (5) to (7), the frame may have a rotating mechanism that allows the frame to move along with the user's walking, and a braking mechanism that applies a braking force to the rotating mechanism while the user takes their hands off the walker.

[0062] According to the walker of (8) above, while the user has released his / her hands from the walker, the brake force generated by the brake mechanism fixes the frame so that it does not move. This reduces the risk of the user falling, and the user can release both hands from the walker to work with peace of mind. The rotating frame can rotate relative to the fixed frame, so the user can release both hands from the walker and smoothly change direction while standing and working.

[0063] The second embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The same members as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] A walker 10a shown in Fig. 7 has a belt 40 and a belt guide 35 instead of the support unit 30 (see Fig. 1) of the first embodiment. The belt 40 is at approximately the same height as the belt guide 35 and tightens the waist of the user in a standing position from all around in the horizontal direction.

[0065] As shown in the upper part of FIG. 8, similarly to the first embodiment, a semicircular slider 30a (an example of a rotating frame) is provided so as to overlap the inside of a semicircular rail 20a in a plan view.

[0066] Belt guides 35, 35 are provided on the inner surfaces (surfaces facing the user's torso) of both ends of the semicircular arc-shaped slider 30a, and a belt 40 is attached to the belt guides 35, 35. The belt guides 35, 35 support the belt 40 while guiding it in the horizontal direction.

[0067] The belt 40 is guided horizontally by the belt guide 35, which is provided at the height of the waist of the user in a standing position and immediately adjacent to the side of the waist, and integrally connects the waist of the user to the belt guide 35. The force with which the belt 40 tightens the waist of the user also acts on the belt guide 35. This prevents the waist of the user from moving freely relative to the slider 30a, and the slider 30a follows the movement of the waist of the user with high responsiveness.

[0068] In this embodiment, the belt 40 is guided by the belt guides 35, 35 provided at two locations on the left and right sides, but the belt 40 may be guided by belt guides at one location or at three or more locations.

[0069] 8, the belt guide 35 of this embodiment is formed in a frame shape and has a guide hole 35a. This frame-shaped belt guide 35 passes the belt 40 through the guide hole 35a having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the belt (e.g., rectangular). Therefore, the belt 40 is unlikely to fall off the belt guide 35. The belt guide is not limited to this shape, and may have a semicircular or crescent-shaped guide hole.

[0070] Returning to FIG. 7, with this walker 10a, the user's weight is partially supported by the walker 10a, as the user's waist is fastened by the belt 40 attached to the slider (rotating frame). The user can safely perform standing tasks such as housework with both hands removed from the walker 10a. As the user's waist is fastened by the belt 40, it does not come off the walker 10a. The user's movement is securely transmitted to the slider via the belt 40. This allows the user to change direction more safely and smoothly.

[0071] A method of wearing the walker will be described with reference to Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 9(A), the belt 40 is initially open at both ends protruding rearward from the belt guide 35, forming an inverted U-shape in plan view. A cushion 42 may be provided between the semicircular arc-shaped slider 30a and the belt 40 so as to face the abdomen of the user's torso B.

[0072] A press button 45 may be provided at a position between the cushion 42 and the abdomen of the user's torso B. As shown in FIG. 9(B), when the press button 45 is pressed on the abdomen of the user's torso B, the belt 40 may be configured so that both ends of the belt 40 overlap and surround the user's torso B.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 9(C), the hook-and-loop fasteners at both ends of the belt 40 are joined together, so that the belt 40 tightens the torso B of the user.

[0074] 9(D), the tightening force may be adjusted by a tightening force adjustment mechanism that can be operated on the abdominal side of the user. The tightening force adjustment mechanism may have rings 47, 47 or hooks that the user can hook the fingers of both hands on and pull diagonally forward, and a string that connects the rings 47, 47 to the belt 40.

[0075] In this way, the user can easily wrap the belt 40 around the waist, so this walker is much easier to wear than conventional walkers for rehabilitation. In addition, the tightening force can be easily adjusted by the tightening force adjustment mechanism that can be operated on the abdominal side of the user.

[0076] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. In the second embodiment, the belt 40 is supported by the belt guide 35 that is integrally provided on the rotating frame 30a (see FIG. 8). Alternatively, the belt 40 may be attached to the facing part 20 without providing the rotating frame 30a.

[0077] Specifically, in FIG. 7, a belt guide 35 may be provided on the opposing portion 20 fixed to the frame 11, and the belt 40 may be guided and supported in the horizontal direction by the belt guide 35. With such a walker, a user can easily and quickly put on the walker by himself. The belt 40 is supported by the belt guide 35 at the height of the user's waist in a standing position, and the user can easily wrap the belt 40 around the waist. Therefore, the wearability of the walker is much better than that of conventional rehabilitation walkers. If the belt 40 has a fastening force adjustment mechanism that can be operated on the abdominal side of the user, the wearability is further improved. The belt 40, inserted through the guide hole of the belt guide 35, surrounds the waist of the user and applies a tightening force to the belt guide 35 and the waist of the user. Compared to a band that suspends the waist and buttocks of the user, the belt 40, which is guided horizontally by the belt guide 35 at the height of the waist of the user in a standing position, connects the waist of the user to the belt guide 35 over an extremely short distance. This makes it possible to prevent the waist of the user from moving freely relative to the slider 30a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 10 Walking frame 11 Frame 12 Wheels (rotating mechanism) 14 Brake release bar (part of the brake mechanism) 20 Opposing Part 20a rail 30 Support part 30a Slider (rotating frame) 32 Elastic body (pressure mechanism) 40 Belt

Claims

1. A frame, A pair of opposing portions provided on the frame and facing sides of a user's waist; A pair of support parts protruding from the pair of opposing parts toward the waist part and sandwiching the waist part, A walker, wherein at least one of the pair of support parts has a pressing mechanism that applies a pressing force toward the waist part.

2. The frame supports the pair of support parts so as to be rotatable in a horizontal direction around the user. The walker of claim 1.

3. The frame is a rotation mechanism that allows the frame to move with the user's walking; A brake mechanism that applies a braking force to the rotation mechanism while the user releases the walker.

3. A walker as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

4. A frame, A walking device comprising: a rotating frame that is horizontally rotatable relative to the frame and supports the waist of a user in a standing position.

5. The device further includes a belt provided on the rotating frame for applying a tightening force to a waist of the user.

5. The walker of claim 4.

6. The rotating frame has a belt guide that supports the belt while guiding it in the horizontal direction.

6. The walker of claim 5.

7. The belt has a tightening force adjustment mechanism operable on the abdominal side of the user.

7. A walker as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6.

8. The frame is a rotation mechanism that allows the frame to move with the user's walking; A brake mechanism that applies a braking force to the rotation mechanism while the user releases the walker.

7. A walker as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6.

9. A frame, a facing portion provided on the frame and facing a side of a waist of a user in a standing position; A belt supported by the opposing portion and applying a tightening force to the user's waist.

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