Posture holder, chairing appliance, supporting belt, and installation method of support belt

Abstract

To provide a posture holder supporting a chest and abdominal part so as not to disturb a respiratory movement.SOLUTION: A posture holder 1 in the embodiments has: supporting belts 102A to 102F which are belt-like and one part of which stretches in a lengthwise direction; and a chest and abdominal part support part 100 which is provided with supporting belts 102A to 102F bridged across and supports at least a part of a front surface of the upper half body of a subject whose posture is held. The supporting belts 102A to 102F are provided across in the horizontal direction of the subject with the chest and abdominal part support part 100 supporting the subject, and follows the respiratory movement of the subject to stretch.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a posture maintaining device, a transfer device, a support belt, and a method for installing the support belt. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a posture assist chair characterized by comprising a seat portion that serves as a base for the seated position, a backrest portion disposed at the rear end side of the seat portion, backrest tensioning members consisting of multiple strip-shaped bodies stretched between the backrest frames, and backrest tension adjusting means that individually and independently adjusts the tension of each of the multiple backrest tensioning members.

[0003] Furthermore, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a lying or sitting element that is comprised of a support frame and a flexible bed or chair surface that is at least partially extensible, and that has bands, belts, robes, etc., that extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the vertical support parts of the support frame on both sides and are fixed in parallel with each other, and that at least some of the bands, belts 3, 4, robes, etc. are made of a material that is inextensible at least in the longitudinal direction, and that the inextensible bands, belts 3, robes, etc. are designed to have various lengths to fit various parts of the body of a person lying or sitting, or are fixed at various heights to the vertical support parts 1, 2 of the support frame, or are supported by the vertical support parts 1, 2 so that their lengths can be adjusted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-45365 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 63-503287 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a posture support device that supports the chest and abdomen without interfering with respiratory movement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The posture-maintaining device of the present invention comprises a belt-shaped support belt, at least a portion of which stretches in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of support members that are arranged across the support belt and support at least a portion of the front of the upper body of the subject whose posture is to be maintained; the support belts are arranged across the left and right of the subject when the support members are supporting the subject, and stretch and contract in accordance with the respiratory movements of the subject.

[0007] Preferably, two adjacent support belts support a portion of the front of the subject's upper body at different positions, and the support belts support an area of ​​50% or more of the front of the subject's torso when the support member is supporting the subject.

[0008] Preferably, the support belt supports the subject's chest with at least one portion and supports the subject's abdomen with at least one portion.

[0009] Preferably, two adjacent support belts are provided adjacent to each other in the vertical direction of the subject and aligned in the width direction.

[0010] Preferably, the support belt supporting the subject's chest and the support belt supporting the subject's abdomen have relatively different amounts of stretch.

[0011] Preferably, the support belt further has a belt-shaped elastic portion that stretches in the longitudinal direction, and a stretch adjustment portion that is a belt-shaped member that stretches less in the longitudinal direction than the elastic portion and adjusts the amount of stretch of the elastic portion, and the stretch adjustment portion is installed together with the elastic portion.

[0012] Preferably, the support belt includes the first support belt and the second support belt, and is configured as a set of multiple belts, the first support belt and the second support belt are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction and are connected at both ends, and further includes a spacing maintaining member that maintains a predetermined spacing between two adjacent first support belts and second support belts in the direction in which the first support belt and the second support belt are arranged.

[0013] Preferably, the device further comprises a second support member that supports a portion of the rear surface of the subject's lower body and a third support member that supports a portion of the front surface of the subject's lower body, wherein the second support member supports the rear surface of the subject's thigh when supporting the subject, and the third support member supports the front surface of the subject's thigh when supporting the subject, and the support member is positioned higher than the second support member and the third support member when supporting the subject.

[0014] Preferably, the support member further includes a head support section that is arranged to be movable in the vertical direction of the subject when the support member is supporting the subject, and that supports the front side of the subject's head.

[0015] In addition, the transfer device of the present invention comprises a belt-shaped support belt, at least a portion of which stretches in the longitudinal direction, and a support member across which the support belt is placed, supporting at least a portion of the front of the upper body of the subject whose posture is to be maintained; the support belt is placed across from side to side of the subject when the support member is supporting the subject, and stretches and contracts in response to the respiratory movements of the subject.

[0016] In addition, the support belt of the present invention has a belt-shaped elastic portion that stretches in the longitudinal direction, a belt-shaped extension adjustment portion that is a member that stretches less in the longitudinal direction than the elastic portion and adjusts the amount of extension of the elastic portion, and a belt-shaped contact portion that comes into contact with the object to be supported, the elastic portions being provided on both sides of the contact portion, and the extension adjustment portion being installed in conjunction with the elastic portion.

[0017] In addition, the method of installing a support belt according to the present invention includes the steps of installing a belt-shaped support belt, at least a portion of which is stretchable in the longitudinal direction, across a support member that supports a subject whose posture is to be maintained; having the subject lean against the installed support belt; and adjusting the amount of stretch of the support belt depending on the part of the subject that is supported by the support belt. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the chest and abdomen can be supported so as not to impede respiratory movement. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view illustrating an example of a posture maintaining device 1 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a posture maintaining device 1 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining in detail the configuration of the chest / abdominal support section 100. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the chest / abdominal support section 100 when supporting a subject. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram illustrating the amount of extension of the support belt 102 according to the part of the subject. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for installing a support belt (S10). [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the support belt 102 before and after tension adjustment. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a first modified example of the posture maintaining device 1 of the present embodiment. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a first modified example of the posture maintaining device 1 of the present embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a third modified example of the posture maintaining device 1 of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] First, the background of the present invention will be explained. For example, in the nursing care industry, a forward-leaning trunk posture is required for care recipients to maintain a sitting position with their backs as straight as possible, without supporting the back, and with the back free (a back-relaxed sitting position), similar to that of a healthy person, from the perspectives of preventing muscle weakness in the care recipient, preventing reduced stimulation to the brain and internal organs or preventing a decrease in brain and internal organ activity due to reduced stimulation, improving the caregiver's work efficiency, preventing aspiration, and reducing the burden on both the care recipient and the caregiver. Research and development of simple transfer devices that allow transfers in a forward-leaning position using the trunk has been ongoing, and similar forward-leaning transfer devices currently exist on the market. However, these devices support the care recipient from the front, which tends to cause pressure on the chest and abdomen, and issues regarding the comfort of the care recipient have been identified, and no appropriate solution has yet been devised. Taking these circumstances into consideration, we have created an embodiment of the present invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to support the chest and abdomen of the care recipient to reduce pressure while maintaining a forward-leaning trunk position without interfering with the thoracic movement associated with breathing, while adapting to individual body types.

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. First, the configuration of the posture maintaining device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an example of a posture maintaining device 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the posture maintaining device 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating in detail the configuration of the thoracic and abdominal support section 100. Figure 3(A) is a view seen from the arrow A illustrating the configuration of the thoracic and abdominal support section 100, and Figure 3(B) is a view seen from the arrow B illustrating the configuration of the thoracic and abdominal support section 100. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the posture-maintaining device 1 is a device for enabling, for example, a subject (hereinafter referred to as subject) whose posture is to be maintained to sit in a sitting position with his / her back open (hereinafter referred to as a back-open sitting position). The posture-maintaining device 1 can be applied to, for example, a transfer device, a chair, or an operating table. The posture-maintaining device 1 in this example is a transfer device. The subject whose posture is to be maintained here is, for example, a person who needs to sit in a state where his / her back is open, a person who is temporarily unable to maintain a sitting position by stabilizing his / her trunk, or a person with a physical disability who is unable to maintain a sitting position by stabilizing his / her trunk. Specifically, this includes patients who require surgery on their back, elderly people who need care, or disabled people with physical disabilities. The posture support device 1 has a body support part 10, a lifting part 20, and legs 30. The body support unit 10 is a support member that supports at least a part of the subject's body. The body support unit 10 includes a chest / abdominal support unit 100, a thigh front support unit 110, a thigh rear support unit 120, a hip support unit 130, and a leg support unit 140. When the chest / abdominal support unit 100 is supporting the subject, it is located higher than the thigh front support unit 110, the thigh rear support unit 120, the hip support unit 130, and the leg support unit 140.

[0022] The thoracic and abdominal support unit 100 is an example of a support member according to the present invention, and supports at least a portion of the front of the subject's upper body. The thoracic and abdominal support unit 100 of this example supports the chest and abdomen of the front of the subject's torso. However, this is not limiting, and the thoracic and abdominal support unit 100 may support only one of the chest or abdomen of the subject. As shown in FIG. 3, the chest and abdomen support section 100 includes a frame member 101 and a support belt 102. The frame member 101 is a frame around which the support belt 102 is placed. The frame member 101 is a frame body formed strong enough to support a subject leaning on the thoracic and abdominal support unit 100. When supporting the subject, the frame member 101 is connected to the lifting unit 20, which will be described later, so as to be rotatable in the front-to-rear direction.

[0023] The support belts 102 are bands provided in a state of being suspended across the frame member 101. When the thorax / abdominal support unit 100 is supporting the subject, a plurality of support belts 102 are provided suspended across the left and right of the subject, and expand and contract in response to the respiratory movement of the subject. Specifically, the support belts 102 in a taut state of being suspended expand and contract in response to the respiratory movement of the subject, which expands and contracts the thorax and abdominal region when the subject breathes. The support belt 102 is a belt-like belt, at least a portion of which is stretchable in the length direction. The support belt 102 may be stretchable in the length direction as a whole, or only a portion of it may be stretchable in the length direction. Note that the support belt 102 in this example is a band that is stretchable in the length direction as a whole, and is, for example, a wide elastic cord made of rubber, specifically flat elastic. Furthermore, there are multiple support belts 102, and they support at least one of the chest and abdomen, which are parts of the front of the subject's upper body. In this example, the support belts 102 support the subject's chest and abdomen. At least one support belt 102 supports the subject's chest, and at least one support belt 102 supports the subject's abdomen. In this example, six support belts 102A to 102F are installed in a state where they are independently suspended across the frame member 101, and multiple support belts support the subject's chest and abdomen. The support belts 102A to 102F have substantially the same configuration, and will be simply referred to as support belts 102 unless there is a need to particularly distinguish them. When the chest and abdomen support unit 100 is supporting the subject, the support belts 102 are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction in the vertical direction of the subject, in the range from the subject's chest to the abdomen.

[0024] Furthermore, the support belt 102 includes flat support surfaces. Specifically, the support belt 102A includes the support surface 102a, and the support belt 102B includes the support surface 102b. The support belt 102C includes the support surface 102c, and the support belt 102D includes the support surface 102d. The support belt 102E includes the support surface 102e, and the support belt 102F includes the support surface 102f. The support surfaces 102a to 102c support the subject's chest, and the support surfaces 102d to 102f support the subject's abdomen.

[0025] The support belt 102 supports 50% or more of the front of the subject's torso in order to improve stability when maintaining posture. For example, the support belt 102 supports 50% or more of the subject's chest and abdomen, specifically, supports 80% or more of the chest and abdomen. The support belt 102 in this example supports 90% or more of the subject's chest and abdomen. Note that if the support belt 102 supports less than 50% of the front of the subject's torso, stability when maintaining posture is impaired. Therefore, in order to improve stability when maintaining posture, it is preferable that the support belt 102 supports 50% or more of the front of the subject's torso.

[0026] The width of the support belt 102 is, for example, 15 mm to 60 mm, and preferably 30 mm to 50 mm. The width of the support belt 102 in this example is 50 mm. The elongation amount of the support belt 102 is, for example, in the range of approximately 15 mm to 35 mm when a load of 10 N to 30 N is applied, and more specifically, in the range of approximately 20 mm to 30 mm when a load of 10 N to 20 N is applied.

[0027] 3(B), the support belt 102 also includes a fixing portion 1020. The fixing portion 1020 is provided on the surface of the support belt 102 opposite the support surface, and is an attachment member for attaching the end of the support belt 102 to the frame member 101. The fixing portion 1020 is, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener or a button. In this example, the fixing portion 1020 is a hook-and-loop fastener, and is provided on both ends of the support belt 102. The fixing portion 1020 detachably connects the end of the fixing portion 1020 to the surface of the support belt 102 opposite the support surface. The support belts 102A to 102F are an example of the support belt according to the present invention.

[0028] The thigh front support section 110 is a support member that supports a portion of the front of the subject's lower body. When the subject is supported, the thigh front support section 110 supports the area of ​​the front of the subject's thigh near the knee. When the subject is supported, the thigh front support section 110 is located lower than the chest / abdomen support section 100. The thigh front support section 110 is an example of a third support member according to the present invention.

[0029] The thigh rear support section 120 is a support member that supports part of the rear of the subject's lower body. When the thigh rear support section 110 is supporting the subject, it supports the area of ​​the rear of the subject's thighs near the buttocks. When the subject is being supported, the thigh rear support section 120 is positioned lower than the thorax / abdomen support section 100. Furthermore, the position of the thigh rear support section 120 can be adjusted in the front-to-back direction of the subject. The thigh rear support section 120 is an example of a second support member according to the present invention.

[0030] When the subject is supported, the crotch support section 130 is located between the subject's legs and supports the subject's crotch. The crotch support section 130 is located between the chest / abdominal support section 100 and the thigh front support section 110 and thigh rear support section 120. The leg support unit 140 is a platform on which the subject's legs are placed when the subject is supported. The leg support unit 140 is large enough to place the subject's feet on, and is provided on the leg unit 30, which will be described later.

[0031] The lifting unit 20 is a device that raises or lowers the subject supported by the body support unit 10. Specifically, the lifting unit 20 performs a combined operation of tilting the body support unit 10 in the forward and backward directions of the subject and moving the body support unit 10 in the up and down directions of the subject. This allows the posture maintaining device 1 to simulate lifting-up and lifting-down movements. The lifting unit 20 includes multiple rotatably connected columns, actuators that rotate the columns, and an operating device that operates the actuators.

[0032] The leg section 30 is a portion on which the lifting section 20, which is rotatably connected to the body support section 10, is placed. The leg section 30 includes a frame 300 and casters 304. The frame 300 may be a lattice-shaped leg frame or a radial leg frame. The frame 300 in this example is provided with casters 304 at the four corners of the lattice-shaped framework and a leg support 302 in the center of the lattice-shaped framework. Casters 304 are freely rotatable wheels arranged at the four corners of frame 300. When supporting a subject, the size of the caster 304 located in front of the supported subject and the size of the caster located behind the supported subject may be different, or they may all be the same size.

[0033] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation of the chest and abdomen support section 100 when supporting the subject will be described. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the thoracic and abdominal support unit 100 when supporting a subject. Figure 4(A) is a schematic side view illustrating the thoracic and abdominal support unit 100 supporting a subject, and Figure 4(B) is a schematic view illustrating the expansion and contraction direction of the support belt 102 during breathing movement. As illustrated in FIG. 4(A), when the thoracic and abdominal support section 100 supports the subject, the support belts 102 are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction in the vertical direction of the subject, in the range from the chest to the abdomen. Two adjacent support belts 102 support parts of the front of the subject's upper body at different positions. Specifically, support belt 102A supports the upper region of the subject's chest, support belt 102B supports the middle region of the subject's chest, and support belt 102B supports the lower region of the subject's chest. Furthermore, support belt 102D supports the upper region of the subject's abdomen, support belt 102E supports the middle region of the subject's abdomen, and support belt 102F supports the lower region of the subject's abdomen. The subject is supported by the thorax / abdomen support unit 100 by leaning their chest and abdomen against the support belt 102. The subject performs thoracic movement to breathe while supported. The support belt 102 is suspended and supports the subject so as to conform to the external shape of the chest and abdomen. The support belt 102 freely follows and expands and contracts in accordance with the movement of the subject's thorax. In detail, as illustrated in FIG. 4(B), when the subject exhales, the thorax contracts in a complex manner in the up-down, left-right, and front-to-back directions of the subject, and the support belt 102 contracts accordingly. On the other hand, when the subject inhales, the thorax expands in a complex manner in the up-down, left-right, and front-to-back directions of the subject, and the support belt 102 expands accordingly. During breathing, the chest and abdomen expand or contract in a combined manner, and similarly, the support belt 102 expands as the abdomen expands and contracts as the abdomen contracts. In this way, the posture-maintaining device 1 can maintain posture in a relaxed sitting position while preventing interference with thoracic movement by expanding and contracting in accordance with the breathing of the subject using the support belt 102. Furthermore, the expansion and contraction force of the support belt 102 can assist the thoracic movement of the subject.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the amount of extension of the support belt 102 according to the part of the subject. As shown in FIG. 5, the amount of extension of the support belt 102 can be changed as appropriate depending on the body type (BMI) of the subject and differences in the hardness of bodily tissues between men and women. The support belts 102A-102C that support the subject's chest and the support belts 102D-102F that support the subject's abdomen may have the same or different relative extension amounts. For example, as shown in FIG. 5(A), when supporting an adult male with a standard body type, the extension amounts of the support belts 102A-102C are set to be smaller than the extension amounts of the support belts 102D-102F, and the extension amounts of the support belts 102D-102FC are set to be larger than the extension amounts of the support belts 102A-102C. In other words, the support belts 102 that support the abdomen are made to stretch more than the support belts 102 that support the chest. This reduces pressure on the abdomen when supporting the subject. In particular, when no pressure is felt on the abdomen, the support belts 102A to 102F may be set to the same extension amount. 5(B), when supporting an obese adult male, the extension amounts of the support belts 102A to 102C are set to be smaller than the extension amounts of the support belts 102D to 102F, and the extension amounts of the support belts 102D to 102FC are set to be larger than the extension amounts of the support belts 102A to 102C. In other words, the support belts 102 supporting the abdomen are made to stretch more than the support belts 102 supporting the chest. This reduces pressure on the abdomen when supporting. 5(C), when supporting an adult female with a standard build, the extension amount of the support belts 102A to 102C is set to be larger than that of the support belts 102D to 102F, and the extension amount of the support belts 102D to 102FC is set to be smaller than that of the support belts 102A to 102C. In other words, the support belts 102 supporting the chest are made to stretch more than the support belts 102 supporting the abdomen. This reduces pressure on the chest when supported. In this way, the support belt 102 can be adjusted to an appropriate extension amount depending on the body type (fatty areas) of the person to be supported.

[0035] Next, a method for installing the support belt 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. As an example, the operations in steps S100 to S106 illustrated in FIG. 5 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the method for installing the support belt (S10). 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating the support belt 102 before and after tension adjustment. Fig. 7A is a diagram illustrating the support belt 102 before tension adjustment, and Fig. 7B is a diagram illustrating the support belt 102 after tension adjustment. 6, in step 100 (S100), the worker temporarily installs the support belt 102 on the frame member 101. Specifically, the worker inserts both ends of the support belt 102 into the insertion holes of the frame member 101 and suspends it. Then, the worker detachably connects both ends of the suspended support belt 102 to the support surface and the surface opposite to the support belt 102 using the fixing parts 102. In detail, the worker installs support belt 102A, which is strip-shaped and stretchable in the length direction, in a stretched state on frame member 101. Next, the worker installs support belt 102B in a stretched state on frame member 101 in a position close to support belt 102A and aligned in the width direction. Next, the worker installs support belt 102C in a stretched state on frame member 101 in a position close to support belt 102B and aligned in the width direction. Next, the worker installs support belt 102D in a stretched state on frame member 101 in a position close to support belt 102C and aligned in the width direction. Next, the worker installs support belt 102E in a stretched state on frame member 101 in a position close to support belt 102D and aligned in the width direction. Next, the worker installs support belt 102F in a stretched state on frame member 101 in a position close to support belt 102E and aligned in the width direction. The support belt 102 is provided in a state of natural length (non-stretched state) or in a state of being slightly stretched. The support belt 102 in this example is installed in a state of natural length.

[0036] In step 102 (S102), the worker causes the subject to rest his / her chest and abdomen against the support belt 102 attached to the frame member 101.

[0037] In step 104 (S104), the worker adjusts the extension amount of each of the support belts 102A-C that support the chest of the subject in a reclining position, as described in Fig. 5. Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 7(A), the worker releases the temporary connection by the fixing part 1020 at least at one end of the support belt 102. Then, as illustrated in Fig. 6(B), the worker adjusts the length or tension depending on the part of the subject supported by the support belt 102, and reconnects it.

[0038] In step 106 (S106), the worker adjusts the extension amount of the support belts 102D-F that support the abdomen of the subject in a reclining position, as described in Fig. 5. The specific work performed by the worker is the same as the work described in S104, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted. Note that the work of S106 and the work of S104 may be interchanged. Thus, according to the method of installing the support belt in this embodiment, the amount of extension of the support belt 102 can be adjusted according to the part of the subject's chest and abdomen to be supported, so it can be appropriately adapted regardless of body type or age or gender.

[0039] As described above, according to the posture maintaining device 1 of this embodiment, by supporting the chest and abdomen of the subject with the support belt 102 in the suspended state, it is possible to distribute the pressure on the body surface and support the chest and abdomen without interfering with breathing. This allows the subject to sit in an open-backed sitting position without feeling any strain. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0040] Next, a modified example of the above embodiment will be described. In the modified example, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations as those in the above embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and will not be described again. [Variation 1] In the above embodiment, the support belt is entirely stretchable in the length direction, but this is not limited to this, and the support belt may be only partially stretchable in the length direction. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a first modified example of the posture maintaining device 1 of the present embodiment. Figure 8(A) is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the support belt 102 in the first modified example, and Figure 8(B) is a diagram illustrating the state in which the support belt 102 in the first modified example supports the posture maintaining device 1. 8(A), the support belt 102 is a support belt that is stretchable only partially in the longitudinal direction. The support belt 102 further includes a contact portion 1022, an elastic portion 1024, an extension adjustment portion 1026, and a fixing band 1028. The contact portion 1022 is an example of a contact portion according to the present invention, and is a band-shaped member that serves as a support target. The support target is a part of the subject's body that is the target of support, or an object that is the target of support. The contact portion 1022 in this example comes into contact with a part of the subject's body. The contact portion 1022 can also be made with double raschel fabric on the surface that supports the subject, thereby providing cushioning. The contact portion 1022 is less stretchable than the elastic portion 1024, which will be described later. The elastic portion 1024 is a band-shaped elastic member that stretches in the length direction. In this example, the elastic portion 1024 is, for example, a wide rubber band made of a rubber material, specifically, flat rubber. The elastic portions 1024 are provided on both ends of the buffer portion 1022, and are located on both the left and right sides of the subject that are not in contact with the subject when the support belt 102 supports the subject.

[0041] The extension adjustment unit 1026 is a band-like member that is less likely to stretch in the longitudinal direction than the elastic unit 1024. The extension adjustment unit 1026 is, for example, a flat woven string. The extension adjustment unit 1026 adjusts the amount of extension of the elastic unit 1024. Specifically, the extension adjustment unit 1026 is aligned with the elastic unit 1024 in the longitudinal direction and installed alongside the elastic unit 1024, and is set arbitrarily according to the amount of extension of the elastic unit 1024. In a usage state in which the contact unit 1022 is supported in contact with a part of the subject's body, the extension adjustment unit 1026 suppresses the amount of extension of the elastic unit 1024 when in a taut state. The fixing band 1028 is strip-shaped and serves to fix the support belt 102 to the frame member 101, and is provided on both sides of the contact portion 1022. One side of the fixing band 1028 is directly or indirectly connected to the elastic portion 1024, and the other side has the fixing portion 1020. The fixing band 1028 is an elastic member that stretches in the length direction, or a member that stretches less in the length direction than the elastic portion 1024. If the fixing band 1028 is an elastic member, it is a wide rubber cord with a configuration similar to that of the elastic portion 1024. If the fixing band 1028 is a member that stretches less in the length direction than the elastic portion 1024, it is a flat woven cord with a configuration similar to that of the extension adjustment portion 1026.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 8(B), the support belts 102 are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction in the vertical direction of the subject. The installed support belts 102 stretch in the horizontal direction of the subject. As described in FIG. 5, the extension adjustment unit 1026 appropriately adjusts the extension amount of the elastic unit 1024 in advance in accordance with the subject's body type. This allows the elastic unit 1024 to stretch in accordance with the part of the subject that is being supported. As described above, according to the posture supporter 1 of the first modification, the buffer part 1022 is connected to the fixing band 1028 via the elastic part 1024, and therefore they can expand and contract independently of each other. As a result, the elastic part 1024 of the posture supporter 1 expands according to the part of the subject that is being supported, and the buffer part 1022 can be brought into closer contact with the subject's body, further improving the fit. Furthermore, according to the posture supporter 1, the restoring force of the elastic part 1024 can support the breathing movement of the subject.

[0043] [Variation 2] In the above embodiment, the support belt is described as being a single body, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the support belt may be configured as a set of a plurality of bodies. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a second modified example of the posture maintaining device 1 of the present embodiment. Fig. 9A is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the support belt 102 in the second modified example, Fig. 9B is a diagram illustrating the actual support belt 102, and Fig. 9C is a perspective view illustrating the actual support belt 102. 9, the support belt 102 includes a first support belt 202 and a second support belt 204, and is configured as a pair. The first support belt 202 and the second support belt 204 are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction and are connected at both ends. The support belt 102 is configured such that the central portions of support belts 102A and 102B are spaced apart. The first support belt 202 and the second support belt 204 each have the above-described contact portion 1022, elastic portion 1024, extension adjustment portion 1026, and fixing band 1028. The support belt 102 further has a spacing portion 1030. The spacing maintaining portion 1030 maintains a predetermined distance between two adjacent first support belts 202 and second support belts 204 in the direction in which the first support belts 202 and second support belts 204 are arranged. The spacing maintaining portion 1030 is strip-shaped and is a member that is less likely to stretch in the longitudinal direction than the elastic portion 1024. The spacing maintaining portion 1030 connects the center of the contact portion 1022 of the first support belt 202 to the center of the contact portion 1022 of the second support belt 204, and maintains a predetermined distance between the first support belt 202 and the second support belt 204. As a result, the first support belt 202, the second support belt 204, and the spacing maintaining portion 1030 three-dimensionally contact the irregularities in the external shape of the subject's chest and abdomen in a lattice pattern, and can support the subject. The spacing unit 1030 is an example of the spacing unit according to the present invention. In this way, according to the posture maintaining device 1 of the second modification, the support belt 102 can be brought into closer contact with the body of the subject, improving the feeling of fit.

[0044] [Variation 3] In the above embodiment, the case where the chest, abdomen, and legs of the subject are supported has been described, but this is not limited thereto, and the subject's head may also be supported. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a third modification of the posture maintaining device 1 of this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the body support unit 10 of this example further includes a head support unit 150 in addition to the chest and abdominal support unit 100, front thigh support unit 110, rear thigh support unit 120, crotch support unit 130, and leg support unit 140 described in the above embodiment. Head support unit 150 is an example of a head support unit according to the present invention, and is positioned above thoracic / abdominal support unit 100. When the subject is supported by thoracic / abdominal support unit 100, head support unit 150 supports the front side of the subject's head. Specifically, head support unit 150 supports the vicinity of the subject's forehead, and is formed in a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the forehead. Furthermore, when the subject is supported, head support unit 150 supports the subject at a position corresponding to the subject's head. Head support unit 150 is arranged so that it can move and expand in the vertical direction of the subject when supported, and can change the supporting position depending on the position of the subject's head. Furthermore, the posture maintaining device 1 of this example further includes an operating unit 40 in addition to the body support unit 10, the lifting unit 20, and the legs 30 described in the above embodiment. The operating unit 40 is a handle for moving the posture supporter 1 forward and backward or rotating the posture supporter 1. The operating unit 40 is located opposite the subject in the supported state, and its base end is connected to the frame 300 of the leg 30. In this way, the posture maintaining device 1 in the third modification example can support the subject's head in addition to the chest, abdomen, and legs, thereby supporting the subject more stably. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1…Posture support device 10…Body support part 100...Thoracoabdominal support part 101...Frame member 102...Support belt 1020…Fixed part 110...Thigh front support part 120...Thigh rear support part 130...crotch support part 140...Leg support part 20...Lifting section 30...legs 300...frame 304...Caster 1022...Contact part 1024...Elastic part 1026...Extension adjustment section 1028...Fixed band 1030...Space holding part 202...First support belt 204...Second support belt

Claims

1. A belt-like support belt, at least a portion of which is stretchable in the length direction; a plurality of support members that are provided in a spanning state across the support belt and support at least a portion of the front of the upper body of the subject whose posture is to be maintained; and The support belt is provided across the subject in the left-right direction when the support member is supporting the subject, and expands and contracts in accordance with the subject's respiratory movement. Posture support.

2. The two adjacent support belts support a part of the front of the subject's upper body at different positions from each other, The support belt supports an area of ​​50% or more of the front of the subject's trunk when the support member supports the subject. The posture support device according to claim 1 .

3. The support belt supports the subject's chest with at least one part and supports the subject's abdomen with at least one part. The posture support device according to claim 2.

4. The two adjacent support belts are arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction of the subject and aligned in the width direction. The posture-maintaining device according to claim 3.

5. The support belt supporting the subject's chest and the support belt supporting the subject's abdomen have relatively different amounts of elongation. The posture support device according to claim 4.

6. The support belt is A belt-shaped elastic part that stretches in the length direction; a stretch adjusting part that is a band-shaped member that is less stretchable in the length direction than the elastic part and that adjusts the amount of stretch of the elastic part; and The stretch adjusting part is installed together with the elastic part. The posture support device according to claim 5.

7. The support belts include the first support belt and the second support belt, and are configured as a set of a plurality of belts, the first support belt and the second support belt are adjacent to each other and arranged side by side in the width direction, and both ends are connected to each other, a spacing member that maintains a predetermined spacing between two adjacent first support belts and two adjacent second support belts in a direction in which the first support belts and the second support belts are aligned; Further having The posture support device according to claim 6.

8. a second support member that supports a portion of the rear surface of the subject's lower body; a third support member that supports a portion of the front of the subject's lower body; and the second support member supports a rear surface of the subject's thigh in a state in which the second support member supports the subject; the third support member supports a front surface of the subject's thigh in a state in which the third support member supports the subject; The support member is positioned above the second support member and the third support member when supporting the subject. The posture support device according to claim 7.

9. a head support section that is arranged to be movable in the up and down direction of the subject when the support member is supporting the subject, and supports the front side of the subject's head; Further having The posture support device according to claim 8.

10. A belt-like support belt, at least a portion of which is stretchable in the length direction; a support member that is provided in a spanning state across the support belt and supports at least a part of the front of the upper body of the subject whose posture is to be maintained; and The support belt is provided across the subject in the left-right direction when the support member is supporting the subject, and expands and contracts in accordance with the subject's respiratory movement. Transfer equipment.

11. A belt-shaped elastic part that stretches in the length direction; a stretch adjusting part that is a band-shaped member that is less stretchable in the longitudinal direction than the elastic part and that adjusts the stretch amount of the elastic part; A contact portion that is strip-shaped and comes into contact with the object to be supported; and the elastic portions are provided on both sides of the contact portion, The stretch adjusting part is installed together with the elastic part. Support belt.

12. a step of installing a belt-shaped support belt, at least a portion of which is stretchable in the length direction, across a support member that supports a subject whose posture is to be maintained; A step of having a subject lean against the installed support belt; adjusting the amount of stretch of the support belt according to the part of the subject supported by the support belt; A method for installing a support belt having the above structure.

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