Wheelchair for life space

Abstract

To provide a wheelchair for a life space for enabling a person having trouble in a walking action to move while sitting and to comfortably live a life in a house by reducing a standing-up action.SOLUTION: A wheelchair 1 for a life space is used inside a house and includes: a main body base part 2; a seat surface part 3 attached to the main body base part 2; a backrest part 4; and front wheels 5 and rear wheels 6. The front wheels 5 are constituted by a fixed wheel whose rotating direction is fixed. The rear wheels 6 are constituted to have a breadth between the rear wheels 6, which is smaller than that of the front wheels 5, and also constituted by casters having a diameter smaller than that of the front wheel 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheelchair for use in living spaces, intended for use in the home. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional multi-functional wheelchair that can be used indoors is known as the wheelchair disclosed in Patent Document 1. Generally, when a wheelchair is used inside a home, barrier-free construction is usually carried out, such as removing steps inside the home and widening hallways and doors to allow wheelchairs to enter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-306543 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, despite using a wheelchair when going out, there are many people who do not use one indoors. It is fine for people who use a wheelchair outdoors or when traveling long distances, but who can walk short distances inside the house, but in reality, there are surprisingly many people who cannot use a wheelchair inside the house due to space limitations. Even people who use wheelchairs face the challenge of being forced to live a life with a limited range of movement, such as only being able to go from the entrance to the bedroom.

[0005] Furthermore, people who have difficulty walking have a strong need to reduce the amount of standing up required for even the smallest of tasks, and even multi-functional wheelchairs such as those shown in Patent Document 1 are often unable to overcome small steps or make tight turns.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair for use in living spaces that allows a person with difficulty in walking to move around while remaining seated, reduce the number of times he or she stands up, and live comfortably in his or her home. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The wheelchair for use in living spaces according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises: A wheelchair for use in a home, comprising a main body base, a seat portion, a backrest portion attached to the main body base, front wheels, and rear wheels, The front wheels are fixed wheels whose rotation direction is fixed, The rear wheels are characterized in that the width W2 between the rear wheels is smaller than the width W1 between the front wheels, and the rear wheels are configured as swivel wheels having a smaller diameter than the front wheels.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is the wheelchair for use in a living space according to the first aspect, The height H1 of the upper surface of the seating surface from the floor surface is 200 mm or more and 500 mm or less, It is characterized by having a front wheel diameter set to between 200mm and 500mm. A third aspect of the present invention is the wheelchair for use in living spaces according to the first or second aspect, characterized in that the diameter of the rear wheels is set to be equal to or greater than 70 mm and equal to or less than 200 mm.

[0009] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a wheelchair for living space according to the first or second aspect, characterized in that the width K2 of the seat portion is 300 mm or more and 550 mm or less, and the front-to-rear length K1 is 300 mm or more and 600 mm or less. A fifth aspect of the present invention is a wheelchair for living space as described in the first or second aspect, characterized in that the width W2 between the rear wheels is 30% or more and 100% or less of the width W1 between the front wheels.

[0010] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a wheelchair for use in a living space according to the first or second aspect, characterized in that the distance M from the center position of the axle of the front wheel to the front end position of the seat portion is set to be shifted rearward in the range of 0 mm to 50 mm. A seventh aspect of the present invention is a wheelchair for living space according to the first or second aspect, characterized in that the height S1 of the backrest from the top surface of the seat is 250 mm or more and 600 mm or less, and the width S2 of the backrest is 350 mm or more and 500 mm or less. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The present invention can provide a wheelchair for living spaces that allows people who have difficulty walking to move around while remaining seated, reduces the amount of standing up required, and allows them to live comfortably within their homes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a living space wheelchair according to a first embodiment, seen from diagonally above and front left. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a living space wheelchair according to a first embodiment, seen from diagonally above and behind the right. [Figure 3] 1 is a plan view of a wheelchair for use in a living space according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a front view (front view) of a wheelchair for use in a living space according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a side view of a wheelchair for use in a living space according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the wheelchair for use in a living space according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a living space wheelchair according to a second embodiment, seen from diagonally above and front left. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the living space wheelchair according to the second embodiment, seen from diagonally above and behind the right. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a front view (front view) of a wheelchair for use in living space according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a side view of a wheelchair for use in a living space according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, a wheelchair for use in living spaces according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [First embodiment] First, the wheelchair for use in living spaces 1 according to this embodiment is a lightweight wheelchair with a low seat and a low center of gravity. This wheelchair for use in living spaces 1 is compact and is suitable for moving around the home, such as in the living room or hallway.

[0014] In this specification, as shown in Figure 1, the direction in which the living space wheelchair 1 moves is the forward direction, and the opposite direction is the rearward direction, and these are referred to as the front-to-rear direction (X direction in Figure 1). The width direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is referred to as the lateral direction (Y direction in Figure 1). The direction perpendicular to both the front-to-rear and lateral directions is referred to as the height direction or up-down direction of this device (Z direction in Figure 1). The right and left directions are based on the direction as seen from behind.

[0015] The living space wheelchair 1 according to this embodiment is broadly divided into at least a main body base 2, a seat 3 attached to the main body base 2, a backrest 4, front wheels 5 and rear wheels 6.

[0016] <Main body base part 2> The main body base 2 is formed into a substantially square or rectangular shape in plan view by a pair of left and right rods 9 provided on the left and right sides of the living space wheelchair 1, a front rod 10 provided in front of the left and right rods 9, and a rear rod 11 provided behind the left and right rods 9. In this embodiment, the central portion of a rod-shaped object such as a long aluminum pipe serves as the rear rod 11, and the pair of left and right rods 9 are formed by bending this rod-shaped object forward on the left and right, and the front portions of the pair of left and right rods 9 are bent downward to form front wheel legs 12, which will be described later. The front rod 10 is provided near the bent portion to the front wheel legs 12 and is fixed so as to bridge between the left and right rods 9.

[0017] In addition to the front wheel legs 12 described above, rear wheel legs 13 and a support 15 for the backrest 4 are attached to the main body base 2. Note that the shape of the main body base 2 is an example, and the main body base 2 is not particularly limited as long as it can be configured to attach the front wheel legs 12, rear wheel legs 13 and support 15 and can stably hold the seat 3.

[0018] <Seat part 3> Typical wheelchairs are designed for both indoor and outdoor use, and are large, with a width of 600mm, a length of 950mm, and a seat height of 400-450mm. This size makes it difficult to get in and out of a wheelchair, making it impossible to use, or even if it is possible to get in, it is difficult to maneuver when used indoors, and the range of movement is restricted by steps and other obstacles.

[0019] Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, in this wheelchair for living space 1, the height H1 of the upper surface 3a of the seat portion 3 from the floor surface 7 is set to 200 mm or more and 500 mm or less, preferably 280 mm or more and 420 mm or less. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the size of the seat portion 3 is set to a width K2 of 300 mm or more and 550 mm or less, preferably 340 mm or more and 440 mm or less. The front-to-back length K1 of the seat portion 3 is set to 300 mm or more and 600 mm or less, preferably 350 mm or more and 450 mm or less. The seat portion 3 is a member that supports the user's buttocks and is fixed onto the main body base portion 2. It is usually configured to have a roughly rectangular shape with rounded corners in a plan view, but a roughly circular or roughly oval shape can also be used if necessary.

[0020] Furthermore, by adopting a configuration in which the center of gravity of the lifestyle space wheelchair 1 is positioned closer to the front wheels 5, which are the main wheels, it is possible to achieve both tipping stability that prevents the wheelchair from tipping forward and good maneuverability. Specifically, the center of gravity of the lifestyle space wheelchair 1 is determined by the position of the center of gravity of the user when sitting, so as shown in Figure 3, the front end 3b of the seat portion 3 is located near the top of the axle 28 of the front wheels 5. It is preferable that the position of the front end 3b of the seat portion 3 is shifted rearward from the position of the axle 28 of the front wheels 5. Furthermore, it is preferable that the distance M from the center position of the axle 28 of the front wheels 5 to the front end position 3b of the seat portion 3 is set rearward within a range of 0 mm to 50 mm.

[0021] To keep the seat 3 hygienic and free from soiling due to incontinence, the seat 3 is made of a resin molded product that is less susceptible to water penetration, and is designed so that hygiene can be maintained by wiping the surface of the seat 3. However, if necessary, a configuration in which the seat 3 is covered with a removable seat fabric that can be replaced without the need for tools can also be adopted.

[0022] It is said that when wheelchair users eat at a sink or table, a seat height of around 400 mm is best, but in reality, that height is only needed for a short period of time, so a lower seat height is not necessarily inappropriate. The configuration according to this embodiment does not have armrests that are found on ordinary wheelchairs, so there is no need to raise or lower the armrests each time the wheelchair gets on or off the floor, and it is possible to easily place the body on the seat portion 3. However, the wheelchair for use in living space 1 according to the present invention can also be configured with armrests, as will be explained in the third embodiment below.

[0023] <Front wheel 5 peripheral configuration> The front wheels 5 function as the main wheels of the wheelchair for living space 1. The front wheels 5 are composed of a pair of fixed wheels fixed to the left and right positions slightly larger than the width of the front wheel legs 12 fixed to the main body base 2. Note that fixed wheels are wheels whose direction of rotation is fixed. The diameter of the front wheels 5 is set to 200 mm or more and 500 mm or less, and preferably 250 mm or more and 400 mm or less. As shown in Figure 5, the upper ends of the front wheels 5 are set lower than the upper surface 3a of the seat portion 3, so the front wheels 5 do not get in the way, making it easy to transfer from the floor surface 7 from the front, left, right, and sideways. Conventional wheelchairs have swivel front wheels with 4 to 6 inch casters, which often cause the user to trip over even small steps. However, by making the front wheels 5 fixed and within the above-mentioned diameter range, stability is increased and the user can easily overcome steps on carpets, thresholds, etc.

[0024] Furthermore, the configuration of this embodiment does not include a foot support (footrest). This is because the speed of movement inside the house is much slower than when going out, so there is little need for a foot support, and because the operation of flipping up the foot support is necessary when transferring from the front, which is cumbersome.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, the protruding length T of the front end of the front wheel 5 from the front end 3b of the seat portion 3 is determined by the numerical range and configuration of each component described in this specification, and is generally between 150 mm and 250 mm. By making the front wheel 5 a fixed wheel, more legroom is available, allowing for pedaling and free positioning. Normally, wheelchairs have swivel front wheels, so to make pedaling safer requires widening the wheelchair to secure more space, which results in a larger wheelchair and increases the area of ​​the home where movement is restricted.

[0026] <Rear wheel 6 peripheral configuration> Swivel wheels are used for the rear wheels 6. The rear wheels 6 are attached to rear wheel legs 13 that extend downward from near the bend of the rear rod 11 or the left and right rods 9. Preferably, multiple rear wheels 6 are provided, and usually two rear wheels 6 are used. As shown in FIG. 6, a center line 26 connecting the centers of rotation of the two rear wheels 6 is set parallel to a center line 27 connecting the centers of rotation of the two front wheels 5.

[0027] As shown in Figure 4, the rear wheels 6 are configured with a swivel wheel having a smaller diameter than the front wheels 5, with a width W2 between the rear wheels 6 being smaller than the width W1 between the front wheels 5. The width W2 between the rear wheels 6 is set to 30% to 100% of the width W1 between the front wheels 5, and preferably 50% to 80%. The diameter of the rear wheels 6 is set to 70 mm to 200 mm, and preferably 100 mm to 150 mm. By setting the range as described above, the wheelchair for use in living space 1 is less likely to tip over even when changing direction at a sharp angle.

[0028] 2, 5, and 8, a rear wheel support part 24 serving as a joint for a swivel wheel is attached to the lower end of the rear wheel leg 13. The rear wheel support part 24 has an upper plate part 31 and side plate parts 32 provided on both the left and right sides of the rear wheel 6. A mounting seat is formed on the upper plate part 31, and a rotating part 33 is provided on the mounting seat to rotate the rear wheel support part 24 360 degrees relative to the rear wheel leg 13.

[0029] The rear wheel support portion 24 has a U-shaped configuration when viewed from the front to rear. By adopting the U-shaped rear wheel support portion 24, it is possible to firmly support the wheel and prevent the wheel from moving left and right when a load is applied. In addition, the U-shaped rear wheel support portion 24 has the advantage of reducing friction when rotating 360 degrees.

[0030] As shown in Figure 5, the mounting inclination angle φ (caster angle) of the rear wheel support part 24 with respect to the vertical line is preferably between 15° and 30°. Because the wheelchair 1 for use in living space may be moved backward, the caster angle is set to a normal value.

[0031] Furthermore, the distance d (caster trail) in the front-rear direction from the center line of the rear wheel leg 13 to the rotation center position of the rear wheel 6 is preferably set to 35 mm or more and 50 mm or less. Conventional wheelchairs have adopted a configuration in which the front wheels are small swivel wheels to make it easier to change direction, and the rear wheels are fixed wheels, but in this embodiment, the front wheels 5 are fixed wheels and the rear wheels 6 are swivel wheels, and a footrest is not provided, which increases the space under the feet and makes it easier to overcome steps. Also, the wheelchair for living space 1 is configured to ensure free movement of the feet in the front area, allowing the user to go in the direction they want.

[0032] <Backrest 4 peripheral configuration> The backrest 4 is fixed to the rear rod 11 by a support 15 at the rear and above the seat 3. In this embodiment, the support 15 is made up of, for example, a pair of support plates. As shown in FIG. 4, the height S1 of the backrest from the upper surface 3a of the seat surface 3 is set to be 250 mm or more and 600 mm or less, and the width S2 of the backrest 4 is set to be 350 mm or more and 500 mm or less, and the backrest 4 has a compact design that does not interfere with the movement of the wheelchair for living space 1.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the width of the lower half of the backrest 4 is larger than that of the upper half, forming a pair of protruding portions 4c. The protruding portions 4c also protrude forward by a predetermined width from the back support surface 4b of the backrest 4. The basic form of the backrest 4 is that it is installed at a predetermined angle toward the rear relative to the main body base 2. The angle of inclination of the backrest 4 can be adjusted by a known reclining mechanism (not shown) provided on the main body base 2.

[0034] The backrest 4 is a three-dimensional seat with a reclining chair feel, and has a height adjustment section to suit the user's physique. The fabric of the backrest 4 can be replaced without the need for tools, simplifying maintenance such as selecting and replacing fabric. The rear base safety cover 14 covers the reclining (rocking) mechanism and its operating parts.

[0035] By configuring the backrest portion 4 so as to encase the back of the person sitting on the seat portion 3 as described above, the person riding in the wheelchair for living space 1 can relax in a comfortable seat. Furthermore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the living space wheelchair 1 has a lightweight and compact configuration weighing less than approximately 7 kg as a whole.

[0036] <Peripheral configuration of stopper means 17> The stopper means 17 of the lifestyle wheelchair 1 is provided for the front wheels 5, which are easy for the user to operate. As shown in Figure 5, the stopper means 17 is configured by providing a pair of support rods 19 extending downward from a central position near the front of the main body base 2, and a control rod 22 having a control lever 18 and a pressing portion 21 that stops the rotation of the front wheels 5, which is swingably provided on the support rods 19. The stopper means 17, which functions as a parking brake, is installed behind the front wheels 5, and the control lever 18 is positioned at a height lower than the upper surface 3a of the seat 3, thereby eliminating obstacles in the front, left, and right lateral spaces, resulting in a clean and uncluttered appearance. Furthermore, the stopper means 17 is easy to operate, allowing the user to safely stand up, sit down, and transfer while the lifestyle wheelchair 1 is fixed.

[0037] By adopting the above-described configurations, the wheelchair can be used comfortably, feeling more like a low-center-of-gravity chair than like an indoor wheelchair. Furthermore, the low seat height from the floor provides excellent stability, offering the advantage of allowing for a relaxed posture, such as stretching the legs. The wide foot space and low seat height allow for so-called "pedaling," which involves kicking the floor with the feet to move, or for movement by leaning one's weight. This type of "pedaling" is difficult to achieve with a wheelchair typically used outdoors. Furthermore, for people who are completely unable to stand, such as those with paraplegia, transferring from the floor to the living space wheelchair 1 becomes extremely easy.

[0038] This wheelchair for living spaces 1 is a wheelchair that is compact yet has a low seat, reducing the risk of tipping over, and can meet the needs of those who want to move around the room easily while sitting, and who want to reduce the frequency of standing up and sitting down for small things.It also has the advantages of being comfortable to sit in, easy to operate whether self-propelled or pedaled, maneuverable in small turns, and not tripping over small steps.

[0039] [Second embodiment] 7 and 8 are perspective views showing the second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the height of the seat 3 from the floor is increased and the diameter of the front wheels 5 is increased. Specifically, the height of the seat 3 is 230 mm in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1, whereas it is 370 mm in the second embodiment. In this way, the size and weight requirements of the living space wheelchair 1 can be adjusted to suit the size, weight, and other conditions of the user, allowing multiple lineups to be prepared as needed. Similarly, by configuring the front wheels 5 as fixed wheels that serve as the main wheels, and the rear wheels 6 as swivel wheels that are positioned inward from the position of the pair of front wheels 5, the vehicle can be configured to be easily maneuverable in the direction the user wants to go.

[0040] [Third embodiment] 9 and 10 are perspective views showing the third embodiment. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a pair of armrests 40 is provided on the living space wheelchair 1. This living space wheelchair 1 has a detachable portion 42 attached to the main body base portion 2, and an armrest support rod 41 attached to the detachable portion 42 in a detachable manner.

[0041] The detachable portion 42 is provided at a rear position of the left and right rods 9 and forward of the rear wheel legs 13. The armrest support rod 41 extends outward from the detachable portion 42 to the left and right, and has an armrest 40 attached to the tip of the rod portion that extends upward and tilts forward. In this embodiment, just as there are chairs with and without armrests, the user can choose between a living space wheelchair 1 without armrests and a living space wheelchair 1 with armrests, depending on the user's preference.

[0042] Although the present invention has been described above by way of example of an embodiment, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiment. 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, and improvements can be made within that scope. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1:Wheelchair for living space 2: Main body base 3: Seat part 3a: Top surface of seat 3b: Front edge of the seat part 4: Backrest 5: Front wheel 6: Rear wheel 7:Floor 28: Front wheel axle H1: Height of the upper surface of the seat from the floor W1: Width between front wheels W2: Width between rings K1: Front-to-back length of seat K2: Width of seat M: Distance between the front wheel axle and the front end of the seat S1: Height of the backrest from the top of the seat S2: Width of backrest

Claims

1. A wheelchair for use in a home, comprising a main body base, a seat portion, a backrest portion attached to the main body base, front wheels, and rear wheels, The front wheels are fixed wheels whose rotation direction is fixed, The rear wheels are configured such that the width W2 between the rear wheels is smaller than the width W1 between the front wheels, and the rear wheels are configured as swivel wheels having a smaller diameter than the front wheels.

2. The height H1 of the upper surface of the seat portion from the floor surface is 200 mm or more and 500 mm or less, 2. The wheelchair for use in living spaces according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the front wheels is set to be 200 mm or more and 500 mm or less.

3. 3. The wheelchair for use in a living space according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the diameter of the rear wheels is set to be 70 mm or more and 200 mm or less.

4. 3. The wheelchair for use in a living space according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width K2 of the seat portion is 300 mm or more and 550 mm or less, and the front-rear length K1 is 300 mm or more and 600 mm or less.

5. 3. The wheelchair for use in a living space according to claim 1, wherein a width W2 between the rear wheels is 30% or more and 100% or less of a width W1 between the front wheels.

6. 3. The wheelchair for use in a living space according to claim 1, wherein a distance M from the center position of the axle of the front wheel to the front end position of the seat portion is set to be offset rearward in a range of 0 mm to 50 mm.

7. 3. The wheelchair for use in a living space according to claim 1, wherein the height S1 of the backrest portion from the upper surface of the seat portion is 250 mm or more and 600 mm or less, and the width S2 of the backrest portion is 350 mm or more and 500 mm or less.

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