Rollator

Abstract

To provide a rollator that can be stably used as a chair.SOLUTION: A rollator includes a foldable leg 3 in which a first leg 1 and a second leg 2 are freely folded and unfolded by pivotally connecting upper and lower intermediate parts in an X shape as viewed from a side. A seat 4 is pivotally attached to the upper end of the first leg 1. The rollator has angle holding means Y for switchably holding an opening angle of the foldable leg 3 at a predetermined angle. In the rollator, wheels 5 for traveling are pivotally attached to the foldable leg 3. The wheels 5 are pivotally attached to the front and rear outer sides of and in the vicinity of the lower ends of the foldable leg 3 such that, in a folded state of the foldable leg 3, the wheels 5 are in a travelable state in which the wheels are in contact with the ground so as to freely roll, and in an unfolded state of the foldable leg 3, lower ends 3X of the foldable leg 3 are in contact with the ground and the wheels 5 are in a stopped state in which the wheels are lifted from the ground.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pushcart. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A pushcart that can also be used as a chair is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3016785 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the pushcart described in Patent Document 1 has the problem that the wheels are in contact with the ground even when used as a chair by a physically weak person, making it unstable. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a pushcart that can be used stably as a chair by a physically weak person. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The pushcart according to the present invention is a pushcart comprising first and second legs pivotally connected at their upper and lower middle parts in an X-shape in side view, with folding legs that can be freely folded or unfolded, a seat pivotally attached to the upper end of the first leg, angle holding means for freely switching and holding the open angle of the folding legs at a predetermined angle, and wheels for running pivotally attached to the folding legs, wherein, when the folding legs are folded, the wheels are in a runnable state in which they roll freely in contact with the ground, and when the folding legs are unfolded, the lower ends of the folding legs are in contact with the ground and the wheels are stationary, raised above the ground. The wheels are pivotally attached to the front and rear outer sides near the lower ends of the folding legs so that In addition, in the unfolded state, the lower ends of the folding legs are configured to come into surface contact with the ground.

[0006] In addition, the angle holding means comprises an angle holding locking piece and a locking rod to which the angle holding locking piece is engaged in a freely detachable manner, and the angle holding locking piece has a plurality of locking notches, and by selectively engaging the locking notches with the locking rod, the opening angle of the folding legs in the travellable state can be freely switched between a plurality of stages. A bag is attached to the folding legs. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The pushcart of the present invention can be used as a cart when folded, and as a chair when unfolded. In particular, when used as a chair by physically weak people, it can be used stably (without rolling due to the wheels), which means it is highly safe. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a folded state of a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the folded state with the handle omitted. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the folded state with the folding legs omitted. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is an explanatory side view corresponding to FIG. 7. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is an explanatory side view corresponding to FIG. 8. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the attachment position of the wheels to the folding legs. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13]FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a folded state of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention will be described in detail below based on the illustrated embodiments. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The pushcart of the present invention is equipped with folding legs 3, which are made up of a first leg 1 and a second leg 2 pivotally connected at their upper and lower middle sections in an X-shape when viewed from the side, allowing the pushcart to be freely folded and unfolded. A seat 4 is pivotally attached to the upper end of the first leg 1. A handle 20 protrudes from the upper end of the second leg 2 and is attached to the second leg 2 so as to be extendable and retractable. When the folding legs 3 are folded, the pushcart can be moved left and right by holding the handle 20 (travel support position). (In the present invention, the direction of arrow F in Figure 1 will be described as the forward direction.) When the folding legs 3 are unfolded, the pushcart can be used as a chair (chair position).

[0010] The folding legs 3 have an angle holding means Y that holds the opening angle θ (see FIG. 11) of the folding legs 3 at a predetermined angle in a switchable manner. The angle holding means Y has an angle holding locking piece 6 (see FIGS. 7 to 10) and a locked rod 7 to which the angle holding locking piece 6 is detachably locked.

[0011] One end of a side plate 10 of the seat 4 is pivotally attached to the upper end of the first leg 1, and one end of a link plate 13 is pivotally attached to the upper end of the second leg 2. The other end of the link plate 13 is pivotally attached to the longitudinal middle of the side plate 10. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the side plate 10, link plate 13, etc. regulate the tilt angle of the seat 4 (see Figures 1 to 4) when folded or unfolded.

[0012] Returning to Figures 1 to 4, a first rod member 11 is attached to one end of a side panel 10 of the seat portion 4 in the left-right direction, and a second rod member 12 is attached to the other end in the left-right direction. One end of an angle-maintaining locking piece 6 is pivotally attached to the first rod member 11. A pair of left and right locking claw members 14 (see Figures 7 to 10) are pivotally attached to the second rod member 12. The locking claw members 14 have locking recesses 21 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the locked rod 7. When the folding legs 3 are in the unfolded state, the locking claw members 14 lock onto the locked rod 7. A short shaft member 22 is pivotally attached to the locking claw members 14. The short shaft member 22 is inserted into a cylindrical member 15.

[0013] A shaft member 23 that pivotally connects the side plate 10 of the seat portion 4 and the link plate 13 is inserted into the cylindrical member 17. Reference numeral 16 denotes an elastic member, one end of which is engaged with the cylindrical member 17 and the other end with the cylindrical member 15. An operating handle 18 is attached in a bridge-like manner to the pair of left and right engaging claw members 14. Reference numeral 19 denotes an operating rod, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the cylindrical member 15 and the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the middle portion of the angle-retaining engaging piece 6 (see Figures 7 to 10). A locked rod 7 is attached to the left and right near one end of the link plate 13.

[0014] The change in the folded / unfolded state will be explained with reference to Figures 7 to 10. In the folded state, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, the locking notch 8 of the angle-retaining locking piece 6 locks onto the locked rod 7, and the open leg angle θ (see Figure 11) of the folding legs 3 is maintained at a predetermined small angle.

[0015] By swinging the operating handle 18 (around the second rod member 12), the angle retention locking piece 6 and the locking claw member 14 swing in unison. That is, by swinging the operating handle 18, the locking claw member 14 swings around the axis of the second rod member 12, and via the short shaft member 22, cylindrical member 15, and operating rod 19, the angle retention locking piece 6 swings around the axis of the first rod member 11. When the operating handle 18 is swung, the elastic member 16 stretches, and a resilient force is generated in the elastic member 16 that resiliently biases it in the restoration direction.

[0016] To put it into the unfolded state, the operating handle 18 is swung in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 9, and as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the angle retaining locking piece 6 (the locking notch 8 thereof) moves away from the locked rod 7, making it possible to change the open leg angle θ of the folding legs 3 (see Fig. 11) (the first leg 1 and the second leg 2 are free to swing). Thereafter, the open leg angle θ of the folding legs 3 is set to a predetermined large angle (so that the seat 4 becomes horizontal), and the operating handle 18 is swung to lock the locking claw member 14 to the locked rod 7 (not shown). The angle retaining means Y comprises the angle retaining locking piece 6, the locked rod 7, and the locking claw member 14.

[0017] To return to the folded state, swing the operating handle 18 to disengage the locking claw member 14 from the locked rod 7, set the opening angle θ of the folding legs 3 (see Figure 11) to a predetermined small angle, and swing the operating handle 18 to lock the locking notch 8 of the angle-retaining locking piece 6 onto the locked rod 7, as shown in Figures 7 and 9.

[0018] The angle retaining locking piece 6 has a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) locking notches 8, and by selectively locking the locking notches 8 to the locked rod 7, the leg opening angle θ (see FIG. 11) of the folding legs 3 in the folded state (travelable state) can be freely switched between a plurality of stages. That is, FIGS. 7 and 9 show a state in which the locking notches 8 on the inside (front side) of the angle retaining locking piece 6 are locked to the locked rod 7, and the leg opening angle θ of the folding legs 3 in the travelable state is small (the distance between the front and rear wheels 5, 5 is narrow). When the locking notches 8 on the outside (rear side) of the angle retaining locking piece 6 are locked to the locked rod 7, the leg opening angle θ of the folding legs 3 in the travelable state is large (the distance between the front and rear wheels 5, 5 is wide).

[0019] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 11, wheels 5 for running are pivotally attached to the folding legs 3. Specifically, when the folding legs 3 are folded, the wheels 5 are in contact with the ground G and roll freely, enabling the vehicle to run (see Figure 12). When the folding legs 3 are unfolded, the wheels 5 are pivotally attached to the front and rear outer sides near the lower ends of the folding legs 3 so that the lower ends 3X of the folding legs 3 are in contact with the ground G and all of the wheels 5 are in a stationary state, floating a predetermined distance ΔH above the ground G (see Figure 13). That is, as shown in Figure 11, if the distance from the pivot axis Q of the folding legs 3 to the farthest point Z1 of the wheels 5 is R1 and the distance from the pivot axis Q to the farthest (lower) point Z2 of the folding legs 3 is R2, then R1 > R2. If R1 ≤ R2, the folding legs 3 will always be in contact with the ground G when placed on the ground G, and the vehicle will not be in a runnable state in which only the wheels 5 are in contact with the ground G.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 13, the folding legs 3 are configured so that the lower ends 3X of the folding legs 3 come into surface contact with the ground G in the unfolded state.

[0021] 14 shows the second embodiment. A bag 9 is attached to the folding legs 3. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0022] The present invention is subject to design modifications, and for example, the seat 4 may be pivotally attached to the upper half of the second leg 2. The handle 20 may also be integral with the second leg 2.

[0023] As described above, the present invention provides a pushcart having a first leg 1 and a second leg 2 pivotally connected at their upper and lower intermediate portions in an X-shape in side view, a folding leg 3 that can be freely folded and unfolded, a seat 4 pivotally attached to the upper end of the first leg 1, an angle holding mechanism Y that can switchably hold the leg opening angle θ of the folding leg 3 at a predetermined angle, and wheels 5 pivotally attached to the folding leg 3. When the folding leg 3 is folded, the wheels 5 are in a runnable state where they can roll freely on the ground G, and when the folding leg 3 is unfolded, the wheels 5 are pivotally attached to the front and rear outer sides near the lower end of the folding leg 3 so that the lower end 3X of the folding leg 3 is in contact with the ground G and the wheels 5 are in a stationary state where they are raised above the ground G. Therefore, the pushcart can be used as a cart in the folded state and as a chair in the unfolded state. In particular, when used as a chair, it can be used stably (without rolling due to the wheels 5). This means that it is highly safe for physically weak people such as the elderly.

[0024] Furthermore, since the lower ends 3X of the folding legs 3 are configured to be in surface contact with the ground G in the unfolded state, the posture is further stabilized in the unfolded state.

[0025] Furthermore, the angle maintaining means Y comprises an angle maintaining locking piece 6 and an engaged rod 7 to which the angle maintaining locking piece 6 is detachably engaged, the angle maintaining locking piece 6 has a plurality of locking notches 8, and by selectively engaging the locking notches 8 with the engaged rod 7, the leg opening angle θ of the folding legs 3 in the travellable state can be freely switched between a plurality of stages, so that the front and rear wheel spacing can be switched as desired. Reducing the leg opening angle θ makes the entire vehicle more compact, and increasing the leg opening angle θ allows for stable travel.

[0026] Furthermore, since the bag 9 is attached to the folding legs 3, it is convenient to carry luggage. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1 1st leg 2 2nd leg 3 Folding legs 3X bottom end 4 Seat 5 wheels 6 Angle holding locking piece 7 Locked rod 8 Locking notch 9. Bag G ground Y angle holding means θ leg opening angle

Claims

1. The first leg (1) and the second leg (2) are pivotally connected at their upper and lower intermediate portions in an X-shape in a side view, and a folding leg (3) is provided which can be freely folded and unfolded; A pushcart having a seat (4) pivotally attached to the upper end of the first leg (1), having angle holding means (Y) for holding the opening angle (θ) of the folding legs (3) at a predetermined angle in a switchable manner, and having wheels (5) for running pivotally attached to the folding legs (3), The wheelbarrow is characterized in that the wheels (5) are pivotally mounted on the front and rear outer sides near the lower ends of the folding legs (3) so that, when the folding legs (3) are folded, the wheels (5) are in a runnable state in which they are in contact with the ground (G) and can roll freely, and when the folding legs (3) are unfolded, the lower ends (3X) of the folding legs (3) are in contact with the ground (G) and the wheels (5) are in a stopped state floating above the ground (G).

2. 2. The handcart according to claim 1, wherein the lower ends (3X) of the folding legs (3) are configured to come into surface contact with the ground (G) in the unfolded state.

3. The angle-maintaining means (Y) comprises an angle-maintaining locking piece (6) and a locking rod (7) to which the angle-maintaining locking piece (6) is detachably locked, 3. A pushcart according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the angle-retaining locking piece (6) has a plurality of locking notches (8), and by selectively locking the locking notches (8) to the locking rod (7), the open leg angle (θ) of the folding legs (3) in the travellable state can be freely switched between a plurality of stages.

4. 3. A pushcart according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a bag (9) is attached to said folding legs (3).

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