Assistance device

Abstract

To provide an assisting device for assisting a person to be assisted in a sitting posture to sit down again.SOLUTION: The assisting apparatus (K) includes a base member (10) movably installed on a floor surface, a foot moving unit (20) configured to move an installation position of a foot (71) of the care receiver (P) in a seated posture toward a seat surface (94), a load reducing unit (30) configured to reduce a load applied to the seat surface (94) by the care receiver (P) in the seated posture, and a knee moving unit (40) configured to move a buttock (77) of the care receiver (P) in the seated posture toward a back side of the seat surface (94) by displacing a knee of the care receiver (P) toward the seat surface (94).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an assistance device, and more particularly to an assistance device for assisting a person being assisted in a seated position to sit up again. [Background technology]

[0002] Many elderly people in elderly care facilities spend all day sitting. For example, elderly people who lack the muscle strength to maintain proper posture may lean back against a chair, causing their buttocks and thighs to slide forward, extending the hip joints and placing a great deal of pressure on the sacrum, a condition known as sacral sitting (slip sitting). Elderly people who spend long periods of time in sacral sitting (slip sitting) can develop pressure ulcers. Another contributing factor is that sensory dullness makes it difficult to notice the early stages of pressure ulcers (such as pain in the buttocks).

[0003] Traditionally, "resetting one's seat" to distribute body pressure while seated has been recommended as a way to prevent bedsores, but many elderly people have difficulty reseat- ing themselves, making it essential for caregivers to assist them in this process. For example, reseat- ing assistance involves correcting the seated posture of the person being assisted, from the sacral sitting position, which is prone to bedsores, to the correct ischial sitting position. Here, "sacral sitting" refers to sitting shallowly on the seat, leaning your back firmly against the backrest, and tilting your pelvis significantly backward so that the sacrum at the back of the pelvis touches the seat. "Ischismatic sitting" refers to sitting deeply on the seat, with the hip joints, knees, and feet bent at approximately 90 degrees.

[0004] When a caregiver assists a person in resitting, the caregiver bends over (semi-crouching) in front of the person being assisted, moves the person's feet backward, and then lifts them up as if embracing them, helping them to sit up again. This poses a problem in that assisting a person in resitting places a heavy burden on the caregiver's lower back. This physical burden is particularly great when the caregiver is small. Furthermore, for example, pressure relief (dispersion of body pressure) every two hours is considered effective in preventing bedsores caused by prolonged sitting. Therefore, resitting assistance to prevent bedsores must be performed frequently, every two hours, which can be a significant burden on the caregiver.

[0005] In recent years, transfer assistance devices have been proposed to allow people who are unable to stand up on their own due to old age or illness to move between wheelchairs, beds, toilet seats, shower chairs in the bathroom, seats on bathing support devices, sofas, vehicle seats, etc. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-123062 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The transfer assistance device described in Patent Document 1 requires the care recipient U to be further moved backward when the care recipient's lower back (buttocks) is seated shallowly on the seat surface P2 of the bathing assistance device BS or does not reach the seat surface P2. In this case, a support belt is used to assist in temporarily lifting the care recipient U, who is leaning forward, while the support portion of the transfer assistance device supports the shins of the care recipient. This support belt has a lower back support portion that is wrapped around the care recipient's lower back and grip portions on both ends of the lower back support portion that are grasped by the caregiver, and is used to slightly lift the care recipient U from the seat surface of a chair or the like. However, since the caregiver must lift the care recipient U using the support belt while moving them backward, and many care recipients have difficulty maintaining a forward-leaning posture, there has been a need for an assistance device that allows for easier and more accurate assistance in re-sitting.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. The present invention provides an assistance device for assisting a care recipient who has difficulty re-sitting on their own to an appropriate sitting posture. In particular, the present invention provides an assistance device that reduces the burden on the caregiver and allows the care recipient to easily re-sit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The assistance device of the first aspect is an assistance device for assisting a person being assisted in a seated position to sit up again, and is characterized by comprising a base member that is movably placed on the floor, a foot moving means that moves the position of the feet of the person being assisted in a seated position toward the seat, a load reducing means that reduces the load applied to the seat of the person being assisted in a seated position, and a knee moving means that moves the buttocks of the person being assisted in a seated position, with the load applied to the seat reduced by the load reducing means, toward the seat by displacing the knees toward the seat.

[0010] The second aspect is characterized in that, in the assistance device of the first aspect, the base member is formed so as to be movable in the forward and backward directions relative to the person being assisted who is in a seated position, and the foot moving means includes a foot pushing member that moves the base member forward to bring it closer to the person being assisted, thereby pushing the feet of the person being assisted toward the seat surface.

[0011] In a third aspect, in the assistance device according to the first or second aspect, the knee moving means includes a lever member provided on the base member so as to be rotatable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the person being assisted who is in a seated position, and a knee pressing member provided on the lever member, which presses part or all of the part of the person being assisted from the kneecap to the upper shin toward the seat surface by rotating the lever member forward to bring it closer to the person being assisted.

[0012] The fourth aspect is characterized in that, in the assistance device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the load reduction means includes a trunk support member that supports part or all of the trunk of the person being assisted when the person is in a forward-leaning position, leaning forward from a seated position.

[0013] The fifth aspect is characterized in that, in the assistance device of the fourth aspect, the trunk support member is capable of changing the person being assisted from a seated position to a forward-leaning position while supporting part or all of the trunk of the person being assisted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an assistance device that assists a care recipient who has difficulty in re-sitting on their own to re-sit in an appropriate sitting position. It is also possible to provide an assistance device that reduces the burden on the caregiver and allows the care recipient to easily re-sit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen obliquely from the front. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assistance device shown in FIG. 1, seen obliquely from behind. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view for explaining how to use the assistance device according to the present invention, showing the state in which the base member is brought close to the person being assisted and the foot pressing member is brought into contact with the ankle or lower shin. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the base member is further moved from the state shown in FIG. 3 and the ankles and lower shins of the person being assisted are pressed toward the seat surface by the foot pressing members. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the trunk of the person being assisted is raised and the chest is leaning against the trunk support member, following the state shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the trunk support member is tilted from the state shown in FIG. 5 to cause the person being assisted to assume a forward-leaning posture. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the lever member is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 6 to move the knees of the person being assisted toward the seat surface with the knee pressing member and to press the buttocks toward the back of the seat. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the trunk support member is swung in the upright direction from the state shown in FIG. 7 and returned to the position of FIG. 5 to raise the trunk of the person being assisted, which is in a forward-leaning position. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the trunk of the person being assisted, leaning against the trunk support member, has been raised and the back is placed against the backrest, following the state shown in FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the swing angle change mechanism of the trunk support member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and that appropriate design changes and improvements may be made based on the ordinary knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0017] 1 and 2 show an example of an assistance apparatus K according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figs. 3 to 9 are schematic diagrams for explaining how to use the assistance apparatus K shown in Fig. 1. The assistance apparatus K shown in Figs. 1 to 9 is an assistance apparatus K for assisting a person being assisted P seated on a chair 90 to sit up again.

[0018] The assistance device K shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a base member 10 that is movably installed on the floor, a foot moving means 20 that moves the placement position of the feet 71 of the person being assisted P in a seated position toward the seat surface 94, a load reducing means 30 that reduces the load applied to the seat surface 94 of the person being assisted P in a seated position, and a knee moving means 40 that moves the buttocks 77 toward the back of the seat surface 94 by displacing the knees 73 toward the seat surface 94 of the person being assisted P in a seated position whose load applied to the seat surface 94 has been reduced by the load reducing means 30.

[0019] Here, when the assistance device K is facing the person being assisted P in a seated position, the side of the assistance device K closer to the person being assisted P is the front, and the side of the assistance device K farther from the person being assisted P is the rear. In this embodiment, the base member 10 has a lower base frame portion 10A formed in an approximately U-shape with an open front by a pair of left and right lower side frames 11 and a lower connecting frame 13, an upper base frame portion 10B formed in an approximately U-shape with an open front by a pair of left and right upper side frames 12 and an upper connecting frame 17, a pair of first support frames 14 erected behind each lower side frame 11 and supporting the upper side frame 12, a pair of second support frames 15 erected on each lower side frame 11 a predetermined distance forward of the first support frames 14 and supporting the upper side frame 12, and a pair of third support frames 16 provided at the front end of each lower side frame 11 and connected to the front end of the upper side frame 12.

[0020] The base member 10 is configured so that the front end sides of the lower base frame portion 10A and the upper base frame portion 10B are open, and by bringing the assistance device K close to the person being assisted P who is in a seated position, both feet 71 of the person being assisted P are positioned in the space enclosed by the lower base frame portion 10A of the base member 10. Two casters 18 are provided on the underside of each of the pair of left and right lower side frames 11, allowing the base member 10 to move relative to the floor surface. This allows the assistance device K to move back and forth while facing the person being assisted P in a seated position. The base member 10 is also provided with foot moving means 20 that moves the placement position of the feet 71 of the person being assisted P in a seated position toward the seat surface 94. The foot moving means 20 is provided on the base member 10 so as to be located in the space surrounded by the above-mentioned frame of the base member 10. In this embodiment, as the foot pushing member 21 included in the foot moving means 20, a round pipe-shaped shaft member 23 is installed on the pair of second support frames 15 of the base member 10, and a cushion member 22 is installed around the outer periphery of this shaft member 23. Lever members 43, which will be described later, are rotatably provided on both ends of this shaft member 23.

[0021] The assistance device K includes a foot moving means 20, a load reducing means 30, and a knee moving means 40 as main components for assisting the person being assisted P in a seated position to sit up again.

[0022] The foot moving means 20 is used to move the position of the feet 71 of the person being assisted P in a seated position toward the seat surface 94. A person being assisted P who needs assistance in re-sitting generally leans their body heavily against the backrest 93 of the chair 90 and assumes a position in which their hips 76 are thrown forward (so-called sacral sitting), with the feet 71 of the person being assisted P thrown out at a position away from the seat surface 94. Since it is difficult to assist the caregiver P in re-sitting if the feet 71 of the person being assisted P remain thrown out at a position away from the seat surface 94, the foot moving means 20 is first used to move the position of the feet 71 of the person being assisted P toward the seat surface 94.

[0023] In particular, when the foot moving means 20 is used to move the placement position of the feet 71 of the person being assisted P toward the seat surface 94, it is preferable to move the placement position of the feet 71 to a position where the hip joints, knees, and feet of the person being assisted P are at approximately 90 degrees when the person being assisted P is seated deep in the chair 90 (ischial sitting).

[0024] The assistance device K is provided with, as the foot moving means 20, a foot pushing member 21 that moves the base member 10 forward to bring it closer to the person being assisted P, thereby pushing the feet 71 of the person being assisted P toward the seat surface 94. In this embodiment, lever members 43 are pivotally supported at both ends of a shaft member 23 that is installed on the base member 10, and cushion members 22 are installed around the shaft member 23 between the pair of lever members 43. In this embodiment, the shaft member 23 and the cushion members 22 that are installed around it function as the foot pushing member 21 of the present invention. Specifically, the base member 10 is moved forward to bring the foot pushing member 21 into contact with the ankle 72 and lower shin 74 of the person being assisted P. By further moving the assistance device K forward, the foot pushing member pushes the ankle 72 and lower shin 74 of the person being assisted P, and the foot 71 moves toward the seat surface 94.

[0025] When the foot pushing member 21 is brought into contact with the foot 71 of the person being assisted P, the foot of the person being assisted P is gently received by the cushion member 22. Also, when the foot 71 of the person being assisted P is moved backward by pushing the assistance device K toward the person being assisted P, pain or the like is prevented from being given to the person being assisted P.

[0026] The foot moving means 20 does not have to be a device that directly pushes the feet 71 of the person being assisted P, such as the foot pushing member 21, as long as it can move the placement position of the feet 71 of the person being assisted P toward the seat surface 94. For example, although not shown, a placement section on which the feet of the person being assisted P are placed may be provided on the base member 10 or the like. When such a placement section is provided, the placement position of the feet 71 of the person being assisted P can be moved toward the seat surface 94 by bringing the assistance device K close to the person being assisted P, placing the feet of the person being assisted P on the placement section, and then further pushing the assistance device K toward the person being assisted P.

[0027] The base member 10 is provided with stoppers 19 for restricting movement. In this embodiment, of the four casters 18 arranged on the base member 10, two casters 18 provided at the rear of the assistance device K are each provided with a stopper 19 for restricting rotation.

[0028] The load reduction means 30 is intended to reduce the load applied to the seat surface 94 of the person being assisted P in a seated position. When assisting the person being assisted P to re-sit, when moving the buttocks 77 of the person being assisted P to the back side of the seat surface 94, in order to reduce the load applied to the seat surface 94 from the buttocks 77 of the person being assisted P, it is necessary for the person being assisted P to assume a forward-leaning position from the seated position.

[0029] The load reduction means 30 has a trunk support member 31 that supports part or all of the trunk of the person being assisted P who is in a forward-leaning position, leaning forward from a seated position. By receiving the trunk of the person being assisted P who is in a forward-leaning position with the trunk support member 31, the load on the buttocks 77 acting on the seat surface 94 is reduced. Furthermore, the trunk support member 31 makes it easier for the person being assisted P to maintain a forward-leaning position.

[0030] The load reduction means 30 may be any means capable of reducing the load applied to the seat surface 94 of the person being assisted P. In other words, it may be any means capable of dispersing the load of the person being assisted P by supporting a part of the body of the person being assisted P.

[0031] The trunk support member 31 serving as the load reduction means 30 is capable of supporting part or all of the trunk of the person being assisted P and changing the position of the person being assisted P from a seated position to a forward leaning position. In this embodiment, the trunk support member 31 has a support bar 36 attached to the left and right third support frames 16 via connecting brackets 35, and a chest support section 32 provided on the support bar 36. The support bar 36 has a pair of side bar sections 34 bent into a substantially L-shape and having their lower halves supported by the connecting brackets 35, and a front bar section 33 connecting the upper ends of the pair of side bar sections 34 together.

[0032] The side bars 34 are provided in a pair on the left and right, each formed of a circular pipe bent into a roughly L-shape. The pipe material described below may be, for example, made of a metal core and a synthetic resin covering, but is not limited to this. The lower half portions 38 of the side bars 34 are swingably attached to the third support frame 16 of the base member 10 via a connecting bracket 35.

[0033] In this embodiment, the side bar portions 34 and the front bar portion 33 are integrally formed by bending the same pipe material. Alternatively, the side bar portions 34 and the front bar portion 33 may be formed as separate parts and then connected together for assembly. By integrally forming the pair of left and right side bar portions 34 and the front bar portion 33, when one side bar portion 34 is swung, the other side bar portion 34 also swung in conjunction with the swung side bar portion 34. As described above, the front bar portion 33 in this embodiment is provided with a chest support portion 32 that keeps the upper half of the person being assisted P in a forward-leaning position.

[0034] The swing angle change mechanism 50 is provided on the connecting bracket 35 and side bar 34 on the side having the operating member 68, out of the pair of left and right connecting brackets 35 and side bar 34. The lower half of the side bar 34 is connected to this connecting bracket 35 by a connecting part 52 so that it can swing up and down. By swinging the side bar 34 around the connecting part 52, it is possible to change the position of the person being assisted P from a seated position to a forward-leaning position, and vice versa, while supporting the chest 75 of the person being assisted P.

[0035] The chest support portion 32 is intended to receive the chest 75 of the person being assisted P who is in a forward leaning position, and can be composed, for example, of a groove portion 32A attached to the front bar portion 33 and a cushion member 32B fixed to the groove portion 32A.

[0036] An example of the swing angle change mechanism 50 will now be described with reference to Fig. 10. In this embodiment, the swing angle change mechanism 50 is provided only in the connecting bracket 35 and the side bar portion 34 on the operating member 68 side.

[0037] First, the connecting bracket 35 is formed with a plate-shaped upper stopper portion 53 and a plate-shaped lower stopper portion 54. The upper stopper portion 53 and the plate-shaped lower stopper portion 54 are set to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees around the connecting portion 52. The left and right side bars 34 can be swung around the connecting portion 52, which is on the same axis, to change their forward tilt angle. However, the rear ends of the lower half portions 38 of the side bars 34 abut against the upper stopper portion 53 or the lower stopper portion 54, thereby restricting swinging beyond the upper stopper portion 53 or the lower stopper portion 54.

[0038] The swing angle change mechanism 50 has a locking member 61 provided inside the connecting bracket 35 on the operating member 68 side. The locking member 61 is formed of a metal such as SUS or a synthetic resin, and is fixed to the connecting bracket 35 by a fixing device 62.

[0039] The locking member 61 has an arc-shaped surface centered on the connecting portion 52, and a plurality of locking recesses 63 are formed at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the arc-shaped surface. Locking protrusions 64 are positioned between adjacent locking recesses 63.

[0040] An engagement member 65 is slidably held within the rear end of the lower half portion 38 of the side bar portion 34 on the operating member 68 side. This engagement member 65 is plate-shaped and has a main body portion 65a that slides against the inner surface of the lower half portion 38, and an extension portion 65b that extends rearward (toward the back of the lower half portion 38) from the main body portion 65a. An engagement protrusion 65d that extends toward the locking member 61 is formed from the main body portion 65a. The engagement protrusion 65d can be fitted into (locked with) and disengaged from (unlocked with) the locking recess 63 as the engagement member 65 slides.

[0041] A return spring 67 made of a coil spring is disposed within the lower half portion 38 as a biasing means. The return spring 67 is disposed so as to surround the extension portion 65b. The return spring 67 constantly biases the engaging member 65 in a direction that causes it to protrude from the lower half portion 38 (in a direction that causes it to fit into the locking recess 63).

[0042] The operating member 68 is held in the upper half 37 of the side bar 34 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The operating member 68 has a tubular portion 68a slidably fitted to the upper half 37 of the side bar 34, a handle portion 68b protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular portion 68a, and a guide pin 69 protruding inward from the tubular portion 68a. The guide pin 69 of the operating member 68 is slidably fitted in a guide hole 55 that extends a short distance in the vertical direction in the side bar 34.

[0043] The guide pin 69 and the extension portion 65b of the engaging member 65 are connected by the connecting wire 56 disposed inside the side bar portion 34. As a result, by gripping the handle portion 68b of the operating member 68 and sliding it upward, the engaging member 65 is displaced in the unlocking direction, where it is pulled into the lower half portion 38 against the return spring 67.

[0044] The lower side surfaces of the multiple locking protrusions 64 are inclined surfaces 64a that gradually slope upward toward the tip, while the upper side surfaces of the locking protrusions 64 are formed in a shape that rises at a substantially right angle.

[0045] Here, it is assumed that the side bar 34 is in a position as shown in Fig. 10, with the engaging protrusion 65d of the engaging member 65 fitted into and locked in the locking recess 63. In this state, even if a large external force is applied to swing the side bar 34 counterclockwise on the paper surface of Fig. 10, the swinging is firmly restricted by the locking protrusion 64.

[0046] On the other hand, when an appropriate external force is applied to swing the side bar 34 clockwise from a state in which the side bar 34 has swung slightly counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 10 , the engaging protrusion 65d of the engaging member 65 can move along the inclined surface 64a of the locking protrusion 64 and overcome the locking protrusion 64. In this way, the swinging of the side bar 34 is firmly restricted in the counterclockwise direction on the paper surface of FIG. 10 , while swinging in the clockwise direction on the paper surface of FIG. 10 (hereinafter also referred to as the front-upward direction) is permitted. For this reason, in this embodiment, swinging in a direction that accommodates a forward-leaning posture of the person being assisted P is firmly restricted, while swinging in a direction that returns the person being assisted P to the forward-leaning posture is permitted. With this configuration, even if the person being assisted P applies a load so as to lean against the trunk support member 31, sudden swinging of the trunk support member 31 can be suppressed. The locking projection 64 may be formed so as to restrict the swinging in the front-upward direction as well.

[0047] The knee moving means 40 is for moving the buttocks 77 of the person being assisted P, who is in a seated position and has had the load applied to the seat surface reduced by the load reducing means, toward the seat surface 94 by displacing the knees toward the seat surface 94. By displacing the knees 73 of the person being assisted P in a seated position toward the seat surface 94, the buttocks 77 of the person being assisted P can be pushed toward the back of the seat 91, and the person being assisted P can be returned to a seated position in which he or she is sitting deep in the chair 90. At this time, as explained above, the load applied to the seat surface 94 of the person being assisted P has been reduced by the load reducing means 30, so that the knees 73 of the person being assisted P can be displaced toward the seat surface 94 with less force, and the person being assisted P can be pushed toward the rear of the seat surface 91.

[0048] The knee moving means 40 includes a lever member 43 mounted on the base member so as to be rotatable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the person being assisted P in a seated position, and a knee pressing member 41 that presses part or all of the area from the kneecap to the upper shin of the person being assisted P toward the seat surface 94 by rotating the lever member 43 forward and bringing it closer to the person being assisted P. In this embodiment, the knee moving means 40 includes a pair of lever members 43 pivotally supported at both ends of the shaft member 23. A spacer is provided between the second support frame 15 at the end of the shaft member 23 and the lever member 43. In addition, the knee pressing member 41 is provided at a vertically intermediate position of the lever member 43 so as to be able to abut part of the area from the kneecap to the upper shin of the person being assisted P. Specifically, a round pipe-shaped cross member 45 is installed at a middle position between the pair of lever members 43, and a cushion member 42 is installed around the outer periphery of the cross member 45. A pipe member is installed on the upper end of the pair of lever members 43, and functions as a handle 44 when the lever members 43 are rotated.

[0049] By pushing down the handle 44 connected to the upper end of the lever member 43 toward the front of the assistance device K, the shaft member 23 inserted into the lower end of the lever member 43 becomes the pivot point, and the lever member 43 rotates forward, and the knee pressing member 41 disposed in the middle of the pair of lever members 43 comes into contact with a part of the area from the kneecap to the upper part of the forward shin. Then, by further pushing the handle 44 forward from the state in which the knee pressing member 41 is in contact with the person being assisted P, the lever member 43 rotates further forward, and a part of the area from the kneecap to the upper part of the forward shin of the person being assisted P in a seated position can be pressed toward the seat surface 94.

[0050] A cushion member 42 is attached to the knee pushing member 41. As a result, when the knee pushing member 41 comes into contact with a portion of the assisted person P from the kneecap to the upper shin, the cushion member 42 gently receives the contact. In addition, when the knee pushing member 41 moves the portion of the assisted person P from the kneecap to the upper shin backward, pain or the like is prevented from being inflicted on the assisted person P.

[0051] With the assistance device K as described above, assistance can be provided easily and quickly to the person being assisted P who has difficulty re-sitting up on his / her own to re-sit in a seated position. This reduces the burden of assistance on the caregiver and the person being assisted P, and by providing assistance to re-sitting up at an appropriate frequency, it is possible to effectively prevent bedsores and the progression of bedsores in the person being assisted P.

[0052] Here, the method of using the care assistance device K explained above will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS.

[0053] 3 to 9, an example is described in which assistance is provided to a person being assisted P who is in a seated position in which he or she is leaning heavily against the backrest 93 of a chair 90 and throwing his or her hips 76 forward (so-called sacral sitting), by using an assistance device K to help him or her sit up again.

[0054] 3, the caregiver (not shown) brings the care assist device K close to the front of the person being assisted P so that both feet 71 of the person being assisted P are placed in the space surrounded by the lower base frame portion 10A of the base member 10. Then, while adjusting the position of the care assist device K, the foot pushing members 21 are brought into contact with the ankles 72 and lower shins 74 of the person being assisted P.

[0055] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the caregiver (not shown) pushes the care device K toward the person being assisted P, causing the foot pushing members 21 to push the ankles 72 and lower shins 74 of the person being assisted, and moving the placement position of the feet 71 of the person being assisted P toward the seat surface 94. At this time, it is preferable to move the placement position of the feet 71 of the person being assisted P to a position where the hip joints, knees, and feet of the person being assisted P form an angle of approximately 90 degrees when the person being assisted P sits deep in the chair 90 (ischial sitting). Then, the stoppers 19 of the casters 18 are operated to lock the casters 18.

[0056] Next, as shown in Fig. 5, the caregiver (not shown) moves the back of the person being assisted P away from the backrest, raises the trunk, and causes the chest 75 of the person being assisted P to lean against the chest support portion 32 of the trunk support member 31. If the person being assisted P is able to do so, the person being assisted P may do so himself or herself, or the caregiver (not shown) may support the movement of the person being assisted P.

[0057] Next, as shown in Figure 6, by tilting the support bar 36 while the trunk of the person being assisted P is leaning against the chest support part 32, the person being assisted P assumes a forward-leaning posture. By resting the trunk of the person being assisted P in a forward-leaning posture on the chest support part 32, the load on the seat surface 94 is reduced. Furthermore, even if the person being assisted P has difficulty maintaining a forward-leaning posture, the trunk is supported by the trunk support member 31, so the person being assisted P can easily maintain a forward-leaning posture.

[0058] 7, the caregiver (not shown) pushes down the handle 44 toward the front side of the care device K and rotates the lever member 43, thereby bringing the knee pushing member 41 into contact with the knee 73 of the person being assisted P. Then, from the state in which the knee pushing member 41 is in contact with the person being assisted P, the caregiver further pushes the handle 44 forward and further rotates the lever member 43, causing the knee pushing member 41 to move the knee 73 of the person being assisted P toward the seat surface 94, and also pushing the buttocks 77 of the person being assisted P toward the back side of the seat portion 91, so that the person being assisted P takes a seated position in which he or she sits deep in the chair 90.

[0059] Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the handle 44 that has been pushed forward is returned to the rear side to rotate the lever member 43 rearward, thereby releasing the contact between the knee pushing member 41 and the person being assisted P.

[0060] 9, the trunk support member 31 is swung toward the backrest 93 of the chair 90 to raise the trunk of the person being assisted P, and the back of the caregiver P is then rested against the backrest 93 of the chair 90. Thereafter, the stopper 19 is operated to unlock the casters 18, and the assistance device K is pulled away from the person being assisted P, completing assistance with the person being assisted P to re-sit.

[0061] As described above, the assistance device K of this embodiment can easily and quickly assist the person being assisted P who has difficulty re-sitting on his / her own to re-sit in a seated position. Furthermore, by reducing the burden of assistance on the caregiver, it becomes possible to provide assistance with re-sitting at an appropriate frequency. Note that, although the above example describes assistance with re-sitting on a chair 90, the assistance device K can also be used for assistance with re-sitting on a sofa, wheelchair, etc.

[0062] Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and appropriate modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Although the trunk support member 31 in this embodiment is capable of swinging up and down relative to the base member 10, it may be fixed in a position that supports the trunk of the person being assisted who is in a forward leaning position. In this embodiment, the lever members 43 are provided at both ends of the shaft member 23, but the lever member 43 may be provided at only one end of the shaft member 23. Furthermore, although the knee pushing member 41 in this embodiment is provided on the shaft member 23 of the foot pushing member 21, it may also be provided on a base member separate from the foot pushing member 21. [Industrial Applicability]

[0063] The present invention can be used as an assistance device for assisting a person being assisted who is in a seated position to sit up again. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] K: Assistance device, P: Assisted person, 10: base member, 10A: lower base frame portion, 10B: upper base frame portion, 11: Lower side frame, 12: Upper side frame, 13: Lower connecting frame, 14: first support frame, 15: second support frame, 16: third support frame, 17: Upper connecting frame, 18: Caster, 19: Stopper, 20: foot moving means, 21: foot pushing member, 22: cushion member, 23: Shaft member, 30: Load reduction means, 31: Trunk support member, 32: Chest support part, 33: Front bar portion, 34: Side bar portion, 35: Connecting bracket, 36: Support bar, 37: Upper half of side bar portion, 38: Lower half of side bar portion, 40: knee moving means, 41: knee pressing member, 42: cushion member, 43: Lever member, 44: Handle, 45: Cross member, 50: swing angle change mechanism, 52: connecting portion, 53: upper stopper portion, 54: Lower stopper portion, 55: Guide hole, 56: Connecting wire, 61: Locking member, 63: Locking recess, 64: Locking protrusion, 65: engagement member, 67: return spring, 68: operating member, 71: Foot, 72: Ankle, 73: Knee, 75: Chest, 76: Waist, 77: Buttocks 90:Chair, 91:Seat, 92:Legs, 93: Backrest, 94: Seat.

Claims

1. An assistance device for assisting a person being assisted in a seated position to sit up again, a base member that is movably installed on a floor surface; a foot moving means for moving the foot placement position of the person being assisted in a seated posture toward the seat surface; a load reducing means for reducing the load applied to the seat surface of the person being assisted in a seated position; a knee moving means for moving the buttocks toward the back of the seat by displacing the knees toward the seat, when the person being assisted is in a seated position in which the load acting on the seat is reduced by the load reducing means; An assistance device comprising:

2. The base member is formed to be movable in the front-rear direction relative to the person being assisted in a seated position, The foot moving means includes a foot pushing member that moves the base member forward to bring it closer to the person being assisted, thereby pushing the feet of the person being assisted toward the seat surface.

10. The assist device of claim 1.

3. The knee moving means is a lever member provided on the base member so as to be rotatable in a front-rear direction with respect to the person being assisted in a seated position; and a knee pressing member provided on the lever member, which rotates the lever member forward to bring it closer to the person being assisted, thereby pressing a part or all of the area from the kneecap to the upper shin of the person being assisted toward the seat surface.

3. The assist device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. 3. The assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the load reducing means includes a trunk support member that supports a part or all of the trunk of the person being assisted in a forward-leaning position, that is, a position where the person leans forward from a seated position.

5. 5. The assistance device according to claim 4, wherein the trunk support member is capable of changing the person being assisted from a seated position to a forward leaning position while supporting a part or all of the trunk of the person being assisted.

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