Walker

Abstract

To provide a walker that is easy to use and enables a user to move freely. The walker (10) includes a frame (11b) and a seat (20) attached to the frame, which has a non-use position and a use position and is rotatable in the use position. The seat has a rotation axis Ro at a position offset from the center of gravity G of the contour shape in a plan view.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

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

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

[0004] Conventional walkers do not take into consideration the user's manual tasks such as housework, and there is room for improvement. One aspect of the present invention provides a walker that is easy to use and allows the user greater freedom of movement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A walker according to one aspect of the present invention includes a frame and a seat portion attached to the frame, which has an in-use position and an out-of-use position, and which is rotatable in the in-use position. The seat portion has a rotation axis positioned offset from the center of gravity of the contour shape in a plan view.

[0006] The terms "not in use" and "in use" used herein refer to when the seat is not in use and when it is in use, and not to when the walker is in use and when it is not in use. "Plan view" means the view from above the walker. The "contour shape" refers to the outer shape of the seat portion in a plan view when in the in-use position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the above-described embodiment, the seat has an in-use position and an in-use position. When the user pushes the walker, the seat can be in the in-use position so that the seat does not interfere with walking. When performing manual work, the user can return the seat to the in-use position and sit down to perform the work safely. The seat rotates around a rotation axis located off-center from the center of gravity of the seat's contour. Because the seat rotates, a user sitting on the seat can change their orientation with little effort, without having to change the orientation of the frame. This allows users to easily change orientation even in small spaces such as the kitchen, and allows them to perform manual tasks such as cooking with a high degree of freedom while sitting. Furthermore, as the seat rotates eccentrically, it shifts horizontally from its home position before rotation, ensuring a space within the frame for the user to place their feet between the frame and the seat. This prevents the user's feet from interfering with the frame when they turn. In this way, a walker that is easy to use and allows the user to move freely can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a walker according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a user sitting on the seat of the walker. [Figure 4](A) is a diagram showing the position of the seat before rotation, (B) is a diagram showing the position when the seat has rotated eccentrically in one direction, and (C) is a diagram showing the position when the seat has rotated eccentrically in the other direction. [Figure 5] This is a plan view illustrating a situation where a user uses a walker to move through the gap between the gas range and sink and the cooking counter. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a situation in which a user hangs out laundry while using a walker. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the market positioning of walkers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The following provides an overview of embodiments (1) to (3) of the present invention. (1) A walker includes a frame and a seat portion attached to the frame, which has a non-use position and a use position and is rotatable in the use position. The seat portion has a rotation axis at a position offset from the center of gravity of the contour shape in a plan view.

[0010] The inventors have discovered that there has not been a walker available to date that adequately supports the free movement and independence of users such as elderly people who are at risk of falling.

[0011] In the market positioning map in Figure 7, the right side of the horizontal axis indicates that the walker is lightweight and compact, while the left side indicates that it is heavy and bulky. The upper side of the vertical axis indicates that the walker supports the user's waist, while the lower side indicates that the user needs to support their weight with both hands.

[0012] Conventional walkers that fall into the lower right quadrant of Figure 6 include fixed walkers and four-wheel walkers. These are lightweight and relatively inexpensive, and are used in ordinary homes, but they often require users to keep both hands on the handles or armrests of the walker to reduce the risk of falling. For users, letting go of the handles increases the risk of falling, making it difficult to use their hands for other tasks (such as housework), and significantly restricting their activities. Furthermore, when the user wanted to turn, they had to turn the entire walker frame, which made it difficult to maneuver and difficult to change direction in small spaces such as the kitchen.

[0013] A rehabilitation walker such as that disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Document 1 is an example of a walker that falls into the upper left quadrant of Figure 6. The walker has handles or armrests on which the user places both hands, as well as a band that applies an upward lifting force to the user's waist or buttocks. This type of walker is intended for users to train their walking and is primarily used in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, but users are still required to keep both hands on the handles. Furthermore, the mechanism for supporting the waist is complex, which tends to make the walker expensive, and the effort required to attach such a support mechanism to the user's waist is cumbersome.

[0014] The inventors felt that these conventional walkers were specialized in preventing falls and assisting walking, but did not adequately support the user's freedom of movement and independence. By performing household chores essential to daily life such as cooking, cleaning, and hanging out laundry, users such as the elderly can maintain their self-esteem, stay healthy both physically and mentally, and lead independent lives. The present inventors then discovered that there was a market need for a walker that fits into the upper right quadrant of FIG. 6, and after extensive research and development, came up with the above-mentioned configuration (1).

[0015] According to the walker described in (1) above, the seat rotates around a rotation axis located at a position offset from the center of gravity of the contour shape of the seat (see Figure 4). Because the seat rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, a user sitting on the seat can change their own orientation with little force without changing the orientation of the frame. This allows the user to easily change direction even in a small space such as a kitchen, and allows for a high degree of freedom in a seated position when performing manual tasks such as cooking (see Figures 3 and 5). Conventionally, walkers have been known in which the front and rear wheels attached to the bottom of the frame are swiveled to enable the user to change direction in a narrow space. The inventor discovered that by rotating only the seat within the frame, instead of changing the orientation of the frame, the user can change direction with minimal effort and smoothly perform many tasks, including housework such as cooking and hanging out laundry (see Figure 6).

[0016] Furthermore, as the seat rotates eccentrically, it shifts horizontally from its pre-rotation position (home position), creating space within the frame for the user to place their feet between the frame and the seat, making it less likely that the user's feet will interfere with the frame when they change direction (see Figures 4 and 5). In this way, a walker that is easy to use and allows the user to move freely can be provided.

[0017] Furthermore, with the walker described in (1) above, when the user moves, the seat can be placed in the unused position (storage position) and the user can walk while pushing the walker by hand.While wheelchairs and working chairs, in which the user moves while sitting on the seat, have difficulty getting over steps, the walker described in (1) above makes it relatively easy to get over steps and climb slopes. Therefore, the walker described above in (1) encourages users, such as elderly people, to be more independent and contributes to extending the user's healthy lifespan.

[0018] (2) In the walker of (1) above, the rotation axis may be located on the seat in front of the buttocks of a seated user in the plan view. Here, "forward" means the direction in which the user's belly faces.

[0019] According to the walker of (2) above, when the seat rotates a quarter turn clockwise from the home position (the position in Fig. 4(A)), the seat shifts to one side (the position in Fig. 4(B)), and when the seat rotates a quarter turn counterclockwise, the seat shifts to the other side (the position in Fig. 4(C)). In this way, a space is secured within the frame between the frame and the seat where the user can place their feet.

[0020] (3) The walker of (1) or (2) above may also include an arm attached to the frame, which supports the seat so that the seat surface is approximately aligned with the frame in the non-use position, and supports the seat so that the seat surface faces approximately upward in the use position.

[0021] According to the walker of (3) above, when the seat is not in use, such as when the user is pushing the walker by hand, the seat is supported by the arms so that the seat surface is positioned approximately along the frame, so that the seat does not interfere with the user's walking. When the user uses the seat, such as when cooking, the seat is supported by the arms so that the seat surface faces almost upwards. This allows the user sitting on the seat to work stably and change direction smoothly.

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a side view of a lightweight and compact walker 10 that allows a user to work stably in a seated position with both hands removed from the walker (leaving both hands free).

[0024] Walker 10 includes frame 11 and seat 20 that is attached to frame 11 and has an in-use position and an in-use position, and is rotatable in the in-use position. Frame 11 includes vertical frame 11a whose length can be adjusted in the up-down direction, and lower frame 11b attached to the lower part of vertical frame 11a.

[0025] A handle 15 on which a user places their hands is provided on the upper part of the vertical frame 11a. In this embodiment, the handle 15 has a U-shape in plan view (see FIG. 4), but is not limited to this shape. A luggage stand 13 is also provided on the upper part of the vertical frame 11a.

[0026] An arm 30 is provided at the middle of the vertical frame 11a. The arm 30 has a connection part 30a connected to the vertical frame 11a, an arm body 30b having one end connected to the connection part 30a, and a support part 30c provided at the other end of the arm body 30b. The support part 30c supports the seat part 20.

[0027] In Figure 1, the seat 20 is in a position when not in use. That is, the arm 30 supports the seat 20 so that the seat surface is substantially aligned with the vertical frame 11a. By folding the arm 30, the seat surface faces forward of the seat 20 (to the left in Figure 1) and faces the vertical frame 11a. By placing the seat 20 in this position when not in use, it does not interfere with the walking of a user who is pushing the walker 10.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical frame 11a in this embodiment is composed of a single telescopic bar that extends vertically in front of a user who is in a standing position with both hands on the handlebars 15. The seat 20 has a circular seat surface. A pair of left and right front wheels and a pair of left and right rear wheels are provided on a lower frame 11b provided below the vertical frame 11a, which serve as the rotation mechanism 12. Brake levers 14 are provided on both the left and right ends of the handlebars 15. When the user grips the brake bar 14, a braking force is applied to some or all of the wheels.

[0029] The rotation mechanism 12 is a wheel in this embodiment, but may alternatively be a caterpillar or other rotation mechanism.

[0030] The lower frame 11b in this embodiment has a U-shape in plan view (see FIG. 4), and the user can enter the frame through an opening at the rear. However, the lower frame 11b is not limited to this shape.

[0031] In Figure 3, the seat 20 is in the position when in use. That is, the arm 30, which is extended from the vertical frame 11a toward the user, supports the seat 20 so that the seat surface faces substantially upward. The user can move the seat 20 from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 3, and from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1, with little force. Such operation of the seat 20 is simple and easy for the user to understand. It allows for smooth switching between walking in a standing position and working in a seated position.

[0032] In this embodiment, the user sits with their back to the vertical frame 11a on the seat 20, which has been unfolded from the vertical frame 11a toward the user and is in the position for use. The seat 20 is supported by the support parts 30c of the arms 30 at a position offset from its center of gravity, and is therefore located close to the vertical frame 11a. The user can easily sit on the seat 20 by turning their back to the vertical frame 11a. The support parts 30c of the arms 30 rotatably support the seat 30 from below, in front of the buttocks of the seated user (to the right in FIG. 3, between the user's thighs).

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4(A), the seat 20 before rotation (in the home position) is located approximately in the center between the left and right handles 15, 15. In a plan view, the rotation axis Ro of the seat 20 is located at a position offset from the center of gravity G of the contour shape of the seat 20. The rotation axis Ro is an imaginary axis around which the seat 20 rotates. In a plan view, the center of gravity G of the seat 20 is located between the rotation axis Ro of the seat 20 and the luggage rack 13 (and the vertical frame 11a below it). In this state, the user sits on the seat 20 with their back to the vertical frame 11a as shown in FIG. 3.

[0034] When a seated user turns 90 degrees to the right, the seat section 20 shifts in the direction opposite to the direction in which the user is facing, as shown in FIG. 4(B). When a seated user turns 90 degrees to the left, the seat section 20 shifts in the direction opposite to the direction in which the user is facing, as shown in FIG. 4(C). Therefore, a space is secured within the frame between the lower frame 11b and the seat portion 20 for the user to place their feet.

[0035] By rotating only the seat 20 within the frame instead of changing the orientation of the frame 11 (lower frame 11b), the user can quickly change direction with minimal effort, and can smoothly perform many tasks, including housework such as cooking and hanging out laundry.

[0036] As shown in Figure 5, the user can move through narrow spaces such as a kitchen (the gap between the gas stove and sink and the countertop) using the walker, while changing the orientation of the torso B and performing work with a high degree of freedom.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6, the user can hang out laundry with both hands with a high degree of freedom. Such tasks, which would be very difficult while sitting in a work chair or crawling on the floor, can be easily performed by using the walker 10. Although not shown, the user can also easily clean with a vacuum cleaner (e.g., a stick vacuum cleaner). Because there is no need to always hold the walker 10 with one hand, the user can change the hand that holds the vacuum cleaner or the direction in which the tip of the vacuum cleaner is extended, allowing for a high degree of freedom and efficiency in cleaning.

[0038] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Although the seat 20 is illustrated as being circular in plan view, a seat having a polygonal or other shape may also be used. The seat 20 may be rotatable through an angular range of less than 360°. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10 Walker 11 frames 12 Wheels (rotating mechanism) 14 Brake bar (part of the brake mechanism) 20 Seat area 30 Arm G center of gravity Ro rotation axis

Claims

1. The frame and a seat portion provided on the frame, having a non-use position and a use position, and rotatable in the use position; A walker in which the seat has a rotation axis at a position offset from the center of gravity of the contour shape in a plan view.

2. 2. The walker according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis is provided on the seat at a position in front of the buttocks of a seated user in the plan view.

3. A walker as described in claim 1 or claim 2, comprising an arm attached to the frame, supporting the seat portion so that the seat surface is approximately aligned with the frame in the non-use position, and supporting the seat portion so that the seat surface faces approximately upward in the use position.

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