Fixed system

Abstract

This disclosure provides a securing system that reduces the effort required to secure a mobility support vehicle, which assists in the movement of a person requiring assistance, to a welfare vehicle, while also achieving collision safety. [Solution] The fixing system according to this disclosure comprises a striker portion 24 that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the main body 21 of a mobility support vehicle 20 that assists the movement of a person being assisted M, and a hook portion 131 that protrudes upward from the floor surface F of a welfare vehicle 10 on which the mobility support vehicle 20 is mounted. The striker portion 24 is pressed against and engaged with the hook portion 131 as the mobility support vehicle 20 moves along the floor surface F, and the mobility support vehicle 20 is fixed to the welfare vehicle 10 by the engagement of one or more sets of striker portions 24 and hook portions 131.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a fixing system.

Background Art

[0002] Techniques have been developed for carrying a mobility assistance vehicle (e.g., a wheelchair, a stretcher, a buggy, etc.) that assists a care recipient in moving, by placing it on a welfare vehicle. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for transporting a wheelchair into a welfare vehicle via a slope provided between the floor surface of the welfare vehicle and the road surface, and fixing the wheelchair to the welfare vehicle with a belt.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] [[ID=3G]] Regarding the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the inventors have found the following problems. When the forward direction of the welfare vehicle is taken as the front, the front side of the mobility assistance vehicle is pulled and fixed to the front of the welfare vehicle by a restraint belt. On the other hand, the rear side of the mobility assistance vehicle is pulled and fixed to the rear of the welfare vehicle by another restraint belt. In the case of such a fixing method for the mobility assistance vehicle, when the welfare vehicle collides with another object, the impact applied to the mobility assistance vehicle has to be received only by the restraint belt that pulls it backward.

[0005] This disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and provides a fixing system capable of achieving collision safety while reducing the labor required for fixing a mobility assistance vehicle that assists a care recipient in moving to a welfare vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The fixing system according to this disclosure comprises a striker portion that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the main body of a mobility support vehicle that assists the movement of a person being assisted, and a hook portion that protrudes upward from the floor surface of a welfare vehicle on which the mobility support vehicle is mounted. The striker portion is pressed against and engaged with the hook portion as the mobility support vehicle moves along the floor surface, and the mobility support vehicle is fixed to the welfare vehicle by the engagement of one or more sets of the striker portions and the hook portions. This makes it possible to achieve a fixing system that can achieve collision safety while reducing the effort required to fix the mobility support vehicle to the welfare vehicle.

[0007] The mobility support vehicle comprises a striker portion that protrudes downward from the underside of the main body of the mobility support vehicle that assists the movement of the person being assisted, and a hook portion that protrudes upward from the floor surface of the welfare vehicle on which the mobility support vehicle is mounted. At least one or both of the striker portion and the hook portion are movable in the protruding direction, and when they move in the protruding direction, they are pressed against each other and engage, and the mobility support vehicle is fixed to the welfare vehicle by the engagement of one or more sets of the striker portions and hook portions. This makes it possible to fix the mobility support vehicle to the welfare vehicle while reducing the effort required to fix it, and achieving a fixation that can achieve collision safety.

[0008] The system further includes a securing belt for fixing the mobility support vehicle to the welfare vehicle, and the securing belt may be used to secure the mobility support vehicle by pulling it towards the rear of the welfare vehicle. By securing the vehicle through engagement with the striker and hook portions, and further securing it with the securing belt, a more collision-safe securing system can be achieved.

[0009] The connection point between the mobility support vehicle and the securing belt may be located behind the welfare vehicle compared to the engagement point between the striker and the hook. This prevents the mobility support vehicle from rotating forward when the welfare vehicle collides with another object, thus enabling a more collision-safe securing mechanism.

[0010] The mobility support vehicle may be fixed to the welfare vehicle with the head of the person being assisted facing forward and the legs facing rear. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] This disclosure provides a securing system that reduces the effort required to secure a mobility support vehicle, which assists in the movement of a person requiring assistance, to a welfare vehicle, while also achieving collision safety. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a welfare vehicle and a mobility support vehicle according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which a mobility support vehicle is fixed to a welfare vehicle according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the method for pressing the striker portion against the hook portion according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a top view of the fixing mechanism according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing location of the mobility support vehicle according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart of the fixing method according to Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The following describes specific embodiments of this disclosure in detail with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity, the following descriptions and drawings have been simplified as appropriate.

[0014] (Embodiment 1) <Composition of welfare vehicles and mobility support vehicles> First, referring to FIG. 1, the configurations of the welfare vehicle 10 and the mobility support vehicle 20 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configurations of the welfare vehicle and the mobility support vehicle according to Embodiment 1. The fixing system 1 according to Embodiment 1 is a system for fixing the mobility support vehicle 20 to the welfare vehicle 10.

[0015] In the following description, an xyz three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system will be used as appropriate for the description. In the present Embodiment 1, the forward direction of the welfare vehicle 10 is the x direction, the width direction of the welfare vehicle 10 is the y direction, and the height direction of the welfare vehicle 10 is the z direction. Also, in the following description, the z direction is the vertical direction, and the xy plane is the horizontal plane. Of course, the z direction may be a direction inclined from the vertical direction, and the xy plane may also be a plane inclined from the horizontal plane.

[0016] The welfare vehicle 10 is a vehicle that carries and moves the mobility support vehicle 20. The welfare vehicle 10 includes a back door 11, a slope device 12, a fixing mechanism 13, and a driver's seat 14.

[0017] The back door 11 is provided at the rear part of the welfare vehicle 10 and is a large opening / closing door that opens upward integrally with the rear window. The form of the back door 11 is not particularly limited. For example, the back door 11 may be composed of two doors and may be configured to open left and right. When the mobility support vehicle 20 is carried into the welfare vehicle 10, the back door 11 is in an open state.

[0018] The slope device 12 is a device for transporting the mobility support vehicle 20 into the welfare vehicle 10. The slope device 12 is, for example, a foldable type, and when the back door 11 is open, it can be deployed from the boarding and alighting opening 111 toward the rear (-x direction) of the welfare vehicle 10. The mobility support vehicle 20 can board and alight from the welfare vehicle 10 by traveling on the road surface of the slope device 12. The method of transporting the mobility support vehicle 20 into the welfare vehicle 10 is not limited to the method using the slope device 12. For example, a method of transporting the mobility support vehicle 20 to the welfare vehicle 10 by lifting it with a lift device may also be used.

[0019] Note that in the first embodiment, the mobility support vehicle 20 is carried into the welfare vehicle 10 through the boarding and alighting opening 111 provided at the rear of the welfare vehicle 10, but it is not limited to this. For example, the mobility support vehicle 20 may be carried into the welfare vehicle 10 through a boarding and alighting opening (not shown) provided on the side of the welfare vehicle 10.

[0020] The fixing mechanism 13 is a mechanism for fixing the mobility support vehicle 20 to the welfare vehicle 10. The fixing mechanism 13 is provided on the welfare vehicle 10 so as to protrude upward (+z direction) from the floor surface F of the welfare vehicle 10. The fixing mechanism 13 includes a hook portion 131 and a shock-resistant portion 132. The hook portion 131 and the shock-resistant portion 132 will be described in detail later.

[0021] The mobility support vehicle 20 is a vehicle that supports the movement of the care recipient M. More specifically, the mobility support vehicle 20 is for carrying the care recipient M. In the first embodiment, the mobility support vehicle 20 is a buggy for transporting the care recipient M who requires medical care. Note that the mobility support vehicle 20 is not limited to a buggy, and may be, for example, a wheelchair, a stretcher, a robot that moves electrically, or the like. Also, the posture and direction in which the care recipient M rides on the mobility support vehicle 20 are not particularly limited. In the first embodiment, the care recipient M rides on the mobility support vehicle 20 with the head facing the front side (+x direction side) and the legs facing the rear side (-x direction side) of the mobility support vehicle 20.

[0022] The mobility support vehicle 20 includes a main body 21, wheels 22, a handle 23, and a striker portion 24. In the first embodiment, in the state where the mobility support vehicle 20 is mounted on the welfare vehicle 1o, the wheels 22 on the front side (+x direction side) are the front wheels 22a, and the wheels 22 on the rear side (-x direction side) are the rear wheels 22b. Note that the mobility support vehicle 20 includes two front wheels 22a and two rear wheels 22b respectively. The front wheels 22a and the rear wheels 22b are arranged side by side in the y direction on the main body 21 respectively.

[0023] The striker portion 24 is provided on the main body 21 so as to protrude downward (in the -z direction) from the lower surface of the main body 21. The mobility support vehicle 20 is fixed to the welfare vehicle 10 when the striker portion 24 engages with the hook portion 131. The striker portion 24 will be described in detail later.

[0024] <Fixed System> Next, with reference to Figures 2 to 5, the fixing system 1 for fixing the mobility support vehicle 20 to the welfare vehicle 10 will be described. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the mobility support vehicle is fixed to the welfare vehicle according to Embodiment 1. Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the method for pressing the striker part against the hook part according to Embodiment 1. Figure 4 is a top view of the fixing mechanism according to Embodiment 1. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the fixing location of the mobility support vehicle according to Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 2, the fixing system 1 comprises a fixing mechanism 13, a striker part 24, and a securing belt 30.

[0025] The fixing mechanism 13, which includes a hook portion 131 and an impact-resistant portion 132, restricts the vertical movement (z-direction) and the movement of the mobility support vehicle 20 in the direction of the floor surface F (xy-plane direction) by fixing the mobility support vehicle 20 to the floor surface F.

[0026] As shown in the enlarged section of Figure 2, the mobility support vehicle 20 is fixed to the welfare vehicle 10 by the engagement of the striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131. The striker portion 24 is a U-shaped bar in a side view (y-direction). The end of the bar is connected to the lower surface of the main body 21 of the mobility support vehicle 20. The hook portion 131 includes, for example, a locking claw and a locking spring (not shown). The striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131 are preferably made of metal.

[0027] The striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131 can be engaged with a single touch by pressing the striker portion 24 against the hook portion 131. First, the striker portion 24 presses against the locking claw of the hook portion 131, compressing the locking spring. Then, when the striker portion 24 is pushed further, the locking claw returns to its original position due to the reaction force of the locking spring, and the striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131 are engaged.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the striker portion 24 is pressed against the hook portion 131 as the mobile support vehicle 20 moves on the floor surface F in the transport direction (+x direction). However, the method of pressing the striker portion 24 against the hook portion 131 is not limited to this. For example, at least one or both of the striker portion 24 and the fixing mechanism 13 may be movable in the protruding direction (z direction), and the striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131 may be pressed against each other by moving in the protruding direction.

[0029] When the fixing mechanism 13 is movable in the protruding direction (z direction), the fixing mechanism 13 is depressed downward (-z direction) while the mobility support vehicle 20 is being transported to the welfare vehicle 10. When the mobility support vehicle 20 stops at a predetermined position on the floor surface F, the fixing mechanism 13 protrudes upward (+z direction). The striker portion 24 is then pressed against the hook portion 131 and engages with the hook portion 131.

[0030] On the other hand, if the striker portion 24 is movable in the protruding direction (z direction), the striker portion 24 is floating upward (+z direction) while the mobility support vehicle 20 is being transported to the welfare vehicle 10. When the mobility support vehicle 20 stops at a predetermined position on the floor surface F, the striker portion 24 protrudes downward (-z direction). The striker portion 24 is then pressed against the hook portion 131 and engages with the hook portion 131.

[0031] As described above, the fixing system 1 allows the striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131 to be engaged with a single touch, eliminating the need for the caregiver to perform the fixing work from the front of the mobility support vehicle 20. Therefore, the fixing system 1 reduces the effort required for the caregiver to perform the fixing work. The engagement position between the striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131 is preferably on the front side (+x direction) of the mobility support vehicle 20. More preferably, the engagement position between the striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131 is near the axle of the front wheel 22a.

[0032] The impact-resistant part 132 is a component that receives the impact applied to the mobility support vehicle 20 when the welfare vehicle 10 collides with another object. Therefore, the material of the impact-resistant part 132 is preferably metal. The impact-resistant part 132 is formed in an L-shape when viewed from the side (y-direction). The impact-resistant part 132 is provided on the welfare vehicle 10 so that its end is connected to the floor surface F.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the impact-resistant section 132 has a notch C in the plane (xy plane) parallel to the floor surface F where the striker section 24 is pressed. Two notches C are provided along the width direction (y direction) of the welfare vehicle 10. The hook section 131 is provided in the impact-resistant section 132 at the location where the notch C is provided. In this embodiment 1, one fixing mechanism 13 has one impact-resistant section 132 and two hook sections. The mobility support vehicle 20 is provided with two striker sections 24. In other words, the mobility support vehicle 20 is fixed to the mobility support vehicle 20 by two sets of striker sections 24 and hook sections 131. Note that the number of sets of striker sections 24 and hook sections 131 is not limited to two, but may be one set or more sets.

[0034] Returning to the explanation of Figure 2, the mobility support vehicle 20 is further secured to the welfare vehicle 10 by the securing belts 30. More specifically, the mobility support vehicle 20 is secured to the floor surface F by being pulled towards the rear (-x direction) of the welfare vehicle 10 by the securing belts 30. When the welfare vehicle 10 collides with another object, the impact on the mobility support vehicle 20 is absorbed by the securing belts 30 and the fixing mechanism 13, so the fixing system 1 can achieve a level of fixation that is capable of collision safety.

[0035] The connection point between the mobility support vehicle 20 and the securing belt 30 is preferably located behind the welfare vehicle 10 (in the -x direction) from the engagement point of the striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131. By using such a connection position, it is possible to suppress the rotation of the mobility support vehicle 20 forward (in the +x direction) when the welfare vehicle 10 collides with another object. Furthermore, to further suppress such rotation, the connection point between the welfare vehicle 10 and the securing belt 30 is preferably on the floor surface F.

[0036] As described above, the fixing system 1, with its fixing mechanism 13, striker section 24, and securing belt 30, can achieve collision safety while reducing the effort required to fix the mobility support vehicle 20 to the welfare vehicle 10. As shown in Figure 5, the fixing location Fs of the mobility support vehicle 20 on the floor surface F is not particularly limited. The mobility support vehicle 20 may be fixed not only behind the driver's seat 14 (-x direction side) but also to the side of the driver's seat 14 (-y direction side).

[0037] <Fixing method> Next, a method for securing the mobility support vehicle 20 to the welfare vehicle 10 using the securing system 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. Figure 6 is a flowchart of the securing method according to Embodiment 1. Note that the order of the steps is not limited to this and may be rearranged as appropriate.

[0038] First, the mobility support vehicle 20 is transported to the welfare vehicle 10 (step S101). The method of transport is not particularly limited. For example, the mobility support vehicle 20 can be transported to the welfare vehicle 10 by self-propulsion or by a caregiver pushing the handle 23 of the mobility support vehicle 20.

[0039] Next, the mobility support vehicle 20 is fixed to the welfare vehicle 10 by the engagement of the striker portion 24 and the hook portion 131 (step S102). As the mobility support vehicle 20 moves on the floor surface F in the transport direction (+x direction), the striker portion 24 is pressed against the hook portion 131 and engages with the hook portion 131. Finally, the mobility support vehicle 20 is fixed to the welfare vehicle 10 by the securing belt 30 (step S103). The method for transporting the mobility support vehicle 20 out of the welfare vehicle 10 is to perform the above steps in the reverse order.

[0040] As described above, the fixing system 1 according to this embodiment 1, with its fixing mechanism 13, striker portion 24, and securing belt 30, can achieve collision safety while reducing the effort required to fix the mobility support vehicle 20 to the welfare vehicle 10. Furthermore, by positioning the connection point between the mobility support vehicle 20 and the securing belt 30 to be rearward (-x direction) of the welfare vehicle 10 from the engagement point of the striker portion 24 and hook portion 131, a fixing that achieves even greater collision safety can be realized.

[0041] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 1 Fixed System 10 Welfare Vehicles 11 Back door 12. Slope device 13 Fixing mechanism 14. Driver's seat 20 Mobility support vehicles 21 Main unit 22 wheels 22a front wheel 22b rear wheel 23 Handle 24 Striker Club 30 Securing belts 111 entrance / exit 131 Hook part 132 Impact-resistant part F Floor surface Fs fixed location M Assisted person

Claims

1. A striker section that protrudes downward from the underside of the main body of a mobility assistance vehicle that assists in the movement of a person being assisted, The vehicle includes a hook portion that protrudes upward from the floor surface of the welfare vehicle on which the aforementioned mobility support vehicle is mounted, The striker portion is pressed against and engaged with the hook portion as the mobility support vehicle moves across the floor surface. The mobility support vehicle is secured to the welfare vehicle by the engagement of one or more sets of the striker portion and the hook portion. Fixed system.

2. A striker section that protrudes downward from the underside of the main body of a mobility assistance vehicle that assists in the movement of a person being assisted, The vehicle includes a hook portion that protrudes upward from the floor surface of the welfare vehicle on which the aforementioned mobility support vehicle is mounted, At least one or both of the striker portion and the hook portion are movable in the protruding direction, and are pressed against each other and engaged by moving in the protruding direction. The mobility support vehicle is secured to the welfare vehicle by engagement with one or more sets of the striker portion and the hook portion. Fixed system.

3. The vehicle further comprises a securing belt for fastening the mobility support vehicle to the welfare vehicle, The aforementioned securing belt secures the mobility support vehicle by pulling it towards the rear of the welfare vehicle. The fixing system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The connection point between the mobility support vehicle and the securing belt is located behind the welfare vehicle, relative to the engagement point between the striker and the hook. The fixing system according to claim 3.

5. The mobility support vehicle is fixed to the welfare vehicle with the head of the person being assisted facing forward and the legs facing rear. The fixing system according to claim 4.

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