Wheelchair with adjustable footrest

Abstract

To provide a wheelchair with a simple structure in which a footrest can be opened and closed without touching it with hands. [Solution] The wheelchair of this invention is composed of the wheelchair body 1, a roughly streamlined pipe 4 for connecting and operating footrests 5 and 6, and operating levers 2 and 3. By pulling up the operating lever, the footrest rises, and by pushing in the lever, the footrest lowers to its normal fixed position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the structure of a wheelchair, and more particularly to a wheelchair equipped with a lever for operating a footrest. More specifically, the wheelchair is characterized by having a roughly streamlined pipe on the wheelchair body that is suitable for connecting and operating the footrest, which is fixed by a wire inserted inside the pipe extending from the handrail to the end of the fixed part of the footrest. [Background technology]

[0002] Today, wheelchairs are used in a variety of situations in life.

[0003] As Japan's population ages, the demand for wheelchairs is only increasing.

[0004] Wheelchairs are primarily used by people with disabilities or those who require care, meaning it is difficult for them to get on and off the train by themselves.

[0005] When a user gets into a wheelchair, they raise the footrest and return it to its original position after getting in. The opposite is true when getting out.

[0006] Until now, the person in charge of supporting the user has operated the footrest by hand, but this was cumbersome as the footrest was located at a low position and there were concerns about hygiene due to touching it directly with the hands.

[0007] In other words, there is a social demand for wheelchairs that have a mechanism that allows the footrest to be operated by hand. In view of these circumstances, various wheelchairs have been developed, for example, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

[0008] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to a wheelchair that allows the footrest member to be easily positioned in the storage angle position and the loading angle position, but the footrest has an elastic structure that automatically rises when the foot is raised, and when placing the foot on it, the raised footrest must be pressed down with the foot to lower it. Considering the type of people who use wheelchairs, it is unreasonable to require such delicate foot operation.

[0009] Patent Document 2 discloses a footrest opening and closing device that has a simple structure, does not get in the way of getting on and off, and is easy to attach to existing wheelchairs, and technology related to wheelchairs equipped with the same. Although the structure is said to be simple, it is surprisingly complex, and the problem of laborious manufacturing remains.

[0010] Patent Document 3 discloses technology relating to a footrest opening and closing mechanism that always opens and closes the footrest correctly and stably, has a simple structure, and allows the patient to easily operate the lever at their fingertips. However, like Patent Document 2, this technology is also complex in structure and costly to manufacture.

[0011] As such, a wheelchair equipped with a footrest operating means having a simple structure has not yet been provided. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-185210 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-125296 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-162308 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned unsolved problems, and aims to provide a wheelchair with a simple structure that can be operated without directly touching the footrests. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventor of the present invention focused on the need to provide a means for remotely operating the footrest and carried out development. This is because creating this mechanism is the means to realize the provision of the wheelchair mentioned above.

[0015] Therefore, we came up with a structure that connects and operates the footrest fixed by a wire inserted inside a pipe that extends from the handrail to the end of the fixed part of the footrest.

[0016] In addition, by providing an operating lever midway through the pipe extending from the handrail to the footrest, it is possible to operate the footrest with the user's hand.

[0017] In this way, we discovered that the overall structure of this invention, which consists of the wheelchair body, a roughly streamlined pipe suitable for connecting and operating the footrest, and a control lever, can achieve the desired effect, and we have completed this invention.

[0018] In other words, according to this invention, in a wheelchair equipped with an operating means for raising and lowering the footrest, the wheelchair body equipped with the operating means is provided with a roughly streamlined pipe suitable for connecting and operating the footrest, which is fixed by a wire inserted inside the pipe extending from the handrail to the end of the fixed part of the footrest, and a lever for operating this, thereby providing a wheelchair that realizes an operating means for the footrest that cannot be directly touched by the hands.

[0019] Here, the lever serving as the operating means is preferably connected to a wire inserted inside a pipe extending to the end of the fixed part of the footrest. This molding is a condition for providing the function of stopping the footrests for the left and right legs at any position by utilizing the difference in the friction coefficient between the pipe with the operating lever and the wire inserted inside the pipe.

[0020] The above is merely an example, and any lever structure that can achieve the intended purpose can be selected.

[0021] Furthermore, although the handle portion of the operating lever of the present invention is made of plastic, other materials may also be used.

[0022] That is, according to the present invention, the following wheelchair is provided. (1) A wheelchair equipped with an operating means for raising and lowering the footrest, characterized in that the wheelchair body equipped with the operating means is provided with an approximately streamlined pipe suitable for connecting and operating the footrest, which is fixed by a wire inserted inside the pipe extending from the handrail to the end of the fixed part of the footrest. (2) A wheelchair as described in (1) above, characterized in that an operating lever is provided midway along the pipe extending from the handrail of the wheelchair body to the footrest in order to connect and operate the footrest. (3) A wheelchair as described in (1) is characterized in that it has a function to stop the footrests of the left and right legs at any position during the series of lifting and lowering operations in which the footrests are raised by pulling up the operating lever specified in (2) and lowered to their normal fixed position by pushing in the lever. (4) A wheelchair as described in (1) to (3) is characterized by having a function to stop the footrests of the left and right legs at any position by using the difference in the friction coefficient between the pipe equipped with an operating lever and the wire inserted inside the pipe. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] The wheelchair of this invention is composed of a roughly streamlined pipe and operating lever suitable for connecting and operating the wheelchair body and footrest, and has the structural feature of being simple in structure and allowing the footrest to be operated without direct contact with the hands, making it not only hygienic but also capable of improving the comfort of the user. In addition, the footrests for the left and right legs have the ability to stop each at any position depending on the difference in the friction coefficient between the pipe with the operating lever and the wire inserted inside the pipe, which contributes to stress-free use depending on the condition of the user's legs and symptoms at the time.

[0024] This device is also effective in rehabilitation facilities and elderly care facilities, and its introduction is expected to reduce the burden on caregivers. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] The wheelchair of this invention [Figure 2] The operating lever of the wheelchair of this invention and its surroundings DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The following is a detailed explanation of how the wheelchair of the present invention can be used, based on the drawings, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples of how the wheelchair can be used.

[0027] As mentioned above, this invention relates to a wheelchair with a simple structure and in which the footrest can be operated without direct contact with the hands, providing a hygienic and comfortable wheelchair that does not incur unnecessary costs such as electricity.

[0028] That is, according to the present invention, (1) A wheelchair is provided that is equipped with an operating means for raising and lowering a footrest, and the wheelchair body equipped with the operating means is provided with a roughly streamlined pipe suitable for connecting and operating the footrest, which is fixed by a wire inserted inside the pipe extending from the handrail to the end of the fixed part of the footrest. (2) A wheelchair as described in (1) is provided, characterized in that an operating lever is provided midway along the pipe extending from the handrail of the wheelchair body to the footrest in order to connect and operate the footrest. (3) A wheelchair as described in (1) is provided, characterized in that it has a function to stop the footrests of the left and right legs at any position during the series of lifting and lowering operations in which the footrests are raised by pulling up the operating lever specified in (2) and lowered to their normal fixed position by pushing in the lever. (4) A wheelchair as described in (1) to (3) is provided, characterized in that it has a function to stop the footrests of the left and right legs at any position depending on the difference in the friction coefficient between the pipe equipped with an operating lever and the wire inserted inside the pipe.

[0029] Figure 1 shows the actual wheelchair of the present invention, and Figure 2 shows the lever that links with the footrest, which is an important feature of the wheelchair of the present invention. 1 is the wheelchair body. 2 is the lever for raising and lowering the right footrest (operated with the right hand), and 3 is the lever for raising and lowering the left footrest (operated with the left hand). Also, 4 is a roughly streamlined pipe suitable for connecting and operating the footrest, which is fixed by a wire inserted inside the pipe extending from the handrail to the end of the fixed part of the footrest. 5 is a footrest (for the right leg), and 6 is a footrest (for the left leg).

[0030] When you pull 2 ​​in Figure 2, 5 rises in tandem, and when you push 2 back to its original position, 5 also falls back to its original position. The same is true for 3 and 6.

[0031] 2 and 5, and 3 and 6 are connected through 4, and even if you let go of 2 and 3 after pulling them up, 5 and 6 can stop at any position due to the difference in the friction coefficient of 4 and the wire inserted inside 4.

[0032] Furthermore, the size and material of the connection method 4 between 2·3 and 5·6 can be selected arbitrarily as long as the purpose is achieved.

[0033] If this invention makes it possible to create a wheelchair with a simple structure that allows the user to control the position of the footrest, it could be introduced at low cost in rehabilitation facilities and elderly care facilities, and would also reduce the burden on caregivers. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] (1) Wheelchair body (2) Right footrest lift lever (for right-hand operation) (3) Left footrest lift lever (for left-hand operation) (4) Approximately streamlined pipe (5) Footrest (for right leg) (6) Footrest (for left leg)

Claims

1. This wheelchair is equipped with an operating means for raising and lowering a footrest, and is characterized in that the wheelchair body equipped with the operating means is provided with a substantially streamlined pipe suitable for connecting and operating the footrest fixed by a wire inserted into the pipe extending from the handrail to the end of the fixed part of the footrest.

2. 2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein an operating lever is provided on a pipe extending from the handrail of the wheelchair body to the footrest in order to connect and operate the footrest.

3. The wheelchair of claim 1, characterized in that it has a function to stop the footrests of the left and right legs at any position in a series of raising and lowering operations in which the footrests are raised by pulling up the operating lever defined in claim 2 and lowered to their normal fixed positions by pushing in the lever.

4. A wheelchair as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a function of stopping the footrests of the left and right legs at any position depending on the difference in the friction coefficient between the pipe equipped with an operating lever and the wire inserted inside the pipe.

Images