Portable stair climbing assistance device

Abstract

To provide a small, lightweight climbing assistance device that can be used on the stairs of ordinary houses for people who have difficulty climbing or descending stairs smoothly. [Solution] The drive unit 2 is configured by having a remote control unit equipped with buttons for "ascending" and "descending" stairs, an elevation unit 4 installed on a base 3, and a horizontal movement unit 5 having a load sensor unit 6 and a distance sensor unit 12 superimposed on the upper part of the elevation unit 4, From the footboard 1a and the leg part 1b Become The device is configured with a low-floor step stool 1 and a drive unit 2 housed in the space beneath it so that it can move in and out. The device raises and lowers the step stool 1 and sets its horizontal position according to a button selected by the user and the load detected when the user "transfers" or "retresats" to the step stool 1, thereby reducing the burden on the user during raising and lowering.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device that can store and take in and out a drive unit for lifting and horizontally moving a tread portion under a low-floor tread portion. When a user transfers to the tread portion from a standing state, the device detects a change in the load applied to the tread portion, and in response to a button on a remote control unit, interlocks the lifting and horizontal movement of the tread portion to assist the user's movement when ascending and descending stairs.

Background Art

[0002] In modern society where the aging population is progressing, the number of people who cannot smoothly perform the operation of ascending and descending stairs is increasing, and a small and simple lifting assistance device for assisting the ascending and descending operation has been desired. Regarding devices for ascending and descending stairs, various devices have been developed conventionally. Many of these devices install guide rails in advance beside the staircase wall connecting the first and second floors, and lift a chair-type device with a user on it along the rails. However, the installation of these devices has problems such as large-scale expansion work, high installation costs, and in some cases, guide rails cannot be installed depending on the shape of the stairs. Also, as shown in Patent Document 1, using a pair of left and right divided lifting mechanisms and a pair of left and right slide mechanisms, while supporting a loading platform, mimicking the operation of a person lifting the loading platform with both hands and feet, the left and right alternately rise and slide in conjunction with each other to climb the stairs one step at a time, or as in Patent Document 2, a device that allows a user to ascend and descend the stairs one step at a time while sitting on a pedestal with wheels has been developed. However, these devices are large and heavy, and it has been difficult to use them easily on the narrow stairs of ordinary wooden houses.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a simple and lightweight support device for assisting users when ascending or descending stairs in ordinary residential buildings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the above problems, this invention relates to a device consisting of a drive unit, which is constructed by installing an extendable lifting unit on a base the same size as A4 paper (approximately 20 x 30 cm), with a horizontal movement unit superimposed on the upper part of the lifting unit, and a low-floor step unit. The step stool is a low-profile step saddle formed using a tread and a pair of left and right legs that support the tread. The drive unit is housed in the space beneath the step stool, allowing it to be extended and retracted. The drive unit enables the step stool to be extended and retracted. The horizontal movement unit has a load sensor that detects the load on the step stool and a distance sensor that detects the distance to the front wall of the stairs and the distance to the stair floor. A remote control unit is also provided with buttons for "going up" and "going down" the stairs. The remote control unit has a drive power supply and a control circuit that control the height and horizontal movement position of the step stool according to the selected button, the load sensor value, and the distance sensor value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to this invention, after the user selects the "ascend" or "descend" button on the remote control, they can easily ascend and descend the stairs connecting the first and second floors by repeating the action of "transferring" from a standing position to a low step or "retreating" from the step to the stair floor at the same height, for the number of steps in the staircase. In other words, by converting the height difference of the stairs in a typical house into the height difference of a low step, the burden of ascending and descending is reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This diagram shows a perspective view of the step platform and drive unit that make up this device. [Figure 2]These are (a) a front view, (b) a side view, and (c) a top view of the device when placed on the floor of a staircase. [Figure 3] (a) Front view and (b) Side view when the lifting mechanism is extended. [Figure 4] (a) is a side view and (b) is a top view when the drive unit pushes the step towards the stairs, and (c) is a side view when the horizontal movement unit lifts the base and the lifting unit. [Figure 5] This is a top view showing the position of the device before and after movement when "climbing" a staircase with a corner. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The device of this invention consists of a step platform, a drive unit, a power supply unit, a control circuit unit, and a remote control unit. The step stool is shaped like a saddle, with the step supported by a pair of legs on the left and right. The drive unit is housed in a retractable space through the bottom of the step stool. The drive unit comprises a lifting unit installed on a base and a horizontal movement unit installed above the lifting unit. The horizontal movement unit includes a load sensor unit that detects the load on the step and a distance sensor unit that measures the distance to the front wall of the stairs and the distance to the stair floor. Furthermore, the power supply unit for the lifting and horizontal movement sections, and the control circuit unit are installed on the base. The remote control unit has an "up" or "down" button. The power supply unit and the control circuit unit control the height of the step platform and the horizontal movement position of the step platform according to the button selected on the remote control unit, the detected value from the load sensor unit, and the detected value from the distance sensor unit. [Examples]

[0009] Staircases in typical houses are usually about 90 centimeters wide, with treads about 20 centimeters deep and risers about 20 centimeters high, and consist of around 14 steps, forming a passageway between the first and second floors. This device is small and lightweight enough to be placed on the treads of a typical house staircase. For example, its dimensions are approximately 40 cm wide, 20 cm deep, and its height (minimum to maximum) is approximately 7 to 25 cm. It weighs approximately 5 kilograms, making it a small and lightweight device that can be easily carried. The dimensions and weight of this device are not limited to the values ​​stated above, and multiple sizes of devices may be provided to suit the user's weight and body type.

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. This device has a step stool 1 and a drive unit 2 as shown in Figure 1. The step stool 1 has a saddle-like shape with a flat tread 1a that bears the load, supported by a pair of legs 1b on the left and right, and is a low-profile step stool with a height of about 7 centimeters. In order to improve the safety of the user when using this device, a long, slender, cane-like handrail or the like may be added to the legs 1b (figure omitted). The drive unit 2 is constructed by mounting a lifting unit 4 on a base 3 and stacking a horizontal movement unit 5 on top of the lifting unit 4. The drive unit 2 also includes a power supply unit for the lifting unit 4 and the horizontal movement unit 5, and a control circuit unit (diagram omitted). For convenience during use, a portable battery or the like is used as the power source for the power supply unit. The power supply unit may also be equipped with a connection terminal that can be used with commercial power, as well as a charging terminal for the portable battery.

[0011] The lifting section 4 has a mechanism that expands and contracts the distance between the base 3 and the horizontal movement section 5, raising and lowering the top surface of the step section 1 by approximately 15 to 20 centimeters until it is at the same height as the floor of a step one level higher. Examples of this mechanism include a method in which a scissor link is operated by an actuator, or a method in which a retractable airbag is operated by a compressor. The horizontal movement part 5 has a support rod 8 that expands and contracts the tread part 1 in the horizontal direction, and has a mechanism that horizontally moves the tread part 1 about 20 to 25 cm in the direction of the front wall of the stairs and pushes it out, or pulls it into the side of the tread part 1. Examples of this mechanism include a method of operating a scissor link with an actuator, a method of operating by rotating a ball screw, etc. Note that the horizontal movement part 5 may also serve as the support rod 8. The present invention does not limit the specific operating mechanisms of these lifting and lowering part 4 and horizontal movement part 5, and uses known methods. Therefore, the description of these configurations is omitted. A distance sensor part 12 is provided on the horizontal movement part 5 or the support rod 8 to measure the distance from the wall surface in the front of the stairs and the height from the floor surface of the tread 7-1. In addition, the horizontal movement part 5 has a load sensor part 12 that detects the "load of the load" applied to the tread part 1. Note that the "load of the load" refers to the weight of the user when "boarding" the tread part 1 or the weight 10 of the object to be carried.

[0012] The remote control part has a "climb" button that the user selects when climbing the stairs and a "descend" button that the user selects when descending (the figure is omitted). In addition to the above buttons, a "stop" button for stopping the lifting and lowering operation, buttons for independently turning on and off the operations of the lifting and lowering part 4 and the horizontal movement part 5, an emergency stop button in case of emergency, etc. may be installed. The remote control part controls the control circuit part using wireless or wired means.

[0013] Figure 2 is a (a) front view, (b) side view, and (c) top view of the device of the present invention in its initial state. The space through which the leg part 1b of the tread part 1 passes is arranged along the wall surface in the front of the stairs. (1) First, the operation when "climbing" the stairs will be described. <Operation 1> (The user "boards" the tread part 1) The width of this device is about half of the width of the stairs (about 40 cm). First, place it on one side (right or left side) of the stairs on the floor surface 7-1 in front of the stairs (Figure 2). The user presses the "climb" button on the remote control part. Then, the user "boards" the tread part 1 from the state of standing in front of the stairs. The height of the tread part 1 is about 7 cm when the leg part 1b touches the floor surface and the lifting and lowering part 4 is most retracted, and it can be boarded easily. The load sensor unit 6 detects that the detected value of stress increases when the user "boards" the platform unit 1.

[0014] <Operation 2> (Ascent of the platform unit 1 and "retreat" of the user from the platform unit 1) When it is detected from the detected value of the load sensor unit 6 in the above <Operation 1> that the user has "boarded" the platform unit 1, the lifting unit 4 is activated to push up the platform unit 1 on which the user has boarded in the vertical direction (Fig. 3). When the height of the upper surface of the tread 1a of the platform unit 1 becomes the same as the height of the one-step higher staircase floor surface 7-2, the ascending operation of the lifting unit 4 is stopped. The user gets off the platform unit 1 and "retreats" to the retreat area 9 (Fig. 2) of the one-step higher staircase floor surface that does not obstruct the ascending path of the present device. This "retreat" operation can be performed in substantially the same horizontal plane. Note that the operation during "retreat" may hold onto the existing "handrail" of the staircase.

[0015] <Operation 3> (The horizontal movement unit 5 pushes out the platform unit 1) When the load sensor unit 6 determines that the detected value it detects has decreased and the user has "retreated" from the platform unit 1, the lifting unit 4 is operated to raise the height of the bottom surface of the leg portion 1b of the platform unit 1 until it exceeds the one-step higher floor surface 7-2, and then the horizontal movement unit 5 is driven next to extend the support rod 8 that expands and contracts in the horizontal direction, and the platform unit 1 is pushed out onto the same one-step higher floor surface 7-2 from which the user has retreated. The distance sensor unit 12 provided on the support rod 8 measures the distances from the front wall of the staircase in the extension direction and the tread floor surface 7-2, and determines whether the platform unit 1 has completely moved onto the staircase floor surface 7-2. Note that the operating burden on the horizontal movement unit 5 when extending the platform unit 1 is light because the user has already retreated to the retreat area 9, and it is only the weight of the platform unit 1 (about 1 kilogram), so it can be configured with a simple structure. <​​​​ When the load sensor unit 6 detects that the detected load value exceeds a specified value and that the user has "transferred," it operates the support rod 8 of the horizontal movement unit 5 to support the base 3 and the lifting unit 4, while simultaneously reducing the height of the lifting unit 4, thereby lifting the base 3 and the lifting unit 4 towards the support rod 8, as shown in Figure 4. In other words, the user's weight becomes a "weight" as a load 10, allowing the lighter base 3 and lifting unit 4 to be safely lifted using the support rod 8. After the gap between the base 3 and the horizontal movement unit 5 in the lifting unit 4 has been reduced to its minimum, the length of the support rod 8 of the horizontal movement unit 5 is reduced, and the base 3 and lifting unit 4 are pulled into the saddle-shaped space below the step stool unit 1 and stored. As a result, the device reaches the staircase floor 7-2, one step higher, and returns to the initial state, the same as the front view in Figure 2(a).

[0017] The distance sensor unit 12 attached to the support rod 8 measures the distance to the front wall of the stairs and the distance to the stair floor. If it determines that the stairs continue further up, it repeats the operations described in <Operations 2-4> and continues the "climbing" motion until it confirms that there are no more stairs, before reaching the second-floor level. In other words, after <Operation 4>, the user can transition to <Operation 2> while still "transferred" to the step unit 1 and continuously climb the stairs. The time required to climb one step of the stairs is approximately 5 to 10 seconds, including the user transferring to the step 1, the lifting mechanism 4 rising, the user moving away from the step 1, the step 1 moving forward towards the front of the stairs, the user transferring to the step 1, and storing the base 3 and lifting mechanism 4 in the space below the step 1. In other words, the time required to climb the 14 steps from the first floor to the second floor is approximately 70 to 140 seconds.

[0018] (2) Next, we will explain the actions a user takes when "going down" the stairs. <Action 5> (After the user "transfers" onto the step stool 1, the horizontal movement unit 5 pushes out the step stool 1.) The user installs the device on the floor surface 7-1 in front of the stairs on the second floor, rotated 180 degrees from its orientation when ascending, and positioned against one side of the staircase wall 11. Note that, since the step section 1 is saddle-shaped and penetrates the device, the orientation of the device can be left as is, and the extension / retraction direction of the horizontal movement section 5 can be reversed via the control circuit. Next, the user presses the "down" button on the remote control and then "transfers" from a standing position to the step platform 1. When the load sensor unit 6 detects from the detected load value that a user has "transferred" onto the step unit 1, it drives the horizontal movement unit 5 to push the base unit 1 and the lifting unit 2 into the air in front of the stairs from the space below the step unit 1 using the support rod 8. In other words, the user's weight becomes the load 10, which acts as a "weight" to lift the base unit 3 and the lifting unit 4 with the support rod 8 and move them horizontally. The distance sensor unit 12 attached to the support rod 8 measures the distance to the lower stair floor surface 7-2 and the distance to the stair floor surface 7-1. The horizontal movement unit 5 sets the position to lower the base unit 3 and the lifting unit 4 and stops the horizontal movement.

[0019] <Action 6> (The lifting unit 4 lowers the step stool 1, and the user "retreats" from the step stool 1.) Next, the lifting unit 4 extends the distance between the base 3 and the horizontal movement unit 5, lowering the base 3 to a floor level 7-2, which is one step lower. When the load sensor unit 6 detects that the base 3 has landed on floor level 7-2, the lifting unit 4 stops operating. After this, the user temporarily "retreats" from the step 1 to the evacuation area 9, which is at the same height as the stair floor surface 7-1.

[0020] <Action 7> (Pull back the step stool 1 and "transfer" onto the step stool 1) Next, the horizontal movement section 5 shortens the support rod 8 and pulls the step section 1 up to the top of the lifting section 4, setting the height of the tread 1a to the same height as the stair floor surface 7-2 (Figure 3). The user "transfers" from the escape area 9 on the stair floor surface 7-1 to the step section 1. In other words, the "transfer" action is a horizontal movement.

[0021] <Action 8> (Reduce the distance between the lifting parts 4 and return the step stool 1 to its initial position) When the load sensor unit 6 detects that the load has increased and the user has "transferred" onto the step unit 1, it activates the lifting unit 4 and moves it in a direction that reduces the distance between the horizontal movement unit 5 and the base 3, pushing the user down to the minimum height (7 cm) which is the same as the height of the step unit 1, while the user is still on it. In this way, the user descends one step down the stairs and returns to the initial position shown in Figure 2. The distance sensor unit 12 installed on the support rod 8 measures the distance from the front wall of the staircase and the distance from the staircase floor to detect whether there is a further lower staircase. If there is a further downward staircase, the above <operations 6-8> are repeated, and the staircase descends from the second floor to the first floor in a continuous motion.

[0022] As explained above, when climbing stairs, ▲1▼ Transfer from a standing position to the step stool 1. ▲2▼The lifting section 2 pushes up the step section 1. ▲3▼The user moves to evacuation area 9. ▲4▼The horizontal movement section 5 pushes out the step stool section 1. ▲5▼The user "transfers" onto the step stool 1. ▲6▼The base 3 and the lifting section 4 are stored in the space below the step stool 1. Also, when going down the stairs, ▲1▼ Transfer from a standing position to the step stool 1. ▲2▼The horizontal movement unit 5 lowers the base 3 and the lifting unit 4. ▲3▼When the user "retreats" from the step stool 1, ▲4▼The horizontal movement section 5 pulls the step section 1 back onto the lifting section 4. ▲5▼The user "transfers" from the evacuation area 9 to the stepping platform 1. ▲6▼The lifting mechanism 4 pushes down the step stool 1. These actions are repeated for each step of the stairs, allowing one to ascend or descend the stairs.

[0023] Up to this point, we have explained the case where the staircase connecting the first and second floors is in a straight line. Next, we will explain the use of stairs with corners. Figure 5 is a top view of the device ascending a staircase that makes a right-angle turn. The solid rectangular frame in the figure indicates the position of the device on the staircase before movement. The dotted line indicates the position after ascending. The shaded area on each step indicates the user's evacuation area 9. When descending, the position is reversed from ascending: before movement it is the position indicated by the dotted line in Figure 5, and after movement it is the position indicated by the solid line. When the device reaches a corner of the stairs, if there is space within the tread of the next higher or lower step for the device to move, the user presses down on the leg portion 1b of the step portion 1 with their foot or cane to shift the device's position to just before ascending or descending the stairs, and then operates the remote control portion.

[0024] As described above, this device allows users to ascend or descend stairs simply by selecting "ascending" or "descending" using the remote control, and then repeatedly "transferring" from a standing position onto the approximately 7 cm low step 1, and "retreating" to the stair floor at the same height as the step 1. In other words, it is equivalent to converting a typical staircase with a step height of approximately 21 cm into a staircase with a step height of approximately 7 cm, about one-third of the original height. Furthermore, because this device can be made small and lightweight, it is easily portable and can assist with ascending and descending stairs of any shape as long as there is enough space on the stair floor for the device to move. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0025] 1. Step stool 1a Treadboard 1b Legs 2 Drive unit 3 bases, 4. Lifting section, 5 horizontal moving part, 6. Load sensor unit 7-1 7-2 Staircase floor 8 Support rod 9 Evacuation area 10 Load 11 Stair wall 12 Distance sensor unit

Claims

[Claim 1] It has a remote control unit equipped with buttons for "going up" and "going down" the stairs. A lifting unit is installed on a base, and a horizontal movement unit having a load sensor unit and a distance sensor unit is stacked on top of the lifting unit to form a drive unit. It has a low-profile step section formed in a saddle shape, and in the space below the step section, A device is configured to house the aforementioned drive unit so that it can be retracted and retracted. The buttons on the remote control unit and the load sensor unit, And, in accordance with the detected value of the distance sensor, the height of the step platform is raised and lowered, A portable stair climbing support device characterized by having a control circuit unit for controlling the horizontal movement position of the step portion and a drive power supply unit.

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