Wheelchair equipment

Abstract

To provide wheelchair equipment that allows elderly people and patients to sit in wheelchairs and maintain a safe and stable riding posture. [Solution] The wheelchair K has an equipment 10 which consists of a headrest member 1 that holds at least the rear and left and right sides of the seated person's head H, a back support member 2 that holds the seated person's chest posture, a posture support member 5 consisting of a lumbar support surface 3 and a seat surface 4 that corrects the seated person's sitting posture, and a knee cover member 9 for the thighs and knees, and which can be selectively used depending on the situation of use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to equipment for a wheelchair mat, and particularly to equipment that significantly improves the seating part, backrest part, etc. so as to ensure that the elderly or patients sitting on the wheelchair can have a safe and stable riding posture.

[0002] In recent years, for example, the push-type wheelchairs provided in hospitals, nursing homes, etc. have become popular as conveyance aids for safely transferring people with difficulty walking or patients or having them sit on the chair and wait. However, the back is bent forward and the head is tilted forward, and even if they barely hold the handrail, they are forced to have a long waiting and resting time in an unstable posture state.

[0003] The reason why the heads of the patients or elderly people sitting on the above-mentioned wheelchair do not achieve a stable posture is that, as shown in Fig. 8(b) of the attached drawings, the seat part 4 of the wheelchair K is in the form of a flat and thin sheet, so the back 2 of the elderly etc. is in a forward-leaning posture and the head 3 protrudes forward. For this reason, as shown by the dotted lines, due to the forward-tipping gravitational forces F1, F2, an unbalanced posture is forced. As a result, a large gap 5 occurs between the backrest and the back, not only failing to perform the function of the backrest but also resulting in a physical disorder state.

[0004] Furthermore, many of the above-mentioned wheelchairs are formed of a thin resin material or a cloth material such as a three-dimensional mesh for the seat part and the backrest part, and the buttocks and the backrest are hard. In a riding posture over a long period of time, it is accompanied by low back pain and back fatigue. For the patients or elderly people sitting on the wheelchair, the comfortable riding feeling is weak and the fatigue feeling doubles. One of its embodiments is [refer to Document 1 of Published Utility Model].

[0005] Furthermore, there are examples of improved wheelchair seats and backrests designed to prevent lower back pain and back fatigue even during prolonged use. Specifically, a wheelchair cushion member 100 is provided, consisting of a reversible seat cover 10, a reversible backrest cover 20, an elastic material for the seat covered with a thin cover, an elastic material for the backrest covered with a thin cover, and a sash 30 having a pocket 14 on the back of the backrest cover. [See published utility model document 2.]

[0006] However, the reversible seat cover 10 and the reversible backrest cover 20 described above are still made of thin material, so prolonged use in a riding position can lead to lower back pain and back fatigue. For patients and elderly people in wheelchairs, the riding experience is not comfortable, and fatigue is amplified.

[0007] In particular, hospital management and nursing home management in recent years have faced significant financial challenges. When considering wheelchair equipment that can provide safe and desirable usage in response to these challenges, it becomes clear that current wheelchairs have shortcomings that need improvement and enhancement. To resolve the above-mentioned problems, the inventor thoroughly investigated the specifications of various equipment attached to wheelchairs and the basic structure that determines their ease of use.

[0008] Manually operated wheelchairs, particularly those used in hospitals and nursing homes, often leave elderly or patient passengers with unstable legs, hips, backs, and heads, forcing them into a hunched-over posture. There is a need for equipment that can correct this posture to a more stable one for the passenger. Furthermore, the high demand for wheelchairs, requiring large numbers of units, is putting a strain on the finances of hospitals and other medical facilities. Therefore, the development and provision of new, low-cost, highly functional, and comfortable accessories for wheelchairs has become an urgent priority.

[0009] [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-33529 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-4983 [Overview of the Initiative]

[0011] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] This invention is a wheelchair accessory that comprehensively solves the various problems described in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2, and can be used with a variety of wheelchair accessories ranging from basic specifications to multi-functional accessories, depending on the usage situation.

[0013] In order to overcome the problems of the conventional wheelchairs described above, the inventor of this invention considered the following issues and their solutions when developing equipment for wheelchairs, as described in items 1 to 7 below. 1. We want to gently support the stable posture of people using wheelchairs and be able to cope with the heat of summer. 2. The back support components are often made of thin, hard cushioning material, and we want to create a comfortable component. 3. Posture-supporting components must provide excellent support for the lower back and buttocks, and must have appropriate softness and a comfortable fit to avoid causing lower back pain or spinal deformities. We want to improve the foot support of wheelchair users. 4. While conventional wheelchair seats and backrests have cushioning, they can become cold and draw heat away from the body during winter use. Therefore, for users with frail health, we would like to improve this by properly positioning heat-retaining materials. 5. Patients and elderly people who use wheelchairs have a high need to drink fluids frequently, but there are no holders for water bottles, smartphones, etc., and we would like to equip wheelchairs with such holders. 6. The full-body support member, which is an integrated unit of the headrest member, back support member, and posture support member consisting of a lumbar support surface and a seat surface, cannot be washed in anything other than a large washing machine. However, we would like to make each component separable so that it can be washed in a household washing machine. 7. In appropriate locations such as back support members, posture support members, and knee blanket members, we would like to attach heat-retaining members for the thighs, waist, ankles, and knees, as well as muscle relaxation means that relax muscles with weak electrical pulses that directly act on the skin surface to support movement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In a wheelchair that solves the above objective, the equipment consists of a headrest member that supports the back of the seated person's head, a back support member that supports the seated person's back posture, a posture support member consisting of a seat surface that corrects the seated person's sitting posture, and a knee support member for the thighs and knees, and each of the above members can be separated and joined by means of attachment and detachment, and the equipment is made by unitizing each of the above members so that they can be separated.

[0015] The resulting effect is that, in accordance with the intended use of existing wheelchairs, the above-mentioned equipment can be selectively increased or decreased when setting each component onto the wheelchair. This allows for a multifaceted development from inexpensive wheelchairs to multi-functional wheelchairs.

[0016] Furthermore, the wheelchair's headrest is equipped with a cooling fan, sound playback device (earphone), and sound receiver (microphone) to eliminate boredom for the wheelchair user and to ensure reliable and rapid communication to caregivers at a distance via the microphone.

[0017] Furthermore, the aforementioned back support members and other components can be made with soft materials such as cushioning material or air pillows inside, or equipped with heat-retaining materials to alleviate fatigue in the back muscles of elderly people using wheelchairs.

[0018] Furthermore, the posture-holding member described above has a seating surface that comfortably corrects the sitting posture of the person sitting, and the seating surface is formed of a material similar to a cushion or air pillow. The seating surface has a large indentation in the center where the buttocks rest, and the front edge is bulging upward to lift the thighs, thereby stably supporting the back and waist of elderly people sitting in wheelchairs, ensuring safety and relieving muscle pain and fatigue.

[0019] Furthermore, the whole-body holding member is composed of the above headrest member, a backrest holding member, and a posture holding member including a lumbar support surface and a seat surface, and is provided with a heat retention member for warming the thighs, knees, toes, etc. In addition, the above members are provided with detachable means such as fastener means or magic bonding means, enabling selective integration of each member and partial use in a separated state. This allows for easy washing at home.

[0020] In addition to the heat retention member, muscle relaxation means is appropriately equipped on the backrest holding member, the posture holding member, the knee rest member, the front edge of the seat surface, etc., and a weak pulse voltage and current are applied to the muscle tissue by electrodes attached to the skin surface of the elderly person sitting in the wheelchair, TIFF0003256654000002.tif11155 enabling enhancement.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] Side view of the wheelchair and this multifunctional equipment, in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Perspective view and partial cross-sectional view of attaching the headrest member to the wheelchair. [Figure 3] Plan view of the headrest member. [Figure 4] Rear view of the headrest member. [Figure 5] Overall perspective view of the whole-body holding member. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of the backrest holding member. [Figure 7] Plan view of the whole-body holding member. [Figure 8] [[ID=?]]Comparison diagram between the present invention and the conventional example in the sitting posture on the wheelchair. [Figure 9] Perspective view and cross-sectional view of the sitting posture of a modified example of the whole-body holding member. [Figure 10] Block diagram of the electric control device provided in the wheelchair. [Figure 11] Relationship diagram between the muscle relaxation means and this supporter.

Embodiment for Implementing the Invention

[0022] The following Figures 1 to 11 illustrate each component and usage example of the multi-functional equipment for the wheelchair according to this invention. [Examples]

[0023] First, in Figures 1 and 2, the multi-functional wheelchair equipment 10 consists of, for example, a headrest member 1 that gently supports the back and sides of the head of the person sitting in wheelchair K, a back support member 2 that optimally supports the chest posture of the person sitting in wheelchair K, a posture support member 5 consisting of a lumbar support surface 3 that comfortably corrects the sitting posture of the person sitting in wheelchair K, and a seat surface 4, as well as a knee blanket 6 for the thighs, etc. Furthermore, a thigh wrap 9 that wraps around the thighs. Although only a portion of the illustration shows the heat-retaining members H0 that warm the knees, thighs, waist, etc., they are appropriately incorporated into each member. The overall configuration, in which all of the above members are connected as a single unit, is the full-body support member 8. Therefore, it is possible to select and add or remove each piece of equipment 1 to 9 as needed. The configuration will be described later. Furthermore, the handrails of the wheelchair K mentioned above are equipped with stands S for placing items such as plastic bottles P and smartphones, as shown in Figure 1.

[0024] Furthermore, shoulder straps B1 and B2, which are used to stabilize the upper body of the person in wheelchair K, are shown in Figures 1 and 5. By positioning them between the left and right positions of the upper part of the back support member 2 and the left and right positions of the waist support surface 3, a person sitting in wheelchair K in a forward-leaning position can be held in a stable posture.

[0025] Next, each component of the multi-functional equipment 10 described above will be explained in order. In Figure 2, the headrest member 1 is fixed to the connector S with fastening screws 22 by gripping a pair of opening / closing pieces 20, 21 at any position on the operating handles h1, h2. The vertical support rods 24, 25 of the headrest member 1 are passed through a support cylinder 23 which is paired with the connector S, and are fixed at an arbitrary height position with fastening screws 26. A swivelable connector 27 is attached to one side of the support rods 24, 25, and a small cooling fan (electric fan) F is attached to the tip of this connector so as to be able to oscillate. In this way, cool air is gently directed at the neck of the person sitting in the wheelchair K. Note that the configuration of setting up the headrest member 1 on the operating handles h1, h2 is a disclosure of one embodiment, and other known means can be arbitrarily applied.

[0026] In Figure 3, the headrest member 1 consists of a first support surface 1A that supports the back of the head H1 and left and right support surfaces 1B and 1C that support the left and right cheek surfaces of the head. The headrest member 1 is made of a low-rebound cushioning material, and the interior is molded with a firm resin material. That is, the surface is formed of a soft, appropriate material, and its shape is not limited to that shown.

[0027] The headrest member 1 described above has left and right support surfaces 1B and 1C that support the left and right cheek surfaces of the passenger's head H, and is equipped with an audio playback device (earphone) I and this audio device S on the back, etc. This eliminates boredom for the person in the wheelchair K and enhances their mental stability.

[0028] Furthermore, the headrest member 1 has an acoustic transmitter (microphone) M mounted on the left or right support surface that supports the left and right cheek surfaces of the passenger's head H, and this transmitting device o is mounted on the back or elsewhere. This allows elderly people and others in wheelchairs K to reliably and quickly communicate their requests via microphone M to a walkie-talkie held by a caregiver at a distance.

[0029] Next, in Figure 5, the back support member 2 has a soft surface and an interior made of a material such as feathers, cushioning material, or an air pillow / bag. This allows the back muscles of an elderly person using wheelchair K to be held softly and securely, relieving fatigue in the back muscles. Furthermore, the upper part is provided with a receiving hole h0 that engages with a support rod (not shown) attached to the lower back of the headrest member 1, making the headrest member 1 detachable. In addition, as shown in Figure 6, a heat-retaining member H0 is built into the interior of the back support member 2.

[0030] Furthermore, in Figures 1 and 5, the structure of the posture-holding member 5, which consists of a lumbar support surface 3 and a seat surface 4B that comfortably corrects the sitting posture of the person sitting, will be explained. The posture-holding member consists of a lumbar support surface 3 provided at the lower part of the back support member 2 and a seat surface 4B, both made of materials such as feathers, sponge material, or various cushioning materials with appropriate resilience. The seat surface 4B has a structure in which the central part 4C is greatly recessed. This allows the person sitting to sit with their buttocks (hip joint) stabilized.

[0031] In other words, the posture-holding member 5 has a "seat surface 4B" that serves as a hip joint receiving surface to stably support the lumbar spine, buttocks, and thighs in order to comfortably correct the sitting posture of the person sitting, and the central part of the hip joint receiving surface that supports the pelvis is recessed, and the tip side 4D of the hip joint receiving surface has a cross-sectional shape that expands upward. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9(a), the seat surface 4B has a large recess in the central part 4C, the front end 4D of the seat surface 4B bulges upward, and mountain-shaped protruding bands 4X are provided in the central parts on both sides. This stabilizes the thighs and buttocks from both knees W,W.

[0032] However, this provides a stable and secure support for the waist and spine of elderly people sitting in wheelchair K, thereby relieving muscle pain and fatigue. Specifically, as shown in Figure 8(a), when a person sits on the seat surface 4B of the posture-holding member 5, as indicated by the solid arrows, their hip joints are lowered, their back and head are stable, and their knees are slightly raised. In other words, it replicates a sitting comfort similar to that of an infant being gently held in their mother's arms.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, the interior of the lumbar support surface 3 and the seat surface 4 is equipped with a heat-retaining member H0 and a muscle-relaxing means KP. The detailed configuration of the heat-retaining member H0 and the muscle-relaxing means will be described later. In addition, a lap blanket member 6 is detachably sewn to one side of the seat surface 4B.

[0034] Furthermore, in Figure 5, the left and right thigh rests 9 are detachably connected to the leading edge of the posture-holding member 5 by fastening means G such as zippers or Velcro. The knee rest 9 consists of left and right thigh rests and is equipped with a heat-retaining member H0 and a muscle-relaxing means KP on the inside. With this setup, the thigh rests 9A of each thigh rest 9,9 are wrapped around the front of the knees of a person sitting on the seat surface 4B placed on the wheelchair K, and secured with the fastening means G. In this way, the knees are enveloped by the heat-retaining member H0 and the muscle-relaxing means KP.

[0035] Each component of the multi-functional wheelchair equipment 10 of this invention, which has the above configuration, is controlled by the electrical control device E0 shown in Figure 10. The overall structure and its functions are explained below using a block diagram. ▲1▼ The computer control unit CPU controls the operation commands for each component of the multi-functional equipment 10 using the power supply / battery B0 installed in the wheelchair K. The driving command is selected via the selection button in the selection box SS, or via the smartphone SH. ▲2▼ The computer control unit CPU controls the sound playback device (earphone or speaker) I provided in the headrest member 1 and the sound equipment S. It also controls the acoustic receiver (microphone) M and the transmitting device o. With this setup, elderly individuals using chair K can reliably and quickly communicate their needs and requests to their caregivers via microphone M using a walkie-talkie or smartphone. ▲3▼ The computer control unit CPU can automatically control the temperature of the heat-retaining members H0 placed in appropriate locations (back, waist, thighs, knees, etc.) of the full-body support member 8 for a person in a wheelchair, in response to the temperature control X. ▲4▼ The computer control unit CPU wraps a supporter 20, which has electrodes P1 and P2 on its inner surface, around the back, shoulders, waist, thighs, knees, etc. of the person in the wheelchair, relative to the muscle relaxation means (pulse voltage control means) Z shown in Figure 11, and controls the pulse voltage therapy.

[0036] Next, an overview of the muscle relaxation means (pulse control means) Z will be explained in Figure 11. The pulse oscillator PV, which generates a weak pulse voltage, is wired to a supporter 20 equipped with electrodes P1 and P2, as shown in Figure 11(a). The above supporter 20 has Velcro fasteners on both edges, making it easy to attach and detach from the body.

[0037] Thus, a supporter 20 is wrapped around the shoulders, back, waist, knees, etc., and a weak pulse voltage / current is used to electrically stimulate the muscle tissue, performing a massage therapy to alleviate muscle fatigue. Specifically, the computer control unit CPU can wrap the supporter 20, which is equipped with electrodes, around the "back, shoulders, waist, thighs, knees, etc." of a person in a wheelchair, and perform pulse voltage therapy.

[0038] Furthermore, the above-mentioned computer control unit CPU can automatically control the temperature of the heat-retaining members H0, which are placed in appropriate locations (back, waist, thighs, knees, etc.) on the full-body support member 8 for the person in the wheelchair, using the selection box SS in Figure 10 or a smartphone SH. In addition, the cooling fan (electric fan) F is switched ON or OFF by the computer control unit CPU.

[0039] The notable functional effects, benefits, and economic advantages of each configuration of this invention are multifaceted, as described below, enabling various usage conditions and business benefits. (1) The basic specification at a low price will consist only of a headrest component 1 (audio equipment omitted), a back support component 2, and a posture support component 5. Even with this, it can stably support the "waist, back, and head" of the person using the wheelchair. Moreover, it guarantees a comfortable seating experience even for a large number of wheelchairs at an extremely low cost. (2) A mid-priced, user-friendly option consists of a headrest member 1 (without audio equipment), a back support member 2, a posture support member 5, a knee rest member 9, a thigh support member 6, and an H0 heat retention member (additional as needed). However, it can stably support the entire body of the person using the wheelchair. This ensures a comfortable seating experience for a large number of wheelchairs, while maintaining a moderate cost. (3) For high-priced, multi-functional specifications, the system will consist of a headrest member 1 (equipped with audio equipment), a back support member 2, a posture support member 5, a knee rest member 9, a thigh support member 6, a heat retention member H0 (equipped on all members), a muscle relaxation means (pulse control means) Z, and an electrical control device E0 that controls the computer control unit CPU, etc. This will be a full-spec system. Thus, because it is in the high price range, wheelchair users can enjoy a realm of ultimate pleasure. Furthermore, even while sitting in the chair, they can expect to improve their health through muscle training.

[0040] As described above, the wheelchair equipment 10 of this invention allows for the addition or removal of the seat, backrest, headrest member 1, and other members 1 to 9 of the wheelchair K in accordance with the user's usage conditions. Thus, it can be used in a wide range of situations, from low-priced to high-priced options. Of particular note is the broad potential benefits of maintaining user health and cost savings for hospitals and nursing homes.

[0041] Furthermore, the above-mentioned computer control unit CPU can, through generated AI, provide feedback on the operation data of the personal information of the actual wheelchair user to each output destination "1, X, Z," and then perform individualized driving control based on the optimal conditions obtained. [Industrial applicability]

[0042] The wheelchair equipment of this invention is not limited to the wheelchairs mentioned above, but can also be used on the lumbar support, backrest, headrest, and other parts of other components such as office chairs, reclining chairs, full-body massage chairs, and various types of sofas, enabling a wide variety of uses. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 1 Headrest component 2 Back support member 3 Waist immediate 4B Seat surface 4D tip side 4X protruding band 5. Posture-holding member 6. Thigh support member 7. Insulation material 8. Whole-body support member 9. Knee blanket component 10 Multifunctional Equipment 20 Supporters B0 Battery CPU (Computer Control Unit) E0 Electrical Control Unit K Wheelchair H0 Insulation material S Audio equipment o Transmitting equipment X Temperature control W Thighs Z Muscle relaxation means (pulse control means) PV pulse oscillator

Claims

1. A wheelchair accessory comprising a headrest member that supports the back of the seated person's head, a back support member that supports the seated person's back posture, a posture support member consisting of a seat surface that corrects the seated person's sitting posture, and a knee support member for the thighs and knees, wherein each of the above members can be separated and joined by means of attachment and detachment, and the above members can be increased, decreased, or joined according to the usage situation.

2. The wheelchair equipment according to claim 1, wherein the headrest member is characterized in that the left and right support rods are supported by the operating rods of the left and right operating handles of the wheelchair in a manner that allows for height adjustment, a cooling fan is placed at an appropriate location on the support rods, and an audio device is also provided.

3. The wheelchair equipment according to claim 1, wherein the back support member has a surface shape that is substantially concave to enclose the back and both edges of the rider's back, and the bottom of the back support member has a lumbar support surface that corrects the seating posture of the person sitting, and is formed of a low-rebound material like a cushioning material.

4. The wheelchair equipment according to claim 1 above, wherein the posture-holding member has a hip joint receiving surface that stably supports the lumbar spine, buttocks and thighs, and the central part of the hip joint receiving surface that supports the pelvis has a recessed shape, and the tip side and the central part of the hip joint receiving surface have a cross-sectional shape that bulges upward.

5. The wheelchair equipment according to claim 1, wherein a heat-retaining member or a muscle relaxation means is selectively equipped on any member of the back support member, posture support member or knee cover member, and the muscle relaxation means relaxes the muscle tissue by applying a weak pulse voltage or pulse current to the muscle tissue using electrodes wrapped around the skin surface of the person using the wheelchair.

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