Guide rope

Abstract

The present invention enables transmission of intention between users by utilizing tactile sense not limited in the direction or magnitude of force. This guide rope is formed by annularly connecting, in sequence, a first gripping part, a first connection part, a second gripping part, and a second connection part. The respective interiors of the first gripping part, the first connection part, the second gripping part, and the second connection part are hollow, and form a single closed space in which the interiors are connected with one another. The first gripping part and the second connection part are configured so as to be easily deformed by a change in internal air pressure or a change in force applied from outside. The first connection part and the second connection part are configured so as not be easily deformed by a change in internal air pressure, a change in force applied from outside, or a change in relative positional relation with respect to a user.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a guide rope used by an assistant to guide a visually impaired person, such as when an accompanying runner guides a visually impaired person in a marathon. [Background technology]

[0002] A technology for guiding visually impaired people using touch is described in Non-Patent Document 1. Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an escort guide rope made of a looped rope. By holding this escort guide rope, the escort runner and the visually impaired person can communicate their intentions using the direction and magnitude of force between the users, for example, the escort runner can give instructions to the visually impaired person on the direction to go.

[0003] A technology for mutual communication using touch is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 2. Non-Patent Document 2 discloses a communication device in which multiple rubber balls are connected by rubber air tubes to form a ring to form a single air chamber. When a person tightens their grip on one of the balls in the communication device of Non-Patent Document 2, air is sent via the air tube to another ball being held by another person, causing the ball being held by the other person to inflate or attempt to inflate. As a result, by using the communication device of Non-Patent Document 2, users can communicate with each other using touch. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] “Accompanying Guide (Basic Edition)”, [online], NPO Japan Blind Marathon Association, [Retrieved April 15, 2021], Internet<URL: https: / / jbma.or.jp / challenge / guiderunnner / preparation / > [Non-Patent Document 2] "Kuuki Denwa", [online], NTT INTERCOMMUNICATION CENTER, [searched on April 15, 2021], Internet<URL: https: / / www.ntticc.or.jp / ja / archive / works / communication-by-air / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] According to the accompany guide rope in Non-Patent Document 1, users can communicate their intentions using the direction and magnitude of force. However, since the accompany guide rope communicates intentions using only the direction and magnitude of force, there is a problem in that the information that can be transmitted is limited.

[0006] According to the technology in Non-Patent Document 2, it is possible for users to communicate with each other using the sense of touch. However, because it uses a flexible pneumatic tube made of rubber, it is difficult to communicate intentions using the direction and magnitude of force, and there is a problem that it cannot be used as a guide rope.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a guide rope that enables communication between users using tactile sensation without being limited by the direction and magnitude of force. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a guide rope is used for communicating between two users. The guide rope is a ring-shaped connection of a first gripping part to be held by a first user of the two users, a second gripping part to be held by a second user of the two users, a first connecting part, and a second connecting part, each of the first gripping part and the second gripping part being a hollow three-dimensional object having an outer shell with two connecting parts (hereinafter referred to as a "first connecting part" and a "second connecting part"), each of the first connecting part and the second connecting part being a tube with two end parts (hereinafter referred to as a "first end" and a "second end"), the first connecting part of the first gripping part and the first end part of the first connecting part are connected, the second connecting part of the first gripping part and the second end part of the second connecting part are connected, and the first connecting part of the second gripping part and the first end part of the second connecting part are connected. The second connecting portion of the gripping part and the second end portion of the first connecting part are connected, and a single sealed space is formed by the hollow interior of the first gripping part, the hollow interior of the first connecting part, the hollow interior of the second gripping part, and the hollow interior of the second connecting part. The outer shells of the first gripping part and the second gripping part are formed so as to be easily deformed by either a change in internal air pressure or a change in external force, and the outer shells of the first connecting part and the second connecting part are formed so as not to be easily deformed by either a change in internal air pressure or a change in external force, and not to be easily deformed by a change in the relative positional relationship between a first user gripping the first gripping part and a second user gripping the second gripping part. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The guide rope of the present invention enables communication between users using the sense of touch without being limited by the direction and magnitude of force. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of a guide rope 100. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 2]Fig. 2A is a plan view illustrating the guide rope 100. Fig. 2B is a side view illustrating the guide rope 100. [Diagram 3] Fig. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of grip part 110-i, and Fig. 3B is a schematic side view for explaining the configuration of grip part 110-i. [Figure 4] Fig. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the connection part 120-j, and Fig. 4B is a schematic side view for explaining the configuration of the connection part 120-j. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the connection state of each part in the guide rope 100. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [First embodiment] The guide rope 100 of the first embodiment is a three-dimensional object exemplified in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and is composed of a first gripping part 110-1, a second gripping part 110-2, a first connecting part 120-1, and a second connecting part 120-2, as exemplified in FIG. 2A. More specifically, the guide rope 100 is a structure in which the first gripping part 110-1, the first connecting part 120-1, the second gripping part 110-2, and the second connecting part 120-2 are connected in a circular manner in this order. The first gripping part 110-1 is for holding by one of two users, a visually impaired person and an assistant (hereinafter referred to as the "first user"). The second gripping part 110-2 is for holding by the other user (hereinafter referred to as the "second user") of the two users, a visually impaired person and an assistant. The assistant may be a sighted person or a visually impaired person.

[0012] [First gripping part 110-1, second gripping part 110-2] Since the first gripping part 110-1 and the second gripping part 110-2 have the same structure, in the following description, i is set to 1 for the first gripping part 110-1 and i is set to 2 for the second gripping part 110-2, and they will be described as gripping parts 110-i.

[0013] FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line IIIa-IIIa in FIG. 3B. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3A, the grip part 110-i is a hollow three-dimensional object having an outer shell 113-i equipped with two connecting parts, a first connecting part 111-i and a second connecting part 112-i. Hereinafter, the hollow part of the grip part 110-i is referred to as an interior 114-i. The outer shell 113-i is configured to become a three-dimensional object when the interior 114-i is filled with gas. The shape of the three-dimensional object is arbitrary, and may be a sphere, a spheroid, or another shape. The size of the three-dimensional object is arbitrary as long as it can be gripped by a user. For example, the volume of the three-dimensional object including the gas filled in the interior 114-i is approximately 150 cm. 3 The diameter of the shell 113-i may be about 6.6 cm, and when the three-dimensional object is a sphere, the diameter may be about 6.6 cm. The shell 113-i is formed so as to be easily deformed by either a change in gas pressure in the interior 114-i or a change in force applied from the outside. That is, the shell 113-i may be formed of an elastic body, for example, a thin rubber sheet having low hardness. An example of a thin rubber sheet having low hardness is a rubber (natural rubber or synthetic rubber) sheet having a thickness of about 1 mm. More specifically, for example, a soft tennis ball provided with a first connecting portion 111-i and a second connecting portion 112-i may be used as the gripped part 110-i.

[0014] Each of the first connecting portion 111-i and the second connecting portion 112-i may be provided so as to include a point where a straight line passing through the center of gravity of the three-dimensional object touches the outer shell 113-i. When a soft tennis ball provided with the first connecting portion 111-i and the second connecting portion 112-i is used as the gripping part 110-i, the shape of the three-dimensional object when the interior 114-i is filled with gas is a sphere, and the center of gravity of the three-dimensional object is the center of the sphere, so each of the first connecting portion 111-i and the second connecting portion 112-i may be provided so as to include a point where a straight line passing through the center of the sphere touches the outer shell 113-i.

[0015] 3B is a side view of the grip part 110-i viewed from the first connecting part 111-i side and the second connecting part 112-i side. The first connecting part 111-i is provided with an opening 111A-i and a joint part 111B-i. The second connecting part 112-i is provided with an opening 112A-i and a joint part 112B-i.

[0016] [First connection part 120-1, second connection part 120-2] Since the first connecting part 120-1 and the second connecting part 120-2 have the same structure, in the following description, j is set to 1 for the first connecting part 120-1 and j is set to 2 for the second connecting part 120-2, and they are described as connecting parts 120-j.

[0017] FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line IVa-IVa in FIG. 4B. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A, the connection part 120-j is a tube having two ends, a first end 121-j and a second end 122-j. Hereinafter, the tube part of the connection part 120-j is referred to as an outer shell 123-j, and the hollow part of the connection part 120-j is referred to as an inner part 124-j. FIG. 4B is a side view of the connection part 120-j as viewed from the first end 121-j side and as viewed from the second end 122-j side. The first end 121-j of the connection part 120-j is composed of an opening 121A-j which is an end of the hollow inner part 124-j, and a joint part 121B-j which is an end of the outer shell 123-i. The second end 122-j of the connecting piece 120-j is formed by an opening 122A-j which is the end of a hollow interior 124-j and a joint 122B-j which is the end of an outer shell 123-i.

[0018] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection state of the first gripping part 110-1, the first connecting part 120-1, the second gripping part 110-2, and the second connecting part 120-2 in the guide rope 100, taken along the dashed line VV in Fig. 2B. Fig. 2B is a side view of the guide rope 100 as seen from the second gripping part 110-2 side. The first end 121-1 of the first connecting part 120-1 is connected to the first connecting part 111-1 of the first gripping part 110-1, the second end 122-1 of the first connecting part 120-1 is connected to the second connecting part 112-2 of the second gripping part 110-2, the first end 121-2 of the second connecting part 120-2 is connected to the first connecting part 111-2 of the second gripping part 110-2, and the second end 122-2 of the second connecting part 120-2 is connected to the second connecting part 112-1 of the first gripping part 110-1. By making these four connections, the first gripping part 110-1, the first connecting part 120-1, the second gripping part 110-2, and the second connecting part 120-2 are connected in a circular manner in this order.

[0019] The length of the connection part 120-j may be any length that allows two users to hold the respective grip parts 110-i without touching each other, and may be, for example, approximately 30 cm. The inner diameter of the tube may be any length that does not impede the air flow caused by the change in pressure outside the outer shell 113-i of the grip part 110-i or provide a large resistance to the air flow, and may be, for example, approximately 4 mm. The outer shell 123-i is formed so as not to be easily deformed by either the change in pressure of the internal gas or the change in force applied from the outside, and so as not to be easily deformed by the change in the relative positional relationship between the first user holding the first grip part and the second user holding the second grip part, and is formed, for example, from soft PVC (soft polyvinyl chloride) with a thickness of approximately 2 mm. That is, for example, a tube formed of soft PVC with a length of approximately 30 cm, an inner diameter of approximately 4 mm, and an outer diameter of approximately 6 mm can be used as the connection part 120-i.

[0020] [Connection] The connection state of the first gripping part 110-1, the first connecting part 120-1, the second gripping part 110-2 and the second connecting part 120-2 in the guide rope 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0021] At the connection portion between the first connection portion 111-1 of the first gripping part 110-1 and the first end portion 121-1 of the first connecting part 120-1, the joint portion 111B-1 of the first connecting portion 111-1 of the first gripping part 110-1 and the joint portion 121B-1 of the first end portion 121-1 of the first connecting part 120-1 are joined, and this joint connects the opening portion 111A-1 of the first connecting portion 111-1 of the first gripping part 110-1 and the opening portion 121A-1 of the first end portion 121-1 of the first connecting part 120-1.

[0022] At the connection portion between the second connection portion 112-1 of the first gripping part 110-1 and the second end portion 122-2 of the second connecting part 120-2, the joint portion 112B-1 of the second connecting portion 112-1 of the first gripping part 110-1 and the joint portion 122B-2 of the second end portion 122-2 of the second connecting part 120-2 are joined, and this joint connects the opening portion 112A-1 of the second connecting portion 112-1 of the first gripping part 110-1 and the opening portion 122A-2 of the second end portion 122-2 of the second connecting part 120-2.

[0023] At the connection portion between the first connection portion 111-2 of the second gripping part 110-2 and the first end portion 121-2 of the second connecting part 120-2, the joint portion 111B-2 of the first connection portion 111-2 of the second gripping part 110-2 and the joint portion 121B-2 of the first end portion 121-2 of the second connecting part 120-2 are joined, and this joining connects the opening portion 111A-2 of the first connection portion 111-2 of the second gripping part 110-2 and the opening portion 121A-2 of the first end portion 121-2 of the second connecting part 120-2.

[0024] At the connection portion between the second connection portion 112-2 of the second gripping part 110-2 and the second end portion 122-1 of the first connecting part 120-1, the joint portion 112B-2 of the second connecting portion 112-2 of the second gripping part 110-2 and the joint portion 122B-1 of the second end portion 122-1 of the first connecting part 120-1 are joined, and this joint connects the opening portion 112A-2 of the second connecting portion 112-2 of the second gripping part 110-2 and the opening portion 122A-1 of the second end portion 122-1 of the first connecting part 120-1.

[0025] As described above, the openings are connected, so that the hollow interior 114-1 of the first gripping part 110-1, the hollow interior 124-1 of the first connecting part 120-1, the hollow interior 114-2 of the second gripping part 110-2, and the hollow interior 124-2 of the second connecting part 120-2 form one sealed space. The inside of the formed sealed space is filled with gas. The gas filled in the sealed space may be any gas that does not erode or deteriorate the gripping part 110-i and the connecting part 120-j, and may be air, for example. The air pressure in the sealed space may be set to a level that allows the outer shell 113-1 of the first gripping part 110-1 and the outer shell 113-2 of the second gripping part 110-2 to maintain the above-mentioned shapes when each is gripped by a user.

[0026] [How to use] The guide rope 100 is used in a state where the first user holds the first gripping part 110-1 and the second user holds the second gripping part 110-2. When the first user tightens his grip on the first gripping part 110-1, a part of the gas in the inside 114-1 of the first gripping part 110-1 is pushed out to the inside 124-1 of the first connecting part 120-1 and the inside 124-2 of the second connecting part 120-2, and gas is sent from the inside 124-1 of the first connecting part 120-1 and the inside 124-2 of the second connecting part 120-2 to the inside 114-2 of the second gripping part 110-2, and the outer shell 113-2 of the second gripping part 110-2 expands or tries to expand, so that the second user can sense by touch that the first user has tightened his grip on the first gripping part 110-1. Similarly, when the second user tightens his grip on the second gripping part 110-2, the outer shell 113-1 of the first gripping part 110-1 swells or tries to swell, allowing the first user to sense by touch that the second user has tightened his grip on the second gripping part 110-2. Also, when a pulling force is applied in a certain direction to the first gripping part 110-1 being held by the first user, a pulling force is also applied in that direction to the second gripping part 110-2, which is connected by the first connecting part 120-1 and the second connecting part 120-2 so that the relative positional relationship with the first gripping part 110-1 does not easily change, and the second user can sense by touch that the first user has applied a pulling force in that direction to the first gripping part 110-1. Similarly, when the second user applies a pulling force to the second gripping part 110-2 in a certain direction, a pulling force is applied to the first gripping part 110-1 in that direction, and the first user can sense by touch that a pulling force has been applied in that direction. From the above, by using the guide rope 100, it becomes possible for the first and second users to communicate their intentions to each other, including information on the pulling direction, pulling force, and grip information, which is information other than force and direction, without requiring an electrical control mechanism or power source.

[0027] [Experimental Results] The inventors conducted subject experiments using eight types of guide ropes 100 in which a soft tennis ball was used as the gripping part 110-i and the angle between the first connection portion 111-i and the second connection portion 112-i of the gripping part 110-i, the hardness of the connection part 120-j, and the length of the connection part 120-j were each set to two values.

[0028] Regarding the angle formed by the first connecting portion 111-i and the second connecting portion 112-i of the gripping part 110-i, an experiment was conducted with two central angles of 90 degrees and 180 degrees in a cross section of a soft tennis ball. In the case of the gripping part 110-i with a central angle of 90 degrees, the fingers sometimes got caught in the connecting part 120-j. In contrast, in the case of the gripping part 110-i with a central angle of 180 degrees, it was found that the fingers do not get caught in the connecting part 120-j and the gripping part 110-i is easy to grip. In other words, it was found that it is preferable that each of the first connecting portion 111-i and the second connecting portion 112-i of the gripping part 110-i is located at the contact point between the straight line passing through the center of gravity of the three-dimensional object of the gripping part 110-i and the outer shell of the three-dimensional object.

[0029] Regarding the hardness of the connection part 120-j, an experiment was conducted using two types of connection part 120-j, a soft tube and a hard tube. The soft tube is a silicone tube with an outer diameter of about 6 mm and an inner diameter of about 4 mm, and the hard tube is a soft PVC tube with an outer diameter of about 6 mm and an inner diameter of about 4 mm. In the case of the guide rope 100 using the soft tube as the connection part 120-j, it was found that there were problems such as being too soft and having too much play, feeling uneasy, being difficult to control, making a large turn when turning, and being difficult to understand the feeling of turning. In contrast, it was found that the guide rope 100 using the hard tube as the connection part 120-j has advantages such as a sense of security, being reliable, being stable, and having good tension. In other words, the connecting part 120-j should be formed so as not to be easily deformed due to changes in the relative positional relationship between the first user holding the first gripping part 110-1 and the second user holding the second gripping part 110-2. For example, it was found that it is preferable to use a tube made of soft PVC having an outer diameter of approximately 6 mm and an inner diameter of approximately 4 mm as the connecting part 120-j.

[0030] The experiment was carried out using two lengths of the connecting part 120-j, 15 cm and 30 cm. It was found that when the length of the connecting part 120-j is 15 cm, there are problems such as too little play and it can be bumped into, or it is too short and the hand hits it, making it difficult to grip. In contrast, when the length of the connecting part 120-j is 30 cm, it is found to have advantages such as a moderate distance and being better than 15 cm for use by first-time users or for guidance. In other words, it was found that the length of the connecting part 120-j should be approximately 30 cm.

[0031] <Additional Notes> The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and depicted to provide a best illustration of the principles of the invention and to enable those skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as may be suitable for the practical use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. A guide rope used for communication between two users, a first gripping part for being held by a first user of the two people, a second gripping part for being held by a second user of the two people, a first connecting part, and a second connecting part, which are connected in a ring shape, Each of the first grip part and the second grip part is a hollow three-dimensional object having an outer shell with two connecting parts (hereinafter referred to as a "first connecting part" and a "second connecting part"); Each of the first connection part and the second connection part is a tube having two ends (hereinafter referred to as a "first end" and a "second end"); The first connection portion of the first grip part and a first end of the first connection part are connected to each other, The second connection portion of the first grip part and the second end of the second connection part are connected to each other, The first connection portion of the second grip part and a first end of the second connection part are connected to each other, The second connection portion of the second grip part and the second end of the first connection part are connected to each other, A hollow interior of the first gripping part, a hollow interior of the first connecting part, a hollow interior of the second gripping part, and a hollow interior of the second connecting part form a sealed space, The outer shells of the first grip part and the second grip part are formed so as to be easily deformed by any of a change in internal air pressure and a change in external force, The outer shells of the first connecting part and the second connecting part are formed so as not to be easily deformed by any of a change in air pressure from the inside and a change in force applied from the outside, and so as not to be easily deformed by a change in the relative positional relationship between the first user holding the first grip part and the second user holding the second grip part. Guide rope.

2. 2. The guide rope according to claim 1, The three-dimensional object of each of the first grip part and the second grip part is an approximately spherical object having a diameter of approximately 6.6 cm. Guide rope.

3. 3. The guide rope according to claim 2, In each of the first gripping part and the second gripping part, the first connection part and the second connection part are provided so as to include a contact point between a straight line passing through a center of gravity of the three-dimensional object and an outer shell of the three-dimensional object. Guide rope.

4. 4. The guide rope according to claim 3, The outer shell of the three-dimensional object is formed of a rubber sheet having a thickness of approximately 1 mm. Guide rope.

5. The guide rope according to claim 3 or 4, The length of each of the first and second connecting parts is approximately 30 cm. Guide rope.

6. 6. The guide rope according to claim 5, Each of the first connecting part and the second connecting part has an outer diameter of about 6 mm, an inner diameter of about 4 mm, and is made of soft PVC. Guide rope.

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