Auxiliary handrail

Abstract

To provide an assistive handrail capable of safely and reliably assisting an extremely weak user to stand up or sit on a chair or a bed, being installable at any place and having high versatility.SOLUTION: An assistive handrail comprises a base part 10 to be installed on a floor surface, support parts 20 erected on the base part 10, and a handrail part 30 provided on upper ends of the support parts 20. The handrail part 30 includes a horizontal rod 31 connected to the support parts 20, a pair of gripping rods 32 and 32 extending in a same direction from both ends of the horizontal rod 31, and a handrail rod 33 installed between both tip ends of the pair of gripping rods 32 and 32. The pair of gripping rods 32 and 32 are inclined upward toward the handrail rod 33 and a mutual interval is narrowed toward the handrail rod 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an auxiliary handrail suitable for use in the fields of nursing care and welfare. [Background technology]

[0002] Portable and stationary auxiliary handrails have traditionally been used for elderly people and people requiring nursing care assistance (hereinafter referred to as "users") who, although not requiring assistance from a human, have difficulty standing up or sitting down from a chair or bed on their own.

[0003] A typical auxiliary handrail of this type comprises, for example, a base portion, a support portion erected on the base portion, and a handrail portion supported by the support portion (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0004] In addition to the above, auxiliary handrails equipped with anti-tip mechanisms that can be hooked onto an attached object such as a bed to prevent the user from falling over due to the lateral load applied when standing up are also known (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 5).

[0005] Furthermore, an auxiliary handrail has been proposed that includes a first gripping rod formed in a straight line and a second gripping rod that is connected to the first gripping rod and extends while curving in a direction intersecting the first gripping rod in a planar view, allowing the user to grip the gripping rods regardless of the direction their hands are facing, and that also includes a positioning member on the support portion so that the horizontal distance from the bed can be made greater than a specified dimension (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

[0006] Additionally, an auxiliary handrail has been proposed in which a first handrail section is installed between the upper ends of a first support pillar and a second support pillar erected on a base, and a second handrail section is arranged along the first handrail section via a connecting section with the supports or the first handrail section (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

[0007] The above-mentioned auxiliary handrails are all intended for use mainly in bedrooms and living rooms. Therefore, various handrails have been proposed for use in bathrooms, particularly those that assist with movement between the wash area and the bathtub (see, for example, Patent Documents 6 and 7).

[0008] The bathtub handrail disclosed in Patent Document 6 is installed by inserting the legs of the handrail into mounting holes formed in the wall of the bathtub and the washing area, while the bathtub handrail disclosed in Patent Document 7 is installed by clamping the wall of the bathtub with clamping parts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3034536 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3217350 [Patent Document 3] Utility Model Registration No. 3127542 [Patent Document 4] Utility Model Registration No. 3148521 [Patent Document 5] JP 2015-202317 A [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-275894 [Patent Document 7] JP 2019-180680 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The auxiliary handrails disclosed in the above Patent Documents 1 to 5 are based on the premise that the user will grasp the handrail portion of the auxiliary handrail with one hand when standing up or sitting down from a chair or bed. Among them, the auxiliary handrail disclosed in Patent Document 5 is provided with first and second handrail portions so that the user can grasp the handrail portions with both hands or place their arms on the handrail portions. Meanwhile, the auxiliary handrails for bathtubs disclosed in Patent Documents 6 and 7 are specialized to be installed on the wall portion of the bathtub to assist movement between the wash area and inside the bathtub.

[0011] However, the above-mentioned conventional auxiliary handrails still have room for improvement in terms of assistance for sitting and standing and versatility, as will be described in detail below.

[0012] First, in terms of assistance for standing and sitting, a user with strong arms can easily stand up by grabbing the handrail with one hand, but a user with weak arms cannot do so and tends to grab the handrail with both hands. In that case, due to the structure of the auxiliary handrail, both hands have to grab the same handrail, so that both hands are side by side, and a large load is likely to be placed on both wrists when standing up. As a result, even if both hands grab the handrail, it is difficult to transfer the force to the handrail, and it is difficult to stand up smoothly. In this regard, the auxiliary handrail disclosed in Patent Document 5 allows the arms to be placed across the first and second handrails, so even if the strength of the hands is weak, the arms can be placed across the first and second handrails and the weight can be placed on the auxiliary handrail to stand up. However, with the auxiliary handrail disclosed in Patent Document 5, if the arms are placed across the first and second handrails, there is nowhere to grab with the hands, so the posture is likely to become unstable when standing up. As a result, in the worst case scenario, the arms could slip over the first and second handrails, causing them to spread apart, which could result in the head falling and causing a hard hit to the face on the first and second handrails or the connecting part.

[0013] Next, in terms of versatility, the auxiliary handrails disclosed in the above Patent Documents 1 to 5 are all suitable for use in bedrooms, living rooms, etc., but many of them are unsuitable for use in bathrooms due to their size, water resistance, or corrosion resistance. On the other hand, the bathtub handrails disclosed in Patent Documents 6 and 7 are specialized for use in bathrooms and cannot be used anywhere else. For this reason, if one wishes to install handrails in both the bedroom or living room and the bathroom, it is necessary to prepare two types of handrails as mentioned above, which creates a problem of a high economic burden on the user.

[0014] In addition, when using a shower chair that allows you to take a shower while sitting in the bathroom, the bathtub handrails described above are installed only on the wall of the bathtub, so they are in a position that is difficult to use when standing up and sitting down from the shower chair, and are not suitable for assisting standing up and sitting down from the shower chair. To solve this problem, it is possible to bring the auxiliary handrails disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 5 into the bathroom separately and use them together with the bathtub handrails, but in a bathroom with a narrow washing area such as a unit bath, it is unrealistic to use two types of handrails at the same time. For this reason, there was a problem that when standing up and sitting down from the shower chair, it was necessary to rely on the bathtub handrails, which were difficult to use, to help with this.

[0015] Furthermore, if there is space in the washing area where the auxiliary handrails disclosed in Patent Documents 1-5 can be installed together with the shower chair, it is conceivable that only the auxiliary handrail will be installed without the bathtub handrail, and this auxiliary handrail will be used both to assist in standing up and sitting down from the shower chair and to assist in moving between the washing area and the bathtub. However, in this case, the edge of the base abuts against the wall of the bathtub, and a space is inevitably formed between the support post of the auxiliary handrail and the wall of the bathtub, so when a lateral load is applied to the auxiliary handrail in the direction of the bathtub, there is a high risk that the auxiliary handrail will tilt toward the bathtub with the edge of the base as a fulcrum, which poses the risk of causing an accident such as the user falling. Furthermore, if the lower part of the bathtub wall is recessed and the edge of the base fits into this recess so that the support pillar fits along the wall, even if a lateral load is applied to the auxiliary handrail in the direction of the bathtub, the bathtub wall will come into contact with the support pillar and support it, so there is no risk of a fall as described above.However, since the bathtub wall and support pillar rub against each time it is used, the surface of the wall will be damaged. This not only ruins the appearance of the bathtub, but also makes the damaged areas more susceptible to mold growth, making it difficult to keep the bathroom hygienic.

[0016] In order to solve such problems, it is assumed that a member for preventing the auxiliary handrail from tilting is interposed between the support of the auxiliary handrail and the wall of the bathtub. Examples of such a mechanism include the anti-tipping mechanism disclosed in Patent Documents 3 and 5. However, the anti-tipping mechanism disclosed in these patent documents is inserted into the gap of the bed or clamps the wall of the bed, and cannot be used as a member for a bathtub as it is because the shape of the bed and the bathtub are significantly different. Even if such an anti-tipping mechanism is used in a way other than the above-mentioned way, such as by abutting the tip of the anti-tipping mechanism against the wall of the bathtub as disclosed in Patent Document 4, bathtubs are diverse and their shapes change from bathtub to bathtub, so there is no limit to the variation in the interval between the wall of the bathtub and the support, and the anti-tipping mechanism with a fixed length cannot be used. In addition, it is assumed that multiple types of anti-tipping mechanisms with different lengths are prepared in advance and the one that corresponds to the interval between the support and the wall of the bathtub is selected, but it is unrealistic to prepare an anti-tipping mechanism that can accommodate all intervals in advance. It is also conceivable to provide the anti-tipping mechanism with an expandable function so that the extension length can be adjusted according to the distance between the bathtub wall and the support. In that case, a sliding member and a support member for supporting the sliding member are required, but when the necessary length of these members is considered from the viewpoint of ensuring strength, if the necessary length exceeds the distance between the bathtub wall and the support, it cannot be accommodated, so this is also not a solution.

[0017] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide an auxiliary handrail that can safely and reliably assist even extremely weak users in standing up and sitting down from a chair or bed, and is highly versatile and can be installed anywhere. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] In order to solve the above problems, the auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application includes a base portion that is installed on a floor surface, a support portion that is erected on the base portion, and a handrail portion that is provided on the upper end of the support portion, and the handrail portion includes a horizontal rod that is connected to the support portion and a pair of handrails that extend in the same direction from both ends of the horizontal rod. In a straight line The handrail is provided between a pair of extended grip rods and a handrail rod that is installed between both tip ends of the pair of grip rods. The pair of grip rods include: The length of the handrail is shortest so that the handrail does not interfere with the handrail when the handrail is gripped. The intervals between the rails are narrowed toward the handrail rod and the rails are inclined upwards toward the handrail rod. The handrail rod is connected to the tip of the grip rod via connecting parts vertically installed at both ends. This is characterized by the fact that

[0019] According to the present invention, the handrail part has a pair of gripping rods that are inclined upward toward the handrail rod and the distance between them narrows toward the handrail rod, so that the user can grip each gripping rod of the handrail part with the left and right hands when standing up or sitting down from a chair or bed. By having the user take such a gripping posture, when the user leans his / her upper body toward the auxiliary handrail from a sitting posture on the chair or bed and rests his / her weight on the handrail part, the angle of the wrist and the angle of the forearm (the distance between both elbows) are naturally guided to an ideal angle that does not put an excessive load on the wrist and upper arm, respectively, so that the gripping rod can be stably and sufficiently pushed when standing up. As a result, even a user with little strength can firmly transmit force to the auxiliary handrail when standing up or sitting down, which promotes a smooth standing up motion by placing the center of gravity in the front.

[0020] In the above auxiliary handrail, the base portion may be provided with mounting portions at multiple locations to which the support portions are attached, and the erected positions of the support portions on the base portion may be changed as required.

[0021] In this case, the positional relationship between the handrail portion and the base portion can be appropriately changed depending on the usage situation, for example by facing the handrail portion inward or outward from the base portion.

[0022] In the above auxiliary handrail, the handrail portion may be slidable relative to the support portion, and the height of the handrail portion may be adjustable.

[0023] In this case, the height of the handrail can be adjusted to suit the user's body type.

[0024] In the above-mentioned auxiliary handrail, the distance between the pair of gripping rods is 310 mm to 330 mm (center-to-center dimension) at the base ends of both gripping rods, the degree of inward inclination of each gripping rod is 25° to 35° when viewed in a plane, and the slope of each gripping rod is 25° to 35° when viewed from the side.

[0025] If the distance between the gripping rods is less than 310 mm in the center-to-center dimension at the base ends of the gripping rods, the distance between the arms becomes too narrow, making it difficult to transmit force to the gripping rods. Conversely, if it exceeds 330 mm, the distance between the arms becomes too wide, making it difficult to transmit force to the gripping rods. Also, if the inward tilt of each gripping rod is less than 25° in a plan view, when the gripping rods are grasped, both wrists are twisted outward (toward the little finger of each hand), which places an extra load on the inner muscles of the forearms. Conversely, if it exceeds 35°, both wrists are twisted inward (toward the thumb of each hand), which places an extra load on the outer muscles of the forearms. For this reason, if the tilt degree is within the above range, the muscles of the forearms can be used evenly, making it possible to transmit force efficiently to the gripping rods. Furthermore, if the inclination of each gripping lever is less than 25° in side view, the gripping lever cannot be pushed sufficiently unless the wrist is pointed downward, and if it exceeds 35°, the wrist will point upward and the gripping lever will be pushed back even if it is pushed, which hinders the standing up movement in either case.

[0026] The above-mentioned auxiliary handrail may be equipped with a tipping prevention device that is detachable from the support part and is interposed between the wall surface of the home appliance or the wall surface inside the room and the support part to prevent the entire auxiliary handrail from accidentally tipping toward the wall surface.

[0027] In this case, when used in a bathroom in place of a conventional bathtub handrail, even if a lateral load is applied to the auxiliary handrail in the direction of the bathtub when moving between the washing area and inside the bathtub, the anti-tilt device comes into contact with the wall of the bathtub and supports the support part, so the auxiliary handrail will not tilt and falls can be prevented.

[0028] In the above auxiliary handrail, the anti-tilt device may have an outer peripheral surface curved in accordance with the Fibonacci sequence and be rotatable relative to the support portion.

[0029] In this case, the distance between the surface of the support part and the outer peripheral surface of the anti-tip device changes continuously around the outer peripheral surface, so that the anti-tip device can be properly abutted against the wall of the bathtub simply by rotating the anti-tip device around the support part, regardless of the distance between the wall of the bathtub and the support part. Effect of the Invention

[0030] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a versatile auxiliary handrail that can safely and reliably assist even extremely weak users in standing up and sitting down from a chair or bed, and that can be installed anywhere. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an auxiliary handrail disclosed herein. [Diagram 3] 1 is a partially enlarged side view showing a handrail portion of an auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application. [Figure 4] 1 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a handrail portion of an auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example in which the auxiliary handrail disclosed herein is installed in front of a shower chair. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of use of the auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application. [Figure 7] 1 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a user is gripping a handrail portion of an auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application installed in a toilet. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of use of an auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application when installed in a toilet. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an auxiliary handrail disclosed herein installed in front of the entrance to a bathroom. [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an auxiliary handrail disclosed herein installed in a bathroom as a bathtub handrail. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application being used as a bathtub handrail in a bathroom. [Figure 13] 1 is a partially enlarged schematic perspective view showing the attachment state of a tilt prevention device in an auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application. [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic side view showing a tilting state that may occur when a tilt prevention device is not used. [Figure 15] 1A and 1B are a schematic plan view and a schematic perspective view, respectively, showing an example of an anti-tilt device for an auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application. [Figure 16] 1A and 1B are schematic plan and perspective views showing another example of an auxiliary handrail tipping prevention device disclosed in the present application; FIG. [Figure 17] 10A and 10B are schematic plan and perspective views showing yet another example of an auxiliary handrail tipping prevention device disclosed in the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are examples of embodiments that embody the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same components in the following description and drawings.

[0033] <Configuration of auxiliary handrails> The configuration of the auxiliary handrail disclosed in the present application will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an auxiliary handrail, FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the auxiliary handrail, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged side view showing the handrail portion of the auxiliary handrail.

[0035] The auxiliary handrail 1 disclosed in the present application includes a base portion 10 that is installed on the floor surface, a support portion 20 that stands on the base portion 10, and a handrail portion 30 that is provided on the upper end of the support portion 20. Each portion will be described in detail below.

[0036] <Base section> The base part 10 has the function of fixing the auxiliary handrail 1 to the floor surface. The peripheral edge of the base part 10 is provided with an inclined surface 11 facing the floor surface, which allows the center part of the base part 10 to be raised above the floor surface, ensuring space for attaching the fixing member 25 used to fix the support part 20 and a weight (not shown) to the back side of the base part 10. The base part 10 thus constructed has a low center of gravity and a large contact area with the floor surface to prevent accidents caused by the auxiliary handrail 1 tipping over.

[0037] The base 10 can be made of a metal plate or a strong synthetic resin plate. When a metal plate is used, it is preferable that it is rust-proofed in consideration of its use in a bathtub, and for example, the front and back surfaces of the base 10 may be coated with urethane paint and / or decorative paint. In addition, the peripheral edge 12 of the inclined surface 11 may be further provided with a cushioning material made of, for example, rubber or synthetic resin, which can prevent scratches on the floor surface and ensure the safety of the user.

[0038] The base 10 is provided with two sets of support attachment parts 13, 14. One set 13, 13 is disposed near one side edge of the base, and the other set 14, 14 is disposed in the center of the base. The support attachment parts 13, 14 are provided with three through holes 15-17 arranged in a row and a decorative cap 18 that closes the through holes 15-17 when not in use. Of the three through holes 15-17, the two outer through holes 15, 17 are screw insertion holes through which the mounting screws 25d are inserted, and the central through hole 16 is a water drainage hole. The decorative cap 18 is preferably made of soft resin so that the user will not be injured even if he or she touches it with bare feet. The decorative cap 18 is attached to the support portion attachment portions 13, 14 by fitting a pair of fitting protrusions 18a, 18a provided on the back surface of the decorative cap 18 into the screw insertion holes (the two outer through holes 15, 17).

[0039] <Support part> In the illustrated example, the support part 20 is composed of two support members 21, 21. These support members 21, 21 include a cylindrical holder part 22 having a decorative cover 22a fixed to the lower end thereof, and a support 23 that is inserted into the holder part 22 so as to be freely removable.

[0040] The holder part 22 has insertion holes 22b through which height adjustment screws (not shown) are inserted on the opposing side surfaces. A fixed plate 25a having a nut 25b fixed to its upper surface is installed inside the decorative cover 22a fixed to the lower end of the holder part 22. In FIG. 2, the holder part 22, the decorative cover 22a, and the fixed plate 25a are depicted separately, but this is for the sake of explanation, and in reality, these three members are integrated by, for example, welding. The holder part 22 thus constructed is fixed upright on the base part 10 by screwing an attachment screw 25d inserted from below the abutment plate 25c that abuts against the back surface of the base part 10 into the nut 25b of the fixed plate 25a, thereby sandwiching the base part 10 between the fixed plate 25a and the abutment plate 25c. The fixed plate 25a and the abutment plate 25c are also provided with drainage holes 24 corresponding to the drainage hole (central through hole 16) of the base part. The decorative cover 22a may be attached by simply covering the fixed plate 25a without being fixed to the holder part 22. Also, while the mounting screw 5d is fixed to the abutment plate 25c, the fixed plate 25a and the nut 25b may be separate bodies, and the nut 25b may be screwed onto the mounting screw 25d.

[0041] The support 23 has a number of screw holes 23b arranged in a vertical row that correspond to the insertion holes 22b of the holder part 22 and screw into height adjustment screws. By appropriately selecting one of these screw holes 23b, the length of the support 23 protruding from the holder part 22 can be changed, and the height of the handrail part 30 can be adjusted.

[0042] The support part 20 described above is selectively fixed upright to one of the two sets of support part mounting parts 13, 14 of the base part 10 by attaching and detaching the mounting screw 25d, and a decorative cap 18 is attached to the support part mounting parts 13, 14 to which the support part 20 is not attached.

[0043] In the above example, the support portion 20 is composed of two support pillar members 21, 21, but this is not limited to this and may be composed of, for example, one or three or more support pillar members, and may be plate-shaped instead of columnar.

[0044] <Handrail section> The handrail section 30 comprises a horizontal rod 31 connected to the support section 20, a pair of gripping rods 32, 32 extending in the same direction from both ends of the horizontal rod 31, and a handrail rod 33 installed between the two end ends 32a, 32a of the pair of gripping rods 32, 32.

[0045] The horizontal rod 31 has a connecting portion 31a that is vertically extended from both ends thereof to which the tip end 23a of each support 23 of the support section 20 is connected. The connecting portion 31a and the support 23 are connected by welding the core material in the connecting portion 31a to the tip end 23a of the support 23. The connecting means between the connecting portion 31a of the horizontal rod 1 and each support 23 is not limited to the above, and may be, for example, connected by fitting the tip end 23a of the support 23 into the connecting portion 31a and screwing a fixing screw from the outside of the connecting portion 31a toward the tip end 23a of the support 23. In this case, the height of the handrail section 30 can be finely adjusted by adjusting the depth to which the tip end 23a is fitted into the connecting portion 31a.

[0046] The pair of grip rods 32, 32 are inclined upward toward the handrail rod 33, and the distance between them becomes narrower toward the handrail rod 33. Also, the length of the grip rods 32, 32 should be as short as possible so that the hand H and the handrail rod 33 do not interfere with each other when the grip rods 32, 32 are gripped, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0047] The handrail rod 33 is connected to the tips of the grip rods 32, 32 via connecting parts 33a suspended from both ends. The handrail rod 33 is used, for example, to be held by a user M when standing up or sitting down from the toilet B as shown in Fig. 9, to be held by a user M in a standing position in front of an entrance E when entering the bathroom as shown in Fig. 10, or to be held by a user M when moving between a washing area W and a bathtub T in the bathroom as shown in Fig. 12. The length (rise dimension) of the connecting parts 33a is set appropriately taking into consideration the level difference with the horizontal rod 31 and the height position of the handrail rod 33.

[0048] According to such a handrail section 30, when standing up or sitting down from a chair or bed, the user M can grasp each of the gripping rods 32, 32 of the handrail section 30 with the left and right hands H, H as shown in Fig. 7. By having the user M assume such a gripping posture, as shown in Fig. 6, when the user M leans his / her upper body toward the auxiliary handrail 1 from a posture of sitting on a chair C or bed and rests his / her weight on the handrail section 30, the angle of the wrist and the angle of the forearm (the distance between both elbows) are naturally guided to an ideal angle that does not put an excessive load on the wrist and upper arm, respectively, so that the gripping rods 32, 32 can be stably and sufficiently pushed when standing up. As a result, even a user with little strength can firmly transmit force to the auxiliary handrail 1 when standing up or sitting down, which promotes a smooth standing up motion by making the center of gravity in the front.

[0049] Here, the specific mutual distance d between the gripping rods 32, 32 is preferably 310 mm to 330 mm in center-to-center dimension at the base ends of both gripping rods 32, 32 (both ends of the horizontal rod 31) with reference to Fig. 4. If the distance between the gripping rods 32, 32 is less than 310 mm, the distance between both arms becomes too narrow, making it difficult to transmit force to the gripping rods 32, 32. Conversely, if it exceeds 330 mm, the distance between both arms becomes too wide, making it difficult to transmit force to the gripping rods 32, 32 in this case as well.

[0050] In addition, the specific inward inclination degree α of each of the gripping rods 32, 32 is preferably set to 25° to 35° in plan view with reference to Fig. 4. If the inclination degree α of the gripping rods 32, 32 is less than 25°, when the gripping rods 32, 32 are grasped, both wrists are twisted outward (toward the little finger of each hand), which places an extra load on the inner muscles of the forearm, and conversely, if it exceeds 35°, both wrists are twisted inward (toward the thumb of each hand), which places an extra load on the outer muscles of the forearm. For this reason, if the inclination degree is within the above range, the muscles of the forearm can be used without bias, and force can be efficiently transmitted to the gripping rods 32, 32.

[0051] Furthermore, the specific gradient angle θ of the gripping levers 32, 32 is preferably 25° to 35° in side view with reference to Fig. 3. If the gradient is less than 25° in side view, the gripping levers 32, 32 cannot be pushed sufficiently without pointing the wrists downward, whereas if the gradient exceeds 35°, the wrists point upward and the gripping levers 32, 32 are pushed back even if they are pushed, which hinders the standing up movement in either case.

[0052] In the handrail section 30 described above, if all or part of the horizontal rod 31 and the handrail rod 33 have a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape, they will fit very well in the hand when gripped. On the other hand, it is preferable that the grip rods 32, 32 have a circular cross-sectional shape in terms of ease of grip. In addition, it is preferable that the material and thickness of these rods are such that they are not slippery when gripped and give the user a comfortable feeling. Furthermore, the handrail section 30 may be integrally molded.

[0053] <Tilt prevention device> Next, an example in which the auxiliary handrail 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure described above is provided with a tipping prevention device 40 will be described.

[0054] The tipping prevention device 40 is suitable for use when the auxiliary handrail 1 is used as a bathtub handrail in a bathroom, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, and is detachable from the support part 20 of the auxiliary handrail 1, and is interposed between the wall surface of the housing facility or the wall surface of the room and the support part 20 to prevent the entire auxiliary handrail 1 from accidentally tipping toward the wall surface. That is, when used in a bathroom instead of a conventional bathtub handrail, as shown in Figure 12, even if a lateral load is applied to the auxiliary handrail 1 in the direction of the bathtub T when moving between the wash area W and the bathtub T, as shown in Figures 11 to 13, the tipping prevention device 40 comes into contact with the wall body T1 of the bathtub T and supports the support part 20, so that the auxiliary handrail 1 will not tip over as shown in Figure 14, and a fall accident can be prevented.

[0055] As shown in Figures 15 to 17, the anti-tilt device 40 is preferably one whose outer circumferential surface 47 is curved to which the Fibonacci sequence is applied, and which is rotatably attached to the holder portion 22 of the support member 21, as shown in Figure 13. With such a configuration, the distance r between the surface of the holder portion 22 of the support member 21 and the outer circumferential surface 47 of the anti-tilt device 40 changes steplessly around the outer circumferential surface 47, so that the anti-tilt device 40 can be appropriately abutted against the wall body T1 of the bathtub T simply by rotating the anti-tilt device 40 about the support member 21, regardless of the distance between the wall body T1 of the bathtub T and the support member 21.

[0056] Specifically, in the example shown in Fig. 15, an insertion hole 42 through which the holder part 22 of the support member 21 is inserted and a clamping part 43 are integrally provided on one end side of a preventive device main body 41 having a substantially magatama shape. The insertion hole 42 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the holder part 22 of the support member 21, and its inner space communicates with the outside of the preventive device main body 41 through a gap part 44 formed by bending from one point on the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole 42. The part defined by the gap part 44 is the clamping part 43. A bolt insertion hole 45 through which a tightening bolt (not shown) for tightening the support member 21 is inserted is provided in this clamping part 43, and a female screw part (not shown) having an opening facing the gap part 44 on an extension line of this bolt insertion hole 45 is engraved inside the preventive device main body 41. The outer peripheral surface 47 of the prevention device main body 41 from the outside of the insertion hole 42 to the tapered portion 46 on the opposite side is curved in accordance with the Fibonacci sequence. A tilt prevention device 40 having such a configuration is preferably made of resin or the like, which has an elastic surface, so as not to damage the wall surface of the bathtub or other home equipment or the wall surface of a room.

[0057] In the example shown in Fig. 16, whereas the example shown in Fig. 15 was a solid object of a constant thickness, the entire area other than the bolt insertion hole 45 and the female threaded portion is made thin to reduce weight, thickness, and material costs. The rest of the configuration is the same as that explained in Fig. 15.

[0058] The example shown in FIG. 17 is intermediate between the example shown in FIG. 15 and the example shown in FIG. 16, in which the material in the areas other than the insertion hole 42 and the clamping portion 43 is removed to make the width of the outer peripheral surface 47 approximately the same as that shown in FIG. 15.

[0059] When attaching the anti-tilt device 40 to the auxiliary handrail 1, the support 23, which is integrated with the handrail portion 30 at the connecting portion 31a, is pulled out from the holder portion 22 of the support member 21, the anti-tilt device 40 is then inserted into the tip of the holder portion 22 and lowered to a specified height position, and then the clamping portion 43 is tightened with a tightening bolt to attach it.

[0060] <Example of using auxiliary handrails> Next, a usage example of the auxiliary handrail 1 disclosed in the present application will be described.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows an example of the case where the handrail 1 is used to assist the user in standing up and sitting down from the shower chair C. In this example, the support 20 is erected on the support attachment parts 14, 14 in the center of the base 10, and the auxiliary handrail 1 is installed directly opposite the shower chair C so that the handrail rod 33 of the handrail part 30 is on the side farther from the shower chair C. Here, the distance between the grip rods 32, 32 and the shower chair C is set so that the user can grip the grip rods 32, 32 in a proper front center of gravity posture while sitting on the shower chair C, as shown in FIG. 6. In this case, it is preferable to determine the size of the base 10 so that the front legs C1 of the shower chair C do not ride up on the base 10. When the front legs C1 of the shower chair C ride up on the base 10, the shower chair C tilts backward and the user is forced to take a backward posture, making it difficult to take a front center of gravity posture toward the grip rods 32, 32, which may hinder the user from standing up.

[0062] FIG. 8 shows an example of use in a toilet to assist in standing up and sitting down from the toilet bowl B. In this example, the support portion 20 is erected on the support portion attachment portions 13, 13 near the edge of the base portion 10 so that the handrail rod 33 of the handrail portion 30 is positioned above the base portion 10, and the handrail rod 33 is installed in front of the toilet bowl B so that it is aligned with the sitting direction of the toilet bowl B. As shown in FIG. 9, the user M places both feet on the base portion 10 while sitting on the toilet bowl B, and grasps the handrail rod 33 with one hand when standing up and sitting down. In this case, since the user M stands on the base portion 10, there is no risk of the auxiliary handrail 1 leaning toward the side wall even if a force acts on the auxiliary handrail 1 toward the side wall of the toilet.

[0063] Figure 10 shows an example in which the device is installed in front of a bathroom entrance E and used to assist in entering and exiting the bathroom. In this example, the support part 20 is erected on support part mounting parts 13, 13 near the edge of the base part 10 so that the handrail rod 33 of the handrail part 30 is positioned above the base part 10, and the handrail rod 33 is installed in front of the bathroom entrance E so that it runs along the direction of entry into the bathroom. A user M stands on the base part 10 with both feet and grasps the handrail rod 33 with one hand.

[0064] Fig. 11 shows an example of the case where the auxiliary handrail 1 disclosed in the present application is used as a bathtub handrail. In this example, the support part 20 is erected on the support part mounting parts 13, 13 near the edge of the base part 10 so that the handrail rod 33 of the handrail part 30 is located outside the base part 10, and the support part 20 is installed so that the handrail rod 33 is located above the wall T1 of the bathtub T or above the inner wall surface of the bathtub T so that the support part 20 is close to the wall T1 of the bathtub T. In this case, the peripheral edge part 12 of the base part 10 abuts against the wall T1 of the bathtub T, and a space is inevitably formed between the support part 20 of the auxiliary handrail 1 and the wall T1 of the bathtub T. Therefore, when a lateral load is applied to the auxiliary handrail 1 in the direction of the bathtub T, as shown in Fig. 14, there is a high possibility that the auxiliary handrail 1 will tilt toward the bathtub T with the peripheral edge part 12 of the base part 10 as a fulcrum, which may cause an accident such as a user falling. Therefore, the tipping prevention device 40 is attached to the support part 20 as described above. The attachment position is preferably near the upper end of the wall T1 of the bathtub T, as shown in Figs. 11 to 13. Here, the outer peripheral surface 47 of the tipping prevention device 40 is curved to which the Fibonacci sequence is applied, and is rotatable with respect to the support part 20. Therefore, the distance r between the surface of the support part 20 and the outer peripheral surface 47 of the tipping prevention device 40 changes steplessly around the outer peripheral surface 47. Therefore, regardless of the distance between the wall T1 of the bathtub T and the support part 20, the tipping prevention device 40 can be appropriately abutted against the wall T1 of the bathtub T simply by rotating the tipping prevention device 40 around the support part 20. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent a fall accident caused by the tipping of the auxiliary handrail 1 as described above.

[0065] When user M moves between the washing area W and the bathtub T, as shown in Fig. 12, he / she grasps the handles 32, 32 with both hands H, H and straddles the wall T1 of the bathtub T. At that time, the auxiliary handrail 1 is maintained stably on the washing area W without tilting toward the bathtub T due to the action of the tilt prevention device 40, so user M can move safely between the washing area W and the bathtub T, both of which are slippery.

[0066] The present invention can be embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or main features. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as being limited. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims and is not restricted by the descriptions in the specification and drawings. Furthermore, all modifications and changes within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1. Handrails 10 Base 20 Support part 30 Handrail section 31 Horizontal rod 32 Gripping rod 33 Handrail rod 40 Anti-tilting device 47 Outer surface

Claims

1. A base portion installed on a floor surface; A support portion erected on the base portion; A handrail portion provided at an upper end of the support portion, The handrail portion is A cross rod connected to the support portion; A pair of gripping rods extending linearly in the same direction from both ends of the horizontal rod; A handrail rod is provided between both tip ends of the pair of grip rods, The pair of gripping rods have a length that is shortest so that the hands and the handrail rods do not interfere with each other when the gripping rods are gripped, and are sloped upward toward the handrail rods, and the distance between them becomes narrower toward the handrail rods, An auxiliary handrail characterized in that the handrail rod is connected to the tip of the grip rod via connecting parts vertically installed at both ends thereof.

2. The auxiliary handrail according to claim 1, An auxiliary handrail characterized in that the base portion has mounting portions at multiple points to which the support portions are attached, and the upright positions of the support portions on the base portion can be changed as required.

3. The auxiliary handrail according to claim 1 or 2, An auxiliary handrail, characterized in that the handrail portion is slidable relative to the support portion and the height of the handrail portion is adjustable.

4. In the auxiliary handrail according to any one of claims 1 to 3, This auxiliary handrail is characterized in that the distance between the pair of gripping rods is 310 mm to 330 mm (center-to-center dimension) at the base ends of both gripping rods, the degree of inward inclination of each gripping rod is 25° to 35° when viewed in a plane, and the slope of each gripping rod is 25° to 35° when viewed from the side.

5. In the auxiliary handrail according to any one of claims 1 to 4, This auxiliary handrail is characterized by being equipped with a tipping prevention device that is detachable from the support part and that is interposed between the wall surface of the home appliance or the wall surface inside the room and the support part to prevent the entire auxiliary handrail from accidentally tipping toward the wall surface.

6. The auxiliary handrail according to claim 5, The auxiliary handrail is characterized in that the outer surface of the anti-tilt device is curved according to the Fibonacci sequence and is rotatable relative to the support portion.

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