Reclining wheelchair

Abstract

To provide a reclinable wheelchair having a leg support capable of mitigating a positional deviation of a leg.SOLUTION: A leg support 7 disposed below a front end of a seat part 5 is constituted by: a link part 71 configured so that respective one ends of a first plate 71a and a second plate 71b are axially attached in a rotatable manner, one end of a third plate 71c is axially attached in a rotatable manner to the other end of the first plate 71a, the second plate 71b and the third plate are axially attached in a rotatable manner at intersection points close to their approximately middle points, and a fourth plate 71d is axially attached in a rotatable manner to the other end of the second plate 71b; and a leg support part 72 that axially attaches the other ends of the third plate 71c and the fourth plate 71d in a rotatable manner to a leg supporting point plate supporting a supporting pipe. When the link part 71 is rotated upward, the leg support part 72 operates inter-connectedly and an apparent rotational center of the leg support part 72 moves upward in front of the seat part 5, which makes the rotational center become approximately the same as the rotational center of a knee joint of a seated user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a reclining wheelchair for use by the elderly or disabled people.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, wheelchairs with a reclining function have been proposed, in which the back support tilts with respect to the seat portion and the leg support rises from the sitting position. Reclining wheelchairs have many advantages, such as allowing users who have difficulty maintaining a sitting position to use them in a supine position, being able to distribute the body pressure concentration on the back and buttocks, and reducing the burden of transfer assistance. However, as a problem of various proposed reclining wheelchairs, when changing the posture from the sitting position to the reclining position, the position of the user's back and waist shifts, and the user feels discomfort (a sense of compression). In addition, since it is necessary for the caregiver to correct the user's posture deviation caused by the position shift while holding or supporting the user, it is also a burden on the caregiver.

[0003] To solve this problem, various wheelchairs have been proposed that are configured so that the back does not shift even when reclined, and the applicant of the present application has also proposed a reclining wheelchair described in Patent Document 1. This wheelchair can be fully reclined, and the user can appropriately change the posture from the sitting position to the supine position by the interlocking of the back support, the seat portion, and the leg support. In addition, it also has a tilt mechanism in which the front end of the seat portion rises by the interlocking of the back support and the seat portion, and is configured so that the user does not slide forward from the seat portion. Furthermore, the leg support of the wheelchair can be switched between a state where it can be interlocked with the reclining of the back support and a state where it cannot be interlocked, and the user can use it in an optimal posture as desired. Furthermore, by folding the leg supports, sufficient kicking space can be secured when the user stands up, making transfer assistance more effective. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-261472 [Overview of the project]

[0005] However, while the reclining wheelchair described in Patent Document 1 eliminates back slippage by changing the posture of the back support, there is a concern that the user may experience discomfort (a feeling of pressure) due to the user's seating posture shifting because the pivot point of the leg support and the pivot point of the user's knees are far apart. [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Therefore, the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a reclining wheelchair having a leg support that can reduce leg misalignment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The reclining wheelchair of the present invention is a reclining wheelchair in which one end of a leg support is pivotally attached to the lower front end of the seat, and a foot support is pivotally attached to the other end of the leg support, and the rear of the leg support and the vicinity of one end of the foot support are connected by a link arm to form a four-bar link, and the leg support is composed of a link part and a leg support part, and the link part has one end of a pair of first plates and second plates pivotally attached to each other in the left-right direction, one end of a third plate pivotally attached to the other end of the first plate, and the second plate and the third plate are pivotally attached at an intersection approximately midway between them, and a fourth plate pivotally attached to the other end of the second plate, and a connecting pipe is interposed and fixed to the second plate, and the center of the connecting pipe The leg support is configured such that a first pivot plate is fixed to hang down nearby, and a support pipe disposed in front of the link section is fixed to the leg pivot plate, with the other ends of the third plate and the fourth plate pivotally attached to the leg pivot plate, and the first pivot plate is fixed to hang down at approximately the midpoint of the connecting pipe of the link section, and when the link section is rotated upward, the third plate is pulled downward into the first plate, causing the support pipe to rotate forward with the intersection as the pivot point, and the leg support is operated so that the leg pivot plate is pulled downward into the fourth plate, thereby causing the apparent pivot point of the leg support to move forward and upward of the seat section, so that it becomes approximately the same as the pivot point of the knee joint of a user seated on the seat section. Furthermore, the link arm is configured such that one end of the link outer pipe is rotatably attached to one end of the first pivot plate, the link inner plate is rotatably attached to the interlocking plate fixed to the rear end of the foot support, and the other end of the link outer pipe is inserted through it. An angle adjustment plate, which has a sawtooth-shaped hole formed by a slide hole and a plurality of engagement / disengagement holes drilled continuously below the slide hole, is rotatably attached to the middle part of the link section of the leg support, and a pin member axially attached to the vehicle frame is inserted into the slide hole, and the pin member moves relative to the slide hole and engagement / disengagement holes as the leg support rotates up and down, and furthermore, a stopper plate is provided to block a part of the front side of the slide hole, thereby the pin section The seat is characterized by having a storage mechanism configured to restrict the relative range of movement of the material, allowing adjustment from a seated position where the leg support is angled diagonally downward and forward from the front end of the seat and the footplate, supported by a foot support rotatably pivoted to the leg support portion of the leg support, is positioned in front of the lower end of the leg support, to a reclining position where the seat, leg support, foot support, and footplate are substantially on the same plane, and by releasing the stopper plate, the pin member can roll relative to the front side of the slide hole, allowing the seat to be rotated backward from the seated position and the foot support to rotate upward, thereby changing the position to a storage position that forms a kicking space. Furthermore, one end of the outer pipe is pivotally attached to the lower end of the back support located behind the seat, and the other end of the inner pipe is pivotally attached to the angle adjustment plate while passing the inner pipe through the other end of the outer pipe, so that the leg support can be rotated in conjunction with the reclining of the back support, and a regulating pin is attached to one end of the outer pipe so that it can move back and forth toward the axis of the outer pipe, so that when the regulating pin is protruding into the outer pipe, the leg support can be rotated from the seated position to the reclined position in conjunction with the reclining, and when the regulating pin is retracted from the outer pipe, the leg support can be rotated regardless of the reclining operation. Furthermore, by forming the second plate in a roughly W shape, a lever member for appropriately changing the leg support's posture from the reclining position to the seated position is pivotally attached to the central apex of the roughly W shape, and a storage lever for operating the storage mechanism is provided in the valley on the leg support side connected to the apex, and one end of the support pipe of the leg support is stored in the valley on the seat side when the posture is changed to the storage position, the leg support can be brought closer to the seat side of the link when the posture is changed to the storage position, thereby creating a wider kicking space. Furthermore, the support pipe is bent into a substantially U-shape in plan view, and the leg support portion of the leg support is configured such that both ends of the support pipe face the foot support side. In addition, an adjustment plate, which is pivotally attached to the rear end of the foot support, is slidably inserted through the support pipe and fixed in any position, thereby enabling the foot support to be adjusted to any length. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The reclining wheelchair of the present invention has a leg support positioned at the front of the seat, with one end pivotally attached to it, and a foot support pivotally attached to the other end of the leg support. A link arm connects the leg support and foot support to form a four-bar linkage, while the leg support is divided into a link section and a leg support section. This configuration allows the leg support to rotate upward, which activates the leg support section via the link section, extending upward and forward. This configuration allows the apparent center of rotation of the leg support section, which supports the user's lower limbs, to be moved from one end of the four-bar linkage on the seat front side to an upward and forward position of the seat. In other words, the center of rotation of the user's knee and the center of rotation of the leg support can be made approximately the same, which reduces the displacement between the user's buttocks and lower limbs when the leg support position is changed, improving riding comfort and preventing pressure sores. It also reduces the effort required for caregivers to assist the user in readjusting their position. Furthermore, an angle adjustment plate is rotatably attached to the middle of the link section, which has a sawtooth-shaped hole formed by a slide hole and a plurality of engagement / disengagement holes drilled continuously below the slide hole. A pin member, pivotally attached to the vehicle frame, is inserted through the hole in the angle adjustment plate, and the angle of the leg support is maintained when this pin member engages with the engagement / disengagement holes in the hole. In addition, a stopper plate is attached so as to block a part of the front side of the slide hole in the angle adjustment plate, thereby limiting the relative range of movement of the pin member. This allows adjustment from a seated position where the leg support is angled diagonally downward and forward from the front end of the seat and the footplate supported by the foot support is located in front of the lower end of the leg support, to a reclining position where the seat, leg support, foot support, and footplate are on approximately the same plane. Moreover, by releasing the action of the stopper plate, the pin member can roll relative to the front of the slide hole, allowing the leg support to be rotated backward and the foot support to be rotated upward from the seated position to a storage position that forms kicking space. This configuration allows for changes in posture from a seated position to a reclining position, and also enables a storage position that provides space for kicking, making transfer assistance easier. This allows the wheelchair's posture to be adjusted as needed depending on the situation. Furthermore, the outer pipe is pivotally attached to the lower end of the back support, and one end of the inner pipe is inserted through the other end of the outer pipe, with the other end of the inner pipe pivotally attached to the angle adjustment plate, thereby enabling the leg support to rotate in conjunction with the reclining operation. In addition, by attaching a regulating pin to one end of the outer pipe so as to be able to move back and forth toward the axis of the outer pipe, the leg support can be operated independently regardless of the reclining operation when the regulating pin is retracted from the outer pipe, allowing the user to change to a more optimal posture according to their physical condition. Furthermore, by forming the second plate constituting the link section in a roughly W-shape, the various components, including the lever members for operating the reclining and storage mechanisms, can be arranged alternately at the apex and valley of the W-shape, making the configuration more compact. In other words, even if the leg support is configured to be extendable and retractable, it is possible to achieve a seating posture equivalent to that of a typical wheelchair, and the overlap between the link section and the leg support section of the leg support can be minimized when changing to the storage position, thus enabling handling that is roughly equivalent to that of the reclining wheelchair described in Prior Art 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-261472). Furthermore, by configuring the leg support section so that one end of the adjustment plate is pivotally attached to the foot support and the other end is slidably inserted into the support pipe and fixed in any position, the length of the leg support can be adjusted as needed to match the length of the user's lower limbs or when cushioning material such as a mat is placed on the foot plate, allowing for a more comfortable posture during use. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Overall perspective view of reclining wheelchair 1 [Figure 2] Side view of reclining wheelchair 1 [Figure 3] Side cross-section of reclining wheelchair 1 [Figure 4] Rear view showing back support 6 [Figure 5] Diagram illustrating the reclined position of reclining wheelchair 1. [Figure 6] Perspective view of the main parts showing the seat 5, leg support 7, foot support 8, reclining mechanism 9, and storage mechanism 10. [Figure 7] Side cross-sectional view of key parts showing the seat 5, leg support 7, foot support 8, reclining mechanism 9, and storage mechanism 10. [Figure 8] Side cross-sectional view of key parts showing seated posture [Figure 9] A cross-sectional view of the main section showing the reclining position in the linked state. [Figure 10] Front side view of the main part showing the fully reclined state in the interlocked state [Figure 11] Front side cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state where the leg support 7 stands alone [Figure 12] Front side cross-sectional view of the main part showing the operating state of the storage mechanism 10 [Figure 13] Front side cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state where the leg support 7 is tilted alone in the non-interlocked state

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Example

[0010] Hereinafter, the reclining wheelchair 1 of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. This reclining wheelchair 1 is configured to be able to travel on the floor surface with front wheels 3, 3 disposed in front of the vehicle body frame 2 and rear wheels 4, 4 disposed behind as shown in FIG. 1, a seat portion 5 supported by the vehicle body frame 2, a back support 6 supported behind the seat portion 5, a leg support 7 supported in front of the seat portion 5, a foot support 8 supported in front of the leg support 7, a reclining mechanism 9 for tilting the back support 6, and a storage mechanism 10 that restricts the rotation range of the leg support 7 and releases the restriction of the rotation range when the user is sitting and standing and is configured to be rotatable in one direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the directions of front, rear, left, right, up, and down are specified based on the state where the user is seated on the reclining wheelchair 1. In addition, for the side cross-sectional view (for example, FIG. 7 etc.) of this embodiment, the center of the reclining wheelchair 1 in the plan view is the cross-sectional position, but there are some parts that are described as they are without omitting a partial cross-section in the explanation. Although a mat is shown in FIG. 1, the mat is omitted in the description of other figures.

[0011] First, the vehicle body frame 2 will be described. The vehicle body frame 21, which is constructed in a frame shape from multiple bent pipes and plates, has front wheels 3,3 attached to its front end and rear wheels 4,4 axled near its rear end, allowing it to move freely on the floor. Additionally, auxiliary wheels 22,22 are attached to the rear end, which enable tipping to overcome obstacles and prevent tipping backward when reclining. A brake mechanism 23 for braking and stopping the rear wheels 4,4 is provided at the rear of the vehicle frame 21, but its description is omitted in this embodiment.

[0012] Next, we will explain the seat portion 5. This seat 5 has seat plates 5a, 5a on which a seat for the user to sit is placed, which are fixed to each other by connecting pipes 5b, 5b at regular intervals in the left-right direction. Mounting plates 5c, 5c, which are formed in a roughly L shape when viewed from the side, are fixed to the front connecting pipe 5b at regular intervals. Tilt plates 5d, 5d, which have roughly L-shaped cam grooves 51d, 51d when viewed from the side, are fixed to the rear connecting pipe 5b at regular intervals. As shown in Figure 3 and other figures, the seat portion 5 configured in this way is pivotally attached to the vehicle body frame 21 via boss members 5e, 5e attached to the seat portion plates 5a, 5a, on pivot plates 21a, 21a fixed to the upper part of the vehicle body frame 21.

[0013] Next, we will explain back support 6. This back support 6 consists of a lower frame 61 supported by the vehicle body frame 2 and the seat 5, and an upper frame 62 that slides up and down along the lower frame 61.

[0014] First, let's explain the lower frame 61. As shown in Figure 4, the lower frame 61 is constructed in a roughly H shape by fixing side pipes 61a, 61a that are spaced apart at a certain distance from each other with a connecting pipe 61b, and roller members 61d, 61d are supported by pins 61c, 61c that are pivotally attached to the lower ends of the side pipes 61a, 61a. These roller members 61d, 61d roll within the cam grooves 51d, 51d of the tilt plates 5d, 5d. Pin members 61e, 61e, ... are fixed to the upper part of the side pipes 61a, 61a, and roller members 61f, 61f, ... are supported by these pin members 61e, 61e, ... In addition, a stay member 61g, which is formed in a roughly U shape when viewed from the rear, is fixed near the center of the connecting pipe 61b. Furthermore, in a side view, the lower frame 61 is made rotatable on the vehicle body frame 21 by pivotally attaching the side pipes 61a, 61a to pivot bosses 21b, 21b fixed to the rear upper part of the vehicle body frame 21 via holes 611a, 611a drilled slightly below the center of the side pipes 61a, 61a. Furthermore, an extension mechanism 63 is attached between the stay member 61g and stay members 21d, 21d fixed to the connecting pipe 21c, which is located in front of the vehicle body frame 21, so as to hang downwards with a certain distance between them. In this embodiment, a gas cylinder is used for this extension mechanism 63, and it is positioned to bias the lower frame 61 in the direction of returning from a reclining position to a seated position. However, it is not necessary to limit it to a gas cylinder as in this embodiment. For example, any device that is configured so that the inner cylinder extends and retracts relative to the outer cylinder and the overall length can be changed arbitrarily would suffice, and a hydraulic cylinder or a device that consists of nested pipes and can be locked at any desired position may also be used.

[0015] Next, we will describe the upper frame 62. Rail pipes 62a, 62a, formed to a size that allows the side pipes 61a, 61a and the roller members 61f, 61f, ... of the lower frame 61 to be inserted into them, are fixed to each other by connecting pipes 62b at a certain distance apart. Then, in a rear view, the rail pipes 62a, 62a are rotatably pivoted to boss members 62e, 62e, which are fixed near the center of the frame pipes 62c, 62c, which are formed symmetrically on the left and right sides, via pivot plates 62d, 62d fixed near the lower ends of the frame pipes 62c, 62c. Furthermore, the rail pipes 62a, 62a and the frame pipes 62c, 62c are integrated by screwing removable knob screws 62i, 62i onto the plate 62f, 62f fixed to the frame pipes 62c, 62c and the nut members 62h, 62h attached to the plate 62g, 62g fixed to the upper end of the rail pipes 62a, 62a. With this configuration, the frame pipes 62c, 62c can be rotated forward and folded by removing the knob screws 62i, 62i, which reduces the height during transport, thereby reducing the size of the package and lowering transportation costs, as well as making it easier to carry during transport. Note that the upper frame 62 does not need to be divided as in this embodiment and may be configured as a single unit, and the user may set it as they see fit. Furthermore, the upper ends of these frame pipes 62c, 62c are bent to form the reclining handles 621c, 621c, and the push handles 62j, 62j are fixed so as to protrude from the rear of the frame pipes 62c, 62c. The reclining handles 621c, 621c are provided to improve the ease of tilting and raising the back support 6, and may be provided anywhere that is easy for the user to operate. Furthermore, the frame pipes 62c, 62c are fixed together with connecting pipes 62k, and a support pipe 62l is fixed to the central part of the connecting pipes 62k, and a head support 64 for supporting the user's head is attached to the support pipe 62l. While a detailed explanation of the head support 64 is omitted here, it can be adjusted appropriately up, down, forward, backward, left, and right to best suit the user's head position. The upper frame 62 configured in this way is attached by externally fitting its rail pipes 62a, 62a onto the side pipes 61a, 61a and roller members 61f, 61f, ... of the lower frame 61. Furthermore, a slide arm 65 is pivotally attached between the pivot plates 62l, 62l fixed to the connecting pipe 62b of the upper frame 62 and the boss members 21e, 21e fixed to the connecting pipe 21c of the vehicle body frame 21. The slide arm 65 is made of a pipe that is bent into a roughly U-shape when viewed from the rear and a roughly L-shape when viewed from the side.

[0016] The vehicle frame 2, seat 5, and back support 6 configured in this way operate as follows. First, as shown in Figure 5(a), in order to tilt the back support 6 backward from a seated position in a side view, the lock on the telescopic means 63 is released by operating a lever provided at the other end of a wire member connected to the telescopic device 63 (though not shown in the figure), and the back support 63 is rotated backward while the telescopic means 63 is in a state where it can be extended and retracted. As a result, the roller members 61d, 61d at the lower end of the lower frame 61 roll relative to the cam grooves 51d, 51d of the tilt plates 5d, 5d of the seat 5, and as shown in Figures 5(a) to 5(c), the rear of the seat 5 rotates downward once, and then upward, with the boss members 5e, 5e, which are the mounting parts of the seat 5, as the base. In this configuration, the upper frame 62 rotates around the boss members 21e, 21e, which are the mounting parts on the front end of the slide arm 65, as its pivot point, unlike the pivot point of the lower frame 61. As a result, it tilts while sliding towards the roller members 61d, 61d of the lower frame 61, causing the back support 6 to contract relatively and tilt backward. This configuration minimizes the movement of the user's back and buttocks when reclining, improving comfort and preventing pressure sores.

[0017] Next, I will explain the Leg Support 7. This leg support 7 is used to support the user's legs and mainly consists of a link portion 71 that is pivotally attached to the seat portion 5 at one end and a leg support portion 72 that is pivotally attached to the other end of the link portion 71.

[0018] First, let's explain the link section 71. As shown in Figure 6 and other figures, the link portion 71 has one end of the first plate 71a, 71a and one end of the second plate 71b, 71b pivotally attached to both ends of the mounting plates 5c, 5c, which are fixed to the front end of the seat portion 5. The third plate has one end pivotally attached to the other end of the first plate, and is pivotally attached so as to the intersection point X between the approximately midpoint of the third plate and the approximately center position of the second plate. Furthermore, the second plates 71b, 71b are bent in a side view to form a roughly W-shape, and as will be described in detail later, when the leg support 7, foot support 8, reclining mechanism 9, and storage mechanism 10 change their posture, the components do not interfere with each other, allowing for a compact configuration. One end of the fourth plate 71d, 71d is pivotally attached to the other end of the second plates 71b, 71b. A connecting pipe 71e is fixed between the second plates 71b, 71b, and the first support plates 71f, 71f are fixed approximately in the center of the connecting pipe 71e.

[0019] Next, the leg support section 72 will be described. As shown in Figure 6 and other figures, the leg support portion 72 is formed by fixing the tip of a support pipe 72a, which is bent into a roughly U-shape in plan view, with a connecting member 72b, and fixing leg support plates 72c, 72c, which are formed symmetrically on the left and right sides at a certain distance apart, to the support pipe 72a and the connecting member 72b. Furthermore, one end of the third plate 71c, 71c and the fourth plate 71d, 71d of the link portion 71 are pivotally attached to the leg pivot plate 72c, 72c, respectively.

[0020] Next, I will explain Foot Support 8. As shown in Figure 6, this foot support 8 is used to support the user's feet. In plan view, it has a trapezoidal shape with a shorter top and a longer bottom, and the bottom is bent to open up. Foot plates 8b, 8b for the user to place their feet on are rotatably pivoted to the open end of the foot support pipe 8a. One end of foot pivot plates 8c, 8c are fixed near both ends of one end of the foot support pipe 8a on the leg support 7 side. Adjustment plates 8d, 8d are rotatably pivoted near the other end of the foot pivot plates 8c, 8c and are inserted into the support pipe 72a of the leg support section 72. They are screwed in place with knob screws 8e, 8e via nut members 72d, 72d fixed coaxially with holes (not shown) drilled below the support pipes 72a, 72a. Furthermore, an interlocking plate 8f is fixed to the foot support pipe 8a near the center on the leg support 7 side, and a link arm 81 is pivotally attached between the interlocking plate 8f and the first pivot plates 71f, 71f of the link section 71. In this link arm 81, the tip of the shorter side of the link inner plate 8g, which is formed in a roughly L-shape in a side view, is pivotally attached to the interlocking plate 8f, one end of the link outer pipe 8h is externally fitted onto the link inner plate 8g, and the other end of the link outer pipe 8h is pivotally attached to the second pivot plates 71g, 71g which are fixed to the connecting pipe 71e of the link section 71. Furthermore, an adjuster member 8i, which is slidable around the outer circumference of the link inner plate 8g, is fitted onto the link inner plate 8g and screwed in with a knob screw 8j via the female threaded portion (not shown) of the adjuster member 8i. With this configuration, the link inner plate 8g can extend from one end of the link outer pipe 8h, so that, for example, the foot support pipe 8a can be rotated upward and folded from the position of the foot support 8 shown in Figure 8. At this time, by fixing the plunger member 8k to the interlocking plate 8f so as to engage with the hole 81g drilled in the link inner plate 8g, the foot support 8 can be held in a folded state toward the leg support 7. In this embodiment, although the details of the plunger member 8k are omitted, a ball plunger is used, but it is not necessary to limit it to a ball plunger. In this embodiment, the ball portion of the ball plunger is configured to be removable from the hole 81g, thereby maintaining and releasing the folded state of the foot support 8. However, any device that can achieve a similar effect would suffice. Furthermore, since the adjustment plates 8d, 8d can slide within the support pipe 72a, the lower limit position of the foot support 8 can be adjusted according to the user's lower limb length and usage. In this case, the position of the link plate 8g is adjusted according to the adjustment amount of the adjustment plates 8d, 8d, and the adjuster member 8i is tightened with the knob screw 8j to make the adjustment.

[0021] The relationship between the leg support 7 and foot support 8 configured in this way will now be explained. First, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7 and other figures, a four-bar link is formed by the seat portion 5, the link portion 71, and the foot support 8, and is composed of one end of the mounting plates 5c, 5c of the seat portion 5, both ends of the link arm 81, and one end of the foot pivot plates 8c, 8c of the foot support 8. Furthermore, the aforementioned link section 71 is configured to be able to interlock with the four-bar link in such a way that the length of the straight-line distance between the ends of the second plates 71b, 71b is longer than the length of the straight-line distance between the ends of the first plates 71a, 71a, and the length of the straight-line distance between the ends of the fourth plates 71d, 71d is shorter than the length of the straight-line distance between the ends of the third plates 71c, 71. With this configuration, when the first plates 71a, 71a are rotated upward, the second plates 71b, 71b, which are pivotally attached to the third plates 71c, 71c in conjunction with the first plates 71a, 71a, also rotate upward at the same time. At this time, the third plates 71c, 71c rotate upward in accordance with the upward rotation of the first plates 71a, 71a and the second plates 71b, 71b. However, as they rotate upward with respect to the intersection X, the tips of the third plates 71c, 71c rotate downward, and the fourth plates 71d, 71d, which are linked in conjunction with the leg pivot plates 72c, 72c, also rotate downward in accordance with the third plates 71c, 71c. As a result, the leg support portion 72 moves from the seat portion 5 side to the foot support portion 8 side in conjunction with the upward rotation of the link portion 71, causing the leg support 7 to extend. In other words, when standing up, the leg support 7 is divided into a link section 71 and a leg support section 72. As the leg support section 72 extends relatively upward relative to the link section 71 as it stands up, the apparent center of rotation of the leg support section 72 of the leg support 7 and the center of rotation of the knee joint of the user seated on the seat 5 can be made approximately the same. This reduces the displacement between the seat 5, the leg support 7, and the user's lower limbs that occurs when the leg support 7 stands up. Furthermore, the position of the foot support 8 can be adjusted by sliding it into and securing it to the leg support 7. In other words, because it can be adjusted each time to match the length of the user's lower limbs, combined with the elastic effect of the aforementioned leg support 7, the user can sit in the optimal posture even when seated.

[0022] Next, I will explain the reclining mechanism 9. This reclining mechanism 9 is used to hold the leg support 7 in any position when it is upright or tilted, and also to enable the leg support 7 to be linked to the reclining of the back support 6 as described above. First, as shown in Figure 7, a lever member 9b, which is formed in a roughly L-shape in a front view, is fixed to the front upper part of the angle adjustment plate 9a, which has a sawtooth-shaped hole section formed by a slide hole 91a drilled in the front-rear direction and a plurality of engagement / disengagement holes 92a, 92a, ... drilled continuously below the slide hole 91a, and a lever member 9b is fixed to the angle adjustment plate 9a so as to intersect with the angle adjustment plate 9a. The lever member 9b is rotatably inserted through a hole 711b drilled in one of the second plates 71b and a hole 711f in the first pivot plate 71f, and its tip is fixed to the first pivot plate 71f so as not to fall out. The tip of a pin member 21f, which is pivotally attached to the stay members 21d, 21d, is detachably inserted through either the slide hole 91a or the engagement / disengagement holes 92a, 92a, ... of the angle adjustment plate 9a. Boss members 9c, 9d are fixed to the holes drilled in the angle adjustment plate 9a. The boss member 9c is fixed to the angle adjustment plate 9a so as to protrude towards the lever member 9b side, and the boss member 9d is fixed so as to protrude towards the opposite side. A connecting pin 9e is inserted through the boss member 9c, and an inner pipe 9f is fixed to one end of the connecting pin 9e. An outer pipe 9g is fitted onto the inner pipe 9f, and a pin member 9h for pivotally attaching the telescopic means 63 is fixed to the rear end of the outer pipe 9g. A regulating pin 9i is attached above the rear end of the outer pipe 9g so as to be insertable and retractable within the outer pipe 9g. An elastic body 9j is attached so as to hook one end into a groove (not shown) at the tip of the connecting pin 9e and the other end into a hole 712f drilled in the first pivot plate 71f. In this embodiment, a tension spring is used for the elastic body 9j, and the elastic force of the elastic body 9j biases the angle adjustment plate 9a to rotate upward in a side view. In other words, the pin member 21f is biased to engage with or disengage from one of the engagement / disengagement holes 92a through the slide hole 91a.

[0023] Next, the storage mechanism 10 will be explained. This storage mechanism 10 is connected to the angle adjustment plate 9a of the reclining mechanism 9, and allows the leg support 7 to be moved to a stored position. More specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the storage mechanism 10 has a stopper plate 10b fixed to the middle part of the storage lever 10a. The stopper plate 10b is then fitted onto the boss member 9c through a hole 101b drilled in the stopper plate 10b, and the tip of the storage lever 10a is inserted through the boss member 9d to prevent the storage lever 10a from falling off the boss member 9d. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, an elastic body 10c is fitted between one end of the boss member 9d and the tip of the storage lever 10a. In this embodiment, a compression spring is fitted onto the storage lever 10a as the elastic body 10c, and a washer 10d is placed at the tip of the elastic body 10c and secured with a pin member 10e. By configuring the storage mechanism 10 in this way, even if the storage lever 10a is operated and pulled towards the user, the elastic body 10c allows the storage lever 10a to be returned to its original position when the user releases their hand.

[0024] By combining the leg support 7, foot support 8, reclining mechanism 9, and storage mechanism 10 in this way, the area around the leg support 7 can be made compact, similar to conventional wheelchairs. More specifically, as shown in Figure 7 and other figures, the second plates 71b, 71 of the link portion 71 are formed in a roughly W shape in a side view, the holes 711b of the second plates 71b, 71b are located at the central apex of the W shape, the lever member 9b is inserted through the holes 711b, and the storage lever 10a is located in the valley of the central apex that is connected to the leg support portion 72. This configuration makes it possible to avoid interference between the link portion 71 and the various components constituting the link portion 71 when the link portion 71 and the leg support portion 72 are in operation. Furthermore, as the reclining position shown in Figure 10 moves towards the storage position shown in Figure 12, the link portion 71 rotates counterclockwise in a side view, allowing the storage lever 10a to move inside the seat portion 5 from the position of the lever member 9b, thus bringing the link portion 71 and the leg support portion 72 closer together. Furthermore, the support pipe 72a of the leg support portion 72 can be housed in the valley portion connected to the seat portion side of the central apex. In other words, the link portion 71 and the leg support portion 72 can be brought closer together. Furthermore, the first plate 71a, 71a, the second plate 71b, 71b, the third plate 71c, 71c, the fourth plate 71d, 71d, and the leg pivot plates 72c, 72c are made of plate material and are arranged alternately as shown in Figure 6 to avoid interference between parts when changing posture, and also to create a compact configuration in the left-right direction. In other words, because each component can be arranged in the minimum necessary space, the leg support 7 and surrounding members can be made almost identical to the leg support of conventional wheelchairs, and can be used without any change in riding comfort compared to conventional wheelchairs.

[0025] Next, we will explain how to change the posture of the reclining wheelchair 1 from a seated position to a reclined position and to a position where the leg support 7 is stored. First, we will explain the case of changing posture from the seated position shown in Figure 8 to the reclining position shown in Figure 10. First, the regulating pin 9i of the reclining mechanism 9 is set to protrude into the inside of the outer pipe 9g. In this state, the lock of the telescopic means 63 is released so that the telescopic means 63 can be freely extended and retracted, and the back support 6 is tilted backward. As a result, the back support 6 rotates backward around the pivot bosses 21b, 21b of the vehicle frame body 21 as the pivot point, and the roller members 61d, 61d pivotally attached to the lower end of the back support 6 roll relatively within the cam grooves 51d, 51d of the tilt plates 5d, 5d of the seat 5, causing the seat 5 to rotate backward around the boss members 5e, 5e of the seat 5 as the pivot point. At this time, the stay member 61g of the back support 6 rotates upward (counterclockwise in a side view), and the outer pipe 9g of the reclining mechanism 9 also rotates upward, causing the regulating pin 9i and the rear end of the inner pipe 9f to come into contact, as shown in Figure 9. Furthermore, when the back support 6 is tilted backward, the leg support 7 rotates upward, biased by the inner pipe 9f, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The tip of the inner pipe 9f, which is pivotally attached to the angle adjustment plate 9a, is set to a position where the angle adjustment plate 9a rotates counterclockwise in a side view when the pivot point is rotated by the inner pipe 9f. In this way, a counterclockwise force is applied to the angle adjustment plate 9a in a side view, resisting the elastic force of the elastic body 9j, allowing the pin member 21f to roll along the upper edge of the slide hole 91a. In other words, the leg support 7 can be rotated in conjunction with the change in posture of the back support 6, whether the back support 6 is tilted or upright.

[0026] Furthermore, if you want to rotate only the leg support 7 upwards regardless of the position of the back support 6, you can simply rotate the leg support 7 upwards. (See Figure 11) At this time, the regulating pin 9i and the rear end of the inner pipe 9f are separated, so only the elastic force of the elastic body 9j acts, and the pin member 21f moves relatively along the engagement / disengagement hole 92a from the lower end of the slide hole 91a. Then, when you release your hand from the leg support 7 at any position, the pin member 21f engages with one of the engagement / disengagement holes 92a and is held at that angle. To return from this state to the state where it is linked with the back support 6, you can either recline the back support 6 or rotate the lever member 9b counterclockwise in a side view against the elastic body 9j to release the engagement between the pin member 21f and the engagement / disengagement hole 92a, and rotate the leg support 7 downward so that the regulating pin 9i and the rear end of the inner pipe 9f come into contact.

[0027] To rotate only the leg support 7 downwards, as in the opposite case described above, follow these steps: As shown in Figure 9, the lever member 9b is rotated counterclockwise in a side view against the elastic body 9j to release the engagement between the pin member 21f and the engagement hole 92a, thereby rotating the leg support 7 downward. To return from this state to the state in which the back support 6 reclines, the leg support 7 is rotated upward so that the regulating pin 9i protrudes inward from the outer pipe 9g and the inner pipe 9f comes into contact with the regulating pin 9i, or the back support 6 is returned to the upright position so that the inner pipe 9f comes into contact with the regulating pin 9i. Furthermore, when rotating the inner pipe 9f further downward from the state where the rear end of the inner pipe 9f and the regulating pin 9i are in contact, the regulating pin 9i is moved out from inside the outer pipe 9g, allowing the inner pipe 9f to slide rearward relative to the outer pipe 9g. This causes the elastic force of the elastic body 9j to act on the angle adjustment plate 9a, causing it to rotate downward to a position where one of the engagement / disengagement holes 92a engages with the pin member 21f (see Figure 13).

[0028] Thus, in this embodiment of the reclining wheelchair 1, the angle of the leg support 7 can be adjusted regardless of the reclining state, allowing the user to maintain a comfortable posture according to their condition. Furthermore, the leg support 7 can be rotated in conjunction with the reclining function, making it easier for caregivers to operate.

[0029] As shown in Figure 8 and other figures, the lower limit of rotation of the leg support 7 is the position where the stopper plate 10b of the storage mechanism 10 restricts a portion of the front of the slide hole 91a of the angle adjustment plate 9a, thereby limiting the relative rolling of the pin member 21f. At this time, the leg support 7 is positioned diagonally downward from the front end of the seat 5, and the foot support 8 (footplate 8b) is positioned forward from its lower end.

[0030] Next, we will explain the case where the leg support 7 is in the retracted position, as shown in Figure 12. First, in order to release the contact between the pin member 21f and the stopper plate 10b, the storage lever 10a of the storage mechanism 10 is operated against the elastic force of the elastic body 10c from the state shown in Figure 8, thereby separating the stopper plate 10b from the angle adjustment plate 9a. As a result, the pin member 21f can roll relative to the front of the slide hole 91a, allowing the leg support 7 to be rotated backward. Then, the front side of the foot support 8 can be rotated upward to the storage position. In this configuration, users can more easily adopt a posture where their feet are pulled closer to their body when they land on the ground, making it easier to stand up. Furthermore, caregivers can firmly plant their feet closer to the user's body, allowing them to support the user's body more safely and assist them in standing up. Additionally, since there are no obstructing structures in the lateral direction, movement in that direction becomes easier.

[0031] In this embodiment, the reclining wheelchair 1 has the leg support 7 and the foot support 8 attached to the leg support 7 configured as described above. As a result, when the user is placed in a long sitting position, the user's lower limbs are not affected by the changes in the orientation of the components, so there is no need to worry about leg misalignment. In other words, users do not experience discomfort due to misalignment, and caregivers do not need to expend effort correcting the user's body misalignment, making it beneficial for both users and caregivers. Furthermore, the foot support 8 also tilts in conjunction with the leg support 7 when the user changes posture, eliminating interference between the user's soles and the footplates 8b,8b, and preventing the user's feet from being biased and shifted by the footplates 8b,8b when changing posture.

[0032] Furthermore, the leg support 7 and foot support 8 in this invention can also be configured in other embodiments. For example, although illustrations and detailed explanations are omitted, the fourth plate of the link section and the leg pivot plate of the leg support section may be integrally constructed, the hole in the second plate for pivotally attaching the fourth plate may be made into an elongated hole shape, and the length of the fourth plate and the length from the intersection X of the third plate to the leg pivot plate may be made approximately equal, so that one end of the four-bar link requires a slider section. One advantage of this configuration is that it reduces the number of parts, and therefore lowers costs. In other words, it is sufficient if the apparent pivot point of the leg support portion 72 of the leg support 7 can be moved forward and upward of the seat portion 5.

[0033] Although this embodiment uses a wheelchair for explanation, the present invention can also be used for stretchers and bed reclining mechanisms, and is not limited to wheelchairs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Reclining wheelchair 2. Vehicle frame 3 Front wheels 4 Rear wheels 5 Seat 6 Back support 61 Lower frame 62 Upper frame 63 Expansion means 64 Head Support 65 Slide Arm 7 Leg Support 71 Link section 71a First Plate 71b Second Plate 71c Third Plate 71d Fourth Plate 72 Leg support section 8 Foot support 81 Link Arm 9. Reclining mechanism 9a Angle adjustment plate 9b Lever member 10 Storage mechanism 10a Storage lever 10b Stopper plate X intersection

Claims

1. In a reclining wheelchair, one end of a leg support is rotatably attached to a shaft below the front end of a seat, a foot support is rotatably attached to the other end of the leg support, and a four-joint link is formed by connecting the rear of the leg support and the vicinity of one end to the foot support with a link arm, and the leg support is composed of a link portion and a leg support portion, and the link portion rotatably attaches one end of a pair of first and second plates to the left and right in the left-right direction, rotatably attaches one end of a third plate to the other end of the first plate, rotatably attaches the second and third plates to an intersection near their respective midpoints, and rotatably attaches a fourth plate to the other end of the second plate, and a connecting pipe is fixed to the second plate, and a first fulcrum plate is attached to hang down near the center of the connecting pipe. and a plate fixed to the leg support portion, the leg support portion being configured by fastening a support pipe disposed in front of the link portion with a leg fulcrum plate, the other ends of the third plate and the fourth plate being rotatably attached to the leg fulcrum plate, and a first fulcrum plate being fixed to hang down at approximately the middle position of the connecting pipe of the link portion, and when the link portion is rotated upward, the third plate is pulled downward by the first plate, causing the support pipe to rotate forward with the intersection as the rotation center, and the leg support is operated so that the leg fulcrum plate is pulled downward by the fourth plate, causing the apparent rotation center of the leg support portion to move forward and upward of the seat portion, thereby becoming approximately equivalent to the rotation center of the knee joint of a user seated on the seat.

2. The link arm is configured by rotatably attaching one end of a link outer pipe rotatably attached to one end of the first fulcrum plate, and by rotatably attaching a link inner plate to an interlocking plate fixed to the rear end of the foot support and inserting the other end of the link outer pipe, and an angle adjustment plate having a sawtooth hole formed by a slide hole and a plurality of engagement holes drilled continuously below the slide hole is rotatably attached to the middle part of the link part of the leg support, and a pin member axially attached to the body frame is inserted into the slide hole, and the pin member moves relatively within the slide hole and engagement hole as the leg support rotates up and down, and further by providing a stopper plate that closes a part of the front side of the slide hole, the relative movement range of the pin member can be limited.

2. The reclining wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a storage mechanism configured to restrict the leg support from a seated position in which the leg support faces diagonally downward and forward from the front end of the seat and the foot plate, supported by a foot support pivotally attached to the leg support portion of the leg support, is positioned in front of the lower end of the leg support, to a reclining position in which the seat, leg support, foot support and foot plate are substantially on the same plane, and to allow the pin member to roll relatively to the front side of the slide hole by releasing the stopper plate, thereby rotating the leg support backward from the seated position and rotating the foot support upward to a storage position in which a kick-in space is formed.

3. 3. A reclining wheelchair as described in claim 2, characterized in that one end of an outer pipe is axially attached to the lower end of a back support arranged behind the seat, and an inner pipe is inserted into the other end of the outer pipe while the other end of the inner pipe is axially attached to the angle adjustment plate, so that the leg support can be rotated in conjunction with the reclining of the back support, and a control pin is attached to one end of the outer pipe so that it can move freely toward and away from the axis of the outer pipe, so that when the control pin protrudes into the outer pipe, the leg support can be rotated from the sitting position to the reclining position in conjunction with reclining, and when the control pin is retracted from the outer pipe, the leg support can be rotated regardless of the reclining operation.

4. A reclining wheelchair as described in claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the second plate is formed into an approximately W-shape, and a lever member for appropriately changing the position of the leg support from the reclining position to the sitting position is pivotally attached to the central apex of the approximately W-shape, and a storage lever for operating the storage mechanism is arranged in the valley portion on the leg support portion side connected to the apex, and one end of the support pipe of the leg support portion is stored in the valley portion on the seat portion side when the position is changed to the stored position, thereby allowing the leg support portion to be closer to the seat portion side of the link portion when the position is changed to the stored position, thereby forming a wider kick-in space.

5. A reclining wheelchair as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support pipe is bent into an approximately U-shape when viewed in a plane, and the leg support portion of the leg support is configured so that both ends of the support pipe face the foot support side, and an adjustment plate rotatably attached to the rear end of the foot support is slidably inserted into the support pipe and secured at any position, thereby making it possible to adjust the foot support to any length.

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