wheelchair

Abstract

To provide a wheelchair enabling changing a length in the front-back direction of a seat part according to the body type of a user, and allowing the user to be appropriately seated.SOLUTION: Guide groove parts 35, 35 are formed along the front-back direction in a pair of left and right seat frame rod parts 22, 22, and a fixing seat member 51 is fixed and bridged over the rear part of each frame rod part 22. The guide groove parts 35, 35 are each disposed and bridged with a position transformation sheet member 61 in a movable manner in the front-back direction, and are arranged with seat position regulation members 33, 33 which are rotatably externally fitted to a first rotation position for holding the position transformation sheet member 61 in a long seat position in an unmovable manner, a second rotation position for holding in a short seat position in an unmovable manner, and a third rotation position for moving to the long seat position and the short seat position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheelchair. [Background technology]

[0002] A commonly known wheelchair is one in which a pair of left and right frames, each with a drive wheel connected to it, are connected so as to be foldable by a roughly X-shaped link. In a wheelchair of this configuration, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, both ends of a seat member are connected to a pair of left and right seat frames connected to the upper ends of the links, and the seat member is stretched when the wheelchair is unfolded to form a seating section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-23493 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional wheelchairs described above, the size of the seat is determined by the seat members stretched between the left and right seat frames, and the size of the seat is usually set based on the average build of the user. However, rental wheelchairs, for example, are used by users of various builds, and depending on the user's build, it can be difficult to sit in. That is, for relatively small users, when sitting in the wheelchair seat, the backs of the user's knees rest on the upper surface of the seat, making it difficult to sit. On the other hand, for relatively large users, placing their feet on the footrests causes their thighs to move away from the seat, making it difficult to sit.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and proposes a wheelchair that allows users of various physiques to sit comfortably. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises a pair of left and right seat frame rods arranged along the front-to-rear direction, a fixed seat member whose left and right side edges are fixed to the rear parts of the left and right seat frame rods, respectively, and which is placed across the left and right seat frame rods, a guide groove part provided at least at the front parts of the left and right seat frame rods, which extends along the front-to-rear direction, and a guide groove part whose left and right side edges are provided in the left and right guide groove parts so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction, which is placed across the left and right seat frame rods, and which constitutes a seating part together with the fixed seat member, and which is provided near the front end of the seat frame rods. This wheelchair is characterized by comprising: a position-changing seat member that can be converted between a long seating position in which the seat is fitted to the seat frame and increases the longitudinal length of the seating portion, and a short seating position that is located rearward of the long seating position and decreases the longitudinal length of the seating portion; and a seat position regulating member that is rotatably fitted around the seat frame rod and can be rotated to a first rotation position that holds the position-changing seat member immovable at the long seating position, a second rotation position that holds the position-changing seat member immovable at the short seating position, and a third rotation position that can move between the long seating position and the short seating position.

[0007] In this configuration, the front-to-rear length of the seat on which the user sits can be changed by converting the position-changing sheet member between the long and short positions. Therefore, by selectively positioning the position-changing sheet member between the long and short positions depending on the user's physique, the user can sit more comfortably. That is, when used by a relatively small user, maintaining the position-changing sheet member in the short position prevents the backs of the user's knees from resting on the upper surface of the seat, making it easier for the user to sit. On the other hand, when used by a relatively large user, maintaining the position-changing sheet member in the long position makes it easier for the user's thighs to rest on the seat, making it easier for the user to sit. Furthermore, the configuration of the present invention allows the position-changing sheet to be maintained in the long and short positions by positioning the seat position-restricting member in the first and second pivot positions, preventing the position-changing sheet from unintentionally shifting while seated. Therefore, according to the configuration of the present invention, by converting the position converting sheet member between the long seating position and the short seating position according to the physique of the user, the user can sit stably in an appropriate seating posture.

[0008] Furthermore, in the configuration of the present invention, the position of the position changeable seat member can be changed by rotating the seat position restricting member, which makes the work required for the position change easy to perform. Furthermore, this work has the advantage of not requiring the rearrangement of parts or the use of tools, and also has the advantage of not causing the loss of parts.

[0009] In the wheelchair of the present invention described above, the position-convertible seat member is proposed to have a main seat portion adjacent to the fixed seat member in the short seat position, and an extended seat portion extending rearward from the main seat portion, and the extended seat portion overlaps the fixed seat member in the short seat position, and at least the rear edge of the extended seat portion overlaps the fixed seat member in the long seat position.

[0010] In this configuration, whether the position-changing sheet member is in the short seating position or the long seating position, no gap occurs between the position-changing sheet member and the fixed sheet member, so the sitting posture of the user seated on the seating portion can be stabilized, making it even easier to sit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the wheelchair of the present invention, the front-to-rear length of the seat can be changed according to the user's physique, making it easy for users of various physiques to sit in and reducing fatigue even when sitting for a relatively long period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a main body frame 2 constituting a wheelchair according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a fixing sheet member 51 and a position conversion sheet member 61 are disposed on a main body frame 2. FIG. [Figure 3] 3A is a perspective view of a seat position restricting member 33 in a first rotation position, FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a seat position restricting member 33 in a second rotation position, and FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a seat position restricting member 33 in a third rotation position. [Figure 4] (A) Cross-sectional view 1 at the first rotation position, (B) Cross-sectional view 2 at the first rotation position, (C) Cross-sectional view 1 at the second rotation position, (D) Cross-sectional view 2 at the second rotation position, (E) Cross-sectional view 1 at the third rotation position, and (F) Cross-sectional view 2 at the third rotation position of the seat position regulating member 33. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a position conversion sheet member 61. FIG. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a fixed sheet member 51. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the position converting sheet member 61 is in a short seat position. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the position conversion sheet member 61 is in a long seated position. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the seat position restricting member 33 is in a third rotation position and the position converting sheet member 61 is movable. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A detailed description of an embodiment of the wheelchair according to the present invention will be given below. 1 and 2, the wheelchair of this embodiment has a main body frame 2 made of metal pipes. The main body frame 2 has a pair of left and right side frames 10, 10, and the side frames 10 have a base frame portion 11 arranged in the front-to-rear direction, a rear leg frame portion 12 in the up-and-down direction joined to the rear of the base frame portion 11, a backrest frame portion 13 extending upward from the upper end of the rear leg frame portion 12, and an upper frame portion 15 extending forward from the upper end of the rear leg frame portion 12. Furthermore, groove-shaped seat frame support portions 16, 16 are arranged in the left and right upper frame portions 15, 15, respectively, and a pair of left and right seat frame rod portions 22, 22 extending in the front-to-rear direction are placed on each seat frame support portion 16, 16, respectively.

[0014] The rear leg frame portion 12 is provided with a main wheel 3. A conventionally used main wheel 3 can be used for this main wheel 3, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0015] A cross frame portion 19, in which a pair of rods are rotatably connected at their centers, is disposed between the pair of left and right side frames 10, 10. The lower ends of the pair of rods of this cross frame portion 19 are rotatably connected to the left and right base frame portions 11, 11 that constitute the side frames 10, 10, and the upper ends of the pair of rods are rotatably connected to the left and right seat frame rod portions 22, 22.

[0016] The main frame 2 is configured such that the left and right side frames 10, 10 are connected by a cross frame portion 19, and the left and right seat frame rod portions 22, 22 are placed on the seat frame support portions 16, 16, so that the left and right side frames 10, 10 are held apart at a predetermined distance on the left and right. This state is the in-use state in which a user can sit. When the left and right seat frame rod portions 22, 22 are lifted from this in-use state, the left and right ends of the cross frame portion 19 move closer to each other, and therefore the left and right side frames 10, 10 move closer to each other. This allows the main frame 2 (i.e., the wheelchair) to be folded. Incidentally, since a conventionally used cross frame portion 19 can be applied, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0017] A flexible fabric backrest sheet member (not shown) is stretched across the left and right backrest frame portions 13, 13 of the main frame 2, and the backrest sheet member forms a backrest portion (not shown) that supports the back of the user.

[0018] Next, the main part of the present invention will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the wheelchair of this embodiment has a fixed seat member 51 that cannot move in the forward / backward direction and a position-convertible seat member 61 that can move in the forward / backward direction, spanning the left and right seat frame rod portions 22, 22.

[0019] 3 and 4, the seat frame rod 22 includes a main rod 31 having a long cylindrical shape and opening in the front-rear direction, engagement end portions 32, 32 engaged with the front-rear openings of the main rod 31, and a seat position restricting member 33 fitted around the main rod 31 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction. The main rod 31 has an upwardly opening guide groove 35 formed along the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the main rod 31, and an internal space 34 of the main rod 31 communicates with the outside via the guide groove 35. A support rod 36 having a circular cross section and supported at both ends by the front and rear engagement end portions 32, 32 is disposed in the internal space 34 of the main rod 31 along the longitudinal direction of the main rod 31. Furthermore, a threaded hole (not shown) is provided near the front end of the main rod portion 31, and a rotation guide screw 38 is threaded into the threaded hole. The rotation guide screw 38 is threaded into the threaded hole so as to protrude downward from the main rod portion 31 by a predetermined length.

[0020] The seat position restricting member 33 includes a front arcuate fitting portion 41, a rear arcuate fitting portion 42, and a guide arcuate fitting portion 43, each of which has an arc-shaped cross section and a notched portion in the circumferential direction. The front arcuate fitting portion 41 and the rear arcuate fitting portion 42 are arranged in a row at a predetermined interval in the front-to-rear direction and are integrally formed via the guide arcuate fitting portion 43. The front arcuate fitting portion 41 and the rear arcuate fitting portion 42 are arranged to partially overlap in the circumferential direction, and each notched portion has overlapping and non-overlapping portions in the circumferential direction. The guide arcuate fitting portion 43 is arranged to overlap at least one of the front arcuate fitting portion 41 and the rear arcuate fitting portion 42 in the circumferential direction, and the notched portion of the guide arcuate fitting portion 43 overlaps with each of the notched portions of the front arcuate fitting portion 41 and the rear arcuate fitting portion 42. By rotating the seat position restricting member 33 in the circumferential direction of the main rod portion 31, the seat position restricting member 33 can be changed to a third rotation position (see FIGS. 4(E) and (F)) where neither the front arcuate fitting portion 41 nor the rear arcuate fitting portion 42 (nor the guide arcuate fitting portion 43) are positioned above the main rod portion 31, a second rotation position (see FIGS. 4(C) and (D)) where only the front arcuate fitting portion 41 is positioned, and a first rotation position (see FIGS. 4(A) and (B)) where only the rear arcuate fitting portion 42 is positioned. Note that FIGS. 4(A), (C), and (E) are cross-sectional views of the seat frame rod portion 22 at a predetermined position forward of the seat position restricting member 33, and FIGS. 4(B), (D), and (F) are cross-sectional views of the seat position restricting member 33 at a position where the guide arcuate fitting portion 43 is disposed.

[0021] Furthermore, the guide arc fitting portion 43 of the seat position restricting member 33 is provided with an elongated hole 45 along the circumferential direction, and the rotation guide screw 38 threadedly engaged with the main rod portion 31 is inserted into the elongated hole 45. This allows the seat position restricting member 33 to rotate in the circumferential direction relative to the main rod portion 31, and restricts movement of the main rod portion 31 in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] In this embodiment, the front arcuate fitting portion 41 of the seat position restricting member 33 is provided with the above-mentioned Second rotation position A mating protrusion 46 that fits into the guide groove 35 of the main rod portion 31 is provided on one side edge in the circumferential direction. Second rotation positionSimilarly, the rear arc fitting portion 42 can be positioned and maintained by the First rotation position A mating protrusion 47 that fits into the guide groove 35 of the main rod portion 31 is provided on one side edge in the circumferential direction. First rotation position The position can be maintained by

[0023] The seat position restricting member 33 has operating protrusions 48, 49 that protrude radially outward from the front arcuate fitting portion 41 and the rear arcuate fitting portion 42. By operating these operating protrusions 48, 49, the seat position restricting member 33 can be rotated relatively easily, making it easy to change the position between the first rotation position, the second rotation position, and the third rotation position.

[0024] The fixed sheet member 51 described above is placed across the left and right seat frame rods 22, 22. As shown in Fig. 6, the fixed sheet member 51 is made of a flexible fabric material and includes a seat main portion 52 disposed between the seat frame rods 22, 22 and annular end portions 53, 53 provided on both left and right ends of the seat main portion 52. The left and right annular end portions 53 of the fixed sheet member 51 are fitted onto the rear portions of the main rods 31, 31 of the left and right seat frame rods 22, 22, and are fixed to the main rods 31, 31 with fixing screws (not shown). Furthermore, the fixed sheet member 51 of this embodiment has hook-and-loop fastener portions 55, 55 arranged on its upper surface.

[0025] The position-changing sheet member 61 extends across the left and right seat frame rods 22, 22 forward of the fixed sheet members 51 firmly attached to the main rods 31, 31. As shown in Fig. 5, the position-changing sheet member 61 is made of a flexible fabric material and includes a main seat portion 62 with guided end portions 66, 66 at both left and right ends, and an extended seat portion 63 extending rearward from the main seat portion 62. The guided end portions 66, 66 of the main seat portion 62 are inserted into the internal gaps 34, 34 of the guide grooves 35, 35 of the left and right seat frame rods 22, 22, respectively, and are fitted onto the support rods 36, 36 in the internal gaps 34, 34 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. As a result, the position changing sheet member 61 is movable in the front-rear direction along the guide grooves 35 and cannot be separated from the guide grooves 35, and is positioned across the left and right seat frame rods 22. Meanwhile, the extending sheet portion 63 extends rearward from the main sheet portion 62 so that it overlaps the fixed sheet member 51 when the position changing sheet member 61 is in a short seating position (see FIG. 7) described below, and so that only its rear edge overlaps the fixed sheet member 51 when the position changing sheet member 61 is in a long seating position (see FIG. 8) described below. Hook-and-loop fasteners 67, 67 are arranged in parallel on the underside of the extending sheet portion 63, and each hook-and-loop fastener 67, 67 can be detachably joined to the hook-and-loop fasteners 55, 55 of the fixed sheet member 51. Here, the hook-and-loop fastener portions 67, 67 of the extending sheet portion 63 are not only connectable to the hook-and-loop fastener portions 55, 55 of the fixed sheet member 51 in the short seating position, but are also configured to be connectable to the front portions of the hook-and-loop fastener portions 55, 55 of the fixed sheet member 51 even in the long seating position.

[0026] In the wheelchair of this embodiment, the seating section 6 on which the user can sit is formed by the fixed seat member 51 and the position-changing seat member 61 that are respectively connected to the left and right seat frame rods 22, 22.

[0027] This position-adjustable seat member 61 can move in the front-to-rear direction along the guide groove portions 35, 35 of the left and right seat frame rod portions 22, 22, and can be changed between a short seat position (Figure 7) in which the main seat portion 62 is adjacent to the fixed seat member 51 in front, and a long seat position (Figure 8) in which the main seat portion 62 is separated forward from the fixed seat member 51.

[0028] More specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the seat-position restricting member 33 is set to the second pivot position (see Figures 3(B) and 4(C) and (D)), and the position converting sheet member 61 is set to the short seating position. In this state, the front arc-shaped fitting portion 41 of the seat-position restricting member 33 is positioned on the guide groove portion 35, so the position converting sheet member 61 is prevented from moving forward by the front arc-shaped fitting portion 41 and is held in the short seating position. In this short seating position, the extending sheet portion 63 of the position converting sheet member 61 overlaps the fixed sheet member 51, so the length of the seating portion 6 in the front-rear direction is shortened.

[0029] When the position-changing sheet member 61 is changed from the short seating position to the long seating position, the seat-position-limiting member 33 is set to the third pivoted position (see FIGS. 3(C) and 4(E) and 4(F)) as shown in FIG. 9. In this third pivoted position, the guide groove 35 is not closed by the seat-position-limiting member 33, allowing the position-changing sheet member 61 to move forward and backward along the guide groove 35. This moves the position-changing sheet member 61 forward from the short seating position to the long seating position (see FIG. 8). Then, the seat-position-limiting member 33 is rotated to the first pivoted position (see FIGS. 3(A) and 4(A) and 4(B)). This positions the rear arc-shaped fitting portion 42 of the seat-position-limiting member 33 over the guide groove 35, preventing the position-changing sheet member 61 from moving rearward and maintaining it in the long seating position. In this long seating position, the main seat portion 62 of the position converting seat member 61 is separated in front of the fixed seat member 51, thereby increasing the length of the seating portion 6 in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the rear end of the extended seat portion 63 overlaps the fixed seat member 51 in the long seating position, so no gap is created between the position converting seat member 61 and the fixed seat member 51.

[0030] When changing the position from the long seating position to the short seating position, the seat-position restricting member 33 is set to the third pivot position (see FIGS. 3(C) and 4(E) and (F)) as described above, and the position-changing sheet member 61 is moved to the short seating position, and then the seat-position restricting member 33 is rotated to the second pivot position, thereby holding the position-changing sheet member 61 in the short seating position.

[0031] As described above, according to the wheelchair of this embodiment, the seat position restricting member 33 can be rotated to the first rotation position, the second rotation position, or the third rotation position as appropriate to change the position of the position convertible sheet member 61 between the short seating position and the long seating position, thereby enabling the seat 6 to be extended or retracted in the front-to-rear direction, and the front-to-rear length of the seat 6 can be changed depending on the user. As a result, for users with a relatively small build, setting the position convertible sheet member 61 to the short seating position makes it easier to sit, while for users with a relatively large build, setting the position convertible sheet member 61 to the long seating position makes it easier to sit. In this way, by adjusting the front-to-rear length of the seat 6 depending on the user's build, the user can sit stably in an appropriate seating position.

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the dimensions and shapes of the components in the above-described embodiments can be modified as needed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 2 Main frame 3 Main wheels 6 Seating area 10 Side frame 11 Base frame part 12 Rear leg frame 13 Backrest frame 15 Upper frame part 16 Seat frame support 19 Cross frame section 22 Seat frame rod 24 Caster 31 Main rod part 32 Engagement end 33 Seat position control member 34 Internal void 35 Guide groove 36 Support rod part 38 Rotation guide screw 41 Front arc fitting 42 Rear arc fitting 43 Guide arc fitting 45 long hole 46,47 Mating ridge 48,49 Operation convex part 51 Fixed sheet member 52 Seat main part 53 Annular end 55 hook and loop fastener 61 Position conversion sheet member 62 Main seat section 63 Extension seat part 66 Guided end 67 Hook and loop fastener

Claims

[Claim 1] a pair of left and right seat frame rods arranged along the front-rear direction; a fixed seat member whose left and right side edges are fixed to rear portions of the left and right seat frame rod portions, respectively, and which is extended across the left and right seat frame rod portions; a guide groove portion provided at least at a front portion of each of the left and right seat frame rod portions and extending along the front-rear direction; a position changeable seat member, the left and right side edges of which are respectively provided in left and right guide grooves so as to be movable in the front-to-rear direction, which is placed across the left and right seat frame rods and which constitutes a seating portion together with a fixed seat member, and which is changeable between a long seating position provided near the front end of the seat frame rods to lengthen the front-to-rear length of the seating portion and a short seating position provided rearward of the long seating position to shorten the front-to-rear length of the seating portion; a seat position restricting member that is fitted onto the seat frame rod portion so as to be rotatable in a circumferential direction and that is rotatable to a first rotation position that holds the position converting seat member immovably at the long seating position, a second rotation position that holds the position converting seat member immovably at the short seating position, and a third rotation position that is movable between the long seating position and the short seating position; Equipped with The seat position restricting member is a front arc-shaped fitting portion having an arc-shaped cross section and a notched portion in the circumferential direction, the front arc-shaped fitting portion being fitted onto the seat frame rod portion so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction; a rear arc-shaped fitting portion having an arc-shaped cross section and a notched circular portion in the circumferential direction, the rear arc-shaped fitting portion being integrally connected to the front arc-shaped fitting portion and being fitted onto the seat frame rod portion so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction; Equipped with A wheelchair characterized in that, in the third pivot position, the notched portion of the front arc fitting portion and the notched portion of the rear arc fitting portion communicate on the guide groove portion of the seat frame rod portion, in the second pivot position, the notched portion of the front arc fitting portion is not positioned on the guide groove portion and the notched portion of the rear arc fitting portion is positioned on the guide groove portion, and in the first pivot position, the notched portion of the front arc fitting portion is positioned on the guide groove portion and the notched portion of the rear arc fitting portion is not positioned on the guide groove portion.

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