Transport vehicle

Abstract

To provide a transport vehicle which enables a person with walking difficulty to move to a bathroom without having to walk or transfer when he / she wants to take a bath, and which allows the person to take a bath while still on the vehicle, without imposing a burden on the person. [Solution] In this invention, the caster rotation axis of the caster wheel 5 of the transport vehicle 2 is not installed perpendicular to the floor surface but is installed at an angle, and the caster wheel 5 and front wheel 4 are rotatable, so the front wheel 4 rotates to the stable side, creating a gap between the landing surface in front of the container body 1 and the floor surface when moving forward, allowing it to move, and when moving backward it lands on the floor and comes to a standstill.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport vehicle that can be pushed or pulled by a person. [Background technology]

[0002] Commonly used transport vehicles that can be pushed and pulled by people often have caster wheels on the front, and by rotating a part of this caster wheel, the direction of destination can be easily changed. A typical caster wheel is shown in Figure 6. A caster wheel is equipped with a wheel as shown in Figure 6, and has a curved part in part of the caster wheel (there is a distance between the wheel perpendicular and the caster axis, and this distance causes the caster wheel to have a curved part). The advantage of having this curved part is that the direction of travel can be easily changed to the pushing direction. To attach the caster wheels to a transport vehicle, a caster wheel support rod is welded to the transport vehicle frame. The support rod contains rubber material, a bolt, and a nut (Figure 13), and is connected via a bearing on the top of the caster wheel, allowing the caster wheel to rotate. This caster rotation surface allows a transport vehicle equipped with caster wheels to easily change direction.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 devised a wheelchair for a Western-style toilet that eliminates the need for diapers. The wheelchair is equipped with two caster wheels at the front. The caster rotation axis of the caster wheels is designed to be perpendicular to the road surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7338098 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a transport vehicle equipped with a loading platform for passengers to get on and off, it would be easier for passengers to get on and off if the front of the loading platform could be raised and lowered. Specifically, it would be preferable if the front of the loading platform could be lowered to allow passengers to land on the platform when getting on and off, and if the front of the loading platform could be raised when the transport vehicle is moving forward in order to avoid obstacles or steps ahead. In the wheelchair described in Patent Document 1, the caster wheel support bar of the front wheel is installed perpendicular to the floor, that is, the caster wheel rotation axis of the caster wheel is perpendicular to the floor, that is, the caster wheel angle is 0. Therefore, it does not have a mechanism to raise or lower the front of the carrier. The object of the present invention is to invent a simple mechanism that can lower the front of the loading platform when the transport vehicle is stopped to allow it to land on the floor, and can raise the front of the loading platform when the transport vehicle is moving forward. In the present invention, "on the floor" means that a part of the transport vehicle comes into contact with the floor, road surface, or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the inventors have invented the following means. As a first measure, A vehicle used for transportation that has a loading platform that can be pushed and pulled by a person, The vehicle has at least two caster wheels at the front, The caster wheel comprises a wheel; the caster wheel has a caster wheel rolling surface for turning; When a line extending from the center point of the caster wheel rotation plane and perpendicular to the caster wheel rotation plane is defined as the caster rotation axis, The caster angle of the caster rotation axis is 5 degrees to 30 degrees, The distance between the center of the wheel and the downward extension of the caster rotation axis is 15 mm to 100 mm, When the vehicle is moved forward, the rotating part rotates, thereby raising the front of the loading platform, a transport vehicle characterized in that, when the vehicle is moved backward, the front of the loading platform is landed on the floor; to provide.

[0007] Method 2 includes: The carrier is provided with a seat on which a person can sit. 1. The transport vehicle described in to provide.

[0008] Method 3 includes: The transport vehicle according to means 2, characterized in that the seats are provided in a container body capable of storing hot and cold water. to provide.

[0009] The following is a supplement to the wording described in the above means. The caster rotation axis, also indicated by the symbol 6a, is a virtual straight line axis extending from the center point of the caster wheel rotation surface and perpendicular to the caster wheel rotation surface. The center point is the center of the circle because the caster wheel rotation surface is usually circular. However, if the caster wheel rotation surface is not circular, the center point should be the geometric center of gravity. An explanatory diagram of the caster angle is shown in Figure 7. In other words, the caster angle is the angle between the caster rotation axis and the perpendicular line from the floor. When the caster angle is positive, the upper part of the caster is tilted backward. On the other hand, when the caster angle is negative, the upper part of the caster is tilted forward. The wheel center point is the center point of the longitudinal center of the axle (spindles) that form the axis of the wheel. This is the distance between the center of rotation and the downward extension of the rotation axis, which is the distance between a point and a line. The distance between a point and a line is the length of a perpendicular line drawn from the point to the line. Figure 12 shows an explanatory diagram. "Front" and "rear", and "upper" and "lower" are directions as described in FIG. The container may be of any structure and material as long as it can store hot and cold water, and a so-called bathtub is preferred.

[0010] The caster angle should be between 5 and 30 degrees, preferably between 10 and 20 degrees. If the caster angle is too small, the gap between the top and bottom of the front of the loading platform will be too small, making it difficult to overcome obstacles ahead. On the other hand, if the caster angle is too large, when the load in the bed is heavy, the front wheels will turn over and excessive force will be required to start moving forward. The distance between the center of the caster wheel and the downward extension of the perpendicular line is 15 to 100 mm, preferably 40 to 65 mm. If the distance is too small, the gap between the front of the platform and the floor becomes too small, making it difficult to overcome steps. On the other hand, if the distance is too large, excessive force is required to turn the front wheel of the caster wheel. The caster wheels may be attached to the transport vehicle by any method, but typically the caster wheel support rods are attached to the rods of the transport vehicle frame by welding. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] By implementing the present invention, it is possible to move the front part of the loading platform up and down despite the extremely simple structure. Specifically, when the transport vehicle is moved forward or backward, the front of the loading platform can be raised or lowered. As a result, when the transport vehicle moves forward, the front part of the loading platform can be raised, and when the transport vehicle moves backward, the front part of the loading platform immediately moves downward and can be landed on the floor. Therefore, when moving forward, a gap is created between the floor and the front part of the loading platform, allowing for smooth forward movement. On the other hand, when moving backward, the front part of the loading platform immediately lands on the floor, making it easier for the care recipient to get on and off the container body of the transport vehicle. In addition, the platform also functions as a brake when it lands on the floor, improving safety when the transport vehicle is stationary.

[0012] The caster wheels move in reverse (Fig. 1) and forward (Fig. 2) and the front wheels move up and down at the front of the platform, eliminating the burden on the care recipient when getting on and off. This simplifies the series of actions, such as from the bed to the bathroom, and then from the bathroom to the bed after bathing, as it eliminates the burden of walking and transferring. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] A side view of the transport vehicle of the present invention, in which the caster rotation axis of the caster wheel of the front wheel faces the opposite direction to the large wheel when the front wheel is moving backward, and the front of the container body is stationary and stable on the floor. [Figure 2] A side view of the transport vehicle of the present invention, in which the caster rotation axis of the caster wheel of the transport vehicle is oriented in the same direction as the large wheel when the front wheel is moving forward, creating a gap in front of the container body and allowing it to move. [Figure 3] Front view of the container body (view from the front). [Figure 4] Rear view of the container body and transport vehicle (view from behind). [Figure 5] This diagram confirms the difference in height between the forward and backward movement of the front wheel landing surface due to the rotation of the front caster wheel at various caster angles of the transport vehicle. [Figure 6] Caster wheel and support rod diagram. [Figure 7] An illustration of the caster angle. [Figure 8] This is a side view showing that the position of the large wheel support axis was raised upward using a movable device, based on the contact surface of the front wheel of the caster wheel, resulting in a gap between the front of the container body and the floor. [Figure 9] This is a side view showing that the front caster wheel was pushed down with a movable device using the contact surface of the large wheel as a reference, resulting in a gap between the front of the container body and the floor. [Figure 10] The "upper, lower" and "forward, rearward" views of the transporter are shown. [Figure 11] A side view of the bathtub body being used as a bathtub. [Figure 12] An explanatory diagram of the distance between a point and a line. [Figure 13] End view of caster wheel, caster wheel support rod and front wheel DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0015] In Figure 1, the caster rotation axis 6a of the caster wheel is installed at an angle, so that the front wheel 4 faces in the opposite direction to the large wheel 3, and the front of the container body 1 mounted on the loading platform of the transport vehicle 2 is placed on the floor. For example, when a person being cared for gets on and sits in the seat, no load is applied to the transport vehicle 2 and the transport vehicle is stationary.

[0016] In Figure 2, the caster rotation axis 6a is installed at an angle, so when the transport vehicle moves forward, the front wheels 4 move in the direction of the large wheels 3, which is a stable state. Due to the difference between the floor landing height of the front wheels 4 in Figure 1 and the height of the floor landing surface of the front wheels 4 in Figure 2, a gap is created between the front landing surface of the container body 1 and the floor, allowing forward movement.

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the container body 1 (viewed from the front), and the horizontal line drawn at approximately the middle position indicates the height of the seat.

[0018] Figure 4 is a rear view (view from behind) of the container body 1 and the transport vehicle 2, and shows the frame of the transport vehicle 2, the rear tip-prevention support pillar 7 when the container body is used as a bathtub, the support pillar cover 9, the backrest member 11, and the rear tip-prevention support bolt 12.

[0019] In FIG. 5(a), the caster wheel 5 installed on the transport vehicle 2 and Wheel 4 is depicted, and caster rotation axis 6a is installed perpendicular to the floor surface (caster angle is 0 degrees), and the height of the front wheel landing surface is horizontal with no difference between the state of Figure 1 and the state of Figure 2. In (b), the caster angle 6b is drawn at 5 degrees, and the difference in height between the front wheel landing surface in the state shown in Figure 1 and the state shown in Figure 2 is approximately 9 mm when the front wheel diameter is approximately 150 mm. In (c), the caster angle 6b is drawn at 10 degrees, and the difference in height between the front wheel landing surface in the state shown in Figure 1 and the state shown in Figure 2 is approximately 18 mm when the front wheel diameter is approximately 150 mm. In (ii), the caster angle 6b is drawn at 15 degrees, and the difference in height between the front wheel landing surface in the state shown in Figure 1 and the state shown in Figure 2 is approximately 27 mm when the front wheel diameter is approximately 150 mm. Figure 5 shows the case where a Yamaha electric wheelchair front caster (XOC-22845-51) is used.

[0020] FIG. 6 shows the caster wheels 5 and front wheels 4 of a typical wheelchair.

[0021] Figure 7 shows a diagram of the caster angle.

[0022] FIG. 8 shows a method for creating a gap between the floor and the landing surface in front of the container body 1 when moving. This method involves placing the caster wheel 5 and front wheel 4 at a caster angle 6b based on the vertical installation standard, and mechanically moving the support position of the large wheel 3 upward to create a gap.

[0023] Figure 9 shows a method for creating a gap between the floor and the landing surface in front of the container body 1 when moving, by using the support position of the large wheel 3 as a reference and mechanically lowering the landing positions of the caster wheels 5 and front wheels 4 downward.

[0024] FIG. 10 shows the front, rear, top and bottom of the transport vehicle 2 and the container body 1.

[0025] FIG. 11 is a side view of the container 1 loaded on the platform of the transport vehicle 2, rotated by about 45 degrees around the hub of the large wheel 3 of the transport vehicle 2, and shows that the container 1 serves as a tank for storing hot and cold water. The transport vehicle 2 is secured for safety with a rear anti-tip support 7, a front anti-tip support 8, and a large wheel chock 10, and allows a caregiver to transport a non-caregiver to the bathroom by himself / herself without making the non-caregiver walk or transfer, and to perform a bath / wash of the body.

[0026] Figure 12 shows an illustration of the distance between a point and a line. .

[0027] FIG. 13 shows an end view of the caster wheel, caster wheel support bar and front wheel.

[0028] In addition, in the present invention, the front wheels 4 are approximately 150 mm and the caster angle is 30 to 60 degrees, and Figure 5 is considered, but slight differences can be covered by installing the caster at an angle 6b. The best method for manufacturing the transport vehicle 2 is to install the caster wheels 5 at an angle of 6b, so that the front landing surface of the container body 1 can create a gap when moving forward, which is a simple and inexpensive method for manufacturing the transport vehicle 2. [Industrial Applicability]

[0029] When non-caregivers with walking difficulties are forced to spend their days in hospitals or at home recovering, only having their bodies wiped with warm towels, and also from the mental aspect of the refreshing feeling of soaking in a bathtub, we hear from people who find it depressing, and we came up with the idea of ​​creating a structure that would allow bathing in a way that does not burden the person walking, is simple to make, and is easy to move and operate. Many people with walking difficulties are undergoing rehabilitation at the hospital. There are people who are bedridden. Although there are various bathing devices on the market, the first thing they need to do is reach the bathtub, which is too much of a burden for those who have difficulty walking. Therefore, it is a transport vehicle with a simple structure and low cost that can be easily handled by a single caregiver. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1. Container body 2 Transport vehicle 3 Big Wheel 4 front wheels 5 caster wheels 5a Caster wheel support rod 6 Caster rotation surface 6a Caster rotation axis 6b Caster angle 7. Rear anti-tip support 8 Front anti-tip support 9 Support Cover 10 Large wheel retainer 11 Backrest member 12 Rear anti-tip support bolt 13 Bend

Claims

1. A vehicle used for transportation that has a loading platform that can be pushed and pulled by a person, The vehicle has at least two caster wheels at the front, The caster wheel comprises a wheel; the caster wheel has a caster wheel rolling surface for turning; The caster angle of the caster rotation axis, which is a perpendicular line extending from the center point of the caster wheel rotation plane to the rotation plane, is 5 degrees to 30 degrees, The distance between the center of the wheel and the downward extension of the caster rotation axis is 15 mm to 100 mm, When the vehicle is moved forward, the rotating part having the wheels rotates from the front to the rear, thereby raising the front of the loading platform; When the vehicle is moved backward, the rotating part equipped with the wheels rotates from the rear to the front, causing the front of the loading platform to land on the floor. This transport vehicle is characterized in that the caster rotation axis is attached with a caster angle.

2. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the platform is provided with a seat on which a person can sit.

3. 3. A transport vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the seat is provided in a container capable of holding hot and cold water.

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