Electric chair

Abstract

To provide an electric wheelchair excellent in safety and convenience for a user.SOLUTION: An electric wheelchair 1 includes a wheelchair body chassis 11, a seat 20, and a roll bar, and is configured in a predetermined range in which its full length, full width, and overall height are qualified as a pedestrian. The roll bar includes a front roll bar 31 consisting of at least two front support bars 31a provided on right and left front parts with respect to the center of the wheelchair body chassis 11, and a front connection bar 31b for connecting the two front support bars 31a, and a rear roll bar 32 consisting of two rear support bars 32a provided on right and left rear parts of the wheelchair body chassis 11, and a rear connection bar 32b for connecting the two rear support bars 32a. The seat 20 is placed so as to slide in a front-rear direction on the wheelchair body chassis 11, and getting on and off can be made from a front side of the front roll bar 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric wheelchair, and more particularly to an electric wheelchair that is safe and convenient for the user. [Background technology]

[0002] Wheelchairs are used as a means of transportation when walking becomes difficult due to aging or a disability. Among wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs are powered by an electric motor and are primarily equipped with four wheels on each side, front and back, and do not require manual pushing, making them suitable for people with weak grip or arm strength, and allowing for faster movement than walking with assistance. For this reason, using an electric wheelchair allows care recipients and elderly people to move independently according to their own will, which reduces stress and also has the benefit of reducing the burden of caregiving for caregivers.

[0003] Furthermore, if an electric wheelchair meets legal standards such as the required size (total length, width, and height) and maximum speed, it is treated as a pedestrian under the Road Traffic Act and can be operated without a driver's license. Furthermore, because it uses clean energy, there is a demand for safe and convenient electric wheelchairs that can be used as a means of transportation for elderly people and others, even if they are not in need of care, in the aging society of the future.

[0004] Such electric wheelchairs mainly include standard electric wheelchairs that are steered with a joystick lever (see Patent Document 1), and handle-type electric wheelchairs that are steered with a handle (see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-322110 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-16788 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Both standard and handle-type electric wheelchairs currently on the market have seats that are positioned high like regular chairs, meaning they cannot protect the user in the event of a fall. Furthermore, in rainy weather, users need to wear a raincoat or similar, which is inconvenient.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and has as its object to provide an electric wheelchair that is safe and convenient for the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, (1) the electric wheelchair of the present invention comprises a body chassis, At least a seat and a backrest An electric wheelchair having a seat and a roll bar, and whose overall length, width and height are within a predetermined range for being recognized as a pedestrian, wherein the roll bar has at least a front roll bar consisting of two front support bars provided on the left and right sides forward of the center of the vehicle body chassis and a front connecting bar connecting the two front support bars, and a rear roll bar consisting of two rear support bars provided on the left and right sides rear of the vehicle body chassis and a rear connecting bar connecting the two rear support bars, and the seat is When getting on and off The seat is mounted so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction along seat rails provided on the vehicle chassis, and passengers can get in and out from the front side of the front roll bar.

[0009] This allows the user to be protected by the roll bar even if the electric wheelchair falls over. At least a seat and a backrest The seat slides back and forth along the seat rails provided on the vehicle chassis, allowing the user to easily get on and off the electric wheelchair from the front without being hindered by armrests provided on the wheelchair or roll bars provided on both sides.

[0010] (2) The electric wheelchair of the present invention is characterized in that the seat can slide forward to a position where the front end of the seat protrudes further forward than the front end of the vehicle chassis. As a result, because the front end of the seat protrudes further than the vehicle chassis, when getting on or off the electric wheelchair, the user can bend their knees and place their feet at a right angle on the ground without being hindered by the front end of the vehicle chassis, making it easier to get on or off.

[0011] (3) The electric wheelchair of the present invention is characterized by having a tilt mechanism at the front side of the vehicle chassis that tilts the seat surface of the seat forward when dismounting and tilts the seat backward when mounting. This makes it easier for the user to dismount because the user's buttocks are lifted forward when dismounting. Also, because the user's feet are lifted when mounting, the user's feet will not hit the front end of the vehicle chassis when the seat slides backward.

[0012] (4) The electric wheelchair of the present invention is characterized in that wall members of a predetermined height are fixed to the front roll bar and the rear roll bar. This increases the safety of the user and prevents the user from being exposed to wind. It also prevents muddy water and other debris from entering from the road surface when traveling on rough roads.

[0013] (5) The electric wheelchair of the present invention is characterized in that a mesh-like anti-jump member is provided between the front roll bar and the rear roll bar, which prevents the user from being thrown out from the side of the electric wheelchair when the electric wheelchair tips over or collides with another vehicle.

[0014] (6) The electric wheelchair of the present invention is characterized in that a transparent windshield member that can be opened and closed is provided in front of the body chassis. This ensures forward visibility while preventing the effects of wind when moving, allowing the user to use the electric wheelchair more comfortably.

[0015] (7) The electric wheelchair of the present invention is characterized in that a rain protection member is detachably provided at least between the front roll bar and the rear roll bar, allowing the user to use the electric wheelchair comfortably even in rainy weather.

[0016] (8) The electric wheelchair of the present invention is characterized in that the rain protection member is a roll screen, a roll curtain, or a folding member. This allows a variety of configurations to be selected as the rain protection member.

[0017] (9) The electric wheelchair of the present invention is characterized in that connecting bars that connect the front roll bar and the rear roll bar are provided on the sides and above the seat. This connects the front roll bar and the rear roll bar to form a roll cage, thereby reliably ensuring the safety of the user.

[0018] (10) The electric wheelchair of the present invention is characterized in that the front roll bar and the rear roll bar, together with a roll bar located at the top and at the position of the user's beltline when seated, form an integrated roll cage, which is rotatably fixed to the vehicle chassis by a hinge located behind the beltline. This ensures that the user is protected by the roll cage, thereby ensuring safety. Furthermore, because the roll cage rotates relative to the vehicle chassis by a hinge located behind the beltline, the roll cage does not get in the way when getting in and out. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric wheelchair that is safe and convenient for the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the main parts of an example of an electric wheelchair according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2]2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. 1 when getting on and off. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a wall member is provided in the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a wall member and a jump-out prevention member are provided in the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a windshield member that can be opened and closed is provided in front of the body chassis in the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a windshield member of the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 2 is a diagram for explaining a rain protection member in the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a diagram for explaining the attachment structure of the rain protection member in the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the relationship between the roller curtain of the rain protection member and the guide rail in the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 10] 2 is a diagram for explaining the attachment state of the rain protection member at the top portion in the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a control mechanism for an electric wheelchair according to the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the main parts of another example of an electric wheelchair according to the present invention. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating still another example of an electric wheelchair according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the electric wheelchair of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components with the same reference numerals in different drawings are considered to be similar, and their description may be omitted. Note that the present invention is not limited to the examples of these embodiments, and includes all modifications within the scope of the claims and equivalents. Furthermore, as long as multiple embodiments can be combined, the present invention includes any combination of embodiments.

[0022] (Embodiment 1) Electric wheelchairs must meet legal standards in each country regarding vehicle size, speed, etc. In particular, there are size restrictions on overall length, width, and height. For example, the type certification standards for motorized wheelchairs for physically disabled persons based on Japan's Road Traffic Enforcement Regulations currently state that they must not exceed 120 cm in length, 70 cm in width, and 120 cm in height. Furthermore, speeds cannot exceed 6 km / h. Furthermore, armrests that can be fixed to the chair are required.

[0023] Furthermore, commercially available electric wheelchairs generally have high seat heights, and if a roll bar were to be installed to ensure safety, it is expected that the height would exceed the specified size. Furthermore, if the seat height were set low, the armrests would get in the way when getting on and off from either side, making it difficult to get on and off smoothly. For this reason, in this embodiment, the seat height is kept as low as possible, and the user is configured to get on and off from the front of the electric wheelchair.

[0024] Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the main parts of an example of an electric wheelchair according to the present invention. Fig. 1(A) is a diagram showing the position of the chair when moving, with the chair moved to the rearmost position. Fig. 1(B) is a diagram showing the position of the chair when getting on and off, with the chair moved forward.

[0025] The coordinate axes X, Y, and Z shown in Figure 1 respectively indicate the width, length, and height directions of the electric wheelchair 1, with the direction from left to right when viewed from the front of the electric wheelchair 1 being the positive direction of the X axis, the direction from rear to front being the positive direction of the Y axis, and the direction from bottom to top being the positive direction of the Z axis. The directions of the coordinate axes X, Y, and Z may also be referred to as left-right, front-back, and up-down. The relationships between the coordinate axes in other drawings are the same as those in FIG.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 1, the electric wheelchair 1 comprises a body chassis 11, a seat 20, and roll bars 31 to 36. It has wheel wells 12 provided on the front, rear, left and right sides of the body chassis 11, and tires 13 mounted in the wheel wells 12. Note that Fig. 1 shows only the main parts of the electric wheelchair 1, and does not show the battery, controller, etc., but the battery, controller, etc. can be provided in the space behind the seat 20 or in the space between the front and rear wheel wells.

[0027] In this embodiment, the vehicle chassis 11 is made of a plate-like member made of metal such as iron or an alloy, and is approximately 10 mm thick, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape except for the wheel wells 12, but may also be formed of a ladder frame. Two seat rails 14 are provided on the top surface of the vehicle chassis 11 to guide the seat 20 so that it can slide back and forth. The vehicle chassis 11 is configured to be located approximately 10 cm above the road surface.

[0028] The seat 20 has a seat surface 21, a backrest 22, a headrest 23, and armrests 24. The armrests 24 are provided with a joystick 25 for operating the electric wheelchair 1 and operation buttons (not shown) for moving or tilting the seat 20. A switch for changing the speed of the electric wheelchair 1 may also be provided. The seat 20 is equipped with a seat slide motor 151 (see FIG. 11) for moving the seat 20 in the forward and backward direction along the seat rails 14. The seat 20 is also equipped with a tilt mechanism for changing the inclination angle of the seat surface 21 or the entire seat 20 in the forward and backward direction and a number of seat tilt motors 152 (see FIG. 11) required to drive this tilt mechanism. The seat 20 may also be equipped with a seat belt for protecting the user.

[0029] The height of the seat surface 21 of the seat 20 is preferably approximately 40 cm or less from the road surface, and more preferably 35 cm or less if possible. This allows even a user who is 180 cm tall to have sufficient space above their head to access the top roll bar 36.

[0030] By operating a predetermined operation button, the seat 20 moves to the rearmost part of the electric wheelchair 1 when driving, as shown in Fig. 1(A), and slides to the very front of the electric wheelchair 1 when getting in and out, as shown in Fig. 1(B). In Fig. 1(B), the front end of the seat 20 is at approximately the same position as the front end of the vehicle chassis 11, but the front end of the seat 20 may be positioned so that it protrudes further forward than the front end 11a of the vehicle chassis 11. This allows the user to place their feet at a right angle on the ground without being obstructed by the front end 11a of the vehicle chassis 11, making it easier to get in and out of the electric wheelchair.

[0031] Next, we will explain the roll bars 31 to 36 that serve to protect the user when the electric wheelchair 1 tips over or collides. The electric wheelchair 1 is equipped with, as its main roll bars, a front roll bar 31 consisting of two front support bars 31a provided on the left and right sides forward of the center of the vehicle body chassis 11 and a front connecting bar 31b connecting these two front support bars 31a, and a rear roll bar 32 consisting of two rear support bars 32a provided on the left and right sides rear of the vehicle body chassis 11 and a rear connecting bar 32b connecting these two rear support bars 32a. The seat 20 is positioned so that it is located within the space between the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 when driving, and in this embodiment, the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 are shaped to form a substantially rectangular parallelepiped space in order to maximize the space around the user when driving.

[0032] Two tip roll bars 33 are provided on the left and right in front of the front roll bar 31, extending from the left and right ends of the tip of the vehicle body chassis 11 toward both ends of the front connecting bar 31b of the front roll bar 31. The tip roll bars 33 are intended to protect the user when the electric wheelchair 1 collides with an object in front of it. They can also be used to support a front windshield member 60 (see Figure 5), which will be described later, but may not be provided if necessary.

[0033] Side roll bars 34 that connect the front roll bar 31 and rear roll bar 32, and the front roll bar 31 and tip roll bar 33, are provided integrally at a predetermined height of the electric wheelchair 1, for example, at a height of approximately one-third to one-half of the height of the electric wheelchair 1. The side roll bars 34 are intended to protect the user when another vehicle collides with the electric wheelchair 1 from the side, and to reinforce the tip roll bar 33.

[0034] A rear roll bar 35 is provided on the rear side of the electric wheelchair 1 at approximately the same height as the side roll bars 34. The rear roll bar 35 is intended to protect the user when the electric wheelchair 1 is hit from behind. Furthermore, a top roll bar 36 is provided on the upper part (top) of the electric wheelchair 1, connecting the front connecting bar 31b of the front roll bar 31 and the rear connecting bar 32b of the rear roll bar 32. The top roll bar 36 connects the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 together at the top, thereby increasing the strength of the front roll bar 31.

[0035] The roll bars 31 to 36 are each made of a metal pipe such as iron, chrome molybdenum steel, or aluminum, or carbon fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), and their connecting portions are integrated by welding or bonding. The cross-sectional shape of each of the roll bars 31 to 36 may be circular, rectangular, or another shape. For example, in this embodiment, the top roll bar 36 is generally T-shaped, as will be described later.

[0036] Next, we will explain the operation of the seat 20 when getting on and off the electric wheelchair 1. Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the chair when getting on and off the electric wheelchair shown in Figure 1. Figure 2(A) shows a diagram when the user gets off, and Figure 2(B) shows a diagram of one process when the user gets on.

[0037] The seat 20 is configured to move to the rearmost part of the electric wheelchair 1 when driving and to slide to the very front of the electric wheelchair 1 when getting on or off, and when getting on or off, the electric wheelchair 1 is located at the front end of the vehicle chassis 11. When getting off, the user slides the seat 20 to the front end of the vehicle chassis 11 and then operates a predetermined operation button, which causes the seat chill motor to operate a link mechanism, and the seat surface 21 of the seat 20 tilts forward (leans forward) as shown in Figure 2(A). Note that the entire seat 20, including the backrest 22, headrest 23, and armrests 24, may also be configured to tilt forward when the seat surface 21 tilts forward. This allows the user's buttocks to be lifted forward, making it easier to get off.

[0038] When riding, the user can place their buttocks on the seat 21 with the seat surface 21 horizontal to the ground as shown in FIG. 1(B) or tilted forward as shown in FIG. 2(A). Then, by operating a predetermined operation button, a seat tilt motor (not shown) operates a link mechanism, and the seat 21 of the seat 20 first tilts backward (rearward tilt) as shown in FIG. 2(B). In this case, it is desirable to tilt the backrest 22, headrest 23, and armrests 24, i.e., the entire seat 20, backward along with the forward tilt of the seat surface 21, so as to prevent the user from feeling cramped. Then, the seat 20 automatically slides backward, and the posture of the seat 20 is controlled by interlocking the seat slide motor 151 and the seat tilt motor 152 to return the seat surface 21 from the rearward tilted state to a horizontal state. When the seat 20 slides to the rearmost position, the seat surface 21 is horizontal to the ground.

[0039] The tilting and sliding of seat 20 when getting on may be performed by separate operation buttons. As a result, when getting on, seat 21 tilts backward, lifting the user's feet, preventing the user's feet from hitting front end 11a of vehicle chassis 11 when the seat slides backward. Also, the angle of seat 21 when driving can be initially set to be horizontal to the ground, and the angle of seat 21 can be adjusted according to the user's preference.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which wall members are provided in the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. 1 . In the electric wheelchair 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , side walls 41 are provided between the body chassis 11 and the side roll bars 34 at the sides of the electric wheelchair 1, and a rear wall 42 is provided between the body chassis 11 and the rear roll bar 35 at the rear of the electric wheelchair 1. Providing the side walls 41 and the rear wall 42 increases the safety of the user. They also protect the user from wind and prevent muddy water and other materials from entering from the road surface when traveling on rough roads. The side walls 41 and the rear wall 42 can be made of transparent or colored synthetic resin plates, FRP, metal, or the like. The side walls 41 and the rear wall 42 may also be configured as plate-like members with heat insulating material enclosed inside.

[0041] In this embodiment, the lower parts of the front roll bar 31, rear roll bar 32, and tip roll bar 33, as well as the side roll bars 34 and rear roll bar 35, are arranged inside the side walls 41 and rear wall 42.

[0042] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a wall member and a jump-out prevention member are provided in the electric wheelchair shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4(A) is a diagram showing the electric wheelchair 1 as seen from the side, Fig. 4(B) is a diagram showing the electric wheelchair 1 as seen from the front, Fig. 4(C) is a diagram showing the electric wheelchair 1 as seen from the rear, and Fig. 4(D) is a diagram showing the electric wheelchair 1 as seen from above. The electric wheelchair 1 of this embodiment is provided with mesh-like side mesh members 51 as jump-out prevention members between the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32. This makes it possible to prevent the user from jumping out from between the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 even when the electric wheelchair 1 rolls over.

[0043] The electric wheelchair 1 is also provided with a mesh-like rear mesh member 52 as a jump-out prevention member on the rear roll bar 32, preventing the user from jumping out between the rear roll bar 32. Furthermore, although not shown, a mesh-like jump-out prevention member may be provided between the front connecting bar 31b and the rear connecting bar 32b at the top of the electric wheelchair 1. The side mesh member 51 is preferably a mesh-like member of a size that does not interfere with the user's ability to see to the side while driving, and is preferably made of a material that is unlikely to injure the user in the event of a collision.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4(A), in this embodiment, a side windshield member 64 made of a transparent resin plate such as polycarbonate is provided in the triangular space surrounded by the front support bar 31a of the front roll bar 31, the tip roll bar 33, and the side wall 41. By providing the side windshield member 64, it is possible to prevent wind and rain from entering through the triangular space formed on the front side of the electric wheelchair 1.

[0045] The electric wheelchair 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a structure for preventing the effects of wind and rain from the front. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. 1 in which a freely openable windshield member is provided in front of the vehicle body chassis 11, showing the state in which the windshield member is flipped up. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the windshield member of the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. 5. A front windshield member 60 is provided in front of the electric wheelchair 1. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the front windshield member 60 is rotatably attached to the front connecting bar 31b of the front roll bar 31 via a hinge 63. The front windshield member 60 is formed by fixing a transparent plate 62 made of a transparent, impact-resistant synthetic resin material such as polycarbonate to an aluminum sash 61 having a thickness of approximately 1 cm to 5 cm. The front windshield member 60 is shaped to cover the space between the two tip roll bars 33. The lower portion of the transparent plate 62 may be colored as long as it does not interfere with the operation of the electric wheelchair 1.

[0046] The front windshield member 60 rotates relative to the front connecting bar 31b via a hinge 63, allowing the front portion of the electric wheelchair 1 to be opened and closed. When the electric wheelchair 1 is in operation, the front windshield member 60 is kept closed by a locking mechanism (not shown). The front windshield member 60 can be flipped up around the hinge 63, so it does not get in the way when the user gets in and out of the electric wheelchair 1. It is preferable to use a torque hinge that can be stopped at a desired position as the hinge 63. The front windshield member 60 can be opened and closed manually, but it is preferable to do so automatically. For example, it is preferable to be able to control the opening and closing operation using a front windshield member opening and closing motor 153 (see FIG. 11 ) so that the front windshield member 60 automatically closes as the seat 20 slides backward when the user gets in the electric wheelchair 1, and automatically opens as the seat 20 slides forward when the user gets out of the electric wheelchair 1.

[0047] The electric wheelchair 1 of this embodiment is capable of being fitted with a rain protection member when it rains. Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining the rain protection member in the electric wheelchair shown in Fig. 1, with the front roll bar 31 and rear roll bar 32 not shown. Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining the attachment structure of the rain protection member in the electric wheelchair shown in Fig. 1, with Fig. 8(A) being a diagram seen from the front and Fig. 8(B) being a diagram seen from the inside side. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the relationship between the roll curtain of the rain protection member and the guide rail in the electric wheelchair shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the attachment state of the rain protection member at the top part in the electric wheelchair shown in Fig. 1.

[0048] In this embodiment, a roll curtain 70 is used as a rain protection member that can be attached to and detached from the electric wheelchair 1. As shown in Fig. 7, the roll curtain 70 is held in a roll curtain case 71 with a transparent sheet member 72 rolled up inside, and a grip member 73 having, for example, an L-shaped cross section is provided at the tip of the sheet member 72. In addition, flexible locking members 74 that are thicker than the sheet member 72 and have a predetermined width are provided at both ends of the sheet member 72 in the width direction.

[0049] The sheet member 72 is normally stored inside the roll curtain case 71 with tension applied in the unwinding direction by a spring member provided inside the roll curtain case 71, and a user can pull the grip member 73 to pull the sheet member 72 out of the roll curtain case 71. In this embodiment, the length of the roll curtain case 71 is formed slightly longer than the distance between the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32, as shown in FIG. 8(B), and the width of the sheet member 72 is formed to be approximately equal to the distance between the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32.

[0050] The front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 are each formed with fitting portions 39 above the side walls 41, into which both ends of the roll curtain 70 can be fitted. If providing the fitting portions 39 reduces the strength required for the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32, the areas around the fitting portions 39 of the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 can be made thicker or solid to compensate for the reduced strength.

[0051] Guide rails 75 made of, for example, aluminum are provided on the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 on the opposing sides of the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32, along the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32. As shown in Fig. 9, the guide rails 75 have guide grooves 76 large enough to allow the end of the sheet member 72 and the locking members 74 to be inserted from the end, and the opening provided in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail has a width that allows only the sheet member 72 to pass through. Therefore, when the sheet member 72 is inserted from the end of the guide groove 76, both ends are held in the guide groove 76 by the locking members 74, and the sheet member 72 will not come out of the guide groove 76.

[0052] When attaching the roll curtain 70 to the electric wheelchair 1, both ends of the roll curtain 70 The roll curtain 70 is fixed to the electric wheelchair 1 by fitting it into the fitting portions 39 formed on the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32. Next, the sheet member 72 is pulled out of the roll curtain case 71 by pulling the gripping members 73. At this time, both ends of the sheet member 72, together with the locking members 74, are inserted into the guide grooves 76 of the guide rails 75, as shown in FIG. 8 . Furthermore, by pulling up the gripping members 73, the sheet member 72 can be pulled up along the guide rails 75 to a position above the user's head. Note that by making the guide grooves 76 at the ends of the guide rails 75 larger than in other locations, both ends of the sheet member 72 can be smoothly inserted into the guide grooves 76. As a result, the flexible, transparent sheet member 72 is supported at both ends by the guide rails 75, and can be pulled up to a position above the user's head without sagging.

[0053] The guide rails 75 are provided along the front roll bar 31 and rear roll bar 32 located on the left and right sides of the electric wheelchair 1, and extend to the position of the top roll bar 36 located at the center of the top, as shown in Figure 10. Therefore, the sheet members 72 of the roll curtains 70 provided on the left and right sides of the electric wheelchair 1 can be pulled up to the position of the top roll bar 36 at the top. Appropriate locking means is provided so that the sheet members 72 can be locked at the position of the top roll bar 36. For example, the locking means can be formed with hooks and holes that can be locked to the gripping members 73 of the roll curtains 70 and the top roll bar 36, or a magnet can be used.

[0054] In this embodiment, the top roll bar 36 has a T-shaped cross section. The tips of the sheet members 72 of the roll curtains 70 provided on the left and right sides are engaged with the underside of the T-shaped cross section of the top roll bar 36. As a result, rain that falls on the top roll bar 36 flows from the top roll bar 36 onto the outer surface of the sheet member 72, preventing rain from entering the electric wheelchair 1 through the gap between the top roll bar 36 and the sheet member 72. To reliably prevent rainwater from entering, the tips of the guide rails 75 may be formed so as to bend upward below the top roll bar 36. This ensures that rainwater from the top roll bar 36 flows toward the outer surface of the sheet member 72 when the sheet member 72 is engaged with the underside of the top roll bar 36.

[0055] As described above, in this embodiment, the rain protection member can be provided detachably by utilizing the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 provided in front of and behind the user when driving. Note that, although the guide rails 75 are provided along the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 in this embodiment, the guide rails 75 do not necessarily have to be provided along the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32. The rain protection member may also be provided at the rear of the electric wheelchair 1. In this case, the roll curtain 70 is provided between the two rear support bars 32a of the rear roll bar 32, as partially shown in FIG. 9(B). The rain protection member is not limited to the roll curtain 70, and may also be configured from a folding member formed by overlapping a roll screen or transparent plate-like member that can be folded.

[0056] Next, the control mechanism of the electric wheelchair 1 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of the control mechanism of the electric wheelchair according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 11, the electric wheelchair 1 is equipped with, as a control mechanism, an operation unit 110, a signal conversion unit 120, a battery 130, a drive unit controller 140, a seat controller 150, four travel motors, namely, a front right motor 141, a front left motor 142, a rear right motor 143, and a rear left motor 144, which are driven and controlled by the drive unit controller 140, as well as a seat slide motor 151, a seat tilt motor 152, and a front windshield member open / close motor 153, which are driven and controlled by the seat controller 150.

[0057] The operation unit 110 includes a joystick 25 provided on the armrest 24 of the seat 20 and operation buttons for the seat, etc. Mechanical displacement from the joystick 25 or operation buttons of the operation unit 110 is converted into an electrical signal by a signal conversion unit 120 and transmitted to a drive controller 140 or a seat controller 150. The drive controller 140 and the seat controller 150 can be configured with a microcomputer or the like having a CPU and memory, and the CPU processes data and programs stored in advance in the memory to generate control signals for each motor, etc. Furthermore, power is supplied to each component, such as circuits and motors, that require power, from a battery 130 installed in the electric wheelchair 1.

[0058] For example, the joystick 25 is used to operate the electric wheelchair 1, and when the lever of the joystick 25 is tilted forward, backward, left, or right, the signal conversion unit 120 converts the displacement of the lever of the joystick 25 into an electrical signal and transmits it to the drive controller 140. The drive controller 140 drives a specified motor only while the lever of the joystick 25 is being tilted, thereby moving the electric wheelchair 1 forward or backward or changing direction left or right. The motor is also controlled so that the speed changes depending on the angle at which the lever is tilted. Alternatively, a separate switch or other operating unit may be provided to change the speed of the electric wheelchair 1.

[0059] In the electric wheelchair 1 of this embodiment, four travel motors, namely, the front right motor 141, the front left motor 142, the rear right motor 143, and the rear left motor 144, are each incorporated as in-wheel motors into the wheels of the tires 13. For example, the electric wheelchair 1 can travel forward or backward by rotating the four travel motors in the same direction, and the traveling direction of the electric wheelchair 1 can be changed by changing the rotation speed of the front right motor 141 and the rear right motor 143 and the rotation speed of the front left motor 142 and the rear left motor 144. Furthermore, by rotating the front right motor 141 and the rear right motor 143 in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the front left motor 142 and the rear left motor 144, the electric wheelchair 1 can change direction at a fixed position. Note that although a travel motor is incorporated in each tire 13, it is also possible to provide only two motors, either the front travel motor or the rear travel motor. For example, various modifications are possible, such as incorporating a traction motor into only the rear tires and configuring the front tires as omniwheels.

[0060] The drive unit controller 140 is equipped with inverter circuits for driving the four drive motors. The inverters may be provided inside the wheels of the tires 13. The drive unit controller 140 detects the speed of the electric wheelchair 1 or the rotation speed of the drive motors and performs feedback control to keep the speed of the electric wheelchair 1 within, for example, 6 km / h.

[0061] As described above, various operations of the seat 20 can be performed independently by operating the operation buttons, but it is also possible to perform the tilting and sliding operations of the seat 20 in conjunction with each other when getting in and out of the vehicle, or to perform the opening and closing operations of the front windshield member 60 in conjunction with the sliding operation of the seat 20. These linked operations are performed by the seat controller 150 executing a program previously stored in memory, triggered by a signal from the operation button.

[0062] Furthermore, if the operation button for sliding the seat 20 is accidentally operated or the operation to open the front windshield member 60 is accidentally performed while driving the electric wheelchair 1, the seat controller 150 has a safety function that disables these operations. Furthermore, by providing a load sensor on the seat surface 21 of the seat 20 and prohibiting the sliding operation of the seat 20 until the load sensor detects a predetermined load value when getting on, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally touching the operation button for sliding the seat 20 and falling over. The determination of whether the electric wheelchair is driving or getting on or off can be made by providing a position sensor that detects the position of the seat 20 and a switch that detects whether the seat 20 is at the rearmost or frontmost position.

[0063] (Embodiment 2) FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the main components of another example of an electric wheelchair according to the present invention. In the first embodiment, the electric wheelchair 1 has one roll bar, the top roll bar 36, at its top. However, the electric wheelchair 2 of this embodiment has two top roll bars 36a, one on each side. Except for the rain protection members, the other configuration is the same as the electric wheelchair 1 of the first embodiment. This allows the upper portions of the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 to be integrally connected by the two top roll bars 36a, thereby increasing the strength of the roll cage. In this embodiment, roll curtains 70 can be provided as rain protection members on the left and right sides, rear, and top of the approximately rectangular parallelepiped space formed by the front roll bar 31, rear roll bar 32, and top roll bar 36a. Alternatively, a single roll curtain may be provided to cover the left and right sides and top as a rain protection member.

[0064] (Embodiment 3) FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of an electric wheelchair according to the present invention, with FIG. 13(A) showing the electric wheelchair in a state when moving, and FIG. 13(B) showing the state when getting on and off. The electric wheelchair 3 of this embodiment is the same as in embodiment 2 in that it is equipped with a front roll bar 31, a rear roll bar 32, and a top roll bar 36a, but the lower portions of the front roll bar 31 and the rear roll bar 32 are connected by a belt-line roll bar 37 to form an integrated roll cage 30. The belt line is the line that corresponds to the position of the user's belt when seated, and the belt-line roll bar 37 is formed in a shape that surrounds both left and right sides and the front of the electric wheelchair 3 located at the belt line. The user can be positioned inside the integrated roll cage 30 consisting of the front roll bar 31, rear roll bar 32, top roll bar 36a, and belt-line roll bar 37, thereby ensuring good safety when moving.

[0065] The body chassis 11' of the electric wheelchair 3 is configured as a monocoque structure including the body chassis 11, side walls 41, and rear wall 42 of the first and second embodiments. The roll cage 30, which is made up of the front roll bar 31, rear roll bar 32, top roll bar 36a, and beltline roll bar 37, is rotatably fixed to the body chassis 11' by hinges 38 at a position rearward of the beltline roll bar 37.

[0066] While the electric wheelchair 3 is being driven, as shown in Figure 13(A), the roll cage 30 is closed relative to the vehicle body chassis 11', which is a monocoque structure, but when getting in and out, the roll cage 30 can be flipped up around the hinge 38 as shown in Figure 13(B). This ensures that the user is protected by the roll cage 30 while driving, and since the roll cage 30 can be flipped up when getting in and out, the roll cage 30 does not get in the way and the user can get in and out smoothly. Note that the electric wheelchair 3 of this embodiment is similar to the first and second embodiments in that it is provided with a slide mechanism and tilt mechanism for the seat 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1-3...electric wheelchair, 11, 11'...vehicle chassis, 11a...front end, 12...wheel housing, 13...tire, 14...seat rail, 20...seat, 21...seat surface, 22...backrest, 23...headrest, 24...armrest, 25...joystick, 30...roll cage, 31...front roll bar, 31a...front support bar, 31b...front connecting bar, 32...rear roll bar, 32a...rear support bar, 32b...rear connecting bar, 33...tip roll bar, 34...side roll bar, 35...rear roll bar, 36, 36a...top roll bar, 37...belt line roll bar, 38...hinge, 39...fitting portion, 41...side wall, 42...rear wall, 51...side mesh member, 52...rear mesh member, 60...front windshield member, 61...sash, 62...transparent plate, 63...hinge, 64...side windshield member, 70...roll curtain, 71...roll curtain case, 72...sheet member, 73...gripping member, 74...locking member, 75...guide rail, 76...guide groove, 110...operation unit, 120...signal conversion unit, 130...battery, 140...drive unit controller, 141...front right motor, 142...front left motor, 143...rear right motor, 144...rear left motor, 150...seat controller, 151...seat slide motor, 152...seat tilt motor, 153...front windshield member opening / closing motor.

Claims

1. An electric wheelchair having a body chassis, a seat having at least a seat surface and a backrest, and a roll bar, and whose overall length, width and height are within a predetermined range that allows it to be recognized as a pedestrian, The roll bar includes at least a front roll bar consisting of two front support bars provided on the left and right sides forward of the center of the vehicle body chassis and a front connecting bar connecting the two front support bars, and a rear roll bar consisting of two rear support bars provided on the left and right sides rear of the vehicle body chassis and a rear connecting bar connecting the two rear support bars, The electric wheelchair is characterized in that the seat is placed so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction along a seat rail provided on the vehicle chassis when getting on and off, and passengers can get on and off from the front side of the front roll bar.

2. 2. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the seat is slidable forward to a position where a front end of the seat projects forward beyond a front end of the vehicle chassis.

3. 3. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a tilt mechanism at the front side of the vehicle chassis, which tilts the seat surface of the seat forward when dismounting and tilts the seat backward when getting on.

4. 4. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein wall members of a predetermined height are fixed to the front roll bar and the rear roll bar.

5. 5. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a mesh-like anti-jump-out member is provided between the front roll bar and the rear roll bar.

6. 6. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a transparent windshield member is provided in front of the vehicle body chassis so as to be able to be opened and closed.

7. 7. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a rain shield member is detachably provided at least between the front roll bar and the rear roll bar.

8. 8. The electric wheelchair according to claim 7, wherein the rain protection member is a roller screen, a roller curtain, or a folding member.

9. 9. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein connecting bars that connect the front roll bar and the rear roll bar are provided on the sides and above the seat.

10. 10. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the front roll bar and the rear roll bar, together with a roll bar provided at the top and at the position of the belt line of the user when seated, form an integrated roll cage, and the roll cage is rotatably fixed to the vehicle chassis by a hinge provided at a position rearward of the belt line.

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