Bathing assistance chair device

Abstract

To secure safety in returning a chair in a chair device for bathing assistance from a tilted posture to a normal posture without using an electric circuit that requires wiring processing and water-tight processing.SOLUTION: A seat part frame 23 is tiltably provided on a base frame 10 of a chair device 3 for bathing assistance. An operation member 51 is displaceably connected to the seat part frame 23. When the seat part frame 23 is in a tilted position and a footrest mechanism 30 is in a developed position, the operation member 51 is brought into an operation position. An engaged part 5 of the operation member 51 engages with an engaging part 50 of the base frame 10, and displacement of the seat part frame 23 to a normal position is prevented. When the footrest mechanism 30 is transferred to a storage position, the engagement is released when release parts 32 and 33 of the footrest mechanism 30 displace the operation member 51 to a release position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bathing assistance chair apparatus used to assist a person requiring assistance in bathing, and more particularly to a bathing assistance chair apparatus having a tilt mechanism and a footrest mechanism (straddle support). [Background technology]

[0002] Chair devices that are used to seat and assist people requiring assistance in bathing are well known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2, etc.). The chair devices in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are mounted on a carrier and carried to the side of the bathtub, then transferred to support rails installed on the bathtub frame and lowered into the bathtub. This allows the person requiring assistance to bathe while remaining seated. After bathing, the chair device, and therefore the person requiring assistance, can be removed from the bathtub by performing the reverse operation.

[0003] The chair device in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a footrest mechanism (straddle support). The footrest mechanism is extended forward of the seat of the chair, and the feet of the person requiring assistance are placed on the footrest member. This eliminates the need for the caregiver to lift the feet of the person requiring assistance and straddle the frame when the chair device passes over the frame of the bathtub.

[0004] The chair device of Patent Document 2 is provided with a tilt mechanism. In the tilt position, the seat slides forward, the front end tilts upward, and the backrest tilts backward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-058054 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-029617 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In a bathing assistance chair device with a tilt mechanism and a footrest mechanism, when the footrest mechanism is deployed forward and a user grasps and pushes down on the front of the seat to return the chair from the tilted position to the normal position, there is a risk that the user's hand may become pinched between the front of the seat and the footrest mechanism. To avoid this, it is conceivable to use an electrical circuit, such as a switch, to detect whether the footrest mechanism is deployed and to prevent the chair from returning from the tilted position to the normal position when it is deployed. However, the wiring process for routing electrical wiring to the movable footrest mechanism is cumbersome. Additionally, because the entire chair is submerged in the bathtub during use, the switch and electrical wiring must be made watertight. In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to ensure safety when returning a bathing assistance chair device from a tilted position to a normal position, particularly without using electrical circuits that require wiring or watertight treatment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a chair device for bathing assistance, A base frame; a seat frame supported on the base frame so as to be displaceable between a normal position and a tilted position in which a rear end portion thereof is shifted forward and a front end portion thereof is tilted upward from the normal position; a footrest mechanism provided on the base frame and retractable between a storage position and a deployed position deployed forward from the storage position; an actuating member connected to the seat frame and displaceable within an actuation range including a retracted position when the seat frame is in the normal position, an actuated position when the seat frame is in the tilt position and the footrest mechanism is in the deployed position, and a release position, and having an engaged portion; a locking portion provided on the base frame and locked to the locked portion of the actuating member in the actuating position to prevent the seat frame from being displaced to the normal position; a release unit provided in the footrest mechanism, the release unit displacing the operating member to the release position when the footrest mechanism is moved to the storage position, thereby releasing the lock; The present invention is characterized by the following features.

[0008] In this bath assistance chair device, when the seat frame is in the tilt position and the footrest mechanism is in the extended position, the actuating member is in the actuated position, and the latched portion of the actuating member in the actuated position is latched with the latching portion. Therefore, the seat frame is prevented from moving to its normal position. This prevents a hand from getting caught between the seat frame and the footrest mechanism in the extended position when attempting to return the seat frame to its normal position, ensuring safety. When the footrest mechanism is moved to the retracted position, the release portion releases the latched portion from the latching portion. This allows the seat frame to be returned to its normal position. That is, the actuating member operates to allow the seat frame to move to its normal position when the seat frame is in the tilted position and the footrest mechanism is in the stored position, and to prevent the seat frame from moving to its normal position when the seat frame is in the tilted position and the footrest mechanism is in the deployed position. Since the tilt release of the seat frame is enabled or disabled solely by a mechanical mechanism including an operating member, there is no need for electrical circuits that require complicated wiring or watertight treatment.

[0009] Preferably, the actuating member includes a lever rotatably connected to the rear end of the seat frame and extending forward between the seat frame and the base frame. Preferably, the locked portion includes a recess formed in an intermediate portion of the lever, and the locking portion includes a protrusion protruding from the base frame in front of the operating member in the retracted position. As the chair tilts, the rear end of the seat frame slides back and forth. The lever slides back and forth along with the seat frame. When the seat frame is tilted, the lever slides forward from its retracted position to its operating position. This causes the protrusion forward of the operating member in the retracted position to fit into the recess of the locked part and lock.

[0010] Preferably, a tilt roller is provided at the rear end of the seat frame, a tilt guide rail having a guide groove for guiding the tilt roller is provided on the base frame so as to extend forward and backward; The operating member is accommodated in the guide groove so as to be able to appear and disappear. This allows the guide groove to be used as a space for accommodating the operating member, eliminating the need for a dedicated space for accommodating the operating member.

[0011] Preferably, a guided portion is provided at a front end of the operating member, A guide portion is provided at the base frame immediately rearward of the locking portion, which comes from behind the base frame and comes into contact with the guided portion of the operating member when the operating member moves forward, thereby pushing up the front end of the operating member. When the seat frame is moved from the normal position to the tilted position, the actuating member is advanced. At this time, the guided portion comes into contact with the guide portion, pushing up the actuating member. This allows the actuating member to ride up onto the locking portion. The locked portion and the locking portion are then locked together.

[0012] Preferably, at least one of the guiding portion and the guided portion includes an inclined surface that slopes upward toward the front. The inclined surface can reliably push up the front end of the operating member when moving forward, so that the front end of the operating member is engaged with the engaging portion.

[0013] Preferably, the other of the guiding portion and the guided portion includes a guide roller. As a result, when the operating member moves forward, the guide roller hits the inclined surface and rolls, so that the front end of the operating member is reliably pushed up and locked with the locking portion.

[0014] Preferably, the footrest mechanism includes a support arm supported by the base frame so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and a footrest member rotatably provided on a front end of the support arm via a footrest shaft, At least one of the footrest member, the footrest shaft portion, and the front end portion of the support arm contacts the operating member when in the stored position, thereby positioning the operating member in the release position, thereby constituting the release portion. This eliminates the need to provide a dedicated release section for the footrest mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, safety can be ensured when returning a bathing assistance chair device from a tilted position to a normal position, particularly without using electrical circuits that require wiring or watertight treatment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] Fig. 1(a) is a side view of a wheelchair for bathing including a bathing assistance chair apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 1(b) is a side view of the bathing assistance chair apparatus in a tilted position for entering and leaving a bathtub. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base frame and footrest mechanism of the bath assistance chair device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chair of the bathing assistance chair device as seen from below. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the seat frame and the operating member of the bathing assistance chair device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing the seat of the bathing assistance chair device in a normal position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing the bathing assistance chair device when the seat begins to tilt from the normal position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing the bathing assistance chair device with the seat slightly tilted. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing the bathing assistance chair device with the seat further tilted. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing the bath assistance chair device with the seat in a tilted position and the footrest mechanism in an extended position. [Figure 10] Fig. 10(a) is a side view of the bath assistance chair device when the seat is being returned from the tilted position to the normal position with the footrest mechanism in the deployed position, and Fig. 10(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the circle Xb in Fig. 10(a). [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the bathing assistance chair device in an intermediate stage of moving the footrest mechanism to the storage position while keeping the seat in a tilted position. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the bath assistance chair apparatus at a stage where the footrest mechanism has been further moved to the storage position while the seat is kept in the tilted position. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the bath assistance chair device with the footrest mechanism in the retracted position while the seat is kept in a tilted position. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of the bath assistance chair device with the footrest mechanism in the retracted position and the seat slightly displaced from the tilted position toward the normal position. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is an exploded perspective view of an operating member. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 shows a third embodiment of the present invention and is an exploded perspective view of an operating member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment Figure 1(a) shows a bathing wheelchair 1 used to assist a person requiring assistance A in bathing. The bathing wheelchair 1 comprises a carrier 2 and a bathing assistance chair device 3. The bathing assistance chair device 3 is mounted on the carrier 2 and transported. As shown in Figure 1(b), a support rail device 5 is attached to the side of a bathtub 4 in a bathroom. With person requiring assistance A seated, the bathing assistance chair device 3 is transferred from the carrier 2 in Figure 1(a) to the support rail 5a of the support rail device 5 and entered into the bath.

[0018] As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the bath assistance chair device 3 comprises a base frame 10 and a chair 20. As shown in Figure 2, the base frame 10 has a pair of vertical frame portions 11 on the left and right and a horizontal frame portion 12 at the rear end, and is formed in a roughly U-shape. The vertical frame portions 11 are formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape and extend in the front-to-rear direction. The rear ends of these vertical frames 11 are connected by the horizontal frame portions 12.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of footrest mechanisms 30 (straddle supports) are provided on the base frame 10. The footrest mechanism 30 includes a support arm 31 and a footrest member 32. The support arm 31 extends in the front-to-rear direction. The support arm 31 is inserted into the vertical frame portion 11 so as to protrude forward from the vertical frame portion 11 and is supported so as to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction. By sliding the support arm 31 back and forth, the footrest mechanism 30 is moved in and out back between a stored position where it is retracted into the chair 20 and an extended position where it is extended forward from the chair 20.

[0020] A footrest member 32 is supported on the front end of the support arm 31 via a footrest shaft 33. The footrest shaft 33 protrudes from the support arm 31 toward the inside of the chair 20, with its axis facing left and right (in the width direction of the chair). The footrest member 32 is fitted to the footrest shaft 33 so that it can rotate (displace) between the folded position and the footrest position. The footrest member 32 is stable in the folded position due to its own weight. In the folded position, the footrest member 32 is inverted so that the toes point toward the rear of the chair. In the footrest position, the footrest member 32 protrudes forward from the support arm 31. As shown in FIG. 1(b), the feet of a seated person A can be placed on the footrest member 32 in the footrest position.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, chair 20 includes a seat 21 and a backrest 22. As shown in Fig. 1(b), seat 21 includes a seat frame 23 and a seat cushion 24. Seat frame 23 is supported on base frame 10. Thus, chair 20 is supported on base frame 10. Side covers 28 are provided on both sides of seat 21 so as to hang down.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1(a), the backrest 22 includes a backrest frame 25 and a back cushion 26. The backrest frame 25 is supported by the back frame 16 so as to be able to slide up and down and to be able to rise and fall. The lower end of the back cushion 26 is integrally connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 24.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, chair 20 is equipped with a tilt mechanism 40. Tilt mechanism 40 allows seat 21 and backrest 22 of chair 20 to be displaced between a normal position (Figure 1(a)) and a tilt position (Figure 1(b)) relative to frames 10, 16. As shown in Figure 1(b), in the tilt position, seat frame 23 has its rear end shifted forward and its front end 23f tilted upward from the normal position (Figure 1(a)). In the tilt position, back frame 25 is lowered from the normal position (Figure 1(a)) and tilted so that its lower end shifts forward. Hereinafter, the position (including the angle) of the seat frame 23 in the normal posture will be referred to as the "normal position," and the position (including the angle) of the seat frame 23 in the tilt posture will be referred to as the "tilt position."

[0024] The tilt mechanism 40 is configured as follows. 2, a tilt guide rail 41 is provided on each of the pair of vertical frame portions 11 of the base frame 10. The tilt guide rail 41 is formed in the shape of a recessed groove having a guide groove 41a, and extends straight in the front-to-rear direction.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 3, roller units 42 are provided on both the left and right sides of the rear end of the bottom of seat frame 23. Roller unit 42 includes a roller holder 43 and a tilt roller 44. Tilt roller 44 is rotatably held by roller holder 43. The rotation axis of tilt roller 44 faces the left-right direction (the width direction of chair 20). As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 2, tilt roller 44 is rotatably fitted in guide groove 41a.

[0026] As shown in Figures 5 to 14, as chair 20 tilts, tilt roller 44 is guided back and forth (left and right in each of Figures 5 to 14) along tilt guide rail 41. As shown in Figure 5, when chair 20 is in the normal position, tilt roller 44 is located near the rear end of guide groove 41a. As shown in Figure 9, when chair 20 is in the tilted position, tilt roller 44 is located near the front end of guide groove 41a.

[0027] 1(a) and 5, when the chair 20 is in the normal position, the front end of the seat frame 23 in the normal position covers the front of the footrest mechanism 30 in the stored position. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 9, the footrest mechanism 30 can be extended or retracted to the deployed position only when the chair 20 is in the tilted position.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1(b), person A in need of assistance is seated in chair 20, which is tilted, and person A's feet are placed on footrest members 32 of footrest mechanism 30 in the extended position. As a result, when bathing assistance chair device 3 passes over frame 4a of bathtub 4 along support rail 5a, the attendant does not need to lift person A's feet and place them over the frame.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, bath assistance chair apparatus 3 is provided with mechanical lock mechanism 50 for allowing or prohibiting tilt release. Mechanical lock mechanism 50 for allowing or prohibiting tilt release includes actuating member 51, engaging portion 60, and release portions 32 and 33. Actuating member 51 allows seat frame 23 to move to its normal position when seat frame 23 is in the tilt position and footrest mechanism 30 is in the retracted position, and acts to prevent seat frame 23 from moving to its normal position when seat frame 23 is in the tilt position and footrest mechanism 30 is in the extended position.

[0030] 3 and 4, the actuating member 51 has a lever 52 (actuating member main body), a connecting shaft portion 53, and a guided portion 55. The lever 52 is formed in a plate shape with its longitudinal direction oriented roughly in the front-to-rear direction. The rear end portion of the lever 52 is rotatably connected to the front of and in the vicinity of the tilt roller 44 of the roller holder 43 via the connecting shaft portion 53. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the actuating member 51 is connected to the seat frame 23 and extends forward between the seat frame 23 and the base frame 10. Preferably, the actuating member 51 is housed in the guide groove 41a so as to be able to appear and disappear. The axis of the connecting shaft portion 53 is directed left and right (width direction of the chair 20).

[0031] 4, a locked portion 54 consisting of a notched recess is provided in the middle of the lower edge of the lever 52. The front edge of the locked portion 54 forms an acute-angled locked claw 54f.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, a guided portion 55 is provided at the front end of the lever 52. The guided portion 55 includes a pair of guide rollers 56 and a shaft member 57. The pair of guide rollers 56 are arranged on both sides of the operating member 51. The guide rollers 56 and the lever 52 are connected by the shaft member 57. The axis of the shaft member 57 faces left and right (the width direction of the chair 20). The guide roller 56 is rotatable relative to the lever 52 with the shaft member 57 as the central axis.

[0033] As shown in Figures 5 to 14, the operating member 51 rotates and slides (displaces) back and forth within an operating range including a retracted position (Figure 5), an operating position (Figures 9 to 10), and a release position (Figures 13 to 14) in conjunction with the tilting operation of the chair 20 and the extension and retraction operation of the footrest mechanism 30.

[0034] 5, when the seat frame 23 is in the normal position and the footrest mechanism 30 is in the retracted position, the actuating member 51 is in the retracted position. In the retracted position, the actuating member 51 is positioned rearward from the front end of the guide groove 41a, tilted along the longitudinal direction of the guide groove 41a, and is entirely contained within the guide groove 41a.

[0035] 9, when the seat frame 23 is in the tilt position and the footrest mechanism 30 is in the extended position, the actuating member 51 is in the actuated position. In the actuated position, the actuating member 51 is shifted forward from when it is in the retracted position and extends approximately horizontally in the front-to-rear direction.

[0036] 13, when the seat frame 23 is in the tilt position and the footrest mechanism 30 is in the extended position, the actuating member 51 is in the released position. In the released position, the actuating member 51 is in approximately the same position in the fore-and-aft direction as in the actuated position, with the front end raised slightly upward.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, the base frame 10 is provided with a locking portion 60 and a guide portion 61 of the tilt release permission / denial mechanical lock mechanism 50. The locking portion 60 is a convex portion that protrudes upward from the front end of the guide groove 41a. Specifically, the locking portion 60 is formed by the front end wall of the guide rail 41 on the base frame 10. The front end of the guide groove 41a is defined by the locking portion 60. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the locking portion 60 is locked with the locked portion 54 of the operating member 51 in the operating position, preventing the seat frame 23 from moving to the normal position.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, the distance L from the locking portion 60 to the footrest shaft portion 33 in the storage position 33 is the distance L from the engaging claw 54f of the operating member 51 to the guide roller 56. 51 is roughly equal to

[0039] A guide portion 61 is provided in the guide groove 41a at a position immediately rearward of the locking portion 60. The guide portion 61 is configured as an inclined plate that protrudes forward and upward from the bottom of the guide groove 41a. The front side surface of the guide portion 61 forms an inclined surface 62 that slopes upward toward the front. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the guide portion 61 has a function of guiding the front end of the operating member 51 by contacting the guided portion 55 of the operating member 51 from its rear when the operating member 51 moves forward, thereby pushing up the front end of the operating member 51.

[0040] The footrest member 32 and the footrest shaft 33 of the footrest mechanism 30 are provided as release parts in the mechanical locking mechanism 50. As shown in Figures 11 to 13, when the seat frame 23 is in the tilt position and the footrest mechanism 30 is shifted from the deployed position to the stored position, the release parts 32, 33 displace the operating member 51 from the operating position to the release position, thereby releasing the locked state between the locked part 54 and the locking part 60.

[0041] The mechanical locking mechanism 50 in the bath assistance chair apparatus 3 operates as follows when the chair 20 is tilted and released from the tilt position. As shown in FIG. 5, when the seat frame 23 is in the normal position, the operating member 51 is located at a retracted position, away from the locking portion 60 and the guide portion 61 rearward.

[0042] When the seat frame 23 is tilted from the normal position to the tilted position in order to tilt the chair 20, the rear end of the seat frame 23 shifts forward, and the tilt roller 44 rolls forward, causing the operating member 51 to slide forward. At this time, the guide roller 56 advances while rolling on the bottom of the guide groove 41a.

[0043] Then, as shown in Fig. 6, the guide roller 56, while moving forward, hits the guide portion 61 and rides up on its inclined surface 62. This pushes up the front end of the lever 52, causing the operating member 51 to rise. Next, as shown in Fig. 7, the guide roller 56 rides up on the upper end of the locking portion 60. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 8, the guide roller 56 moves forward from the locking portion 60, causing the lever 52 to ride up on the locking portion 60. The guiding action of the guide roller 56 and the guide portion 61 allows the operating member 51 to be raised smoothly and to ride up onto the locking portion 60 smoothly.

[0044] When the seat frame 23 reaches the tilt position, the guide roller 56 rides up onto the front end of the footrest mechanism 30 in the storage position (FIG. 13). At this time, the lever 52 passes above the locking portion 60, and the locked portion 54 moves away from the locking portion 60 and faces the locking portion 60.

[0045] 9, when the footrest mechanism 30 is subsequently pulled forward to the deployed position, the guide roller 56 disengages from the footrest mechanism 30, causing the lever 52 to tilt slightly under its own weight and become nearly horizontal, and the upper bottom portion 54a of the locked portion 54 abuts against the upper end of the locking portion 60. As a result, the locked portion 54 and the locking portion 60 fit together and are locked.

[0046] Now, suppose that, in order to return the chair 20 from the tilted position to the normal position, a caregiver grasps the front of the seat 21 with hand B and pushes it down while the footrest mechanism 30 is in the deployed position, as shown in FIG. 10(a). This downward force causes the rear end of the seat frame 23 to slide rearward, and the actuating member 51 along with the seat frame 23 also tries to slide rearward a little, causing the locked claw 54f to hit the locking portion 60, as shown in FIG. 10(b). This prevents the actuating member 51, and therefore the seat frame 23, from sliding rearward. Therefore, displacement of the seat frame 23 to the normal position is prevented. This prevents the hand B from being pinched between the front of the seat 21 and the footrest mechanism 30, ensuring safety when returning the chair 20 from the tilted position to the normal position.

[0047] To return chair 20 from the tilted position to the normal position, first, footrest mechanism 30 is retracted from the deployed position. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the front end of footrest mechanism 30, while being retracted, strikes against actuating member 51, causing actuating member 51 to rotate and move upward. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, rear surface 32b of footrest member 32 in the folded position strikes against guide roller 56 of actuating member 51. Rear surface 32b is inclined upward toward the front. As shown in FIG. 12, guide roller 56 rolls on rear surface 32b, pushing up the front end of lever 52.

[0048] 13, when the footrest mechanism 30 is retracted to the storage position, the guide roller 56 rests on the footrest shaft 33, and the lever 52 is tilted upward toward the front end. This positions the operating member 51 in the release position, and the locked portion 54 moves away from the upper portion of the locking portion 60, thereby releasing the lock between the operating member 51 and the locking portion 60. By making the footrest member 32 and the footrest shaft 33 of the footrest mechanism 30 function as the release part in the mechanical locking mechanism 50, it is not necessary to provide the footrest mechanism 30 with a dedicated part that functions only as the release part.

[0049] After the footrest mechanism 30 is placed in the storage position, the front of the seat 21 is grasped with hand B and pushed down as shown in Figure 14. This causes the operating member 51 to slide rearward together with the rear end of the seat frame 23. Since the locked portion 54 is retracted above the locking portion 60, it can move rearward beyond the locking portion 60 without getting caught on the locking portion 60. Then, the lower end of the locked claw 54f rides up onto the upper end of the locking portion 60. L 33 ≒L 51 5, at this point, the guide roller 56 is still maintained on the footrest shaft 33 (release portion). In other words, the operating member 51 is held in the release position until the locked portion 54 passes the locking portion 60.

[0050] When the seat 21 is pressed down further, the operating member 51 slides further rearward together with the rear end of the seat frame 23. At this time, the lower edge of the lever 52, which is forward of the locked portion 54, rubs against the upper end of the locking portion 60 (FIG. 8). Because the footrest mechanism 30 has been set to the storage position in advance, a hand grasping the seat 21 will not be pinched between the seat 21 and the footrest mechanism 30.

[0051] Eventually, the guide roller 56 reaches the locking portion 60 (FIG. 7), and is further lowered along the guide portion 61 into the guide groove 41a (FIG. 6). 5, the entire operating member 51 is accommodated in the guide groove 41a, and the roller unit 42 reaches the rear end of the guide groove 41a, thereby returning the chair 20 to its normal position.

[0052] In this way, the bath assistance chair device 3 ensures safety when returning the chair 20 from the tilted position to the normal position by the mechanical locking mechanism 50, without using an electrical circuit including a switch or electrical wiring. Therefore, wiring and watertight treatment for the electrical circuit are not required.

[0053] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following embodiment, the same components as those already described will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings and the description thereof will be omitted. <Second embodiment (FIG. 15)> The second embodiment relates to a modified example of the actuating member. As shown in Fig. 15, the actuating member 51B of the second embodiment includes a pair of levers 52 arranged in parallel. The portions of the levers 52 forward of the latched portions 54 are connected by a semi-cylindrical bridge 58. A guide roller 56 (guided portion) is provided between the front ends of the levers 52. The rear ends of the levers 52 are connected to the rear end of the seat frame 23 (see Fig. 4) via a shaft member 57.

[0054] <Third embodiment (FIG. 16)> 16, an actuating member 51C of the third embodiment has a pair of levers 52, similar to the second embodiment. The latched portion 54 of each lever 52 is stepped. A bridge 58 connecting the front portions of the levers 52 is flat.

[0055] Actuating member 51C is not provided with guide rollers 56. Instead, the edge of the front end of each lever 52 is inclined so as to protrude forward as it extends upward. This edge serves as guided portion 59. When actuating member 51C is advanced from the retracted position toward the actuated position, guided portion 59 slides along inclined surface 62 (see FIG. 5) of guide portion 61, pushing up the front end of actuating member 51C and engaging portion 54 with engaging portion 60 (see FIG. 9).

[0056] Furthermore, when the footrest mechanism 30 is retracted from the deployed position to the storage position, the guided portion 59 slides against the release portions 32, 33 at the front end of the footrest mechanism 30, thereby positioning the operating member 51C in the release position (see Figures 12 and 13).

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the guide portion immediately behind the locking portion 60 may be a guide roller instead of the inclined plate 61. The locked portion of the actuating member may be a convex portion, and the locking portion of the base frame may be a concave portion. The front end of the support arm 31 may function as a release portion. The footrest mechanism 30 may be provided with a dedicated release portion for releasing the locked state between the operating member and the locking portion. [Industrial Applicability]

[0058] The present invention is applicable to bathing assistance devices for people requiring assistance. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Bath wheelchair 3. Bathing assistance chair device 10 Base Frame 20 chairs 21 Seat area 22 Backrest 23 Seat frame 30 Footrest mechanism (straddle support) 31 Support Arm 32 Footrest member (release part) 33 Footrest axis (release part) 40 Tilt mechanism 41 Tilt guide rail 41a Guide groove 42 Roller unit 43 Roller holder 44 Tilt Roller 50 Mechanical locking mechanism for tilt release 51 Actuating member 51B, 51C Actuating member 52 Lever (operating member body) 53 Connecting shaft part 54 Locked portion (recess) 54f Locked claw 55 Guided part 56 Guide roller 57 Shaft member 60 Locking part (protrusion) 61 Information Department 62 Slope

Claims

1. A chair device for bathing assistance, A base frame; a seat frame supported on the base frame so as to be displaceable between a normal position and a tilted position in which a rear end portion thereof is shifted forward and a front end portion thereof is tilted upward from the normal position; a footrest mechanism provided on the base frame and retractable between a storage position and a deployed position deployed forward from the storage position; an actuating member connected to the seat frame and displaceable within an actuation range including a retracted position when the seat frame is in the normal position, an actuated position when the seat frame is in the tilt position and the footrest mechanism is in the deployed position, and a release position, and having an engaged portion; a locking portion provided on the base frame and locked to the locked portion of the actuating member in the actuating position to prevent the seat frame from being displaced to the normal position; a release unit provided in the footrest mechanism, the release unit displacing the operating member to the release position when the footrest mechanism is moved to the storage position, thereby releasing the lock; A bathing assistance chair device comprising:

2. the actuating member has a lever rotatably connected to a rear end of the seat frame and extending forward between the seat frame and the base frame; the engaged portion includes a recess formed in a middle portion of the lever, 2. The bath assistance chair device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion includes a protrusion protruding from the base frame in front of the operating member in the retracted position.

3. A tilt roller is provided at the rear end of the seat frame, a tilt guide rail having a guide groove for guiding the tilt roller is provided on the base frame so as to extend forward and backward; 3. The bath assistance chair device according to claim 2, wherein the operating member is accommodated in the guide groove so as to be able to appear and disappear.

4. A guided portion is provided at the front end of the operating member, A bathing assistance chair device as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a guide portion is provided immediately rearward of the engaging portion on the base frame, which contacts the guided portion of the operating member when the operating member moves forward from behind the guide portion and pushes up the front end of the operating member.

5. 5. The bath assistance chair device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the guiding portion and the guided portion includes an inclined surface that slopes upward toward the front.

6. 6. The bath assistance chair device according to claim 5, wherein the other of the guiding portion and the guided portion includes a guide roller.

7. the footrest mechanism includes a support arm supported by the base frame so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and a footrest member rotatably provided on a front end of the support arm via a footrest shaft, A bathing assistance chair device as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one of the footrest member, the footrest axis portion, and the front end portion of the support arm contacts the operating member when in the storage position, thereby positioning the operating member in the release position, thereby forming the release portion.

Images