Wheeled stretcher

Abstract

To provide a stretcher with wheels capable of reducing the force required when changing the direction of travel with a person to be carried on board. [Solution] A wheeled stretcher 1 that carries a person A in a recumbent position and travels on a running surface S, comprising: a bed 2 for the person A to lie on; a front wheel section 3 having front wheels 31 and connected to the bed 2; a rear wheel section 5 having rear wheels 51 and connected to the bed 2; and a middle wheel section 4 having middle wheels 41, connected to the bed 2, and located between the front wheel section 3 and the rear wheel section 5; the bed 2 has a buttocks area C that supports the buttocks of the person A, and a lumbar area D that supports the lumbar area of ​​the person A; the middle wheel section 4 connects to the bed 2 in the area extending from the buttocks area C to the lumbar area D of the bed 2; and the entire stretcher can be rotated around a rotation axis R that extends vertically at the position where the rear wheels 51 are located or at a position behind the position where the rear wheels 51 are located, thereby allowing the direction of travel to be changed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheeled stretcher for transporting a patient.

Background Art

[0002] In order to move a person who has difficulty walking independently to a destination, transportation by a stretcher is carried out, and in particular, transportation by a stretcher is important in emergencies such as disasters and sudden illnesses. In such emergencies, it is expected that the personnel who can be carriers for transporting the patient on the stretcher will be limited, and it is conceivable that among such personnel, there may be those with weak physical strength. Therefore, as a stretcher to be used in emergencies etc., it is desirable that it can be used even by a person with weak physical strength, that is, the force required for transportation is small.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a rescue car for disasters, characterized in that lower ends of a pair of front and rear X-shaped links are pivotally attached to lower portions of left and right frames provided with front wheels and rear wheels, a horizontal bar extending forward and backward more than the left and right frames is provided at upper ends of these X-shaped links, a seat is stretched between these left and right horizontal bars, support portions for the horizontal bar are formed at upper portions of the left and right frames to make the left and right frames foldable, and a folding mechanism is provided at front and rear positions of the horizontal bar.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The disaster relief rescue vehicle described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the front wheels are caster wheels and the rear wheels are fixed wheels, and the entire vehicle rotates around the rear wheel position as the pivot point to change direction. However, the distance from the rear wheels to the front wheels is long, and the moment of force required to rotate the entire vehicle is large, meaning that a large force is required when changing direction.

[0006] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a wheeled stretcher that can reduce the force required when changing direction of travel with a person being transported on it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention, for solving the above problems, is a wheeled stretcher that carries a person in a lying position and travels on a running surface, comprising: a bed for the person to be transported in a lying position; a front wheel section having front wheels and connected to the bed; a rear wheel section having rear wheels and connected to the bed; and a middle wheel section having middle wheels connected to the bed and located between the front wheel section and the rear wheel section, wherein the bed has a buttock region that supports the buttocks of the person to be transported and a lumbar region that supports the waist of the person to be transported, the middle wheel section is connected to the bed in a region extending from the buttock region to the lumbar region, and the entire structure can change direction of travel by rotating around a pivot axis extending vertically at the position where the rear wheels are located, or at a position behind the position where the rear wheels are located. The bed is divided into a first support section and a second support section along the shorter side of the bed, and has a connecting section that connects the first support section and the second support section, and is foldable at the connecting section, and can change between an unfolded state in which a person to be transported can lie down on the bed and a folded state in which the bed is folded and folded, and the middle wheel section and the rear wheel section are each foldably connected to the bed, and when changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, the middle wheel section and the rear wheel section automatically fold by their own weight, and when changing from the folded state to the unfolded state, the middle wheel section and the rear wheel section automatically unfold by their own weight. It is characterized by the following.

[0008] With this configuration, the distance from the pivot axis to the middle wheel is shorter than the distance from the pivot axis to the front wheel, and the middle wheel supports the load on the buttocks and waist, which accounts for a large proportion of the load exerted by the person being transported in a lying position. Therefore, the moment of force when rotating the entire wheeled stretcher of the present invention around the pivot axis as the central axis can be reduced, that is, the force required to change the direction of travel of the wheeled stretcher can be reduced. As a result, even a carrier with weak arm strength can easily operate the wheeled stretcher of the present invention. Furthermore, the load on the carrier's arms can be reduced, and it becomes possible to use it for a long time by a single carrier, thus enabling the transport of many people with fewer personnel. Furthermore, since the wheeled stretcher of the present invention can be folded, the space required for storage can be reduced compared to a non-foldable stretcher. Moreover, since the middle wheel section and the rear wheel section can be folded relative to the bed, the space required for storage of the wheeled stretcher of the present invention can be reduced even further. Furthermore, "the position where the rear wheels are positioned" means the position where the rear wheels contact the running surface. If there are multiple rear wheels, this may include not only the position where each rear wheel contacts the running surface, but also the positions between the contact points and the extensions of these lines. The same applies to the terms "the position where the front wheels are positioned" and "the position where the middle wheels are positioned."

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that the bed is located above the front wheel, the middle wheel, and the rear wheel, separated from the running surface, and that the distance from the running surface to the bed at the position where the front wheel is located is shorter than the distance from the running surface to the bed at the position where the middle wheel is located.

[0010] This configuration allows for a lower center of gravity for the wheeled stretcher of the present invention, and reduces the amount of deflection of the front wheels when changing direction, thereby further reducing the force required when changing direction.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the bed is located above the front wheel, the middle wheel, and the rear wheel, separated from the running surface, and that the distance from the running surface to the bed at the position where the rear wheel is located is shorter than the distance from the running surface to the bed at the position where the middle wheel is located.

[0012] This configuration allows for a lower center of gravity of the wheeled stretcher of the present invention, and reduces the amount of deflection of the rear wheels when changing direction, thereby further reducing the force required when changing direction.

[0013] The present invention is preferably equipped with a handle for operation, the grip portion of the handle being positioned above the bed.

[0014] With this configuration, the stretcher bed is positioned lower than the handles used by the carrier, thus lowering the center of gravity of the wheeled stretcher of the present invention. This reduces the amount of deflection of the front wheels, middle wheels, and rear wheels when changing direction, thus further reducing the force required when changing direction.

[0015] The present invention preferably includes a connecting member that connects the rear wheel portion and the middle wheel portion.

[0016] This configuration increases the rigidity of the rear wheel section and the middle wheel section, thereby improving stability during driving.

[0019] The present invention preferably includes legs for standing upright in the folded state.

[0020] With this configuration, the device can stand on its own using the legs when folded, making storage easy.

[0021] In the present invention, it is preferable that the leg portion comprises a first leg member provided on the first support portion and a second leg member provided on the second support portion.

[0022] This configuration allows the device to stand upright in a more stable state when folded.

[0023] Another The invention is, A wheeled stretcher for transporting a person in a lying position, comprising: a bed for the person to be transported; a front wheel section having front wheels and connected to the bed; a rear wheel section having rear wheels and connected to the bed; and a middle wheel section having middle wheels connected to the bed and located between the front wheel section and the rear wheel section, wherein the bed has a buttock region that supports the buttocks of the person to be transported and a lumbar region that supports the waist of the person to be transported, and the middle wheel section extends from the buttock region to the lumbar region of the bed. The vehicle is connected to a pivot point, and the entire vehicle rotates around a pivot axis extending vertically at the position where the rear wheels are positioned, or at a position behind the position where the rear wheels are positioned, thereby allowing the direction of travel to be changed. The bed is divided into a first support section and a second support section along the shorter side of the bed, and has a connecting section that connects the first support section and the second support section, and is foldable at the connecting section, and can change between an unfolded state in which a person to be transported can lie down on the bed, and a folded state in which the bed is folded and folded. The second support portion is provided with auxiliary legs. Characterized by .

[0024] According to this configuration, Compared to the distance from the pivot axis to the front wheel, the distance from the pivot axis to the middle wheel is shorter, and the middle wheel supports the load from the buttocks to the waist, which accounts for a large proportion of the load exerted by the person being transported in a lying position. Therefore, the moment of force when rotating the entire wheeled stretcher of the present invention around the pivot axis as the central axis can be reduced, that is, the force required to change the direction of travel of the wheeled stretcher can be reduced. As a result, even a carrier with weak arm strength can easily operate the wheeled stretcher of the present invention. Furthermore, the load on the carrier's arms can be reduced, and it becomes possible to use it for a long time by a single carrier, so that many people can be transported with fewer personnel. Furthermore, since the wheeled stretcher of the present invention can be folded, the space required for storage can be reduced compared to non-foldable stretchers. Furthermore, during the change from the deployed state to the folded state and during the change from the folded state to the deployed state, the auxiliary leg portion touches the ground and supports the whole, improving the operability, so that these changes can be easily performed.

[0025] The present invention preferably includes a first handle provided on the first support portion and protruding to the side of the bed.

[0026] According to this configuration, by using the first handle, the change from the deployed state to the folded state and the change from the folded state to the deployed state can be easily performed. Further, since the first handle protrudes to the side of the bed, the first handle is easy to use even during the change from the deployed state to the folded state and during the change from the folded state to the deployed state.

[0027] Another The invention A wheeled stretcher for transporting a person in a lying position, comprising: a bed for the person to be transported; a front wheel section having front wheels and connected to the bed; a rear wheel section having rear wheels and connected to the bed; and a middle wheel section having middle wheels connected to the bed and located between the front wheel section and the rear wheel section, wherein the bed has a buttock region that supports the buttocks of the person to be transported and a lumbar region that supports the waist of the person to be transported, and the middle wheel section extends from the buttock region to the lumbar region of the bed. The vehicle is connected to a pivot point, and the entire vehicle rotates around a pivot axis extending vertically at the position where the rear wheels are positioned, or at a position behind the position where the rear wheels are positioned, thereby allowing the direction of travel to be changed. The bed is divided into a first support section and a second support section along the shorter side of the bed, and has a connecting section that connects the first support section and the second support section, and is foldable at the connecting section, and can change between an unfolded state in which a person to be transported can lie down on the bed, and a folded state in which the bed is folded and folded. comprises a second handle provided on the connecting portion and protruding to the side of the bed Characterized by .

[0028] According to this configuration, Compared to the distance from the pivot axis to the front wheel, the distance from the pivot axis to the middle wheel is shorter, and the middle wheel supports the load from the buttocks to the waist, which accounts for a large proportion of the load exerted by the person being transported in a lying position. Therefore, the moment of force when rotating the entire wheeled stretcher of the present invention around the pivot axis as the central axis can be reduced, that is, the force required to change the direction of travel of the wheeled stretcher can be reduced. As a result, even a carrier with weak arm strength can easily operate the wheeled stretcher of the present invention. Furthermore, the load on the carrier's arms can be reduced, and it becomes possible to use it for a long time by a single carrier, so that many people can be transported with fewer personnel. Furthermore, since the wheeled stretcher of the present invention can be folded, the space required for storage can be reduced compared to non-foldable stretchers. Furthermore, by using the second handle, the change from the deployed state to the folded state can be easily performed. Further, since the second handle protrudes to the side of the bed, the second handle is easy to use even during the change from the deployed state to the folded state.

[0031] The present invention preferably has the rear wheel portion and the middle wheel portion connected by a link mechanism.

[0032] According to this configuration, since the rear wheel portion and the middle wheel portion are connected by a link mechanism and rotate integrally, the deployment and folding of the rear wheel portion and the middle wheel portion can be performed more easily. Further, since the rigidity of the rear wheel portion and the middle wheel portion increases, the traveling stability can also be improved.

Advantages of the Invention

[0033] The wheeled stretcher of the present invention can reduce the force required to change direction of travel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0034] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a person being transported lying on their side on a wheeled stretcher in its deployed state according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing a wheeled stretcher in its deployed state according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the state with the first and second sheets removed. [Figure 4] This is a front view showing a wheeled stretcher in its deployed state according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing a wheeled stretcher in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the state with the first and second sheets removed. [Figure 7] This is a front view showing a wheeled stretcher in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing a wheeled stretcher in an embodiment of the present invention, from its unfolded state to a state with the handles folded. [Figure 9] This figure shows the operation of changing a wheeled stretcher in an embodiment of the present invention from an unfolded state to a folded state, where (a) shows the unfolded state, (b) shows the state with the handles folded, (c) shows the state with the auxiliary legs in contact with the floor, (d) shows the state with the second leg member in contact with the floor, (e) shows the state in the process of folding the bed at the connecting part, (f) shows the state with the first leg member in contact with the floor, and (g) shows the folded state. [Figure 10]This figure shows the operation of changing the wheeled stretcher in an embodiment of the present invention from a folded state to an unfolded state, where (a) shows the folded state, (b) shows the state in the process of extending the bed 2 with the second leg member in contact with the floor surface, (c) shows the state with the second leg member and auxiliary leg in contact with the floor surface, (d) shows the state with the auxiliary leg, front wheel and rear wheel in contact with the floor surface, (e) shows the state with the bed extended, and (f) shows the unfolded state. [Figure 11] This is a front view showing a wheeled stretcher in an unfolded state in a modified embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035] A wheeled stretcher 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as stretcher 1) will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. As shown in Figure 1, stretcher 1 comprises a bed 2 for laying the person to be transported A on their side, a front wheel section 3 having a front wheel 31, a middle wheel section 4 having a middle wheel 41, a rear wheel section 5 having a rear wheel 51, a connecting member 6 (see Figure 3) connecting the middle wheel section 4 and the rear wheel section 5, a handle 7 for the transporter B to control its movement, and a first handle 8 and a second handle 9 provided on the bed 2. It is capable of changing between an unfolded state (see Figures 1 to 4) in which the person to be transported A can be laid on the bed 2 on their side, and a folded state (see Figures 5 to 7) in which the bed 2 is folded and folded.

[0036] In its deployed state, the stretcher 1 can move along the travel surface S with the person to be transported A lying on the bed 2. The movement of the stretcher 1 is controlled by the transporter B, who is holding the handles 7. The stretcher 1 can change direction of travel by rotating as a whole around a pivot axis R that extends vertically at the position where the rear wheels 51 are located. As shown in Figure 1, normally, when changing the direction of travel of the stretcher 1 to the left as viewed from the transporter B, the position of the pivot axis Rl is where the left rear wheel 51 is located as viewed from the transporter B. Conversely, when changing the direction of travel of the stretcher 1 to the right as viewed from the transporter B, the position of the pivot axis Rr is where the right rear wheel 51 is located as viewed from the transporter B. Alternatively, the transporter B may adjust the amount of force applied to the handles 7 to rotate the entire stretcher 1 so that the pivot axis R is located between the pair of rear wheels 51. The term "position where the rear wheel 51 is positioned" means the position where the rear wheel 51 contacts the running surface S. If there are multiple rear wheels 51, this may include not only the position where each rear wheel 51 contacts the running surface S, but also the positions between the contact points of each rear wheel 51 and the running surface S, and positions along the extension of this line. The same applies to the terms "position where the front wheel 31 is positioned" and "position where the middle wheel 41 is positioned."

[0037] The bed 2 allows the person being transported A to lie on its side and has a buttock region C that supports the buttocks of the person being transported A, and a lumbar region D that supports the lower back of the person being transported A (see Figure 2).

[0038] The bed 2 is divided into a first support section 21 and a second support section 22 along the shorter direction X of the bed 2, and has a connecting section 23 that foldably connects the first support section 21 and the second support section 22, and legs 24 that allow it to stand on its own when folded. The legs 24 have a first leg member 24a provided on the first support section 21 and a second leg member 24b provided on the second support section 22 (see Figures 2 to 4).

[0039] The first support section 21 includes a first frame 25 that constitutes the outer frame portion and a first sheet 26 (see Figure 2) stretched across the first frame 25. The first frame 25 is formed in a substantially H shape by a pair of parallel rod-shaped members, the first longitudinal members 2A, 2A, and a rod-shaped member, the first short member 2B, that connects the first longitudinal members 2A. In this embodiment, the buttock region C and the lumbar region D are provided on the first support section 21 (see Figure 2).

[0040] The second support portion 22 includes a second frame 27 that constitutes the outer frame portion and a second sheet 28 (see Figure 2) stretched across the second frame 27. The second frame 27 is formed in a substantially H shape by a pair of parallel rod-shaped members, the second longitudinal members 2C, 2C, and a rod-shaped member, the second short member 2D, that connects the second longitudinal members 2C. In this embodiment, the first sheet 26 and the second sheet 28 are composed of a single sheet, but the embodiment is not limited to this. The first sheet 26 and the second sheet 28 may be separate sheets.

[0041] The first longitudinal member 2A and the second longitudinal member 2C are rotatably connected to a connecting portion 23 at one end 2Aa, 2Ca, respectively (see Figure 3), thereby connecting the first support portion 21 and the second support portion 22 of the bed 2 in a foldable manner by the connecting portion 23 (see Figures 5 to 7). The connecting portion 23 is provided with a limiting member 23a for restricting the extension of the bed 2 (see Figures 4 and 7), which determines the degree of extension of the bed 2 when the stretcher 1 is deployed.

[0042] A first leg member 24a is provided at the other end 2Ab of the first longitudinal member 2A, and a second leg member 24b is provided at the other end 2Cb of the second longitudinal member 2C. When folded, the stretcher 1 is self-supporting with the first leg member 24a and the second leg member 24b in contact with the floor surface F (see Figure 7). As a result, the stretcher 1 is self-supporting in a stable state when folded, making it easy to store.

[0043] Near the other end 2Cb of the second longitudinal member 2C, an auxiliary leg portion 29 is provided, extending downward from the second longitudinal member 2C. The auxiliary leg portion 29 is designed to make contact with the floor surface F before the second leg portion 24b when the bed 2 of the stretcher 1, which is placed on the floor surface F, is folded and changing from an unfolded state to a folded state. The length, arrangement, and angle of the auxiliary leg portion 29 with the second longitudinal member 2C are set appropriately according to the dimensions and shape of the other members.

[0044] The front wheel section 3 has a pair of front wheels 31, 31 and a pair of front wheel connecting members 32, 32 (see Figure 3), and is provided in a state that extends below the second frame 27 when deployed. The front wheels 31 in this embodiment are swivel casters, but are not limited to them, from the viewpoint of reducing the force required when changing direction of travel.

[0045] Each of the pair of front wheel connecting members 32, 32 has one end connected to the pair of front wheels 31, 31 and the other end connected to the second short member 2D of the second frame 27.

[0046] The middle wheel section 4 comprises a pair of middle wheels 41, 41, a pair of middle wheel connecting members 42, 42, and a middle wheel beam member 43. In the deployed state, it extends below the first frame 25 and is foldable in a direction approaching the first frame 25. When the stretcher 1 is deployed, the middle wheel section 4 is locked to prevent it from folding unintentionally.

[0047] The middle wheel section 4 is positioned between the front wheel section 3 and the rear wheel section 5, and connects to the stretcher 2 in the region extending from the buttocks area C to the lumbar region D. Therefore, the middle wheel section 4 supports the load in the region extending from the buttocks to the lumbar region, which accounts for a large proportion of the load exerted by the person being transported in a lying position A. As shown in Figure 4, the distance D2 from the rear wheel 51 to the front wheel 31 is shorter than the distance D1 from the rear wheel 51 to the middle wheel 41. Therefore, compared to a stretcher without the middle wheel section 4, the moment of force, i.e., the required force, when the transporter B rotates the entire stretcher 1 around the rotation axis R can be reduced. This makes it easy to operate the stretcher 1 even if the transporter B has weak arm strength. Furthermore, it reduces the load on the arms of the transporter B, making it possible for one transporter B to use it for extended periods, thus enabling the transport of many people with fewer personnel.

[0048] The center wheel 41 in this embodiment is a swivel caster, but is not limited to this, as it reduces the force required when changing direction of travel.

[0049] The pair of intermediate wheel connecting members 42, 42 each have one end connected to the pair of intermediate wheels 41, 41 and the other end rotatably connected to the first frame 25. As shown in Figure 4, the length of the intermediate wheel connecting member 42 in this embodiment is set to be longer than the length of the front wheel connecting member 32. As a result, the distance Df from the running surface S to the bed 2 at the position where the front wheel 31 is positioned is shorter than the distance Dm from the running surface S to the bed 2 at the position where the intermediate wheel 41 is positioned, meaning that the second support portion 22 of the bed 2 is tilted downward toward the front. This lowers the center of gravity of the stretcher 1 and reduces the amount of deflection of the front wheel portion 3, especially the front wheel connecting member 32, when the direction of travel is changed. As a result, the force required when changing the direction of travel of the stretcher 1 can be reduced.

[0050] The intermediate wheel beam member 43 connects a pair of intermediate wheel connecting members 42, 42 to each other, improving the strength of the intermediate wheel section 4. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, in this embodiment, when the stretcher 1 is folded, the intermediate wheel section 4 is folded close to the first frame 25, and when the stretcher 1 is unfolded, the intermediate wheel section 4 extends below the first frame 25 of the bed 2. The intermediate wheel 41 is preferably a swivel caster from the viewpoint of reducing the force required when changing direction of travel, but is not limited to this.

[0051] The rear wheel section 5 comprises a pair of rear wheels 51, 51, a pair of rear wheel connecting members 52, 52, and a rear wheel beam member 53. In the unfolded state, it extends below the first frame 25 and is foldable in a direction approaching the first frame 25. When the stretcher 1 is unfolded, the rear wheel section 5 is locked to prevent it from folding unintentionally.

[0052] In this embodiment, the rear wheel 51 is a fixed caster, so the entire structure rotates around a pivot axis R that extends vertically at the position where the rear wheel 51 is positioned. When changing the direction of travel of the stretcher 1 to the left as viewed from the carrier B, the pivot axis Rl is positioned at the location where the rear wheel 51 is located on the left side as viewed from the carrier B. Conversely, when changing the direction of travel of the stretcher 1 to the right as viewed from the carrier B, the pivot axis Rr is positioned at the location where the rear wheel 51 is located on the right side as viewed from the carrier B.

[0053] The pair of rear wheel connecting members 52, 52 each have one end connected to the pair of rear wheels 51, 51 and the other end rotatably connected to the first frame 25. As shown in Figure 4, the length of the rear wheel connecting member 52 in this embodiment is set to be shorter than the length of the middle wheel connecting member 42. As a result, the distance Dr from the running surface S to the bed 2 at the position where the rear wheels 51 are positioned is shorter than the distance Dm from the running surface S to the bed 2 at the position where the middle wheels 41 are positioned. In other words, the first support portion 21 of the bed 2 is tilted downward toward the rear. Because the first support portion 21 is tilted, the center of gravity of the stretcher 1 can be lowered, and the amount of deflection of the rear wheel portion 5, especially the rear wheel connecting member 52, when the direction of travel is changed can be reduced. As a result, the force required when changing the direction of travel can be further reduced.

[0054] The rear wheel section beam member 53 connects a pair of rear wheel connecting members 52, 52 to each other, improving the strength of the rear wheel section 5. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, in this embodiment, when the stretcher 1 is folded, the rear wheel section 5 is folded close to the first frame 25, and when the stretcher 1 is unfolded, the rear wheel section 5 extends below the first frame 25 of the bed 2.

[0055] In this embodiment, the front wheel section 3 consists of a pair of front wheels 31 and front wheel connecting members 32, but is not limited to this, and the number of front wheels 31 and front wheel connecting members 32 may be one or more. Similarly to the front wheel section 3, the number of middle wheels 41 and middle wheel connecting members 42 in the middle wheel section 4, and the number of rear wheels 51 and rear wheel connecting members 52 in the rear wheel section 5 may also be one or more, but it is preferable to have a configuration that allows the vehicle to stand stably on its own with the front wheels 31, middle wheels 41, and rear wheels 51 when deployed.

[0056] The connecting member 6 is a member that connects the middle wheel section 4 and the rear wheel section 5, and in this embodiment, it is a link mechanism L that connects the middle wheel section beam member 43 and the rear wheel section beam member 53. The connection between the middle wheel section beam member 43 and the rear wheel section beam member 53 by the connecting member 6 increases the rigidity of the middle wheel section 4 and the rear wheel section 5, improving stability during driving. Furthermore, the middle wheel section 4 and the rear wheel section 5 can be folded together as a single unit.

[0057] The handle 7 is for the carrier B to control the movement of the stretcher 1, and is a component that the carrier B grips and operates. The handle 7 extends from the first longitudinal member 2A and has a roughly spherical grip portion 71 at its tip. The grip portion 71 is located above the bed 2 when the stretcher 1 is deployed. Therefore, since the bed 2 is lower than the handle 7, the center of gravity of the stretcher 1 is lowered, and the amount of deflection of the front wheel portion 3, middle wheel portion 4, and rear wheel portion 5 when the direction of travel is changed is suppressed, thereby reducing the force required when changing the direction of travel.

[0058] The handle 7 in this embodiment is rotatably mounted on the first longitudinal member 2A as the pivot point, and can be fixed in directions perpendicular and parallel to the plane on which the first support portion 21 is located. This makes it possible to fold the handle 7 so that it is on the same plane as the plane on which the first support portion 21 is located (see Figure 8).

[0059] The first handle 8 is a substantially spherical member provided on the first longitudinal member 2A of the bed 2 and protruding to the side of the bed 2. The first handle 8 allows for easy changes of the stretcher 1 from a folded state to an unfolded state and from an unfolded state to a folded state. Because the first handle 8 protrudes to the side of the bed 2, it is easy to grasp the first handle 8 even during the process of changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, and during the process of changing from the folded state to the unfolded state.

[0060] The second handle 9 is a roughly spherical member provided on a pair of connecting parts 23 of the bed 2, and protrudes to the side of the bed 2. The second handle 9 allows for easy change of the stretcher 1 from an unfolded state to a folded state. Because the second handle 9 protrudes to the side of the bed 2, it is easy to grasp the second handle 9 even in the process of changing from the unfolded state to the folded state.

[0061] Next, the operation for changing the stretcher 1, which is placed in an unfolded state on the floor surface F, to a folded state will be explained with reference to Figures 9(a) to (g). In the unfolded state of the stretcher 1 (Figure 9(a)), the handle 7 is rotated around the first longitudinal member 2A as the pivot point to fold the handle 7 (Figure 9(b)). Subsequently, the first handle 8 is pulled upward using position P1, where the front wheel 31 of the front wheel section 3 contacts the floor surface F, as support to lift the bed 2 upward. When the bed 2, which has been lifted upward, reaches a certain height, the auxiliary leg section 29 comes into contact with the floor surface F at position P2 (Figure 9(c)). By switching the support point from position P1 to position P2 and further pulling up the first handle 8, the bed 2 is lifted further upward. When the raised bed 2 reaches a certain height, the second leg member 24b comes into contact with the floor surface F, and the second leg member 24b comes into contact with the floor surface F at position P3 (Figure 9(d)). Next, by pulling down the first handle 8, the bed 2 is folded at the connecting part 23 (Figure 9(e)). At this time, as the bed 2 is folded, the middle wheel part 4 and the rear wheel part 5 connected by the link mechanism L are automatically folded by their own weight. Further pulling down the first handle 8 brings the first leg member 24a into contact with the floor surface F at position P4 (Figure 9(f)). Next, by pulling the second handle 9 backward, the entire assembly rotates using position P4 as support, further folding the bed 2, and then pushing the second handle 9 forward brings the second leg member 24b into contact with the floor surface F at position P5, resulting in the folded state (Figure 9(g)).

[0062] The operation for changing the stretcher 1, which is placed on the floor surface F in a folded state, to an unfolded state will be explained with reference to Figures 10(a) to (f). In the folded state, the stretcher 1 is self-supporting with the first leg member 24a and the second leg member 24b in contact with the floor surface F at positions P6 and P7, respectively (Figure 10(a)). To change the stretcher 1 to an unfolded state, grasp the first handle 8 of the folded stretcher 1 and pull the stretcher 1 backward while slightly lifting the first leg member 24a upward from the floor surface F, using position P7 where the second leg member 24b contacts the floor surface F as support to extend the bed 2 (Figure 10(b)). At this time, as the bed 2 extends, the middle wheel section 4 and the rear wheel section 5, which are connected by the link mechanism L, also automatically unfold due to their own weight. When the bed 2 is extended to a certain extent, the auxiliary legs 29 come into contact with the floor surface F at position P8, and the point of support for spreading the bed 2 switches from position P7 to position P8 (Figure 10(c)). At this time, the rear wheels 51 of the rear wheel section 5, which unfold automatically due to its own weight, come into contact with the floor surface F. After that, the first handle 8 is pulled diagonally upward and backward from the stretcher 1 to further extend the bed 2. When the bed 2 is extended to a certain extent, the front wheels 31 of the front wheel section 3 come into contact with the floor surface F at position P9, and the point of support for spreading the bed 2 switches from position P8 to position P9 (Figure 10(d)). By continuing to pull the first handle 8 diagonally upward and backward from the stretcher 1, the bed 2 is fully extended (Figure 10(e)). At this time, the middle wheel section 4 and the rear wheel section 5 are also fully extended and locked to prevent them from folding unintentionally. Subsequently, the handle 7 is rotated around the first longitudinal member 2A as the pivot point, so that the handle 7 extends above the bed 2, thereby unfolding the stretcher 1 (Figure 10(f)).

[0063] The transport of person A using stretcher 1 will now be described. When not in use, stretcher 1 is stored in a folded state, and when in use, it is changed from the folded state to the unfolded state by the operation described above. Person A is laid down on the bed 2 of the unfolded stretcher 1, and the transporter B grasps the handle 71 of the handle 7 and operates the stretcher 1, placing person A on it and moving it to the destination. At the destination, person A is lowered from stretcher 1, and the transport of person A is completed. After the transport is complete, stretcher 1 can be stored even in a small space by changing it from the unfolded state to the folded state by the operation described above.

[0064] <Variation> A modified example, a wheeled stretcher 101 (hereinafter referred to as stretcher 101), will be described with reference to Figure 11. Stretcher 101 has a front wheel section 3, a middle wheel section 4, and a rear wheel section 5, each equipped with swivel casters: front wheel 131, middle wheel 141, and rear wheel 151, respectively. Because all the wheels of stretcher 101 are swivel casters, stretcher 101 can be moved laterally by sliding.

[0065] In the stretcher 101, the direction of travel can also be changed by rotating the entire stretcher 101, with the position of the handle 7 where the carrier B's hands are located being the position of the rotation axis R. As shown in Figure 11, normally, when changing the direction of travel of the stretcher 101 to the left as viewed from the carrier B, the position of the rotation axis Rl is the position where the left handle 7 is positioned as viewed from the carrier B. Conversely, when changing the direction of travel of the stretcher 101 to the right as viewed from the carrier B, the position of the rotation axis Rr is the position where the right handle 7 is positioned as viewed from the carrier B. Alternatively, the force applied by the carrier B to the handle 7 can be adjusted to rotate the entire stretcher 101 so that the rotation axis R is located between the pair of handles 7 or on their extension.

[0066] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the present invention as described in the claims. For example, when multiple people are changing the stretcher 1 from an unfolded state to a folded state, or from a folded state to an unfolded state, one person may grasp the second handle 9 to assist in folding or extending the bed 2. This makes it easier to change the stretcher 1 from an unfolded state to a folded state, or from a folded state to an unfolded state. [Industrial applicability]

[0067] The wheeled stretcher according to the present invention can be used not only by people who have difficulty walking on their own, but also by healthy individuals, and therefore has great industrial potential. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1. 101: Wheeled stretcher 2: Bed 21: 1st support part 22: Second support part 23: Connection part 23a: Restricting member 24: Legs 24a: 1st leg member 24b: Second leg member 25: First Frame 26: First sheet 27: Second Frame 28: Second seat 29: Auxiliary legs 2A: First longitudinal member 2Aa: One end 2Ab: Other end 2B: 1st short member 2C: Second longitudinal member 2Ca: One end 2Cb: Other end 2D: 2nd short member 3: Front wheel section 31, 131: Front wheel 32: Front wheel connecting member 4: Middle limbus 41, 141: Middle wheel 42: Intermediate wheel connecting member 43: Middle ring beam member 5: Rear wheel 51, 151: Rear wheel 52: Rear wheel connecting member 53: Rear wheel section beam member 6: Connecting member 7: Handle 71: Grip 8: 1st handle 9: Second handle A: Person being transported B: Transporter C: Buttocks area D: Lumbar area D1: Distance D2: Distance Df: separation distance DM: Separation distance Dr: Separation distance F: Floor surface L: Link mechanism P1~P9: Position R: Rotation axis Rl: Rotation axis Rr: Rotation axis S: Running surface X: Lateral direction

Claims

1. A wheeled stretcher that carries a person in a lying position and travels along a surface, A bed for laying the person being transported in a lying position, Having a front wheel, and a front wheel section connected to the bed, Having rear wheels, a rear wheel section connected to the bed, It has a middle wheel, is connected to the bed, and comprises a middle wheel section located between the front wheel section and the rear wheel section, The bed has a buttock region which is a region that supports the buttocks of the person being transported, and a lumbar region which is a region that supports the lower back of the person being transported. The aforementioned middle wheel portion is connected to the bed in the region extending from the buttock area to the lumbar area of ​​the bed, The entire vehicle can change direction of travel by rotating around a pivot axis that extends vertically at the position where the rear wheels are positioned, or at a position behind the position where the rear wheels are positioned. The bed is divided into a first support section and a second support section along the shorter side of the bed, and has a connecting section that connects the first support section and the second support section, and is foldable at the connecting section. The bed can be changed between an unfolded state in which the person being transported can lie down on the bed, and a folded state in which the bed is folded and collapsed. The aforementioned middle wheel section and the aforementioned rear wheel section are each foldably connected to the bed, When changing from the unfolded state to the folded state, the middle wheel section and the rear wheel section automatically fold due to their own weight. A wheeled stretcher characterized in that, when changing from the folded state to the unfolded state, the middle wheel section and the rear wheel section automatically unfold due to their own weight.

2. A wheeled stretcher that carries a person in a lying position and travels on a running surface, A bed for laying the person being transported in a lying position, Having a front wheel, and a front wheel section connected to the bed, Having rear wheels, a rear wheel section connected to the bed, It has a middle wheel, is connected to the bed, and comprises a middle wheel section located between the front wheel section and the rear wheel section, The bed has a buttock region which is a region that supports the buttocks of the person being transported, and a lumbar region which is a region that supports the lower back of the person being transported. The aforementioned middle wheel portion is connected to the bed in the region extending from the buttock area to the lumbar area of ​​the bed, The entire vehicle can change direction of travel by rotating around a pivot axis that extends vertically at the position where the rear wheels are positioned, or at a position behind the position where the rear wheels are positioned. The bed is divided into a first support section and a second support section along the shorter side of the bed, and has a connecting section that connects the first support section and the second support section, and is foldable at the connecting section. The bed can be changed between an unfolded state in which the person being transported can lie down on the bed, and a folded state in which the bed is folded and collapsed. A wheeled stretcher characterized by having auxiliary legs provided on the second support portion.

3. A wheeled stretcher that carries a person in a lying position and travels on a running surface, A bed for laying the person being transported in a lying position, Having a front wheel, and a front wheel section connected to the bed, Having rear wheels, a rear wheel section connected to the bed, It has a middle wheel, is connected to the bed, and comprises a middle wheel section located between the front wheel section and the rear wheel section, The bed has a buttock region which is a region that supports the buttocks of the person being transported, and a lumbar region which is a region that supports the lower back of the person being transported. The aforementioned middle wheel portion is connected to the bed in the region extending from the buttock area to the lumbar area of ​​the bed, The entire vehicle can change direction of travel by rotating around a pivot axis that extends vertically at the position where the rear wheels are positioned, or at a position behind the position where the rear wheels are positioned. The bed is divided into a first support section and a second support section along the shorter side of the bed, and has a connecting section that connects the first support section and the second support section, and is foldable at the connecting section. The bed can be changed between an unfolded state in which the person being transported can lie down on the bed, and a folded state in which the bed is folded and collapsed. A wheeled stretcher characterized by having a second handle provided at the connecting portion and protruding to the side of the bed.

4. The sleeping platform is located away from the running surface and above the front wheel, the middle wheel, and the rear wheel. A wheeled stretcher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distance from the running surface to the bed at the position where the front wheels are positioned is shorter than the distance from the running surface to the bed at the position where the middle wheels are positioned.

5. The sleeping platform is located away from the running surface and above the front wheel, the middle wheel, and the rear wheel. A wheeled stretcher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distance from the running surface to the bed at the position where the rear wheels are positioned is shorter than the distance from the running surface to the bed at the position where the middle wheels are positioned.

6. Equipped with a handle for operation, The handle has a rod-shaped portion at one end connected to the bed, and a spherical grip portion connected to the other end of the rod-shaped portion. A wheeled stretcher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the grip portion of the handle is located above the bed.

7. A wheeled stretcher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a connecting member for connecting the rear wheel portion and the middle wheel portion.

8. A wheeled stretcher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising legs for standing upright in the folded state.

9. The wheeled stretcher according to claim 8, wherein the leg portion comprises a first leg member provided on the first support portion and a second leg member provided on the second support portion.

10. A wheeled stretcher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a first handle provided on the first support portion and protruding to the side of the bed.

11. A wheeled stretcher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rear wheel section and the middle wheel section are connected by a link mechanism.

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