Walker

Abstract

To provide a walker with improved functionality and designability, equipped with an upper component that can be reduced in weight.SOLUTION: A walker 1 includes a lower component 2, a support body 3, and an upper component 4. The upper component 4 includes an upper base 4A, a composite functional body 5 having an armrest part 5A and a side support part 5B, and a rotational interlocking body 6. The rotational interlocking body 6 includes a rotation shaft 60 extending in a front-back direction of the walker 1 and a back support 7 provided on a rear end side of the rotation shaft 60. The armrest part 5A includes a first bearing hole 50 and a second bearing hole 51. A rear end side of the upper base 4A that serves as a rotation center axis of the side support part 5B is inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the composite functional body 5, and the composite functional body 5 is rotatably attached with the rotational center axis as a rotation center. The rotation shaft 60 of the rotational interlocking body 6 is rotatably attached to the second bearing hole 51 of the composite functional body 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a walker provided with a composite functional body having an armrest portion and a side support portion as an upper structural body.

Background Art

[0002] A walking assistance device (walker) is known that includes a lower structural body, a support provided so as to extend upward from the lower structural body, and an upper structural body provided on the upper side of the support. The lower structural body includes moving means such as wheels, and the upper structural body includes components such as an elbow support member (armrest), a side support means (side support), and a back contact means (back support) (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-described walker, the armrest, side support, and back support that constitute the upper structural body are provided separately and seemingly unrelated to each other, so there are problems in terms of functionality, design, weight reduction, etc. of the upper structural body. In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a walker provided with an upper structural body that can improve functionality and designability and can also reduce weight by configuring the armrest, side support, and back support in association with each other.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The walker according to the present invention comprises a lower structure, a support extending upward from the lower structure, and an upper structure provided on the upper side of the support, the lower structure comprising a lower base and a means of movement provided on the lower base, the upper structure comprising an upper base, a composite functional body having an armrest portion and a side support portion, and a rotational linkage body, the rotational linkage body comprising a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction of the walker and a back support provided on the rear end side of the rotation axis, the composite functional body comprising a first bearing hole in the armrest portion into which the rear end side of the upper base, which serves as the rotational center axis of the side support portion, is inserted, and a second bearing hole into which the rotation axis of the rotational linkage body is rotatably inserted, the rotational center axis is inserted into the first bearing hole of the composite functional body so as to be rotatable with respect to the rotational center axis, and the rotation axis of the rotational linkage body is rotatably mounted in the second bearing hole of the composite functional body so as to be rotatable with respect to the rotational center axis, and the rotation axis of the rotational linkage body is rotatably mounted in the second bearing hole of the composite functional body so as to be configured to rotate in conjunction with the back support and the rotation axis. According to the present invention, a walking aid is provided that has an upper structure that improves functionality and design, and also reduces weight, by associating a rotating interlocking body having a back support with a composite functional body having an armrest portion and a side support portion. Furthermore, the upper base comprises an upper front portion extending left and right from the upper side of the support, an upper left portion extending rearward from the left end of the upper front portion and functioning as the left rotation axis, and an upper right portion extending rearward from the right end of the upper front portion and functioning as the right rotation axis. The composite functional body comprises a left composite functional body having an armrest portion extending left and right in the front and rear directions and a side support portion extending upward from the right end of the armrest portion, and a right composite functional body having an armrest portion extending left and right in the front and rear directions and a side support portion extending upward from the left end of the armrest portion. The rotation interlocking body comprises a left rotation interlocking body and a right rotation interlocking body, and the left rotation axis is inserted into the first bearing hole of the left composite functional body. The left-side composite functional body is rotatably mounted with respect to the left-side rotational axis, and the rotational axis of the left-side rotational linkage body is rotatably mounted in the second bearing hole of the left-side composite functional body so that the back support and the rotational axis rotate in conjunction with each other. The right-side rotational axis is inserted into the first bearing hole of the right-side composite functional body, and the right-side composite functional body is rotatably mounted with respect to the right-side rotational axis, and the rotational axis of the right-side rotational linkage body is rotatably mounted in the second bearing hole of the right-side composite functional body so that the back support and the rotational axis rotate in conjunction with each other. Thus, since the left and right components of the upper structure are related to each other, it is possible to provide a walker with an upper structure that improves functionality and design, and also reduces weight. Furthermore, the rotating mechanism is characterized by having a handgrip on the front end of the rotating shaft, and the handle grip, back support, and rotating shaft are configured to rotate in conjunction, thus providing a walker with superior functionality. Furthermore, the first bearing hole is provided to extend in the front-to-back direction on the side support portion of the armrest, and the second bearing hole is provided to extend in the front-to-back direction on the side opposite to the side support portion of the armrest. As a result, it is possible to realize a walker that can efficiently perform the rotational movement of the composite functional body and the rotational movement of the rotation-linked body. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the walker from the rear. [Figure 2] A perspective view of the walker from the front. [Figure 3] A perspective view showing the frame (skeleton) of a walker. [Figure 4] Plan view of a walker. [Figure 5] An exploded perspective view showing a multi-functional body. [Figure 6] A perspective view illustrating the adjustment of the spacing between the left and right multi-functional units. [Figure 7] A front view illustrating the open and closed positions of the left and right back supports. [Figure 8] A perspective view illustrating the open and closed positions of the left and right back supports. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] As shown in Figure 1, the walker 1 according to this embodiment comprises a lower structure 2, a support 3 extending upward from the lower structure 2, and an upper structure 4 provided on the upper side of the support 3. In this specification, up, down, left, right, front, and back are defined and explained as the directions shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0008] The lower component 2 comprises a lower base 2A, a means of movement 2B, a knee support 2C, and a shin support 2D.

[0009] The lower base 2A is configured, for example, in a concave shape, with the upper open portion of the concave shape located at the rear of the walker 1 and the lower closed portion of the concave shape located at the front of the walker 1. The lower base 2A may consist of, for example, a lower base frame 2F (see Figure 3) made of a concave metal pipe or the like, and a covering sponge tube 2T or the like provided to cover the outer surface of the lower base frame 2F, or it may consist of the lower base frame 2F itself. Furthermore, the lower base frame 2F is formed, for example, by connecting multiple pipes together, or by bending pipes. In other words, the lower base 2A comprises a lower front portion 21 extending left and right from the lower side of the support 3, a lower left portion 22 extending rearward from the left end of the lower front portion 21, and a lower right portion 23 extending rearward from the right end of the lower front portion 21. Furthermore, the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 is provided to extend in the left-right direction by passing through the bearing hole 3C (see Figure 3) formed on the lower side of the support body 3, thereby enabling the support body 3 to rotate rearward with the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 as its central axis.

[0010] The moving means 2B is configured to include, for example, a left front swivel wheel 24 provided on the left front side of the lower base frame 2F of the lower base 2A, a right front swivel wheel 25 provided on the right front side of the lower base frame 2F, a left rear swivel wheel 26 provided on the left rear side of the lower base frame 2F, a right rear swivel wheel 27 provided on the right rear side of the lower base frame 2F, a left center fixed wheel 28 provided on the left center side between the left front side and the left rear side of the lower base frame 2F, and a right center fixed wheel 29 provided on the right center side between the right front side and the right rear side of the lower base frame 2F. A swivel wheel is a wheel that is configured to rotate around a vertical axis perpendicular to the wheel's rotation centerline on a moving surface such as a floor. For example, it is called a swivel caster. Furthermore, a fixed wheel is a wheel configured so that it cannot rotate around a vertical axis perpendicular to the wheel's rotation centerline on the surface it is moving; for example, it is called a fixed caster. Specifically, each wheel 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 is attached to the lower base frame 2F via mounting members 2BF provided on the lower surface of the lower base frame 2F, as shown in Figure 3.

[0011] The relationship between the diameters of the wheels constituting the moving means 2B is set, for example, such that the left front swivel wheel 24 = the right front swivel wheel 25 < the left center fixed wheel 28 = the right center fixed wheel 29 < the left rear swivel wheel 26 = the right rear swivel wheel 27. As a result, the lower left part 22 and the lower right part 23 of the lower base 2A are configured to extend downward and inclined from the front to the rear.

[0012] The knee support 2C is composed of, for example, a left knee support 2CL and a right knee support 2CR. The left knee support 2CL and the right knee support 2CR each include a knee support member attachment part 30 (see FIG. 3) connected to the lower part of the support body 3 via a support column 35, and a knee support member 31 attached to the knee support member attachment part 30. The knee support member 31 is composed of a cushioning material such as a columnar sponge member. The knee support members 31 are respectively attached to the left and right knee support member attachment parts 30, 30 provided so as to extend in the left - right direction from the upper end of the support column 35, and the left knee support 2CL and the right knee support 2CR are formed. The knee support 2C protects the user's knees and lower legs when the user bends their knees during use of the walker 1, and provides an effect of preventing the user from colliding with the lower base 2A and the support body 3, and an effect of preventing the user from falling.

[0013] The shin support 2D is composed of, for example, a left shin support 2DL and a right shin support 2DR. The left shin support 2DL and the right shin support 2DR each include a shin support member attachment part 32 connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower base 2A, and a shin support member 33 detachably attached to the shin support member attachment part 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the shin support member attachment part 32 is formed by a vertical plate having a plate surface located behind the lower base frame 2F of the lower front part 21 and parallel to the lower base frame 2F of the lower front part 21 and extending in the left - right, up - down directions. The left tibia support member mounting portion 32 is configured such that one end is connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower left portion 21 by welding or the like, and the other end is connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 (near the left side surface of the lower inner column 3A) via a support piece 36. Also, the right tibia support member mounting portion 32 is configured such that one end is connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower right portion 21 by welding or the like, and the other end is connected to the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 (near the right side surface of the lower inner column 3A) via a support piece 36. The tibia support member 33 is constituted by a cushioning material such as a columnar sponge, for example. The tibia support member 33 is formed with a detachable slit 37 that extends from the circumferential surface of the columnar sponge member, for example, in the direction of the center of the column and reaches both end faces of the column (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Then, the tibia support members 33 are detachably attached to the left and right tibia support member mounting portions 32, 32, respectively, to constitute a left tibia support 2DL and a right tibia support 2DR. That is, the tibia support member 33 is attached to the tibia support member mounting portion 32 such that the tibia support member mounting portion 32 is inserted into the detachable slit 37 of the tibia support member 33. The tibia support 2D is provided to prevent a situation in which the user's tibia collides with the lower base 2A or the support body 3 when the user using the walker 1 loses their body balance.

[0014] The support body 3 is rotatably supported by the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 via a bearing hole 3C so as to be able to fall backward with the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21 as the rotation center axis. Incidentally, the walker 1 is configured to be able to change its form between a form when using the walker 1 (use form) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a folded form of the walker 1 (not shown). And, in the use form of the walker 1, the support body 3 is locked by a lock mechanism (not shown) so as to be maintained in a state of rising upward while being slightly inclined backward from the lower base frame 2F of the lower front portion 21, for example. Furthermore, the support body 3 is configured to fold backward when the lock mechanism (not shown) is released. In this case, the support body 3 may or may not have a lock mechanism to maintain the folded state. Furthermore, the support structure 3 is configured to allow for height adjustment. For example, the support structure 3 comprises a lower inner column 3A and an upper outer column 3B, with the upper outer column 3B being movable vertically and being locked at a predetermined height position by a locking mechanism (not shown). For example, the support structure 3 has a configuration in which a gas spring is installed inside that functions as a lifting mechanism for the upper outer column 3B. A gas spring with a locking mechanism is used as the gas spring, and the support 3 is configured such that the locking mechanism of the gas spring is released by operating a lever switch 3S (see Figure 2) located on the upper side of the upper outer column 3B, allowing the upper outer column 3B to be raised and lowered.

[0015] The upper structure 4 comprises an upper base 4A, a chest support 4B, a composite functional body 5, and a rotational interlocking body 6.

[0016] The upper base 4A is configured to be concave, for example, similar to the lower base 2A, with the upper open portion of the concave being located at the rear of the walker 1 and the lower closed portion of the concave being located at the front of the walker 1. The upper base 4A may consist of, for example, an upper base frame 4F (see Figure 3) made of a concave metal pipe or the like, and a covering sponge tube 4T or the like provided to cover the outer surface of the upper base frame 4F, or it may consist of the lower base frame 4F itself. Furthermore, the upper base frame 4F is formed, for example, by connecting multiple pipes together, or by bending pipes. In other words, the upper base 4A comprises an upper front portion 41 extending left and right from the upper side of the support 3, an upper left portion 42 extending rearward from the left end of the upper front portion 41, and an upper right portion 43 extending rearward from the right end of the upper front portion 41. Furthermore, the upper base frame 4F of the upper front portion 41 is provided to extend in the left-right direction by passing through the bearing hole 3D (see Figure 3) formed on the upper side of the support 3, so that the upper base 4A is rotatably supported in the bearing hole 3D formed on the upper side of the support 3. Furthermore, the upper component 4 is configured to rotate around the upper base frame 4F of the upper front portion 41 of the upper base 4A, which is rotatably supported in a bearing hole 3D formed in the upper end of the support 3, and to move to the left and right lateral positions of the support 3. For example, the upper base 4A, which is fixed in a horizontal or nearly horizontal position in the usage configuration by a locking mechanism (not shown), is configured such that by releasing the locking mechanism, the upper base frame 4F of the upper front part 41 rotates around the axis of rotation (center of rotation), allowing the upper left part 42 and the upper right part 43 to move to a lateral position on the support 3.

[0017] The chest support 4B is composed of, for example, a left chest support 4BL and a right chest support 4BR, and the left chest support 4BL and the right chest support 4BR are each composed of an upper base frame 4F of an upper front portion 41 that functions as a chest support member mounting portion, and a chest support member 40 attached to the upper base frame 4F of the upper front portion 41. The chest support member 40 is made of a cushioning material such as a cylindrical sponge member. Then, chest support members 40 are attached to the left and right upper base frames 4F, which are provided extending from the upper end of the upper outer column 3B in the left-right direction, thereby forming the left chest support 4BL and the right chest support 4BR. The chest support 4B is provided to prevent situations in which the user's chest might collide with the upper front portion 41 of the upper base 4A, such as when the user loses their balance while using the walker 1.

[0018] The combined functional unit 5 comprises an armrest portion 5A and an underarm support portion 5B, and is configured to function as an armrest and an underarm support.

[0019] The armrest portion 5A is composed of, for example, plate-shaped portions extending in the left-right and front-rear directions, and the armrest portion 5A includes a first bearing hole 50 into which the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42 and the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43, which serve as the rotational axis of the side support portion 5B, are inserted, and a second bearing hole 51 into which the rotational shaft 60 of the rotational interlocking body 6 is rotatably inserted.

[0020] The side support portion 5B is comprised of, for example, a plate-shaped portion that extends upward from the right or left edge of the armrest portion 5A, and a side support member 53 (see Figure 5) installed on a side support member installation portion 52 (see Figure 3) provided at the upper end of the plate-shaped member. The side support member 53 is composed of a cushioning material such as a sponge member with an elliptical cross-section that extends in the front-rear direction.

[0021] Furthermore, the combined functional unit 5 comprises a combined functional unit 5L on the left and a combined functional unit 5R on the right. The left-side multi-functional unit 5L has an armrest portion 5A that extends in the left-right and front-back directions, and a side support portion 5B that extends upward from the right end of the armrest portion 5A. The right-side multi-functional unit 5R has an armrest portion 5A that extends in the left-right and front-back directions, and a side support portion 5B that extends upward from the left end of the armrest portion 5A.

[0022] The left-side composite functional body 5L and the right-side composite functional body 5R are configured with a main component 5F having a plate-shaped portion of the armrest 5A and a plate-shaped portion of the side support 5B, which are lightweight and highly rigid, and are formed from a metal such as aluminum or a resin. The main component 5F, which has a plate-shaped portion of the armrest 5A and a plate-shaped portion of the side support 5B, is composed of, for example, an integrally molded product with a hollow section, or an assembly with a hollow section formed therein. Furthermore, the left-side composite functional body 5L or the right-side composite functional body 5R, as shown in Figure 5 for example, is configured such that a side support member 53 is installed on a side support member installation section 52 provided at the upper end of the main component 5F, and then the circumferential surfaces of the main component 5F and the side support member 53, excluding the front and rear end surfaces, are covered with a cushioning material such as a cover sponge 5t. Furthermore, the front end surfaces of these main components 5F and the side support members 53 are covered with a cushioning material such as a cover sponge 5f, which serves as a front end surface cover, and the rear end surfaces of these main components 5F and the side support members 53 are covered with a cushioning material such as a cover sponge 5r, which serves as a rear end surface cover. Furthermore, the cover sponge 5f has a communication hole 5i that communicates with the first bearing hole 50 and a communication hole 5h that communicates with the second bearing hole 51, and the cover sponge 5r has a communication hole 5h that communicates with the second bearing hole 51. As described above, the composite functional body 5 is equipped with a lightweight yet highly rigid main component 5F, thus contributing to the weight reduction of the walker 1. Furthermore, the part that comes into contact with the user's armpit is made of cushioning material (cover sponge 5t and armpit support member 53), so that the impact on the user's armpit can be mitigated if the user is about to fall. Furthermore, since the main component 5F is surrounded by cushioning material (covering sponges 5t, 5f, 5r), a composite functional body 5 can be obtained that offers excellent feel against the skin of the forearm and upper arm and the torso when the user walks, as well as a highly aesthetic design.

[0023] The rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left part 42 is inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the left composite functional body 5L, and the left composite functional body 5L is configured to be rotatable with the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left part 42, which is inserted into the first bearing hole 50, as its rotational axis. Similarly, the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 is inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the right-side composite functional body 5R, so that the right-side composite functional body 5R is rotatable around the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43, which is inserted into the first bearing hole 50, as its rotational axis. In other words, the left-side composite functional unit 5L is rotatably supported on the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left section 42 via the first bearing hole 50, and similarly, the right-side composite functional unit 5R is rotatably supported on the rear end side of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right section 43 via the first bearing hole 50.

[0024] The rotating interlocking unit 6 has a rotating shaft 60 that extends in the front-rear direction of the walker 1, a back support 7 provided on the rear end of the rotating shaft 60, and a handle grip 8 provided on the front end of the rotating shaft 60. The rotating shaft 60 is rotatably mounted in the second bearing hole 51 of the composite functional unit 5, so that the back support 7, the handle grip 8, and the rotating shaft 60 rotate in conjunction with each other.

[0025] The rotating interlocking unit 6 is composed of a base frame 6F made of metal pipes or the like that form a rotating shaft 60, a support portion 70 of the back support 7 provided on the rear end side of the rotating shaft 60, and a handle grip 8 provided on the front end side of the rotating shaft 60, and a back support member 71 provided on the rear end side of the base frame 6F. Furthermore, the base frame 6F is formed, for example, by connecting multiple pipes together, or by bending pipes. Furthermore, the exposed portion of the base frame 6F may be covered with a cushioning material such as a sponge tube 6T for covering, or it may be left exposed. At least the portion of the rotating shaft 60 that is inserted into the second bearing hole 51 is made of a metal pipe or the like. Furthermore, the back support 7 is configured to include, for example, a back support member 71 that is positioned to face the user's back, and a support portion 70 that supports the back support member 71. The back support member 71 is made of a cushioning material such as a cylindrical sponge attached to the rear end of the support portion 71, and the support portion 70, which is provided to extend from the rear end of the rotating shaft 60, is made of a metal pipe or the like at least on the rear end side to which the back support member 71 is attached. Furthermore, it is preferable that the handle grip 8 comprises a grip body 80 made of a metal pipe or the like, and a cushioning material such as a sponge tube 6T for covering the grip body 80.

[0026] Furthermore, the rotational linkage 6 comprises a left-side rotational linkage 6L and a right-side rotational linkage 6R. Specifically, the left-side rotating interlocking unit 6L includes a rotating shaft 60, a left-side back support 7L provided on the rear end of the rotating shaft 60, and a left-side handle grip 8L provided on the front end of the rotating shaft 60. The rotating shaft 60 is rotatably inserted into the second bearing hole 51 of the left-side composite functional unit 5L, so that the left-side back support 7L, the left-side handle grip 8L, and the rotating shaft 60 rotate in conjunction with each other. Similarly, the right-side rotating interlocking unit 6R includes a rotating shaft 60, a right-side back support 7R provided on the rear end of the rotating shaft 60, and a right-side handle grip 8R provided on the front end of the rotating shaft 60. The rotating shaft 60 is rotatably inserted into the second bearing hole 51 of the right-side composite functional unit 5R, so that the right-side back support 7R, the right-side handle grip 8R, and the rotating shaft 60 rotate in conjunction with each other.

[0027] The relationship between the upper base 4A, the multi-functional unit 5, and the rotating interlocking unit 6 is as follows. In other words, the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left part 42 and the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right part 43, which function as the rotational axis of the composite functional body 5, are inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the composite functional body 5, thereby mounting the composite functional body 5 so as to be rotatable around the rotational axis, and the rotational shaft 60 of the rotational interlocking body 6 is rotatably mounted in the second bearing hole 51 of the composite functional body 5.

[0028] Specifically, in order to make the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42 of the upper base 4A function as the rotational axis of the left composite functional body 5L, the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42 is inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the left composite functional body 5L. As a result, the left composite functional body 5L is mounted so as to be rotatable around the rotational axis formed by the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42, and the rotational axis 60 of the left rotational interlocking body 6L is mounted so as to be rotatable in the second bearing hole 51 of the left composite functional body 5L. Similarly, in order to make the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 of the upper base 4A function as the rotational axis of the right-side composite functional body 5R, the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43 is inserted into the first bearing hole 50 of the right-side composite functional body 5R. As a result, the right-side composite functional body 5R is mounted so as to be rotatable around the rotational axis formed by the rear end of the upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43, and the rotational axis 60 of the right-side rotational interlocking body 6R is mounted so as to be rotatable in the second bearing hole 51 of the right-side composite functional body 5R. In other words, even if the rotary interlocking units 6L and 6R rotate, the composite functional units 5L and 5R do not rotate, but if the composite functional units 5L and 5R are rotated, the rotary interlocking units 6L and 6R are configured to rotate in conjunction with them. Thus, since the rotating interlocking body 6 having a back support 7 and the composite functional body 5 having an armrest portion 5A and a side support portion 5B are connected and configured in this way, it is possible to provide a walker 1 equipped with an upper structure 4 that improves functionality and design, and also reduces weight. Furthermore, by rotating the back support 7R of the rotating linkage unit 6R and the back support 7L of the rotating linkage unit 6L, the back supports 7L and 7R can be opened and closed. In addition, by rotating the composite function units 5L and 5R, the body width between the composite function units 5L and 5R can be easily adjusted to suit the user. In other words, it is now possible to obtain a walker 1 that is highly functional, aesthetically pleasing, lightweight, and compact, with a configuration that allows for easy adjustment of the opening and closing of the back supports 7L and 7R, which serve as entrances and exits to the walker steering position H, and also allows for easy adjustment of the body width between the composite functional units 5L and 5R to suit the user's physique.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the composite functional body 5 includes a main component 5F formed on an L-shaped plate material that constitutes the skeleton of the composite functional body 5, and this main component 5F includes an armrest portion 5A formed by the horizontal plate portion of the L-shape and a side support portion 5B formed by the vertical plate portion of the L-shape. Furthermore, by inserting pipes or the like that which constitute the upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42 and the upper right portion 43 into the first bearing hole 50 provided on the side support portion 5B side of the armrest portion 5A, the upper base frame 4F is used as the rotational axis of the composite functional body 5 that functions as an armrest and a side support. Furthermore, the second bearing hole 51, located at the tip of the armrest portion 5A (the extended end of the armrest portion 5A in the left-right direction, in other words, the side opposite to the side support portion 5B of the armrest portion 5A), is used as a bearing to rotatably support the rotating shaft 60 of the rotational linkage body 6. Specifically, the composite functional body 5 is configured such that the first bearing hole 50 is provided to extend in the front-rear direction on the side of the armrest portion 5A on the side of the armrest support portion 5B, and the second bearing hole 51 is provided to extend in the front-rear direction on the side of the armrest portion 5A opposite to the side of the armrest support portion 5B. Therefore, with the composite functional body 5 of this configuration, by positioning the side support portion 5B on the user's side when operating the walker 1 at the walker operation position H (see Figures 2 and 4), and positioning the armrest portion 5A further out than the side support portion 5B when viewed from the walker operation position H, the rotation linkage body 6 also rotates in conjunction with the rotational movement of the composite functional body 5. As a result, by simply adjusting the composite functional body 5, which is the source of the linkage, to match the user's torso width, it is possible to realize a walker 1 in which the left and right widths of the rotation linkage body 6 are automatically adjusted to an appropriate size. For example, in the case of a user with a small torso width, the distance between the left and right composite functional units 5L and 5R can be set to an interval a that corresponds to the user's small torso width, as shown in Figure 6(a). Furthermore, for users with average body width dimensions, the distance between the left and right composite functional units 5L and 5R can be set to interval b, which corresponds to the average body width dimension of the user, as shown in Figure 6(b). Furthermore, for users with a larger torso width, the distance between the left and right composite functional units 5L and 5R can be set to a distance c that corresponds to the user's larger torso width, as shown in Figure 6(c).

[0030] In other words, in this embodiment, the armrest portion 5A of the composite functional body 5 is provided with a first bearing hole 50 formed inside (hollow part) of the armrest portion 5A of the main component 5F, extending from the front end to the rear of the armrest portion 5A, and in which a central axis of rotation (upper base frame 4F of the upper left portion 42 or upper base frame 4F of the upper right portion 43) is installed, and a second bearing hole 51 formed inside (hollow part) of the armrest portion 5A of the main component 5F, penetrating from the front end to the rear end of the armrest portion 5A, and rotatably supporting the rotation shaft 60. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the bearing component supporting the rotational central axis of the composite functional body 5, which functions as an armrest and side support, and the bearing component rotatably supporting the rotational shaft 60 of the rotational interlocking body 6 are provided in separate locations, the number of parts can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, and a walker 1 that is superior in functionality and design, lightweight, and compact can be realized.

[0031] According to the walker 1 of this embodiment, a rotating interlocking body 6 having a back support 7 and a composite functional body 5 having an armrest portion 5A and a side support portion 5B are configured in association with each other, thereby improving the functionality and design of the upper structure 4 and reducing its weight. In other words, we can now provide a walker 1 equipped with an upper structure 4 that improves functionality and design, and also reduces weight.

[0032] Furthermore, the base frame 6F of the rotating interlocking unit 6 is attached to the composite functional unit 5 such that, in the usage configuration of the walker 1, the support portion 70 of the back support 7 and the grip main body 80 of the handle grip 8 are positioned above the position of the rotation axis 60.

[0033] When the walker 1 is in use, the person rotates the left-side rotating linkage 6L to the left and the right-side rotating linkage 6R to the right, causing the back supports 7L and 7R and the handle grips 8L and 8R to be set to the open position, which is the position where they are rotated away from each other, as shown in Figures 7(a) and 8(a). In other words, the walker is set to a position where the user can move in and out of the walker's operating position H. Similarly, when using the walker 1, the person rotates the left-side rotating linkage 6L to the right and the right-side rotating linkage 6R to the left, causing the back supports 7L and 7R and the handle grips 8L and 8R to be set to the closed position, which is a position where they are rotated toward each other, as shown in Figures 7(b) and 8(b). In other words, the user is prevented from moving in or out of the walker's operating position H. Here, the closed position of the back supports 7L and 7R is set to a support position, which is a position that closes the rear entrance to the walker steering position H and is also a position that can support the user's back, while the open position of the back supports 7L and 7R is set to a non-support position, which is a position that opens the rear entrance to the walker steering position H and is also a position that cannot support the user's back. Furthermore, the closed position of the handle grips 8L and 8R is set to the position used when the user is operating the walker 1, and the open position of the handle grips 8L and 8R is set to the position used when the user is not operating the walker 1.

[0034] In other words, by a person operating the back supports 7L, 7R or handle grips 8L, 8R of the rotating interlocking units 6L, 6R to rotate the rotating shafts 60, 60, the back supports 7L, 7R7 are configured to be set to at least a closed position that closes the rear entrance to the walker operation position H and an open position that opens the rear entrance to the walker operation position H. In other words, by a person operating the back supports 7L, 7R or handle grips 8L, 8R of the rotating interlocking units 6L, 6R to rotate the rotating shafts 60, 60, the back supports 7L, 7R7 are configured to be set to either a support position, which is a position in which the user's back can be supported, or a non-support position, which is a position in which the user's back cannot be supported. In other words, the handle grip 8, back support 7, and rotating shaft 60 are configured to rotate in conjunction, resulting in a walker 1 that is highly functional and has rotating interlocking members 6L and 6R that allow for easy adjustment of the opening and closing of the back supports 7L and 7R, which serve as opening and closing entrances to the walker steering position H.

[0035] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a friction resistance member, such as a plunger and a notch (not shown), between the rotating shaft 60 and the bearing hole 51 to resist the rotational movement of the rotating shaft 60, and to configure the handle grip 8 and back support 7 so that they do not easily rotate from their respective positions when set to the open or closed position.

[0036] By incorporating the rotating interlocking body 6 with the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained. By operating the handle grip 8 or back support 7 of the rotating linkage unit 6, the rotating linkage unit 6 can be rotated, thereby enabling the opening and closing of the rear entrance to the walker operation position H. For example, when the user operates the back support 7 to rotate the rotating linkage 6, the back support 7 is set to the open position, opening the rear entrance to the walker operation position H, so that the user can move from the rear entrance to the walker operation position H of the walker 1. Furthermore, when the user reaches the walker operation position H, they grip the handle grip 8 and rotate the rotation linkage 6, which sets the back support 7 to the closed position. As a result, the back support 7 is set to the support position, and the rear entrance to the walker operation position H is closed. In this state, the user can operate the walker 1 by gripping the handle grip 8, which is set to the closed position, the operation position. Furthermore, if the user loses their balance while operating the device and is about to fall backward, the back support 7, which is set in a support position, will support the user's back, thus preventing the user from falling.

[0037] Furthermore, the combined functional units 5 (the combined functional unit 5L on the left and the combined functional unit 5R on the right) are configured to be rotatable in the left-right direction within a predetermined range of rotation. In this case, the rotational support portion of the composite functional body 5 is configured to include biasing means such as springs that bias it in a rotational direction toward each other, so that the left composite functional body 5L and the right composite functional body 5R can adjust the distance between them in a stepless manner, moving toward each other naturally in accordance with the user's body shape. In this case, for example, one end of the torsion coil spring can be fixed to the inner surface of the second bearing hole 50, and the rotational axis of the composite functional body 5 can be passed through the first bearing hole 50 and also through the coil hole of the torsion coil spring, with the other end of the torsion coil spring fixed to the rotational axis. Furthermore, the position of the composite functional body 5L and the right-side composite functional body 5R can be fixed in multiple stages using fixing means such as locking pins, thereby allowing the distance between the left-side composite functional body 5L and the right-side composite functional body 5R to be adjusted. In this way, the distance between the left-side multi-functional unit 5L and the right-side multi-functional unit 5R can be adjusted, making it possible to provide a walker 1 that can accommodate users of various body types.

[0038] In this embodiment, the rotational linkage 6 is exemplified as comprising a rotating shaft 60 extending in the front-rear direction of the walker 1, a handle grip 8 provided on the front end of the rotating shaft 60, and a back support 7 provided on the rear end of the rotating shaft 60, and is configured so that the rotating shaft 60, the handle grip 8, and the back support 7 rotate in conjunction with the center line of the rotating shaft 60 as the center of rotation. However, the rotational linkage 6 may also be configured without the handle grip 8. In other words, the rotating interlocking body may comprise a rotating shaft 60 extending in the front-rear direction of the walker 1 and a back support 7 provided on the rear end side of the rotating shaft 60, and may be configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotating shaft 60 and the back support 7 with the center line of the rotating shaft 60 as the center of rotation. In this case, the handle grip can be fixed to the upper base 4A, for example. In other words, in the present invention, the configuration of providing a handle grip to the rotating interlocking body is not an essential configuration. Even with this configuration, a user-friendly walker can be provided that allows a person to open and close the back support 7 by rotating it, and move from the rear of the walker 1 to the walker steering position H. In this case, for example, if there is an attendant, the attendant can close the back support 7 after confirming that the user has moved to the walker steering position H, thereby enabling the user to use the walker more safely. Furthermore, even if the handle grip is fixed to the upper base 4A, if, for example, the front of the walker is equipped with an opening / closing lever or electric device (not shown) for opening and closing the back support 7, the user can close the back support 7 after moving to the walker operating position H. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Walker, 2 Lower structure, 2A Lower base, 2B Mobility device, 3 Support, 4 Upper component, 4A Upper base, 5 Multifunctional component, 5A Armrest section, 5B Side support section, 6 Rotating mechanism, 7 Back support, 8 Handle grip, 41 Upper front part, 42 Upper left part (rotation axis on the left side), 43 Upper right part (right rotational axis), 50 First bearing hole, 51 Second bearing hole, 60 Rotation axis of a rotating interlocking mechanism.

Claims

1. It comprises a lower structure, a support extending upward from the lower structure, and an upper structure provided on the upper side of the support. The lower structure comprises a lower base and a means of movement provided on the lower base. The upper structure comprises an upper base, a composite functional body having an armrest portion and a side support portion, and a rotating interlocking body. The rotating mechanism comprises a rotating shaft that extends in the front-to-back direction of the walker, and a back support provided at the rear end of the rotating shaft. The multi-functional unit includes a first bearing hole in the armrest portion into which the rear end of the upper base, which serves as the rotational axis of the side support portion, is inserted, and a second bearing hole into which the rotational shaft of the rotational interlocking unit is rotatably inserted. A walker characterized in that a rotational axis is inserted into a first bearing hole of a composite functional body, so that the composite functional body is rotatably mounted with the rotational axis as the center of rotation, and the rotational axis of a rotational linkage body is rotatably mounted into a second bearing hole of the composite functional body, so that the back support and the rotational axis rotate in conjunction with each other.

2. The upper base comprises an upper front portion extending left and right from the upper side of the support, an upper left portion extending rearward from the left end of the upper front portion and functioning as the left rotation axis, and an upper right portion extending rearward from the right end of the upper front portion and functioning as the right rotation axis. The composite functional body comprises a left-side composite functional body having an armrest portion extending in the left-right front-back direction and a side support portion extending upward from the right end of the armrest portion, and a right-side composite functional body having an armrest portion extending in the left-right front-back direction and a side support portion extending upward from the left end of the armrest portion. The rotating interlocking mechanism comprises a left-side rotating interlocking mechanism and a right-side rotating interlocking mechanism. The left rotational axis is inserted into the first bearing hole of the left composite functional body, so that the left composite functional body is rotatably mounted with the left rotational axis as the center of rotation, and the rotation axis of the left rotational interlocking body is rotatably mounted into the second bearing hole of the left composite functional body, so that the back support and the rotation axis rotate in conjunction with each other. The walker according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotational axis on the right side is inserted into the first bearing hole of the right-side composite functional body, so that the right-side composite functional body is rotatably mounted with the rotational axis on the right side as the center of rotation, and the rotational axis of the right-side rotational interlocking body is rotatably mounted into the second bearing hole of the right-side composite functional body, so that the back support and the rotational axis rotate in conjunction with each other.

3. The walking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotating linkage body is provided with a handgrip on the front end of the rotating shaft, and the handle grip, back support, and rotating shaft are configured to rotate in conjunction with each other.

4. The first bearing hole is provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction on the side support portion of the armrest portion. The walker according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second bearing hole is provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction on the side opposite to the side support portion of the armrest portion.

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