Mobile vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle for moving which facilitates adjustment of a height position of a handle, and can preferably suppress wobble of the handle.SOLUTION: A rollator is configured such that a handle column 25 can be stretched and contracted by relative displacement of a vertical frame 16 and a column frame 17, and a height position of the handle 22 can be adjusted by stretch / contraction. A cylindrical elastic member 50 is interposed between the vertical frame 16 and the column frame 17. The elastic member 50 is pushed into a handle base part 42a of a fixing screw 18 through a hole part 48a formed on a facing plate part 16a of the vertical frame 16, and the elastic member is held between the handle base part 42a and a facing plate part 16b of the vertical frame 16 by the pushing. The elastic member 50 is laterally pressed to an external surface of the column frame 17 by the holding. A lower end member fitted to the lower end part of the column frame 17 has a pair of leg parts in contact with an internal surface of the column frame 17 in the cross direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a moving vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as moving vehicles for assisting the movement of people and luggage, walking aids for assisting the walking of the elderly, etc., carrier carts used when carrying luggage, wheelchairs, baby strollers, etc. are known. The moving vehicle includes a handle post with a handle supported on the upper end side. Some handle posts are configured to have an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder inserted into the outer cylinder. Such a handle post can be expanded and contracted by the relative displacement of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in the vertical direction, and the height position of the handle can be adjusted by the expansion and contraction of the handle post.

[0003] In the above configuration where the height position of the handle can be adjusted, rattling may occur between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder constituting the handle post. In this case, when moving the moving vehicle with the handle, the handle may rattle. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an elastic member is interposed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder to suppress such rattling of the handle.

[0004] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, a cylindrical inner cylinder is inserted into the cylindrical outer cylinder from above. And an elastic member having a C-shaped cross section is provided between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. The thickness of the elastic member is set to be substantially the same as the gap dimension between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. The elastic member is attached to the upper end side of the outer cylinder and is arranged to surround the inner cylinder. A slit extending downward from the upper end of the outer cylinder is formed on the upper end side of the outer cylinder. Further, on both sides of the upper end side of the outer cylinder sandwiching the slit, a pair of boss portions protruding radially outward are provided. A tightening screw passes through these boss portions, and the tightening screw is fastened to a nut.

[0005] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1 above, when the tightening screw is tightened onto the nut, each boss is sandwiched between the tightening screw and the nut, thereby reducing the diameter of the outer cylinder. As the outer cylinder is reduced in diameter, the inner cylinder is tightened via an elastic member. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress rattle between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. Specifically, it is possible to suppress rattle between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in both the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Therefore, rattle of the handle can be effectively suppressed. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-290519 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above, when adjusting the height of the handle, the tightening screw is first loosened to release the tightening of the inner cylinder via the elastic member, and then the height of the handle is adjusted by relatively displacing the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in this released state. However, since an elastic member with a C-shaped cross-section having the same thickness as the gap between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder is interposed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, it is expected that the inner cylinder will rub against almost the entire circumference of the elastic member when relatively displacing the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. For this reason, it is thought that it will be difficult to smoothly displace the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, and consequently, it will be difficult to adjust the height of the handle.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its main objective is to provide a vehicle that can suitably suppress steering wheel rattle while making it easy to adjust the height of the steering wheel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, the first invention provides a mobile vehicle equipped with a handle support column on its upper end, the handle support column having a cylindrical portion and a rod-shaped portion inserted into the cylindrical portion, and the height position of the handle can be adjusted by extending or retracting the handle support column due to the relative displacement between the cylindrical portion and the rod-shaped portion, wherein the cylindrical portion has a first part and a second part facing a first direction intersecting the vertical direction, and an elastic member is interposed between the cylindrical portion and the rod-shaped portion and provided so as to surround the rod-shaped portion. The device comprises a pressing portion for pushing the elastic member toward the second portion through an opening formed in the first portion, wherein the pressing by the pressing portion causes the elastic member to be sandwiched between the pressing portion and the second portion, so that the elastic member is pressed against the outer surface of the rod-shaped portion in the first direction, and a pair of contact portions provided integrally with the rod-shaped portion and spaced apart from each other in a second direction that intersects both the vertical direction and the first direction, with each of the contact portions contacting the inner surface of the cylindrical portion in the second direction.

[0010] According to the first invention, in the handle support, an elastic member is interposed between the cylindrical portion and the rod portion, surrounding the rod portion. The elastic member is pushed towards the second portion of the cylindrical portion by a push-in portion through an opening formed in the first portion of the cylindrical portion. As a result of this pushing, the elastic member is sandwiched between the push-in portion and the second portion, pressing the elastic member against the outer surface of the rod portion in the first direction. In this case, rattling in the first direction between the cylindrical portion and the rod portion can be suppressed, and as a result, rattling of the handle in the first direction can be suppressed.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above configuration, by releasing the push-in mechanism, a state can be created in which the elastic member is not sandwiched between the push-in mechanism and the second part. Therefore, when the cylindrical part and the rod-shaped part are displaced relative to each other to adjust the height of the handle, it is possible to suppress the friction of the rod-shaped part against the elastic member on both sides of the rod-shaped part in the first direction. As a result, relative displacement between the cylindrical part and the rod-shaped part can be performed more smoothly compared to the case where the rod-shaped part rubs against the entire circumference of the elastic member. This makes it easier to adjust the height of the handle.

[0012] Furthermore, since each contact portion, which is integrally provided with the rod-shaped portion, contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical portion in a second direction that intersects both the vertical direction and the first direction, it is possible to suppress rattling in the second direction between the cylindrical portion and the rod-shaped portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress rattling of the handle in the second direction. In this case, since rattling of the handle can be suppressed in both the first and second directions that intersect each other, rattling of the handle can be effectively suppressed.

[0013] The mobile vehicle of the second invention is provided with a fixing screw that fixes the cylindrical portion and the rod portion to each other when the height position of the handle is adjusted and the screw is tightened, and the fixing screw is provided with a pressing portion that pushes the elastic member in as the fixing screw is tightened.

[0014] According to the second invention, a push-in portion is provided on the fixing screw that secures the cylindrical portion and the rod portion. In this case, when the fixing screw is tightened to secure the cylindrical portion and the rod portion, the push-in portion pushes in the elastic member at the same time. Therefore, there is no need to perform a separate operation to push in the elastic member in addition to the fixing operation with the fixing screw, which improves work efficiency when adjusting the height position of the handle.

[0015] In the third invention, the mobile vehicle is provided with an end member having the respective contact portions attached to the end of the rod-shaped portion that is inserted into the cylindrical portion, as in the second invention.

[0016] In the configuration of the second invention described above, in which the cylindrical part and the rod-shaped part are fixed by a fixing screw, it is conceivable that looseness may occur between the cylindrical part and the rod-shaped part so that they rotate relative to each other with the fixing screw as a pivot point. In this case, this looseness is in a direction intersecting the first direction, which is the tightening direction of the fixing screw (in other words, the pushing direction by the pushing part), that is, looseness in the second direction.

[0017] Therefore, in the third invention, in view of these points, an end member having contact portions is attached to the end of the rod-shaped portion on the side where it is inserted into the cylindrical portion. In this case, each contact portion is positioned at a distance from the fixing screw in the vertical direction. As a result, each contact portion contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical portion in the second direction at the position distanced from the fixing screw. This effectively suppresses rattling in the second direction between the cylindrical portion and the rod-shaped portion with the fixing screw as the fulcrum. Consequently, in a configuration in which the cylindrical portion and the rod-shaped portion are fixed by a fixing screw, rattling in the second direction of the handle can be effectively suppressed.

[0018] The mobile vehicle of the fourth invention, in the third invention, has an end member having a mounting portion attached to the end of the rod-shaped portion and a pair of legs as contact portions extending from the mounting portion to the opposite side from the rod-shaped portion, and each of the legs is biased toward the side separated from each other by the elastic force of the end member and pressed against the inner surface of the cylindrical portion.

[0019] According to the fourth invention, each leg of the end member is biased by elastic force toward the side that separates from each other in the second direction, thereby pressing against the inner surface of the cylindrical part. In this case, rattle in the second direction between the cylindrical part and the rod-shaped part can be further suppressed. Therefore, rattle in the second direction of the handle can be suppressed more effectively.

[0020] The mobile vehicle of the fifth invention is such that, in any of the first to fourth inventions, the cylindrical portion, the rod portion, and the elastic member all have a length in one direction in a cross section intersecting the vertical direction that is longer than the length in the other direction intersecting the vertical direction, the first direction which is the pushing direction by the pushing portion is the other direction, and the second direction in which the contact portion makes contact is the one direction.

[0021] In the cylindrical and rod-shaped portions, the length in one direction is longer than the length in the other direction intersecting the vertical direction in their cross-section (the cross-section intersecting the vertical direction). In the fifth invention, in such a configuration, the first direction, which is the direction in which the push-in portion pushes, is set to the other direction. In this case, when the elastic member is pressed against the outer surface of the rod-shaped portion by the push-in portion, it can be pressed over a relatively wide area. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the shifting of the rod-shaped portion in the second direction relative to the elastic member. As a result, it is possible to suppress not only the rattle of the handle in the first direction but also the rattle in the second direction by the push-in portion pushing.

[0022] Furthermore, since the second direction in which the contact portion makes contact is limited to the single direction described above, the range in which each contact portion contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical portion can be narrowed. In this case, the sliding resistance when each contact portion slides against the inner surface of the cylindrical portion due to the relative displacement between the cylindrical portion and the rod portion can be reduced. As a result, the relative displacement between the cylindrical portion and the rod portion can be performed more smoothly, and consequently, the height position of the handle can be adjusted more easily.

[0023] In the moving vehicle of the sixth invention, in the first invention, the elastic member has a plurality of divided pieces divided by a plurality of slits extending from one end in the vertical direction toward the other end side. The plurality of divided pieces include a pair of first divided pieces facing in the first direction and a pair of second divided pieces facing in the second direction. By the pushing by the pushing portion, each first divided piece is sandwiched between the pushing portion and the second portion, so that each first divided piece is pressed against the outer surface of the rod-shaped portion. On the other hand, as each first divided piece approaches each other due to the pressing, each second divided piece is displaced to the side where they are separated from each other in the second direction and abuts against the inner surface of the cylindrical portion in a pressed state. The abutting second divided pieces become the abutting portions.

[0024] According to the sixth invention, the elastic member has a pair of first divided pieces and a pair of second divided pieces divided by a plurality of slits. In this case, by the pushing by the pushing portion, each first divided piece of the elastic member is sandwiched between the pushing portion and the second portion of the cylindrical portion, and by the sandwiching, each first divided piece is pressed against the outer surface of the rod-shaped portion. In such a configuration, it is easy to press the elastic member against the outer surface of the rod-shaped portion in the first direction, and as a result, rattling in the first direction can be preferably suppressed. Further, when each first divided piece approaches each other due to the above pressing of each first divided piece, accordingly, each second divided piece is displaced to the side where they are separated from each other in the second direction and abuts against the inner surface of the cylindrical portion in a pressed state. Thereby, it becomes possible to suppress rattling in the second direction as well by using the elastic member that suppresses rattling in the first direction of the handle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of the walking vehicle seen from obliquely in front. [Figure 2] It is a view of the handle support column seen from the inside in the left-right direction, showing a part of the handle support column in a longitudinal section state. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] (a) is a perspective view of the elastic member seen from diagonally above, and (b) is a perspective view of the elastic member seen from diagonally below. [Figure 6] (a) is a perspective view showing the lower end member attached to the lower end of the support frame, and (b) is a perspective view showing the lower end member. [Figure 7] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the lower end member attached to the lower end of the support frame. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the walker 10 viewed from the front at an oblique angle. In the following description, the direction of movement when moving the walker 10 will be referred to as the front-rear direction, and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction will be referred to as the left-right direction.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, the walker 10 comprises a pair of left and right frame sections 11 extending in the vertical direction, and a front wheel 12 and a rear wheel 13 provided on the lower end of each frame section 11. Each frame section 11 is connected to the others via a connecting member 14. The walker 10 corresponds to a vehicle for mobility.

[0028] Each frame section 11 has a lower frame 15 located at its lower part and extending in the front-rear direction, and a vertical frame 16 extending upward from the middle of the lower frame 15. The front wheel 12 is attached to the front end of the lower frame 15, and the rear wheel 13 is attached to the rear end of the lower frame 15.

[0029] The vertical frames 16 are formed in a cylindrical shape from metal pipe material. A support frame 17 is inserted into the inside of each vertical frame 16 from above. The support frame 17 is formed in a cylindrical shape from metal pipe material and extends in the vertical direction. The support frame 17 is fixed to the vertical frame 16 using fixing screws 18 while inserted into the vertical frame 16. In this case, the handle support 25 is composed of the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17. The fixing screws 18 are held by a bracket 19 provided at the upper end of the vertical frame 16. The vertical frame 16 corresponds to the cylindrical part, and the support frame 17 corresponds to the rod-shaped part.

[0030] A handle 22 and a brake lever 23 are provided on the upper end of the support frame 17 (and consequently the handle support 25) via a mounting member 21. The handle 22 is the part that the user grips when moving the walker 10. The brake lever 23 is for operating the brakes and is located below the handle 22. The mounting member 21 also has a handle 24 formed therein for gripping when lifting the walker 10 over steps or other obstacles.

[0031] A seat 31 is provided between each of the vertical frames 16. The seat 31 can be sat on from the rear. Behind the seat 31, a pair of basket support sections 32 are provided on the left and right. In stores such as supermarkets, shopping baskets can be placed on each basket support section 32 and the seat 31 for shopping. The basket support sections 32 can also be rotated outwards in the left and right directions (see the dashed line in Figure 1). When sitting on the seat 31, each basket support section 32 is rotated outwards in the left and right directions before sitting down.

[0032] A backrest 34 is provided above the seat 31. The backrest 34 supports the back of the user sitting on the seat 31. The backrest 34 is stretched across the upper ends of each vertical frame 16 and attached to the brackets 19 of each vertical frame 16. In addition, a storage compartment 36 capable of accommodating items is provided in front of the seat 31.

[0033] Next, the configuration of the handle support column 25 will be explained based on Figures 1, 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a view of the handle support column 25 from the inside in the left-right direction, showing a portion of the handle support column 25 in a longitudinal cross-section. Note that Figure 2 shows the right handle support column 25. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 2.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the handle support column 25 has a vertical frame 16 and a support column frame 17 inserted inside the vertical frame 16, as described above. The support column frame 17 is displaceable vertically along the vertical frame 16 when inserted into the vertical frame 16. In this case, the vertical frame 16 and the support column frame 17 are displaceable relative to each other in the vertical direction, and this relative displacement makes it possible to extend and retract the handle support column 25 vertically. By extending and retracting the handle support column 25, the height position of the handle 22 can be adjusted.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the support frame 17 and the vertical frame 16 are fixed to each other using fixing screws 18 with the height position of the handle 22 adjusted. The fixing screw 18 is a thumb screw with a handle and has a shaft portion 41 with a threaded portion formed thereon and a handle portion 42 provided on the base end side of the shaft portion 41. The handle portion 42 has a handle base portion 42a attached to the base end of the shaft portion 41 and a gripping portion 42b that is grasped by the user. The handle base portion 42a is cylindrical in shape and extends in the same direction as the shaft portion 41, and has a larger diameter than the shaft portion 41. The gripping portion 42b is provided on the base end side of the handle base portion 42a and has a disc shape with a larger diameter than the handle base portion 42a.

[0036] The bracket 19 that holds the fixing screw 18 has a cylindrical portion 43 that extends in the vertical direction. The cylindrical portion 43 is attached to the vertical frame 16 with the upper end of the vertical frame 16 inserted inside it. The cylindrical portion 43 has a pair of opposing portions 43a and 43b that face each other in the left-right direction. Of the opposing portions 43a and 43b, the opposing portion 43a is positioned on the inside in the left-right direction, and the opposing portion 43b is positioned on the outside in the left-right direction.

[0037] The opposing portion 43a has a screw hole 44 into which the shaft portion 41 of the fixing screw 18 is screwed. The screw hole 44 has an internal thread on its inner surface. The opposing portion 43b has a hole 45 into which the handle portion 42 (specifically the handle base portion 42a) of the fixing screw 18 is inserted. With the handle base portion 42a inserted into the hole 45, the shaft portion 41 of the fixing screw 18 is screwed into the screw hole 44 of the opposing portion 43a via the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17. In this way, the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 are fixed to each other by the fixing screw 18.

[0038] The vertical frame 16 has through holes 48 through which fixing screws 18 (specifically, the shaft portion 41) can be inserted. The through holes 48 penetrate the vertical frame 16 in the left-right direction. In addition, the support column frame 17 has multiple through holes 49 through which fixing screws 18 (specifically, the shaft portion 41) can be inserted, at predetermined intervals (specifically, at equal intervals) in the vertical direction. These through holes 49 penetrate the support column frame 17 in the left-right direction.

[0039] The fixing screws 18 are inserted through either the insertion hole 48 in the vertical frame 16 or one of the insertion holes 49 in the support frame 17, and are then tightened into the screw holes 44 of the bracket 19 while in this inserted state. As a result, the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 are fixed to each other using the fixing screws 18 while the height position of the support frame 17 relative to the vertical frame 16 is adjusted, that is, while the height position of the handle 22 is adjusted.

[0040] In the above configuration, where the height position of the handle 22 can be adjusted by the relative displacement between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17, there is a risk of rattling between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17, and consequently, rattling of the handle 22 supported by the support frame 17. Therefore, in view of this, the walking vehicle 10 is equipped with a configuration to suppress rattling of the handle 22. In the following, this configuration will be explained with reference to Figures 4 and 5, in addition to Figure 3. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 2. Figure 5 is (a) a perspective view of the elastic member 50 seen from diagonally above, and (b) a perspective view of the elastic member 50 seen from diagonally below.

[0041] As shown in Figure 4, both the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 have a roughly rectangular cross-section (a cross-section that intersects the vertical direction) that is longer in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, in the cross-section of each of these frames 16 and 17, the length in the front-to-back direction is longer than the length in the left-to-right direction. In this embodiment, the front-to-back direction corresponds to "one direction," and the left-to-right direction corresponds to "the other direction." In addition, the support frame 17 is provided with connecting parts 17b that connect opposing plate parts 17a in the left-to-right direction, thereby reinforcing the support frame 17.

[0042] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, an elastic member 50 is provided between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17. The elastic member 50 is formed from a resin material and is elastic. Engineering plastic is preferred as the resin material for the elastic member 50, and polyacetal resin is more preferred. The elastic member 50 is cylindrical in shape, extending in the vertical direction, and is positioned to surround the support frame 17. The elastic member 50, like the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17, has a roughly rectangular cross-section (cross-section intersecting the vertical direction) that is longer in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, in its cross-section (cross-section intersecting the vertical direction), the length in the front-to-back direction of the elastic member 50 is longer than the length in the left-to-right direction. The elastic member 50 may be formed from a material other than resin, such as metal or rubber.

[0043] The elastic member 50 is interposed between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 at the upper end of the vertical frame 16. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the elastic member 50 is provided with a flange portion 55 that protrudes outward from its upper edge. The flange portion 55 is hooked onto the upper end of the vertical frame 16 from above. In addition, the cylindrical portion 43 of the bracket 19 has a flange portion 56 that protrudes inward from its upper edge. The flange portion 56 is positioned above the flange portion 55 of the elastic member 50 and sandwiches the flange portion 55 between itself and the upper end of the vertical frame 16. In this way, the elastic member 50 is attached to the upper end of the vertical frame 16.

[0044] The elastic member 50 has a plurality of (specifically four) slits 51 extending upward from its lower end. The elastic member 50 has a plurality of divided pieces 52 divided by these slits 51. These divided pieces 52 include a pair of divided pieces 52a facing each other in the left-right direction and a pair of divided pieces 52b facing each other in the front-rear direction. Each divided piece 52a corresponds to a first divided piece, and each divided piece 52b corresponds to a second divided piece. In addition, the elastic member 50 has thickened sections 54 arranged in a grid pattern, thereby ensuring the strength of the elastic member 50.

[0045] The elastic member 50 has a through hole 53 through which the shaft portion 41 of the fixing screw 18 is inserted. The through hole 53 penetrates the elastic member 50 in the left-right direction, and more specifically, penetrates each segmented piece 52a of the elastic member 50. The through hole 53 is also in communication with the through hole 48 of the vertical frame 16.

[0046] The vertical frame 16 has a pair of opposing plate portions 16a and 16b that face each other in the left-right direction with the elastic member 50 in between, and a pair of opposing plate portions 16c and 16d that face each other in the front-rear direction with the elastic member 50 in between. Of the opposing plate portions 16a and 16b, the opposing plate portion 16a is positioned on the outside in the left-right direction, and the opposing plate portion 16b is positioned on the inside in the left-right direction. The opposing plate portion 16a corresponds to the first part, and the opposing plate portion 16b corresponds to the second part.

[0047] The through-hole 48 of the vertical frame 16 is formed spanning across the opposing plate portions 16a and 16b. The through-hole 48 has a hole portion 48a formed in the opposing plate portion 16a and a hole portion 48b formed in the opposing plate portion 16b. Hole portion 48a has a larger diameter than hole portion 48b. The handle base 42a of the fixing screw 18 can be inserted into hole portion 48a. Note that hole portion 48a corresponds to the opening.

[0048] The fixing screw 18 has its handle base 42a inserted into the hole 48a, and its shaft 41 inserted into the insertion hole 53 of the elastic member 50. In this case, the shaft 41 of the fixing screw 18 is inserted into the insertion holes 48, 49, and 53 of the vertical frame 16, the support frame 17, and the elastic member 50, respectively, and is tightened into the screw hole 44 of the bracket 19 in this inserted state. The left-right direction, which is the tightening direction of the fixing screw 18, corresponds to the "first direction." The front-back direction corresponds to the "second direction."

[0049] As the fixing screw 18 is tightened, the elastic member 50 is pushed toward the opposing plate portion 16b of the vertical frame 16 by the handle base 42a of the fixing screw 18. This pushing causes the elastic member 50 to be sandwiched between the handle base 42a and the opposing plate portion 16b, and this sandwiching causes it to be pressed against the outer surface of the support frame 17 in the left-right direction. More specifically, each segmented piece 52a of the elastic member 50 is sandwiched between the handle base 42a and the opposing plate portion 16b, thereby pressing each segmented piece 52a against the outer surface of the support frame 17. This suppresses left-right rattling between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17, and as a result, the handle 22 can be prevented from rattling in the left-right direction. The handle base 42a of the fixing screw 18 corresponds to the pushing portion.

[0050] Furthermore, when each segment 52a of the elastic member 50 is pressed against the outer surface of the support frame 17, each segment 52a moves closer to each other. In this case, as each segment 52a moves closer to each other in the left-right direction, each other segment 52b is displaced to move further apart from each other in the front-rear direction. Due to this displacement, each segment 52b is pressed in the front-rear direction against the inner surfaces of the opposing plate portions 16c and 16d of the vertical frame 16. This suppresses rattling in the front-rear direction between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17, and as a result, rattling of the handle 22 in the front-rear direction is suppressed. Each segment 52b corresponds to a "contact portion provided integrally with the rod-shaped portion (support frame 17)".

[0051] When the fixing screw 18 is loosened, the push-in of the elastic member 50 by the handle base 42a is released, and the elastic member 50 is no longer pinched between the handle base 42a and the opposing plate portion 16b of the vertical frame 16. As a result, the elastic member 50 expands in the left-right direction due to its elastic force and is pressed against the inner surface of the vertical frame 16. Specifically, each segmented piece 52a of the elastic member 50 elastically deforms outward in the left-right direction and is pressed against the inner surface of the vertical frame 16. In this case, when the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 are displaced relative to each other in order to adjust the height of the handle 22 by removing the fixing screw 18, it is possible to suppress the support frame 17 from rubbing against each segmented piece 52a of the elastic member 50. Therefore, compared to the case where the support frame 17 rubs against the entire circumference of the elastic member 50, the relative displacement between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 can be performed more smoothly, and as a result, the height of the handle 22 can be adjusted more easily.

[0052] Furthermore, as each segment 52a of the elastic member 50 elastically deforms outward in the left-right direction, each other segment 52b is designed to elastically deform slightly inward in the front-back direction.

[0053] In this walking aid 10, in addition to the elastic member 50 described above, a lower end member 60 is provided at the lower end of the support frame 17. This lower end member 60 further suppresses rattling of the handle 22. Therefore, the lower end member 60 will be explained below with reference to Figures 6 and 7, in addition to Figure 2. Figure 6 is a perspective view in which (a) shows the lower end member 60 attached to the lower end of the support frame 17, and (b) shows the lower end member 60. Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the lower end member 60 attached to the lower end of the support frame 17.

[0054] As shown in Figures 6(a), (b) and 7, the lower end member 60 has a mounting portion 61 attached to the lower end of the support frame 17 and a pair of leg portions 62 extending downward from the mounting portion 61. The mounting portion 61 extends in the front-rear direction and has a projection portion 61a that protrudes upward. The projection portion 61a is inserted into the inside of the support frame 17 through the lower end opening of the support frame 17 and is fixed to the support frame 17 in this state by screws 65. In this case, the screws 65 are screwed into threaded holes 66 formed in the projection portion 61a. The lower end member 60 corresponds to the end member.

[0055] Each leg portion 62 extends downward from both ends in the front-rear direction of the mounting portion 61. In this case, each leg portion 62 extends toward the opposite side from the support frame 17. A projection 68 is formed on the tip side (lower end side) of each leg portion 62, projecting outward in the front-rear direction. These projections 68 extend in the left-right direction of the leg portion 62. In addition, an inclined surface 69 is formed on each leg portion 62, extending downward from the tip of the projection 68. The inclined surfaces 69 are inclined so that they approach each other as they go downward.

[0056] The lower end member 60 is formed from a resin material and is elastic. The lower end member 60 is positioned inside the support frame 17, and in this position, the protrusions 68 of each leg 62 abut against the inner surface of the support frame 17. In this case, the protrusions 68 of each leg 62 abut against the inner surface of the support frame 17 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, rattling in the front-rear direction between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 can be suppressed, and as a result, rattling of the handle 22 in the front-rear direction can be suppressed. Each leg 62 corresponds to a "contact portion provided integrally with the rod-shaped portion (support frame 17)".

[0057] Furthermore, each leg portion 62 is positioned inside the support frame 17 in a state where it is elastically deformed inward in the front-rear direction. In this case, each leg portion 62 is biased to move away from each other in the front-rear direction by the elastic force of the lower end member 60, and as a result, each leg portion 62 is in contact with the inner surface of the support frame 17 while being pressed against it. This makes it possible to effectively suppress rattling of the handle 22 in the front-rear direction.

[0058] As described in detail above, the configuration of this embodiment provides the following excellent effects.

[0059] As described above, the elastic member 50 interposed between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 prevents the handle 22 from rattling in both the left-right and front-back directions. This effectively suppresses rattling of the handle 22. Furthermore, since it prevents the support frame 17 from rubbing against the elastic member 50 during relative displacement between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17, it is possible to effectively suppress rattling of the handle 22 while making it easier to adjust the height position of the handle 22.

[0060] A handle base 42a for pushing in the elastic member 50 is provided on the fixing screw 18 that secures the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17. In this case, when the fixing screw 18 is tightened to secure the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17, the elastic member 50 is pushed in by the handle base 42a at the same time. Therefore, there is no need to push in the elastic member 50 separately from the fixing work with the fixing screw 18, which improves work efficiency when adjusting the height position of the handle 22.

[0061] In the above configuration, where the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 are fixed by fixing screws 18, it is conceivable that there may be looseness between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17, causing them to rotate relative to each other with the fixing screws 18 as a pivot point. In this case, this looseness occurs in a direction intersecting the left-right direction, which is the tightening direction of the fixing screws 18 (in other words, the pushing direction by the handle base 42a), that is, in the front-back direction.

[0062] Therefore, in the above embodiment, in view of these points, a lower end member 60 is attached to the lower end of the support frame 17, which is the end that is inserted into the vertical frame 16. The lower end member 60 has a pair of legs 62 that abut against the inner surface of the vertical frame 16 in the front-rear direction. In this case, each leg 62 is positioned at a distance below the fixing screw 18. As a result, each leg 62 abuts against the inner surface of the vertical frame 16 in the front-rear direction at the position distanced from the fixing screw 18. This effectively suppresses rattling in the front-rear direction between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 with the fixing screw 18 as the pivot point. As a result, in a configuration in which the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 are fixed by the fixing screw 18, rattling in the front-rear direction of the handle 22 can be effectively suppressed.

[0063] In the cross-section, the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 have a length in the front-to-back direction that is longer than the length in the left-to-right direction. In the above embodiment, the direction in which the fixing screw 18 is pushed in by the handle base 42a is set to the left-to-right direction. In this case, when the elastic member 50 is pressed against the outer surface of the support frame 17 by the push of the handle base 42a, it can be pressed over a relatively wide area. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the shifting of the support frame 17 in the front-to-back direction relative to the elastic member 50. As a result, the push of the elastic member 50 by the handle base 42a can suppress not only the left-to-right rattle of the handle 22 but also the rattle in the front-to-back direction.

[0064] Furthermore, since the contact direction of each leg portion 62 of the lower end member 60 against the inner surface of the vertical frame 16 is the front-to-back direction, the range in which each leg portion 62 contacts the inner surface of the vertical frame 16 can be narrowed. In this case, the sliding resistance when each leg portion 62 slides against the inner surface of the vertical frame 16 in accordance with the relative displacement of the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 can be reduced. As a result, the relative displacement between the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 can be performed more smoothly, and as a result, the height position of the handle 22 can be adjusted more easily.

[0065] The elastic member 50 has multiple segmented pieces 52a, 52b divided by a plurality of slits 51. In this case, when the handle base 42a pushes, each segmented piece 52a of the elastic member 50 is sandwiched between the handle base 42a and the opposing plate portion 16b of the support frame 17, and this sandwiching causes each segmented piece 52a to be pressed against the outer surface of the support frame 17. With this configuration, the elastic member 50 is easily pressed against the outer surface of the support frame 17 in the left-right direction, and as a result, left-right rattling can be effectively suppressed. Furthermore, as each segmented piece 52a moves closer to each other due to the above pressing, the other segmented piece 52b is displaced to move away from each other in the front-rear direction and comes into contact with the inner surface of the vertical frame 16 while being pressed against it. Thus, in addition to suppressing left-right rattling of the handle 22 with the elastic member 50, it is also possible to suppress rattling in the front-rear direction.

[0066] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be implemented, for example, as follows.

[0067] The elastic member 50 may be configured without a slit 51, and without a divided piece 52. Alternatively, the elastic member 50 may be given a cut throughout its entire vertical range, forming the elastic member 50 with a C-shaped cross-section.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the lower end member 60 may be omitted. In this case as well, the individual segments 52b of the elastic member 50 can still suppress rattling of the handle 22 in the front-rear direction. Alternatively, instead of omitting the lower end member 60, the elastic member 50 may be configured without the individual segments 52b. In this case as well, the lower end member 60 can still suppress rattling of the handle 22 in the front-rear direction.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the handle base 42a of the fixing screw 18 is used as a pressing part for pressing in the elastic member 50, but a pressing part may be provided separately from the fixing screw 18. For example, a cylindrical rubber member can be provided as such a pressing part. In this case, a hole is provided in the opposing plate portion 16a of the vertical frame 16 into which the rubber member can be fitted, and the elastic member 50 is pressed in by the rubber member when the rubber member is fitted into the hole.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 are fixed using fixing screws 18, but the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 may also be fixed using components other than fixing screws 18, such as engagement pins. For example, when fixing using engagement pins, the vertical frame 16 and the support frame 17 can be fixed by inserting the engagement pins into one of the insertion holes 49 of the support frame 17 and the insertion hole 48 of the vertical frame 16.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the engagement pin may be provided with a push-in portion for pushing in the elastic member 50. In this case, when the engagement pin is pushed into the respective insertion holes 48 and 49 of both frames 16 and 17, the elastic member 50 will be pushed in by the push-in portion.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the handle support column 25 is configured with the vertical frame 16 as a cylindrical part on the lower side and the support column frame 17 as a rod-shaped part on the upper side. In other words, the cylindrical part is the fixed side and the rod-shaped part is the movable side. However, it is also conceivable to configure the handle support column with the cylindrical part as the movable side (upper side) and the rod-shaped part as the fixed side (lower side). Therefore, the present invention may be applied to such a configuration.

[0073] Furthermore, when the handle support is configured as described above, an upper end member is attached to the upper end of the rod-shaped portion (the end on the insertion side) as an end member. The upper end member can be, for example, the same configuration as the lower end member 60 of the above embodiment, but inverted vertically. In this case, the upper end member is configured to have a mounting portion attached to the upper end of the rod-shaped portion and a pair of legs extending upward from both ends of the mounting portion in the front-rear direction.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the present invention was applied to a walker 10 that assists elderly people and others in walking, but the present invention may also be applied to other mobility devices such as strollers, trolleys, wheelchairs, and carts. In short, the present invention can be applied to any mobility device in which the height position of the handle can be adjusted by the relative displacement between the cylindrical part and the rod-shaped part. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 10...Walking cart as a vehicle for movement, 16...Vertical frame as a cylindrical part, 16a...Opposite plate part as the first part, 16b...Opposite plate part as the second part, 17...Support frame as a rod-shaped part, 18...Fixing screw, 22...Handle, 25...Handle support, 42a...Handle base as a push-in part, 48a...Hole as an opening, 50...Elastic member, 51...Slit, 52...Divided piece, 52a...Divided piece as the first divided piece, 52b...Divided piece as the second divided piece, 60...Lower end member as an end member, 61...Mounting part, 62...Leg part as a contact part.

Claims

1. It is equipped with a handle support column that has the handle supported on its upper end, The handle support has a cylindrical portion and a rod-shaped portion inserted into the cylindrical portion. In a mobile vehicle in which the height position of the handle can be adjusted by extending or retracting the handle support column due to the relative displacement between the cylindrical portion and the rod portion, The cylindrical portion has a first part and a second part facing a first direction that intersects with the vertical direction, It is formed to be elastic, and is interposed between the cylindrical portion and the rod portion, and is a cylindrical elastic member surrounding the rod portion, The elastic member is sandwiched in the first direction and comprises a pressing portion located on the opposite side from the second portion, The pressing portion is cylindrical in shape and extends in the first direction, and pushes the elastic member toward the second portion through an opening formed in the first portion. By pressing with the aforementioned pressing portion, the elastic member is sandwiched between the pressing portion and the second portion, thereby pressing the elastic member against the outer surface of the rod-shaped portion in the first direction. It comprises a pair of contact portions provided integrally with the rod-shaped portion and spaced apart from each other in a second direction that intersects both the vertical direction and the first direction, Each of the aforementioned contact portions is composed of a part of the elastic member, or is provided separately from the elastic member and is formed to be elastic. Each of the aforementioned contact portions is a mobile vehicle that contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical portion in the second direction.

2. The handle is provided with a fixing screw that fastens the cylindrical portion and the rod portion to each other when tightened while the height position of the handle is adjusted. The vehicle for transport according to claim 1, wherein the fixing screw is provided with a pressing portion that presses the elastic member when the fixing screw is tightened.

3. The rod-shaped portion has an end member attached to the end that is inserted into the cylindrical portion, which is formed to be elastic. The mobile vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the end member has each of the contact portions.

4. The end member has a mounting portion attached to the end of the rod-shaped portion, and a pair of legs that serve as contact portions extending from the mounting portion to the side opposite to the rod-shaped portion. The mobile vehicle according to claim 3, wherein each of the legs is biased toward the side separated from each other by the elastic force of the end member, and is pressed against the inner surface of the cylindrical part.

5. In all of the cylindrical portion, the rod-shaped portion, and the elastic member, the length in one direction is longer than the length in the other direction intersecting the vertical direction. The first direction, which is the pushing direction by the push-in portion, is the other direction. The mobile vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second direction in which the contact portion contacts is the same as the one direction.

6. The elastic member has a plurality of divided pieces, which are divided by a plurality of slits extending from one end to the other in the vertical direction. The plurality of divisions include a pair of first divisions facing each other in the first direction and a pair of second divisions facing each other in the second direction. As a result of the pressing by the pressing portion, each of the first divided pieces is sandwiched between the pressing portion and the second portion, so that each of the first divided pieces is pressed against the outer surface of the rod-shaped portion, while as the pressing brings the first divided pieces closer together, each of the second divided pieces is displaced to move away from each other in the second direction and comes into contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical portion while pressed against it. The mobile vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of the second divided pieces that come into contact with each other becomes the contact portion.

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