Standing posture support tool

Abstract

This standing posture support tool, which not only supports a standing posture but also enables a user to have a light rest on the spot by sitting thereon, comprises a base part (10), a rising part (20) that rises above the base part (10), and a backrest part (30) that is provided on top of the rising part (20). The backrest part (30) is configured to be switchable between a support state in which the standing posture of the user is supported and a seating state in which the user can be seated. The user can reduce fatigue of the standing posture by leaning his / her back or waist against the backrest part (30) in the support state while taking the standing posture. By switching the backrest part (30) to the seating state, the user can also take a rest by sitting on the backrest part (30) in the seating state.

Description

Standing posture support

[0001] The present invention relates to a standing posture support device for supporting a standing posture.

[0002] Standing posture support devices have been devised to support the backs and lower backs of workers who stand for long periods of time, such as production line workers and supermarket cashiers, to reduce fatigue (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-054623

[0004] The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 contains the following description.

[0009] The present invention will be described in detail below based on the illustrated embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the standing posture support device according to the present invention comprises a cushion-type reclining member 1 on which a user in a standing posture rests their weight, a support member 2 to which the reclining member 1 is attached at its upper part, and a base member 3 attached to the lower part of the support member 2 and having a footboard 30 for the user to step on.

[0011] Each support member 20 has a double-tube structure having an inner rod 21 to which the reclining member 1 is attached at its upper part and a fixed outer tube 22 into which the inner rod 21 is inserted so as to be slidable up and down, and is configured to be vertically extendable and retractable. Furthermore, the pair of support members 20, 20 are configured to be infinitely height-adjustable (positionable).

[0005] The standing posture support device of Patent Document 1 has a cushion-type reclining member 1 attached to the top of a support member 2 on a base member 3 having a footboard 30, and a user in a standing position can support their standing position by resting their weight on the reclining member 1. However, even if the device can reduce fatigue caused by standing, if the work time in a standing position is prolonged, the fatigue reduction will not be sufficient. In such a case, the user must leave the work site and go to a rest area with a chair.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems as follows: To provide a standing posture support device that not only supports the standing posture but also allows the user to sit down and take a break on the spot.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the standing posture support tool according to claim 1 employs the following configuration: It comprises a base portion, a standing portion that stands above the base portion, and a backrest portion that is provided above the standing portion, and the backrest portion is configured to be switchable between a support state that supports the user's standing posture and a seated state that allows the user to sit.

[0008] The standing posture support tool according to claim 2 has the following features in addition to the features of claim 1: The base portion has a foot step portion on which the user can step with their foot.

[0009] The standing posture support tool according to claim 3 has the following features in addition to the features of claim 1: The base portion is a floor surface fixing portion that can be fixed to the floor surface.

[0010] The standing posture support tool according to claim 4 has the following configuration in addition to the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The backrest portion in the support state can be tilted backward to switch to the seated state.

[0011] The standing posture support tool according to claim 5 has the following configuration in addition to the configuration according to claim 4: The rear end position of the backrest portion in the seated state is configured to be located at the same position as or further forward than the rear end position of the base portion.

[0012] The standing posture support tool according to claim 6 has the following configuration in addition to the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The backrest portion in the support state can be tilted forward to switch to the seated state.

[0013] The standing posture support device according to claim 1 comprises a base portion, a standing portion that stands above the base portion, and a backrest portion provided on top of the standing portion. The backrest portion is configured to be switchable between a support state that supports the user's standing posture and a seated state that allows the user to sit. Therefore, the user can reduce fatigue associated with standing posture by leaning their back or waist against the backrest portion in the support state while standing. Furthermore, by switching the backrest portion to the seated state, the user can rest by sitting on the backrest portion in the seated state. Thus, the standing posture support device of the present invention not only supports standing posture but also allows the user to sit down and take a break on the spot.

[0014] In the standing posture support device according to claim 2, the base portion has a foot pedal portion that the user can step on. Therefore, when the user is primarily in a standing position, stepping on the foot pedal portion with their foot and leaning their back or waist against the backrest portion in the supporting state stabilizes the standing posture support device with the user's weight, reducing the risk of falling, etc. Furthermore, when the user moves away from the foot pedal portion, the standing posture support device can be easily carried around.

[0015] In the standing posture support device of claim 3, the base portion is a floor-fixed portion that can be fixed to the floor. Therefore, since the base portion, which is the floor-fixed portion, is fixed to the floor, the risk of falling can be avoided when the user leans their back or waist against the backrest in the supporting state in a standing posture. The same applies when the user sits on the backrest in a seated position.

[0016] The standing posture support tool according to claim 4 is configured so that the backrest portion in the support state can be tilted backward to switch to the seated state. Therefore, the backrest portion in the support state can be easily tilted backward to switch to the seated state.

[0017] The standing posture support device according to claim 5 is configured so that the rear end of the backrest in the seated position is positioned at the same position as or further forward than the rear end of the base, thereby stabilizing the standing posture support device and reducing the risk of tipping over, primarily when the user sits on the backrest in the seated position.

[0018] The standing posture support tool according to claim 6 is configured so that the backrest portion in the support state can be tilted forward to switch to the seated state. By tilting the backrest portion in the support state forward, the seated state can be easily switched to.

[0019] 1 is a perspective view showing a standing posture support tool of a first embodiment of the present invention, (A) being in a supporting state and (B) being in a seated state. 2 is a diagram showing the supporting state of the first embodiment, (A) being a front view and (B) being a side view. 3 is a diagram showing the seated state of the first embodiment, (A) being a front view and (B) being a side view. 4 is a perspective view showing a standing posture support tool of a second embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a perspective view showing a standing posture support tool of a third embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a perspective view showing a standing posture support tool of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the direction of the arrow F in the drawings is defined as the forward direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the rearward direction.

[0021] 1 to 3 are diagrams showing a standing posture support tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This example is described with the right side of Fig. 1 being the forward direction.

[0022] Overall Structure The standing posture support tool of this embodiment includes a base portion 10 , a standing portion 20 standing above the base portion 10 , and a backrest portion 30 provided above the standing portion 20 .

[0023] [Base portion 10] In this example, the base portion 10 is formed by bending a steel pipe into a generally U-shape. The base portion 10 has a foot pedal 11 that the user can step on. In this example, the portion corresponding to the connecting side that connects both sides of the generally U-shape functions as the foot pedal 11.

[0024] [Upright portion 20] In this example, the upright portion 20 is formed by bending a steel pipe continuous with the base portion 10. That is, the upright portion 20 has steel pipes extending from both sides of the generally U-shaped structure, each bent forward in a V-shape, and further bent vertically upward at their tips, thereby standing above the base portion 10. The two left and right steel pipes are reinforced by fastening a first reinforcing bar 12 to their respective rear bent portions. Similarly, the two left and right steel pipes are reinforced by fastening a second reinforcing bar 22 to their respective upper bent portions.

[0025] [Backrest portion 30] The backrest portion 30 is provided on the upper portion of the standing portion 20. In this example, the backrest portion 30 includes a pair of swing arms 32 and a support member 33 attached across both swing arms 32.

[0026] In this example, the two swing arms 32 constituting the backrest portion 30 are swingably supported by a pair of ratchet gears 31 provided at the upper end of the standing portion 20. As a result, the backrest portion 30 is configured to be switchable between a support state (FIG. 1(A)) that supports the standing posture of the user and a seated state (FIG. 1(B)) that allows the user to sit.

[0027] The ratchet gear 31 functions as a switching means for switching the backrest portion 30 between a support state and a seating state, and the switching between the support state and the seating state can be performed by the ratchet gear 31. The ratchet gear 31 is a conventionally known gear, and is capable of swinging the swing arm 32 and the support member 33 between the support state and the seating state, temporarily maintaining their positions in the support state, and temporarily maintaining their positions in the seating state.

[0028] A state in which the swing arm 32 and the support member 33 are in a horizontal position is a seated state, and a state in which the swing arm 32 and the support member 33 are in a vertical position is a supported state. The ratchet gear 31 swings the swing arm 32 and the support member 33 between the supported state and the seated state, and the ratchet mechanism can also temporarily maintain the swing arm 32 and the support member 33 at any angle between the vertical position and the horizontal position.

[0029] In other words, the support state in which the swing arm 32 and support member 33 are vertical is the limit position of the forward swing angle, and in this state the ratchet gear 31 maintains that position. In this support state, the user stabilizes the standing posture support device with their own weight by stepping on the foot pedal 11, and can reduce fatigue by leaning their back or waist against the backrest 30 in the support state.

[0030] The seated state can be switched by tilting the backrest 30 backward from the support state. By slightly pushing the backrest 30 forward in the support state, the ratchet is released, and the backrest 30 can be tilted backward in this state to enter the seated state. The seated state, in which the swing arm 32 and support member 33 are horizontal, is the limit position of the rearward swing angle, and the ratchet gear 31 maintains this position. In this seated state, the user can rest by sitting on the support member 33.

[0031] When the backrest 30 is swung forward from the seated position, the ratchet gear 31 stops the backrest 30 at any angle and maintains that position. The user can adjust the backrest 30 to a desired angle to lean back or sit on. When the swing arm 32 and support member 33 are swung upright, the backrest returns to the support position described above.

[0032] In this example, the rear end position (arrow R in FIG. 3) of the backrest portion 30 in the seated state is configured to be located at the same position as or further forward than the rear end position (arrow B in FIG. 3) of the base portion 20. This primarily stabilizes the standing posture support device when the user sits on the backrest portion 30 in the seated state, reducing the risk of tipping over, etc.

[0033] [Operations and Effects of First Embodiment] As described above, the first embodiment provides the following operations and effects.

[0034] The standing posture support tool of the first embodiment includes a base portion 10, a standing portion 20 that stands above the base portion 10, and a backrest portion 30 that is provided on top of the standing portion 20. The backrest portion 30 is configured to be switchable between a support state that supports the user's standing posture and a seated state that allows the user to sit. Therefore, the user can reduce fatigue associated with the standing posture by leaning their back or waist against the backrest portion 30 in the support state while standing. Furthermore, by switching the backrest portion 30 to the seated state, the user can rest by sitting on the backrest portion 30 in the seated state. In this way, the standing posture support tool of the present invention not only supports the standing posture but also allows the user to sit down and rest on the spot.

[0035] In the standing posture support tool of the first embodiment, the base unit 10 has a foot pedal 11 that the user can step on. Therefore, when the user is primarily in a standing posture, stepping on the foot pedal 11 with their foot and leaning their back or waist against the backrest unit 30 in the supported state stabilizes the standing posture support tool with the user's weight, reducing the risk of falling, etc. Furthermore, when the user moves away from the foot pedal 11, the standing posture support tool can be easily carried around.

[0036] The standing posture support tool of the first embodiment is configured to switch to the seated state by tilting backward the backrest portion 30 in the support state. Therefore, the seated state can be easily switched to by tilting backward the backrest portion 30 in the support state.

[0037] The standing posture support tool of the first embodiment is configured so that the rear end position of the backrest portion 30 in the seated state is located at the same position as or further forward than the rear end position of the base portion 10. Therefore, the standing posture support tool is stable mainly when the user sits on the backrest portion 30 in the seated state, thereby reducing the risk of falling, etc.

[0038] Second Embodiment Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a standing posture support tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This example is described with the right side of Fig. 4 being the forward direction.

[0039] In this example, the base portion 10 is configured to include a pair of legs 14 extending forward and backward, and a footboard 15 provided between the legs 14 and closer to the front.

[0040] The standing portion 20 is formed by a pair of support posts 16, each of which has a square pipe standing on each of the legs 14. The upper portions of the support posts 16 are reinforced by fixing reinforcing bars 27 made of square pipes.

[0041] A rod-shaped footrest 28 is provided at the lower portion of each of the support columns 16. A user who uses the chair in a standing position can place one foot on the footrest 28 to rest it.

[0042] A ratchet gear 31 is attached to the upper part of each of the support columns 16, and a pair of swing arms 32 are swingably supported by the ratchet gears 31. A support member 33 is attached across the swing arms 32, and the support member 33 extends across the swing arms 32 to form a backrest portion 30.

[0043] Other than that, it is the same as the first embodiment, the same parts are given the same reference numerals, and it has the same functions and effects as the first embodiment.

[0044] Third Embodiment Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a standing posture support tool according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This example is described with the right side of Fig. 5 being the forward direction.

[0045] In this example, the base portion 10 is a floor fixing portion 13 that can be fixed to the floor surface. In the example shown, the floor fixing portion 13 is designed to be embedded in a portion that constitutes the floor surface (for example, a concrete foundation). Other than that, the present embodiment is the same as the second embodiment, and similar portions are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0046] In the standing posture support tool of the third embodiment, the base portion 10 is a floor surface fixing portion 13 that can be fixed to the floor surface. Therefore, since the base portion 10, which is the floor surface fixing portion 13, is fixed to the floor surface, the risk of falling or the like is avoided when the user leans their back or waist against the backrest portion 30 in the supporting state in a standing posture. The same applies when the user sits on the backrest portion 30 in the seated state. Otherwise, the same effects as those of the second embodiment are achieved.

[0047] [Fourth embodiment] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a standing posture support tool according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This example is described with the left side of Fig. 6 being the forward direction.

[0048] In this example, the backrest 30 in the support state is tilted forward to switch to the seated state. Other than that, the present embodiment is the same as the second embodiment, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0049] The standing posture support tool of the fourth embodiment is configured to switch from the support state to the seated state by tilting the backrest portion 30 forward. The support state can be easily switched to the seated state by tilting the backrest portion 30 forward. Other than that, the same effects as those of the second embodiment are achieved.

[0050] [Other Modifications] While the particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the illustrated embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in various modified forms, and is intended to encompass various modifications.

[0051] 10: Base portion 11: Foot pedal portion 12: First reinforcing bar 13: Floor surface fixing portion 14: Leg portion 15: Footboard 16: Support 20: Standing portion 22: Second reinforcing bar 27: Reinforcing bar 28: Foot rest portion 30: Backrest portion 31: Ratchet gear 32: Swing arm 33: Support member

Claims

1. A standing posture support device comprising: a base portion; a standing portion that stands above the base portion; and a backrest portion that is provided on top of the standing portion, wherein the backrest portion is configured to be switchable between a support state that supports the standing posture of a user and a seated state that allows the user to sit.

2. A standing posture support device according to claim 1, wherein the base portion has a footrest portion on which the user can step.

3. The standing posture support device according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is a floor surface fixing portion that can be fixed to the floor surface.

4. A standing posture support device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured to switch to the seated state by tilting the backrest portion in the support state backward.

5. A standing posture support device according to claim 4, wherein the rear end position of the backrest portion in the seated state is positioned at the same position as or further forward than the rear end position of the base portion.

6. A standing posture support device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured to switch to the seated state by tilting the backrest portion in the support state forward.

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