Gurney

Abstract

Provided is a gurney that is capable of stopping on the spot even when let go of partway along stairs, without having a special mechanical structure provided thereto. The present invention comprises: a fixed placement table (2) on which the lower half of the body of a person to be carried is placed; a movable placement table (3) which is pivotably connected to the fixed placement table (2) such that the head-side can be raised, and on which the upper half of the body of the person to be carried is placed; an operation frame (4) which is attached to the head-side end of the movable placement table (3); and a traveling wheel (5) and auxiliary wheel (6) which are provided to the fixed placement table (2). The fixed placement table (2) has a sliding part (14) which has a sliding contact surface that slides on nosing of stairs during stair descent. The lower end position of the traveling wheel (5) is set to be lower than the height position of the sliding contact surface of the sliding part (14). The sliding part (14) comprises an elastic deformation layer (14a) and a sliding contact layer (14b) which is laminated to the lower side of the elastic deformation layer (14a) and in which the sliding contact surface that slides on the nosing (SN) of stairs has sliding properties. When the nosing (SN) of a stair is pressed into the sliding part (14) during stair descent, the elastic deformation layer (14a) elastically deforms such that a braking force is applied.

Description

Body transfer cart

[0001] This invention relates to a body transfer cart used when transferring a person with difficulty walking, such as a patient or an elderly person, downstairs using stairs.

[0002] As this type of body transfer cart, for example, there is an evacuation-difficult person rescue trolley disclosed in Patent Document 1. This evacuation-difficult person rescue trolley (hereinafter referred to as the "rescue trolley") 50 is composed of a lower frame 51, an upper frame 52, an upper connecting frame 53 and a lower connecting frame 54, as shown in FIG. 19. An upper handle 55 is provided at the upper end of the upper connecting frame 53, and a lower handle 56 is provided at the rear end of the lower frame 51.

[0003] The front part of the floor surface of the lower frame 51 is raised upward at an angle to form a front part 51a that serves as a footrest, and the front end of the upper frame 52 is rotatably connected to the upper rear surface thereof. The rear end of the upper frame 52 inclined so that the rear part gradually becomes higher is rotatably connected to the middle part of the upper connecting frame 53, and the lower end of the lower connecting frame 54 is rotatably connected to the rear of the lower frame 51.

[0004] A seat 57 formed of fabric is provided on the upper part of the lower frame 51. A pair of left and right wheels 58 are attached below the front part 51a of the lower frame 51. On the lower surface of the lower frame 51, a sliding body 59 composed of one front skid 59a made of a sliding material, two rear skids 59b made of a friction material, and a protector 59c connecting the front skid 59a and the rear skids 59b to protect the tip of the rear skid 59b is attached.

[0005] Further, a stop mechanism 60 used to prevent overshooting when starting to lower from the dance floor to the stairs and when it becomes necessary to temporarily stop during running on the stairs is attached to the left and right close to the tip of the rear skid 59b of the lower frame 51 as shown in the figure.

[0006] As shown in Figure 20, the temporary stopping mechanism 60 comprises a pair of left and right roller frames 60a attached to the left and right sides close to the tip of the rear sled 59b of the lower frame 51; a pair of left and right swinging arms 60c, each with a roller 60b attached to its tip, with its base end pivotably supported by the pair of roller frames 60a by a rotating shaft 60d; a strip-shaped friction band 60e made of a material having friction and elasticity, which extends and retracts at the bottom of the roller frame 60a by the roller 60b; a hook 60f attached to one end of the rotating shaft 60d; and the space between the front part 51a and the seat 57. The vehicle is equipped with a hook 60h on the flat front floor section 51b, which is covered with a floorboard, a spring 60g that biases the roller 60b upward, with one end hooked to the tip of the hook 60f and the other end hooked to the hook 60h, a locking brake lever 60j attached to the lower handle 56, and a wire cable 60i that connects the middle part of the hook 60f and the brake lever 60j. By pulling the brake lever 60j, the roller 60b is swung, causing the friction band 60e to protrude from the lower surface of the rear sled 59b.

[0007] The rescue cart 50, configured as described above, is used as follows. First, as shown in Figure 21, with the person to be rescued on the seat 57, the rescue cart 50 is lifted by the lower handle 56 and transported using the wheels 58. As shown in Figure 22, when approaching the stairs of the landing z, the rescue cart 50 is turned perpendicular to the stairs, and while still holding the lower handle 56 with the left hand, the brake lever 60j is pulled with the right hand to extend the friction strip 60e of the temporary stop device 60. Holding the lower handle 56 with both hands, the cart enters the stairs and begins to slide down the stairs using the front sled 59a, at which point the friction strip 60e hits the stair nosing y and comes to a temporary stop. With the trolley stopped, the brake lever 60j is returned, and the grip is switched from the lower handle 56 to the upper handle 55. When the rescue trolley 50 is pushed downwards, as shown in Figure 23, the sliding material of the front sled 59a causes it to slide down the stairs. When it is pushed downwards, the friction material of the rear sled 59b applies the brakes, and it descends while repeatedly sliding and braking. When the wheels land on the next landing, as shown in Figure 21, the grip is switched from the upper handle 55 to the lower handle 56, and the wheels 58 are used to change direction on the landing and enter the next staircase. The same operation as described above is repeated to descend the stairs.

[0008] Furthermore, if it becomes necessary to stop the vehicle and move away from the rescue trolley 50, for example, by pulling the brake lever 60j to lock it and keeping the friction strip 60e protruding from the underside of the rear sled 59b, the vehicle can be kept continuously stopped.

[0009] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-68623

[0010] In the rescue trolley 50 described above, if the user has to release their hands from the trolley 50 halfway up the stairs, the rescue trolley 50 can be continuously stopped by pulling the brake lever 60j to lock it. However, in order to realize this function, as described above, a temporary stopping mechanism 60 must be provided in which a strip-shaped friction strip 60e protrudes below the lower surface of the rear sled 59b, which presents a problem in that the structure of the rescue trolley 50 becomes complex.

[0011] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a personal transport vehicle that can be stopped in place even if the user releases their hands midway down a staircase, without requiring any special mechanical mechanisms.

[0012] To solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a body transport vehicle comprising a fixed platform on which the lower body of a person to be transported is placed, a movable platform on which the upper body of a person to be transported is placed and which is rotatably connected to the fixed platform so as to be able to raise the head side, and wheels for travel provided on the fixed platform, wherein the fixed platform has a sliding part having a sliding contact surface that slides against the edge of the stairs when descending stairs, the lower end position of the travel wheels is set lower than the height position of the sliding contact surface of the sliding part, the sliding part has a sliding contact surface that is slippery and an elastically deformable layer on the upper side of the sliding contact surface, and when descending stairs the edge of the stairs bites into the sliding part and a braking force is applied.

[0013] Furthermore, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the body transport vehicle according to claim 1, an operating frame is attached to the movable mounting platform so as to be able to change the mounting angle with respect to the movable mounting platform.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the body transport vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, the driving wheels are provided with a pair of side wheels disposed on both sides of the fixed mounting base, and the side wheels have a rotating body having a plurality of arms extending radially from a center of rotation, which is rotatably mounted on both sides of the fixed mounting base, and a wheel attached to the tip of each arm of the rotating body.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 is a body transport vehicle according to the invention according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the running wheels are provided with a central wheel disposed in the center of the width direction of the fixed mounting platform, and the central wheel has a swingable body extending in the front-rear direction of the fixed mounting platform and swingably mounted in the center of the width direction of the fixed mounting platform, and wheels mounted in front of and behind the swing axis of the swingable body, and is configured such that when the swingable body swings, one of the wheels can be moved away from the sliding contact surface of the sliding part of the fixed mounting platform.

[0016] Furthermore, the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the body transport vehicle according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, a pair of left and right auxiliary wheels that first make contact with the landing when descending stairs are attached to the front end of the fixed mounting platform, and the lower end position of the auxiliary wheels is set higher than the height position of the sliding contact surface of the sliding part.

[0017] As described above, the body transport vehicle according to claim 1 has a fixed mounting base which has a sliding part having a sliding surface that slides against the stair tread when descending stairs. The sliding part has a sliding surface that is slippery and an elastically deformable layer on the upper side of the sliding surface, so that when descending stairs the stair tread bites into the sliding part and a braking force is applied. As a result, when descending stairs, the transporter can easily move the body transport vehicle down the stairs by simply pushing it forward along the stairs. Furthermore, even if the transporter releases their hands from the body transport vehicle when descending stairs, the braking force is applied by the stair tread biting into the sliding part, allowing the body transport vehicle to stop in place. Therefore, unlike conventional body transport vehicles, there is no need to provide a special mechanical mechanism to temporarily stop the body transport vehicle when descending stairs, and the structure can be simplified.

[0018] Furthermore, in the body transport vehicle according to claim 2, the operating frame is attached to the movable mounting platform so that the mounting angle to the movable mounting platform can be changed. By changing the mounting angle of the operating frame to suit the physique of the person being transported, the body transport vehicle can be driven in a comfortable posture.

[0019] Furthermore, the body transport vehicle according to claim 3 is equipped with a pair of side wheels, each positioned on both sides of a fixed mounting base. These side wheels consist of a rotating body rotatably mounted on both sides of the fixed mounting base, having multiple arms extending radially from a center of rotation, and wheels attached to the ends of each arm of the rotating body. Therefore, when the side wheels pass over the edge of a staircase during descent, the multiple wheels retract alternately, allowing the body transport vehicle to descend the stairs while minimizing rattling.

[0020] Furthermore, the body transport vehicle according to claim 4 is equipped with a central wheel whose running wheels are located in the center of the width direction of the fixed mounting platform. This central wheel has a swinging body that extends in the front-rear direction of the fixed mounting platform and is swingably mounted in the center of the width direction of the fixed mounting platform, and wheels mounted in front of and behind the swing axis of the swinging body. The swinging body allows one of the wheels to retract from the sliding contact surface of the sliding part of the fixed mounting platform. Therefore, when the central wheel passes the stair nosing during descent, the front and rear wheels are alternately pushed up by the stair nosing, retracting from the sliding contact surface of the sliding part of the fixed mounting platform, thereby allowing the body transport vehicle to descend the stairs while suppressing rattling.

[0021] Furthermore, in the body transport vehicle according to claim 5, a pair of left and right auxiliary wheels that first make contact with the landing when descending stairs are attached to the front end of the fixed mounting base, and the lower end position of these auxiliary wheels is set higher than the height position of the sliding contact surface of the sliding part, so that when the auxiliary wheels pass over the edge of the stairs when descending stairs, they do not come into contact with the edge of the stairs, and no wobbling caused by the auxiliary wheels occurs.

[0022] This is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the body transport vehicle according to the present invention. This is a plan view showing the same body transport vehicle. This is a bottom view showing the same body transport vehicle. This is a side view showing the same body transport vehicle. This is a front view showing the same body transport vehicle. This is a cross-sectional view along line X-X in Figure 2. This is a cross-sectional view along line X-X in Figure 4. This is a plan view showing the same body transport vehicle with the seat mat, back mat, headrest, base plate, and sliding parts removed. This is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the stair treads are embedded in the sliding parts constituting the same body transport vehicle. This is a perspective view showing the central wheel constituting the same body transport vehicle. This is an explanatory diagram showing the transition operation of the same body transport vehicle from corridor transport to stair transport. This is an explanatory diagram showing the transition operation of the same body transport vehicle from corridor transport to stair transport. This is an explanatory diagram showing the transition operation of the same body transport vehicle from corridor transport to stair transport. This is an explanatory diagram showing the transition operation of the same body transport vehicle from corridor transport to stair transport. This is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the side wheels when the same body transport vehicle is being transported up the stairs. This is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the side wheels when the same body transport vehicle is being transported up the stairs. This is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the side wheels when the same body transport vehicle is being transported up the stairs. This is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the side wheels of the above-mentioned patient transport vehicle when it is being transported up stairs. This is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the central wheel

[0023] The embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 to 8, the body transport vehicle 1 comprises a fixed platform 2 on which the lower body of the person to be transported is placed, a movable platform 3 on which the upper body of the person to be transported is placed, which is rotatably connected to the fixed platform 2 so as to be able to be raised at the head end, a gate-shaped operating frame 4 attached to the head end of the movable platform 3, and running wheels 5 and auxiliary wheels 6 provided on the fixed platform 2.

[0024] The fixed mounting platform 2 comprises a metal base frame 11, a base plate 12 attached to the upper surface of the base frame 11, a cushioning sheet mat 13 attached to the base plate 12, and a mat-shaped sliding part 14 attached to the lower surface of the base frame 11. The sliding part 14 moves while sliding against the edge of the stairs when descending the stairs.

[0025] The base plate 12 is divided into a fixed plate 12a that supports the buttocks of the person being transported, a rear movable plate 12b that supports the thighs of the person being transported, and a front movable plate 12c that supports the lower part of the knees of the person being transported. The fixed plate 12a is fixed to the rear of the base frame 11, and the fixed plate 12a, the rear movable plate 12b, and the front movable plate 12c are sequentially connected via hinges.

[0026] The rear movable plate 12b is connected to the front of the base frame 11 via a pair of left and right stays 12d that are extendable and lockable and unlockable in the extended position, with the central portions in the front-rear direction on both sides. When the stays 12d are locked in the extended position, the front end is held in a raised position.

[0027] Therefore, when the stay 12d is locked in the extended position, the rear movable plate 12b rises diagonally upward toward the front and the front movable plate 12c rises diagonally upward toward the rear, and the legs of the person being transported, who is sitting on the fixed plate 12a, are supported in a bent-knee position by the rear movable plate 12b and the front movable plate 12c which are raised in a V-shape. On the other hand, when the lock on the extended stay 12d is released, the stay 12d becomes retractable, and the front end of the rear movable plate 12b can be pushed down, so that the rear movable plate 12b and the front movable plate 12c which are raised in a V-shape can be made flat.

[0028] The seat mat 13 is fixed to a fixed plate 12a, a rear movable plate 12b, and a front movable plate 12c, which are interconnected, and is configured to bend at the connection points between the fixed plate 12a and the rear movable plate 12b, and between the rear movable plate 12b and the front movable plate 12c.

[0029] The sliding portion 14 consists of an elastically deformable elastic deformation layer 14a made of foamed polyethylene and a sliding contact layer 14b laminated below it, the sliding contact surface which slides against the stair tread is made of polyester brushed suede having slippery properties. As shown in Figure 9, when the stair tread SN bites into the sliding portion 14 during descent, the elastic deformation layer 14a elastically deforms, thereby applying a braking force.

[0030] The movable mounting platform 3 comprises a metal base frame 21, a base plate 22 attached to the base frame 21, a cushioning back mat 23 and headrest 24 attached to the base plate 22, and a mat-shaped sliding part 25 attached to the lower surface of the base frame 21 that moves while sliding against the stair nosing when descending stairs. The front end of the base frame 21 is rotatably (tiltable) connected to the rear end of the base frame 11 of the fixed mounting platform 2 via a plurality of hinges.

[0031] The sliding portion 25, like the sliding portion 14, is composed of an elastically deformable elastic deformation layer 25a made of foamed polyethylene and a sliding contact layer 25b laminated below it, the sliding contact surface which slides against the stair tread is made of polyester brushed suede with slippery properties. When the stair tread bites into the sliding portion 25 during descent, a braking force is applied, similar to the sliding portion 14.

[0032] The operating frame 4 consists of a pair of left and right vertical frames 31a, 31a and two upper and lower horizontal frames 31b, 31b connecting the two vertical frames 31a, 31a. The frame body 31 has the lower ends of the vertical frames 31a, 31a pivotally supported on the rear end of the base frame 21 of the movable mounting platform 3. The frame body 31 has a pair of left and right links 32, 32, one end of which is pivotally connected to the lower middle part of the vertical frames 31a of the frame body 31, and the other end of which is connected to the base frame 21 of the movable mounting platform 3 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction in front of the pivot point of the frame body 31. The frame body 4 also includes fixing units 33, 33 that fix the other ends of the pair of left and right links 32, 32 in stages at multiple positions within their range of movement. By changing the fixing position of the other ends of the pair of left and right links 32, 32, the mounting angle of the frame body 31 to the movable mounting platform 3 can be changed in stages within a predetermined range.

[0033] The aforementioned running wheels 5 consist of a pair of left and right side wheels 5a, each positioned on both sides of the rear end of the fixed mounting platform 2, and a central wheel 5b positioned in front of the side wheels 5a in the center of the width direction of the fixed mounting platform 2, and are designed to make contact with the ground when transporting on a flat surface such as a corridor.

[0034] The side wheel 5a has a rotating body 41 that is rotatably mounted on both sides of the rear end of the fixed mounting base 2 and has three arms extending radially from the center of rotation, and wheels 42 that are rotatably mounted at the tip of each arm of the rotating body 41. On a flat surface such as a corridor, as shown in Figure 4, the two wheels 42, 42 make contact with the ground, and their contact positions are set to be lower than the height of the sliding contact surface of the sliding part 14.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3, 6 to 8 and 10, the central wheel 5b has a pivotable body 44 extending in the front-rear direction of the fixed mounting base 2, pivotably supported via a bracket 43 in the center of the width direction of the base frame 11 of the fixed mounting base 2, a pair of swivel casters 45, 45 attached to the front and rear of the pivot axis 44a of the pivotable body 44, and a pair of coil springs 46, 46, one end of which is attached to the front of the pivotable body 44 and the other end of which is attached to the base frame 11 of the fixed mounting base 2. The front and rear ends of the pivotable body 44 move up and down, and the pair of coil springs 46, 46 constantly bias the front end of the pivotable body 44 upward. An opening O is formed in the sliding part 14 in the area corresponding to the central wheel 5b, and the pair of swivel casters 45, 45 protrude from the opening O.

[0036] On flat surfaces such as corridors, as shown in Figure 4, the rear side of the oscillating body 44 is pushed up against the biasing force of the coil spring 46, causing both the front and rear swivel casters 45, 45 to make contact with the ground simultaneously. The ground contact positions of the two swivel casters 45, 45 are set to be lower than the height of the sliding contact surface of the sliding part 14 and at the same height as the ground contact positions of the two wheels 42, 42 of the side wheels 5a.

[0037] The auxiliary wheels 6 are attached to both sides of the front end of the fixed mounting base 2 so that they first make contact with the landing when descending the stairs, and the lower end position of the auxiliary wheels 6 is set higher than the height of the sliding contact surface of the sliding part 14. Therefore, when descending the stairs, with the sliding parts 14 and 25 sliding in contact with the stair treads, the auxiliary wheels 6 do not come into contact with the stair treads as they pass over them, and no wobbling caused by the auxiliary wheels 6 occurs.

[0038] The following describes how to transport a person to be transported from an upper floor to a lower floor via a stair landing using this body transport vehicle 1. First, as shown in Figure 11A, the mounting angle of the operating frame 4 to the movable platform 3 is adjusted according to the physique of the transporter (not shown), the person to be transported (not shown) is placed on the body transport vehicle 1, and the transporter grasps the horizontal frame 31b of the operating frame 4 and lifts it, slightly raising the movable platform 3 relative to the fixed platform 2, while pushing the body transport vehicle 1 down the corridor CD towards the stairs. At this time, as described above, the two wheels 42, 42 of the pair of side wheels 5a, which are the running wheels 5, and the front and rear swivel casters 45, 45 of the central wheel 5b are in contact with the ground simultaneously, and the sliding contact surfaces of the auxiliary wheels 6 and sliding parts 14 are slightly raised from the corridor surface, so the body transport vehicle 1 can be moved smoothly.

[0039] As shown in Figure 11B, after the auxiliary wheels 6 have passed the top step nosing SN of the descending stairs which is flush with the corridor surface, the body transport vehicle 1 stops moving just before the swivel caster 45 in front of the central wheel 5b passes the top step nosing SN of the descending stairs, the movable platform 3 is tilted to a flat position so that the person being transported is lying down completely, and as shown in Figure 12A, the body transport vehicle 1 is moved until the wheel 42 in front of the grounded side wheels 5a is positioned at the top step nosing SN of the descending stairs, and then as shown in Figure 12B, the body transport vehicle 1, with the person being transported lying down completely, is tilted forward so that the sliding contact surface of the sliding part 14 comes into contact with multiple step nosings SN of the stairs and the vehicle descends the stairs.

[0040] The sliding parts 14 and 25 have sliding surfaces on the sliding contact layers 14b and 25b, so when descending stairs, the transporter can easily move the transport vehicle 1 down the stairs by simply pushing it forward along the stairs. Furthermore, elastic deformation layers 14a and 25a are laminated on top of the sliding contact layers 14b and 25b, so when the stair treads bite into the sliding parts 14 and 25, the elastic deformation layers 14a and 25a elastically deform, creating a braking force. This braking force allows the transporter to stop the transport vehicle 1 in place even if they release their hands from it while descending stairs.

[0041] On flat surfaces such as corridors, the two wheels 42, 42 of the side wheels 5a protrude below the sliding surfaces of the sliding parts 14, 25 so that the sliding surfaces of the sliding parts 14, 25 do not come into contact. Therefore, when descending stairs, the wheels 42 of the side wheels 5a will come into contact with the stairs, but as shown in Figures 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B, when the body transport vehicle 1 descends along the stair

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 15A and 16B, when the central wheel 5b is not in contact with the stairs, both the front and rear swivel casters 45, 45 protrude from the sliding contact surface of the sliding part 14. However, as shown in Figure 15B, when the front swivel caster 45 comes into contact with the stair tread SN, the front end of the oscillating body 44 is pushed up by the stair tread SN, and the front swivel caster 45 retracts from the sliding contact surface of the sliding part 14. Similarly, as shown in Figure 16A, when the rear swivel caster 45 comes into contact with the stair tread SN, the rear end of the oscillating body 44 is pushed up by the stair tread SN, and the rear swivel caster 45 retracts from the sliding contact surface of the sliding part 14. As a result, when the swivel casters 45, 45 pass over the stair tread SN, the body transport vehicle 1 can descend the stairs without lifting up and while suppressing rattling.

[0043] As shown in Figure 17A, when the auxiliary wheels 6 of the body transport vehicle 1 come into contact with the landing LS, as shown in Figure 17B, the movable platform 3 is gradually raised relative to the fixed platform 2 by operating the operating frame 4, and the stairs are lowered until the central wheel 5b and side wheels 5a touch the landing LS.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 18, when the central wheel 5b and the side wheels 5a of the patient transfer cart 1 touch the dance floor LS, the movable mounting table 3 is further raised with respect to the fixed mounting table 2, shortening the overall length of the patient transfer cart 1. Then, the patient transfer cart 1 changes its direction at the dance floor LS so that the front side of the patient transfer cart 1 faces the downward staircase. Thereafter, while performing the same operation as when descending the stairs from the upper corridor CD to the dance floor LS, the central wheel 5b and the side wheels 5a are lowered until they touch the lower corridor, and the patient transfer cart 1 is transferred to the destination along the lower corridor.

[0045] As described above, even if the carrier releases his / her hand from the patient transfer cart 1 when descending the stairs, the braking force is applied when the noses of the stairs bite into the sliding portions of the patient transfer cart 1, i.e., the sliding portions 14 and 25, and the patient transfer cart 1 can be stopped in place. Therefore, there is no need to provide a special mechanical mechanism for temporarily stopping the patient transfer cart when descending the stairs, as in the conventional patient transfer cart, and the structure can be simplified.

[0046] In addition, since the operation frame 4 is attached to the movable mounting table 3 of the patient transfer cart 1 so that the attachment angle with respect to the movable mounting table 3 can be changed, by changing the attachment angle of the operation frame 4 according to the build of the carrier, the patient transfer cart 1 can be made to travel in a comfortable posture.

[0047] In the above-described embodiment, the sliding portions 14 and 25 are composed of the elastic deformation layers 14a and 25a made of foamed polyethylene and the sliding contact layers 14b and 25b formed by polyester fleece having a sliding property of the sliding contact surfaces laminated on the lower sides thereof and contacting the noses of the stairs. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As the elastic deformation layers 14a and 25a, various materials capable of elastic deformation can be adopted, and as the sliding contact layers 14b and 25b, various materials having a sliding property of the sliding contact surfaces can be adopted.

[0048] In the above-described embodiment, the sliding portions 14 and 25 are provided on both the fixed mounting table 2 and the movable mounting table 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If, in the same manner as when traveling on a flat surface such as a corridor, the movable mounting table 3 is raised with respect to the fixed mounting table 2 and only the fixed mounting table 2 is lowered while slidingly contacting the noses of the stairs, it is not always necessary to provide the sliding portions on the movable mounting table 3.

[0049] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a running wheel 5 is provided for use when moving on a flat surface such as a corridor. However, if the sliding part 14 can be smoothly moved while sliding against the flat surface, similar to when descending stairs, then there is no particular need to provide the running wheel 5.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the wheels 42 of the side wheels 5a and the swivel caster 45 of the central wheel 5b, which constitute the running wheels 5, pass the stair nosing SN, the wheels 42 and the swivel caster 45 are configured to retract from the sliding contact surface of the sliding part 14. However, the invention is not limited to this, and if a certain amount of looseness is tolerable, the running wheels may be configured not to retract from the sliding contact surface of the sliding part 14 when passing the stair nosing SN.

[0051] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, in addition to the side wheels 5a and central wheel 5b which are the running wheels 5, auxiliary wheels 6 that first come into contact with the landing LS are provided. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and it is also possible to use sliding contact members instead of auxiliary wheels 6 that allow the body transport vehicle 1 to slide in the front-rear direction while in contact with the landing.

[0052] This invention can be used to transport people with mobility difficulties, such as sick or elderly individuals, downstairs using stairs.

[0053] 1. Body transport vehicle 2. Fixed mounting platform 3. Movable mounting platform 4. Operating frame 5. Driving wheels 5a. Side wheels 5b. Center wheels 6. Auxiliary wheels 11. Base frame 12. Base plate 12a. Fixed plate 12b. Rear movable plate 12c. Front movable plate 12d. Stay 13. Seat mat 14. Sliding part 14a. Elastic deformation layer 14b. Sliding contact layer 21. Base frame 22. Base plate 23. Back mat 24. Headrest 25. Sliding part 25a. Elastic deformation layer 25b. Sliding contact layer 31. Frame body 31a. Vertical frame 31b. Horizontal frame 32. Link 33. Fixing unit 41. Rotating body 42. Wheel 43. Bracket 44. Oscillating body 44a. Oscillating shaft 45. Swivel caster 46. Coil spring O Opening CD Corridor SN Stair nose LS Landing.

Claims

1. A body transport vehicle comprising: a fixed platform for supporting the lower body of a person to be transported; a movable platform for supporting the upper body of a person to be transported, which is rotatably connected to the fixed platform so as to be able to raise the head end; and wheels for travel provided on the fixed platform, wherein the fixed platform has a sliding part having a sliding contact surface that slides against the edge of the stairs when descending stairs; the lower end position of the travel wheels is set lower than the height position of the sliding contact surface of the sliding part; the sliding part has a sliding contact surface that is slippery and an elastically deformable layer on the upper side of the sliding contact surface; and when descending stairs, the edge of the stairs bites into the sliding part and a braking force is applied.

2. The body transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an operating frame is attached to the movable mounting platform so as to be able to change the mounting angle relative to the movable mounting platform.

3. The vehicle for transporting a person according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the running wheels are provided with a pair of side wheels disposed on both sides of the fixed mounting base, and the side wheels are rotatably mounted on both sides of the fixed mounting base and have a rotating body having a plurality of arms extending radially from a center of rotation, and a wheel attached to the tip of each arm of the rotating body.

4. The vehicle for transporting a person according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the traveling wheels include a central wheel disposed in the center of the width direction of the fixed mounting platform, the central wheel has a swingable body extending in the front-rear direction of the fixed mounting platform and swingably mounted in the center of the width direction of the fixed mounting platform, and wheels mounted in front of and behind the swing axis of the swingable body, the swingable body allows one of the wheels to retract from the sliding contact surface of the sliding part of the fixed mounting platform.

5. A personal transport vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a pair of left and right auxiliary wheels that first make contact with the landing when descending stairs are attached to the front end of the fixed mounting platform, and the lower end position of the auxiliary wheels is set higher than the height position of the sliding contact surface of the sliding part.

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