AU2017404355B2 - Assistive device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an assistive device for assisting a transfer movement of an individual to be assisted, the assistive device including: a base; an arm provided on the base so as to be swingable in a front-to-back direction; a support part which supports a part of the body of the individual to be assisted and is provided on the arm so as to be swingable in the front-to-back direction; an actuator which has a main body provided on the base so as to be tiltable in the front-to-back direction and a movable part that extends and retracts relative to the main body; and a link mechanism which has a first link member that is swingably provided on the arm and connected to the movable body and a second link member that is fixedly installed on the support part and engages with the first link member, wherein the link mechanism transfers a first movement of the movable part extending out from a retracted position to a predetermined midway position into swinging of the support part to the front and transfers a second movement of the movable part extending beyond the midway position to an extended position into swinging of the arm to the front.

Description

Assistive device

Technical Field

[0001]

The present specification relates to an assistive device configured to assist in transferring a care

receiver.

Background

[0002]

The need for assisting devices has increased with the aging of society. Assistive devices are

generally driven by an actuator to move a support section supporting a part of the care receiver's

body. The introduction of assistive devices reduces the physical burden on caregivers and care

receivers, thereby mitigating shortages in caregiver staff. As an example of an assistive device,

there is a device configured to assist in transferring a care receiver from a sitting posture.

Examples of techniques relating to this type of assistive device are disclosed in Patent Literature

l and 2.

[0003]

The body transferring device of Patent Literature 1 includes a traveling section equipped with

wheels, a support section positioned above the traveling section to support the care receiver, and

a driving section to drive the support section in the height direction. Further, the arc-shaped

swinging operation of the support section is performed by driving by a driving section equivalent

to an actuator. With this, the caregiver can easily and quickly transfer the care receiver while

preventing injury to the caregiver's back.

[0004]

Further, the assisting robot of Patent Literature 2 includes a lifting and lowering section that moves

in an up-down direction with respect to a base, an arm that is swingably provided in the lifting

and lowering section, and a support section that is provided at the distal end of the arm. The lifting

and lowering section and the arm are driven by separate actuators to perform a two-stage operation.

With this, the lifting and lowering section and the arm can be operated in coordination with each

other, and discomfort to the care receiver can be suppressed.

Patent Literature

[0005]

Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2016-165313

Patent Literature 2: WO 2017/060964

Technical Problem

[0006]

In Patent Literature 1, since the support section only swings in an arc, it is not always possible for

the care receiver to use it comfortably. On the other hand, in Patent Literature 2, since the lifting

and lowering section and the arm are independently operated with the use of two actuators,

transferring the care receiver becomes smooth and more comfortable. However, the use of two

actuators leads to increased costs.

Summary

[0006a]

It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more

disadvantages of existing arrangements.

[0007]

Aspects of the present disclosure provide an assistive device in which multiple members are

operated by using one actuator to make using the device more comfortable for the care receiver.

[0008]

The present specification discloses an assistive device configured to assist in transferring a care

receiver, the assistive device comprising: a base; an arm, being provided on the base, swingable

in a front-rear direction; a support section, supporting a part of a body of the care receiver, which

is provided on the arm to be swingable in a front-rear direction; an actuator having a main body

section, which is provided on the base and tiltable in a front-rear direction, and a movable section

configured to extend and retract from the main body section; and a linking mechanism having a

first linking member, which is swingably provided on the arm and connected to the movable

section, and a second linking member, which is fixed to the support section and engaged with the

first linking member; wherein the linking mechanism transfers a first motion, in which the

movable section is extended from a shortened position to a predetermined intermediate position,

to a forward swinging motion of the support section; and transfers a second motion, in which the

movable section is extended from the intermediate position to a fully-extended position, to a

forward swinging motion of the arm.

[0009]

With the assistive device disclosed in this specification, a single actuator can be used to drive the

forward swinging of the support section and the forward swinging of the arm. As a result, transferring the care receiver becomes smooth and more comfortable for the care receiver. Also, the cost is low compared to the prior art using two actuators.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0009a]

Example embodiments should become apparent from the following description, which is given

by way of example only, of at least one preferred but non-limiting embodiment, described in

connection with the accompanying figures.

[0010]

[Fig. 1] A perspective view of an assistive device of an embodiment as viewed obliquely from the

rear.

[Fig. 2] A side cross-sectional view of the assistive device showing an initial state when assisting

in transferring a care receiver.

[Fig. 3] A side cross-sectional view of the assistive device showing an intermediate state when

assisting in transferring the care receiver.

[Fig. 4] A side cross-sectional view of the assistive device showing a final state when assisting in

transferring the care receiver.

[Fig. 5] A partial enlarged view of the assistive device in the initial state, showing a configuration

and operation of the linking mechanism.

[Fig. 6] A partial enlarged view of the assistive device in the intermediate state, showing a

configuration and operation of the linking mechanism.

[Fig. 7] A partial enlarged view of the assistive device in the initial state, showing a configuration

of an arm restricting mechanism.

[Fig. 8] A partial enlarged view of the assistive device in the intermediate state, showing a

configuration and operation of the arm restricting mechanism.

[Fig. 9] A perspective view of an upper portion of the arm from above at an oblique angle.

[Fig. 10] A side cross-sectional view showing an unexpected swinging motion of the arm with the

movable section in an intermediate position.

Description of Embodiments

[0011]

1. Configuration of assistive device 1 of the embodiment

Assistive device 1 of the embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1to 10. Fig. 1 is a

perspective view of assistive device 1 of the embodiment as viewed obliquely from the rear. Fig.

2 is a side cross-sectional view of assistive device 1 showing an initial state when assisting in

transferring care receiver M. Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of assistive device 1 showing an

intermediate state when assisting in transferring care receiver M. Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional

view of assistive device 1 showing a final state when assisting in transferring care receiver M.

[0012]

Assistive device 1 assists in transferring care receiver M between two different places, for

example, between a bed and a wheelchair or between a wheelchair and a toilet seat. Assistive

device 1 supports the trunk of care receiver M and assists in transferring of care receiver M from a sitting posture to an in-transit posture, and in seating of care receiver M from the in-transit posture to the sitting posture. Here, the in-transit posture is a posture in which the buttocks are separated from the seat surface and includes a standing posture and a stooping posture. That is, the in-transit posture includes a state in which the upper body stands upright, a state in which the upper body is bent forward, and the like. Further, in cases where the two places between which transferring takes place are separated from each other, assistive device 1 can transfer care receiver

M in the in-transit posture.

[0013]

Assistive device 1 includes base 2, arm 3, support section 4, actuator 5, linking mechanism 6, arm

restricting mechanism 7, a control section (not shown), and the like. Base 2 is has foot mount 21,

rear wheels 23, base rods 24, lower leg contact 25, mounting plates 26, front wheels 28, and the

like. Foot mount 21 is disposed in a substantially horizontal manner in the vicinity of floor F.

Actuator bearing section 22 protrudes upward at the front of the upper face of foot mount 21. A

pair of left and right rear wheels 23 are provided on the left and right at the rear of foot mount 21.

[0014]

The pair of left and right base rods 24 are provided so as to face forward from the left and right

sides of the front face of foot mount 21. Base rods 24 are bent upward from the front and then

extend backward in a slightly inclined manner. Lower leg contact 25 is provided on the upper

portion of the two base rods 24 so as to face rearward. Lower leg contact 25 is positioned above

the front side of foot mount 21. Lower leg contact 25 is made of a cushion material and designed

to come in contact with the lower leg vicinity of care receiver M.

[0015]

The pair of right and left mounting plates 26 are fixed at positions slightly upward along the bent

portions which bend upward from the front of each base rod 24 and are each disposed facing each

other. Mounting plates 26 extend forward from base rod 24. Arm support fitting 27 is provided at

the upper portions of the pair of right and left mounting plates 26. The pair of left and right front

wheels 28 are provided at the lower front portion of the pair of left and right mounting plates 26.

Steering functions of front wheels 28 and rear wheels 23 allow assistive device I to not only move

straight and turn but also move sideways and spin in place. Further, front wheels 28 have a locking

function for restricting movement.

[0016]

Arm 3 is made of rod-shaped member 31, front cover 36, upper cover 38, various structural

materials (not shown), and the like. Rod-shaped member 31 is a substantially U-shaped rod

shaped member having an opening at the bottom. Both sides of lower end 32 of rod-shaped

member 31 are swingably supported by arm support fitting 27 of mounting plates 26. As a result,

arm 3 can swing in the front-rear direction with respect to base 2.

[0017]

In order to restrict the swing angle of arm 3, a stopper mechanism (not shown) is provided in the

vicinity of arm support fitting 27. Rod-shaped member 31 extends upward from the left and right

lower ends 32, bends rearward and upward in at an intermediate point, and merges with the upper

portion toward the rear. The overall shape of arm 3 includes arm front section 34 extending

upward from arm support fitting 27, and arm upper section 35, connected to arm front section 34,

extending obliquely upward toward the rear.

[0018]

Front cover member 36 constitutes arm front section 34. Front cover member 36 is disposed in

front of rod-shaped member 31 with a space therebetween. Front cover member 36 is formed by

folding both side surfaces toward the rear, thereby defining an interior cavity. Battery 37 is

accommodated in the interior cavity of front cover member 36. Battery 37 serves as a power

source for actuator 5 and the control section.

[0019]

Upper cover member 38 is formed so as to be continuous with front cover member 36 and

constitutes arm upper section 35. Upper cover member 38 is disposed close to the upper side of

rod-shaped member 31. Upper cover member 38 is formed by folding both side surfaces

downward, thereby defining an interior cavity. Arm restricting mechanism 7, linking mechanism

6, and support section mounting fitting 33 are provided in that order from the front lower side to

the rear upper side in the interior cavity of upper cover member 38. In Fig. 1, upper cover member

38 is not shown.

[0020]

Support section 4 has trunk support section 41 and a pair of right and left underarm support

sections 45. Trunk support section 41 is swingably supported by support section mounting fitting

33 of arm upper section 35. As a result, support section 4 can swing in the front-rear direction

with respect to arm 3. Trunk support section 41 has handle 42. Handle 42 has a substantially

rectangular frame shape. Handle 42 is a part grasped by care receiver M and is also a part grasped

by the caregiver to move assistive device 1.

[0021]

Trunk support section 41 consists of base plate 43 (see Fig. 5), trunk contact member 44, and the like. Base plate 43 consists of a highly rigid base plate material of metal or resin and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. Base plate 43 is provided with handle 42, a part to be attached to support section attachment fitting 33 and second link member 62, which will be described later.

[0022]

Trunk contact member 44, made of a flexible material, is larger than base plate 43 and is attached

to the upper face of base plate 43. Trunk contact member 44 may have, for example, a two-layer

structure including an outer layer and a base layer. An example of an outer layer material is

polyurethane foam having low resilience, and an example of a base layer material is polyurethane

foam having low combustibility. Trunk support section 41 supports the area from the chest to the

abdomen of the trunk which is a part of the body of care receiver M.

[0023]

The pair of right and left underarm support sections 45 are attached to the right and left chest areas

of trunk support section 41. Underarm support sections 45 each have an L-shape that bends at an

obtuse angle. Each underarm support section 45 has core member 46 (see Fig. 5), outer peripheral

member 47, and the like. Core member 46 is formed, for example, by bending a circular rod or

pipe, made of metal or hard resin, into an L-shape.

[0024]

Outer peripheral member 47, made of a cushion material, has a cylindrical shape and covers the

outer periphery of core member 46. The short linear portion from the proximal attachment end to

the bending point of underarm support section 45 becomes the shoulder receiving portion, and the

long linear portion from the bending point to the distal end is the underarm inserting portion. The

shoulder receiving portion supports the front surface of the shoulder of care receiver M. The underarm inserting portions of the pair of underarm support sections 45 are each inserted into both sides of the trunk of care receiver M. Trunk support section 41 and underarm support sections 45 may be provided with a detachable cover made of cloth or leather.

[0025]

Actuator 5 includes main body section 51, movable section 52, motor 53, and the like. Main body

section 51 is tiltably supported by actuator support section 22 of base 2. As a result, actuator 5

tilts in the front-rear direction. Movable section 52 expands and contracts from main body section

51. More specifically, movable section 52 extends from the shortened position to the fully

extended position through a predetermined intermediate position, and contracts in the opposite

direction. The first operation consists of movable section 52 extending from the shortened position

to the intermediate position, and the second operation consists of movable section 52 extending

from the intermediate position to the fully-extended position.

[0026]

For example, the stroke length of the first operation can be 30 mm, and the stroke length of the

second operation can be 60 mm. The distal end of movable section 52 is connected to connecting

pin 613 of linking mechanism 6, which will be described later. Motor 53 is provided in main body

section 51. Motor 53 is controlled in the direction of the current flowing by the control section

(not shown in the drawings) so as to drive the expanding and contracting operation of movable

section 52. Instead of motor 53, another type of driving source, such as a pressure driving source

using oil pressure or air pressure, can be used.

[0027]

Linking mechanism 6 includes first linking member 61, second linking member 62, restricting member 63, and the like. Fig. 5 is a partial enlarged view of assistive device 1 in an initial state, showing a configuration and operation of linking mechanism 6. Fig. 6 is a partial enlarged view of assistive device 1 in an intermediate state, showing a configuration and operation of linking mechanism 6.

[0028]

First linking member 61 is an elongated member having support point 611, forearm section 612,

and posterior arm section 616. Support point 611 is disposed near the center of arm upper section

35. Support point 611 is supported by a structural member of arm 3 so as to be swingable. As a

result, first linking member 61 swings about support point 611.

[0029]

Forearm section 612 extends forward from support point 611. Connecting pin 613 is provided at

a lower portion near the front of forearm section 612. Connecting pin 613 connects forearm

section 612 and the distal end of movable section 52. Restricting protrusion 614 is formed on an

upper portion of forearm section 612 toward the front. Posterior arm section 616 extends rearward

from support point 611. Engagement pin 617 is provided at the rear of posterior arm section 616

so as to extend in the left-right direction. Engagement pin 617 engages with second link member

62 by pushing second link member 62 from the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 5.

[0030]

Second link member 62 is fixed to base plate 43 of support section 4. As a result, support section

4 and second link member 62 swing integrally about support section mounting fitting 33.

Restricting member 63 is fixed to a structural member in the front of arm upper section 35.

Restricting protrusion 614 of first linking member 61 is able to come in contact with restricting member 63.

[0031]

In the initial state shown in Fig. 5, movable section 52 of actuator 5 is in the shortened position.

First linking member 61 swings clockwise, and second linking member 62 swings

counterclockwise. There is a gap between restricting protrusion 614 of first linking member 61

and restrictive member 63. Movable section 52, which has started the first operation, extends as

indicated by arrow Al. Consequently, forearm section 612 of first linking member 61 is pushed

via connecting pin 613. As a result, first linking member 61 swings counterclockwise as indicated

by arrow A2.

[0032]

As first linking member 61 swings counterclockwise, engagement pin 617 of posterior arm section

616 swings and drives second linking member 62. Second link member 62 swings in the clockwise

direction as indicated by arrow A3, and support section 4 swings in the forward direction as

indicated by arrow A4. That is, linking mechanism 6 transfers the first motion, in which movable

section 52 extends from the shortened position to the predetermined intermediate position, to the

forward swinging motion of support section 4. This operation is continued until movable section

52 extends to a predetermined intermediate position, and the state shown in Fig. 6 is reached.

[0033]

In the intermediate state shown in Fig. 6, restricting protrusion 614 of first linking member 61

abuts restricting member 63. This restricts further swinging of first linking member 61. Thereafter,

movable section 52 which has started the second motion extends as indicated by arrow A5.

Forearm section 612 of first linking member 61 then directly transfers the second motion of movable section 52 to arm 3. As a result, arm 3 swings forward about arm support fitting 27 as indicated by arrow A6. As the swinging of arm 3 continues, actuator 5 tilts forward as indicated by arrow A7. That is, linking mechanism 6 transfers the second motion in which movable section

52 extends from the intermediate position to the fully-extended position to the forward swinging

motion of arm 3.

[0034]

Arm restricting mechanism 7 includes restricting guide member 71, biasing member 75, and the

like. Fig. 7 is a partial enlarged view of assistive device 1 in the initial state, showing a

configuration of arm restricting mechanism 7. Fig. 8 is a partial enlarged view of assistive device

1 in the intermediate state, showing a configuration and operation of arm restricting mechanism

7.

[0035]

Restricting guide member 71 is a member having support point 72 at one end on the front upper

side and biasing point 73 at the other end on the rear lower side. Restricting guide member 71

further has elongated hole 74 extending obliquely between support point 72 and urging point 73.

Support point 72 is disposed at predetermined position 3A near the upper portion of arm front

section 34 and is supported by the structural member so as to be swingable. Elongated hole 74

movably accommodates connecting pin 613, that is, elongated hole 74 movably accommodates

the distal end of movable section 52.

[0036]

A coil spring can be used as biasing member 75. One end 751 of the rear upper side of biasing

member 75 is locked to upper position 3B of arm 3. Upper position 3B of arm 3 is located above predetermined position 3A. The other end 752 of the front lower side of biasing member 75 is engaged with urging point 73 of restricting guide member 71. Biasing member 75 urges upper position 3B of arm 3 toward restricting guiding member 71, as indicated by arrow F1. In other words, biasing member 75 urges upper position 3B of arm 3 toward movable section 52.

[0037]

In the initial state shown in Fig. 7, movable section 52 of actuator 5 is in the shortened position.

At this time, connecting pin 613 is positioned at the rear lower end of elongated hole 74. Here,

when movable section 52 starts the first motion, connecting pin 613 moves forward and upward

in elongated hole 74 in parallel with the swinging motion of first linking member 61. Further,

restricting guide member 71 swings clockwise about support point 72. In the configuration of the

present embodiment, restricting guide member 71 swings 24 degrees in the first motion of

movable section 52. This motion continues until movable section 52 extends to a predetermined

intermediate position and restricting protrusion 614 comes into contact with restricting member

63, and the state shown in Fig. 8 is reached.

[0038]

In the intermediate state shown in Fig. 8, connecting pin 613 is positioned at the front upper end

of elongated hole 74. Thereafter, when movable section 52 starts the second motion, arm 3 swings,

but the relative positional relationship between arm 3 and arm restricting mechanism 7 does not

change. From the initial state to the final state of assistive device 1, biasing member 75 urges

upper position 3B of arm 3 toward movable section 52.

[0039]

The control section (not shown) is composed of an operating device, a control main body section, and the like. The operating device has an up-button and a down-button for operating actuator 5, and is operated by the caregiver. The control main body section is configured by a computer device having a CPU and is operated with software. The control main body section controls the direction of the current flowing through motor 53 of actuator 5 in accordance with operation information acquired from the operation device.

[0040]

2. Operation, action, and effect of assistive device 1 of the embodiment

Next, the operation, action, and effect of assistive device 1 of the embodiment will be described.

Hereinafter, the control and operation of the lifting mode for assisting in transferring care receiver

M will be described. In the lifting mode, assistive device 1 operates from the initial state shown

in Fig. 2, through the intermediate state shown in Fig. 3, to the final state shown in Fig. 4. When

assisting in seating care receiver M, assistive device 1 operates in the reverse direction in

substantially the reverse order of transferring.

[0041]

First, the caregiver returns movable section 52 of actuator 5 to the shortened position shown in

Fig. 2. Next, the caregiver grasps handle 42 and moves assistive device 1 toward care receiver M

in the sitting posture. Care receiver M inserts the lower body into the region below support section

4 and places both feet on foot mount 21. Care receiver M can obtain a stable posture by allowing

a portion of the lower legs to come in contact with lower leg contact 25.

[0042]

Next, care receiver M tilts the trunk forward to bring the trunk in contact with trunk support

section 41, and rests both underarms on underarm support sections 45. At this time, since trunk support section 41 is swung into an upright direction, the forward inclination angle of the body can be small. Further, since underarm support sections 45 are substantially horizontal or slightly lowered to the rear, care receiver M can easily rest on underarm support sections 45. At this time, the posture of care receiver M is the initial posture. The series of motions of care receiver M described above may be assisted by the caregiver. In the initial posture, the buttocks of care receiver M are seated on the seating surface. Thus, care receiver M is in a comfortable posture because the load due to body weight is supported by the buttocks.

[0043]

Next, the caregiver starts to control the lifting mode. As a result, movable section 52 of actuator

5 starts the first motion and expands, and first linking member 61 swings counterclockwise in Fig.

2. Arm 3 maintains the rear position of the initial state. As first linking member 61 swings, support

section 4 swings forward in a coordinated manner with second linking member 62. At this time,

since underarm support sections 45 are lowered forward, care receiver M is restricted from

moving backward and does not fall off support section 4.

[0044]

By the swinging motion of support section 4, the forward tilted state of the upper body of care

receiver M gradually progresses. When movable section 52 extends to a predetermined

intermediate position, the state shown in Fig. 3 is obtained. In the state shown in Fig. 3, restricting

protrusion 614 comes into contact with restricting member 63, and the swinging of first linking

member 61 is completed. Accordingly, the swinging of support section 4 is also completed. At

this time, the buttocks of care receiver M have just separated from the seating surface.

[0045]

Further, when movable section 52 starts the second motion, arm 3 is driven by movable section

52 to swing in the clockwise direction in Fig. 3. At the same time, actuator 5 tilts forward. Further,

support section 4 maintains a constant orientation with respect to arm 3. This operation is

continues until the final state of Fig. 4 in which movable section 52 expands to the fully-extended

position and arm 3 reaches the front position. As a result, care receiver M tilts further forward

while the upper body moves obliquely forward and upward. As a result, as shown in Fig. 4, care

receiver M assumes transferring posture in which the buttocks are greatly elevated from the

seating surface and the legs are extended.

[0046]

With assistive device 1 of the embodiment, it is possible to drive the forward swinging of support

section 4 and the forward swinging of arm 3 using one actuator 5. As a result, transferring care

receiver M becomes smooth and more comfortable. Also, the cost is low compared to the prior

art using two actuators.

[0047]

Further, in assistive device 1 of the embodiment, disengaging second linking member 62 from

first linking member 61 is allowed. That is, second linking member 62 can swing clockwise away

from engagement pin 617 of first linking member 61 (see Fig. 10). As a result, support section 4

freely swings forward. Therefore, it is possible to enlarge the region below support section 4, and

care receiver M can easily insert the lower body. Further, the thighs of care receiver M will never

be held by strong force.

[0048]

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper portion of arm 3 from above at an oblique angle. As shown, the movable first linking member 61 and second linking member 62 are covered by upper cover member 38. As a result, safety is improved, and the appearance is simplified and the aesthetic appearance is improved. Further, arm 3 is formed by connecting arm front section 34 and armupper section 35, and actuator 5 is disposed close to arm front section 34. Thus, a spacious region is secured below support section 4, and care receiver M does not feel cramped.

[0049]

3. Action and effect of arm restricting mechanism 7

Next, the action and effect of arm restricting mechanism 7 will be described. In assistive device 1

of the embodiment, base 2, arm 3, actuator 5, and first linking member 61 constitute a four-node

link, and the degree of freedom of motion remains. In other words, when an external force is

applied, the shape of the four-node link described above may change. Arm restricting mechanism

7 eliminates the degree of freedom of the four-node link and restricts unexpected forward

swinging of arm 3. Fig. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing an unexpected swinging motion

of arm 3 with movable section 52 in an intermediate position.

[0050]

As shown in Fig. 10, it is assumed that an external force is applied in a forward direction to support

section 4 in a configuration in which arm restricting mechanism 7 is not provided. In this case,

first, support section 4 freely swings forward. Nevertheless, if a residual force remains, arm 3

swings forward. That is, arm 3 swings without operating movable section 52. As can be seen by

comparing Figs. 3 and 10, arm 3 swings by an angle a in an unexpected motion. This occurs when

care receiver M vigorously rides on support section 4. As a result, care receiver M feels uneasy

about the unexpected swinging motion of arm 3 and feels less comfortable.

[0051]

Arm restricting mechanism 7 shown by a broken line in Fig. 10 restricts the unexpected swinging

motion of arm 3 by always accommodating the position of connecting pin 613 inside elongated

hole 74. With the present embodiment, even if the degree of freedom remains in linking

mechanism 6, arm restricting mechanism 7 eliminates the degree of freedom of linking

mechanism 6 and restricts the unexpected motion of arm 3. Therefore, with assistive device 1 of

the embodiment, it is possible to restrict the unexpected motion of arm 3 and ensure the comfort

of care receiver M.

[0052]

Further, arm restricting mechanism 7 does not hinder the driving by actuator 5. If the swinging of

arm 3 in the forward direction is merely restricted, arm 3 may be biased in the rearward direction

by using the biasing member. In this case, however, the rearward urging force hinders the driving

by actuator 5. On the other hand, with the present embodiment, it is possible to restrict the

unexpected motion of arm 3 without requiring an increase in the output of actuator 5.

[0053]

4. Modifications and applications of the embodiments

Various modifications and applications of the present embodiment are possible including changes

in the shapes and sizes of the constituent members.

Reference Signs List

[0054]

1: Assistive device, 2: Base, 22: Actuator bearing section, 27: Arm support seat, 3: Arm, 31: Rod

shaped member, 33: Support section attachment seat, 38: Upper cover member, 3A:

Predetermined position, 3B: Upper position, 4: Support section, 5: Actuator, 51: Main body

section, 52: Movable section, 53: Motor, 6: Linking mechanism, 61: First linking member, 611:

Support point, 612: Forearm section, 613: Connecting pin, 614: Restricting protrusion, 616:

Posterior arm section, 617: Engagement pin, 62: Second linking member, 63: Restricting member,

7: Arm restricting mechanism, 71: Restricting guide member, 74: Elongated hole, 75: Biasing

member

Claims (5)

1. An assistive device configured to assist in transferring a care receiver, the assistive device

comprising:

a base;

an arm, being provided on the base, swingable in a front-rear direction;

a support section, supporting a part of a body of the care receiver, which is provided on the

arm to be swingable in a front-rear direction;

an actuator having a main body section, which is provided on the base and tiltable in a front

rear direction, and a movable section configured to extend and retract from the main body section;

and

a linking mechanism having a first linking member, which is swingably provided on the

arm and connected to the movable section, and a second linking member, which is fixed to the

support section and engaged with the first linking member;

wherein the linking mechanism transfers a first motion, in which the movable section is

extended from a shortened position to a predetermined intermediate position, to a forward

swinging motion of the support section; and transfers a second motion, in which the movable

section is extended from the intermediate position to a fully-extended position, to a forward

swinging motion of the arm.

2. The assistive device of claim 1, wherein the first linking member is driven to swing by the

first motion of the movable section and directly transfers the second motion of the movable part

to the arm without being driven to swing by the second motion of the movable part.

3. The assistive device of claim 1 or 2,

wherein the first linking member has: a support point swingably supported by the arm; a

forearm section, extending forward from the support point, which is connected to the movable section and abuttable to a restricting member provided on the arm, and a rear arm section extending rearward from the support point; wherein the rear arm section, when driven by the first motion of the movable section, swings and drives the support section through the engaged second linking member, and wherein the forearm section, when driven by the second motion of the movable section, swings and drives the arm through the abutting restricting member.

4. The assistive device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support section is made to

freely swing forward by allowing the second linking member to disengage from the first linking

member.

5. The assistive device of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a cover member

covering the first linking member and the second linking member.

Fuji Corporation

Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person

SPRUSON&FERGUSON