JP3554480B2 - wheelchair - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wheelchair provided with a front wheel and a rear wheel on a vehicle body frame.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a wheelchair used for a sick person or an elderly person who has difficulty walking on their own is provided with a front wheel and a rear wheel in a body frame as is well known. The front wheels are made of casters capable of changing the running direction of the vehicle body frame, and the rear wheels are formed to have a sufficiently large diameter as compared with the front wheels, so that the axle is perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame. And is rotatably provided on the vehicle body frame. The vehicle body frame is provided with a seat portion, and a caregiver pushes a rear portion of the vehicle body frame so that the vehicle runs when the user is seated on the seat portion.
[0003]
When changing the running direction of the wheelchair, usually, the running direction of the front wheels is changed by changing the pressing force of the vehicle body frame in the left-right direction.
When a wheelchair is used in a hospital, home, or the like, it may be required to change the running direction of the wheelchair in a narrow space. When slightly changing the running direction of the wheelchair, the direction of the front wheels can be changed by changing the pushing force of the body frame in the left-right direction as described above. -Is also possible.
[0004]
However, when the traveling direction of the wheelchair is largely changed to the front-rear direction or the left-right 90-degree direction, the body frame is moved in a predetermined direction with a contact point between one of the pair of rear wheels and the floor as a fulcrum. It must be turned to change the direction of travel.
[0005]
Therefore, when the traveling direction of the wheelchair is largely changed, the vehicle body frame must be rotated by 180 or 90 degrees with the length in the front-rear direction substantially as a radius. If there is no space with a width dimension larger than the height dimension, there is an inconvenience that the direction of the vehicle body cannot be changed smoothly. That is, when the space is narrow, it is not easy to change the direction of the wheelchair largely.
[0006]
In addition, when the traveling direction is largely changed in a narrow space, the vehicle body frame is rotated with one of the rear wheels as a rotation fulcrum as described above. However, when the vehicle body frame is rotated around the contact portion between one rear wheel and the floor, the contact resistance between the other rear wheel and the floor is large, so that the vehicle body frame can be operated with a light operating force. Sometimes it is not possible to rotate smoothly.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional wheelchair, when the traveling direction is largely changed, it may be difficult to change the direction without sufficient space on the side of the wheelchair, or the direction may be smoothly changed with a small force. There were things that could not be done.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a wheelchair in which a traveling direction can be largely changed to a reverse direction, a left-right direction, or the like even in a narrow space, and the direction can be easily changed. is there.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a wheelchair provided with a seat on which a user sits on a vehicle body frame,
A pair of front wheels provided at the lower part on both sides in the width direction on the front end side of the vehicle body frame so as to be able to change the traveling direction,
A pair of support pipes provided along the vertical direction on both sides in the width direction on the rear end side of the vehicle body frame,
A handle is provided at the top while being rotatably inserted into each support pipe andA mounting shaft with a rear wheel rotatably provided at the bottom,
The rear wheels are almost parallel to the front and rear direction of the vehicle frameBy holding the mounting shaft so that it cannot rotate, and by releasing the holding state, the mounting shaft can be rotated so that the rear wheel is inclined in an inverted figure of eight toward the front of the vehicle body frame. DoAngle control means and
It is characterized by having.
[0011]
Claim 2The invention ofClaim 1In the invention, the angle control means is provided with a handle provided on the upper part of the mounting shaft, a guide member provided on the upper part of the support pipe so as to face the handle and having an arc-shaped guide groove, A regulating pin that is inserted into the guide groove and is provided integrally with the handle and regulates a rotation angle of the handle within a range of the guide groove;
It is characterized by having.
[0012]
Claim 3The invention ofClaim 2In the invention, an engagement hole is provided at one end of the guide groove, and the regulating pin engages with the engagement hole when the rear wheel is substantially parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame. A large diameter portion is formed to prevent the restriction pin from sliding along the guide groove, and the restriction pin is elastically attached to the handle in a direction in which the large diameter portion engages with the engagement hole. And is provided so as to be displaceable in the axial direction.
[0013]
Claim 4In the invention according to claim 1, in the invention according to claim 1, the angle control means includes a connecting member having a predetermined length connected to the mounting shaft at one end, and a connecting member extending along a vertical direction of the vehicle body frame and from a rotation center of the mounting shaft. An operating member is connected to the other end of the connecting member with an axis separated by a predetermined distance and rotates the mounting shaft via the connecting member.
[0014]
Claim 5The invention of claim 1 or claim 1Claim 4In the invention, the rear wheel is provided so as not to protrude above the upper surface of the seat.
[0015]
The invention of claim 6 isIn the invention of claim 1,Side members are provided on both sides in the width direction of the seat portion so as to be convertible from a state of standing substantially vertically and held to a state of falling down substantially vertically,The side member is provided with an armrest member so that the mounting height can be adjusted..
[0016]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, between the state in which the pair of rear wheels are parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame and the state in which the pair of rear wheels are inclined outward at a predetermined angle in the width direction toward the front of the vehicle body frame. By inclining the vehicle body frame at a predetermined angle outward in the width direction, the vehicle body frame can be smoothly rotated about its longitudinal middle part.
[0017]
Also,Since the mounting shaft for rotating the rear wheel in the width direction of the vehicle body frame was inserted through the support pipe of the vehicle body frame, there was no need to secure space for providing the mounting shaft or members dedicated to mounting. Yes.
[0018]
Claim 2According to the invention, the direction of the rear wheel can be changed by rotating the mounting shaft with the handle provided on the upper portion of the mounting shaft, so that the direction of the rear wheel can be reliably changed by a simple operation. Can be.
[0019]
Claim 3According to the invention, when the direction of the rear wheel is substantially parallel to the front-back direction of the vehicle body frame, the large-diameter portion of the regulating pin engages with the engaging hole of the guide groove to prevent the handle from moving. Therefore, the traveling direction of the rear wheels can be kept constant except when the direction of the vehicle body frame is largely changed.
[0020]
Claim 4According to the invention, the operating member is connected to the rotating shaft via the connecting member having a predetermined length, and the operating member rotates the rotating shaft. Therefore, the operating member is separated from the rotation center of the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft can be rotated with a light operating force by the minute.
[0021]
Claim 5According to the invention, since the rear wheel is provided so as not to protrude above the upper surface of the seat, the direction change of the rear wheel is not restricted by the seat.
[0022]
Claim 6According to the invention, since the side members provided on both sides in the width direction of the seat portion can be converted from a state in which the side members are erected substantially vertically to a state in which the side members are laid down substantially vertically, the user can be moved from the wheelchair to, for example, a bed or the reverse. In addition to the above, the side member does not hinder the transfer of the user, and the transfer of the user is facilitated by the fact that one side of the seat can be brought close to the bed or the like.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
The wheelchair shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a vehicle body frame 1. The vehicle body frame 1 is formed by connecting a pair of left and right side frames 2 by a link mechanism 3 so as to be freely foldable.
[0024]
The side frame 2 has a crank pipe 4, and a leg pipe 5 is vertically provided at a front end of a horizontal portion 4a of the crank pipe 4, and a leg pipe 5 is provided at a rear end of the leg pipe 5 and the horizontal portion 4a. Is provided with an L-shaped pipe 6 fixed at both ends. Further, upper and lower portions of a support pipe 7 are fixed to an upper end of the crank pipe 4 and a vertical portion of the L-shaped pipe 6. That is, the support pipe 7 is provided on the rear end side of the vehicle body frame 1 along the vertical direction.
[0025]
A front wheel 8 made of a caster is provided at the lower end of the leg pipe 5 so as to be able to change the running direction, and a footrest plate 9 is rotatable in the vehicle width direction and can be held horizontally at the lower end of the crank pipe 4. Provided
A pair of lower brackets 11 are fixed at predetermined intervals inside the horizontal portion 6a of the L-shaped pipe 6 in the vehicle width direction. One end (lower end) of a link 12 is pivotally attached to each pair of lower brackets 11. The pair of open / close links 12 on the left and right sides are rotatably connected at an intermediate part by a pin 13, and the other end (upper end) is connected by a connection pipe 14 along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame 1.
[0026]
Connecting portions 15a provided at both ends of the mounting pipe 15 are fixed to each connecting pipe 14, and a lower fabric 16a and an upper fabric 16b such as a canvas are sewn to the pair of mounting pipes 15 as shown in FIG. Both ends of the lower cloth 16a of the seat cloth 16 are wound and connected. The upper fabric 16b of the seat fabric 16 is formed to have a longer width than the lower fabric 16a, and first velvet fasteners 17a are provided on the upper surfaces at both ends in the width direction.
[0027]
Second velvet fasteners 17b provided at both ends of the lower surface of the seat cushion 18 are detachably attached to the first velvet fastener 17a. That is, the seat cushion 18 is detachably provided on the seat cloth 16.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 3, a back cloth 20 for a user sitting on the seat cloth 16 to lean on is provided between the upper portions of the pair of support pipes 7. The back cushion (not shown) is provided detachably.
[0029]
An upper bracket 19 extends downward from the rear end of the horizontal portion 4a of each crank pipe 4. One end of a lock link 21 is pivotally attached to the upper bracket 19. The other end of the lock link 21 is pivotally attached to an upper portion of the opening / closing link 12.
[0030]
By rotating the opening / closing link 12 in the falling direction, the vehicle body frame 1 holds the pair of side frames 2 at a predetermined facing interval, and rotates the body frame 1 in the upright direction. The frame 2 can be folded close to.
[0031]
A lock link 21 provided between the opening / closing link 12 and the horizontal portion 4a of the crank pipe 4 is provided for a user who is added to the seat cloth 16 via the seat cushion 18 between the pair of side frames 2. The opening / closing link 12 is prevented from rotating in the upright direction due to a load or an external force applied to the pair of side frames 2.
[0032]
To rotate the opening / closing link 12 in the upright direction, that is, to fold the vehicle body frame 1, put a hand on the connecting pipe 14 provided at the upper end of the opening / closing link 12 and move the opening / closing link 12 obliquely upward as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. By applying a force in the direction, the opening / closing link 12 can be turned in the upright direction. That is, the lock link 21 prevents the opening / closing link 12 from rotating in the upright direction due to an inadvertent external force.
[0033]
A pair of connecting brackets 23 are provided on the horizontal portion 4a of the crank pipe 4 respectively. A lower end of a plate-shaped side member 24 is rotatably connected to each pair of connection brackets 23. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), an engagement pin 25 protrudes from the rear end surface of the side member 24.
[0034]
The engagement pin 25 is adapted to engage with an engagement hole 26a of an elastic hinge 26 provided at a vertical portion on the rear end side of the crank pipe 4. Thus, the side member 24 is held in a state of standing substantially vertically on the horizontal portion 4a. If the elastic hinge 26 is elastically deformed to release the engagement between the engaging hole 26a and the engaging pin 25, the side member 24 can fall down.
[0035]
In other words, the side member 24 can be held in a state of standing upright in a substantially vertical direction shown by a solid line in FIG. 3 so as not to fall down. When the engagement between the elastic hinge 26 and the engagement pin 25 is released, the side As shown by, it can be made to fall almost vertically.
[0036]
Therefore, when the user lying on the bed is moved to a wheelchair, or the user of the wheelchair is moved to the bed, if the side member 24 is laid down, the side member 24 can be moved between the bed and the wheelchair. Since the user does not get in the way, the transfer of the user can be easily performed, and one pair of the seat cushions 18 in the width direction can be brought close to the bed. This also facilitates the transfer of the user.
[0037]
On the inner surface side of the side member 24, a concave portion 27 opened to the inner surface and the upper end thereof is formed as shown in FIG. The recess 27 accommodates an armrest member 28. A cushion member 29 is provided at an upper end of the armrest member 28 projecting from the recess 27.
[0038]
At both ends in the width direction of the armrest member 28, a plurality of, in this embodiment, three height adjusting holes 31a are continuously provided by slits 31b. A holding member 32 is joined to one side surface of the armrest member 28 housed in the recess 27. At both ends in the width direction of the surface of the pressing member 32 which is joined to the armrest member 28, an outer boss portion 33 having a small diameter portion 33b formed at the tip of a large diameter portion 33a as shown in FIG. Is protruding.
[0039]
The large diameter portion 33a of the boss 33 is fitted in the height adjustment hole 31a of the armrest member 28, and the small diameter portion 33b is a through hole formed in a portion of the side member 24 corresponding to the height adjustment hole 31a. 34.
[0040]
A male screw 35 is inserted into the insertion hole 33 c of the boss 33, and a cap-shaped female screw 36 is screwed into the tip protruding from the boss 33 from the through hole 34. Thereby, the armrest member 28 is held and fixed by the side member 24 and the pressing member 32.
[0041]
Therefore, the mounting height of the armrest member 28 can be adjusted depending on which of the three height adjustment holes 31a the boss 33 is fitted to. That is, the height position of the cushion member 29 provided at the upper end of the armrest member 28 can be adjusted to a height that is easy for the user to use.
[0042]
A mounting shaft 41 having a hexagonal cross section shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is rotatably inserted into a pair of support pipes 7 provided on the rear end side of the vehicle body frame 1. An upper cylindrical body 42 is externally fitted to the upper end of the mounting shaft 41 and fixed by welding, and a lower cylindrical body 43 is externally fitted and fixed to the lower end by welding. As shown in FIG. 6, the cylinders 42 and 43 are rotatably supported by bushes 44a and 44b provided inside and below the support pipe 7, respectively.
[0043]
The lower surface of one end of the guide member 45 is welded and fixed to the upper end surface of the upper cylindrical body 42. On the other end of the guide member 45, an arc-shaped guide groove 46 centering on the axis of the mounting shaft 41 is formed. At one end of the guide groove 46, an engagement hole 47 having a larger diameter than other portions is continuously provided.
[0044]
The upper end of the mounting shaft 41 projects toward the upper surface of the guide member 45, and a handle 48 is provided there. The handle 48 includes an oval-shaped block portion 48a and an operating rod portion 48b connected to one end of the block portion 48a. One end of the block portion 48a has a hexagon fitted to the upper end of the mounting shaft 41. A hole 49 is formed open to the lower surface.
[0045]
The hexagonal hole 49 is opened on the upper surface side of the block portion 48a via a small-diameter circular hole 49a. A mounting screw 51 is formed from the circular hole 49a to a screw hole 41a formed on the upper end surface of the mounting shaft 41. By screwing, the block portion 48a is connected and fixed to the mounting shaft 41.
[0046]
At the other end of the block portion 48a, a mounting hole 53 for a regulating pin 52 for regulating the rotation angle of the handle 48 is formed. The attachment hole 53 is formed by connecting an elliptical hole 53a opened on the upper surface of the block portion 48a and a circular hole 53b opened on the lower surface.
[0047]
The restriction pin 52 includes an upper pin member 54 inserted from the upper surface side of the block portion 48a and a lower pin member 55 inserted from the lower surface side of the block portion 48a. The upper end of the lower pin member 55 is inserted into a connection hole 56 formed by opening on the lower surface side of the upper pin member 54, and these pin members 54, 55 are knocked pins 57 press-fitted from the side of the upper pin member 54. Are linked by
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 6, a step 58 is formed in the middle of the inner peripheral surface of the circular hole 53b. A spring 59 is provided between the stepped portion 58 and the lower end surface of the lower pin member 55 for urging the regulating pin 52 elastically in the ascending direction.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 7, the lower pin member 55 has a large-diameter portion 55 a having a diameter larger than that of the guide groove 46 and a size that fits into the engagement hole 47. A flange portion 55b having a diameter larger than that of the flange portion 55b is sequentially formed.
[0050]
When the large diameter portion 55a is not fitted in the engagement hole 47, the regulation pin 52 can be slid along the guide groove 46. That is, the handle 48 can be rotated together with the mounting shaft 41. When the large diameter portion 55a is fitted into the engagement hole 47, the rotation of the handle 48 is prevented by the restriction pin 52.
[0051]
That is, the mounting shaft 41 can be rotated by the handle 48, and the range of the rotation is regulated by the regulating pin 52 that slides along the guide groove 46.
[0052]
One end surface of the axle block 61 is fixed to the lower end surface of the lower cylinder 43 provided at the lower end of the mounting shaft 41. The axle block 61 has an axle hole 62 whose axis is orthogonal to the axis of the mounting shaft 41. As shown in FIG. 1, a rear axle 64 rotatably supporting a rear wheel 63 having a diameter sufficiently larger than that of the front wheel 8 is detachably attached to the axle hole 62.
[0053]
The upper end of the rear wheel 63 is provided so as not to project onto the upper surface of the seat cloth 16 (seat) stretched as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the size of the rear wheel 63 and the height position of the rear wheel shaft 64 are set so that the upper end of the rear wheel 63 is located below the lower surface of the seat cloth 16.
[0054]
Further, the rear wheel 63 is provided on the lower surface side of the seat cloth 16 stretched, that is, at a position not protruding outward from both sides in the width direction of the seat cloth 16. This prevents the rear wheel 63 from hindering the side member 24 from falling down substantially vertically.
[0055]
In a state in which the rotation of the handle 48 is prevented by the regulating pin 52, the rear wheel 63 is parallel to the front-rear direction indicated by an arrow X in the same figure of the vehicle body frame 1 as shown by a solid line in FIG. ing.
[0056]
When the control pin 52 is pressed against the urging force of the spring 59, the large diameter portion 55a is disengaged from the engagement hole 47, and the handle 48 is rotated in the direction of arrow B. By means of the shaft 41, the pair of rear wheels 63 can be inclined at a predetermined angle outward in the vehicle width direction toward the front of the vehicle body frame 1 as shown by a chain line in FIG. That is, the pair of rear wheels 63 can be inclined in a substantially inverted figure of eight from the rear of the vehicle body frame 1 toward the front. At this time, since the upper end of the rear wheel 63 is located on the lower surface side of the seat cloth 16 (seat), the tilting thereof is not limited by the part of the seat cloth 16.
[0057]
In addition, when the rear wheel 63 is tilted in an inverted eight-shape opposite to the above, the length of the horizontal portion 6a is adjusted so that the vertical portion of the L-shaped pipe 6 of the vehicle body frame 1 does not interfere. Just set it.
[0058]
A connection shaft 67 is fixed to the lower end surface of the axle block 61, and one end of a mounting rod 65 bent in a substantially U-shape is fixed to the connection shaft 67. The other end of the mounting rod 65 extends outside the outer periphery of the rear wheel 63, and an auxiliary wheel 66 having a diameter sufficiently smaller than that of the rear wheel 63 is rotatably provided at the end.
[0059]
The auxiliary wheels 66 are normally floating above the floor, and when the vehicle body frame 1 is tilted backward, the auxiliary wheels 66 can contact the ground to lift the front wheels 8 and the rear wheels 63 from the floor. Therefore, the auxiliary wheel 66 is used when the front wheel 8 and the rear wheel 63 are placed from the lower stage to the upper stage when the wheelchair travels on the step.
[0060]
As shown in FIG. 6, a brake handle 67 for the rear wheel 63 is provided on the operating rod 48b of the handle 48.
According to the wheelchair having the above configuration, the rear wheel 63 is positioned so as to be substantially parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame 1 during normal traveling. That is, the large-diameter portion 55a of the regulating pin 52 provided integrally with the handle 48 is engaged with the engaging hole 47 provided at one end of the guide groove 46 to prevent the handle 48 from rotating. .
[0061]
Thereby, the caregiver operating the wheelchair can move the wheelchair substantially straight forward by pushing the body frame 1 with the pair of handles 48, and pushes the left and right handles 48. If the force is changed, the running direction can be changed by changing the direction of the front wheel 8.
[0062]
That is, when the traveling direction is not largely changed, the steering wheel 48 is prevented from rotating by the regulating pin 52 in a state where the rear wheel 63 is oriented parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame 1. Can be driven in a desired direction in a stable state.
[0063]
When it is desired to largely change the direction of the wheelchair in a narrow space such as in a room, for example, to change the direction of the wheelchair in the reverse direction, the upper pin member 54 of the regulating pin 52 that prevents the rotation of the handle 48 is attached with a spring 59. The large diameter portion 55 a of the lower pin member 55 is removed from the engagement hole 47 by pressing against the force.
[0064]
As a result, the handle 48 can be rotated. If the handle 48 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 8 until the regulating pin 52 hits the end of the guide groove 46, a pair of rear The wheel 63 is changed from a state parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame 1 shown by a solid line in the same figure to a state inclined in an inverted figure-eight shape with respect to the front of the vehicle body frame 1 as shown by a chain line. be able to.
[0065]
In order to change the direction of the vehicle body frame 1 in such a state, if the vehicle body frame 1 is rotated in the vehicle width direction, the front wheels 8 are opposite to the rear wheels 63 as shown by a chain line in FIG. Since the vehicle body frame 1 is inclined in an eight-shaped direction, the vehicle body frame 1 rotates about its center in the front-rear direction and the width direction. This rotation center is indicated by a point O in FIG.
[0066]
Therefore, even if the space around the vehicle body frame 1 is narrow, the direction of the wheelchair can be changed. That is, the turning radius of the vehicle body frame 1 is about half the length of the vehicle body frame 1 because the vehicle body frame 1 rotates about its rotation center O as a fulcrum. If there is a space having a width of about half the length of the frame 1 in the front-rear direction, the running direction of the vehicle body frame 1 can be changed to the opposite direction.
[0067]
In addition, at the time of the direction change, the rear wheel 63 faces the direction in which the vehicle body frame 1 is rotated. Therefore, since the vehicle body frame 1 can be rotated without generating a large frictional force between the rear wheel 63 and the floor, the rotation operation of the vehicle body frame 1 can be easily and reliably performed with a small force. It can be carried out.
[0068]
The mounting shaft 41 for changing the direction of the rear wheel 63 is provided so as to pass through the support pipe 7 constituting the vehicle body frame 1. For this reason, since the mounting shaft 41 is rotatably provided on the vehicle body frame 1, it is not necessary to secure a dedicated component or a mounting space, so that the vehicle body frame 1 is increased in size and the number of parts is increased. It is possible to suppress an increase in cost.
[0069]
When a user seated in a wheelchair is transferred to a bed, both or one of the side members 24 provided on both sides in the width direction of the body frame 1 stand substantially vertically as shown by a solid line in FIG. From the held state and fall down almost vertically as shown by the dashed line.
[0070]
Then, the user is moved from the wheelchair to the bed with one side in the width direction of the body frame 1 approaching one side of the bed. At this time, since the side member 24 is laid down, not only does not become an obstacle, but also it becomes possible to bring one side of the wheelchair sufficiently close to one side of the bed, so that the transfer of the user is prevented. It can be done easily.
[0071]
9 to 11 show another embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
That is, this embodiment shows a modification of the angle control means for controlling the angle of the rear wheel 63. That is, one end of a strip-shaped mounting piece 71 is fixed to each of the upper and lower ends of the vertical portion of the L-shaped pipe 6 of the body frame 1. The upper and lower ends of the mounting shaft 41A are rotatably supported by the pair of mounting pieces 71, respectively.
[0072]
One end of a connecting member 72 having a predetermined length is fixedly connected to the upper end and the lower end of the mounting shaft 41A. A lower end of a rod-shaped operating member 73 is connected and fixed to the other end of the pair of connecting members 72. A handle 74 is provided at an upper end of the operation member 73, and an auxiliary wheel 66 is rotatably provided at a lower end.
[0073]
In the wheelchair having the above configuration, when the direction is largely changed in a narrow space such as a room, the pair of handles 74 is gripped and the operation member 73 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. Thus, the mounting shaft 41A connected to the operating member 73 via the connecting member 72 rotates about the upper and lower ends supported by the pair of mounting pieces 71, so that the axle block 61 of the mounting shaft 41A is The rear wheel 63, which is rotatably provided by the wheel shaft 64, rotates substantially in a V-shape as indicated by a chain line in FIG.
[0074]
Thus, the body frame 1 can be rotated about the center in the front-rear direction and the width direction while supporting the rear wheel 63 as a fulcrum. Therefore, even if the surrounding space is narrow, the direction of the wheelchair is changed. be able to.
[0075]
When the mounting shaft 41A is rotated to change the direction of the wheelchair, the operating force applied to the handle 74 is transmitted from the operating member 73 to the mounting shaft 41A via the connecting member 72. That is, since the rotational force applied to the handle 74 is amplified according to the length of the connecting member 72 via the operating member 73 and transmitted to the mounting shaft 41A, the rear wheel 63 can be easily rotated with a small force. be able to. That is, the direction change of the wheelchair can be easily performed.
In this embodiment, the handle 74 is provided at the upper end of the operation member 73. However, the upper portion of the operation member 73 may be bent in an L-shape, and that portion may be used as the handle.
[0076]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, between the state in which the pair of rear wheels are parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame and the state in which the pair of rear wheels are inclined outward at a predetermined angle in the width direction toward the front of the vehicle body frame. It can be rotated with.
[0077]
Therefore, by inclining the pair of rear wheels outward at a predetermined angle in the width direction of the vehicle body frame, the vehicle body frame can be smoothly rotated around a longitudinally intermediate portion thereof. Even if the space is narrow, the direction of the vehicle body frame can be largely changed, for example, in the direction opposite to the front and rear.
[0078]
Also,A mounting shaft for rotating the rear wheel in the width direction of the vehicle body frame was inserted through a support pipe constituting the vehicle body frame.
Therefore, since a part of the vehicle body frame is used as a member for mounting the support pipe, a special space or member for providing the mounting shaft is not required. There is no cost increase due to an increase in points.
[0079]
Claim 2According to the invention, the direction of the rear wheel can be changed by rotating the mounting shaft by the handle provided on the upper portion of the mounting shaft, so that the direction of the rear wheel can be reliably changed by a simple operation. Can be changed.
[0080]
Claim 3According to the invention, when the direction of the rear wheel is substantially parallel to the front-back direction of the vehicle body frame, the large-diameter portion of the regulating pin engages with the engaging hole of the guide groove to prevent the handle from moving. It can be stopped.
[0081]
Therefore, except when the traveling direction of the vehicle body frame is largely changed, the traveling direction of the rear wheels can be maintained in the straight traveling direction. Absent.
[0082]
Claim 4According to the invention, the operating member is connected to the rotating shaft via the connecting member having a predetermined length, and the operating member rotates the rotating shaft.
Therefore, the force applied to the operating member can be amplified and transmitted to the rotating shaft by an amount corresponding to the distance of the operating member from the rotation center of the rotating shaft, so that the rotating shaft can be easily operated with a light operating force. Can be rotated. That is, it is possible to easily change the direction of the wheelchair.
[0083]
Claim 5According to the invention, the rear wheel is provided so as not to project upward from the upper surface of the seat.
For this reason, when the direction of the rear wheel is changed, the direction change is not restricted by the seat portion, so that the angle can be increased and the direction change of the wheelchair can be easily performed with a small turning radius.
[0084]
Claim 6According to the invention, it is possible to convert the side members provided on both sides in the width direction of the seat portion from a state in which the side members are erected substantially vertically and held to a state in which they are almost vertically laid down.
[0085]
Therefore, when the user is moved from the wheelchair to, for example, a bed or vice versa, the side members do not hinder the transfer of the user, so that the transfer can be easily performed, and the side members can be moved almost vertically. By lying down, one side of the seat can be brought sufficiently close to a bed or the like, which also facilitates transfer of the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle body frame showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the wheelchair.
FIG. 3 is a front view along the line III-III in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the mounting structure of the seat cushion.
5A is a perspective view of a side member, FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a part of an armrest member, and FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure between the side member and the armrest member.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure between the mounting shaft and the handle.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting shaft and the handle.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing movement of a steering wheel and movement of a rear wheel.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle body frame showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a side view of the vehicle body frame.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing movement of an operation member and movement of a rear wheel.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... body frame
8. Front wheel
41 ... Mounting shaft
48 ... handle
63 ... rear wheel
72 connecting member
73 ... Operation member

Claims (6)

In a wheelchair provided with a seat portion on which a user sits on a body frame,
A pair of front wheels provided at the lower part on both sides in the width direction on the front end side of the vehicle body frame so as to be able to change the traveling direction,
A pair of support pipes provided along the vertical direction on both sides in the width direction on the rear end side of the vehicle body frame,
A mounting shaft rotatably inserted into each support pipe, a handle provided at an upper portion, and a rear wheel rotatably provided at a lower portion,
The mounting shaft is non-rotatably held in a state where the rear wheel is substantially parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame , and the holding state is released, whereby the rear wheel is directed forward of the vehicle body frame. A wheelchair, comprising: angle control means for rotating the mounting shaft so as to be inclined in an inverted figure of eight . The angle control means is provided at an upper portion of the support pipe so as to face the handle, and has a guide member formed with an arc-shaped guide groove, and is provided integrally with the handle through the guide groove. The wheelchair according to claim 1 , further comprising a regulating pin for regulating a rotation angle of the handle within a range of the guide groove. An engaging hole is provided at one end of the guide groove, and the regulating pin engages with the engaging hole when the rear wheel is substantially parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame. Is formed with a large-diameter portion for preventing sliding along the guide groove, and the regulating pin is elastically urged by the handle in a direction in which the large-diameter portion engages with the engagement hole. The wheelchair according to claim 2 , wherein the wheelchair is provided so as to be freely displaceable in the axial direction. The angle control means includes a connecting member having a predetermined length, one end of which is connected to the mounting shaft, and an axis extending along a vertical direction of the vehicle body frame and being separated from an axis of rotation of the mounting shaft by a predetermined distance. 2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, further comprising an operating member connected to the other end and rotating the mounting shaft via the connecting member. The wheelchair according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the rear wheel is provided so as not to protrude above the upper surface of the seat. Side members are provided on both sides in the width direction of the seat so as to be convertible from a state of being substantially vertically raised and held to a state of falling down substantially vertically, and an armrest member is provided on the side member so that the mounting height can be adjusted. The wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that a wheelchair is provided .

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