JP4457402B2 - Bathing assistance device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bathing assistance device that assists in bathing of a person who needs assistance when taking a bath, such as an elderly person or a physically handicapped person.
About.

  2. Description of the Related Art A bathing assistance device that is attached to an edge of a bathtub and assists bathing of a person who needs assistance during bathing, such as an elderly person or a physically handicapped person, has been conventionally known (see Patent Document 1). Such a bathing assistance device includes a frame attached to a part of a rim that is an upper edge of a bathtub, a lifting device attached to the frame, four tape wires led out from the lifting device, and four tape wires. It has a connected seating surface. And the bathing assistance apparatus which eliminated that a seat surface shakes with such a four wire suspension type structure is also known (for example, refer patent document 2).

  The bathing assistance apparatus described in Patent Document 2 is attached to a frame attached to a part of a rim of a bathtub, a lifting device supported by the frame, a telescopic guide attached to the lifting device, and a distal end portion of the telescopic guide. And a seating surface. The extendable guide has a structure in which a guide roller is accommodated in each guide and the guide itself is expanded and contracted via the roller.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-300548 (page 3-5, FIG. 1) JP 2002-65801 (page 5-7, FIG. 1)

  The bathing assistance apparatus described in Patent Document 2 does not have a structure in which the seating surface is suspended by four tape wires unlike the bathing assistance apparatus described in Patent Document 1, and thus the stability of the seating surface is excellent. ing. Moreover, it can be retrofitted to the bathtub by placing it on the rim of the bathtub.

  Moreover, the bathing assistance apparatus described in Patent Document 2 uses a multistage telescopic guide. This multi-stage guide has a structure in which a roller is attached to each guide in the slider, and has a structure in which a belt connected to the rear side of the backrest is wound up by a driving device having a seating surface at the uppermost position and above the backrest. is doing. For this reason, although the extension guide is multi-staged, the height of the device itself is not suppressed low with respect to the winding structure. As a result, the center of gravity of the device itself becomes high, and the problem of falling backward of the device itself occurs. In order to solve this, for example, a special hole must be formed in the bathtub to fix the bathing assistance device.

  In addition, if the height of the lifting device is higher than the backrest with the seat surface in the uppermost position, the caregiver performs the work of holding the shoulder of the person being assisted from behind or supporting the head from behind. It becomes difficult and interferes with assistance.

  Further, when the bathing assistance device described in Patent Document 2 is attached to the bathtub, the height of the device itself is considerably higher than the rim of the bathtub, so that the device itself occupies the space above the bathtub in the bathroom. There is also a problem that becomes narrow in appearance.

  If a guide roller is provided in the guide, the structure becomes complicated, and it becomes difficult to make a multistage telescopic guide that is small and has a short overall length. That is, the entire multistage guide becomes thick, and the gap between the seat surface and the bathtub wall surface becomes large, so that the bathtub cannot be used widely.

  In such a multi-stage guide with a complicated structure, when hot water from a bathtub or shower water enters the multi-stage guide, it remains without being drained as residual water and adheres to the sliding part as scale. This prevents smooth sliding of the multistage guide.

  Unlike the bathing assistance device described in Patent Document 2, if the bathing assistance device uses a multistage guide and has a low overall center of gravity, a complicated restraining means may be used on the rim of the bathtub. Without any additional work on the rim of the bathtub, the bathing assistance device itself can be easily placed on the rim of the bathtub without occupying the installation location, and in addition, it can fall down to the rear of the bathtub. Such a bathing assistance device is desired because it can be difficult.

  And in order to implement | achieve the bathing assistance apparatus which is easy to attach to the rim | limb of a bathtub with such a low center of gravity, it is possible to use a telescopic type multistage guide for a multistage guide. However, when a commercially available decorative pipe is used for each pipe constituting such a multistage guide, the pipe inner surface is rough and weld marks are formed in the longitudinal direction of the pipe. Prevents smooth sliding of the inner pipe sliding on the pipe inner surface.

  On the other hand, special additional processing such as inner surface finishing (polishing) was performed so as to eliminate the roughness of the inner surface of each pipe constituting the multistage guide and the projection of the welding mark, or an expensive seamless pipe without a seamless line was used from the beginning. So there is a problem with cost.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a bathing assistance device equipped with a telescopic guide, and by devising the telescopic guide, a bathing assisting device that can be easily mounted on a bathtub and easily transferred to the seat surface of the person being assisted. It is to provide.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a bathing assistance device according to the present invention is attached to a frame installed at a predetermined position on a rim of a bathtub, a lifting device attached to the frame, and a part of the lifting device. In a bathing assistance device that includes a seating surface, and an extension guide is attached to the lifting device, and the seating surface is raised and lowered via the extension guide, the extension guide inserts a plurality of pipes having different diameters sequentially. The sliding guide is fixed over the entire sliding range of the inner pipe end adjacent to the pipe on the inner surface of each pipe. An end portion of the moving guide has a reduced diameter portion smaller than the inner diameter of the sliding guide on the opposite side to the extending direction in the extending direction of the inner pipe adjacent to the pipe. Pipe is characterized in that it comprises a sliding ring having a larger outer diameter than the reduced diameter portion at the opposite end and protraction direction of the pipe.

  When a general decorative pipe is used, even if an inner pipe of the pipe is slid along the inner surface of the pipe, the roughness of the inner surface of the pipe prevents smooth sliding of the adjacent inner pipe. By fixing such a sliding guide over the entire sliding range of the inner pipe end, the inner pipe can be smoothly slid without polishing the inner surface of the pipe by additional machining.

  Thereby, since the sliding property of the telescopic guide can be secured with a simple structure, a commercially available decorative pipe can be used, which contributes to cost reduction.

  In the structure of the conventional multi-stage guide described in Patent Document 2, water is easily collected in the internal space of each guide. The smooth sliding of the pipe was hindered. On the other hand, since the present invention adopts a configuration in which the inner pipe slides along the sliding guide of the outer pipe as described above, the surface and inner surface of the pipe (the surface of the sliding guide) are used as the sliding portion. Residual water such as bathtub water is unlikely to occur. As a result, the multistage guide can be smoothly expanded and contracted over a long period of time.

  At the same time, the expansion / contraction stroke of the expansion / contraction guide can be restricted, and the pipes constituting the sliding guide can be prevented from being pulled out.

Further, the bathing assistance device according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the bathing assistance device according to claim 1, at least a part of the sliding guide is made of a flexible sheet.

  By making the sliding guide such a flexible sheet that can be easily molded, if the commercially available sheet is cut out and inserted into the pipe, the sheet itself can be deformed to fit into the pipe shape. This eliminates the need for difficult molding such as slender and thin molding of the sliding guide, and eliminates the need for investment such as a mold.

The bathing assistance device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the bathing assistance device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the sliding guide has a notch in the entire pipe extending direction. It is characterized by that.

  This notch part accepts the welding trace of the pipe (welding line at the time of manufacturing the pipe), so that the sliding guide can be securely fixed in the pipe while avoiding the welding trace inside the pipe. That is, it is possible to prevent the sliding guide and the welding mark from overlapping in the pipe, and to smoothly slide the pipes constituting the sliding guide.

  Moreover, the roundness of the sliding guide can be reliably maintained by appropriately changing the interval between the notches in the pipe.

  Further, even when the component tolerance of the sliding guide is deviated, this deviation can be absorbed by the notch.

  In addition, when the pipes that make up the multistage guide are made of metal, the sliding guide repeats thermal expansion and contraction under the cold temperature cycle when hot water or water is applied to the multistage guide, but the interval between the notches changes. By doing so, thermal expansion and thermal contraction of this sliding guide can be absorbed.

Moreover, the bathing assistance apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention is the bathing assistance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the reduced diameter portion of the sliding guide and the diameter of the sliding guide other than the reduced diameter portion are increased. The portion is configured as a separate body, the reduced diameter portion is fixed to the pipe, and a positioning means for positioning the enlarged diameter portion other than the reduced diameter portion with respect to the reduced diameter portion is provided.

The sliding guide has an elongated sheet shape and the molding conditions are strict. However, the sliding guide has a thin thickness by separating the reduced diameter portion of the sliding guide and the enlarged diameter portion other than the reduced diameter portion ( (Expanded portion) can be easily made.
Further, if the reduced diameter portion and the enlarged diameter portion other than the reduced diameter portion are integrally molded, it is difficult to form a notch in the entire pipe extending direction of the sliding guide, but the reduced diameter portion and the reduced diameter It becomes easy to make this notch part by making the enlarged diameter part other than a part into a different body.

The bathing assistance device according to claim 5 of the present invention is the bathing assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the positioning in the rotational direction of the sliding ring is at least inside the sliding guide. It is characterized by having positioning means for performing the above.

  By providing such positioning means, the sliding ring is positioned in the pipe circumferential direction with respect to the sliding guide, and the inner pipe that slides with respect to the sliding guide is specified in the circumferential direction with respect to the outer pipe. Extends from the outer pipe. As a result, even when each pipe constituting the multistage guide is a round pipe, the sheet provided in the lowermost stage guide of the multistage guide does not rotate.

  When a general decorative pipe is used for each pipe constituting the multi-stage guide, even if an inner pipe of the pipe is slid along the pipe inner surface, the roughness of the inner pipe is smooth. Although sliding is prevented, according to the present invention, by fixing a special sliding guide over the entire sliding range of the inner pipe end portion, the pipe inner surface can be overlapped without additional processing such as surface finishing. Enables smooth sliding.

  Thus, the sliding property of the telescopic guide can be secured with a simple structure while using a commercially available decorative pipe, which contributes to cost reduction.

  Moreover, since the surface and inner surface of the pipe (the surface of the sliding guide) are used as the sliding portion, residual water such as bath water hardly remains. As a result, adhesion of scales in the multistage guide is prevented, and the multistage guide can be stretched and contracted smoothly over a long period of time.

  Hereinafter, a bathing assistance apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a bathing assistance apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support frame 20 placed on one end side of a rim of a bathtub, an elevating device 30 attached to the support frame 20, and a telescopic guide. The seat 50 with the backrest attached to the raising / lowering apparatus 30 is provided.

  A multistage guide 40 is used as the telescopic guide. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the lifting device 30 is provided with a drum 350 and a motor 323 that drives the drum 350, and the wire 100 wound around the drum 350 is wound up or fed out by the motor 323. The seat 50 with the backrest connected to the end is moved up and down with the expansion and contraction of the multistage guide 40. In addition, by using a telescopic multi-stage guide as the multi-stage guide 40, the height of the lifting device 30 is suppressed to be substantially equal to the height of the backrest 540 of the seat 50.

  Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, the support frame 20 has a square C shape in a top view when attached to the rim of the bathtub, and a main frame 210 that is placed on the rim on one end of the bathtub, Two side frames 220 attached to both ends of 210 and mounted on the side rim of the bathtub are provided. The support frame 20 is made of a stainless steel square pipe, and a part of the side frame 220 is inserted from both ends of the main frame 210 so that a part of the side frame 220 can slide with respect to the main frame 210. The distance between the side frames is adjustable. Further, the side frames 220 are fixed to the main frame 210 with fastening means such as screws (not shown) while keeping the side frames at an appropriate interval. A part of the side frame 220 is provided with a restraining plate 230, and the restraining plate 230 is pressed against the inner wall of the bathtub so as to position the side frame 220 and prevent the support frame 20 from shifting.

  As described above, since the support frame 20 can slide the side frames 220 with respect to the main frame 210 and can adjust the width of the side frame 220, the bathing assistance device 1 can be used in various shapes and sizes of bathtubs. It can be attached to the rim. Further, the holding plate 230 provided in the support frame 20 serves as a stopper when adjusting the width of the side frame 220, thereby preventing the bathing assistance device main body from being displaced after the bathing assistance device 1 is attached to the bathtub. Can do.

  On the other hand, the lifting device 30 is attached to the central portion of the main frame 210. As shown in FIG. 3, the lifting device 30 rotates the lifting device 30 and the sheet 50 in the horizontal direction within a certain angular range in a state where the bathing assistance device 1 is attached to the bathtub and the sheet 50 is kept at the uppermost position. A rotating part 310, a main body frame 320 attached above the rotating part 310 and supporting the seat 50 via the multistage guide 40, an elevating drive unit 330 provided inside the main body frame 320, and attached to the main body frame 320 The multistage guide 40 is provided. In addition, although not shown in figure here, the raising / lowering apparatus 30 is entirely covered with the apparatus cover.

  The rotating unit 310 includes a bearing base 312 that is integrally attached to the support frame 20 via a base plate 311, a bearing 314 that is rotatably attached to the bearing base 312, a cam ring 315 that is fixed to the bearing 314, A stopper (not shown) that engages with a notch formed at a predetermined position of the cam ring 315, and a turntable 319 that has a rotating shaft fixed to the cam ring 315 and supports the main body frame 320 are provided. .

  Then, by operating a rotation lever 329 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) attached to the main body frame 320, an operation wire (not shown) is pulled, and the engagement between the notch portion of the cam ring 315 and the stopper is released. It has become. That is, normally, since the stopper is engaged with the cam ring 315, when the lifting device 30 stops at a predetermined position and the stopper is released from the cam ring 315 by operating the rotating lever 329, the lifting device 30 and The sheet 50 at the upper limit position can be rotated horizontally within a predetermined angle. Thereby, the seat 50 in the upper limit position is moved to the rim side of the bathtub, and the person being assisted is easily transferred to the seat 50 from outside the bathtub. Further, once the person being assisted sits on the seat 50, the engagement between the stopper and the cam ring 315 is released by operating the rotation lever 329, the seat 50 is rotated in the horizontal direction, and the seat 50 is moved upward in the bathtub. By moving it, the transferability of the person being assisted is improved.

  Next, the structure of the wire drive unit provided in the turntable 319 will be described. The turntable 319 includes a main body frame 320 made of stainless steel pipe, a drive unit mounting base 321 attached to the main body frame 320, a drum 350 mounted above the drive unit mounting base 321, and a feed or drum from the drum 350. The wire 100 that can be wound by 350, the motor 323 that rotates and winds the drum 350, the battery (not shown) that drives the motor 323, and the control that controls the raising and lowering of the seat surface A device (not shown) and a switch box (not shown) having a lift switch are provided.

  In addition, a part of the main body frame 320 is provided with the above-described rotation lever 329, and by the operation of the rotation lever 329, as described above, it is possible to rotate in the horizontal direction within a certain angle range at the seat upper limit position.

  On the other hand, the drum 350 is rotatably supported by the main body frame 320 by a drum rotation boss 351 and a drum support plate 352. Further, the other end of the wire 100 having one end coupled to the sheet 50 is wound around the drum 350. The wire 100 wound around the drum 350 is prevented from bulging from the drum peripheral surface by the wire guide 331 and from the drum peripheral surface by the wire presser 332. Further, a main body frame 320 includes a limit switch (not shown) for detecting the seat surface reaching the bathtub wall due to the bending of the wire 100 and a limit switch (not shown) for detecting the uppermost position of the seat surface due to wire winding. In place.

  In addition, a pulley 370 is provided on the front surface portion of the main body frame 320 via a pulley shaft and a pulley base. That is, the pulley 370 is attached to the main body frame 320 of the elevating device 30 at a lower portion of the first guide 410 in the multistage guide 40. The wire 100 fed out from the drum 350 arranged at the intermediate position of the main body frame 320 is connected to one connecting portion 445 in the lowermost guide of the multi-stage guide 40 via the pulley 370.

  Next, the structure of the multistage guide 400 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the multistage guide 40 is a cylindrical multistage guide arranged in two rows, and includes a first guide 410 that forms a guide housing portion, and a second guide 420 that is slidable on the inside. And a telescopic type multi-stage telescopic guide comprising a third guide 430 slidably provided on the inner side and a fourth guide 440 storable on the innermost side.

  The second guide 420 is attached with a first bridging plate 429 for keeping the distance between the second guides, and the third guide 430 also has the second bridge for keeping the distance between the third guides. A plate 439 is attached. The first bridging plate 429 and the second bridging plate 439 play a role of allowing the multistage guide 40 to be smoothly expanded and contracted by synchronizing the left and right guides of each stage when the multistage guide is raised and lowered.

  On the other hand, the lower end portion of the fourth guide 440 extends in the horizontal direction in the attached state, and is connected to each other via two connecting portions 445 and 446 partially shown in FIG. One end of the wire 100 is connected to one connecting portion 445 on the lifting device side.

  The first guide 410 to the fourth guide 440 are all made of stainless steel round pipes. As this round pipe, a commercially available round pipe called a so-called decorative pipe is used. As shown in FIG. 4, the round pipes used for the first guide 410 to the third guide 430 are simply cylindrical pipes. Only the round pipe used for the fourth guide 440 is bent in an L shape at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first guide 410 includes a first pipe 411, a cap 412 provided at one end of the first pipe 411 (upper end in the drawing), and the other end of the first pipe 411 ( It comprises an inner liner 413 provided at the lower end in the figure, a stopper 414 for attaching the inner liner 413 to the lower end of the pipe, and a sliding sheet (sliding guide) 415 attached along the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe. Has been.

  In this embodiment, the cap 412 and the inner liner 413 are made of POM (polyacetal), and the stopper 414 is made of a metal such as stainless steel (SUS). The cap 412 is for closing the upper end portion of the first pipe 411, and prevents the assistant or the person being assisted from putting a hand or the like accidentally. Further, the cap 412 is put on the first pipe 411 to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering the first pipe and the second guide 420 to the fourth guide 440 accommodated therein. The center of the cap 412 has a hole so that air can easily enter and exit from the first guide so that the multistage guide can be expanded and contracted smoothly. The cap 412 also plays a role of preventing the sliding sheet 415 of the first guide 410 from being pushed out from the upper end of the pipe when the second guide 420 is raised.

  Since the first pipe 411 is made of a decorative pipe, the outer peripheral surface of the first pipe 411 is subjected to a smooth surface treatment. The inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 411 is subjected to such a smooth surface treatment. The welding trace (not shown) produced when forming the 1st pipe 411 in the circumferential direction predetermined position over the whole longitudinal direction of the 1st pipe 411 remains as it is.

  An attachment hole 411 h for fixing the inner liner 413 and the stopper 414 to the end of the first pipe 411 with a screw 418 is formed at the inner liner insertion side end (lower end) of the first pipe 411. The mounting hole 411h is formed such that the relationship between a welding mark formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 411 and a sheet positioning portion 413c described later of the inner liner 413 is a predetermined positional relationship in the circumferential direction. ing.

  The inner liner 413 has a cylindrical shape and a constant inner diameter that allows the second pipe 421 of the second guide 420 to slide. On the other hand, the outer circumference of the inner liner 413 is provided with an enlarged diameter step portion 413a at one end portion (lower end portion in the figure) and a reduced diameter step portion 413b at the other end portion (upper end portion in the figure). . Two mounting holes 413h are formed in the vicinity of the diameter-expanded step 413a at positions facing each other in the circumferential direction. Further, when the inner liner 413 is fitted into the first pipe 411, the diameter-expanded step 413 a is brought into contact with the lower end portion of the first pipe 411 so that the inner liner 413 is brought into contact with the first pipe 411. Positioning is performed with respect to the longitudinal direction.

  On the other hand, one end portion (lower end portion) of the sliding sheet 415 is in contact with the reduced diameter step portion 413b of the inner liner 413. The diameter-reduced step portion 413b is formed with a portion that is not reduced in diameter only in one circumferential direction, and this portion forms a sheet positioning portion 413c that positions the sliding sheet 415 in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe. is doing.

  The stopper 414 has a C-ring shape and has an inner diameter that matches the outer diameter of the first pipe 411. In addition, two attachment holes 414 h for attaching the stopper 414 to the first pipe 411 are formed at positions facing each other in the circumferential direction of the stopper 414.

  Since the inner diameter of the stopper 414 matches the outer diameter of the first pipe 411, when the stopper 414 is attached to the first pipe 411 and the inner liner 413 is fitted into the end of the first pipe 411, The diameter-increasing step 413a of the inner liner 413 is partially in contact with each other.

  Further, by attaching the stopper 414 to the first pipe 411 and fitting the inner liner 413 into the end of the first pipe 411, the attachment hole 414h of the stopper 414, the attachment hole 411h of the first pipe 411, and the inner liner 413 The attachment holes 413h come to coincide with each other at two locations facing each other in the circumferential direction. The stopper 414 and the inner liner 413 are attached to one end of the first pipe 411 in a circumferentially positioned state by screwing the screws 418 into the attachment holes 414h, 411h, 413h.

  The sliding sheet 415 fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 411 is made of a polytetrafluoroethylene sheet called Teflon (registered trademark), and as shown in FIG. It is formed by rounding into a state in which it is partially cut away in the circumferential direction so as to form a shape. Since the sliding sheet 415 itself has flexibility, it can be easily inserted into the first pipe 411 by further rounding than the state shown in FIG.

  In addition, the notch formed in the entire longitudinal direction of the sliding sheet 415 is a relief notch for preventing the sliding sheet 415 from overlapping the welding trace formed in the longitudinal direction on the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 411. It is a notch 415a. When the sliding sheet is assembled, the welding mark of the first pipe 411 is received in the escape notch 415a of the sliding sheet 415.

  On the other hand, a positioning notch 415c for positioning the sliding sheet 415 in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 411 is formed at the lower end (the end contacting the one side liner) of the sliding sheet 415. ing. The positioning notch 415c is adapted to engage with the sheet positioning portion 413c (see FIG. 5) of the inner liner 413. Since the inner liner 413 is positioned at a specific position in the circumferential direction of the first pipe 411 via the screw 418 as described above, the positioning notch portion 415c of the sliding sheet 415 is the sheet of the inner liner 413. By engaging with the positioning portion 413c, a specific position in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 411, that is, a position where the notch portion 415a for the relief of the sliding sheet 415 receives the welding trace of the first pipe 411 is positioned. Thus, the sliding sheet 415 does not overlap the weld mark of the first pipe 411.

  Next, the second guide 420 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the second guide 420 includes a cylindrical second pipe 421 made of stainless steel and an outer liner (sliding) provided at one end (upper end in the drawing) of the second pipe 421. Ring) 422, an inner liner 423 and a stopper 424 provided at the lower end of the second pipe 421, and a sliding sheet (sliding guide) 425 fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the second pipe 421.

  Like the first pipe 411, the second pipe 421 is a commercially available decorative pipe, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is smoothed by surface finishing, but the inner peripheral surface is not specially finished. However, welding marks remain throughout the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

  As shown in FIG. 9, attachment holes 421h corresponding to attachment holes 423h and 424h formed in the inner liner 423 and the stopper 424 are also formed in the lower end portion of the second pipe 421. The mounting hole 421h formed in the lower end portion of the second pipe 421 maintains a predetermined positional relationship in the circumferential direction with the welding mark formed in the inner peripheral surface of the pipe, and the inner liner 423 is connected to the second pipe 421. The sheet positioning portion 423c (see FIG. 6) of the inner liner 423 is positioned in a predetermined positional relationship with the welding mark in the circumferential direction.

  A groove (not shown) for engaging the C-shaped ring is formed at the upper end of the second pipe 421.

  The outer liner 422 is made of POM, and is formed by combining half liners 422a and 422b that are semicircular in end view as shown in FIG. Further, one end portion of the outer liner 422 has a reduced diameter, and the sliding sheet 425 is constrained so as not to come out of the second pipe 421 at this portion. A groove (not shown) that engages with a C-shaped ring (not shown) that is engaged with one end of the second pipe 421 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer liner 422.

  On the other hand, the inner liner 423 attached to the lower end portion of the second pipe 421 is made of POM and has the same shape as the inner liner 413 attached to the lower end portion of the first pipe 411. That is, the diameter-increasing step 423a is formed at the lower end of the inner liner 423, and the diameter-reduced end 423b and the sheet positioning portion 423c (see FIGS. 6 and 7) are formed at the upper end. An attachment hole 423h for positioning and fixing the inner liner 423 at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the second pipe 421 is formed in the vicinity of the lower end portion so as to face the circumferential direction. The inner peripheral surface of the inner liner 423 has a constant inner diameter. This inner diameter is substantially equal to the pipe outer diameter of a third guide 430 described later, and is an inner diameter dimension that allows the third guide 430 to slide relative to the inner liner 423.

  On the other hand, the stopper 424 is made of a ring-shaped stopper made of SUS and has an inner diameter dimension that engages with the second pipe 420 and the diameter-expanded step portion 423a of the inner liner 423. The stopper 424 is also formed with mounting holes 424h at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction.

  Further, a screw 428 is screwed into each of the mounting holes 421h, 423h, and 424h, and the inner liner 423 and the stopper 424 are fixed to the second pipe 421.

  Similar to the sliding sheet 415 of the first guide 410, the sliding sheet 425 is configured by rounding an elongated rectangular flexible polytetrafluoroethylene sheet leaving only a part in the circumferential direction. The remaining portion in the circumferential direction is a relief notch 425a (see FIGS. 7 and 8), and the welding trace of the second pipe 421 with the sliding sheet 425 attached to the second pipe 421. (Not shown) enters and plays the role of the escape portion of the welding mark. Further, a notch portion 425 c that engages with the sheet positioning portion 423 c of the inner liner 423 is formed at the lower end portion of the sliding sheet 425. Since the circumferential position of the inner liner 423 with respect to the second pipe 421 is specified as described above, the notch 425c of the sliding sheet 425 is also engaged with the sheet positioning portion 423c of the inner liner 423. The position in the circumferential direction in the second pipe is determined.

  Note that the inner diameter of the sliding sheet 425 in a state in which the sliding sheet 425 is attached to the second pipe 421 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the outer liner 432 provided in the third guide 430 described later. The liner 432 slides smoothly along the sliding sheet 425. Further, since the inner diameter of the inner liner 423 provided in the second guide 420 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the pipe of the third guide 430, the third guide 430 extends from the second guide 420. In addition, the outer liner 432 of the third guide 430 contacts the inner liner 423 of the second guide 420 to prevent the third guide 430 from falling out of the second guide 420.

  The stopper 424 provided in the second guide 420 has a function equivalent to the function of the stopper 414 provided in the first guide 410, and when the second guide 420 is stored in the first guide 410, the stopper 424 is provided. 424 also abuts on the inner liner end surface of the first guide 410 and also plays a role of determining the accommodation position of the second guide 420 in the first guide.

  On the other hand, the third guide 430 also has the same basic structure as the second guide 420, and is attached to one end of the third pipe 431 and a third pipe 431 made of a stainless steel decorative pipe as shown in FIGS. A half-shaped outer liner (sliding ring) 432 (432a, 432b) made of POM that engages a C-shaped ring (not shown), and a POM attached to the other end of the third pipe 431. The inner liner 433 and the stopper 434 made of SUS, and a polytetrafluoroethylene sliding sheet (sliding guide) 435 fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the third pipe 431 are provided. In addition, since the shape of these components is the same as the 2nd guide 420, it attaches | subjects the code | symbol corresponding in FIG.6 and FIG.7, and abbreviate | omits detailed description here.

  Since the third guide 430 has such a configuration, the outer liner 432 of the third guide 430 slides from the second guide 420 to the sliding sheet 425 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the second guide. The third guide 430 extends from the second guide 420. Also, immediately before the third guide 430 extends from the second guide 420, the outer liner 432 of the third guide 430 contacts the inner liner 423 of the second guide 420, and the third guide 430 is It is prevented from falling off the second guide 420. In addition, since the mounting positions in the circumferential direction of the inner liner 433, the stopper 434, and the third pipe 431 are specified in the same manner as the second guide 420, the escape notch 435a of the sliding sheet 435 is the third pipe. The welding mark 431 is received, and the welding mark and the sliding sheet 435 are prevented from overlapping.

  Similarly to the stopper 424 of the second guide 420, the stopper 434 of the third guide 430 plays the role of fixing the inner liner 433 at a specific position in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the third pipe 431, and the third The guide 430 serves to determine the storage position when the guide 430 is completely stored in the second guide.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the fourth guide 440 is different from the first guide 410 to the third guide 430 in that two decorative pipes 441a and 441b made of cylindrical stainless steel and these decorative pipes 441a. , 441b and an L-shaped fourth pipe 441 composed of a bent joint pipe 441c, and an outer liner (sliding ring) 442 made of POM attached to one end of the fourth pipe 441 (see FIG. 9). ) And a stopper 444 made of SUS attached in the vicinity of the bent portion of the fourth pipe 441. Therefore, the fourth guide 440 does not have a sliding sheet or an inner liner. Further, the fourth pipe 441 is connected to the fourth pipe 441 having the same shape via the connecting portions 445 and 446, thereby configuring a fourth guide 440. Further, in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the fourth pipe 441, a groove portion (not shown) for engaging a C-shaped ring equivalent to the C-shaped ring provided in the second pipe 421 and the third pipe 431 is provided.

  The outer liner 442 of the fourth guide 440 is made of POM and is configured by combining half-divided cylindrical bodies. The outer liner 442 slides along the sliding sheet 435 of the third guide 430 and moves from the third guide 430. It has an outer diameter suitable for extending the fourth guide 440. An engagement groove with a C-shaped ring (not shown) engaged with the fourth pipe 441 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer liner 442.

  The outer liner 442 is in contact with the inner liner 433 of the third guide 430 with the fourth guide 440 extending from the third guide 430, and the fourth guide 440 is 3 is prevented from falling off from the guide 430.

  Since the fourth guide 440 does not include an inner liner, the stopper 444 of the fourth guide 440 serves to define only the accommodation position when the fourth guide 440 is accommodated in the third guide 430. Is fulfilling.

  Subsequently, a method of assembling the guides 410 to 440 constituting the multistage guide 40 will be described.

  First, the inner liner 433 of the third guide 430 is fitted into the fourth pipe 441 of the fourth guide 440 that is provided with only the stopper 444 and not provided with the outer liner. Then, a C-shaped ring (not shown) is fitted to the upper end portion of the fourth pipe 441 and a half-shaped outer liner 442 is mounted via the C-shaped ring.

  Next, the sliding sheet 435 is inserted from the lower end of the third pipe 431. Then, the outer liner 442 is inserted into the third pipe 431 of the third guide 430 and the inner liner 423 fitted into the fourth guide 440 is fitted into the lower end portion of the third guide 430.

  At the same time, the stopper 434 of the third guide 430 is attached to the lower end of the pipe of the third guide 430. Then, the stopper 434 of the third guide 430, the third pipe 431, and the mounting holes 434h, 431h, 433h of the inner liner 433 are aligned in the circumferential direction, and a screw 438 is screwed into the mounting holes 434h, 431h, 433h. Let Then, the notch portion 435 c of the sliding sheet 435 is engaged with the sheet positioning portion 433 c formed on the inner liner 433 of the third guide 430.

  Next, the inner liner 423 of the second guide 420 is fitted into the third pipe 431 and the C-shaped ring is fitted to the upper end of the third guide 430, and the half-shaped outer liner 432 is attached to the C-shaped ring. To do.

Accordingly, the fourth guide 440 can be slidably assembled in the third guide via the sliding sheet 435. The outer liner 442 of the fourth guide 440 is a half type, but the outer liner 442 is slidably constrained in the third guide via a C-shaped ring. It is not necessary to join them together.
Next, the sliding sheet 425 is inserted from the lower end of the second pipe 421.

  Then, the outer liner 432 is inserted into the second pipe 421 of the second guide 420, and the inner liner 423 loosely fitted to the third guide 430 is fitted into the lower end portion of the second guide 420. At the same time, the stopper 424 of the second guide 420 is attached to the lower end of the pipe of the second guide 420. Then, the stopper 424 of the second guide 420, the second pipe 421, and the mounting holes 424h, 421h, 423h of the inner liner 423 are aligned in the circumferential direction, and a screw 428 is screwed into the mounting holes 424h, 421h, 423h. Let

  Then, the positioning notch 425 c of the sliding sheet 425 is engaged with the sheet positioning portion 423 c formed on the inner liner 423 of the second guide 420.

  Next, the inner liner 413 of the first guide 410 is loosely fitted to the second pipe 421, and the C-shaped ring is engaged with the upper end of the second guide 420, and the half-shaped outer liner 422 is engaged with the C-shaped ring. Wear.

  Thus, the third guide 430 can be slidably assembled in the second guide via the sliding sheet 425. The outer liner 432 of the third guide 430 is a half type, but the outer liner 432 is slidably constrained in the second guide via a C-shaped ring. There is no need to join them together.

  Next, the sliding sheet 415 is inserted from the lower end of the first pipe 411. Then, the outer liner 422 is inserted into the first pipe 411 of the first guide 410, and the inner liner 413 loosely fitted to the second guide 420 is fitted into the lower end portion of the first pipe 411. At the same time, the stopper 414 of the first guide 410 is attached to the lower end of the pipe of the first guide 410. Then, the stopper 414 of the first guide 410, the first pipe 411, and the mounting holes 414h, 411h, 413h of the inner liner 413 are aligned in the circumferential direction, and the screws 418 are screwed into the mounting holes 414h, 411h, 413h. Let Then, the positioning notch 415 c of the sliding sheet 415 is engaged with the sheet positioning portion 413 c formed on the inner liner 413 of the first guide 410.

  Finally, the cap 412 is assembled to the upper end portion of the first pipe 411 to complete the assembly of the multistage guide 40.

  Thus, the second guide 420 can be slidably assembled in the first guide via the sliding sheet 415. The outer liner 422 of the second guide 420 is a half type, but the outer liner 422 is slidably constrained in the first guide via the C-shaped ring. It is not necessary to join them together.

  Next, the movable cover 450 provided in the multistage guide 40 will be described. A movable cover 450 is attached to the multistage guide 40 (shown only in FIGS. 12 and 13). The movable cover 450 is slidably attached to the first guide 410 via a C-shaped ring stopper, and is lowered together with the backrest 540 when the second guide 420 extends. As a result, the movable cover 450 serves to cover the wire feeding portion 335 (see FIG. 2) from the lifting device 30 and to cover the wire exposed portion 336 (see FIG. 2) generated in the process of lowering the sheet 50. . Further, the upper portion of the movable cover 450 is curved and enters between the two rows of first guides, and the curved portion 451 serves as a head-mounted portion 455 of the person being assisted.

  Next, the seat 50 with the backrest will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the seat 50 with the backrest is made up of a sheet frame 510 formed by bending a pipe made of stainless steel having a round cross section into a sheet shape, and a pipe having a round cross section. An armrest 520 provided on the seat frame 510, a seat surface 530 attached to the seat frame 510 and a seat back portion 540 attached to the seat frame 510. The seat 50 is firmly fixed to the multistage guide 40 by connecting a part of the seat frame 510 to the fourth guide 440 of the multistage guide 40 and the connecting portion 446 with an appropriate fastener.

  Note that the height of the backrest 540 is equal to the height of the upper end of the multistage guide 40 at the upper limit position of the seating surface 530. More specifically, the height of the backrest 540 is, for example, about 200 mm to 400 mm, preferably about 350 mm, and the upper end of the backrest 540 is below the shoulder rib of the person being assisted while sitting on the seat 50. It is supposed to be located. In addition, if it is this height, it can be said that the backrest part 540 is not too high, it is easy to raise a caregiver's leg | foot, and it can be said that it is high enough to support a to-be-supported person's upper body without being too low.

  Then, the actual usage method of the bathing assistance apparatus 1 concerning this embodiment is demonstrated. First, as shown in FIG. 12, the bathing assistance apparatus 1 is placed on one side edge of the bathtub rim. Then, the width of the side frame 220 is adjusted until the holding plate 230 provided on the side frame 220 of the support frame 20 hits the inner wall side surface of the bathtub. After the side frame 220 is positioned at an appropriate position in the width direction, the side frame 220 and the main frame 210 are fixed by fastening screws (not shown). In this way, the bathing assistance device 1 can be easily attached to the rim of the bathtub.

  As described above, since the upper end portion of the multistage guide 40 is substantially the same height as the upper end portion of the backrest portion 540, the position of the center of gravity of the bathing assistance device itself is lowered, and the bathing described in Patent Document 2 is performed. Compared with the assistance device, the device itself is less likely to fall behind the bathtub.

  Next, the person being assisted is seated on the seat 50. At this time, the engagement between the cam ring 315 and the stopper is released by grasping the rotation lever 329 provided in the lifting device 30 of the bathing assistance device 1. As a result, the seat 50 can be rotated horizontally within a certain angular range, and the seat 50 is rotated to about 90 degrees with respect to the initial rotational position over the side rim of the bathtub. At this time, the rotation lever 329 is released, the stopper and the cam ring 315 are engaged, and the sheet 50 is fixed at a position where the sheet 50 is rotated 90 degrees.

  Then, the person being assisted is placed on the sheet 50 of the bathing assistance apparatus 1. Thereby, the person being assisted can sit on the seat 50 without straddling the rim of the bathtub. In addition, since the height of the upper end portion of the multistage guide 40 is approximately the same as the height of the backrest portion 540, when the caregiver is sitting on the seat 50, the caregiver holds the shoulder of the caregiver. Since the person being assisted can be seated on the seat 50 while supporting the head, it is easy to assist.

  Here, the rotation angle of the sheet 50 may be 90 degrees or less, for example, 45 degrees. The bathing assistance device 1 limited to such a rotation angle is particularly suitable for use when the bathroom is narrow and it is difficult to assist the faucet attached to the bathroom wall or the wall when the seat 50 is turned 90 degrees. Yes.

  Subsequently, the rotation lever 329 is grasped, and the engagement between the cam ring 315 and the stopper is released again, the seat 50 can be rotated, and the person being assisted is moved to the upper side in the bathtub. At this time, the height of the upper end portion of the multi-stage guide 40 is suppressed to the height of the backrest portion of the seat 50, so that the assistant can hold the shoulder of the person being assisted and the head and neck while the seat 50 is moving. It is possible to easily rotate the seat 50 while supporting.

  Further, since the height of the multistage guide 40 is approximately the same as that of the backrest 540 of the seat 50, when the assistant lifts the foot of the person being assisted and straddles the rim, the upper body of the person being assisted is slightly behind It is possible to lift the foot while tilting it down, and it is possible to easily perform the troublesome lifting operation of the foot.

  Subsequently, when the sheet 50 reaches the upper part of the bathtub, the rotation lever 329 is released and the stopper and the cam ring 315 are engaged again. Thereby, the sheet 50 is fixed at an appropriate position above the bathtub.

  Subsequently, the sheet 50 is lowered to the bottom of the bathtub as shown in FIG. At the time of lowering, the lowering button of the switch box provided in the control device that controls the bathing assistance device 1 is pushed. Thus, the motor 323 is driven using the electric power of the battery provided in the bathing assistance device 1, and the wire 100 wound around the drum 350 is fed out from the lifting device 30 via the pulley 370 (see FIG. 2). Is lowered. In this lowering operation, the multi-stage guide 40 is a telescopic type multi-stage guide and the two multi-stage guides have a bridge structure, so that the seating surface can be lowered smoothly, Allows comfortable bathing.

  Specifically, when the wire 100 is unwound from the lifting device 30, the outer liner 422 of the second guide 420 is moved downward along the sliding sheet 415 of the first guide 410 as shown in FIGS. Slide. Further, the outer liner 432 of the third guide 430 slides downward along the sliding sheet 425 of the second guide 420. Further, the outer liner 442 of the fourth guide 440 slides downward along the sliding sheet 435 of the third guide 430.

  When the multistage guide 40 is fully extended, the outer liner 422 of the second guide 420 abuts on the upper end of the inner liner of the first guide 410 and the outer liner 432 of the third guide 430 is It abuts on the inner liner upper end of the guide 420. Further, the outer liner 442 of the fourth guide 440 contacts the upper end of the inner liner of the third guide 430. As a result, the pipes of the multistage guide 40 are regulated in the extending direction and become fully extended.

  Normally, the seat surface 530 attached to the fourth guide 440 reaches the bottom wall of the bathtub before the multistage guide 40 is fully extended, and the extension operation is stopped.

  Further, as described above, the sheet positioning portions 413c to 433c included in the inner liners of the first guide 410 to the third guide 430 are formed on the pipe inner peripheral surface of the first guide 410 to the third guide 430. The seats 413c to 433c provided in the inner liners 413 to 433 and the sliding sheets provided in the first guide 410 to the third guide 430 are attached to the welding marks at a constant position in the circumferential direction. Since the positioning notches 415c to 435c of the positioning plates 415 to 435 are engaged with each other at specific positions in the circumferential direction, the welding traces of the first pipe 411 to the third pipe 431 are the first sliding sheet 415 to Receiving cutouts 415a to 435a provided in the third sliding sheet 435 receive the weld marks and the sliding sheets 415 to 435 in a superimposed manner. Ri without fit, thereby enabling smooth sliding of the pipe together.

  On the other hand, the lifting device 30 is provided with a movable cover 450. When the sheet 50 is in the upper limit position, the wire feeding portion 335 (see FIG. 2) is covered from the lifting device of the wire 100 and is constant as the seat 50 is lowered. The movable cover 450 is lowered to the height of. When the seat 50 is lowered, the backrest 540 and the movable cover 450 cooperate to cover the wire feeding portion 335 and the fed wire 100. In addition to this, the person being assisted can place his / her head on the head rest 455 at the top of the movable cover. This makes it possible for the caregiver to take a comfortable bath. Since the wire 100 is strong enough to support the weight of the person being assisted and the motor 323 is decelerated via the worm gear, the seat 50 can be raised and lowered slowly and comfortably. it can. Moreover, since a complicated structure such as a clutch is not required by using the worm gear, the number of parts of the lifting device 30 can be reduced.

  When the sheet 50 reaches the bottom of the bathtub, the wire 100 is bent, and a limit switch (not shown) detects this bending and stops the feeding of the wire 100 by the motor 323.

  In this way, after the seat 50 reaches the bottom of the bathtub and bathing of the person being assisted is completed, the lift button of the switch box connected to the control device is pushed again to raise the seat 50. In this case, since the parallel guides are connected by the first and second bridge plates 429 and 439 and the multistage guide 40 includes the sliding sheets 415 to 435, the sheet 50 is raised smoothly. be able to.

  Specifically, when the wire 100 is wound up by the elevating device 30, the outer liner 442 of the fourth guide 440 is moved to the sliding sheet of the third guide 430, contrary to the extending operation of each pipe of the multistage guide 40. The outer liner 432 of the third guide 430 rises along the sliding sheet 425 of the second guide 420 as it rises along 435. Further, the outer liner 422 of the second guide 420 rises along the sliding sheet 415 of the first guide 410.

  When the wire 100 is further wound by the lifting device 30, the stopper 444 of the fourth guide 440 comes into contact with the end surfaces of the inner liner 433 and the stopper 434 of the third guide 430, and the stopper 434 of the third guide 430 is The second guide 420 abuts against the end surfaces of the stopper 424 and the inner liner 423. Further, the stopper 424 of the second guide 420 abuts against the end surfaces of the stopper 414 of the first guide 410 and the inner liner 413. As a result, the multistage guide 40 is completely contracted.

  As described above, since the sliding sheets 415 to 435 do not overlap with the welding marks of the pipes, the multistage guide 40 can be contracted with a smooth operation in the same manner as when the multistage guide 40 is extended.

  Further, since the sliding sheets 415 to 435 are slid with the outer liners 422 to 442 of the inner guide, even if hot water or water enters the inside of the multistage guide 40 with the multistage guide 40 fully extended, While the guide 40 is contracted, these hot water and water can be discharged to the outside again, and no residual water is generated inside the multistage guide 40. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the multistage guide 40 from becoming difficult to slide due to adhesion of scales or the like.

  In this way, the seat 50 is raised again to the uppermost position, and the seat 55 is stopped at the upper limit position by the detection of the limit switch, and then the caregiver holds the shoulder of the person being assisted and supports the neck and head while being supported. Tilt the upper part of the caregiver back slightly and lift the person's leg. Then, the rotary lever 329 is gripped, the engagement between the cam ring 315 of the lifting device 30 and the stopper is released, and the seat surface is rotated. At this time, the upper end portion of the multi-stage guide 40 has a height equivalent to the height of the backrest portion 540 of the seating surface, and the upper side of the backrest portion can be secured as an assistance space. It can be tilted back, which makes it easier for the caregiver to lift the person's foot and allows the rim of the bathtub to be easily straddled. In this way, when the seat 50 is rotated and the seat surface 530 exceeds the rim, the rotation lever 329 is released, and the cam ring 315 and the stopper are engaged again to fix the seat 50. At this point, the person being assisted is taken out of the bathtub, and the person being assisted is finished bathing. Thereby, the transferability of the person being assisted after bathing can also be improved.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, instead of configuring the reduced diameter portion (sliding sheet) of the sliding guide and the enlarged diameter portion (inner liner) other than the reduced diameter portion separately as in this embodiment. It may be configured integrally with.

  That is, you may comprise as the sliding guide 800 which integrated the sliding sheet | seat 810 and the inner side liner 820 with the polytetrafluoroethylene. Specifically, the outer diameter is constant, and the one end portion is provided with an enlarged diameter stepped portion 821 that comes into contact with the pipe end portion, and a notch portion 825 for escaping the welding trace is formed in the entire longitudinal direction. Further, the inner liner 820 portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface as a reduced diameter portion, and the sliding sheet 810 portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface as an enlarged diameter portion. The inner diameter of the enlarged diameter portion corresponds to the outer diameter of the outer liner of the inner guide so that the outer liner slides smoothly, and the inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer liner, The outer liner may abut against this portion to prevent the inner guide from coming off. In this case, instead of making the sliding guide 800 from polytetrafluoroethylene, a material having good sliding properties such as POM may be formed by injection molding.

  Further, a positioning portion that performs positioning in the circumferential direction with an outer liner that slides on the sliding sheet may be provided at least inside the sliding sheet. Specifically, a recess may be formed on the inner side of the sliding sheet over the entire longitudinal direction, and the outer liner may slide while the protrusion formed on the outer liner engages with the recess.

  Alternatively, the recess formed in the outer liner may slide while engaging with the relief notch of the sliding sheet. By providing such positioning means, the outer liner is positioned in the pipe circumferential direction with respect to the sliding sheet, and the inner pipe sliding on the sliding sheet is specified in the circumferential direction with respect to the outer pipe. Extends from the pipe. As a result, even when the number of pipes constituting the multistage guide is one, the sheet provided in the lowermost guide of the multistage guide does not rotate.

  Further, the sliding sheet for the multistage guide described above may be made of sheet-like POM instead of polytetrafluoroethylene. Further, the multistage guide is not limited to four stages as in the above-described embodiment.

  Further, when the multistage guide is assembled, the sliding sheet may be inserted from the upper end of the pipe after the inner liner is fitted into the lower end of the pipe.

  As described above, when the multistage guide is configured to slide the commercially available decorative pipes together, the roughness of the pipe inner surface is adjacent even if the pipe inside the pipe is slid along the pipe inner surface. This prevents the smooth sliding of the inner pipe, but by fixing the above-mentioned sliding guide over the entire sliding range of the inner pipe end, it overlaps the pipe inner surface without any additional work such as surface finishing. Smooth sliding between pipes becomes possible. Since the sliding property of the telescopic guide can be ensured with such a simple structure, a commercially available decorative pipe can be used as it is, which contributes to cost reduction.

  Further, by adopting a configuration in which the pipes slide through the outer liner and the sliding sheet, the surface and inner surface of the pipe (the surface of the sliding guide) can be used as a sliding portion, and residual water ( (Tub water) is difficult to remain. As a result, the multistage guide can be smoothly expanded and contracted over a long period of time.

  Moreover, by making the sliding guide into such a flexible sheet that can be easily molded, the sheet can be adapted to the pipe shape by deformation of the sheet itself by simply cutting out a commercially available sheet and inserting it into the pipe. This eliminates the need for difficult molding such as making the sheet itself slender and thin, and eliminates the need for investment such as a mold.

  In addition, by allowing welding marks to be received in the cutout portions of the sliding sheet, the sliding sheet can be fixed in the pipe while avoiding welding marks inside the pipe (welding line at the time of pipe manufacture). This prevents the sliding guide and welding marks from overlapping, and enables smooth sliding between the pipes constituting the sliding guide. In addition, the roundness of the sliding guide can be reliably maintained by appropriately changing the interval between the notches in the pipe.

  In addition, since the escape notch portion of the welding mark is formed in the entire pipe extending direction, the escape notch portion can absorb this deviation even when the tolerance of the sliding guide is deviated.

  In addition, when the pipes that make up the multistage guide are made of metal, the sliding guide repeats thermal expansion and contraction under the cold temperature cycle when hot water or water is applied to the multistage guide, but the interval between the notches changes. By doing so, thermal expansion and thermal contraction of this sliding guide can be absorbed.

It is the perspective view which looked at the bathing assistance apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention from the diagonal side in the state in which the seat surface exists in an upper limit position. It is the perspective view which showed the bathing assistance apparatus shown in FIG. 1 from the diagonal side in the state in which the seat surface exists in a lower limit position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bath assistance device shown in FIG. It is the perspective view shown in the state which extended one multistage guide of the bathing assistance apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed a part of 1st guide, 2nd guide, and 3rd guide of the multistage guide shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which decomposed | disassembled and showed the 2nd guide (3rd guide) of the multistage guide shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which showed only the inner side liner and sliding sheet | seat of the multistage guide shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the sliding sheet | seat shown in FIG. 6 from the other side. It is the figure which showed a part of 2nd guide of the multistage guide shown in FIG. 6, the 3rd guide, and the 4th guide in the cross section. It is the perspective view which showed the modification of the sliding guide different from this embodiment. It is the perspective view which divided and showed the modification shown in FIG. 10 in the width direction. It is the perspective view which showed the state which attached the bathing assistance apparatus shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which fractured | ruptured a part of bathtub and showed the state which lowered | hung the bathing assistance apparatus shown in FIG. 12 to the bottom part of the bathtub.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathing assistance device 20 Support frame 30,30 'Elevating device 40 Multistage guide 50,55 Seat 60 Multistage guide 61 Support shaft 70 Elevating device 100 Wire 210 Main frame 220 Side frame 230 Holding plate 310 Rotating part 311 Base plate 312 Bearing stand 314 Bearing 315 Cam ring 319 Rotating base 320 Main body frame 321 Driving unit mounting base 323 Motor 329 Rotating lever 330 Lifting driving unit 331 Wire guide 332 Wire presser 335 Wire feeding unit 336 Wire exposing unit 350, 350 ′ Drum 351 Drum rotating boss 352 Drum support plate 370 , 370 'Pulley 410 First guide 411 First pipe 411c Positioning notch 411h Mounting hole 412 Cap 4 3 Inner liner 413a Expanded step portion 413b Reduced diameter step portion 413c Sheet positioning portion 413h Mounting hole 414h Stopper 414h Mounting hole 415 Sliding sheet 415a Relief notch 415c Positioning notch 420 Second guide 421 Second pipe 421h Mounting hole 422 Outer liner 422a, 422b Half liner 423 Inner liner 423a Expanded stepped portion 423b Reduced diameter end portion 423c Seat positioning portion 423h Mounting hole 424 Stopper 424h Mounting hole 425 Sliding seat 425a Escape notch 4 Notch 4 Part 429 First bridge plate 430 Third guide 432 (432a, 432b) Outer liner 433 Inner liner 434 Stopper 435 Sliding sheet 439 Second bridge plate 440 Fourth guide 441 Fourth pipe 441a , 441b Decorative pipe 441c Joint pipe 442 Outer liner 444 Stopper 445, 446 Connecting portion 450 Movable cover 451 Curved portion 455 Head mounted portion 510 Seat frame 520 Armrest 530 Seat surface 540 Backrest portion 723 Motor 730 Wire 750 Drum 770 800 Sliding Guide 810 Sliding Sheet 820 Inner Liner 821 Diameter Expansion Step 825 Relief Notch

Claims (5)

A frame installed at a predetermined position on the rim of the bathtub;
A lifting device mounted on the frame;
A seating surface attached to a part of the lifting device,
In the bathing assistance device in which an elongating guide is attached to the elevating device, and the seat surface is raised and lowered through the elongating guide,
The telescopic guide is composed of a telescopic structure configured by sequentially inserting a plurality of pipes having different diameters,
The sliding guide is fixed over the entire area where the inner pipe end adjacent to the pipe slides on the inner surface of each pipe ,
Further, the end of the sliding guide provided in each pipe constituting the telescopic guide is smaller than the inner diameter of the sliding guide opposite to the extending direction in the extending direction of the inner pipe adjacent to the pipe. With a reduced diameter part,
The bathing assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the inner pipe includes a sliding ring having an outer diameter larger than that of the reduced diameter portion at an end opposite to the extending direction of the pipe . The bathing assistance device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the sliding guide is made of a flexible sheet. The bathing assistance device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sliding guide includes a notch in the entire pipe extending direction. The reduced diameter portion of the sliding guide and the enlarged diameter portion other than the reduced diameter portion are configured separately, and the reduced diameter portion is fixed to the pipe, and the enlarged diameter portion is relative to the reduced diameter portion. The bathing assistance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising positioning means positioned in a circumferential direction. The bathing assistance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein positioning means for positioning in a circumferential direction with the sliding ring is provided at least inside the sliding guide.

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