JP6482131B2 - Support device, wheelchair - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a support device that supports wheels of a wheelchair and a wheelchair .

  Conventionally, an adjusting device that adjusts the position of an axle of a wheelchair is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an axle adjustment device for a wheelchair that can adjust the position of the axle while keeping the lateral width of the wheelchair small. The axle position adjusting device described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that a block having a receiving portion for receiving an axle of a wheelchair is attached to a side frame of the wheelchair so that the position of the axle can be changed, and the block is arranged in the front-rear direction of the wheelchair. It is configured to be sandwiched between two side frames provided substantially in parallel.

  In the axle position adjusting device described in Patent Document 1, holes for inserting and fixing bolts to the block that receives the axle are provided at two positions on the left and right end surfaces. When this block is attached to the side frame using a bolt, the bolt is inserted and fixed by selecting one of the two holes.

JP 2001-224633 A

  When the inventor examined the wheelchair, in the case of a wheelchair in which a pair of wheels are provided in parallel in a front view, when traveling on a road surface with many irregularities, the traveling direction may fluctuate from side to side. As a result, it was found that the assistants and crew members who operate the wheelchairs applied a strong steering force and increased the burden. In other words, the inventor has recognized that there is room for improvement in the straightness of the wheelchair.

On the other hand, in a wheelchair where the wheels are opened in a U-shape when viewed from the front, the lower end of the wheel spreads to both sides in the vehicle's inside and outside directions. It turned out to narrow. In other words, the inventor has recognized that there is room for improvement in traveling performance in a small area of a wheelchair.
Such a problem may occur not only in a wheelchair but also in other types of vehicles.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wheel support technology capable of improving the straight traveling performance while maintaining the travelable range of the vehicle.

  In order to solve the above problems, a support device according to an aspect of the present invention is a device that supports a wheel of a vehicle, and a lower end side mechanism that deforms to push the lower end of the wheel to the outside of the vehicle, and the lower end side mechanism is a wheel. When pushing the lower end of the vehicle outward, the upper end side mechanism that deforms so that the upper end gradually sinks toward the lower end side while maintaining the approximate position of the upper end of the wheel in the vehicle inside / outside direction, and the lower end side mechanism or the upper end side mechanism And a fixing mechanism that is manually set to fix at any of a plurality of stable positions.

  According to this aspect, the lower end side mechanism is deformed to push the lower end of the wheel to the outside of the vehicle and the approximate position of the upper end of the wheel in the vehicle inside / outside direction is maintained, so that the wheel can be supported in an inclined state.

  Another aspect of the present invention is also a support device. This device is a device that supports the wheels of a vehicle, and includes a lift mechanism that floats at least one wheel in accordance with the weight shift of a vehicle occupant, and an angle adjustment mechanism that changes the camber angle of the wheel lifted by the lift mechanism. A fixing mechanism manually set to fix the position of the wheel at the adjusted angle.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention is also a support device. This device is a device that supports a wheel of a vehicle and includes an angle adjustment mechanism that changes a camber angle of the wheel. This angle adjustment mechanism has a plurality of stable positions as the camber angle of the wheel, and has a manually operated fixing mechanism that fixes the wheel to any of these stable positions.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention is also a support device. This device is a device that supports a wheel of a vehicle, and a mechanism that supports the wheel movably in and out of the vehicle and a camber angle of the wheel in conjunction with the movement of the wheel when the wheel is moved to the outside of the vehicle. And an angle adjustment mechanism for changing to a negative direction. The mechanism is configured to push the wheel down as the wheel moves outward.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a holding device. This device is a device that holds a wheel positioning member that extends inward from an axle when the inward direction is defined as inward and the outward direction is defined as outward. A mechanism for determining a trajectory that lowers the position of the member as the member moves outward, a guide mechanism that is connected to the member and guides the camber angle to gradually increase during movement of the mechanism, and a mechanism or guide A fixing mechanism for fixing the mechanism.

  Note that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and the constituent elements and expressions of the present invention replaced with each other among methods, apparatuses, systems, and the like are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the wheel support technique which can improve a straight traveling property can be provided, maintaining the driving | running | working possible range of a vehicle.

It is a perspective view which shows the wheelchair containing the support apparatus of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a front view which shows the wheelchair containing the support apparatus of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a side view which shows the periphery of the side frame part of the support apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the periphery of the support apparatus of FIG. It is another perspective view which shows the periphery of the support apparatus of FIG. It is a side view which shows the periphery of the lift mechanism of the support apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic diagram of the front view which shows the support apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic diagram of the front view which shows the support apparatus which concerns on a 1st modification. It is a schematic diagram of the front view which shows the support apparatus which concerns on a 2nd modification. It is a schematic diagram of the front view which shows the support apparatus which concerns on a 3rd modification. It is a schematic diagram of the front view which shows the support apparatus which concerns on a 4th modification. It is a schematic diagram of the front view which shows the support apparatus which concerns on a 5th modification. It is a front view which shows the wheelchair which concerns on a reference example. It is a front view which shows the wheelchair which concerns on another reference example.

  First, the background to the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 is a schematic front view of a wheelchair 600a of a reference example. FIG. 14 is a schematic front view of a wheelchair 600b of another reference example. The wheelchairs 600 a and 600 b mainly include a pair of wheels 602, a seat 604 supported by the pair of wheels 602, and a footrest 606 provided on the lower side of the seat 604. The wheelchairs 600a and 600b move forward when the assistant pushes the back in a state where the occupant is placed, or when the occupant himself rotates the wheel 602.

  First, the inventor examined the wheelchair 600a of FIG. In the wheelchair 600a in FIG. 13, the pair of wheels 602 are provided on both sides of the seat 604 in parallel in the vertical direction when viewed from the front. That is, the lower end 602a of each wheel 602 is disposed at the same position as the upper end 602b in the vehicle inside / outside direction W. When the traveling performance of the wheelchair 600a was examined, the traveling direction often fluctuated from side to side during traveling on a road surface with many unevenness such as steps and slopes. This shake is considered to be caused by the fact that each wheel 602 is in a slightly toe-out state due to contact with the unevenness of the road surface and receives force on the open side. It has been found that when the vehicle is made to travel straight on the road surface while correcting the blur in the traveling direction, the assistant applies a strong steering force to the left and right, and the burden on the assistant is large. In addition, when the occupant himself / herself rotationally drives the wheel 602, it was found that the burden on the occupant is large because a steering force that corrects a change in the traveling direction is applied together with the normal rotational drive. That is, the inventor has recognized that there is room for improvement in the straightness of the wheelchair 600a.

  Next, the inventor examined the wheelchair 600b of FIG. In the wheelchair 600b in FIG. 14, the pair of wheels 602 are provided in a C shape on both sides of the seat 604 when viewed from the front. That is, the lower end 602a of each wheel 602 is arranged at a position farther from the seat than the upper end 602b in the vehicle inside / outside direction W. As a result of examining the running performance of the wheelchair 600b, it was found that the straightness is improved as compared with the wheelchair 600a of FIG. 13, the steering force for moving straight forward is small, and the burden on the caregiver can be reduced. . According to the inventor's consideration, when the lower end of the inclined wheel is in contact with the road surface, the large diameter portion having a large diameter and the small diameter portion having a smaller diameter are in contact with the road surface at the same time. In the case of the C-shaped arrangement, the large-diameter portion in the vehicle inside / outside direction W contacts the road surface outside the small-diameter portion, and the large-diameter portion has a higher linear velocity than the small-diameter portion. Become resistance. As a result, each wheel is considered to be in a toe-in state by trying to turn inward in the traveling direction, and a change in the traveling direction can be suppressed.

However, in this wheelchair 600b, since each lower end 602a spreads in the vehicle inside / outside direction W, it has been found that in a narrow place, the lower end 602a may not be able to travel and the travelable range is limited. That is, the inventor has recognized that there is room for improvement in the travelable range in the wheelchair 600b. It has also been found that the seat 604 is lowered by lowering the center of the wheel, the occupant's legs are cramped, and the lower part of the wheelchair is held by the protruding portion Rg of the road surface to obstruct driving.
The present invention has been made on the basis of such knowledge, and has been made to improve straight running performance while maintaining a travelable range.

The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components and members shown in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are appropriately omitted. In addition, the dimensions of the members in each drawing are appropriately enlarged or reduced for easy understanding. Also, in the drawings, some of the members that are not important for describing the embodiment are omitted.
The terms such as “first” and “second” can be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a self-propelled manual wheelchair as an example of a vehicle will be described.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wheelchair 100 including a support device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the wheelchair 100. In addition, in the following drawings including these drawings, illustrations of members that are not important for explaining the invention such as a wheelchair seat, a backrest, and a footrest portion are omitted. Hereinafter, description will be made based on the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system. The X-axis direction corresponds to the horizontal left-right direction, the Y-axis direction corresponds to the horizontal front-back direction, and the Z-axis direction corresponds to the vertical up-down direction. The Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction are each orthogonal to the X-axis direction. The X-axis direction may be referred to as the left direction or the right direction, the Y-axis direction may be referred to as the forward direction or the rear direction, and the Z-axis direction may be referred to as the upward direction or the downward direction.

  When the wheelchair 100 is viewed from the front, the right side is called right and the left side is called left. Further, the direction toward the wheelchair 100 in the vehicle width direction (X-axis direction) is referred to as inward or inward direction, and the direction toward outward is referred to as outward or outward direction. When the inward direction and the outward direction are integrated, it is called the inward / outward direction of the vehicle.

  The wheelchair 100 mainly includes a wheel 2, a caster unit 4, a support device 10, and a connecting frame unit 17. One wheel 2, caster unit 4, and support device 10 are provided on each of the left and right sides. The support device 10 includes a side frame portion 6 and a holding device 7. The left and right two side frame parts 6 are connected by a connecting frame part 17 and constitute a framework of the wheelchair 100.

  The wheel 2 is a driving wheel supported on the left and right outer sides of the side frame portion 6 via the holding device 7 and functions as a rear wheel of the wheelchair 100. When the wheelchair 100 travels, the lower end 2 a of the wheel 2 is in contact with the road surface, and the upper end 2 b of the wheel 2 is located near the upper portion of the side frame portion 6. The wheel 2 includes a hub (not shown) as a central portion and a tire 2e fixed to the outer periphery of the hub. An axle hole into which the axle 21 is inserted is provided at the center of the hub. The wheel 2 is supported such that the axle hole is rotatable with respect to the axle 21. The axle 21 is held on the side frame portion 6 by the holding device 7. The hand rim 23 is an annular member fixed to the outside of the wheel 2 and may be referred to as a drive grip. The wheel 2 can be rotationally driven by turning the hand rim 23 with both hands.

  The caster part 4 includes a caster wheel 4a and a caster support part 4b. The caster wheel 4 a is a wheel having a smaller diameter than the wheel 2 provided in front of the wheel 2. The caster wheel 4a functions as a front wheel of the wheelchair 100. The caster support portion 4 b supports the caster wheel 4 a on the side frame portion 6. The caster support portion 4b is fixed to the front leg portion of the side frame portion 6 by the upper support portion 4c and the lower support portion 4d.

  The wheelchair 100 includes a support device 10 configured to be deformable from a closed state to an open state. In FIG. 2, the left wheel 2 shows a closed state, and the right wheel 2 shows an open state. In the closed state, the support device 10 is closed inward, and the lower end 2 a of the wheel 2 is positioned closest to the side frame portion 6. In the open state, the support device 10 is opened outward, and the lower end 2 a of the wheel 2 is located farthest from the side frame portion 6. Each of the left and right support devices 10 supports the left and right wheels 2 independently. One of the left and right support devices 10 may be opened and the other may be closed, both may be opened, and both may be closed.

(Side frame)
Next, the side frame portion 6 will be described. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the periphery of the side frame portion 6. The side frame portion 6 mainly includes a rear frame portion 61, an upper frame portion 62, an intermediate frame portion 63, a lower frame portion 64, a rear relay frame portion 65, and a front relay frame portion 66. These frame portions are formed of a metal material such as an aluminum alloy or a resin material, for example. These frame portions are connected to each other by, for example, pipe-like or prismatic members. The rear frame portion 61 includes a rear leg portion 61a extending in the vertical direction and a rearward extending portion 61b extending rearward from the upper portion of the rear leg portion 61a. A backrest (not shown) may be provided between the left and right rear legs 61a. The rear extension 61b may be provided with a grip (not shown) that is held by an assistant to operate the wheelchair.

  The upper frame portion 62 includes an arm placement portion 62a that extends forward from the middle of the rear leg portion 61a, and a front leg portion 62b that is bent from the front portion of the arm placement portion 62a and extends downward. The arm rest portion 62a may be provided with an arm rest (not shown). The caster support 4b is attached to the front leg 62b. The middle frame portion 63 is bent at the lower side of the upper frame portion 62 from the rear end of the rear leg portion 61a beyond the front leg portion 62b and the front portion of the seat receiving portion 63a. And a footrest receiving portion 63b that extends obliquely forward and downward. The seat receiving portion 63a is fixed to the rear leg portion 61a and the front leg portion 62b. A seat (not shown) may be provided between the left and right seat receivers 63a. A leg support (not shown) may be provided between the left and right foot placement receiving parts 63b. A footrest (not shown) may be provided at the lower portion of the foot placement receiving portion 63b.

  The lower frame portion 64 extends in the front-rear direction below the side surface frame portion 6 and is fixed to the rear relay frame portion 65, the front leg portion 62b, and the footrest receiving portion 63b. The rear relay frame unit 65 and the front relay frame unit 66 are provided between the middle frame 63 and the lower frame unit 64, respectively. The rear relay frame portion 65 includes an extension portion 65b extending rearward from the lower end of the rear leg portion 61a, and a main body portion 65c extending downward from the extension end of the extension portion 65b. The front end of the extending portion 65b is fixed by welding, for example, to the lower end of the rear leg portion 61a. The lower end of the main body 65c is fixed to the lower frame 64 by welding, for example. The front relay frame portion 66 is a member that extends vertically at a position away from the rear relay frame portion 65 forward. The front relay frame portion 66 has an upper end fixed to the middle frame 63 and a lower end fixed to the lower frame portion 64 by welding.

(Supporting device)
Next, the support device 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the support device 10 in the closed state. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the support device 10 in the open state. The support device 10 is a device that supports the wheel 2 of the wheelchair 100 (see also FIG. 1). The support device 10 mainly includes a side frame portion 6 and a holding device 7. The holding device 7 is a device that holds a shaft support member 22 that is a wheel positioning member extending inwardly from the axle 21, and its constituent members are directly or indirectly supported by the side frame portion 6. The axle 21 rotatably supports the wheel 2 (see also FIG. 1). The holding device 7 includes a lower end side mechanism 71, an upper end side mechanism 72, and a fixing mechanism 73.

(Lower end side mechanism)
The lower end side mechanism 71 is a mechanism for movably supporting the wheel 2 in the vehicle inside / outside direction. The lower end side mechanism 71 is configured to be deformed so as to push the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 (see also FIG. 2) to the outside of the vehicle. In particular, the lower end side mechanism 71 is configured to push down the wheel 2 as the wheel 2 moves outward. The lower end side mechanism 71 includes a moving mechanism 75 and a lower support portion 76. The moving mechanism 75 is configured to determine a track in which the position of the shaft support member 22 becomes lower as the shaft support member 22 goes outward in order to move the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 outward.

  The moving mechanism 75 includes a first arm 75d, a second arm 75e, a lower connection portion 75f, and an upper connection portion 75g. The first arm 75d, the second arm 75e, the lower connection portion 75f, and the upper connection portion 75g are integrally coupled to behave as one rigid body. The first arm 75d is a pipe-like member that extends substantially vertically between the lower connection portion 75f and the upper connection portion 75g. The first arm 75d is bent so as to bulge outward in a dogleg shape when viewed from the front. The second arm 75e is a pipe-like member that extends substantially vertically between the lower connection portion 75f and the upper connection portion 75g. The second arm 75e is bent so as to bulge outward in a dogleg shape when viewed from the front. The second arm 75e may be formed thinner than the first arm 75d.

  The lower connection portion 75f is a hollow pipe-like member extending in the front-rear direction. A core rod 75j of a lower support portion 76 to be described later is inserted into the hollow portion of the lower connection portion 75f. The lower connecting portion 75f is provided to be rotatable about the core rod 75j as a central axis. The upper connection portion 75g is a hollow pipe-like member extending in the front-rear direction. A core rod 74k of an upper end side mechanism 72 described later is inserted into the hollow portion of the upper connection portion 75g. The upper connection portion 75g is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the core rod 74k. The lower portions of the first arm 75d and the second arm 75e are fixed to the lower connection portion 75f, for example, by welding. The upper portions of the first arm 75d and the second arm 75e are, for example, welded and fixed to the upper connection portion 75g at close positions. The lower connecting portion 75f, the first arm 75d, and the second arm 75e form a substantially triangular shape in a side view.

  The lower side support part 76 supports the lower part of the moving mechanism 75 so that rotation with respect to the side surface frame part 6 is possible. The lower support portion 76 includes two projecting portions 76a and a core rod 75j. The two protrusions 76a are provided to be separated in the front-rear direction. Each of the two protrusions 76a is a prismatic or pipe-like member that protrudes substantially downward and inward from the lower frame part 64. For example, the front and rear ends of the core rod 75j are fixed to the two protrusions 76a by screws, for example.

(Upper side mechanism)
When the lower end side mechanism 71 pushes the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 to the outside of the vehicle, the upper end side mechanism 72 gradually holds the upper end 2b toward the lower end 2a while maintaining the approximate position of the upper end 2b of the wheel 2 in the vehicle inside / outside direction. Configured to deform to sink. This operation will be described later. Holding the approximate position in the vehicle inside / outside direction means that the change in position is equal to or less than the outer width D of the tire 2e of the wheel 2 as viewed from the front (see also FIG. 2). The upper end side mechanism 72 includes a guide mechanism 74 and a guide support portion 78. The guide mechanism 74 is connected to the shaft support member 22 and guides the camber angle of the wheel 2 to gradually increase during the movement of the lower end side mechanism 71. The axle 21 is provided so as to move integrally with the guide mechanism 74. The axial direction of the axle 21 changes as the guide mechanism 74 is deformed in accordance with the movement of the lower end side mechanism 71. The camber angle of the wheel 2 changes as the axial direction of the axle 21 changes.

  The guide mechanism 74 includes a guide lever portion 74a, a guide main body portion 74b, a first guide portion 74c, a second guide portion 74d, and a core rod 74k. The guide lever portion 74a, the guide main body portion 74b, the first guide portion 74c, and the second guide portion 74d behave as one rigid body that is integrally coupled. The guide body 74b is a prismatic or pipe-shaped member extending in the front-rear direction. Each of the first guide portion 74c and the second guide portion 74d is a prismatic or pipe-like member extending substantially downward from the guide main body portion 74b in the closed state. The first guide portion 74c and the second guide portion 74d are fixed to the guide main body portion 74b by welding, for example. The first guide portion 74c is provided separately from the rear side of the second guide portion 74d.

  The guide lever portion 74a is a lever-like member fixed to the first guide portion 74c. The guide lever portion 74a extends substantially upward from the first guide portion 74c in the closed state and extends upward and obliquely inward in the open state. On the extending side of the guide lever portion 74a, a connection portion 74g for connecting to a guide support portion 78 described later is provided. The core rod 74k is a rod-shaped member extending in the front-rear direction. The core rod 74k supports the upper connection portion 75g so as to be rotatable. The core rod 74k is installed on the first guide portion 74c and the second guide portion 74d. As an example, the core rod 74k is inserted and fixed in a hole provided in each of the first guide portion 74c and the second guide portion 74d.

  The guide support part 78 supports the guide mechanism 74 so as to hang from the upper side. The guide support part 78 is a lever-like member for connecting the guide lever part 74 a to the rear leg part 61 a of the rear frame part 61. One end of the guide support portion 78 is pivotally connected to the rear leg portion 61a, and the other end is pivotally connected to the guide lever portion 74a at the connection portion 74g. The guide support portion 78 extends obliquely upward from the rear leg portion 61a in the closed state, and extends substantially outward from the rear frame portion 61 in the open state. The connecting portion 74g includes a fastener 74h that is attached to a guide lever portion 74a and a through hole provided in the guide support portion 78 in the front-rear direction. The fastener 74h may be, for example, a bolt and a nut that is screwed into the bolt. The connection portion 78k between the guide support portion 78 and the rear leg portion 61a includes a fastener 78m that is attached to the guide support portion 78 and the through hole in the front-rear direction provided in the rear leg portion 61a. The fastener 78m may be, for example, a bolt and a nut screwed into the bolt.

(Fixing mechanism)
The fixing mechanism 73 is a mechanism that restricts the movement of the wheel 2 at a predetermined position such as a closed position. In particular, the fixing mechanism 73 is a mechanism that is manually set to fix the lower end side mechanism 71 or the upper end side mechanism 72 at any of a plurality of stable positions. The fixing mechanism 73 may be configured to fix the lower end side mechanism 71 or the guide mechanism 74. The fixing mechanism 73 mainly includes a push rod portion 82, a push rod support mechanism 83, an operation portion 84, a shaft member 85, and a rotation connection portion 86. The push rod portion 82 is a member for restricting movement of the lower end side mechanism 71 or the upper end side mechanism 72 in the inner and outer directions. The push rod portion 82 is a rod-shaped member that extends substantially inward and outward. One end side of the push rod portion 82 is coupled to the rotation connecting portion 86, and the other end side of the push rod portion 82 penetrates the push rod support mechanism 83 and projects in the vehicle inward direction. The push rod portion 82 is fixed to the shaft member 85 by being fastened to the push rod support mechanism 83 in the middle thereof.

  The push rod support mechanism 83 is a mechanism for fixedly supporting the push rod portion 82 on the shaft member 85. The push rod support mechanism 83 is configured to be switchable between a tightening state that restricts movement of the push rod portion 82 and a non-tightening state that allows movement of the push rod portion 82 in and out. The rotation connecting portion 86 is a portion for connecting one end side of the push rod portion 82 to the upper connection portion 75g so as to be rotatable. The rotation connecting portion 86 includes a rotation cylinder portion 86b, a core rod 86c, and two shaft support portions 86d. The two shaft support portions 86d are portions that project from the upper connection portion 75g so as to be separated in the front-rear direction in order to support the core rod 86c. The rotating cylinder portion 86b is a cylindrical member that surrounds the core rod 86c. The rotating cylinder portion 86b is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the core rod 86c. For example, one end side of the push rod portion 82 is welded and fixed to the rotating cylinder portion 86b. The core rod 86c is a rod-like member constructed between the two shaft support portions 86d. The core rod 86c is inserted and fixed in, for example, holes provided in the two shaft support portions 86d.

  The shaft member 85 is a member for switching between the tightening state and the non-tightening state of the push rod support mechanism 83. The shaft member 85 is a rod-shaped member extending in the front-rear direction and penetrates the push rod support mechanism 83. A male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member 85. For example, the push rod support mechanism 83 is brought into a tightened state by rotating the shaft member 85 clockwise in front view. Conversely, by rotating the shaft member 85 counterclockwise, the push rod support mechanism 83 can be brought into a non-tightened state.

  The operation unit 84 is an operation mechanism for switching between a state in which the movement of the wheel 2 is restricted and a state in which the wheel 2 is allowed. In particular, the operation unit 84 is attached to the shaft member 85 so that the operator can rotate the shaft member 85 with a hand. One or a plurality of (for example, two) operation units 84 may be provided. In this embodiment, the two operation parts 84 are bonded and fixed to the front end and the rear end of the shaft member 85, for example. One of the operation parts 84 may be provided in the rear part so that a caregiver may operate. Another one of the operation parts 84 may be provided in the front part so that a passenger | crew operates. The operation unit 84 is a substantially disk-shaped member formed of, for example, a resin material, and is provided with non-slip irregularities 84b around the operation unit 84.

  By rotating the operation portion 84 counterclockwise in front view to switch the push rod support mechanism 83 to the non-tightened state, the push rod portion 82 can move inward and outward. In this state, the lower end side mechanism 71 and the upper end side mechanism 72 can be deformed inward and outward. In this state, the wheel 2 is pulled outward to shift to an open state, and pushed inward to shift to a closed state. By moving the wheel 2 to a desired position and rotating the operation portion 84 clockwise in front view to switch to the tightening state, the movement of the push rod portion 82 is limited, and the lower end side mechanism 71 and the upper end side mechanism 72 are Fixed in that position. A portion of the push rod portion 82 that extends from the push rod support mechanism 83 toward the rotation connecting portion 86 is referred to as an extension portion 82c.

  The shaft member 85 is supported at two locations of the main body portion 65c of the rear relay frame portion 65 and the front relay frame portion 66 which are separated in the front-rear direction. Each of the rear relay frame portion 65 and the front relay frame portion 66 is provided with a protruding portion 65d and a protruding portion 66d that travel inward from the side surfaces. The shaft member 85 is inserted into the through-holes in the front-rear direction provided in the projecting portion 65d and the projecting portion 66d, and is supported in the holes.

(Lift mechanism)
Next, the lift mechanism 9 will be described. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the periphery of the lift mechanism 9. When the wheel 2 is moved inward and outward in a state where an occupant is on the wheelchair 100, it is preferable that the frictional force with the road surface of the wheel 2 is small. Therefore, the support device 10 includes a lift mechanism 9 that floats at least one wheel 2 in accordance with the weight shift of the occupant of the wheelchair 100. The frictional force with the road surface of the floated wheel 2 can be reduced. The lift mechanism 9 may include a mechanism that raises one of the two caster wheels 4a, for example. By raising one caster wheel 4a and moving its weight in the direction of the caster wheel 4a, the opposite wheel 2 can be lifted.

  The caster support portion 4b is supported on the front leg portion 62b by the upper support portion 4c and the lower support portion 4d (see also FIG. 5). The lower support portion 4d is provided separately on the lower side of the upper support portion 4c. The upper support portion 4c can switch between a state in which the caster support portion 4b is fixed to the front leg portion 62b and an unfixed state in which the caster support portion 4b is not fixed. In the unfixed state, as shown in FIG. 6, the caster support portion 4b is inclined forward and backward around the lower support portion 4d by moving the upper part of the caster support portion 4b forward, and the caster wheel 4a is Rise away from. By shifting the weight to the raised caster wheel 4a side, the wheel 2 on the opposite side can be lifted from the road surface G and the frictional force can be reduced.

  Next, the operation of the support device 10 will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of the support device 10. In FIG. 7, the moving mechanism 75 of the lower end side mechanism 71 is a moving mechanism L75, the guide mechanism 74 of the upper end side mechanism 72 is a guide mechanism L74, the guide support portion 78 of the upper end side mechanism 72 is a guide support portion L78, and a fixing mechanism. The 73 push rod portions 82 are referred to as push rod portions L82. In FIG. 7, the closed state of these mechanisms and members is indicated by a broken line, and the open state is indicated by a solid line. In this figure, one end L78a, the other end L82b, and the lower end L75a, which will be described later, are portions that are fixedly supported by the side frame portion 6. FIG. 7 shows a state where the lower end 2 a of the wheel 2 is in contact with the road surface G. The lower end L75a of the moving mechanism L75 is a fixed point, and the upper end L75b is a movable point. In the moving mechanism L75, the upper end L75b rotates along the trajectory T1 around the lower end L75a. At this time, the upper end L75b moves from the position P1 to the position P2 along the trajectory T1. The lower end L75a is disposed at a position equidistant from the positions P1 and P2 on the track T1.

  The guide support portion 78 has one end L78a as a fixed point and the other end L78b as a movable point. The guide support portion 78 rotates with its one end L78a as a fulcrum and the other end L78b as indicated by an arrow A3. In the guide mechanism L74, one end L74a and the other end L74b are movable points. The other end L74b of the guide mechanism L74 moves along the track T1 in conjunction with the upper end L75b of the moving mechanism L75. One end portion L74a of the guide mechanism L74 moves as shown by an arrow A3 in conjunction with the other end portion L78b of the guide support portion 78. As a result, the guide mechanism L74 moves as indicated by an arrow A2.

  One end portion L82a of the push rod portion L82 is coupled to the upper end portion L75b or the other end portion L74b. The other end portion L82b of the push rod portion L82 is a portion that is fastened to the push rod support mechanism 83 and fixedly supported by the side frame portion 6 (see also FIG. 5). The push rod portion L82 expands and contracts as shown in the figure, so that the upper end L75b or the other end L74b is fixed at any position between the position P1 and the position P2. The axle 21 and the shaft support member 22 move integrally with the guide mechanism L74.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the moving mechanism L75 of the lower end side mechanism 71 is deformed so as to push the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 to the outside of the vehicle as indicated by an arrow M1. When the lower end side mechanism 71 pushes the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 to the outside of the vehicle, the guide mechanism L74 of the upper end side mechanism 72 maintains the approximate position of the upper end 2b of the wheel 2 in the vehicle inside / outside direction (X-axis direction). The upper end 2b is deformed so as to gradually sink toward the lower end 2a as indicated by the arrow M2. In particular, the position change d in the inner / outer direction of the upper end 2b of the wheel 2 may be set to be equal to or smaller than the outer width D of the tire 2e as viewed from the front. Further, the push rod portion L82 of the fixing mechanism 73 is manually set to fix the lower end side mechanism 71 or the upper end side mechanism 72 to any one of a plurality of stable positions (for example, P1 and P2).

  In particular, the movement mechanism L75 of the lower end side mechanism 71 has a trajectory T1 in which the positions of these members become lower as the axle 21 and the pivotal support member 22 go to the outside of the vehicle in order to move the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 outward. Determine. The axle 21 and the shaft support member 22 move along the track T1. At this time, the guide mechanism L74 of the upper end side mechanism 72 connected to the shaft support member 22 guides the camber angle θc of the wheel 2 to gradually increase in the negative direction while the moving mechanism L75 is moving. As an example, the camber angle θc may be set to 0 ° in the closed state and 20 ° in the open state. By operating in this way, the moving mechanism L75 of the upper end side mechanism 72 constitutes an angle adjusting mechanism 8 that changes the camber angle θc of the wheel 2. The angle adjusting mechanism 8 has a plurality of stable positions (for example, 0 ° and 20 °) as the camber angle θc of the wheel 2, and the fixing mechanism 73 fixes the wheel 2 to one of those stable positions and is manually operated. It is operated by. In other words, the fixing mechanism 73 is manually set to fix the position of the wheel 2 at the angle adjusted by the angle adjusting mechanism 8.

  When the wheel 2 changes from the closed state to the open state, the axle 21 located at the center of the wheel 2 sinks. When the seat position is lowered as the axle 21 sinks, the occupant's legs are cramped and the ride comfort is reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, the track T1 is set to be a part of an arc centered on the lower end L75a of the moving mechanism L75 of the lower end side mechanism 71, and the height of the seat is the center of this arc. It is comprised so that it may interlock with lower end L75a. In other words, the shape and position of each support member constituting the support device 10 are determined so that the center of the track T1 is a fixed point having a constant height in the closed state and the open state.

Next, advantages and effects of the support device 10 configured as described above will be described.
In the support device 10 according to the embodiment, the lower end side mechanism 71 that deforms to push the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 to the outside of the vehicle, and the upper end of the wheel 2 when the lower end side mechanism 71 pushes the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 to the outside of the vehicle. The upper end side mechanism 72 which deforms so that the upper end 2b gradually sinks toward the lower end 2a while maintaining the approximate position in the vehicle inside / outside direction of the vehicle 2b, and the lower end side mechanism 71 or the upper end side mechanism 72 can be A fixing mechanism 73 that is manually set to fix the crab. According to this configuration, the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 is pushed outward to cause the upper end 2b to sink, and is fixed at that position, thereby improving straightness and reducing the burden on the operator. Moreover, the posture change of the wheel 2 which is not intended can be suppressed. Further, since the support device 10 holds the approximate position in the inner and outer directions of the upper end 2b when the upper end 2b of the wheel 2 sinks, it is possible to alleviate the feeling of pressure caused by the upper end 2b being too close to the passenger. In addition, since the position of the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 can be changed by deforming the lower end side mechanism 71, compared to the case where the position of the wheel is changed by attaching and detaching a bolt using a tool, the change effort is reduced. It is possible to respond to frequent changes during the run.

  In the support device 10 according to the embodiment, a lift mechanism 9 that floats at least one wheel 2 in accordance with the weight shift of a vehicle occupant, and an angle adjustment mechanism 8 that changes the camber angle of the wheel 2 floated by the lift mechanism 9; A fixing mechanism 73 that is manually set to fix the position of the wheel 2 at the adjusted angle. According to this configuration, it is possible to easily change the camber angle by reducing the frictional force with the road surface of the floated wheel 2. In addition, an unintended change in camber angle can be suppressed.

  The support device 10 according to the embodiment includes an angle adjustment mechanism 8 that changes the camber angle of the wheel 2, and the angle adjustment mechanism 8 has a plurality of stable positions as the camber angle of the wheel 2, and There is a manually operated fixing mechanism 73 for fixing the wheel 2 to either. According to this configuration, by changing the camber angle to a desired stable position and fixing the camber angle at that position, it is possible to improve the straightness of the wheelchair 100 and reduce the burden on the operator.

  In the support device 10 according to the embodiment, when the wheel 2 is moved to the outside of the vehicle, the lower end side mechanism 71 that supports the wheel 2 movably in and out of the vehicle, the movement of the wheel 2 is interlocked with the movement of the wheel 2. An angle adjusting mechanism 8 that changes the camber angle in a negative direction, and the lower end side mechanism 71 is configured to push down the wheel 2 as the wheel 2 moves outward. According to this configuration, since the camber angle of the wheel 2 is changed to the negative direction in conjunction with the outward movement of the wheel 2, the straight traveling performance of the wheelchair 100 can be improved and the burden on the operator can be reduced.

  The support device 10 according to the embodiment includes a fixing mechanism 73 for restricting movement of the wheels 2 in the inner and outer directions at a predetermined position. According to this structure, the movement of the wheel 2 which is not intended can be suppressed by restrict | limiting the movement in the position of the wheel 2 open state, for example.

  In the support device 10 according to the embodiment, the fixing mechanism 73 includes a push rod support mechanism 83 for switching between a state where the movement of the wheel 2 is restricted and a state where the movement is allowed. According to this configuration, the movement restriction state can be easily switched by operating the push rod support mechanism 83.

  In the holding device 7 according to the embodiment, a lower end side mechanism 71 that defines a track T1 in which the position of the shaft support member 22 becomes lower as the shaft support member 22 goes outward in order to move the lower end 2a of the wheel 2 outward. And an upper end mechanism 72 that is a guide mechanism that guides the camber angle to gradually increase during movement of the lower end side mechanism 71, and a lower end side mechanism 71 or a fixing that fixes the upper end side mechanism 72. And a mechanism 73. According to this configuration, as the shaft support member 22 goes outward, the position of the shaft support member 22 is lowered and the camber angle is increased and fixed at that position, thereby improving the straight traveling performance and the burden on the operator. Can be reduced.

  In the holding device 7 according to the embodiment, since the track T1 is a part of an arc, when the upper end L75b moves, the height change of the lower end L75a that is the center of the track T1 can be reduced.

  In the holding device 7 according to the embodiment, the center of the track T1 is a fixed point. Therefore, even when the camber angle of the wheel 2 is increased, the wheelchair 100 interlocked with the center position of the track T1. A decrease in the position of the seat can be suppressed. As a result, when the wheel 2 changes from the closed state to the open state, it is possible to secure a space around the feet of the occupant and suppress a decrease in riding comfort.

  In the above, it demonstrated based on embodiment of this invention. It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are illustrative, and that various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the claims of the present invention, and that such modifications and changes are also within the scope of the claims of the present invention. It is understood. Accordingly, the description and drawings herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

(First modification)
In the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the example in which the lower end portion L75a that is the fixed point of the moving mechanism L75 is disposed on the inner side of the lower frame portion 64 in the inner and outer directions is not limited thereto. For example, the lower end portion L75a may be disposed at a position where the lower end portion L75a overlaps the lower frame portion 64 or outside the lower frame portion 64 in the inner and outer directions. FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of the support device 110 according to the first modification. FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 7 and omits the description of the push rod portion L82. The support device 110 is the same as the support device 10 except that the lower end portion L75a of the moving mechanism L75 is provided on the outside, and redundant description is omitted. In the support device 110, the lower end portion L75a is provided at a position overlapping the lower frame portion 64 in the inner and outer directions. The support device 110 operates in the same manner as described for the support device 10. The support device 110 configured as described above has advantages and effects similar to those of the support device 10 and also has an advantage that the lower end L75a (lower connection portion 75f) is far from the feet of the occupant, making it easier to get on and off. .

(Second modification)
In the embodiment, an example in which the upper end side mechanism 72 is configured by combining two fixed-length supports, that is, the guide mechanism L74 and the guide support portion 78, is not limited thereto. For example, the upper end side mechanism 72 may include a variable length guide mechanism L274. FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of the support device 210 according to the second modification. FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 7 and omits the description of the push rod portion L82. The support device 210 is the same as the support device 10 except that the guide mechanism L274 of the upper end side mechanism 72 is a variable-length member that can be expanded and contracted, and redundant description is omitted. One end portion L274a of the guide mechanism L274 is a fixed point that is rotatably supported by, for example, the rear frame portion 61 (see also FIG. 4) of the side surface frame portion 6.

  The other end portion L274b of the guide mechanism L274 is a movable point fixed to the shaft support member 22 and the upper end portion L75b of the moving mechanism L75. When the upper end portion L75b of the moving mechanism L75 moves along the track T1, the guide mechanism L274 expands and contracts so that the other end portion L274b moves in conjunction with the upper end portion L75b. As the structure that expands and contracts, various known structures such as a structure in which the piston moves up and down in the cylinder can be used. For example, a hydraulic cylinder that expands and contracts hydraulically may be used as the guide mechanism L274. The support device 210 configured as described above has the same advantages and effects as the support device 10, and the configuration is simple because the one end L274a serves as a fixed point.

(Third Modification)
In the embodiment, the example in which the one end portion L74a of the guide mechanism L74 moves along the trajectory determined by the rotation of the guide support portion 78 is not limited to this. The track of the one end portion L74a may be determined by a mechanism having another structure. FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the support device 310 according to the third modification. FIG. 10 corresponds to FIG. 7 and omits the description of the push rod portion L82. The support device 310 includes a track defining member 374 having a long arc-shaped elongated hole 374b that is vertically long. The track defining member 374 may be provided, for example, on the rear frame portion 61 (see also FIG. 4) of the side surface frame portion 6. The track defining member 374 is formed with a long hole 374b penetrating in the front-rear direction. The long hole 374b defines an arcuate track T3. The long hole 374b is formed long in the vertical direction corresponding to the track T3.

  One end L74a is provided with a protrusion, and the protrusion is fitted into the long hole 374b. In the guide mechanism L74, the other end L74b moves to P2 along the track T1, and the one end L74a moves downward along the track T3 to guide the shaft support member 22. At this time, the shaft support member 22 is guided by the guide mechanism L74 so that the camber angle of the wheel 2 is increased. That is, the guide mechanism L74 functions as the angle adjustment mechanism 8 that guides the shaft support member 22. The support device 310 configured as described above has the same advantages and effects as the support device 10.

(Fourth modification)
In the support device 310 according to the third modified example, the example in which the one end portion L74a of the guide mechanism L74 moves along the arc-shaped trajectory T3 defined by the long hole 374b has been described, but is not limited thereto. For example, the one end L74a may be configured to move along a linear track defined in the vertical direction. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a support device 410 according to a fourth modification. FIG. 11 corresponds to FIG. 7 and omits the description of the push rod portion L82. In the support device 410, one end portion L74a of the guide mechanism L74 is provided so as to move along a linear track T4 defined in the vertical direction. The track T4 may be defined by a guide member including, for example, a long hole or a rail that guides the one end L74a. This guiding member may be fixed to, for example, the rear frame portion 61 (see also FIG. 4) of the side surface frame portion 6. The guide mechanism L74 functions as the angle adjusting mechanism 8 that guides the shaft support member 22 so that the camber angle of the wheel 2 is increased by moving the one end L74a downward along the track T4. The support device 410 configured as described above has the same advantages and effects as the support device 10.

(5th modification)
In the support device 410 according to the fourth modified example, the example in which the one end L74a of the guide mechanism L74 is disposed below the upper end 2b of the wheel 2 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The one end L74a may be arranged above the upper end 2b of the wheel 2. FIG. 12 is a schematic front view showing a support device 510 according to a fifth modification. FIG. 12 corresponds to FIG. 7 and omits the description of the push rod portion L82. In the support device 510, one end L74a of the guide mechanism L74 is disposed above the upper end 2b of the wheel 2 in the vertical direction.

  In addition, one end L74a of the support device 510 is provided so as to move along a linear track T5 defined in the vertical direction. The track T5 is inclined outward as it goes downward. The track T5 may be defined by a guide member including, for example, a long hole or a rail. This guiding member may be fixed to, for example, the rear frame portion 61 (see also FIG. 4) of the side surface frame portion 6. The guide mechanism L74 functions as the angle adjusting mechanism 8 that guides the shaft support member 22 so that the camber angle of the wheel 2 is increased by moving the one end L74a downward along the track T4. The support device 510 configured as described above has the same advantages and effects as the support device 10.

(Other variations)
In the embodiment, the example in which the lower end side mechanism 71 or the upper end side mechanism 72 is configured by a rotating mechanism of a pipe-like or lever-like member has been described, but is not limited thereto. For example, these mechanisms may include other types of operation mechanisms and techniques such as a cam mechanism and a slide mechanism.

  In the embodiment, the example in which the mechanism of the support device 10 to the holding device 7 is configured to perform a predetermined operation by a force input from the outside has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, these devices may include a power generation source such as an electric motor or a hydraulic device.

  In the embodiment, the example in which the caster part 4 is fixed to the front leg part 62b of the side frame part 6 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a mechanism for fixing the caster part 4 to the lower end side mechanism 71 or the upper end side mechanism 72 may be provided. In this case, the camber angle of the caster unit 4 can be changed in synchronization with the wheel 2.

  Although the lift mechanism 9 explained the example which raises the caster wheel 4a by inclining the caster support part 4b in embodiment, it is not restricted to this. For example, you may make it provide the mechanism which supports the caster support part 4b so that a slide to an up-down direction is possible.

  In the embodiment, in order to reduce the influence of the frictional force between the wheel 2 and the road surface, the example in which the wheel 2 that has floated due to weight movement at the time of stopping is moved inward and outward is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a drive mechanism that gradually moves the wheels 2 in and out while the wheelchair 100 is running may be provided. Since the wheel 2 is moved while traveling, smooth and quick operation can be expected without being affected by frictional force.

  In the embodiment, the example in which the movement of the wheel 2 is restricted at a plurality of positions in the closed state and the open state has been described, but the invention is not limited thereto. Since the wheel 2 receives an outward force depending on the weight of the occupant, it is not essential to fix the wheel 2 in the open position. The fixing mechanism may be configured to limit the movement of the wheel 2 at one stable position, for example, a closed position.

  In the embodiment, the configuration in which the fixing mechanism 73 changes the length of the arm by changing the extension length of the extension portion 82c of the push rod portion 82 using the push rod support mechanism 83 has been described. Not limited. The push rod portion 82 is not limited to the configuration using the push rod support mechanism 83, but may be any configuration that can change the length of the arm in order to exhibit the above-described function. For example, a configuration using a male screw and a female screw or a cam mechanism is used. The configuration may be acceptable. As an example of this configuration, a mechanism may be used in which a male screw is formed on the outer periphery of the push rod portion 82, a female screw formed at the center of the handle is screwed to the male screw, and the handle is supported on the side frame portion 6. By turning this handle, the extension length of the extension portion 82c of the push rod portion 82 can be changed by the action of the male screw and the female screw. As another example of the push rod portion, a configuration in which one ends of two arm members having different lengths are connected to each other so as to be rotatable with each other can be used. By switching between the extended state and the folded state of the two arm members, the length between the other end portions of these arm members can be changed in two stages.

  In the embodiment, the example in which the support device 10 or the holding device 7 is provided in the wheelchair 100 as a vehicle has been described, but is not limited thereto. These devices may be provided in a vehicle other than a wheelchair such as a baby carriage, a rear car, a wheelbarrow, and a luggage cart.

  2 ... Wheel, 2a ... Lower end, 2b ... Upper end, 4 ... Caster part, 6 ... Side frame part, 7 ... Holding device, 8 ... Angle adjustment mechanism, 9 ... Lift mechanism, 10 ... Support device, 21..Axle, 71..Lower side mechanism, 72..Upper side mechanism, 73..Fixing mechanism, 74..Guide mechanism, 75..Moving mechanism, 76..Lower support part, 78 ..・ Guide support part, 100 ・ ・ Wheelchair.

Claims (4)

A support device for supporting a wheel of a wheelchair ,
The support device includes:
A lower end side mechanism that deforms to push the lower end of the wheel to the outside of the wheelchair ;
When the lower end mechanism pushes the lower end of the wheel to the outside of the wheelchair, while maintaining the approximate position in the inward and outward directions of the wheelchair of the upper end of the wheel, it is deformed so that the upper end sink gradually to the side of the lower end An upper end side mechanism;
A fixing mechanism that is manually set to fix the lower end side mechanism or the upper end side mechanism to any one of a plurality of stable positions;
A support device comprising: The support device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a fixing mechanism for restricting movement of the wheel in an inward / outward direction at a predetermined position. The support device according to claim 2 , wherein the fixing mechanism includes a mechanism for switching between a state in which the movement of the wheel is restricted and a state in which the movement is allowed.   A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
  A lift mechanism that floats at least one wheel according to the weight shift of the occupant of the wheelchair;
  A wheelchair characterized by comprising:

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