JP7628887B2 - Standing posture assist device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a standing posture assistance device that helps maintain a standing posture.

A typical chair has a seat on which the user sits, and the user sits in the chair with their thighs bent in relation to their spine.

Also, as in the chair device described in Patent Document 1, a body-worn chair device has been proposed that includes a trouser part into which the wearer's legs and hips are inserted, and a chair part that is disposed on one side of the trouser part and is connected to the trouser part when the wearer moves and moves together with the trouser part, allowing the user to sit down, and that supports the wearer's hips against the ground. The chair can be connected to the trousers so that the chair can move together with the trousers while they are being worn, allowing the user to easily sit down regardless of place or time.

Special table 2016-525386 publication

When a user sits on a chair, their weight is supported by their buttocks and the back of their thighs, which rest on the seat. If the chair has a backrest, the user leans their hips and back against it. This means that the body pressure of the user's upper body is mainly placed on the buttocks and the back of their thighs, and fatigue can easily accumulate in the buttocks and back of their thighs due to prolonged sitting posture and body pressure. In addition, a distorted sitting posture puts body pressure on weak points (such as the lower back), causing physical and mental fatigue in the user and damaging their health. The relationship between poor sitting posture and physical and mental fatigue is both cause and effect, so a negative spiral occurs in which health only worsens.

Various chairs have been proposed to address this issue, but because the user is in a sitting position, it is unavoidable that the pressure of the upper body of the user is placed on the buttocks and the back of the thighs. In addition, while it is possible to reduce the strain on the lower back by standing, standing for long periods of time places a large strain on the legs, making it difficult for the user to avoid physical and mental fatigue.

The present invention was made to solve the problems of the conventional technology as described above, and aims to provide a standing posture assistance device that can prevent posture deterioration by dispersing body pressure while maintaining a standing posture.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention has the following configuration.

(1) a container body consisting of a cylindrical body with an open top and a closed bottom, into which at least the legs of a person in a standing position can be inserted;
a lid portion made of a ring-shaped flat plate member that opens and closes the opening of the container body and has an opening in the center through which the person can pass;
A plurality of spherical bodies are inserted into the container body,
the container body is capable of containing the plurality of spherical bodies up to at least the position of the legs of the person in a standing position inside the container body when the person has not inserted his/her legs;
the plurality of spherical bodies are contained within the container body in a state in which the individual spherical bodies are in contact with each other to form a predetermined gap between the spherical bodies, and the amount of the spherical bodies contained in the container body is an amount that will not overflow from the container body when the person enters the container body and both feet touch the bottom surface of the container body,
A standing posture assistance device characterized in that when the person inserts their legs into the container body, some of the multiple spherical bodies are pushed up and abut against the lid portion, restricting the movement of the spherical bodies, and the spherical bodies abut around both of the person's legs, which are pushed back by the sides of the container body, press against the legs.

According to (1), by inserting the legs of a person in a standing position into a container body in which multiple spherical bodies have already been inserted, the person's legs are supported from the sides by the spherical bodies, and the body pressure acting on the person's legs can be distributed via the spherical bodies. In this way, it is possible to provide a standing posture assistance device that can distribute body pressure while maintaining a standing posture and prevent deterioration of posture.

(2) In the standing posture assistance device of (1), the container body has a tapered portion in which the size of the opening becomes smaller toward the bottom surface.

According to (2), the person's legs are pushed diagonally upward by the spherical body, and buoyancy is applied to the person, thereby reducing the burden caused by body pressure on the person's legs. In this way, it is possible to provide a standing posture assistance device that can distribute body pressure while maintaining a standing posture and prevent deterioration of posture.

(3) In (1) and (2), the container body includes a first tubular portion with a bottom capable of accommodating a portion of the person above the legs, and two second tubular portions with bottoms extending downward from a bottom surface of the first tubular portion and into which the legs of the person can be inserted ,
The first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion are capable of accommodating the spherical body ,
A standing posture assist device , wherein a bottom surface of the first tube portion has an opening through which the person's legs are inserted into the second tube portion .

According to (3), the legs of a person in a standing position are pushed up diagonally by the spherical bodies, and both legs are supported laterally by the spherical bodies, so that the body pressure on the person's legs can be distributed via the spherical bodies. In this way, it is possible to provide a standing posture assistance device that can distribute body pressure while maintaining a standing posture and prevent deterioration of posture.

(4) In any one of (1) to (3), a lid portion is attached to the opening of the container body,
The lid has an opening in the center through which a person's legs can be inserted.

According to (4), the lid can prevent the spherical bodies inside the container from spilling out of the opening when the person's legs are inserted into the container. This makes it possible to maintain the force with which the spherical bodies press against both legs, and disperse the body pressure on the person's legs via the spherical bodies. In this way, it is possible to provide a standing posture assistance device that can disperse body pressure while maintaining a standing posture and prevent deterioration of posture.

(5) In the standing posture assistance device according to any one of (1) to (4), the spherical bodies have a smooth surface, and when the person inserts their legs into the container, the spherical bodies press against each other and move inside the container.

According to (5), when a person's legs are inserted into the container, the spherical bodies slide against each other while moving inside the container, and the spherical bodies are pushed up inside the container, securing space for inserting the legs. This makes it easier to insert the legs into the container.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a standing posture assistance device that can prevent deterioration of posture by dispersing body pressure while maintaining a standing posture.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a standing posture assist device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the standing posture assist device 1 in use. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a first modified example of a standing posture assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a second modified example of a standing posture assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a third modified example of a standing posture assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a container body 14 according to a third modified example. FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of another example of the third modified example of the standing posture assist device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fourth modified example of the standing posture assist device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of another example of the fourth modified example of the standing posture assist device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a standing posture assistance device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The standing posture assistance device 1 includes a container body 10, a lid part 20, and a spherical body 30.

The container body 10 is a cylindrical body with a bottom that is open at the top. In this embodiment, the bottom surface of the container body 10 is large enough that the soles of the feet can touch the bottom surface with both feet slightly apart, and the height of the container body 10 is set to about the height of a person's waist, for example, 0.8 m for the bottom surface and 1.0 m for the height. The container body 10 is made of a material that is not easily deformed or damaged by internal pressure, such as metal or hard plastic.

The lid 20 is made of a ring-shaped flat member that can be detachably attached to the opening of the container 10. The diameter of the circular opening 20b formed in the center of the lid 20 is set to a diameter large enough to allow the user's legs and waist to be inserted.

The lid part 20 has a structure that allows a part of the outer periphery of the lid part 20 to engage with and disengage from a part of the opening of the container body 10 by placing the lid part 20 on the opening of the container body 10 and rotating the lid part 20. Specifically, a screw groove 10a is formed on the inside of the opening of the container body 10, and a screw thread 20a that screws into the screw groove 10a of the container body 10 is formed on the outer periphery of the lid part 20. Then, when the lid part 20 is placed on the opening of the container body 10 and a user rotates the lid part 20, the screw thread 20a screws into the screw groove 10a, and the lid part 20 is attached to the opening of the container body 10.
The vertical width in which the screw groove 10a is formed is larger than the thickness of the lid portion 20, and by rotating the lid portion 20, vertical movement is possible within the range of the vertical width in which the screw groove 10a is formed.

The spherical bodies 30 are about the size of a golf ball (diameter 42.67 mm) and are made of smooth rubber balls commonly known as super balls. The spherical bodies 30 are contained in the container body 10. It is desirable that the number of spherical bodies 30 contained in the container body 10 is such that the spherical bodies 30 do not spill out of the container body 10 when a user enters the container body 10 with both feet touching the bottom.

The standing posture assistance device 1 is constructed by storing a large number of spherical bodies 30 inside a container body 10 and attaching a lid part 20 to the opening of the container body 10. It is preferable that the spherical bodies 30 are antibacterial.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing the standing posture assist device 1 in use. A mat 40 is laid on the bottom surface of the container body 10. The mat 40 is desirably made of a material that is breathable or that can disperse body pressure from the soles of the feet to the surrounding area.
When a user uses the standing posture assistance device 1, the user first inserts both legs into the container body 10. At this time, some of the spherical bodies 30 are pushed upward, but the lid part 20 restricts the movement of the pushed-up spherical bodies 30. Then, the user inserts both legs into the container body 10 from the center of the lid part 20 and places the soles of the feet on the bottom surface of the container body 10, and the user assumes a standing posture inside the standing posture assistance device 1, as shown in Fig. 2. At this time, the spherical bodies 30 around both legs try to move laterally, but are pushed back by the sides of the container body 10, so that the spherical bodies 30 come into contact with the user's legs and press both legs from the sides.

As a result, a force acts to support the user from the side, countering the force that tries to move the user downward due to the user's weight. In particular, a buoyant force acts from the spherical bodies 30 that come into contact with the calves and buttocks, pushing the user diagonally upward. In this way, pressure is evenly applied to both legs from all sides, allowing the user to maintain balance in a standing position and disperse body pressure throughout the entire lower body.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the concentration of body pressure on a part of the body is reduced while the user maintains an upright posture, and the user can avoid sitting for long periods of time when using a chair, and the burden on the lower back can be reduced. As a result, the risk of health deterioration caused by using a chair can be avoided. In addition, since the force to maintain an upright posture is easily exerted, it is expected to have the effect of preventing muscle weakness without causing problems with the musculoskeletal system. In addition, since the legs are pressed from all sides by the spherical bodies 30, a healing effect such as a feeling of being embraced by being surrounded by the spherical bodies 30 can be expected. In addition, by increasing the number of spherical bodies 30 inserted, it is possible to surround the user's torso with the spherical bodies 30. As a result, the user's torso is supported from all sides by the spherical bodies 30, and it is possible to stabilize the position of the user's torso inside the container body.

In addition, if the user maintains an upright position for a long period of time, the force exerted by the spherical body 30 to push the user upward may weaken. In this case, the user can easily recover buoyancy by lightly stepping on the spot. In addition, the user can increase the internal pressure of the container body 10 by rotating the lid portion 20 and lowering it, allowing the user to adjust the pressure applied to both legs according to their preference.

[First Modification]
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a first modified example of the standing posture assist device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the first modified example, the same members as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or members having the same functions are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted. This first modified example is called a standing posture assist device 2. The standing posture assist device 2 uses a container body 11 instead of the container body 10 of the standing posture assist device 1 shown in Fig. 1.

The container body 11 is a container body 10 of the standing posture assistance device 1 shown in FIG. 1, with a tapered portion 11a formed on the inner side, where the size of the opening becomes smaller toward the bottom side. In the container body 11, the tapered portion 11a is formed on the sides of both legs of the user.

According to the first modified example configured in this manner, when the user inserts both legs into the standing posture assistance device 2, the tapered surface of the tapered portion 11a of the container body 11 pushes the user's legs diagonally upward, making it easier for the spherical body 30 to press the user's legs diagonally upward. This creates a buoyant force that tends to push the user upward, allowing the user to maintain balance in the standing posture and distribute body pressure throughout the entire lower body.

[Second Modification]
Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the schematic configuration of a second modified example of the standing posture assist device in one embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 4(a) is a plan view, Figure 4(b) is a side view, and Figure 4(c) is a front view. In the second modified example, the same members as those shown in Figure 1 or members having the same functions are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted. In addition, this second modified example is called standing posture assist device 3. In the standing posture assist device 3, a container body 12 is applied instead of the container body 10 of the standing posture assist device 1 shown in Figure 1.

The container body 12 includes a first tube portion 50 and a second tube portion 51. The first tube portion 50 is a bottomed tube, and the tube portion has the same shape as the portion above the user's legs in the container body 10 of the standing posture assistance device 1 shown in FIG. 1. Two second tube portions 51 extend downward in parallel from the bottom surface of the first tube portion 50. The diameter of the second tube portions 51, 51 is approximately 1/2 the diameter of the first tube portion 50, and the second tube portion 51 is a bottomed tube into which the user's legs can be inserted. The first tube portion 50 can accommodate the user's torso, and by inserting the spherical body 30 into the first tube portion 50, it becomes possible to apply pressure to the user's torso from the surroundings.

In the standing posture assistance device 3 shown in FIG. 4, when the user inserts both legs into the standing posture assistance device 1, the user may align both legs. In this case, it becomes difficult for the spherical body 30 to fit between the legs, and pressure from the spherical body 30 is less likely to be applied to the inside of the legs. In contrast, according to the second modified example, the user inserts the second tubular parts 51, 51 into both legs independently, which allows the spherical body 30 to press against both legs from all sides. This creates a force that tries to keep the user in place, allowing the user to distribute body pressure throughout the entire lower body while maintaining balance in the standing posture.

Furthermore, in the standing posture assistance device 3 shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to reduce the number of spherical bodies 30 compared to the standing posture assistance device 1 shown in FIG. 1. This makes it possible to reduce the cost associated with the spherical bodies 30, and further makes it possible to reduce the weight of the entire standing posture assistance device 3.

In the standing posture assistance device 3 shown in FIG. 4, two second tube portions 51, 51 extend from the first tube portion 50, but this is not limited thereto, and one second tube portion 51 into which both legs can be inserted may extend from the first tube portion 50. In this case, the first tube portion 50 and the second tube portion 51 are coaxial, and the opening of the second tube portion 51 has a smaller diameter than the opening at the top of the first tube portion 50. This makes it possible to reduce the number of spherical bodies 30 compared to the standing posture assistance device 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[Third Modification]
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a third modified example of the standing posture assisting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a container body 14 according to the third modified example, Fig. 6(a) is a front view, and Fig. 6(b) is a side cross-sectional view. In the third modified example, the same members or members having the same functions as those of the standing posture assisting device 1 shown in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted. In addition, this third modified example is called a standing posture assisting device 4. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the standing posture assisting device 4 includes a container body 14, a lid 20, a spherical body 30, and a ball receiving tray 70.

The container body 14 is a container body 10 for the standing posture assistance device 1 shown in FIG. 1, in which holes 60 and 61 are formed, and further equipped with shutters 62 and 63 for opening and closing the holes 60 and 61, respectively.

The hole 60 is a rectangular cutout formed in the upper part of the container body 14. The upper part of the hole 60 is open. The size of the hole 60 need only be large enough for the spherical body 30 to pass through. In this embodiment, the circumferential width of the hole 60 is set to about twice the diameter of the spherical body 30, and the vertical width is set to more than twice the diameter of the spherical body 30.

The hole 61 is a rectangular cutout formed in the lower part of the container body 14. The lower side of the hole 61 is located on the bottom surface of the container body 14. The size of the hole 61 need only be large enough for the spherical body 30 to pass through. In this embodiment, the circumferential width of the hole 61 is set to about twice the diameter of the spherical body 30, and the vertical width is set to more than twice the diameter of the spherical body 30.

As shown in FIGS. 6( a ) and 6 ( b ), a guide rail 64 is provided on the edge of the side of the hole 60 to guide the shutter 62 and support the lower part of the shutter 62 .
A guide rail 65 for guiding the shutter 63 is provided on the edge of the side of the hole 61 .

The shutters 62 and 63 have the same shape, and are plate-like members that are slightly larger than the holes 60 and 61 and curved with the same curvature as the side surface of the container body 14 .
The shutter 62 closes the hole 60 by inserting it into the guide rail 64 from above, and opens the hole 60 by lifting the shutter 62 upward and removing it from the guide rail 64 .
The shutter 63 closes the hole 61 by being inserted into the guide rail 65 from above, and opens the hole 61 by lifting the shutter 63 upward and removing it from the guide rail 65 .

As shown in FIG. 6(b), one end of a string-like member 67 is tied to the top of the shutter 63, and the other end of the string-like member 67 extends to the top of the container body 14. When a user maintains a standing posture inside the standing posture assistance device 4, he or she can remove the shutter 63 from the guide rail 65 and open the hole 60 by holding and pulling the string-like member 67 upward.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), the ball receiving tray 70 has a disk-shaped bottom plate 70a and a side wall plate 70b provided on the outer periphery of the bottom plate 70a. A circular through hole 70c with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the container body 14 is formed in the center of the bottom plate 70a. In this way, the ball receiving tray 70 is formed in a doughnut shape when viewed from above.

Next, an example of how to use the standing posture assist device 4 will be described.
When using the standing posture assistance device 4, the container body 14 is placed inside the through hole 70c in the center of the ball receiving tray 70. Then, similar to the standing posture assistance device 1 shown in Fig. 1, multiple spherical bodies 30 are placed inside the container body 14, the lid part 20 is attached, and the user inserts both legs into the container body 14. At this time, it is desirable that the hole part 61 is placed on the side of the user's toes.

When the user wants to get out of the standing posture assistance device 4, the user holds the string-like member 67 connected to the shutter 63 and pulls it upward to remove the shutter 63 from the guide rail 65 and open the hole 61. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the multiple spherical bodies 30 inside the container body 14 flow out through the hole 61. The ball receiving plate 70 receives the spherical bodies 30 that flow out through the hole 61 with the side wall plate 70b, so that the spherical bodies 30 do not flow out of the ball receiving plate 70. Note that if the spherical bodies 30 do not flow out even when the hole 60 is opened, the user can move their toes to push the spherical bodies 30 near their toes forward, which allows the spherical bodies 30 to be released out of the container body 14 through the hole 61.

Then, when the spherical bodies 30 flow out from inside the container body 14 and the number of spherical bodies 30 inside is reduced to a level that does not impede the movement of the user, the user can remove the lid portion 20 and easily move from inside the container body 14 to the outside. Note that the user may remove the lid portion 20 to reduce the internal pressure of the container body 14 before removing the shutter 63 from the guide rail 65.

When returning to the container body 14 after moving outside the container body 14, the user inserts the shutter 63 into the guide rail 65 to close the hole 61, and removes the shutter 62 from the guide rail 64 to open the hole 60. Next, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the ball receiving plate 70 is lifted and the spherical bodies 30 are brought into contact with the hole 60 to move the spherical bodies 30 in the ball receiving plate 70 into the container body 14. After all the spherical bodies 30 in the ball receiving plate 70 have been moved into the container body 14, the ball receiving plate 70 is returned to its original position and the shutter 62 is inserted into the guide rail 64 to close the hole 60. After attaching the lid 20 to the container body 14, the user inserts both legs into the container body 14 again.

The third modified example configured in this manner makes it easy to insert and remove the spherical body 30 into and from the container body 14, and also makes it easy for the user to move around.

Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the schematic configuration of another configuration of a third modified example of a standing posture assistance device in one embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 7(a) is a plan view and Figure 7(b) is a perspective view. Note that in this configuration of the third modified example, the same components as those of the standing posture assistance device 4 shown in Figures 5 and 6 or components with the same functions are given the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions are omitted.

Another configuration of the third modified example is one in which an outlet 14a is formed at the top of the container body 14 of the third modified example, a door 14b is provided to open and close this outlet 14a, and further, a part of the ball receiving tray 70 shown in FIG. 5 is removed to form an open portion 70d as shown in FIG. 7(a). The ball receiving tray 70 according to the other configuration of the third modified example is formed in a C-shape when viewed from above as shown in FIG. 7(a).

The outlet 14a is a rectangular opening when viewed from the front, formed by cutting out a portion of the upper edge of the container body 14. The outlet 14a is formed to be large enough for a user to step over it from inside the container body 14 to the outside, and is located on the opposite side of the hole 60 from the center of the container body 14.

The door portion 14b is a plate-like member curved with the same curvature as the side of the container body 14, and one end of the door portion 14b in the curved direction is rotatably fixed to one side edge of the outlet portion 14a of the container body 14 by a hinge 68. A snap lock 69 is provided on the other side edge of the outlet portion 14a of the container body 14, and this snap lock 69 locks and unlocks the other end of the door portion 14b in the curved direction.

When the door portion 14b is locked by the snap lock 69, the rotation of the door portion 14b is restricted, and the outlet portion 14a is maintained in a closed state by the door portion 14b. When the door portion 14b is released from the lock by the snap lock 69, the door portion 14b is free to rotate, the outlet portion 14a is opened, and the user can move from inside the container body 14 to the outside. It is preferable that the snap lock 69 is disposed in a position where the user can operate it from inside the container body 14. The snap lock 69 is also an example of a member that locks and unlocks the door portion 14b, and other locking members can also be applied.

Next, a usage example of another configuration of the standing posture assist device 4 in the third modified example will be described.
When using the standing posture assist device 4 of another configuration, it is desirable that the hole 61 is disposed on the side of the user's toes, as in the standing posture assist device 4 of the third modification. Also, as shown in Fig. 7(a), the ball receiving tray 70 is disposed so that the opening 70d faces the outlet 14a in plan view.

When the user wishes to exit the standing posture assistance device 4, the shutter 63 can be removed from the guide rail 65 and the hole 61 can be opened, as in the standing posture assistance device 4 in the third modified example, allowing the spherical body 30 to exit the container body 14 through the hole 61.

Then, when the spherical bodies 30 flow out from inside the container body 14 and the number of spherical bodies 30 inside has decreased to a level that does not impede the movement of the user, the user removes the lid portion 20, turns his/her body to the other side, operates the snap lock 69 to release the lock, and rotates the door portion 14b to open the outlet portion 14a. This makes it easier for the user to move outside the container body 14, and the user moves from the outlet portion 14a through the opening portion 70d to the outside.

When returning to the container 14 after moving outside the container 14, the user closes the door 14b and engages the snap lock 69, inserts the shutter 63 into the guide rail 65 to close the hole 61, and removes the shutter 62 from the guide rail 64 to open the hole 60. Then, as with the standing posture assistance device 4 in the third modified example, the ball 30 in the ball receiving tray 70 is moved to the inside of the container 14, the ball receiving tray 70 is returned to its original position, and the shutter 62 is inserted into the guide rail 64 to close the hole 60. After attaching the lid 20 to the container 14, the user inserts both legs into the container 14 again.

According to the third modified example configured in this way, the spherical body 30 can be easily inserted and removed from the container body 14, and the user can easily move around. In addition, according to the third modified example configured as shown in FIG. 7, the door portion 14b is rotated to the side, but this is not limited thereto, and it may be rotated downward, or the door portion 14b may be divided into two and installed like a double door.

[Fourth Modification]
Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fourth modified example of a standing posture assist device in one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 8(a) is a side view of the fourth modified example, and Fig. 8(b) and Fig. 8(c) are plan views of the fourth modified example. In the fourth modified example, the same members as those shown in Fig. 1 or members having the same functions are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted.

In the fourth modified example, an attachment part 80 is fixed to the container body 10 of the standing posture assist device 1 shown in FIG. 1, and a lid part 21 is also attached.
The mounting portion 80 supports a fixed shaft 91 to which the monitor 90 is fixed, and is disposed on the upper portion of the outer circumferential surface of the container body 10 as shown in FIG. 8( a ).

The lid 21 is a ring-shaped flat member divided into two by an imaginary line in the diameter direction that passes through the center of the ring, and by combining the lids 21, 21, the ring-shaped flat member can be placed on the opening of the container body 10.

The lids 21, 21 are rotatably installed on both sides of the diameter direction of the opening of the container body 10 by hinges (not shown). When the container body 10 is viewed from the front toward the mounting part 80, the lids 21, 21 are arranged on both sides of the mounting part 80, and when the lids 21, 21 are open, the lids 21, 21 hang down to the outside of the container body 10 as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b). When the lids 21, 21 are rotated and placed on the opening of the container body 10, the periphery of the opening of the container body 10 is covered by the lids 21, 21 as shown in Figure 8(c). At this time, the surfaces of the lids 21, 21 are flush. Although not shown, snap locks are arranged at several points on the outside of the opening of the container body 10. By fixing the lids 21, 21 to the container body 10 with this snap lock, it is possible to keep a portion of the opening of the container body 10 covered by the lids 21, 21.

The user then inserts both legs into the container body 10 and assumes a standing position so that the monitor 90 can be easily viewed. Note that the user may first fasten the lids 21, 21 to the container body 10 and then insert both legs into the container body 10, or may first insert both legs into the container body 10 and then fasten the lids 21, 21 to the container body 10.

According to the fourth modified example configured in this way, it becomes possible to install a monitor 90 on the container body 10, and furthermore, it becomes possible to give the lid portions 21, 21 the function of a desk, and it becomes possible to use it as a work space for operating a keyboard, mouse, etc.

In addition, according to the fourth modified example, it is possible to close the opening of the container body 10 with the lid parts 21, 21 without using the lid part 20 shown in FIG. 1, but the internal pressure of the container body 10 may be adjusted by attaching the lid part 20 and moving the lid part 20 up and down. In addition, the lid parts 21, 21 are formed by dividing a ring-shaped flat member into two equal parts, but they may also be divided into four equal parts and each part may be attached to the container body 10 so that it can rotate freely. In addition, the ring-shaped flat member may be divided into two, for example, into a range of 270° and a range of 90° from the center.

Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the schematic configuration of another configuration of a fourth modified example of a standing posture assist device in one embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 8(a) is a side view of the other configuration of the fourth modified example, and Figures 8(b) and 8(c) are plan views of the other configuration of the fourth modified example. Note that in the fourth modified example, the same components as those shown in Figure 1 or components with the same functions are given the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions are omitted.

The fourth modified example shown in FIG. 9 has a configuration in which the shape of the lids 21, 21 in the fourth modified example shown in FIG. 8 is partially changed, and the outer periphery of the lids 21, 21 on the mounting part 80 side is changed from an arc shape to an angular shape, as shown in FIG. 9(a).

As a result, when the lids 21, 21 are closed, the angular portions extend out to the side from the container body 10 as shown in FIG. 9(c), allowing the lids 21, 21 to be used as a desk to increase the working space.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above. For example, in the above embodiment, a rubber ball, which is about the size of a golf ball and is generally called a super ball, is applied as the spherical body 30, but a hollow rubber ball can also be used. Also, a golf ball can be used as the spherical body 30. Furthermore, a rubber ball the size of a baseball or a hard baseball can also be used. Furthermore, it is also possible to use something about the size of a grain of rice, such as a bead, as the spherical body 30.
Here, in consideration of the ease of insertion of the user's legs, it is desirable for the surface of the spherical body 30 to be smooth. With this, when the user's legs are inserted into the container body 10, the spherical bodies 30 slide against each other while moving inside the container body 10, and are pushed up inside the container body 10, so that insertion space for the user's legs is secured, making it easier to insert the legs into the container body. Also, the spherical body 30 does not need to be spherical, and it can be used even if it is somewhat irregular in shape as long as it has a smooth surface.

In addition to rubber, wooden balls can also be used. In this case, the friction between the wooden balls will produce a scent similar to wood or rush grass, which can be expected to have a relaxing effect. It is also possible to use balls made of far-infrared ceramic. In this case, by warming the far-infrared ceramic ball before using it, a footbath effect can be expected.

In this way, the material, size, weight, etc. of the spherical body 30 can be set appropriately. Specifically, the harder the spherical body 30, the stronger the pressing force applied to the user's legs, while the softer the spherical body 30, the easier it is to insert the user's legs because the spherical body 30 deforms when the user inserts the legs. Also, the lighter the spherical body 30, the easier it is to move upward when the user inserts the legs, making it easier for the user to insert the legs, while the heavier the spherical body 30, the stronger the pressing force applied to the user's legs. Also, the larger the diameter of the spherical body 30, the larger the gap between the spherical bodies 30, making it easier for the user to insert the legs and improving the ventilation around the legs, while the smaller the diameter of the spherical body 30, the more the number of spherical bodies 30 that come into contact with the user's legs, making it possible to ensure the pressing force applied to the user's legs. Taking these points into consideration, it is desirable to find the optimal spherical body for the user.

In addition, multiple types of spherical bodies 30 with different diameters may be stored in the container body 10. This makes it easier for small spherical bodies 30 to come into contact with the legs, making it possible to apply pressure to the legs. Also, by mixing in large spherical bodies 30, the gaps between the spherical bodies 30 become larger, making it easier to insert the legs.

It is also possible to mix soft and hard balls. This makes it easier to apply pressure to the legs by including hard balls, and by including soft balls, when the lid 20 is moved downward, the pressure applied to the legs can be adjusted depending on the degree of elastic deformation of the soft balls.

The spherical body 30 may also be a polyhedron. However, if it is a regular polyhedron, it is preferable that it is a regular dodecahedron or larger. It is also preferable that the corners are chamfered to make a smooth surface.

The container 10 may also be provided with a suction fan that introduces air into the container 10 and an exhaust fan that exhausts the air from inside the container 10, forming an air flow inside the container 10. In this case, it is preferable that the diameter of the spherical body 30 is large. The container 10 may also be provided with a function to heat the inside of the container 10, such as providing a surface heater or making the mat 40 an electric carpet.

Casters with stopper functions may be attached to the bottom of the container body 10 to make the container body 10 portable. This makes it possible to easily move the container body 10 when the weight of the container body 10 is large, such as when a relatively heavy spherical body 30 is contained therein.

Although the container body 10 is a cylindrical body with a bottom that is open at the top, it is not limited to a cylindrical body and may be a polygonal cylindrical body with a bottom that is open at the top, such as a square or hexagonal cylinder. The container body 10 may be configured to be expandable and contractable in the vertical direction, for example, by forming the sides into a bellows shape, or by forming a rod shape by coaxially arranging multiple cylindrical members whose diameters gradually decrease. This makes it possible to keep the container body 10 in a compact state when the standing posture assistance device 1 is not in use.

It should be noted that within the scope of the concept of this invention, a person skilled in the art may conceive of various modifications and alterations, and it is understood that these modifications and alterations also fall within the scope of this invention.

For example, those embodiments and modifications in which a person skilled in the art has appropriately added or removed components or modified the design, or added or omitted steps or modified conditions, are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they incorporate the essence of the present invention.

1 to 5 Standing posture assist device 10 to 15 Container body 10a Thread groove 11a Tapered portion 14a Exit portion 14b Door portion 20, 21 Lid portion 30 Spherical body 50 First cylindrical portion 51 Second cylindrical portion 60, 61 Hole portion 62, 62 Shutters 64, 65 Guide rail 70 Ball receiving tray 80 Mounting portion 90 Monitor

Claims (5)

a container body that is a cylindrical body with an open top and a closed bottom and into which at least the legs of a person in a standing position can be inserted;
a lid portion made of a ring-shaped flat plate member that opens and closes the opening of the container body and has an opening in the center through which the person can pass;
A plurality of spherical bodies are inserted into the container body,
the container body is capable of containing the plurality of spherical bodies up to at least the position of the legs of the person in a standing position inside the container body when the person has not inserted his/her legs;
the plurality of spherical bodies are contained within the container body in a state in which the individual spherical bodies are in contact with each other to form a predetermined gap between the spherical bodies, and the amount of the spherical bodies contained in the container body is an amount that will not overflow from the container body when the person enters the container body and both feet touch the bottom surface of the container body,
A standing posture assistance device characterized in that when the person inserts their legs into the container body, some of the multiple spherical bodies are pushed up and abut against the lid portion, restricting the movement of the spherical bodies, and the spherical bodies abut around both of the person's legs, which are pushed back by the sides of the container body, press against the legs. The standing posture assistance device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom side of the inside of the container body is inclined. the container body includes a first cylindrical portion with a bottom capable of accommodating a portion of the person above the legs, and two second cylindrical portions with bottoms extending downward from a bottom surface of the first cylindrical portion and into which the legs of the person can be inserted ;
The first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion are capable of accommodating the spherical body ,
3. The standing posture assist device according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the first tube portion has openings through which the legs of the person are inserted into the second tube portion . The standing posture assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the container body is capable of housing the torso of the person in a standing posture. The standing posture assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spherical bodies move inside the container body by pressing against each other when the person inserts their legs into the container body.

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