MANUAL MOVABLE BODY WITH WHEELS

Abstract

A manual movable body with wheels 10 which can be moved by manually rotating the wheels, comprising an upper body frame 12 supporting a heavy goods, a pair of travelling wheels 18, each of which is provided on the corresponding side of a lower body frame 14 which is not in contact with upper body frame 12, and is rotationally supported by a first horizontal rotation shaft 16 extending in the widthwise direction of the lower body frame 14, and a pair of abutting rollers, each of which is mounted on upper body frame 12, and is rotationally supported by a second horizontal rotation shaft extending in the widthwise direction of the upper body frame 12.

Claims

1. A manual movable body with wheels which can be moved by manually rotating the wheels, comprising : an upper body frame supporting a heavy goods, a pair of travelling wheels, each of which is provided on the corresponding side of a lower body frame which is not in contact with said upper body frame, and is rotationally supported by a first horizontal rotation shaft extending in the widthwise direction of the lower body frame, and a pair of abutting rollers, each of which is mounted on said upper body frame, and is rotationally supported by a second horizontal rotation shaft extending in the widthwise direction of the upper body frame, each of the pair of abutting rollers is positioned on a front side of said manual movable body with wheels relative to a line between said first horizontal rotation shaft and a point of contact of said travelling wheel with a road surface in such a way that its rotation force can be transmitted to the corresponding travelling wheel, while the upper body frame can be supported thereby and it is provided so as to be in contact with the corresponding travelling wheel at a predetermined center angle about the first horizontal rotation shaft without causing slippage relative to the corresponding travelling wheel, and a load of the heavy goods supported by said upper body frame is applied on a point of contact between each of said pair of abutting rollers and the corresponding travelling wheel via said pair of abutting rollers without being applied on said first horizontal rotation shaft for said travelling wheels, whereby, in a case where said manual movable body with wheels is on a downslope road surface, a force in a rotation direction reverse to a rotation direction of said pair of travelling wheels in a case where said manual movable body with wheels is downwardly moved is applied on said pair of travelling wheels via said pair of abutting rollers.

2. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 1, wherein each of said pair of abutting rollers is shaped to be a gear, and a pair of third gears, each of which mates with the corresponding abutting roller and is mounted on the corresponding travelling wheel, are provided so as to be integrally rotate with said pair of traveling wheels in a concentric manner.

3. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 1, further comprising: a pair of first sprocket each of which integrally rotates with the corresponding travelling wheel in a concentric manner, a pair of first gears each of which integrally rotates with the corresponding abutting roller in a concentric manner, a pair of second gears each of which includes a gear shape the same as that of the corresponding first gear and mates with the corresponding first gear, a pair of second sprockets each of which integrally rotates with the corresponding second gear in a concentric manner, a pair of chains each of which is wound over between the corresponding first and second sprockets, and a pair of tension imparting mechanisms each of which imparts a tension force to the corresponding chain, a ratio of a diameter of said travelling wheel with that of said abutting roller is set to be the same as a ratio of the number of teeth of said first sprocket with that of said second sprocket, whereby, in a case where said manual movable body with wheels is on a downslope road surface, a force in a rotation direction reverse to a rotation direction of said pair of travelling wheels in a case where said manual movable body with wheels is downwardly moved is applied on said pair of travelling wheels via said pair of chains.

4. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 4, wherein a rachet claw is provided on each of said second gears so as to bite between its teeth to allow its rotation only in one direction.

5. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 4, wherein said manual movable body with wheels is a wheelchair including a seat at said upper body frame, said first horizontal rotation shaft is provided on the rear side in the longitudinal direction of said manual movable body, said upper body frame is provided so as to rotate about said first horizontal rotation shaft relative to said lower body frame, and said manual movable body with wheels further comprises a mechanism for holding the upper body frame which adjustably holds said upper body frame at a predetermined rotated position, in accordance with an inclination angle of the road surface on which said manual movable body with wheels is moved.

6. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 5, wherein said lower body frame comprises a pair of lower frameworks each of which includes an elongate lower opening, and a widthwise lower frame 26 connecting said pair of lower frameworks, said first horizontal rotation shaft extends between opposed side surfaces of said pair of lower frameworks, and each of said pair of travelling wheels is provided in a space between said pair of lower frameworks.

7. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 6, wherein said upper body frame comprises a pair of upper frameworks each of which includes an elongate upper opening and constitutes an arm rest, and a widthwise upper frame connecting said pair of upper frameworks, said second horizontal rotation shaft extends between opposed side surfaces of said pair of upper frameworks, and a seat is provided in a space between said pair of upper frameworks.

8. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 6, further comprises a pair of vertical frames each of which extends from an outer surface of the corresponding one of said pair of upper body frames toward the corresponding one of said pair of lower body frames, a notch is provided on a lower end of each of said vertical frames so as to hold said first horizontal rotation shaft, a gap is secured between the upper end of the corresponding notch and said first horizontal rotation shaft in a situation where each of said pair of abutting rollers is in contact with the corresponding travelling wheel, and the elongate lower opening of said lower body frame is aligned with the elongate upper opening of said upper body frame, whereby each of said travelling wheels, said first and second sprockets, said first and second gears, and said chains are disposed in a vertical space between the corresponding elongate upper and lower openings.

9. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 8, wherein each of said pair of first sprockets includes a diameter smaller that of the corresponding travelling wheel and is provided inside relative to the corresponding travelling wheel.

10. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 8, wherein each of said pair of abutting rollers is provided on the front side of said manual movable body with wheels relative to said first horizontal rotation shaft for said travelling wheels at the predetermined center angle of 30 degree to 60 degree relative to a horizontal line, so as to circumscribe the corresponding travelling wheel from outside, and a pair of auxiliary wheels are provided on said pair of lower body frames in such a way that each of the pair of auxiliary wheels is provided on a front end of the corresponding lower body frame.

11. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 8, wherein each of said pair of abutting rollers is provided on the rear side of said manual movable body with wheels relative to said first horizontal rotation shaft of said travelling wheels at the predetermined center angle of 30 degree to 60 degree relative to a horizontal line, so as to circumscribe the corresponding travelling wheel from outside, and a pair of auxiliary wheels are provided on said pair of lower body frames in such a way that each of the pair of auxiliary wheels is provided on a rear end of the corresponding lower body frame.

12. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 1, further comprises a hand rim portion by which a rotation force can be manually transmitted to said traveling wheels is provided on at least either said pair of travelling wheels, or said pair of abutting rollers.

13. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 1, wherein said manual movable body with wheels is a baby carriage including a gripping portion at its rear portion for hand-push.

14. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 1, wherein said manual movable body with wheels is a handcart including a gripping portion at its rear portion for hand-push, and a load-carrying platform is provided on said upper body frame.

15. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 1, wherein each of said pair of travelling wheels includes a tire portion and an annular rim portion supporting the tire portion, each of said pair of abutting rollers is provided on an inner space of an annular rim portion of the corresponding travelling wheel so as to inscribe the corresponding travelling wheel at a predetermined center angle about said first horizontal rotation shaft in such a way that said upper body frame can be supported thereby and its rotation force of each of said pair of the abutting rollers can be transmitted to the corresponding travelling wheel.

16. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 7, further comprises a mobile framework bridging upper surfaces of inner side plates of said pair of lower frames to be movably rested on the upper surfaces in a sliding manner in the longitudinal direction of the manual movable body with wheels, a stair portion including a plurality of stepped portions at its upper portion each of which gets higher in the forward direction of the manual movable body with wheels, a biasing portion biasing said mobile framework in the longitudinal direction of the manual movable body with wheels, and a locking portion which is provided on one of said pair of upper frames and locks against said plurality of stepped portions from behind, whereby said inclination angle of said upper body frame can be adjusted.

17. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 17, said plurality of stepped portions includes a rear portion in the longitudinal direction of the manual movable body with wheels for the upward slope road surface, a front portion in the longitudinal direction of the manual movable body with wheels for the downward slope road surface, and an intermediate portion for the level road surface.

18. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 17, a position of the point of contact between each of the pair of abutting rollers and the corresponding travelling wheel can be adjusted by said locking portion.

19. A manual movable body with wheels according to claim 8, further comprises a spring provided between said upper body frame and said first horizontal rotation shaft so as to restrict a vertical movement of said upper body frame relative to said lower body frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0125] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the wheel chair according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0126] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the wheel chair according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0127] FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating the wheel chair according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0128] FIG. 4 is a back view illustrating the wheel chair according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0129] FIG. 5 is a partial detailed cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the travelling wheels 18 of the wheel chair according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0130] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating situations in which the wheel chair according to the first embodiment of the present invention is on the level road, on the upward slope, and on the downward slope.

[0131] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the effect of the structure of the travelling wheels 18 of the wheel chair according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the wheelchair is on the upward slope, and on the downward slope.

[0132] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the structure of the travelling wheels 18 of the wheel chair according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0133] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the structure of the travelling wheels 18 of the wheel chair according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0134] FIG. 10 is a partial side view illustrating the structure of the travelling wheels 18 of the wheel chair according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0135] R road surface

[0136] center angle

[0137] N point of contact

[0138] inclination angle of road surface

[0139] L line passing point of contact and first horizontal rotation shaft

[0140] 10 manual movable body with wheels

[0141] 12 upper body frame

[0142] 14 lower body frame

[0143] 16 first horizontal rotation shaft

[0144] 18 a pair of travelling wheels

[0145] 20 seat

[0146] 22 elongate lower opening

[0147] 24 a pair of lower frameworks

[0148] 25 space

[0149] 26 widthwise lower frame

[0150] 27 side surface

[0151] 28 space

[0152] 29 side surface

[0153] 30 elongate upper opening

[0154] 32 a pair of upper frameworks

[0155] 34 widthwise upper frame

[0156] 36 second horizontal rotation shaft

[0157] 39 lower end

[0158] 40 notch

[0159] 41 spring

[0160] 43 spring

[0161] 46 mobile framework

[0162] 47 spring

[0163] 49 guide portion

[0164] 50 a plurality of stepped portions

[0165] 54 biasing portion

[0166] 56 locking portion

[0167] 70 tire

[0168] 72 rim

[0169] 74 spoke portion

[0170] 76 handle portion

[0171] 78 foot plate

[0172] 100 a pair of abutting rollers

[0173] 102 first sprocket

[0174] 104 first gear

[0175] 106 second gear

[0176] 108 second sprocket

[0177] 110 chain

[0178] 112 mechanism for adjustably holding upper body frame

[0179] 116 ratchet claw

[0180] 118 tension imparting mechanism

[0181] 120 a pair of auxiliary wheels

[0182] 122 third gear

[0183] 124 lever

[0184] 126 lever

[0185] 128 plate