Wheelchair movement assistance device

Abstract

This wheelchair movement assistance device comprises: a pair of mounting members which is mounted to the left and right front pipes or the left and right leg pipes of a wheelchair in a removable manner by being clamped or engaged therewith; and a square C-shaped pipe frame, to both ends of which the pair of mounting members is mounted. The mounting members are provided with clamping sections formed at the ends of pipe frame, and with grasping sections attached to the ends of the pipe frame at positions in front of the clamping sections. Each of the grasping sections grips a portion of each of the front pipes of the wheelchair or a portion of each of the leg pipes of the wheelchair, and each of the clamping sections is in pressure contact with a portion of each of the front pipes or the leg pipes of the wheelchair.

Claims

1. A wheelchair movement assistance device which is composed of a pipe frame which is provided at one end thereof with an attachment member which is attached in a detachable manner to a front pipe or a leg pipe of a wheelchair by clamping or engaging, in which the other end of the pipe frame can be towed to move the wheelchair, and the wheelchair movement assistance device, wherein the attachment member includes a pair of hooks, each of which is formed so as to curve along a circular arc of substantially semi-circumference, and a distal portion of a fall prevention stopper, which closes an opening portion of the pair of hooks and is attached so as to slide in the longitudinal direction of the pipe frame.

2. The wheelchair movement assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe frame is constituted with a plurality of pipe frame members different in diameter, a pipe frame member at each stage is provided in a nested structure, and pipe frame members at a multiple stage undergo straight expansion and contraction so as to be adjusted for length.

3. The wheelchair movement assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the pipe frame which is opposite to one end thereof supporting the attachment member is formed in a L-letter shape, a J-letter shape or a T-letter shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram (plan view) of the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 1.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a block diagram (front view) of the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows an explanatory view of a wheelchair.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side view which shows an external appearance of the wheelchair to which the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 1.

(5) FIG. 5 shows an explanatory view of a state of using the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 1.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a partially enlarged drawing which shows that a wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 2 is attached to a wheelchair.

(7) FIG. 7 shows an image drawing which shows that the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 2 is attached.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 3.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(10) Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiment and examples of shown in the figure, and the present invention can be variously changed in design.

Embodiment 1

(11) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 1.

(12) A wheelchair movement assistance device 1 of Embodiment 1 is provided with a pipe frame 2 which is composed of a pipe frame of a grip frame 3 and pipe frames of two joint frames 4 as well as a pair of attachment members 5 on both sides which can be attached in a detachable manner to leg pipes 12 on both sides of a wheelchair (not illustrated). As shown in FIG. 1, the attachment member 5 is structured to hold the leg pipe 12 by using a grip portion 6, a held-and-attached portion 7, a position adjustment bolt 8 and a position adjustment nut 9, thereby attaching the leg pipe 12 in a holding manner.

(13) The position adjustment nut 8 is engaged with screw threads installed on the periphery of the pipe frame of the joint frame 4, and the position adjustment nut 8 rotates, with the shaft center of the pipe frame given as a rotational axis, thereby moving in a sliding manner along the longitudinal direction of the pipe frame. Since the position adjustment nut 8 is in contact with the held-and-attached portion 7, the held-and-attached portion 7 will also move in association with movement of the position adjustment nut 8. The grip portion 6 is formed so as to curve along a circular arc of substantially semi-circumference and can be fitted into a part (semi-circumference) of the leg pipe 12 to grip the leg pipe 12. As described above, the leg pipe 12 is attached in a holding manner by the grip portion 6 and the held-and-attached portion 7.

(14) Further, in FIG. 1, the leg pipe 12 is formed so as to be held between the grip portion 6 and the held-and-attached portion 7. It is, however, acceptable that in place of the leg pipe 12, the front pipe 11 is held between them so that they can be firmly attached to the front pipe 11 in a holding manner.

(15) It is also acceptable that both the front pipe 11 and the leg pipe 12 are held between the grip portion 6 and the held-and-attached portion 7 so that they can be firmly attached to the front pipe 11 and the leg pipe 12 in a holding manner.

(16) It is acceptable that the pipe frame 2 composed of the pipe frame of the grip frame 3 and the pipe frames of two joint frames 4 is constituted with a single pipe frame. It is also acceptable that the pipe frame 2 is such that the pipe frame of the grip frame 3 is separated from the pipe frame of the joint frame 4 and the ends of the respective pipe frames are integrally attached by using a screw or attached in a holding manner by using a held-and-attached member.

(17) In addition, a rubber tube 30 is wound around the pipe frame 2 at three sites, with consideration given to a gripping portion by which a person tows a wheelchair.

(18) As with FIG. 1, FIG. 2 is also a block diagram of the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 1. While FIG. 1 is a plan view, FIG. 2 is a front elevational view.

(19) FIG. 3 is a drawing which explains a wheelchair, and the drawing is to confirm a position of the front pipe 11 and that of the leg pipe 12 in relation to the wheelchair in its entirety.

(20) FIG. 4 is a side view which shows an external appearance of the wheelchair to which the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 1 is attached. In FIG. 4, the wheelchair movement assistance device is attached to the front pipe 11.

(21) FIG. 5 is a drawing which explains a state of using the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 1. A person 40 who tows the wheelchair enters into a place surrounded by the pipe frame and moves forward while pushing the pipe frame of the grip frame 3. Thereby, the person is able to support traveling and movement by the wheelchair on rough terrain such as a sandy area, a snowy road, a gravel road and a swampy area and on ascending slopes. Further, the person is able to move the wheelchair on emergency evacuation at the time of disaster or the like.

(22) It is also possible to lock a shopping basket on the two parallel joint frames 4 of the pipe frame on shopping at a supermarket. A conventional wheelchair is provided with no space for placing a shopping basket and, therefore, is inconvenient. Where a space for placing a shopping basket is provided at the rear of the wheelchair, there is a fear that the gravity point of the wheelchair moves backward from the center axis of a rear wheel (tire). Thus, it is difficult to provide the space. In the wheelchair movement assistance device of the present invention, a space is available for placing a shopping basket at the front of the wheelchair. This gives safety and assurance to a user of the wheelchair.

(23) Further, the wheelchair movement assistance device of the present invention can be used to connect a plurality of wheelchairs. A member for locking the grip frame 3 is installed at the rear of a wheelchair, thus making it possible to connect the plurality of wheelchairs.

(24) It is greatly advantageous that a plurality of wheelchairs can be connected and moved on emergency evacuation by wheelchairs at the time of disaster or the like.

Embodiment 2

(25) Next, a wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 2 will be described.

(26) Next, FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged drawing which shows that the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 2 is attached to a wheelchair. FIG. 7 is an image drawing which shows that the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 2 is attached.

(27) In Embodiment 2, a brief description will be given of an attachment member which can be easily attached to a wheelchair.

(28) As shown in FIG. 6, the attachment member of Embodiment 2 is a supporting rod which penetrates a joint frame 4 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the joint frame 4 which constitutes a pipe frame. And, supporting rods (41, 43) are firmly attached to ends of the joint frame 4.

(29) There are also provided a pair of hooks (42, 45) which are fixed to both ends of the supporting rods (41, 43), each of which is formed so as to curve along a circular arc of substantially semi-circumference on a face in parallel with cross section of the supporting rod (41, 43). Each of the pair of hooks (42, 45) is formed so as to curve in a mutually opposing direction. When viewed in the longitudinal direction of the supporting rods (41, 43), a shape surrounded by the pair of hooks (42, 45) is substantially in a circular shape. The leg pipe of the wheelchair is positioned at the thus surrounded part.

(30) The hook 45 which locks a lower side of the leg pipe 12 of the wheelchair is arranged so as to support the leg pipe 12 of the wheelchair from the rear to the front. On the other hand, the hook 42 which locks an upper side of the leg pipe 12 of the wheelchair is arranged so as to support the leg pipe 12 of the wheelchair from the front to the rear.

(31) A stopper 44 for preventing the leg pipe 12 from falling off is installed at a site where the hook 45 for locking the lower side of the leg pipe 12 of the wheelchair is joined to the supporting rod 43.

(32) The above-described attachment member can be used to attach the wheelchair movement assistance device easily to the wheelchair.

Embodiment 3

(33) Next, a wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 3 will be described. FIG. 8 shows a block diagram (A is a plan view, B is a side view which shows an external appearance) of the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 3.

(34) The wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 3 is constituted with a pipe frame of the joint frame 4 of the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 1, a pair of attachment members 5 on both sides which can be attached in a detachable manner to front pipes 11 on both sides of a wheelchair (not illustrated) and a gripping rubber tube 30. As with Embodiment 1, the attachment member 5 is able to hold the front pipe 11 or the leg pipe 12 and attach in a holding manner the front pipe 11 or the leg pipe 12 by using a grip portion 6, a held-and-attached portion 7 and a position adjustment nut 9, as shown in FIG. 8(A).

Embodiment 4

(35) Next, a wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 4 will be described. FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of the wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 4.

(36) As shown in FIG. 9, in a wheelchair movement assistance device of Embodiment 4, an attachment member is a pair of hook-like grip portions 56, each of which is formed so as to curve along a circular arc of substantially semi-circumference, the pair of hook-like grip portions 56, each of which is formed so as to curve in a mutually opposing direction, are installed, with a shaft center of a pipe frame of a joint frame 4 being in axial symmetry, and a fall prevention stopper 59 which closes an opening portion of the hook-like grip portion 56 is attached so as to slide in the longitudinal direction of the pipe frame by a sliding mechanism 50.

(37) FIG. 9(A) is a drawing which shows a state that the opening portion of the grip portion 56 is open, and FIG. 9(B) is a drawing which shows a state that the fall prevention stopper 59 slides, by which the opening portion of the grip portion 56 is closed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(38) The present invention is usefully applicable for a wheelchair movement assistance device capable of assisting an emergency evacuation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

(39) 1 Wheelchair movement assistance device 2 Pipe frame 3 Grip frame 4 Joint frame 5 Attachment member 6 Grip portion 7 Held-and-attached portion 8 Position adjustment bolt 9 Position adjustment nut 10 Grip 11 Front pipe 12 Leg pipe 13 Seat 14 Foot plate 15 Arm pipe 16 Cross pipe 17 Elbow addressed 18 Back band 19 Backrest pipe 20 Rear wheel (tire) 21 Front wheel (caster) 22 Hand rim 23 Brake lever 24 Brake shoe 25 Shaft plate 26 Leg belt 30 Rubber tube 40 Person who tows the wheelchair 41, 43 Supporting rod 42, 45 Hook 44 Stopper 50 Sliding mechanism 51 Grip portion of stopper 56 Grip portion 59 Distal portion of fall prevention stopper