FR2950797A1

FR2950797A1 - Rehabilitation or mobility assistance device for e.g. paralyzed dog, has driveshaft shaped so as to move hind legs of animal synchronously in phase opposition like movement of chainset, where axle controls rotation of driveshaft from wheel

Info

Publication number: FR2950797A1
Application number: FR0904721A
Authority: FR
Inventors: La Celle Roland De; La Celle Raymond De
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Sophiadog Fr
Priority date: 2009-10-02
Filing date: 2009-10-02
Publication date: 2011-04-08

Abstract

The device has a rigid chassis (1) on which two side wheels (2, 3) are mounted, where the device is in the form of trolley. A rear harness (4) is supported by the chassis to receive hindquarters of a quadruped animal. A crankshaft-type driveshaft (30) has crankpins to which a moving unit constituted of elongated cradles (34) and bootees, is attached for moving hind legs of the animal. The driveshaft is shaped so as to move each of the hind legs synchronously in phase opposition like the movement of a chainset. A support axle (80) controls the rotation of the driveshaft from one of the wheels.

Description

DESCRIPTF L'invention est caractérisée en un dispositif permettant à un animal quadrupède handicapé de son train arrière de se déplacer tout en se voyant imposer ou pas, et ceci par un automatisme, des mouvements avec ses pattes arrières sur un pédalier. Cette activité est propice à un maintien voire à un rétablissement de ses fonctions motrices arrière grâce à une amélioration de ses capacités musculaires, vasculaires ainsi que articulaires. Le dit animal (AN) sera suspendu par un harnais au-dessus du dispositif et ce par l'intermédiaire d'un châssis (CH). Le dispositif est composé du dit châssis (CH) qui comporte sur l'extérieur deux roues (R1) et (R2) évoluant en parallèle et positionnées longitudinalement à l'animal. Les dites roues sont reliées entre elles par un premier vilebrequin (V 1) de type à double manetons (M) afin de pouvoir faire se mouvoir de manière synchrone et en opposition de phase, tel le mouvement d'un pédalier, chacune des deux pattes arrière du dit animal. L'une des roues (R1) entraine le dit vilebrequin (V1) et ce à volonté grâce au verrouillage/ déverrouillage par une mollette (MO) de la dite roue (Rl) au dit vilebrequin (V 1). Ceci permet la mise en exercice ou pas du train arrière du dit animal lors de ses déplacements. La deuxième roue (R2) reste libre. Le dit vilebrequin (V 1) fonctionne de concert avec un deuxième vilebrequin (V2) de même type et ce dernier est positionné en avant par rapport au premier. Une liaison par deux pignons égaux (P1) et (P2) et une chaine de transmission (C) les reliant, synchronise les deux vilebrequins (V1) et (V2) entre eux. Deux berceaux (B 1) et (B2) positionnés parallèlement entre eux relient les deux vilebrequins (V 1) et (V2) entre eux par l'intermédiaire de leurs manetons (M), à raison d'un maneton sur chacun des deux vilebrequins. Les deux vilebrequins (V 1) et (V2) sont toutefois d'un diamètre différent afin de permettre aux dits berceaux (B 1) et (B2) d'évoluer sur une trajectoire ovoïde (0). Cette trajectoire ovoïde permet ainsi de faire se mouvoir les pattes arrières de l'animal sur une trajectoire la plus proche possible de la marche naturelle de l'animal (voir dessin 2). Le vilebrequin (V 1) entraineur, positionné en arrière, est celui ayant un diamètre supérieur par rapport à l'autre vilebrequin (V2). Les dits berceaux sont reliés et articulés seulement sur les manetons du seul vilebrequin arrière (VI) et ne font que reposer sur les manetons du vilebrequin (V2) où ils y glissent sur leur zone inférieure (Z). Ceci permet de résoudre le problème des distensions liées à l'éloignement des manetons entre eux lors de leur révolution sur leur vilebrequin respectif. Deux chaussons (C2) sont alors positionnés et fixés sur les deux berceaux (BI) et (B2) à raison d'un par berceau et reçoivent chacun une patte arrière du dit animal. Les dites pattes sont maintenues fermement par leur métatarse dans leur chausson respectif. Les dits chaussons sont chacun solidarisé sur leur berceau respectif par un support (E) suivant un angle (A) défini afin d'imposer aux pattes du dit animal une orientation adéquate optimisant et harmonisant ses mouvements. Il en résulte alors que les articulations « épaule », « coude » et « talon » du dit animal sont sollicitées par l'impulsion imposée par le dispositif comme indiqué sur le dessin 2. 15 20 25 30 35 DESCRIPTF The invention is characterized in a device allowing a quadruped animal disabled his rear train to move while being imposed or not, and this by an automatism, movements with its hind legs on a pedal. This activity is conducive to maintaining or even restoring its rear motor functions thanks to an improvement in its muscular, vascular and joint capacities. The said animal (AN) will be suspended by a harness above the device and this through a frame (CH). The device is composed of said frame (CH) which has on the outside two wheels (R1) and (R2) moving in parallel and positioned longitudinally to the animal. Said wheels are interconnected by a first crankshaft (V 1) of the double-crank type (M) so as to be able to move synchronously and in phase opposition, such as the movement of a pedal, each of the two legs back of said animal. One of the wheels (R1) drives the said crankshaft (V1) and this at will thanks to the locking / unlocking by a wheel (MO) of said wheel (Rl) to said crankshaft (V 1). This allows the exercise or not the rear train of said animal during his travels. The second wheel (R2) remains free. Said crankshaft (V 1) works in conjunction with a second crankshaft (V2) of the same type and the latter is positioned forward with respect to the first. A connection by two equal gears (P1) and (P2) and a chain of transmission (C) connecting them, synchronizes the two crankshafts (V1) and (V2) between them. Two cradles (B 1) and (B2) positioned parallel to each other connect the two crankshafts (V 1) and (V 2) to each other via their crank pins (M), one crank pin on each of the two crankshafts . The two crankshafts (V 1) and (V 2), however, are of a different diameter to allow said cradles (B 1) and (B2) to evolve on an ovoid path (0). This ovoid trajectory thus makes it possible to move the rear legs of the animal on a trajectory as close as possible to the natural walk of the animal (see drawing 2). The crankshaft (V 1) driver, positioned behind, is the one having a larger diameter relative to the other crankshaft (V2). The said cradles are connected and articulated only on the crank pins of the only rear crankshaft (VI) and only rest on the crankshaft crank pins (V2) where they slide on their lower zone (Z). This solves the problem of distensions related to the distance of the crank pins to each other during their revolution on their respective crankshaft. Two slippers (C2) are then positioned and fixed on the two cradles (BI) and (B2) at a rate of one per cradle and each receive a rear leg of said animal. The said legs are held firmly by their metatarsal in their respective shoe. The said slippers are each secured to their respective cradle by a support (E) at an angle (A) defined to impose the legs of said animal a proper orientation optimizing and harmonizing its movements. As a result, the "shoulder", "elbow" and "heel" joints of the said animal are urged by the impulse imposed by the device as indicated in the drawing 2. 15 20 25 30 35

Claims

CLAIMS1 - A device allowing a quadruped animal disabled his rear train to move while exerting automatic movements with its hind legs on a pedal characterized in that it is composed of a frame (CH) which incorporates two wheels (R1) and (R2), the latter are connected to each other by an axis composed at its center of a crankshaft (VI), a second crankshaft (V2) of the same type situated forwardly relative to the first (VI) and connected to the latter by means of two gears (P1) and (P2) and a transmission chain (C), two cradles (B1) and (B2) also connect the said crankshafts (V 1) and (V 2) between they and two slippers (C2) intended to each receive a leg of said animal, maintained by its metatarsal in said shoe, are positioned and fixed on said cradles with a given angle (A).

2 -Dispositif according to claim 1 characterized in that the two crankshafts (V1) (V2) are of type "double crank" (M) is a left and a right, which allow a pedal movement.

3 -Dispositif according to claim 2 characterized in that the rear crankshaft 20 coach (V1) evolves on a diameter greater than the crankshaft (V2) located at the front.

4 -Dispositif according to claim 3 characterized in that the crankshaft drive (V 1) connects at its ends the two wheels (Rl) and (R2), the only wheel (Rl) being driving, the second wheel (R2) remaining free .

5 -Dispositif according to claim 4 characterized in that the two crankshafts (VI) and (V2) are connected and synchronized with each other by two identical pinions (P1) and (P2) and their chain (C) transmission. 30

6 -Dispositif according to claim 1 characterized in that the two cradles (B1) and (B2) are positioned parallel to each other and connect the two crankshafts (VI) and (V2) between them on the crank pins (M) of the latter to because of a crankpin on each of said crankshafts. 25 35 5

7 -Dispositif according to claim 6 characterized in that said cradles (B1) and (B2) are connected and hinged only on the crankshaft (V1) driver, only resting on the crankshaft (V2) through their zones (Z) where they slide on the crankshaft crank pins (V2)

8- Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the two shoes (C2) are positioned and secured each of their cradle (B 1) or (B2) respectively, by a support (E) at an angle (A) thus allowing d impose an angle (A) which will direct the movement of revolution of the rear legs of the animal. 10 15 20 25 30 35