JP6523131B2 - Wheelchair with assist device and assist device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheelchair with an assist device provided with an assist device that assists in driving a wheelchair by human power with electric power, and an assist device that can be retrofitted to an existing wheelchair.

  Wheelchairs are roughly classified into manual wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs according to driving power. In addition to this, there has been proposed a technique of attaching a device for assisting the drive by electric power to a wheelchair by human power (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In any of these, a device for driving a wheel by an electric motor is attached to a frame of a wheelchair. Wheelchairs equipped with such devices are simpler and lighter than electric wheelchairs, and are usually driven by human power, but when driving by human power is difficult, such as slopes, roads with large undulations, gravel roads, steps, etc. In addition, driving can be assisted by electric power.

  However, any of the devices proposed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 can not fold the wheelchair without removing it from the wheelchair. Therefore, every time the wheelchair is folded or stowed, it is necessary to remove and attach the device, which is very troublesome.

JP, 2002-172143, A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-24049

  Accordingly, in view of the above situation, the present invention provides a wheelchair with an assist device that can be folded with the assist device attached, and an assist device that can be attached to a wheelchair without impairing the folding mechanism of the wheelchair. , Is an issue.

In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, a wheelchair with an assist device concerning the present invention is:
"A base pipe extending in the longitudinal direction, a seat side pipe extending in the longitudinal direction above the base pipe, a front pipe connecting the base pipe and the seat side pipe at their respective front end sides, the base pipe and the seat A wheelchair having a vehicle body frame including a pair of left and right single side frames each having a rear pipe connecting side pipes at respective rear end sides and a connecting frame connecting a pair of single side frames A wheelchair with an assist device attached with the assist device,
The connection frame is
An upper pipe fixed to the seat side pipe in a pair of left and right
A pair of left and right lower pipes rotatably attached to the base pipe;
A first connecting bar connecting the lower pipe on the left and the upper pipe on the right;
A second connecting bar connecting the lower pipe on the right and the upper pipe on the left,
A pair of the one side frames are made to approach each other by moving the first connection bar and the second connection bar in an X shape and rotating in opposite directions about the connection axis,
The assist device is
A wheel driven by a motor and rotating about an axis of rotation;
A support rotatably supporting the rotation axis of the wheel;
A center member connected to the upper end side of the support;
A first pivoting arm pivotally supported on the center member by a first axis parallel to the connecting axis, and having a tip end coupled to the left lower pipe;
A second pivoting arm pivotally supported by the center member by a second axis parallel to the first axis and having a leading end coupled to the right lower pipe It is.

  In the present document, "front and rear", "upper and lower" and "left and right" are respectively "front and rear", "upper and lower" and "left and right" for the user (seated person) of the wheelchair.

  In this configuration, the wheelchair to which the assist device is attached is folded by rotating the first connecting bar and the second connecting bar intersecting in an X shape in the connecting frame in opposite directions around the connecting axis. , Is also deployed configuration. Specifically, when the first connection bar and the second connection bar are rotated in the direction in which both ends are directed inward around the connection axis, the upper ends of the first connection bar and the second connection bar are connected, respectively. As the pair of upper pipes approaches, the pair of lower pipes to which the lower ends of the first connection bar and the second connection bar are connected approaches. The pair of upper pipes are each fixed to the seat side pipe of the one side frame, and the pair of lower pipes are rotatably attached to the base pipe of the one side frame. Thereby, a pair of one-sides frame approaches by right and left, and a wheelchair is folded. Conversely, when the first connection bar and the second connection bar are pivoted around the connection axis in the direction in which both ends are directed outward, the pair of upper pipes are separated and the pair of lower pipes are separated. Thereby, a pair of one-sides frame is separated by right and left, and a wheelchair is expanded.

  And an assist apparatus is connected with a pair of lower pipe in a connection frame with respect to such a wheelchair. That is, the assist device is attached to the "portions that are displaced from side to side" so as to approach and separate when the wheelchair is folded and deployed. In general, if the assist device is fixed to both of the "left and right displacing portions", the displacement function is lost in a state where the assist device is attached.

  On the other hand, in the present configuration, the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm in the assist device are respectively connected to the lower pipe. The first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm are pivotable about a first axis and a second axis parallel to a connecting axis which is a pivoting center of the first connecting bar and the second connecting bar, respectively. . Therefore, even if the length of each of the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm is unchanged, it is possible to change the distance between the respective tips by the pivoting. Thereby, the pair of lower pipes can be separated and approached in a state in which the respective tips of the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm of the assist device are connected. Accordingly, the wheelchair can be folded and deployed with the assist device attached.

  More specifically, when the pair of one-side frames are brought closer, the first connection bar and the second connection bar rotate around the connection axis in the direction in which both ends are directed inward, and the pair of upper pipes and the pair of lower pipes Displace each other as they approach. At that time, the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm, both of which are connected to the lower pipe, can pivot downward about the first axis and the second axis respectively, and the first pivoting arm And the tip of the second pivot arm approaches. Thereby, the wheelchair is folded without the approach of the pair of lower pipes being prevented by the assist device. Conversely, when the pair of one-side frames are separated, the first connection bar and the second connection bar rotate around the connection axis in the direction in which both ends are directed outward, and the pair of upper pipes and the pair of lower pipes Displace to move apart. At that time, the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm, both of which are connected to the lower pipe, can pivot upward about the first axis and the second axis respectively, and the first pivoting arm And the tip of each of the second pivoting arms is separated. Thereby, the separation of the pair of lower pipes is not hindered by the assist device, and the wheelchair is deployed.

  Therefore, according to this configuration, the wheelchair can be folded and unfolded with the assist device attached. The driving of the wheelchair can be assisted by the electric power by driving the wheels of the assist device by the motor.

The wheelchair with an assist device according to the present invention has, in addition to the above configuration, “the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm each have a claw portion projecting to the center member side.
The center member is configured such that the first pivoting arm and the first pivoting arm are separated as the pair of one-side frames are separated by pivoting the first linking bar and the second linking bar in opposite directions about the linking axis. As the second pivot arm pivots in opposite directions about the first axis and the second axis, the second pivot arm has a hook receiving portion that engages with the hook portion by a frictional force. things der Ru.

  In this configuration, the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm, which are configured to pivot respectively, have claws, and when the pair of one-side frames are separated and the wheelchair is deployed With the rotation of the first rotation arm and the second rotation arm, the claw members of the center member are engaged with each other by frictional force. Thus, the state in which each of the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm is pivoted by a specific angle with respect to the center member is locked by the engagement between the claw portion and the claw receiving portion. Therefore, when the wheelchair is deployed, it becomes possible to lock the symmetrical state in which the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm pivot in opposite directions by the same angle with respect to the center member. . As a result, it is possible to lock a symmetrical state in which the wheel is not tilted with respect to the vehicle body frame.

Next, the assist device according to the present invention is
"A wheel driven by a motor and rotating about a rotation axis;
A support rotatably supporting the rotation axis of the wheel;
A center member connected to the upper end side of the support;
A first pivoting arm pivotally supported on the center member by a first axis in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation;
A second pivoting arm pivotally supported on the center member by a second axis parallel to the first axis;
A pair of pipe holders attached respectively to the tips of the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm;
Equipped with
The first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm each have a claw portion projecting toward the center member.
The center member is frictionally driven by the claws as the first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm respectively pivot upward about the first axis and the second axis. It has a claw receiver which engages .

  This is an assist device which becomes the configuration of the above-mentioned wheelchair with an assist device by being attached to the wheelchair. One of the pair of lower pipes in the connecting frame of the wheelchair is held in each of the pair of pipe holding portions, and the pipe holding portion is attached to the tip of each of the first rotating arm and the second rotating arm. The assist device can be attached to the wheelchair. Although the assist device of this configuration is attached to a part that is displaced as the wheelchair is folded and unfolded, when attached to the wheelchair, it is parallel to the connecting shaft of the connecting frame as the folding mechanism of the wheelchair. Since the first pivoting frame and the second pivoting frame which respectively pivot are provided around the axis which becomes the following, the folding mechanism of the wheelchair is not impaired.

  As described above, the present invention provides a wheelchair with an assist device that can be folded with the assist device attached, and an assist device that can be attached to a wheelchair without damaging the folding mechanism of the wheelchair. can do.

(A) A perspective view of a wheelchair to which an assist device is attached, and a perspective view of a (b) wheelchair with an assist device. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view of the assist apparatus of FIG.1 (b). It is a principal part top view of a wheelchair with an assistant device. (A) It is a principal part rear view of a wheelchair with an assist device in a developed state, and (b) It is a principal part rear view of a wheelchair with an assistant device in the state in the middle of being folded. (C) It is a principal part rear view of a wheelchair with an assistant device in the state where it was folded up. It is a perspective view of the body frame of a wheelchair. It is a partial front view of the wheelchair with an assist device in a folded state. They are the (a) perspective view and the (b) sectional view of a pipe attaching part of an assistant device. It is explanatory drawing of the operation part and throttle of a wheelchair with an assist device.

  Hereinafter, a wheelchair with an assist device 1 and an assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

  First, the configuration of the wheelchair 100 to which the assist device is attached will be described. The wheelchair 100 is a wheelchair specified by JIS. Here, as the wheelchair 100, an assistance standard wheelchair whose main purpose is to be operated by an assistant is illustrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 6, the vehicle body frame 50 which is a framework of the wheelchair 100 has a pair of left frame 50L and right frame 50R and a connecting frame 60 connecting them. There is. The left frame 50L and the right frame 50R have the same configuration and each correspond to the "one-side frame" of the present invention. The left frame 50L and the right frame 50R each have a base pipe 55 extending in the front-rear direction, a seat side pipe 53 extending in the front-rear direction above the base pipe 55, and an arm pipe 54 extending in the front-rear direction above. The three pipes are connected to each other at the rear by the rear pipe 51, and at the front by the front pipe 52.

  The connection frame 60 includes a pair of left and right upper pipes 61, a pair of left and right lower pipes 62, two first connection bars 65 connecting the left lower pipe 62 and the right upper pipe 61, and the right It has two second connecting bars 66 connecting the lower pipe 62 and the left upper pipe 61. One each of the first connection bar 65 and the second connection bar 66 crosses in an X shape with the second connection bar 66 inside, and is rotatably held around the connection axis P6. . That is, the connecting frame 60 includes two pairs of the first connecting bar 65 and the second connecting bar 66 which are rotatably assembled in an X-shape.

The left and right upper pipes 61 are fixed to the left and right seat side pipes 53, respectively. On the other hand, the left and right lower pipes 62 are rotatably fitted on the axis of the base pipe 55 in the middle of the left and right base pipes 55, respectively . When the left frame 50L and the right frame 50R are brought close to each other, the first connecting bar 65 and the second connecting bar 66 intersecting in an X-shape turn around the connecting axis P6 so that both ends are directed inward, and the vehicle body The frame 50 is folded. Conversely, when the left frame 50L and the right frame 50R are separated, the first connecting bar 65 and the second connecting bar 66 rotate around the connecting shaft P6 so that the both ends are directed outward, and the vehicle body frame 50 is deployed Be done.

  A seat sheet 81 is stretched between the left and right upper pipes 61. The rear pipe 51 extends upward from the arm pipe 54 and further bends rearward to form a handle 59. A back seat 82 is stretched between the left and right rear pipes 51 at a portion higher than the height of the seat side pipe 53. The seat side pipe 53 and the base pipe 55 respectively extend forward of the front pipe 52 and are connected by the leg pipe 56. A leg base 85 on which the user's foot is placed is rotatably supported by the leg pipe 56, and a leg sheet 86 is stretched between the left and right leg pipes 56. Seat seat 81, back seat 82 and leg seat 86 are flexible and can be folded and unfolded with body frame 50.

  In each of the left and right rear pipes 51, a rotational shaft of a main wheel 71 rotatable in the front-rear direction is fixed via bearings in the vicinity of a connection point with the base pipe 55. A small caster 72 is attached to each of the left and right front pipes 52 in the vicinity of the connection point with the base pipe 55. The caster 72 is a free wheel rotatable in the front-rear direction and pivotable about an axis extending in the vertical direction.

  Next, the configuration of the assist device will be described. The assist device is connected to an upper end side of a support 21 which is driven by a motor and rotates about a rotation axis P0, a support 18 rotatably supporting the rotation axis P 0 of the wheel 21, and a support 18 The center member 11, the first pivoting arm 12L rotatably supported by the first axis P1 in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis P0 on the center member 11, and the center axis 11 on the first axis P1 A second pivoting arm 12R pivotally supported by a parallel second axis P2, and a pair of pipe holders 13 attached to the tips of the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm, A pair of claws 14b projecting from the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R toward the center member 11 and the first pivoting arm 12L side of the center member 11 and the second pivoting arm 12 From the upper surface side, and includes a pair of claw receiving portion 15 that protrudes upward, respectively, the. The assist device further includes a controller having a control circuit that controls the drive of the motor, an operation unit 30 and a throttle 40 that operate the drive of the motor, and a battery 22 that is a drive power supply of the motor.

  In the following description, “front and rear”, “upper and lower” and “left and right” in the assist device are “front and rear”, “upper and lower” and “upper and lower” for the user (seated person) in a state where the assist device is attached to the wheelchair 100. "Right and left" and "right."

  More specifically, the assist device includes one wheel 21. The direction of the rotation axis P0 of the wheel 21 is the left-right direction. The motor for driving the wheel 21 is an in-wheel motor (not shown) provided inside the wheel 21.

  The support 18 includes a pair of first supports 18 a and a pair of second supports 18 b. Each of the pair of first supports 18a is L-shaped, and the wheel 21 is sandwiched from both sides by a portion extending in the front-rear direction, and the rotation shaft P0 is inserted and rotatably supported. The second support 18b is superimposed on a portion of the L-shaped first support 18a extending in the vertical direction. An elongated hole 18h which is long in the vertical direction is formed through the second support 18b, and a plurality of bolt holes 18i are formed through the line in which the elongated hole 18h extends in the first support 18a. With such a configuration, the bolt can be inserted into the long hole 18 h regardless of which of the plurality of bolt holes 18 i is inserted, and the first support 18 a and the first support 18 a can be fastened by the bolt and the nut. The second support 18b can be integrated, and the height adjustment can be performed by sliding the second support 18b in the vertical direction with respect to the first support 18a.

  The center member 11 is a plate having a U-shaped cross section and a rectangular shape in plan view, and is bridged over the upper ends of the pair of second supports 18b so that the U opens downward. At the center of the upper surface of the center member 11, a casing 25 accommodating a controller is supported via a controller support 19.

  The first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R, the pair of pipe holding portions 13, the pair of claws 14b, and the pair of claw receiving portions 15 are symmetrical with respect to the center member 11. Therefore, the configuration on the left side with respect to the center member 11 will be specifically described below, and the description of the configuration on the right side will be omitted. The first pivoting arm 12L is a plate having a U-shaped cross section, and a pair of side walls extending in the same direction in the U shape is externally fitted on a pair of side walls extending in the same direction in the U shape of the center member 11. In this state, the first rotation arm 12 </ b> L and the center member 11 are rotatably supported by a first shaft P <b> 1 extending in the front-rear direction through the side walls of the first rotation arm 12 </ b> L and the center member 11.

  The pipe holding portion 13 is composed of a first holding portion 13a having a U-shaped cross section and a second holding portion 13b having an L-shaped cross section for closing the opening of the first holding portion 13a. A bolt and a hole 13h provided on one of a pair of side walls extending in the same direction in the U-shape of the first holding portion 13a and a hole 12h provided on the tip of the first rotation arm 12L By fastening with a nut, the first holding portion 13a can be detachably attached to the first rotation arm 12L. Then, the first holding portion 13a is fastened with a bolt and a nut via a hole 13i provided in the other of the pair of side walls of the first holding portion 13a and a hole 13k provided in the second holding portion 13b. The second holding portion 13b can be detachably attached to the portion 13a.

  A flat claw plate 14 is superimposed on the middle surface of the first pivoting arm 12L, which is U-shaped in cross section, and the inner end of the claw plate 14 is bent and extended toward the center member 11 The claws 14b are formed. The claw plate 14 is fastened to the first pivoting arm 12L with a bolt and a nut, but the hole 14h provided in the claw plate 14 for fastening is a long hole, and the claw 14b Can adjust the length which protrudes to the center member 11 side.

  On the other hand, in the center member 11, the claw receiving portion 15 protrudes upward from the upper surface on the first rotation arm 12L side. The claw receiving portion 15 is flat, and the upper portion thereof is slightly bent toward the inside of the center member 11. When the first pivoting arm 12L is pivoted upward around the first axis P1, the claws 14b projecting from the first pivoting arm 12L contact the claw receiving portions 15 projecting from the center member 11 And engage by friction.

  The operation unit 30 is attached to one of the pair of handles 59 and is electrically connected to the control circuit of the controller. As shown in FIG. 9, the operation unit 30 includes a power button 31, a constant speed selection button 32 for selecting a constant speed traveling mode, and a mode selection button 33 for selecting a plurality of modes having different maximum speeds. A mode display unit 35 for displaying the selected mode, and an output display unit 36 for displaying the magnitude of the output by illumination. The throttle 40 is attached to the other of the pair of handles 59 and is electrically connected to the control circuit of the controller. The battery 22 is detachably connected to a battery connection 22 b fixed to the rear pipe 51, and the battery connection 22 b is electrically connected to the control circuit of the controller.

  Among the assist devices of the above configuration, the configuration excluding the operation unit 30, the throttle 40, the battery 22, and the electric wiring not shown, that is, the configuration around the wheel (hereinafter referred to as the "apparatus main body 10") Attached to 100. First, the apparatus main body 10 in a state in which the pipe holding portion 13 is removed from the tips of the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R is positioned in the space below the connecting frame 60 in the wheelchair 100.

  Then, the first holding portion 13a of the left pipe holding portion 13 is applied to the left lower pipe 62 from the outside, and the lower pipe 62 is positioned in the U-shape of the first holding portion 13a. In that state, the first holding portion 13a is fixed to the first turning arm 12L by fastening with the bolt and the nut through the hole 13h of the first holding portion 13a and the hole 12h of the first turning arm 12L. Attach. Furthermore, the second holding portion 13b is attached to the first holding portion 13a by fastening with a bolt and a nut via the hole 13i of the first holding portion 13a and the hole 13k of the second holding portion 13b. The opening of the first holding portion 13a is closed by the second holding portion 13b. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the lower pipe 62 is inserted through the tubular space formed by the first holding portion 13a and the second holding portion 13b, and the first pivoting arm 12L It is connected to the left lower pipe 62. The lower right pipe 62 is similarly held in the right pipe holder 13 and the second pivoting arm 12R is connected to the right lower pipe 62 via the right pipe holder 13.

  As described above, the apparatus main body 10 can be attached to the wheelchair 100 by the simple operation of attaching the left and right pipe holding parts 13 to the tips of the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R. Here, the size of the wheelchair 100 conforming to the standard is almost constant, but if multiple types of different sizes of the pipe holding portion 13 are prepared, the wheelchairs having different diameters of the lower pipe 62 and the distance between the pair of lower pipes 62 The apparatus main body 10 can be attached to the above. That is, among the configurations of the device main body 10, it is possible to cope with wheelchairs having different sizes only by the setting of the pipe holding portion 13. In the case of wheelchairs in which the heights of the lower pipe 62 and the base pipe 55 from the ground are different, the second support 18b is used as the first support 18a in the support 18 supporting the wheel 21 as described above. The height can be adjusted and made to correspond by sliding in the vertical direction.

  In the present embodiment, the width in the front-rear direction of the center member 11, the first pivoting arm 12L, and the second pivoting arm 12R is between two pairs of the first connecting bar 65 and the second connecting bar 66 constituting an X shape. It is set slightly larger than the distance of. Therefore, when the apparatus main body 10 is attached to the wheelchair 100, as shown in FIG. 3, the first connecting bar 65 is provided on both outer sides of the center member 11, the first pivoting arm 12L, and the second pivoting arm 12R. And the second connection bar 66 are positioned close to each other. Therefore, in the present embodiment, two L-shaped hooks 16L are attached to the first pivoting arm 12L, one toward the front and the other toward the rear, and covering the first connection bar 65 from above, respectively. There is. Similarly, two L-shaped hooks 16R are attached to the second pivoting arm 12R, and each covers the second connecting bar 66 from above. Here, since the second connection bar 66 is inside the first connection bar 65, the hook 16L is longer in the front-rear direction than the hook 16R. By having such hooks 16L and 16R, the state where the device body 10 is attached to the wheelchair 100 is stabilized. The hooks 16L and 16R are attached to the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R by fastening bolts and nuts via the respective long holes 16h. Thereby, it is possible to adjust the length which hook 16L, 16R protrudes according to the thickness of the 1st connection bar 65 and the 2nd connection bar 66. As shown in FIG.

  By attaching the device body 10 to the wheelchair 100 as described above, the wheelchair 1 with an assist device having the following configuration (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as the "wheelchair 1") is obtained. That is, the wheelchair 1 with an assist device has an assist device attached to a wheelchair 100 having a vehicle body frame 50 including a left frame 50L, a right frame 50R, and a connecting frame 60 connecting the frames. A wheel 21 driven by a motor and rotating about a rotation axis P0, a support 18 rotatably supporting the rotation axis P0 of the wheel 21, and a center member 11 connected to the upper end side of the support 18 A first pivoting arm pivotally supported by the center member 11 by a first axis P1 parallel to the connecting axis P6 and whose tip is coupled to the left lower pipe 62 via the pipe holding portion 13 12L and the center member 11 are pivotally supported by a second axis P2 parallel to the first axis P1 and the tip end is a pipe holding portion on the right lower pipe 62 Second 3 via is coupled and a rotating arm 12R, is configured to assist device is equipped.

  The wheelchair with an assist device 1 having such a configuration can be folded with the assist device attached as follows. First, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the left frame 50L and the right frame 50R are brought close to each other from the state in which the wheelchair 1 is deployed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, the first connection bar 65 and the second connection bar 66 rotate around the connection axis P6 in the direction in which both ends are directed inward, and a pair of upper pipes 61 and a pair The lower pipes 62 are displaced so as to approach each other. At that time, the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R both connected to the lower pipe 62 via the pipe holding portion 13 are directed downward around the first axis P1 and the second axis P2, respectively. It turns and the engagement between the claw portion 14 b and the claw receiving portion 15 is released. Then, by further turning the first turning arm 12L and the second turning arm 12R, the respective tips of the first turning arm 12L and the second turning arm 12R approach together with the lower pipe 62, as shown in FIG. c) and the wheelchair 1 is folded as shown in FIG. 4 (a) to 5 (c), the pair of first connecting bar 65 and second connecting bar 66, which should be located in front of the apparatus main body 1, are omitted to clearly show the configuration. ing.

  In the present embodiment, the distance between the first axis P1 and the second axis P2 is set to be slightly longer than the width in the left-right direction of the support 18 supporting the wheel 21. Therefore, as shown in the figure, with the wheelchair 1 folded so that the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R are substantially perpendicular to the ground, the device body 10 interferes with other parts of the wheelchair 1 There is no waste in space as well. Thereby, the wheelchair 1 can be stored and transported in a compactly folded state.

  Conversely, when the left frame 50L and the right frame 50R are separated, the first connecting bar 65 and the second connecting bar 66 rotate around the connecting axis P6 in the direction in which both ends are directed outward, and the pair of upper pipes 61 The pair of lower pipes 62 are displaced so as to be separated from each other. Accordingly, the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R pivot upward around the first axis P1 and the second axis P2, respectively, and the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm The tip of each 12 R is separated with the lower pipe 62. Thereby, the wheelchair 1 is expanded through the state of FIG. 4 (b), and it becomes the state of FIG. 4 (a).

  As described above, when the wheelchair 1 is deployed, the claws 14b contact the claw receiving portions 15 and are engaged by the frictional force with the upward rotation of the first rotation arm 12L and the second rotation arm 12R. . As described above, the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R, the pair of pipe holding portions 13, the pair of claws 14b, and the pair of claw receiving portions 15 are all right and left with respect to the center member 11. It is symmetrical. Therefore, the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R are pivoted in the opposite direction by the same angle with respect to the center member 11 by the pawl portion 14b engaging with the pawl receiving portion 15 by the frictional force. The symmetrical state can be locked. Thus, when the wheelchair 1 is deployed, the center member 11 is not tilted with respect to the vehicle body frame 50, that is, the left-right symmetrical condition in which the wheel 21 is not tilted with respect to the vehicle body frame 50 is locked. it can.

  When the driving of the wheelchair 1 with an assist device is assisted by electric power, the power is turned on by the operation of the power button 31 of the operation unit 30. When the constant speed selection button 32 is pressed, the vehicle travels at a constant set speed while this button is pressed. The mode selection button 33 is a button for selecting a low speed mode, a medium speed mode, and a high speed mode in which the maximum speeds are different. When one of the modes is selected by this button, the selected mode is displayed on the mode display unit 35. When the throttle 40 is turned, the rotational speed of the motor is gradually increased, and when the throttle 40 is returned, the rotational speed of the motor is gradually decreased. Thus, the wheelchair 1 can travel at a speed corresponding to the operation of the throttle 40 at a speed lower than the maximum speed set for each mode.

  In the state where the power is turned off by the operation of the power button 31, the wheel 21 freely rotates. Therefore, it is possible to switch the wheelchair 1 with the assist device between a wheelchair driven manually and a wheelchair assisted by the electric power only by operating the power button 31. That is, when the power button 31 is turned off, it can be used as a normal wheelchair without activating the assist device.

  As described above, the assist device according to the present embodiment can be retrofitted to the existing wheelchair 100 driven by human power by easy work, and can be the wheelchair 1 with the assist device. And the wheelchair 1 with an assist device can be folded and unfolded with the assist device attached.

  In addition, the distance between the pivot axes (the first axis P1 and the second axis P2) of the first pivot arm 12L and the second pivot arm 12R, which pivot when the wheelchair 1 is folded, corresponds to the wheel 21 from both sides. The setting is slightly longer than the width of the support 18 to be supported. Therefore, when the first pivoting arm 12L and the second pivoting arm 12R are perpendicular to the ground, the support 18 is sandwiched from both sides, and the space folded without waste in space is compact. In addition, since the motor for driving the wheel 21 is an in-wheel motor, the wheelchair 1 can be folded more compactly than when the motor is provided outside.

  In addition, when the wheelchair 1 is deployed, the claw portion 14b of the assist device and the claw receiving portion 15 are engaged due to the frictional force, so that the wheel 21 is not symmetrical with respect to the vehicle body frame 50 in a symmetrical state. It can be locked.

  As mentioned above, although a suitable embodiment was mentioned and described, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, As shown below, in the range which does not deviate from the gist of the present invention, various improvement and design Changes are possible.

  For example, although the standard wheelchair for assistance is illustrated as a wheelchair to which an assistant device is attached, it is not limited to this. A wheelchair with an assist device can be provided by attaching the assist device of the present invention to another type of wheelchair, as long as it has a folding mechanism by an X-shaped connecting frame.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wheelchair with assist device 10 Device main body 11 Center member 12L First rotation arm 12R Second rotation arm 13 Pipe holding portion 14b Claw portion 15 Claw reception portion 18 Support body 21 Wheel 50 Body frame 50L Left frame (one side frame)
50R right frame (one side frame)
51 Rear pipe 52 Front pipe 53 Seat side pipe 55 Base pipe 60 Connection frame 61 Upper pipe 62 Lower pipe 65 First connection bar 66 Second connection bar P0 Rotation axis P1 First axis P2 Second axis P2 Connection axis

Claims (2)

A base pipe extending forward and backward, a seat side pipe extending forward and backward above the base pipe, a front pipe connecting the base pipe and the seat side pipe at respective front end sides, the base pipe and the seat side A wheelchair having a body frame as a frame comprising: a pair of left and right one-side frames each having a rear pipe connecting pipes at respective rear end sides; and a connecting frame connecting a pair of the one-side frames; A wheelchair with an assist device, to which the assist device is attached,
The connection frame is
An upper pipe fixed to the seat side pipe in a pair of left and right
A pair of left and right lower pipes rotatably attached to the base pipe;
A first connecting bar connecting the lower pipe on the left and the upper pipe on the right;
A second connecting bar connecting the lower pipe on the right and the upper pipe on the left,
A pair of the one side frames are made to approach each other by moving the first connection bar and the second connection bar in an X shape and rotating in opposite directions about the connection axis,
The assist device is
A wheel driven by a motor and rotating about an axis of rotation;
A support rotatably supporting the rotation axis of the wheel;
A center member connected to the upper end side of the support;
A first pivoting arm pivotally supported on the center member by a first axis parallel to the connecting axis, and having a tip end coupled to the left lower pipe;
A second pivoting arm pivotally supported by the center member by a second axis parallel to the first axis, the tip end of which is connected to the right lower pipe ;
The first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm each have a claw portion projecting toward the center member.
The center member is configured such that the first pivoting arm and the first pivoting arm are separated as the pair of one-side frames are separated by pivoting the first linking bar and the second linking bar in opposite directions about the linking axis. As the second pivoting arm pivots in opposite directions about the first axis and the second axis, there is provided a hook receiving portion which is engaged with the hook portion by a frictional force. A wheelchair with an assist device characterized in that. A wheel driven by a motor and rotating about an axis of rotation;
A support rotatably supporting the rotation axis of the wheel;
A center member connected to the upper end side of the support;
A first pivoting arm pivotally supported on the center member by a first axis in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation;
A second pivoting arm pivotally supported on the center member by a second axis parallel to the first axis;
And a pair of pipe holders attached to the tips of the first and second pivot arms, respectively.
The first pivoting arm and the second pivoting arm each have a claw portion projecting toward the center member.
The center member is pre SL with to the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm is pivoted upward in each of the first axis and the second axis around the frictional force between the claw portion features and to luer cysts equipment that has a pawl receiving portion for engaging with.

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