JP2025091571A - Care equipment and care equipment sets - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a piece of assistance equipment that enables mobility and transfer assistance by solo assistance, by reducing a burden of a care-recipient and a care-giver to support an operation.SOLUTION: A piece of assistance equipment is provided with a mat part 1, a vest part 30, a shoulder belt 32 which is supported by the vest part 30, with both end parts connected respectively to the mat part 1, and a waist belt 31 which is formed continuously in one unit with the vest part 30. The mat part 1 protects a care-recipient while a care-giver can perform an assistance operation which reduces a burden by wearing the vest part 30 and the waist belt 31. A first mat part belt 28 having a connection part is sewn on in the longitudinal direction of the rear face 2b of the mat body, and is arranged to support at least the trunk and the thigh part of the care-recipient. The shoulder belt 32 which connects, to connection parts 10-13, carabiners 35, 36 that are installable to the two shoulder belts 32 and which is supported by the vest part 30 and freely movably housed, keeps a load balance with the mat part 1 and holds the care-recipient at the center of gravity, with mobility assistance made to be performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

The present invention relates to an assistance tool and an assistance tool set.

For those who spend most of their time in bed and have difficulty standing or sitting, transferring from their bed to a car or other vehicle is extremely difficult and dangerous for both the caregiver and the person receiving care, and places a significant constraint on daily life.
Previous care tools have focused on moving the person being assisted by placing them on a sheet or plate-like object. When going out, transferring the person from a bed to a car or other vehicle, or moving into a small space, requires one person to do the transfer, which could not be achieved with conventional technology.

Registered Utility Model No. 3108190 Registered Utility Model No. 3124647 Patent No. 4662572 JP 2021-183754 A

People who spend most of their time in bed or who have difficulty standing or sitting often have restrictions on their daily lives, and transferring in particular poses extreme difficulties and major challenges.
If transfers can be made while lying down and both the caregiver and the person being assisted can go out easily and freely, then transferring and going out will no longer be "something special."

One of the challenges in caregiving is disuse syndrome. Disuse syndrome is a symptom of the condition whereby a person's life is centered in bed, with no opportunity to change their mood and mental stress leading to increased likelihood of mental and physical disorders. Mental disorders lead to physical disorders, and physical disorders lead to mental disorders. Less exercise leads to loss of appetite, and malnutrition leads to loss of muscle mass, further weakening the body, creating a vicious cycle. Furthermore, when the person being cared for falls ill, the caregiver also bears a mental and physical burden, and when the caregiver falls ill, the person being cared for is also affected. In this way, they affect each other, and both find themselves in difficult situations, losing hope.
They become isolated from society, with little communication with the outside world and feeling lonely.
They cannot move freely without being tied down to time or place. Transferring between locations places a great physical burden on both the caregiver and the person being cared for, and going out requires using a care taxi, which places a heavy financial burden on the caregiver and makes it difficult to go out easily.
When people feel unwell, the only means of transportation are ambulances or nursing taxis, so they hesitate to go to the hospital, and even if problems are discovered early, they do not receive early treatment.
If you are worried about infection due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may not want to use a nursing care taxi.
As a social trend, there is a shift from hospitalization to home care, and we are moving towards creating an environment in which people can live lives that are true to themselves. However, it is difficult to create a good home environment, and because mobility is difficult, their actions are restricted, making it difficult for them to continue living in an environment they are accustomed to.
With the declining birthrate and aging population, and even if there are family members living together, there are only a limited number of caregivers in the home, and it is not rare for one person to take on the responsibility of caregiving. The number of caregivers who provide home caregiving with "caregiver depression" is increasing.

In addition, in small spaces where there is not enough space for multiple people to support each other, it is impossible to assist someone without assistance alone. Assisting someone to move in and out of a car seat or wheelchair in a small space is extremely difficult and dangerous, and it is not possible for a single caregiver to assist the person being assisted with the movement and transfer of the person being assisted.
It is difficult to hold and hold a person who is elusive. Assisting someone in an unstable and awkward position when transferring places places a great strain on the body, causing shoulder and back pain.
There are steps both indoors and outdoors that cannot be negotiated in a wheelchair, making it difficult to go outside.
Transferring a physically weak person places a heavy burden on them. Because the person being assisted is unstable, the caregiver must provide strong support using their grip and arm strength, and they feel pressure and pain when being held tightly. Furthermore, the transfer requires strong strength, which can cause a fair amount of shaking and impact, and the person being assisted feels pain every time.

In addition, the caregiver needs to have strong grip and arm strength to prevent the person being assisted from dropping. Furthermore, when moving the person, there are many things to be careful of, such as not letting the person's limbs get caught or hit something, or dropping them, and not losing one's own balance, which can be dangerous.
Unlike horizontal transfer assistance, the caregiver must assist with complex movements that require strong strength, such as vertical movement, carrying, moving in narrow spaces such as hallways and getting in and out of a car, and moving between a car and a reclining wheelchair. This places a great strain on the body and is dangerous. In particular, getting in and out of a car seat while holding the person being assisted places a great strain on the caregiver, and because both hands are holding the person being assisted, the caregiver cannot support his or her own unstable position by placing hands around the person, which is dangerous. If the caregiver is in an unstable position, the person being assisted is also in a dangerous state.
These challenges make it difficult to go out and limit daily life.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
A long mat portion on which the person being assisted is placed;
A vest part that is placed on the back of the caregiver;
a shoulder belt having a long length, a central portion in a longitudinal direction of which is held by the vest portion, and both ends in the longitudinal direction of which are connected to the mat portion;
a waist belt formed integrally with the vest part and for fixing the vest part to the caregiver;
The mat section has a first mat section belt that is sewn to the back surface of the mat section main body in a figure of eight so that two annular portions are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the mat section main body, and has two connecting portions provided on each of the two annular portions;
Both ends of the shoulder belt are connected to the connecting portion,
The portion of the mat body to which the first mat belt is sewn is an assistance device that is positioned so as to support at least the trunk and thighs of the person being assisted when in use.

The major differences between this and previous mobility assistance devices are as follows:
Previous care equipment focused on moving the person being assisted by placing them on a sheet or plate, but did not go far enough to protect the caregiver's body, and did not reduce the burden on the caregiver. A heavy burden on the caregiver also means that the person being assisted lacks safety.
The care equipment of the present invention protects the body of both the caregiver and the person being cared for and reduces the burden on both, making it possible for those who spend most of their time in bed or have difficulty standing or sitting to transfer to and from one place, and furthermore, by taking advantage of its strengths, it is a care equipment that allows transfers to and from small spaces that can only be achieved by one person. This allows the freedom to go out, and is expected to improve the quality of life and expand the possibilities for both parties.
These are areas that could not be achieved with conventional transfer assistance devices.

(a) is a top view of the mat, and (b) is an image of a caregiver holding it. 1A is a transparent view of the mat portion seen from above, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A, FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B, and FIG. A bottom view of the mat on which the person being assisted is placed. A diagram showing the structure and relationship between the first mat belt on the back of the mat main body and the shoulder belt of the vest, and their relationship to the person being assisted, through the mat and vest. A diagram showing how to use the covering cloth. Regarding the tongue pieces of the mat body, (a) is a diagram showing a state where a recess is provided between the tongue pieces, and (b) is a diagram showing a state where no recess is provided. A diagram showing the vest part, shoulder belts, and waist belt. The figures show the seat belt with the shoulder straps removed; (a) is an outside view of the vest and waist belt, and (b) is an inside view of the vest and waist belt. A diagram showing the inner structure of the vest part and the waist belt. (a) is a diagram showing the structure of the shoulder belt, (b) is a diagram showing how to use the ring-shaped rubber, (c) is a diagram showing the length adjustment part, and (d) and (e) are side views showing how to use the length adjustment fittings. (a) is a front image of the vest and waist belt being worn by the caregiver, (b) is a rear view of the caregiver with the vest and waist belt being worn, and (c) is a diagram used for comparison to explain the necessity of the outer sheet and stitching. 1A and 1B are side views of a caregiver wearing the vest and waist belt, where (a) is an image of the vest and waist belt before providing care, and (b) is an image of the vest and waist belt during providing care. (a) is a diagram showing a state in which the caregiver and the person being assisted are in contact, and (b) is a diagram showing a state in which the caregiver and the person being assisted are separated. The figures do not include people; (a) is a front image of the vest and waist belt, and (b) is an image of the mat, vest, and waist belt. (a) is an image of the mat part and the vest part connected, and (b) is an image of assistance in progress. The figures are views from behind excluding the person. (a) is an image of the vest part and waist belt, and (b) is an image of the mat part, vest part, and waist belt. The figures are views from behind. (a) is an illustration of the mat and vest parts connected together, and (b) is an illustration of assistance in progress. Image of mobility assistance. 1A is a diagram of the completed storage bag, FIG. 1B is a diagram of the first storage section, and FIG. 1C is a diagram of the second storage section. A diagram showing how to use the storage bag. A diagram showing the flow of movement of a person being assisted. A picture of the bed being raised to provide assistance. A diagram showing the mat being placed under the body of the person being assisted. A picture of the mat being spread out flat. A figure showing the body wrapped in swaddling cloth. A caregiver wearing the vest is pulling the person being assisted towards him or her and trying to lift them up. Diagram of mobility assistance. Figure moving to car. A diagram showing the process of entering a vehicle. A diagram showing the actions of a caregiver. FIG. 31 is a detailed view of FIG. 30 as seen from the driver's seat side. This is a diagram showing the backrest being reclined after the transfer in Figure 31. A picture of a person being assisted fastening a seat belt. A reclining wheelchair placed next to a car with the left armrest lowered. A picture of the patient transferring to a reclining wheelchair. A diagram showing the assistance action of lifting a person out of a reclining wheelchair. A diagram showing how the high friction area on the underside of the mat body prevents slipping. An illustration of horizontal transfer. An illustration of lifting and lowering transfer.

The care equipment of the present invention provides a care equipment that protects the body of the person being assisted, reduces the burden on the caregiver, and supports the movements of the caregiver, allowing one caregiver to provide stable and safe transfer assistance.

First, the background and history of the care tool of the present invention will be explained.
I used my own car to transport my mother, who spent most of her time in bed, to monthly hospital visits and to hospitals whenever she felt unwell, except in emergencies. Transferring her was a big burden for my mother, who was in pain, and I had to be careful when assisting her with the transfer, taking care not to hit her body against anything, not to drop her, and not to trip over her.
However, as my mother's physical strength declined and she was no longer able to hold on tightly with both arms around my neck, her weight, which had not changed, felt very heavy, and it became difficult to assist her in moving around. In the midst of this, when I was helping my mother move from the car to the bed after returning home from the hospital, I had a scary experience of almost dropping her, and I realized the limitations of assistance that requires strong arm strength. So, in order to solve the most important and most difficult problem in caregiving, I came up with the assistance tool of this invention.

Next, the care aid of the present invention will be described.
The assistance device of the present invention comprises a long mat portion 1 on which the person being assisted is placed, a vest portion 30 which is placed on the back of the caregiver, a long shoulder belt 32 whose longitudinal central portion is held by the vest portion 30 and whose both longitudinal end portions are connected to the mat portion 1, and a waist belt 31 which is formed integrally with the vest portion 30 and which is used to secure the vest portion 30 to the caregiver.
The mat part 1 has an eight-shaped first mat part belt 28 sewn to the back surface 2b of the mat part main body so that two annular parts are aligned in the longitudinal direction, and each of the two annular parts has two connecting parts 10, 11 and two connecting parts 12, 13.
Carabiners 35, 36, which are connecting devices provided on both ends of the shoulder belt 32, are respectively connected to connecting parts 10, 11 and connecting parts 12, 13 of the mat main body 2, and the part where the first mat belt 28 is sewn to the back surface 2b of the mat main body is positioned so as to support at least the torso and thighs of the person being assisted when in use.

The care equipment of the present invention is designed by placing the main mat 2 under the person being assisted, wrapping the body of the person being assisted with the wrapping cloth 9 to protect the body and support it like a hammock. The vest 30 and waist belt 31 support the movements of the caregiver. The mat 1 and vest 30 are connected to each other, and the design allows for a balanced load according to the caregiver's movements.
By making the mat part 1 hang from the shoulders, the caregiver does not need to use strong arm or grip strength to support the person, and can hold the person with the large muscles of the whole body, so the caregiver can assist without worrying about dropping both upper limbs, which are supported by auxiliary support. Also, in situations where the person is in an unstable position, the caregiver can release the left upper limb from the person being assisted and place the hands around them to support his or her own body, allowing the person to be transferred gently with slow movements. Since the transfer can be safely and easily assisted, the mental and physical burden on both the person being assisted and the caregiver is reduced.

The simple structure, which takes ease of use into consideration, allows intuitive and smooth operation of the series of transfer assistance actions, reduces the burden on both the person being assisted and the caregiver, and prevents dangers associated with the transfer and assistance. It is also easy to use for everyone involved with the person being assisted, and can be used in a variety of transfer situations, from single assistance to assistance by multiple people.
Furthermore, the assistance device of the present invention does not use metal fittings or the like that may come into contact with the body, get caught in the wheelchair, or get in the way when assisting multiple people to move, and these are minimized and are instead concentrated in the shoulder belt 32. After the mat part 1 and the shoulder belt 32 are separated, only soft material remains, allowing the user to move around safely.
Furthermore, the care tool of the present invention can be washed and handled hygienically, and can also be folded for compact storage and easy transport.

Next, the structure of the mat portion 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The mat 1 is formed of a mat body 2 and a wrapping cloth 9. A first mat belt 28 is sewn to the back surface 2b of the mat body 2 in a figure of eight so that two annular portions are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the mat body 2, and the first mat belt 28 is provided with connecting portions 10 to 13. The first mat belt 28 is composed of a thigh support portion 23 that extends in the lateral direction of the mat body 2 and supports the thighs of the person being assisted, two lumbar support portions 24, 25 that cross each other at the center and support the lumbar region, and a back support portion 26 that extends in the lateral direction of the mat body 2 and supports the back. Both ends of the thigh support portion 23 are connected to one end of the lumbar support portion 24 and one end of the lumbar support portion 25 via connecting portions 10, 11, respectively, to form one annular portion. In addition, both ends of back support portion 26 are connected to the other ends of lumbar support portion 24 and lumbar support portion 25 via connecting portions 12, 13 to form another annular portion. Second mat portion belts 21, 22 supporting the head and feet of the person being assisted are sewn in an 0-shape to the outside of the portion to which first mat portion belt 28 is sewn in the longitudinal direction of rear surface 2b of the mat portion main body, and handles 14-17 are provided at both ends of each of the two annular portions of second mat portion belts 21, 22.

The mat body 2 is provided with four tongue pieces 3 to 6 protruding outward at positions that hide the connecting parts 10 to 13.
The first mat section belt 28 supports most of the body weight, thereby protecting the body by preventing the body of the person being assisted from digging into the area near the connecting parts of the mat section main body 2 when the connecting parts 10 to 13 are connected to the carabiners 35, 36.
Also, when considering ease of holding, if there is no recess, as shown in Fig. 6(b), digging in can be prevented, but when the person is held in the arms, this part rises along the side of the person being assisted's body (see Fig. 15), causing the tongue to twist and hindering the caregiver. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6(a), by recessing the spaces between tongues 3 and 4, and between tongues 5 and 6, the mat is prevented from twisting when held, making it easier to hold. For example, if a paper model is used, the margins for pasting can be cut to allow for free shaping. By using this mechanism, the mat part 1 can be changed into various shapes without twisting, making it easier to assist.
Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 6(a), the distance between tongue pieces 5 and 6 provided on the side of the caregiver is wider than the distance between tongue pieces 3 and 4 provided on the opposite side of the caregiver, and by providing space for the caregiver to enter, it becomes easier to hold the patient and care can be provided without being hindered by the caregiver's movements.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sides 7 and 8, which are both ends of the mat body 2 in the short direction, are curved so that the width of the mat body 2 in the short direction becomes narrower as it approaches the ends from the center in the longitudinal direction of the mat body 2, eliminating excess surface area of the mat body 2 and making it easier to hold. This also reduces the weight of the equipment.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, circular stitches 18a, 18b, 18c are formed on the surface 2a of the main body of the mat, which serve as markers for the position of the head, back, and thighs of the person being assisted when the person is placed in a specified position. This means that the orientation of the mat 1 is clear and it is easy to handle, and when the person is placed so that the head is on the stitch 18a on the head side, the part to be supported will be placed at the position of the first mat belt 28.
The stitches 18a to 18d also secure the urethane foam 64 and the outer fabric 65 used in the mat body 2 together, strengthening the mat body 2. In addition, these act as folds that make the mat body 2 easier to bend, making it easier to hold and store.

As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, the mat body 2 is provided with a casing cloth 9, one end of which is sewn to the opposite side of the caregiver, to wrap and protect the body of the person being assisted. The upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs of the person being assisted are wrapped and integrated in a soft elastic fabric, preventing the upper limbs and lower limbs from moving apart, and protecting the body by preventing the body from bumping into or getting caught on the surroundings while moving. Furthermore, the body wrapped in the casing cloth 9 is compact and does not easily lose its balance, making it easier for the caregiver to hold the person, and the weight can be maintained at the center of gravity, allowing the caregiver to provide care in a natural posture. In addition, by wrapping the person being assisted in the casing cloth 9, the body of the person being assisted does not escape or fall to the opposite side of the caregiver, so the caregiver can concentrate on his or her own caregiving actions.
Also, when holding a care recipient who is weak and difficult to grasp, the caregiver must exert force to prevent dropping the person and maintain balance, requiring additional strength apart from the weight. The person being held tightly at this time feels pressured and in pain. In addition, in this situation, the caregiver is forced into an unnatural position, which puts even more strain on the caregiver, creating great danger for both parties. By eliminating the "difficulty of holding" and making the person easier to hold, the "perceived weight" becomes lighter even if the "weight" remains the same. In addition, the person being held tightly also feels no pain.

As shown in Figure 2, Figure 2(a) is a transparent view of the mat part 1 seen from above, in which the thin solid lines indicate the first mat part belt 28, the second mat part belts 21, 22 and the high friction part 19 arranged on the back surface 2b of the mat part main body, and the thin dashed lines indicate the respective sewing positions.
As shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 2(b) to 2(d), the stitches 18a to 18d on the front surface 2a of the mat main body extend through to the rear surface 2b of the mat main body, but the seams shown by the thin dashed lines in Figure 2(a), which are the positions where the stitches are sewn onto the rear surface 2b of the mat main body, do not appear on the front surface 2a of the mat main body.
In the process of producing the mat main body 2, first, the first mat belt 28, the second mat belts 21, 22, and the high friction portion 19 are sewn to the back surface 2b of the mat main body. Next, the outer fabric 65 is overlapped on the mat main body front surface 2a side of the urethane foam 64 used in the mat main body 2, stitches 18a-18d are inserted, the cover cloth 9 is sewn, and finally, the periphery is sewn together with the edging tape 66, and the outer fabric 65 of the mat main body front surface 2a is pulled, and only the periphery of the mat main body 2 is raised. This increases the effect of making it easier to wrap and hold the body.

3 is a view of the mat 1 from below with a person being assisted placed on it. The first mat belt 28 includes a thigh support portion 23 extending from one of two separate locations on the back surface 2b of the mat body on the caregiver side toward the opposite side to the caregiver, and a back support portion 26 extending from the other of the two locations on the back surface 2b of the caregiver toward the opposite side to the caregiver. The thigh support portion 23 and the back support portion 26 are sewn so that they are spaced apart from each other as they are positioned toward the opposite side to the caregiver, and are arranged so that the caregiver can easily pull the person being assisted toward him/her when he/she holds them and can hold them stably.
Furthermore, the thigh support portion 23 and the back support portion 26 are positioned along the upper limbs of the caregiver being held, so that the caregiver does not need to provide strong support with the upper limbs.
In addition, the thigh support portion 23 and the back support portion 26 are sewn closer to each other as they are positioned closer to the caregiver, and are positioned to fit the width of the caregiver's body and prevent the mat body 2 from twisting when the caregiver is held, making it easier to assist the caregiver.
The density of the body varies depending on the part. The parts with high density (46% trunk, 14% thighs) and 16% upper limbs together make up about 76% of the body weight, but as shown in Figure 3, the part where the belt 28 of the first mat is sewn is positioned to support most of the weight of the person being assisted when in use, so the person being assisted is unlikely to lose their posture and can be held stably. The waist support parts 24, 25 are sewn crosswise to firmly support the waist of the person being assisted from below, preventing the waist from sagging when being held.

3 shows the seams of the first mat belt 28 and the second mat belts 21, 22 arranged on the back surface 2b of the mat body by dashed lines. The vicinity of the portion of the first mat belt 28 where the connecting portions 10 to 13 are provided is detachable from the mat body 2, and the thigh support portion 23, the waist support portions 24, 25, and the back support portion 26 are not sewn to the short-side ends of the mat body 2, and a swing width is provided in which the connecting portions 10 to 13 connected to the carabiners 35, 36 can move freely.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, when the carabiners 35, 36 are connected to the connecting parts 10-13, the carabiners 35, 36 slide left and right, and the connecting parts 10-13 also move left and right in conjunction with each other. This swing allows the carabiner 35L and the connecting part 10, and the carabiner 35R and the connecting part 12 to move left and right, and to move to the point on the body of the person being assisted that they want to support and hold. Similarly, the carabiner 36L and the connecting part 11, and the carabiner 36R and the connecting part 13 can also be provided with a swing range to move left and right, so that they can fit the width of the caregiver's body. Therefore, they move to fit the body shape of the person being assisted and the caregiver, and stable assistance can be provided while maintaining the posture of the person being assisted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the handles 14 to 17 are used when multiple people are providing care, so the second mat belts 21, 22 are sewn and secured to the short ends of the mat body 2 to make them easy to grip.

As shown in Figures 3 and 37, the back surface 2b of the mat body has anti-slip sections made of high friction sections 19 made of anti-slip fabric at the positions corresponding to the buttocks and thighs of the person being assisted, to prevent the person being assisted from slipping down with the mat 1 when the person is in a position other than fully flat. Also, as shown in Figures 3 and 38, other than the high friction sections 19, low friction sections 20 made of slippery fabric are provided to allow smooth movement on the bed.

The first mat belt 28 and the second mat belts 21 and 22 are each sewn into a single belt in a circular shape, ensuring the durability and strength of the belts.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mat body 2 is provided with eight handles 10 to 17, four on each side of both ends in the short side direction.
The first mat section belt 28 has connecting parts (handles) 10-13, and the second mat section belts 21, 22 have handles 14-17, allowing multiple people to assist with horizontal transfers and lifting and lowering transfers (Figures 38 and 39).

As shown in Figure 3, all of the handles 10-17 extend from the longitudinal centerline of the mat body 2 to both ends at the same length. The length of the handles is important because the care tool of the present invention allows both one-person and multiple-person caregivers to assist the caregiver. If the handles are too long, the handles 14-17 will hang down from the mat body 2 when providing care by one person, and there is a risk that they will get caught on surrounding objects, which will get in the way of the caregiver. Furthermore, when providing care by multiple people, the caregiver will need to exert a strong force. Also, the length of the connecting parts (handles) 10-13 and the handles 14-17 has been set with the caregiver in mind, taking into account the balance of the length of the shoulder belt 32 when connected to the carabiners 35, 36.

As shown in Figure 3, the ends of the tongues 3 and 4 protrude parallel to the longitudinal center line of the mat body 2. In addition, the ends of the tongues 5 and 6 do not protrude parallel to the longitudinal center line of the mat body 2, but are cut at an angle, eliminating parts that are not necessary for the mat body 2 and making it easier for the caregiver to connect and disconnect the carabiners 36 (R, L) and the connecting parts 11, 13.

Next, materials suitable for the structure of the mat portion 1 will be described.
The mat body 2 uses urethane foam 64 with a thickness of about 10 mm, and the surface 2a of the mat body uses a surface fabric 65 that is non-slip, breathable, moisture absorbing and releasing, and has a pleasant texture. The high friction part 19 arranged on the back surface 2b of the mat body uses a non-slip fabric, and the low friction part 20 other than the high friction part 19 uses a slippery, friction-resistant fabric such as tricot material used for the inside of stockings and shoes. The casing cloth 9 is made of a material that is pleasant to the touch, stretchable, breathable, and has moisture absorbing and releasing properties, and the first mat belt 28 and the second mat belts 21, 22 arranged on the back surface 2b of the mat body use a seat belt-like material with a width of about 50 mm.

The effects obtained by making the most of the characteristics of each material used in the mat portion 1 will be described.
The urethane foam 64 used in the mat body 2 is a material that is cushioned, breathable, flexible, light, has moderate firmness and thickness, and is pleasant to the touch, so it gently supports the person being assisted, allows the person to transfer without worrying about the shape or hardness of the new surface, absorbs vibrations and shocks, protects the body, and allows the person to stay comfortable.
For example, the transfer destination may be various, such as an examination table, a car seat, a reclining wheelchair, or a stretcher, and the vibration to the body of the person being assisted that occurs during horizontal and vertical movement is reduced. Furthermore, the mat body 2 flexibly changes shape to the shape (uneven surface and width) of the transfer destination, and the body can be protected without compromising comfort. It also relieves the burden on the buttocks that are subjected to pressure when reclining. In addition, in cold seasons, the seat of a reclining wheelchair or the like becomes cold and hard, but the transfer is made while still placed on the mat body 2, which also protects against the cold.
In addition, for one-person care, the mat body 2 needs to be flexible and have a suitable firmness and thickness from the viewpoint of ease of handling. It is easy to lay it under the person being assisted and to remove it. In addition, the mat body 2 can be assisted without losing its shape when moving or transferring. Cloth-like materials are not suitable because they lose their shape when lifting the person up, making it difficult to assist and requiring realignment every time the person is transferred.

The non-slip, breathable, moisture absorbing and releasing material used for the outer fabric 65 of the main body surface 2a of the mat portion has a pleasant texture and prevents the body of the person being assisted from slipping down when reclining, allowing the person to stay in bed comfortably for long periods of time.
The non-slip fabric used in the high friction portion 19 on the underside 2b of the main body of the mattress prevents the mattress 1 from slipping off the seat when riding in a car or reclining wheelchair (Figure 37).
In addition, the tricot material used for the low-friction section 20 on the underside 2b of the mat main body, which is highly resistant to friction and has a slippery nature, makes it easy and smooth to pull the patient along the bed or transfer horizontally, reducing the burden on both the patient and the caregiver (Figure 38).

The covering cloth 9 is made of a soft, stretchy, breathable, lightweight material with moisture wicking properties that feels good against the skin, preventing stuffiness and wrapping the person being assisted without constricting or feeling oppressive, allowing them to stay in a comfortable position.

The durable and flexible material used for the first mat belt 28 and the second mat belts 21 and 22, similar to a seat belt, can gently conform to the body and provide a firm and stable hold while preventing the belt from digging into the body. In addition, the connecting parts (handles) 10-13 and handles 14-17 can be easily processed and can be held without pain.

Next, the structures of the vest portion 30 and the waist belt 31 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, a vest portion 30 worn by a caregiver includes shoulder belts 32 and is integrally formed with a waist belt 31.

When worn by the caregiver, the vest portion 30 comprises a back covering portion 42 that covers the back of the caregiver and two shoulder covering portions 41 that extend from two points on the back covering portion 42 to cover both shoulders of the caregiver, thereby covering and protecting the shoulders and back of the caregiver and reducing the load on the person being assisted.
The back cover part 42 has left and right shoulder openings 43 (R, L) and left and right armpit openings 44 (R, L) for passing the shoulder belts 32 from the left and right shoulders to the left and right armpits of the caregiver when the vest part 30 is worn by the caregiver. The width of the left and right armpit openings 44 (R, L) has a swing range that allows the shoulder belts 32 to move freely up and down and left and right, and is desirably 1.5 times or more the width of the shoulder belts 32.
This allows the shoulder belt 32 connected to the mat part 1 to move up, down, left and right in response to various movements and postures of the caregiver holding the person being assisted placed on the mat part 1, thereby maintaining the load balance and increasing the stability of the series of movements of the caregiver, and also allowing the person being assisted to transfer in a stable manner.

As shown in Figures 7 and 11(b), the back covering portion 42 comprises an inner sheet 29b on the side that comes into contact with the caregiver's back when the vest portion 30 is worn by the caregiver, and an outer sheet 29a that is superimposed so as to cover the inner sheet 29b from the side of the inner sheet 29b opposite the side that comes into contact with the caregiver and is sewn to the inner sheet 29b over the entire area except for the parts corresponding to the openings 43, 44 at the periphery, and stitches 47, 48 are formed by sewing the inner sheet 29b and the outer sheet 29a together so as to restrict movement of the parts of the shoulder belts 32 that are interposed between the inner sheet 29b and the outer sheet 29a.
This allows the shoulder belts 32 to move freely up, down, left, and right while restricting the crossing points (pathways) to prevent twisting or movement, making it easier to grasp the carabiner 36 and improving operability. In addition, the vest part 30 is strengthened by providing stitches 47, 48.
If the shoulder belt were restricted only at the intersection as shown in Fig. 11(c), the person would not be able to see behind them while wearing the vest, and would be unable to adjust the shoulder belt, the shoulder belt would move too much making it difficult to grasp the carabiner, the carabiner would be connected while the shoulder belt is twisted, etc. It would be difficult to handle and perform a series of assisting actions. In addition, due to the structure, the movement of the shoulder belt connected to the mat part during the assisting action would be concentrated at the intersection, which could cause damage.

As shown in Figures 7 and 11(a), the length adjustment metal fittings 37 are positioned so as to overlap with the shoulder cover part 41, and a detachment prevention part 45 is provided at a position on the shoulder cover part 41 away from the back cover part 42 to prevent the shoulder belt 32 from detaching from the position where it overlaps with the shoulder cover part 41, preventing it from coming off the shoulder and preventing the length adjustment metal fittings 37 from directly touching the caregiver. In addition, since having metal fittings (hard objects) in front of the assisted person can be frightening for the assisted person, the shape of the metal fittings takes such anxiety into consideration.

As shown in Figures 7 and 11, an opening 49 is provided between the outer sheet 29a and the separation prevention part 45 in the vest part 30, which does not cover the shoulder belt 32, and further, a curved part 46 is formed in a shape that fits the shoulder, so that it can follow the roundness of the front and back of the shoulder and the slope of the shoulder, and can assist shoulder movement without the shoulder covering part 41 slipping off the shoulder.
14 and 15, the curved portion 46 and the opening 49 allow the shoulder covering portion 41 to easily face the connecting portions 10, 12 of the mat main body 2 while conforming to the shape of the shoulder. If the curved portion 46 were to extend straight without the opening 49, the fit of the shoulder would be poor when connected to the mat main body 2, making it difficult to perform caregiving actions.

There are two shoulder belts 32, which are held by the vest part 30 so as to cross each other at the center in the longitudinal direction of each shoulder belt 32.
As shown in Figure 10, the shoulder belt 32 is composed of a first sub-belt 34 which is long and has a carabiner 36 attached to one end in the longitudinal direction and a length adjustment fitting 37 attached to the other end, and a second sub-belt 33 which is long and has a carabiner 35 attached to one end in the longitudinal direction and the other end held by the length adjustment fitting 37, so that the length of the shoulder belt 32 can be changed by changing the portion held by the length adjustment fitting 37.
In addition, the shoulder belt 32 can be fitted with two carabiners of different colors, blue and red, and the shoulder belt 32R is provided with a blue carabiner 35R and a red carabiner 36L, with the blue carabiner 35R connecting to the connecting portion 12 of the mat main body 2 and the red carabiner 36L connecting to the connecting portion 11 of the mat main body 2. Similarly, the shoulder belt 32L is provided with a blue carabiner 35L and a red carabiner 36R, with the blue carabiner 35L connecting to the connecting portion 10 of the mat main body 2 and the red carabiner 36R connecting to the connecting portion 13 of the mat main body 2 (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 7, the shoulder belt 32R passes through the anti-detachment portion 45R on the right chest side of the caregiver, passes through the opening 43R on the right shoulder side, inside the back cover portion 42 (between the outer sheet 29a and the inner sheet 29b), and is pulled out to the opening 44L on the left armpit side. Similarly, the shoulder belt 32L passes through the anti-detachment portion 45L on the left chest side, passes through the opening 43L on the left shoulder side, and is pulled out to the opening 44R on the right armpit side through the back cover portion 42. These two shoulder belts 32 (R, L) cross each other inside the back cover portion 42.

As shown in Fig. 11(b), the shoulder belts 32 cross each other at the back of the caregiver inside the back cover 42, distributing the burden on the shoulders. In addition, the waist belt 31 reduces the burden on the waist. This allows the caregiver to maintain a natural posture while stably transferring.
In addition, the shoulder belts 32 are not sewn (fixed) and can move freely, so they can be adjusted separately for the left and right sides, and can move back and forth and left and right in response to various movements and postures of the caregiver, maintaining the load balance with the mat part 1 on which the person being assisted is placed. This increases the stability of the series of movements.
In addition, the shoulder belts 32 are not fixed and can move freely, but in order to maintain balance with the mat section 1 during assistance with movement, a high friction material is used on the inner sheet 29b side of the back cover section 42 to prevent the shoulder belts 32 from sliding too much in front and behind the caregiver, and when the weight of the person being assisted is applied, the shoulder belts 32 are less likely to slide in front and behind the caregiver, so that balance with the mat section 1 can be maintained during assistance with movement.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11(a), the length of the shoulder belts 32 can be adjusted using the length adjustment fittings 37 provided on each shoulder belt 32 at only two locations, namely the length adjustment fittings 37 in front of the caregiver's chest, allowing the caregiver to adjust the length to a comfortable position while providing care.
As shown in FIGS. 10( d ) and ( e ), the length of the shoulder belt 32 is adjusted by the second sub-belt 33 and a length adjustment fitting 37 .
10(d), when the tip of the length adjustment metal fitting 37 is raised in the direction of the arrow and the side of the second sub-belt 33 to which the blue carabiner 35 is attached is pulled, the shoulder belt 32 becomes longer, and when the side of the second sub-belt 33 to which the circular rubber 38 is attached is pulled, the shoulder belt 32 becomes shorter. When the hand is released from the length adjustment metal fitting 37, it becomes locked, and the length that suits the caregiver can be maintained.

10B and 10C, a ring-shaped rubber band 38 is attached to the other end of the second sub-belt 33 to hold in a folded state the portion of the second sub-belt 33 closer to the other end than the portion held by the length adjustment metal fitting 37. This allows the excess second sub-belt 33 to be wound and secured when the length of the shoulder belt 32 is adjusted to be shorter, making the assisting action smoother.
10 and 12, the first sub-belt 34 has an annular rubber 40 fixed to the end thereof on the side where the carabiner 36 is provided and connected to a hook 53 provided on the waist belt 31, preventing the red carabiner 36 from entering inside the back cover part 42. The annular rubber 40 also has one button and several equally spaced buttonholes through which the buttons can be passed, and the length of the annular rubber 40 can be adjusted to make it easier for the caregiver to handle.

As shown in FIG. 10, the grip portion 39, which is the end of the first sub-belt 34 on which the carabiner 36 is attached, is shaped to be easy to grip, and is shaped to match the orientation of the hand when gripping the red carabiner 36 (R, L) while the vest portion 30 and waist belt 31 are worn by the caregiver, making it easy to grip and easy to handle the red carabiner 36 (R, L).

When the vest portion 30 is worn by the caregiver, the inner sheet 29b on the side of the vest portion 30 that comes into contact with the back further includes a waist belt support portion 55 on which the waist belt 31 is supported so as to be freely swingable.
As shown in Fig. 9, the waist belt 31 is formed integrally with the waist belt support part 55 provided on the inner sheet 29b on the side that contacts the back of the caregiver, and hangs from the inner sheet 29b on the side that contacts the back of the caregiver. Therefore, the vest part 30 and the waist belt 31 can move separately, and the vest part 30 is less affected by the movement of the upper body and the movement of the lower body, and can respond to various movements of the caregiver without slipping. In addition, by using an elastic material for the waist belt support part 55, it can further respond to the body movements in the front, back, left and right directions.
Furthermore, since the vest portion 30 is not affected by the movement of the caregiver, a simple structure in which it is simply placed on the shoulders is possible without requiring a belt or the like to fasten it to the body of the caregiver.

As shown in FIG. 11(a), the waist belt 31 is shaped so that both ends are positioned below the navel of the caregiver when worn by the caregiver. By wearing the upper end of the waist belt 31 below the navel, pressure on the stomach is prevented when bending forward, and the range of motion of the waist is wide, allowing care to be provided without being hindered.

As shown in Fig. 8, the waist belt 31 is composed of a waist support part 50a using a hard non-elastic mesh material on the back, a slip prevention part 51 using an elastic material with a non-slip function on the abdominal side, and a front joint part 52 using a non-elastic, thick, soft material on the abdomen, and is worn over clothing with a feeling of use like a corset. The front joint part 52 is overlapped and fastened with a hook-and-loop fastener 56, so it can be easily put on and taken off. In addition, the hook-and-loop fastener 56 can be adjusted to fit the body type, so it fits the body, prevents the body from shaking during assistance, reduces the burden on the waist, and supports movement.
As shown in Fig. 8(b), the inside of the waist belt 31b is provided with an anti-slip coating to prevent the waist belt 31 from slipping due to differences in body type or during caregiving. The waist belt is provided with a slip prevention part 51 on the abdominal side and a slip prevention part 50b made of a slip prevention material on the back.

As shown in FIG. 12 , the waist belt 31 is provided with a hook portion 53 for hooking the carabiners 35 , 36 and preventing the shoulder belt 32 from slipping off the vest portion 30 .
The blue carabiner 35 (R, L) is hooked onto the hook portion 53, making it easy for the caregiver to operate the blue carabiner 35 (R, L) when connecting to the connecting portions 10, 12, and is also designed to prevent it from hitting the person being assisted.
In addition, since the red carabiner 36 (R, L) is hooked to the hook portion 53 by the annular rubber 40, it will not fit completely inside the back cover portion 42. However, even if it becomes difficult to grasp the red carabiner 36 (R, L) as it starts to fit inside, it is possible to pull the annular rubber 40 toward you and hold it, so it does not matter whether or not it is hooked to the hook portion 53.
In addition, the assistance device of the present invention is used with the annular rubber 40 hooked onto the hook portion 53, but when washing, it is removed from the hook portion 53, the shoulder belt 32 is removed from the vest portion 30, and the carabiners 35, 36 are removed from the shoulder belt 32, so that the shoulder belt 32 can also be washed.

The vest part 30 is integrated with the waist belt 31, which stabilizes the fit of the vest part 30. In addition, the weight of the person being assisted is applied to the shoulder belts 32, which press down on the vest part 30, further stabilizing it. Therefore, the structure of the vest part 30 can be simplified so that it only needs to be placed on the shoulders, making it easy to handle.

The vest part 30 does not support the movement by tightening the body of the caregiver like a supporter. On the contrary, it is designed to be open and not to hinder a series of continuous movements in any posture during care. By adjusting the length of the shoulder belts 32, the caregiver can pull the person being cared for into a natural posture and hold it, so it is the waist that must support the body of the caregiver, and the waist belt 31 prevents the waist from shaking, reduces the burden, and supports the movement. Furthermore, by doing so, the large muscles of the caregiver's lower limbs can be used efficiently, further reducing the burden on the waist.
As shown in Fig. 13, the vest part 30 serves as a fulcrum and maintains balance with the mat part 1 by the action of gravity. It is possible to maintain a load balance corresponding to a series of movements from the state in which the person being assisted is pulled to the caregiver and makes contact during movement (Fig. 13(a)), to the movement in which the person being assisted is moved away (placed) from the caregiver when transferring (Fig. 13(b)).
Also, as shown in Figure 13(b), when the person being assisted leans forward, the person being assisted is not in contact with the caregiver's body, which places a burden on the caregiver's lower back. In such a case, the caregiver releases the left upper arm from the person being assisted and places his or her hand on the person being assisted or holds on to something around the person in order to support his or her own body, which reduces the burden on the caregiver's lower back and allows the person being assisted to be transferred slowly.

Next, materials suitable for the construction of the vest portion 30 and the waist belt 31 will be described.
The inner sheet 29b of the vest part 30 uses urethane foam 64 with a thickness of about 10 mm, and the waist belt support part 55 is made of the same material as the wrapping cloth 9, which is soft to the touch, stretchy, breathable, and has moisture absorbing and releasing properties. The shoulder belt 32 is made of the same material as the first mat part belt 28 and the second mat part belts 21, 22, and is a seat belt-like material with a width of about 50 mm, and the length adjustment metal fittings 37 use metal fittings used in mountaineering harnesses, and the carabiners 35, 36 use those used in mountaineering and climbing.
The waist belt 31 is formed by using a hard non-stretch mesh material for the waist support portion 50a, a non-slip material for the slip prevention portion 50b, a stretch material with anti-slip properties on both sides for the slip prevention portion 51 on the abdominal side, and a non-stretchy, thick, soft material for the front joint portion 52.

The effects obtained by taking advantage of the characteristics of each material used for the vest portion 30 and the waist belt 31 will be described.
The urethane foam 64 used in the inner sheet 29b of the vest portion 30 is a material that is cushioning, breathable, flexible, lightweight, has a moderate firmness and thickness, and is pleasant to the touch.
The cushioning reduces the burden on the caregiver caused by the shoulder belt 32, which places a load on the caregiver. In addition, the vest part 30 is shaped so that the length adjustment fittings 37 and the carabiners 35 and 36 do not come into direct contact with the body of the caregiver or the person being assisted, thereby protecting the body.
The appropriate thickness, firmness, and flexibility make it easy to put on and take off the vest part 30. To put it on, simply place the vest part 30 over the shoulders and fasten the waist belt 31. It fits the body of the caregiver flexibly without losing its shape, is comfortable to wear, and does not hinder the movement of the caregiver. Cloth-like materials are not suitable because they lose their shape, are difficult to put on, and are difficult to handle.
Furthermore, the urethane foam 64 is flexible enough to be used by anyone regardless of the body type of the caregiver.

The fabric used for the waist belt support part 55 is a lightweight material that has moisture wicking properties, is stretchy, breathable, and feels good against the skin, making the vest part 30 comfortable to wear. In addition, the use of a stretchy material for the waist belt support part 55 further enhances the effect of the structure that allows the waist belt support part 55 to swing freely.

The seat belt-like material used for the shoulder belt 32 prevents it from digging into the caregiver's shoulder and reduces the strain on the body. Because it is a durable and flexible material, it gently conforms to the body, preventing it from digging into the body and providing a firm and stable hold. In addition, the flexibility of the belt means that it can be easily processed and sewn into an easy-to-grip shape, improving the operability of the carabiners 35 and 36.

The metal fittings used for the length adjustment fittings 37, such as those used in mountaineering harnesses, can be easily adjusted in front of the caregiver's chest to fit the body, and can be firmly fixed so that the height at which the person being assisted is lifted can be maintained in a natural posture by the caregiver.

Carabiners 35, 36 are used in mountaineering and climbing, and are light and easy to grip, with a shape and size that allows them to be easily connected to and separated from connecting parts 10-13. In addition, two colors (blue and red) are used, and connecting parts 10-13 are also embroidered with blue 67 and red 68, allowing intuitive operation by connecting parts of the same color together.

The waist support portion 50a is made of a hard non-elastic mesh material to support the waist. The slip prevention portion 50b on the inside of the waist support portion 50a is made of a slip prevention material, and the slip prevention portion 51 is made of an elastic material with a non-slip function to prevent the waist belt 31 from slipping due to differences in body type or during assistance. In addition, the non-elastic, thick, soft material used for the front joint portion 52 provides a soft wearing feeling that does not press on the abdomen, and the hook-and-loop fastener 56 can be adjusted to fit the waist circumference, such as differences in body type and the thickness of clothing.
The corset-style waist belt 31 made of these materials ensures the freedom of movement of the caregiver in all directions, and can reduce the burden on the waist and support movement while preventing pressure on the stomach from the waist belt 31, especially when the caregiver is in a forward-leaning position. In addition, it is lightweight and not bulky, easy to put on and take off, and easy to carry.

The effect of the combination of the mat part 1, the vest part 30 and the waist belt 31 will be described.
The mat 1 gently wraps and protects the entire body of the person being assisted with the mat body 2 and the wrapping cloth 9, and the first mat belt 28 firmly supports the body from below. The vest 30 and the waist belt 31 support the movements of the caregiver and reduce the burden. By connecting the connecting parts 10 to 13 with the carabiners 35 and 36, the system allows the caregiver to perform the caregiving movements while maintaining balance.
The caregiver wraps the cared person compactly in the mat 1 to prevent the body from collapsing, and then attaches the vest 30 and waist belt 31 that fit the body to the carabiner, and connects the carabiners 35, 36 to the connecting parts 10-13. By adjusting the shoulder belt 32 (33) to a length that suits the caregiver using the length adjustment metal fitting 37, the caregiver can pull the cared person closer to the center of the body. By doing so, the weight can be received straight on the waist, the load feels lighter, and the cared person can be moved while holding the cared person in a natural posture. Even if the weight is the same, it feels lighter when the center of gravity is higher than when it is lower. If the carer is unable to pull the cared person closer to the carer and cannot hold them with the center of gravity, the cared person will be placed under a heavy burden, especially on the waist, shoulders, and arms, and will easily lose their balance. The cared person will be in even greater danger if he or she is assisted in such a state.

The first mat belt 28 firmly supports approximately 76% of the weight of the person being assisted from below. The shoulder belts 32 that receive this load cross inside the back cover 42, dispersing the load from the caregiver's shoulders to his or her back (Fig. 4). The waist belt 31 also reduces the load on the waist. In addition, the first mat belt 28 is positioned in line with the position of both upper limbs that the caregiver is holding, so strong support using arm or grip strength is not required, and the caregiver can assist the person in moving and transferring alone by scooping up the person and holding them.
Furthermore, by enabling stable holding, the patient can be supported by the large muscles of the entire body, including the lower limbs, allowing for stable assistance.
In addition, the trunk and thighs of the person being assisted are held by the first mat belt 28 and shoulder belt 32 (see FIG. 4), so the caregiver can release the left upper limb from the person being assisted. Therefore, in a situation where the caregiver is in an unstable position while providing assistance (when the person being assisted is separated from the caregiver's body; see FIG. 13(b)), the caregiver can release the left upper limb and hold on to something around them to support himself/herself and reduce the burden while providing assistance, and the person being assisted can be transferred quietly.
As a result, the combination of the mat part 1, the vest part 30 and the waist belt 31 enables a series of slow and stable movements, not only for one person to assist the patient but also for moving into a narrow space that can only be achieved by one person to assist the patient.

As shown in FIG. 4, the two connecting parts 10, 12 on the side opposite the caregiver in the first mat part belt 28 are embroidered with blue thread 67, and the two connecting parts 11, 13 on the side of the caregiver are embroidered with red thread 68.
Furthermore, the carabiners are two colors, blue and red, with blue used for carabiner 35 and red used for carabiner 36. Blue carabiner 35R is connected to connecting portion 12 with blue embroidery 67, and blue carabiner 35L is connected to connecting portion 10 with blue embroidery 67. Similarly, red carabiner 36R is connected to connecting portion 13 with red embroidery 68, and red carabiner 36L is connected to connecting portion 11 with red embroidery 68. In this way, connecting carabiners 35, 36 to connecting portions 10 to 13 of the same color increases visibility and allows for intuitive and reliable operation.
10(a), blue embroidery 67 is applied to the tip of the second sub-belt 33 on the chest side of the caregiver, and red embroidery 68 is applied to the tip of the first sub-belt 34 on the armpit side, and carabiners 35, 36 of the same color are attached. If the carabiners 35, 36 are removed from the second sub-belt 33 and the first sub-belt 34 for washing, the visibility is improved so that the attachment points are not mistaken when reattaching.

Next, examples of how the care aid of the present invention can be used will be described.
Since the patient can be assisted to move around in a stable manner by holding the patient by himself, there is no need to use external means of transportation, which reduces the financial burden.
When a patient's condition suddenly changes, or when they need to go to the hospital but there is no emergency that requires calling an ambulance, they can be transported to the hospital immediately. This leads to early detection and early treatment, and reduces the burden on the body. In addition, being able to respond immediately also leads to "peace of mind."

Because mattresses or air mattresses are laid on the beds, it is difficult to slide a board-shaped object under the body for transfer during emergency transport, which places a burden on the body of the person being assisted. Therefore, by laying the assistance tool of the present invention under the body, the ambulance crew can smoothly transfer the patient onto the stretcher. Furthermore, the entire series of transfers after emergency transport (transferring from the ambulance stretcher to the hospital stretcher, transferring to an examination table or hospital bed, transferring from the hospital to a private car, returning home, and transferring to a bed at home) can be carried out smoothly by family members, ambulance crew, and hospital staff.
In addition, in the case of emergency transport at night, the patient can return home smoothly after the examination and treatment are completed. If the care equipment of the present invention were not available, care taxis would not be available late at night and the patient would have to wait until morning. Or, care taxis require reservations, so it is unclear when the patient can return home. The burden on the caregiver increases as the patient faces the next day without having time to sleep and must continue to be active as usual.
In addition, during normal examinations, patients move around the hospital in a reclining wheelchair or the like, and when transferring to an examination table or hospital bed, multiple hospital staff members hold the handles 10 to 17 of the mat main body 2 and slide the mat main body 2 to assist with horizontal transfer.
In this way, since the patient comes to the hospital after being placed on the mattress 1 from his/her bed at home, all transfers can be done smoothly. In addition, the burden on the patient when transferring is reduced.

By utilizing the assistive device of the present invention, going out is no longer a "special thing." You will be able to do things that you couldn't do before. You will be able to go out freely and spend time with your family and close friends without any worries. You will be able to experience the natural air, breeze, and scenery. Your appetite will be restored and you will be able to eat delicious food. You will be freed from the pain and suffering of everyday life and your mind and body will be refreshed. And both the person being assisted and the caregiver will be able to have new feelings and live positively. Your world will expand and you will be able to feel hope and happiness. In general, it is said that the more transfer actions you perform in daily life, the higher your quality of life (QOL), so these actions are extremely important.
Furthermore, the improvement of QOL applies not only to the person being assisted but also to the caregiver. If it becomes realistic to move freely without using external means of transportation, the awareness of the caregiver himself will change and his mental perspective will broaden. This will lead to the physical and mental health of the caregiver. A synergistic effect can be achieved.
Freedom of movement and freedom of action leads to freedom of mind, which is sure to bring about changes in a person's life.

Next, the flow of movement and how to assist with the movement and transfer will be described with reference to FIG.
First, let me explain how to get from your home (bed) to your car.
As shown in FIG. 22, the height of the nursing bed is raised to reduce the burden on the caregiver's lower back.
As shown in FIG. 23, the person being assisted is placed in a lateral position and the mat portion 1 is folded and placed under the body.
As shown in FIG. 24, the person being assisted is placed in a lateral position on the caregiver's side, the folded mat portion 1 is spread out flat, and the wrapping cloth 9 is pulled out so that the body is placed in the center of the mat portion main body 2.
As shown in FIG. 25, the person being assisted places his/her hands on his/her stomach and is wrapped in a wrapping cloth 9 to make the body compact.

The caregiver puts on the vest part 30 and the waist belt 31 and connects the red carabiners 36 (R, L) to the connecting parts 11, 13 with the red embroidery 68, and connects the blue carabiners 35 (R, L) to the connecting parts 10, 12 with the blue embroidery 67.
Then, as shown in Figure 26, the caregiver pulls the person being assisted from the center of the bed toward the caregiver (the edge of the bed). The caregiver does not move the person closer using arm strength, but simply raises the upper body by arching the back, and the person's body slides on the bed toward the caregiver, avoiding strain on the arms and back.
Then, in order for the caregiver to hold the patient in a natural posture, the length of the shoulder belt 32 is adjusted using the length adjustment fitting 37. As a guideline, the shoulder belt 32 is adjusted so that the angle of the caregiver's elbow when lifting the patient is about 90 degrees.
Then, as shown in Figures 26 and 27, the caregiver places both upper limbs under the mat main body 2, drops the knees, and lifts the person being assisted using the strength of the lower limbs, pulling the person to the center of gravity of the caregiver and holding them while moving.

Next, a method of transferring to a car will be described.
As shown in Fig. 28, the passenger side door or the door on the right side when looking at the car from the front is opened and the seat is reclined. As shown in Fig. 31 and Fig. 32, the seat is initially tilted to an angle that makes it easy for the caregiver to assist, and then further reclined after the person is transferred, depending on the assistance needs of the person being assisted and the caregiver.
Next, as shown in FIG. 29, the caregiver places his/her right foot on the step on the passenger seat side and enters the vehicle from the foot side of the person being assisted.
As shown in FIG. 30, the caregiver puts strength into his right leg, moves his upper body into the car, grabs an easy object with his left hand, and supports the person being assisted from the shoulders to the head with his right upper limb to transfer the person into the car.
Figure 31 is a detailed view of Figure 30, and is an image of the transfer as seen from the driver's seat. The left hand of the caregiver holds onto the right shoulder of the passenger seat to support his/her own body, and the right upper limb supports the shoulder to head area of the person being assisted from under the mat body 2. The first mat belt 28 passing through the back surface 2b of the mat body supports the body of the person being assisted from below, and the shoulder belt 32 of the vest part 30 worn by the caregiver hangs the mat 1 like a hammock and holds the person being assisted with the entire body of the caregiver, so that the person can be seated gently even if the left upper limb is released, and a stable transfer is possible. The person being assisted can also transfer safely by shifting his/her own weight effortlessly.

Figure 32 is a view from the passenger seat. Car seats are made smooth by placing rolled towels or cushions in the recesses of the seat to eliminate unevenness. Cushions are also placed at the feet so that the legs can be stretched. They also serve to protect the feet (the gray parts in Figures 31 to 33).
Once the person being assisted has been transferred to the passenger seat of the car, the caregiver can remove the blue carabiner 35 (R, L) from the connecting parts 10, 12, exit the car, and also remove the red carabiner 36 (R, L) from the connecting parts 11, 13. Alternatively, the shoulder belt 32 can be stretched using the length adjustment metal fitting 37, and the person can exit the car before removing the blue carabiner 35 (R, L) and the red carabiner 36 (R, L).
The person being assisted has to fasten their seat belt and then depart (Figure 33).

The assistance device of the present invention allows a single caregiver to carry the person being assisted and move and transfer safely, reducing the physical burden on both parties. However, if the primary caregiver (the person wearing the vest 30 and waist belt 31) is anxious, the assistant caregiver (the person not wearing the vest 30 and waist belt 31) can carry the person being assisted from both sides and assist with the transfer, with the primary caregiver only being responsible for transferring the person into a narrow space such as a car seat.

Next, we will explain how to arrive at the hospital, transfer to a reclining wheelchair, etc., and move around within the hospital.
As shown in FIG. 34, a reclining wheelchair or the like is placed next to the car and the left armrest of the wheelchair is lowered.
The caregiver again puts on the vest portion 30 and the waist belt 31 and connects the red carabiners 36 (R, L) to the connecting portions 11, 13 and the blue carabiners 35 (R, L) to the connecting portions 10, 12.
The caregiver places both upper limbs under the main mat 2, holds the person being assisted, and removes the upper half of the person being assisted from the vehicle and transfers the person to a reclining wheelchair or the like (Figure 35). The caregiver separates the carabiners 35, 36 from the connecting parts 10-13 and removes the vest part 30 and the waist belt 31. The person is then moved around the hospital while placed on the mat 1.
Furthermore, when transferring to an examination table (X-ray table, electrocardiogram table, etc.) or hospital bed during a medical examination, the patient holds onto handles 10-17, or onto one of the four handles on one side of the mat body 2 in the direction of transfer, and hospital staff assists the patient in the horizontal transfer (see Figures 38 and 39).

Next, we will explain how to get home from the hospital.
As shown in Figure 35, a reclining wheelchair or the like is placed next to the car and the left armrest of the wheelchair is lowered. The caregiver puts on the vest part 30 and the waist belt 31, and connects the carabiners 35, 36 to the connecting parts 10 to 13 of the same color.
Next, as shown in FIG. 36, the caregiver places both upper limbs under the mat main body 2, bends his/her knees, lowers his/her hips, and pulls the person being assisted towards him/her while lifting him/her up with the strength of his/her lower limbs.
The patient moves into the passenger seat of the car, detaches the carabiners 35, 36 from the connecting parts 10 to 13, fastens the seat belt, and leaves the hospital (Figures 28 to 33).

Next, the design will be described.
Previously, the focus of caregiving tools for mobility transfer was on "carrying" the person being assisted. The caregiving tool of the present invention is a tool that allows people to gain freedom of movement and fulfill their hopes for what they want to do in the future. Therefore, it has a design that suits any scene and is comfortable to use. It is not an inorganic caregiving tool that is only used for a specific purpose, but has a warm design. It can be used in any situation, such as when going out on a regular basis or in an emergency.
A variety of colors with nuances like Western clothing are available so that users can choose their favorite color. For example, the outer fabric 65, the outer sheet 29a, the shoulder covering part 41, the separation prevention part 45, and the front joining part 52 are all the same color, and several types are available, such as beige, burgundy, khaki, brown, navy, and gray.
Other elements are unified in a common color. For example, the cover cloth 9 is unified in light gray, the shoulder belt 32, the first mat belt 28, and the second mat belts 21 and 22 are unified in light gray, and the inner sheet 29b on the outer sheet 29a side, the waist support portion 50a, and the slip prevention portion 51 are unified in black, so that the color variations are coordinated to have a sense of unity overall.

Next, the bag for storing the care tool of the present invention will be described.
When a care recipient who spends most of their time in bed goes out, they have to carry a lot of things, so using a bag that can be stored compactly reduces the burden on the caregiver.
19, the storage bag 57 is integrally formed with a first storage section 58 that is bag-shaped and capable of storing the mat section 1, and a second storage section 59 that is bag-shaped and disposed inside the first storage section 58, with part of its opening end sewn to a seam 63 located at the opening end of the first storage section 58, capable of storing the vest section 30 and the waist belt 31, and the opening end of the second storage section 59 is provided with a fastener 60 for closing the opening when storing the vest section 30 and the waist belt 31. By storing each separately, they can be stored without getting tangled with each other.

The storage bag 57 has a mechanism that allows the size of the bag to be changed between storing the mat part 1, the vest part 30 and the waist belt 31 and storing only the vest part 30 and the waist belt 31, making it easy to store and carry the assistance equipment.
The mat 1, vest 30 and waist belt 31 of the present invention are made of light and soft materials, so they can be rolled up to make a compact size and placed in a storage bag, making them easy to carry and not take up too much space. The storage bag 57 is made of a light, water-repellent material, so it can be carried safely even in the rain.

As shown in FIG. 19, the storage bag 57 has three gripping portions of the same length, that is, a first gripping portion 62a, a second gripping portion 62b, and a third gripping portion 62c.
It is composed of a first gripping portion 62a, both ends of which are fixed to the sewn portion at the opening end of the first storage portion 58 where the second storage portion 59 is sewn, a second gripping portion 62b, which is fixed to a portion other than the sewn portion at the opening end of the first storage portion 58, and a third gripping portion 62c, which is fixed to a portion other than the sewn portion at the opening end of the second storage portion 59.
The first grip portion 62a and the second grip portion 62b serve as handles for the first storage portion 58, and the first grip portion 62a and the third grip portion 62c serve as handles for the second storage portion 59. The first grip portion 62a serves as a handle common to the first storage portion 58 and the second storage portion 59. The length of the handles is long enough to allow the bag to be hung from the shoulder, so that both hands are not occupied.

A pocket 61 is provided in the second storage section 59 to store the first storage section 58 in a folded state. In this way, while the person being assisted is using the mat section 1, the vest section 30 and the waist belt 31 can be stored in the second storage section 59 in a compact form for easy carrying.
As shown in Fig. 20, the second storage section 59 is taken out from the first storage section 58 (Fig. 20(a)). The bottom surface of the first storage section 58 is folded and both ends are folded toward the center at the dashed line portions (Fig. 20(b)). The first storage section 58 is further folded at the dashed line portions of Fig. 20(c) (Fig. 20(d)). When the folded first storage section 58 is placed in a pocket 61 (Figs. 20(e) and (f)), the second storage section 59 appears on the outside, forming a small bag. The vest section 30 and waist belt 31 can be compactly stored and the opening can be closed with a zipper 60, allowing the bag to be carried without the contents spilling out.

Finally, both the caregiver and the person receiving care, who live a difficult life of nursing care, are in a difficult situation. It is important to reduce even one worry in the midst of these difficulties. If there is something that makes the caregiver feel "okay," it will give the caregiver peace of mind, and it will create more peace of mind. The care equipment of the present invention allows the caregiver to move the person receiving care by himself, and is safe and easy to operate to reduce the physical burden on both parties. And it is expected to improve the quality of life that lies ahead. I hope that this care equipment will be used to realize the various concerns of the elderly and physically disabled, and to realize their dreams. I think that it is because they were disabled that they can feel things that others cannot feel. I hope that they will find that there is freedom even in disabilities, and that they will find something that will expand their possibilities and become more positive.
The care-assistance tool of the present invention was born from the experience of the caregiver himself, and I believe it has turned out to be a care-assistance tool that is kind to both the person being assisted and those supporting them.

1 Mat part 2 Mat part main body 2a Mat part main body surface 2b Mat part main body back surface 3-6 Tongue pieces 7, 8 Side part 9 Covering cloth 10-13 Connecting part (handle)
14-17 Handles 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 47, 48 Stitching 19 High friction section 20 Low friction section 21, 22 Second mat section belt 23 Thigh support section 24, 25 Waist support section 26 Back support section 27 Intersection of waist support sections 28 First mat section belt 29a Outer sheet 29b Inner sheet 30 Vest section 30a Vest section outer side 30b Vest section inner side 31 Waist belt 31a Waist belt outer side 31b Waist belt inner side 32 (R, L) Shoulder belt 33 Second sub-belt 34 First sub-belt 35 (R, L) Blue carabiner (connector)
36 (R, L) Red carabiner (connector)
37 Length adjustment metal fittings 38, 40 Annular rubber 39 Grip portion 41 Shoulder cover portion 42 Back cover portion 43 (R, L), 44 (R, L), 49 Opening 45 (R, L) Separation prevention portion 46 Curved portion 50a Waist support portion 50b, 51 Slip prevention portion 52 Front joint portion 53 Hook portion 55 Waist belt support portion 56 Hook and loop fastener 57 Storage bag 58 First storage portion 59 Second storage portion 60 Zipper 61 Pocket 62a First grip portion 62b Second grip portion 62c Third grip portion 63 Stitched portion 64 Urethane foam 65 Outer fabric 66 Border tape 67 Blue embroidery 68 Red embroidery

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
A long mat portion on which the person being assisted is placed;
A vest part that is placed on the back of the caregiver;
a shoulder belt having a long length, a central portion in a longitudinal direction of which is held by the vest portion, and both ends in the longitudinal direction of which are connected to the mat portion;
a waist belt formed integrally with the vest part and for fixing the vest part to the caregiver;
The mat section includes a long, plate-shaped mat section main body, and a first mat section belt that is sewn to the back surface of the mat section main body in a figure of eight so that two annular portions are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the mat section main body, and has two connecting portions on each of the two annular portions.
Both ends of the shoulder belt are connected to the connecting portion,
The portion of the mat body to which the first mat belt is sewn is arranged so as to support at least the trunk and thighs of the person being assisted when in use ,
The first mat belt is sewn to the back surface of the mat body so that the entire first mat belt is disposed inside the mat body when the mat body is viewed from the thickness direction of the mat body.

Claims (21)

A long mat portion on which the person being assisted is placed;
A vest part that is placed on the back of the caregiver;
A long shoulder belt, the center of which is held by the vest portion and both ends of which are connected to the mat portion;
a waist belt formed integrally with the vest part and for fixing the vest part to the caregiver;
The mat section has a first mat section belt that is sewn to the back surface of the mat section main body in a figure of eight so that two annular portions are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the mat section main body, and has two connecting portions provided on each of the two annular portions;
Both ends of the shoulder belt are connected to the connecting portion,
The portion of the mat body to which the first mat belt is sewn is positioned so as to support at least the trunk and thighs of the person being assisted when in use, this is an assistance device. The care equipment according to claim 1, wherein the mat body has circular stitches formed thereon to mark the positions of the head, back, and thighs of the person being assisted when the person being assisted is placed in a predetermined position on the mat. The care aid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mat body has four tongues protruding outward at positions that hide the four connecting parts, two of which are provided on each of the two annular parts of the first mat belt. The first mat belt has a thigh support portion extending from the thigh side of the assisted person at one of two mutually spaced locations on the caregiver side of the mat body toward the opposite side to the caregiver side, and a back support portion extending from the back side of the assisted person at the other of the two locations toward the opposite side to the caregiver side,
The thigh support portion and the back support portion are sewn so as to be spaced apart from each other so as to be positioned on the opposite side to the caregiver side.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. The care aid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vicinity of the portion of the first mat belt where the connecting portion is provided is detachable from the mat body. A second mat belt having a shape of a letter O is sewn to the outside of the portion where the first mat belt is sewn in the longitudinal direction of the mat body, the second mat belt supporting the head and feet of the person being assisted and having handles at both ends.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. The mat body is provided with a swaddling cloth, one end of which is sewn to the side opposite the caregiver, for wrapping and protecting the body of the person being assisted.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. The back surface of the mat body has a non-slip portion where a non-slip fabric is sewn at a position corresponding to the buttocks of the person being assisted to prevent the person being assisted from sliding down together with the mat body, and the rest of the surface is made of a slippery fabric so that the person being assisted can move smoothly on the bed.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. Both ends of the mat body in the short side direction are curved so that the width of the mat body in the short side direction becomes narrower as it approaches both ends from the center of the mat body in the longitudinal direction.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. The shoulder belt is provided in two pieces.
The vest portion holds the two shoulder belts so that they cross each other at central portions in the longitudinal direction of the two shoulder belts,
A connector that can be connected to the four connecting portions provided on the first mat belt can be attached to both ends of each of the two shoulder belts,
Each of the two shoulder belts is provided with a length adjustment fitting for adjusting the length of the shoulder belt.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. The shoulder belt is
a first sub-belt that is long and has one end in a longitudinal direction to which the connecting device is attached and the other end to which the length adjustment fitting is attached;
a second sub-belt that is long and has one end in a longitudinal direction to which the connecting device is attached and the other end held by the length adjustment metal fitting, and the length of the shoulder belt can be changed by changing the portion held by the length adjustment metal fitting;
a ring-shaped rubber is attached to the other end of the second sub-belt to hold in a folded state a portion of the second sub-belt closer to the other end than a portion held by the length adjustment metal fitting;
The care aid according to claim 10. The vest part is
The seat belt has a back cover part that covers the back of the caregiver when worn by the caregiver, and two shoulder cover parts that are formed integrally with the back cover part and extend from two points of the back cover part to cover both shoulders of the caregiver when worn by the caregiver,
The back cover portion has an opening for passing the shoulder belt from the left and right shoulder sides to the left and right armpit sides of the caregiver when the vest portion is worn by the caregiver,
The width of the openings on the left and right sides is 1.5 times or more the width of the shoulder belt.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. The back covering portion has an inner sheet on a side that contacts the back of the caregiver when the vest portion is worn by the caregiver, and an outer sheet that is superimposed on the inner sheet from the side opposite to the side of the inner sheet that contacts the caregiver and is sewn to the inner sheet over the entire portion except for the portion corresponding to the opening in the periphery, and a stitch portion is formed by sewing the inner sheet and the outer sheet together so as to restrict movement of the portion of the shoulder belt that is interposed between the inner sheet and the outer sheet.
The care aid according to claim 12. The shoulder belt length adjustment fitting is disposed at a position overlapping the shoulder cover portion,
A detachment prevention portion is provided at a position of the shoulder cover portion away from the back cover portion to prevent the shoulder belt from detaching from the position where the shoulder belt overlaps with the shoulder cover portion.
The care aid according to claim 12 or 13. The waist belt support part is located closer to the shoulder cover part than the end of the back cover part opposite to the shoulder cover part side and is fixed to a part that contacts the back of the caregiver when the vest part is worn by the caregiver, and supports the waist belt so as to be able to swing freely.
The care aid according to claim 12. The waist belt has a shape such that both ends are positioned below the navel of the caregiver when worn by the caregiver.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. The assistance device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the waist belt is made of a non-stretch mesh material on the back, a stretch material on the abdominal side, and a non-stretch thick soft material on the abdomen, and is attached to the abdomen using overlapping hook-and-loop fasteners. The waist belt is provided with a hook portion for hooking the connecting device provided at the end of the shoulder belt and preventing the shoulder belt from slipping off the vest portion.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. The shoulder belt further includes an annular rubber member fixed to an end portion of the shoulder belt on the side where the connecting device is provided and connected to the hook portion.
19. The care aid of claim 18. The two connecting parts of the first mat belt on the side opposite the caregiver are embroidered with blue thread, and the two connecting parts on the caregiver's side are embroidered with red thread, the tips of the two shoulder belts on the chest side of the caregiver are embroidered with blue thread, and the tips on the armpit side are embroidered with red thread, and the connecting parts of the shoulder belt and the first mat belt are connected with the connecting device of the same color.
The care aid according to claim 1 or 2. The care tool according to claim 1 or 2,
a bag having a first storage section that is bag-shaped and capable of storing the mat section; a second storage section that is bag-shaped and disposed inside the first storage section, a part of an open end of which is sewn to the open end of the first storage section, and capable of storing the vest section and the waist belt; a first gripping section having both ends fixed to a sewn portion at the open end of the first storage section to which the second storage section is sewn; a second gripping section fixed to a portion of the open end of the first storage section other than the sewn portion; and a third gripping section fixed to a portion of the open end of the second storage section other than the sewn portion.
Care equipment set.