JP6851732B2 - Walking aid - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a walking assist device for assisting or assisting the walking of a user.

Conventionally, various types of walking assist devices have been devised and widely used in order to assist or support walking training for rehabilitation of patients with walking disabilities and walking of elderly people with weakened leg and waist muscles.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a walking assist device in which wheels are provided on a lower frame, and upper limb support frames that are greatly bent forward from a connecting portion connected to the upper end of the lower frame are provided on the left and right. According to this walking assist device, the user can hold the grip formed at the tip of the upper limb support frame with his / her left and right hands, and move the device and himself / herself together while pressing the upper limb support frame with both hands. it can.

Further, in order to further reduce the burden on the lower limbs of the user, for example, in Patent Document 2, the height of the saddle on which the user sits is variable, and walking that supports the weight of the user by elastic rebound force from below. Auxiliary equipment is disclosed. For the same purpose, for example, Patent Document 3 describes a support vehicle that walks with the user, an elevating frame that moves up and down by a parallel link to the support vehicle, a hammock-shaped seat on which the user sits, and a seat. A walking support machine provided with a hanging tool that is detachably hung on an elevating frame is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-123577 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-240477 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-070928

However, with conventional walking aids or walking support machines, the burden on the lower limbs of the user's weight can be reduced to a certain extent, but the burden depends on, for example, the user's physique, foot condition, or degree of disability. The proportion could not be adjusted.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a walking assist device such that the weight burden on the lower limbs of a user can be easily adjusted to an optimum state. It is said.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a plurality of leg frames provided with wheels, a support guide portion for consolidating and fixing the upper end portions of the respective leg frames, and an upright support inserted into the support guide portion. The vertical frame is supported, and the upper limb support frame which is supported on the upper part of the vertical frame and extends so as to surround at least the front and left and right sides of the upper body of the user, and the vertical frame is raised and lowered by the support guide portion. It is a walking assist device characterized by being provided with an elevating part for allowing the person to move.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that the saddle on which the user sits is suspended from the upper limb support frame.

Further, it is preferable that the elevating part includes a pneumatic actuator operated by a manual pump. Further, it is preferable that the pneumatic actuator is an artificial muscle tube that contracts by supplying compressed air.

According to the walking assist device of the present invention, the weight burden on the lower limbs can be easily adjusted to the optimum state according to, for example, the physique of the user, the condition of the legs, the degree of disability, and the like.

It is a perspective view of the walking assist device according to one Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the upper limb support frame of the walking assist device by one Embodiment. It is a top view of the walking assist device according to one Embodiment. It is a side view for demonstrating the operation and use state of the walking assist device by one Embodiment. In order to explain the structure of the elevating part of the walking assist device according to one embodiment, it is the side view which shows by breaking the part.

The walking assist device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a device for assisting or supporting the walking of a user who has a walking disorder mainly due to a decrease in muscle strength of the lower limbs or the like. The user can walk naturally with his / her feet while straddling the saddle 30 of the walking assist device 10.

First, the structure of the walking assist device 10 will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the walking assist device 10. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the upper limb support frame 14 of the walking assist device 10.

The main frame of the walking assist device 10 has four leg frames 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, a support guide portion 12 in which the upper end portions of the respective leg frames are collectively fixed, and a lower end portion in the support guide portion 12. It is configured to include a vertical frame 13 that is inserted and supported upright, and an upper limb support frame 14 that is connected and supported above the vertical frame 13. The leg frames 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, the vertical frame 13, and the upper limb support frame 14 are formed by bending a tubular metal member.

The four leg frames 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are fixed to the lower part of the support guide portion 12 by, for example, bolts. The left front leg frame 11a extends forward from the support guide portion 12, bends diagonally forward to the left at a predetermined position on the way, and bends downward at the front end portion. Wheels 21a are provided at the lower tip of the leg frame 11a. The right front leg frame 11b has a symmetrical shape with the above-mentioned left front leg frame 11b centering on the device, and wheels 21b are provided at the lower tip portion of the frame extending diagonally forward to the right front.

The left rear leg frame 11c extends diagonally rearward to the left or substantially to the left from the support guide portion 12, bends rearward in the middle, and bends downward at the rear end portion. Wheels 21c are provided at the lower tip of the leg frame 11c. The right rear leg frame 11d is also symmetrical with the leg frame 11c centering on the device, and wheels 21d are provided at the lower tip of the frame extending to the right rear.

Each wheel 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d has a wheel and a rubber tire that are rotatable around a horizontal axis. Further, the wheels 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d are provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the vertical axis of the lower tip portion of the leg frames 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d. Since each of the wheels 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d is located at a position where the vertical axis is slightly deviated from the ground contact point, the wheels 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are steered so as to always face the traveling direction of the walking assist device 10 due to the caster rail effect. This ensures the straight-line stability of the walking assist device 10 and enables smooth direction change.

Although not illustrated in the figure, it may be a three-wheel type walking assist device in which one leg frame extending rearward and one rear wheel are used.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper limb support frame 14 is a frame member whose rear is open so as to surround the front and left and right sides of the upper body of the user USR. More specifically, the upper limb support frame 14 is welded to the upper end portion of the vertical frame 13, and bends from the front frame portions 14a and 14b extending to the left and right from the upper end portions and the end portions of the front frame portions 14a and 14b and extends rearward. The side frame portions 14c and 14d are provided with handlebar portions 14e and 14f that are bent from the rear ends of the side frame portions 14c and 14d and extend upward or diagonally upward. By forming the upper limb support frame 14 in such a form, the user USR walking with the walking assist device 10 can put the upper limb on the upper limb support frame 14 or can grasp the upper limb with the palm.

Further, in order to obtain more preferable convenience and steerability, low friction and / or low friction and / or on any or all of the front frame portions 14a and 14b, the side frame portions 14c and 14d, and the handlebar portions 14e and 14f. Alternatively, a grip having a cushioning property may be provided. Such grips can be formed from materials such as rubber (including natural rubber, synthetic rubber) and leather (including natural leather, artificial leather, synthetic leather).

Although not illustrated in the figure, a part of the front frame portions 14a and 14b may be bent forward of the vertical frame 13. Alternatively, a grip frame may be separately provided at a position in front of the vertical frame 13 by extending from the front frame portions 14a and 14b or the side frame portions 14c and 14d. By providing a grip portion (grip frame) that can be gripped by the user at a position in front of the vertical frame 13 in this way, it is possible to support the user in a comfortable walking while pushing in a forward leaning posture. it can.

In the walking assist device 10 of the present embodiment, the saddle 30 on which the user USR is seated is suspended from the upper limb support frame 14 by belts 40, 40, .... The saddle 30 is suspended on both the left and right sides of the saddle 30 via support members 31L and 31R (specifically, sidebar portions 31Lb and 31Rb), but the saddle 30 is left and right so that the user USR can sit across both feet. A certain space is secured on the side to allow the lower limbs of the user USR to enter.

More specifically, the saddle 30 is fixed to the center of the support members 31L and 31R, which are metal plate members that are curved in a J-shape or a U-shape in a plan view, respectively. For example, the support member 31L on the left side is fixed to the lower part of the saddle 30, is continuous with the thigh pad 31La extending to the left in front of the saddle 30, and is continuous from the thigh pad 31La, and is on the left side of the saddle 30. It is formed to have a sidebar portion 31Lb separated by a certain distance. The support member 31R on the right side is symmetrical with the support member 31L on the left side, and similarly, the thigh pad portion 31Ra that bends to the right and extends, and the sidebar portion that is separated from the saddle 30 by a certain distance on the right side. It has 31Rb.

Each rear side of the space defined between the saddle 30 and the left and right support members 31L and 31R (sidebar portions 31Lb and 31Rb) is open. Therefore, the user USR can easily transfer to the walking assist device 10 by allowing the left and right lower limbs to enter the space from the rear of the device while being held by the upper limb support frame 14 and straddling the saddle 30.

For the belt 40, a woven fabric of chemical fibers such as nylon or polyester can be adopted. Further, it is preferable that the belt 40 is divided into upper and lower sides of the side frame portions 14c and 14d and the sidebar portions 31Lb and 31Rb, and the belt 40 is connected by a buckle 41 whose length can be adjusted. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, the height of the saddle 30 suspended from the upper limb support frame 14 and the weight burden on the lower limbs can be adjusted according to the body shape of the user USR. Further, it is preferable that the buckle 41 has the upper and lower belts 40 detachable, and it is more preferable that the buckle 41 has a mechanism for locking the state in which the belts 40 are connected.

In the walking assist device 10 of the present embodiment, an elevating portion 50 for raising and lowering the vertical frame 13 up and down in the hollow tubular support guide portion 12 is further provided. The elevating part 50 preferably includes a pneumatic actuator. One preferred example of a pneumatic actuator is an artificial muscle tube that contracts with the supply of compressed air from a manual pump 51. Here, the "artificial muscle tube" refers to a tube that contracts and solidifies when compressed air is supplied, and recovers its original flexibility and expands when the air is relieved.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, two artificial muscle tubes 52U and 52L are connected in series and housed in the case 50a of the elevating part 50. The upper end of the upper artificial muscle tube 52U is fixed to the head 50b of the case 50a, and the lower end of the lower artificial muscle tube 52L is connected to the hook 13a of the vertical frame 13.

When the user USR of the walking assist device 10 drives the lever 51a of the manual pump 51 to send compressed air to the artificial muscle tubes 52U and 52L, these contract and gradually move the upper limb support frame 14 and the saddle 30. Can be raised. A check valve 53 with a relief function is provided in the path for supplying compressed air to the artificial muscle tubes 52U and 52L, and the upper limb support frame 14 and the saddle 30 are arbitrarily provided according to the amount of air supplied from the manual pump 51. Can be held at the height of.

Therefore, the user USR operates the manual pump 51 while straddling the saddle 30, and supplies compressed air to the artificial muscle tubes 52U and 52L to make the upper limb support frame 14 and the saddle 30 suitable for his / her physique. Can be adjusted to height. Further, the higher the position of the saddle 30, the less the weight burden on the lower limbs of the user USR is reduced. Therefore, the user USR appropriately adjusts the height of the saddle 30 according to the condition of his / her foot (degree of disability). be able to.

According to the walking assist device 10 of the present embodiment, the following advantageous effects are obtained.
(1) A saddle 30 on which the user sits is provided by being suspended from an upper limb support frame 14 by belts 40, 40, .... As a result, the user can move the lower limbs from the waist to the front, back, left and right relatively freely while keeping the posture of straddling both legs on the saddle 30. Therefore, the user can walk in a natural and comfortable motion without being forced to perform an unreasonable motion.
(2) The user can put his lower limbs into the spaces on both sides of the saddle 30 from behind the walking assist device 10 and move forward to straddle the saddle 30. As a result, even a user with a walking disability can easily transfer to the walking assist device 10 alone without an assistant.
(3) Since the heights of the upper limb support frame 14 and the saddle 30 can be adjusted by a simple operation, for example, the user's physique, foot condition (degree of disability) and walking purpose (walking or rehabilitation in daily life). It is possible to provide walking support by setting the optimum state according to the training.

10 Walking assist device 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d Leg frame 12 Support guide part 13 Vertical frame 13a Hook 14 Upper limb support frame 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d Wheel 30 Saddle 31L, 31R Support member 31La, 31Ra Thigh pad 31Lb, 31Rb Sidebar 40 Belt 41 Buckle 50 Lift 51 Manual pump 51a Lever 52U, 52L Artificial muscle tube USR User

Claims (1)

Multiple leg frames with wheels and
A support guide portion that gathers and fixes the upper end portions of each leg frame, and
A vertical frame that is inserted into the support guide and is supported upright,
An upper limb support frame that is supported on the upper part of the vertical frame and extends so as to surround at least the front and left and right sides of the user's upper body.
And a lifting unit for lifting and lowering the longitudinal frame in the support guide part,
A saddle on which the user sits is hung from the upper limb support frame.
The elevating part includes a pneumatic actuator operated by a manual pump.
A walking assist device in which the pneumatic actuator is an artificial muscle tube that contracts by supplying compressed air.

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